Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Shovel or fork type
Utility Patent
1999-07-02
2001-01-02
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Shovel or fork type
C180S418000
Utility Patent
active
06168368
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a frame assembly and more particularly to the frame assembly for a lift arm of a construction machine.
BACKGROUND ART
In the operation of construction machines, it has been found desirable to steer the machine by rotating the front portion of the machine with respect to the rear portion. In order to do this, it is necessary to provide two separate frames that are pinned together about a vertical axis and extend hydraulic cylinders therebetween to obtain the desired rotation or articulation. Typically, the engine and drive train components are mounted on the rear portion of the machine and the work implement is mounted on the front portion of the machine.
In the case of some machines, the articulated wheel loader, for example, the front frame portion is subject to extremely high loads from several different sources. One primary source occurs during operation of the work implement. The work implement is typically attached to the front frame by a pair of lift arms each of which are raised and lowered by a pair of lift cylinders that extend between each lift arm and the front frame. The weight of the lift arms and loaded work implement are the source of substantially loading and it is necessary to provide a front frame assembly with sufficient width to accommodate such loading.
The work implement is also provided with a mechanism that will allow it to be rotated, or tilted with respect to the lift arms. A hydraulic cylinder is interconnected with a plurality of links that are attached to both the lift arm and the work implement to accomplish this. This function also inputs a substantial amount of loading into the front frame.
Yet another source of loading occurs during the steering function of the vehicle. Since the front axle is mounted to the front frame, there must be substantial support for it as it steered over all kinds of terrain. The forces applied by the steering cylinder to rotate the front frame with respect to the rear frame to steer the axle are also quite large. The support brackets for the steering cylinders are normally positioned on the sides of the front frame assembly at locations that are spaced from the axle centerline, through which the forces are transferred. As this spacing increases, so to do the forces passing therethrough, which ultimately requires exceptionally large support brackets for mounting structures.
These factors inherently result in a structure that is quite large in both height and width. With the increase in size however, come several disadvantages. The overall complexity and weight are exceptionally costly in terms of the numbers of components that must be welded together and the expense of material. Additionally, the operation of the machine is hampered because the large size of the structure can reduce the operators visibility to the work implement. This especially true with respect to the line of sight to the base and the corners of the implement.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a frame assembly is provided that includes a pair of side plates. Each side plate has a first and second end portion and a pair of mounting bores defined therethrough along a first axis. The side plates are positioned in spaced parallel relation to one another along a first plane. A mounting support is included that is secured to each of the side plates at a location that is positioned outwardly of the side plates. A first support plate having a generally planar configuration is secured to the first and second side plates at the first end portions of each side plate. A hitch assembly having a pair of vertically spaced plates is positioned between and secured to the first and second side plates at the second end portions of the side plates. A boom member having a first end portion defining a bore therethrough is positioned between and secured to the first and second side plates and is pivotally mounted thereto. The boom member is mounted for relative rotation about the first axis for movement parallel to the side plates. A pair of actuators, each having a first end portion pivotally connected to respective ones of the mounting supports defined by the respective side plates and a second end portion mounted to the boom member are operable to move the boom member along the first plane.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3057496 (1962-10-01), Garske
patent: 4087101 (1978-05-01), Shimazaki et al.
patent: 4163498 (1979-08-01), Grooss et al.
patent: 4768917 (1988-09-01), Garman
patent: 5568841 (1996-10-01), Weissbach
patent: 19523001 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 302942A1 (1988-11-01), None
Apgar Curtis W.
Chong Yon C.
Conroy Timothy S.
Mathieu James K.
Riediger Craig W.
Buck Byron G.
Caterpillar Inc.
Perry William C.
Smith James R.
Underwood Donald W.
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