Patent Application
20130248556
This patent disclosure relates, generally, to a blade assembly for a machine, and, more particularly, to a blade assembly with a reservoir for liquid.
Land disposal of solid wastes has been practiced for centuries. Landfills remain the primary solid waste disposal option for most countries. Solid waste in a landfill degrades through aerobic and anaerobic processes. The degradation products generated from the stabilization process include gas and leachate.
Landfill gas (LFG) is generated by the anaerobic biological degradation of organic material. The LFG can be used to generate electricity, fire boilers, or substitute for other energy sources, for example.
Landfill leachate is a fluid that is made of water which, after being in contact with the refuse, has “leached” chemicals from the landfill. The water—mainly from precipitation—can dissolve soluble organics and inorganics. Leachate can be handled by landfill operators as single pass leachate or recirculating leachate.
For single pass leaching, the liquid leachate stream is collected, stored in a lagoon or tank, and treated either onsite or offsite before being discharged to a receiving system. Landfill companies have to incur expenses and deploy resources to dispose of the single-pass leachate.
Under the recirculation strategy, the leachate is collected and recirculated through the landfill system by reintroducing the collected leachate into the landfill. Using leachate recirculation, a landfill operator can: increase LFG generation rate; augment energy recovery potential; increase waste settlement, leading to recoverable and ultimately more efficient use of landfill air space; and avoid leachate transport to a remote treatment facility.
A landfill bioreactor is an example of a landfill that can use recirculated leachate. A landfill operated as a bioreactor can take water from ponds, biosolids, and other outside moisture sources and operate at high moisture contents, approximately 45 percent. A landfill bioreactor can obtain rapid and enhanced degradation of the solid waste and biological stabilization of the leachate. Compared with single-pass leaching, landfill bioreactors can provide more rapid, complete, and predictable conversion of readily-degradable solid waste components, thereby enhancing the potential for landfill gas (LFG) recovery and utilization, diminishing management time, and reducing the potential for adverse health and environmental impacts.
Wetting the working face of the landfill with leachate can promote compaction, litter control, and uniform distribution of liquid throughout the waste mass. Conventionally, a landfill operator dispenses leachate from a stand-alone tank transported by a machine or from a manual sprayer. For other work operations, such as soil compaction, for example, an operator may also apply liquid to the worksite area to help facilitate the work operation.
The Japanese patent document JP 9177118A is entitled, “Blade With Storing Part of Construction Machine,” and is directed to providing a storing part at the back of a blade of a construction machine so that a space for storing components is available. A storing part is provided integrally in the central part of a blade. A cover is provided at the upper part of the storing part. The blade is fitted to the front or the rear of a running body in the lower part of the construction machine. Tools, periodic replacement components, such as oil and filters, and materials such as articles of consumption are stored in the storing part. The storing part may be provided so that it is removable from the blade.
It will be appreciated that this background description has been created by the inventor to aid the reader, and is not to be taken as an indication that any of the indicated problems were themselves appreciated in the art. While the described principles can, in some aspects and embodiments, alleviate the problems inherent in other systems, it will be appreciated that the scope of the protected innovation is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability of any disclosed feature to solve any specific problem noted herein.
The present disclosure is directed to providing a convenient means for storing liquid, such as leachate or water, for example, and dispensing the liquid at a worksite area. In an embodiment, a blade assembly includes a frame and a liquid storage tank integrally arranged with the frame. The liquid storage tank can include a fill port and at least one dispensing port.
In other embodiments, a machine includes a machine body and a blade assembly mounted to the machine body. The blade assembly includes a frame and an integral liquid storage tank supported by the frame. The liquid storage tank includes a fill port and at least one dispensing port.
In other embodiments, a method for dispensing liquid at a worksite is described. Liquid is stored in a liquid storage tank integrally formed with a frame of a blade assembly attached to a machine. The machine is moved over the worksite. Liquid is dispensed from the liquid storage tank upon a surface of the worksite.
Further and alternative aspects and features of the disclosed principles will be appreciated from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. As will be appreciated, the blade assemblies, machines, and methods for dispensing liquid disclosed herein are capable of being carried out in other and different embodiments, and capable of being modified in various respects. Accordingly, it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and do not restrict the scope of the appended claims.
Embodiments of a blade assembly, a machine, and a method for dispensing liquid at a worksite are described herein. In embodiments, a blade assembly includes an integrated liquid storage tank.
In embodiments, an integrated liquid storage tank is disposed at a rear side of a blade assembly and incorporates at least one compartment space defined by a frame of the blade assembly. In embodiments, compartment spaces in the frame are joined together to form a tank suitable for containing a liquid by connecting these compartments through a system of channels to provide fluid flow from a top portion of the tank to a bottom portion. Cover plates are added to the frame to provide a tank with a sealed interior.
In embodiments, a closed compartment space can be formed between plates disposed at a rear side of the blade assembly and a moldboard at a front side in spaced relationship to the plates in a longitudinal direction and between a first upright and a second upright in spaced relationship to each other in a transverse direction. In some embodiments, the closed compartment space fits within the outer perimeter of the other components of the blade assembly.
