Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – With means to remove or exclude foreign matter – With deflector plate – track guide means – or scraper
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-11-27
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
With means to remove or exclude foreign matter
With deflector plate, track guide means, or scraper
C305S100000, C404S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322170
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of preventing refuse from wrapping around the axle of a work machine and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method that utilizes a roof guard.
BACKGROUND ART
Work machines such as motor graders, excavators, mining shovels, backhoe loaders, wheel loaders, track type tractors, wheeled tractors, track type loaders, compactors, and the like are used for operating on dirt and other materials. Typically, work machines may be configured to perform various work cycles. For example, the compactor typically has specialized compactor wheels used to compact waste materials or refuse.
In the operation of modern day landfills, it is imperative to obtain maximum compaction of the material deposited in the landfills to utilize their available capacity to its fullest extent. To that end, a relatively specialized machine has been developed to break up and compress the refuse and is commonly known as a landfill compactor. A typical compactor has specialized wheels that have a plurality of individual teeth that extend radially from a cylindrical drum. The teeth are separated from one another to localize the pressure, exerted by the weight of the machine, on the ends of the respective teeth. In doing so, more pressure is applied to the material under foot to thereby increase the amount of compactive force applied by the machine.
One problem associated with landfill compactors is the tendency for the wheel assembly to catch material on the teeth and entrain it about the adjacent axle assembly as the machine traverses the landfill. Wire, which is very often disposed of in landfills, is a particular problem. Typically, the inner row of teeth will snag the wire and carry it around the axle. As the movement of the machine continues, the wire will at some point in time become entrained about the axle, trapping all kinds of other debris which will eventually become packed into all the areas in and around the frame and the axle of the machine. Not only does this packing of material interfere with the proper operation of the machine, in some cases preventing proper axle oscillation, it also can create wear to the structure of the wheel assemblies and seals. The primary means of alleviating this situation is by removing the machine to a maintenance work area, removing the wheel assemblies, cutting the wire and debris away with a torch and manually removing the debris from the axle and frame. This is not only a costly, labor intensive exercise, but the machine is taken out of operation while this maintenance is performed. Ultimately, this can greatly increase the cost and inefficiency of the overall landfill operation.
In order to alleviate this problem, several different cutting devices have been added to the axle and/or wheel assembly to cut the debris as the wheel rotates. While this has been known to work in some applications, the additional components increase the overall cost of the machine. Also, the efficiency of the cutting mechanism is highly variable, requiring some periodic, debris-removal maintenance anyway. Further, the cutting mechanism eventually becomes worn or broken and the machine must be taken out of production while maintenance to the cutting mechanism is performed.
Positioning of the teeth over the cylindrical drum in a manner to reduce the tendency of refuse from falling from the wheel toward the frame and axle is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,799 to Greenfield, et al. that issued on Nov. 18, 1997.
Further, it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,020 issued on Mar. 31, 1998, to McCartney, et al. to use a guard member for inhibiting wire, cable, and the like from entangling the axle assembly of a machine wheel. McCartney teaches the use of a guard member secured to the vehicle axle assembly between the wheel and the body of the vehicle. McCartney also teaches that the guard member should have a radially outer portion defining an arcuate surface which lies adjacent the rim of the wheel and follows the curvature of the wheel. McCartney suggests that this structure will prevent wire, cable, and the like from passing between the guard member and the wheel. McCartney specifically teaches an apparatus for directing refuse to fall between the guard member and the body of the vehicle.
Accordingly, the art has sought an apparatus and method of preventing refuse from wrapping around the axle of the work machine which: deflects refuse from falling onto the axle or between the guard assembly and the frame; reduces wear and damage to structural members; eliminates the need for cutting devices; reduces the need to take the machine out of operation for the purpose of maintaining the axle protection system; and is more economical to manufacture and use.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a work machine adapted to be controlled by an operator upon a grade is provided. The work machine includes a frame, an axle, at least one ground engaging device, an operator compartment, an engine, and an axle protection system. The axle has an end portion having an end and the axle is pivotally connected to the frame. The at least one ground engaging device has an extension that is connected to the end of the axle. Further, the extension has an outer portion. The operator compartment is supported by the frame. The engine is operably coupled to the at least one ground engaging device. The axle protection system includes an axle guard assembly and a roof guard. The axle guard assembly has an outer perimeter, a plate, and a labyrinth guard. The axle guard assembly is attached to the end portion. The plate extends substantially vertically from the perimeter of the axle guard assembly. The labyrinth guard projects generally orthogonally along the plate and is spaced apart from the perimeter. This provides a channel adapted to receive the outer portion. A roof guard is fixed to the frame such that refuse is substantially deflected from falling onto the axle and axle guard assembly.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of preventing refuse from wrapping around the axle of the work machine is provided. Refuse is deflected from falling onto the axle or axle guard assembly. A rotating rim extension is passed through a stationary channel, thereby preventing refuse from wrapping around the axle.
In another aspect of the invention, an axle protection system for a work machine adapted to be controlled by an operator upon a grade is provided. The axle protection system includes an extension, an axle guard assembly, and a roof guard. The extension has an outer portion that is adapted to connect to a ground engaging device. The ground engaging device is adapted to connect to the axle. The roof guard is adapted to be fixed to the frame above the axle guard assembly such that refuse is substantially deflected from falling onto the axle and the axle guard assembly. The axle guard assembly has a plate, a labyrinth guard, and an outer perimeter and is adapted to attach to the axle. The plate extends substantially vertically from the perimeter. The labyrinth guard projects generally orthogonally along the plate and is spaced apart from the perimeter such that a channel is provided by the configuration of the guard assembly, plate, and labyrinth guard. The outer portion is adapted to be received by the channel.
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Knell Harvey A.
O'Brien Eric R.
Buck Byron G.
Caterpillar Inc.
Meyers Liza J.
Stormer Russell D.
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