Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Shovel or fork type
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-08
2001-10-02
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Shovel or fork type
C212S195000, C280S760000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to construction equipment and, more specifically, to counterweights utilized to counterbalance construction equipment, such as excavators and cranes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Excavators and cranes are common types of construction equipment. Excavators are typically utilized to dig earth thereby forming troughs or cavities in the ground. Cranes are utilized to lift heavy objects, such as steel beams, overhead. Thess types of construction equipment generally includes a base having an upper section mounted thereabove. The base includes treads or wheels for enabling movement of the construction equipment. The upper section is attached to the base for rotation about a vertical axis extending through the base and the upper section. The upper section of the construction equipment typically includes an operator cab and an arm or boom positioned on the fore end of the construction equipment. The aft end of the upper section includes a counterweight to offset the weight of the arm and the weight of any material lifted by the arm. An engine is positioned in front of the counterweight to provide power to the treads or wheels and to the hydraulic system and/or electrical system utilized to operate the arm and other systems of the equipment.
The counterweight is often formed of steel cavity filled with concrete or metal packing. The counterweight is generally attached to the construction equipment, and its only purpose is to offset the weight of the arm and any weight lifted by the arm during excavation or lifting activities. The weight of such counterweight is selected in part on the size and designed lifting capacity of the construction equipment.
A problem with such counterweights is that the space occupied by the counterweight is unusable for other purposes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose removable counterweight housing and removable counterweight to replace the concrete or metal packing filled counterweight of the prior art. It is another object of the invention to provide usable space heretofore occupied by the counterweight of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, I have invented a counterbalance assembly for use on an aft end of construction equipment having a lifting element, such as a pivotable arm, for lifting material and/or a construction tool, such as a wrecking ball, shears, a bucket, grapples and the like, positioned adjacent the fore end. The counterbalance assembly of my invention includes at least one enclosure attached to the aft end of the construction equipment and a counterweight attached to the aft end of the construction equipment adjacent the enclosure.
In one embodiment of my invention, the counterbalance assembly includes two enclosures, a back panel, a bottom panel and a counterweight. Each enclosure has at least a back wall connected to a side wall. The enclosures are positioned so that the side walls are in opposition. The back panel is connected between the back walls of the enclosures and the bottom panel is connected adjacent a lower edge of the back panel and between a lower portion of the side walls of the enclosures. The counterweight is receivable in a receiving aperture defined by the opposed side walls of the enclosures, the back panel and the bottom panel.
Each enclosure may include a cover that abuts the back wall and the side wall. The side wall of each enclosure may further include a lug that extends upwardly from the intersection of the side wall and the cover. The lugs have holes therethrough for accepting chains, hooks and the like of a lift that is utilized to hoist the enclosure onto the aft end of construction equipment. The enclosures may further have access doors positioned adjacent a front panel connected between the side walls and in opposition to the back panel thereby further defining the receiving aperture. The access doors may be pivotally hinged along a vertical access adjacent the side walls and the front panel. The back walls of the enclosure may further include a vent for enabling air to flow through the enclosures.
The counterweight may also include at least one upwardly extending lug positioned adjacent the upwardly extending lug of the enclosures when the counterweight is received in the receiving aperture. The lug of the counterweight has a hole therethrough that is utilized to hoist the counterweight into position in the receiving aperture.
I have also invented construction equipment, such as an excavator or a crane, having a base and an upper section rotatably mounted on the base and rotatable about a rotation axis extending through the base and the upper section. An arm is pivotally attached to a fore end of the upper section and a counterbalance assembly attached adjacent the aft end of the upper section. An engine compartment is positioned on the upper section adjacent the counterbalance assembly.
The counterbalance assembly includes a bottom panel attached to the upper section, a back panel attached to the bottom panel adjacent the engine compartment, at least one enclosure having a side wall attached to the bottom panel and the back panel, and a counterweight positioned in a receiving aperture formed by the back panel, the bottom panel and the side wall of the enclosure.
The bottom panel may further include an upwardly extending boss for complementary engagement with a cavity formed on an underside of the counterweight. The boss and the cavity cooperate to prevent lateral shifting of the counterweight in the receiving aperture. The enclosure may include an access door positionable adjacent an edge of the side wall opposite the back panel.
The access door, the enclosure and a cover of the engine compartment may each have air vents. The air vent of the cover of the engine compartment and the air vent of the enclosure are positioned so that air entering the air vent of the access door flows through the enclosure and into the air vent of the engine compartment.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken together with the attached figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2925149 (1960-02-01), Hughson
patent: 3614135 (1971-10-01), Eid
patent: 3860083 (1975-01-01), Yancey
patent: 4650393 (1987-03-01), Denda
patent: 4679336 (1987-07-01), BrOcklebank et al.
patent: 5033567 (1991-07-01), Washburn et al.
Allied Gator Inc.
Underwood Donald W.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
LandOfFree
Multipurpose counterweight housing and counterweight does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multipurpose counterweight housing and counterweight, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multipurpose counterweight housing and counterweight will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613250