In embodiments, a liquid-dispensing valve mechanism can be associated with the integral liquid storage tank to selectively dispense liquid from the tank upon, for example, a worksite. The valve mechanism can be selectively movable between a closed position and an open position. When the valve mechanism is in the closed position, the valve mechanism prevents liquid flow from the liquid storage tank. When the valve mechanism is in the open position, the valve mechanism allows liquid to flow from the liquid storage tank. The valve mechanism can be biased to the closed position.
In embodiments, an integrated liquid storage tank can define fill ports at either side of the blade assembly to facilitate the ready filling of the integrated liquid storage tank. An upper portion of the liquid storage tank can define the fill ports. The liquid storage tank can be filled with any suitable liquid, such as leachate (e.g., for leachate re-circulating at a landfill) or water (e.g., for soil compacting at construction sites).
The liquid storage tank can be configured such that liquid poured into the liquid storage tank using one of the fill ports disposed at an upper portion of the liquid storage tank can flow to a lower portion of the storage tank through the effects of gravity. The lower portion can define at least one dispensing port adapted to dispense liquid stored in the liquid storage tank.
In embodiments, each fill port of the liquid storage tank can be selectively occluded using a suitable device, such as a threaded plug, for example. In the event of a machine rollover, liquid stored in the integral liquid storage tank would not pour from the overturned liquid storage tank.
In embodiments, a blade assembly can include an integrated liquid storage tank configured such that, when the blade assembly is mounted to a machine, the integrated liquid storage tank does not extend beyond an outer perimeter of the blade assembly to maintain the visibility of an operator in a cab of the machine. The integrated liquid storage tank can also be configured to avoid interfering with blade use. The distance between the back of the blade assembly and the front of the machine can be maintained to provide a predetermined minimum clearance distance to allow a wide range of uses of the blade assembly.
In embodiments, a blade assembly includes an integral liquid storage tank that does not have to be disassembled from the blade assembly for differentiated applications. In use, the blade assembly can be used as a blade alone, as a liquid-dispensing system alone, or as both a blade and a liquid-dispensing system simultaneously.
Referring now to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of a machine 50 in the form of a landfill compactor including an embodiment of a blade assembly 52 constructed in accordance with principles of the present disclosure is illustrated in
The machine 50 includes a body 54 having a front portion or non-engine end 56 and a rear portion or engine end 58. The non-engine end 56 and the engine end 58 of the body 54 are pivotally connected to each other at a hitch or articulation joint arrangement 62 by way of a pair of hinge joints 64. A pair of steering cylinders 68 can be mounted between the non-engine end 56 and the engine end 58 of the body 54 to provide steering.
The engine end 58 of the body 54 can support an operator station or cab 74. The engine end 58 can also support, for example, a power source and cooling system components (not shown). The power source can be operatively connected through a drive train (not shown) to drive at least one ground-engaging device (e.g., wheels, tracks, etc.) for movement of the machine 50. In the illustrated embodiment, ground-engaging devices in the form of wheels 76 are supported by a front axle 78 and a rear axle 79, which in turn are supported by the non-engine end 56 and the engine end 58, respectively. The front axle 78 and the rear axle 79 are connected to the body 54 using any suitable technique as will be understood by one skilled in the art.
In the illustrated embodiment, each wheel 76 includes a plurality of teeth 82 positioned on an outer surface 84 of the wheel 76. The teeth 82 of a particular wheel 76 can be in predetermined, spaced relationship to each other in a specific pattern across the outer surface 84 of the wheel 76 in a well-known manner to provide sufficient compacting force to the ground or debris beneath each wheel 76.
The blade assembly 52 is connected to the front portion 56 of the body 54. The blade assembly 52 is pivotally mounted to the front portion 56 of the body 54 by a first push arm 90 and a second push arm 91. A lift cylinder 94 is pivotally connected at a proximal end 95 to the front portion 56 of the body 54 and at a distal end 96 to the blade assembly 52. The lift cylinder 94 can be operated to selectively raise and lower the blade assembly 52. The lift cylinder 94 can be operated such that the blade assembly 52 is movable over a range of travel between a raised position and a lowered position.
Referring to
Referring to
A wear plate 140 can be attached to a bottom end 142 of each side upright 122, 123. The wear plates 140 can be adapted to provide additional protection against wearing that occurs through use of the blade assembly 52 during typical blade applications, such as bulldozing, for example.
The frame 102 includes a top plate 146 extending between the side uprights 122, 123. The top plate 146 is connected to a top end 148 of each side upright 122, 123 and a top end 150 of the moldboard 104. A plurality of moldboard support gussets 152 extend vertically between the intermediate transverse support 128 and the top plate 146. The moldboard support gussets 152 can help provide rigidity to the moldboard 104.
The push arms 90, 91 extend from the rear side 120 of the blade assembly 52 from the intermediate transverse support 128 and the lower transverse support 130. Each push arm 90, 91 includes a distal end 156 defining a machine mounting hole 158 adapted to receive a connecting element therethrough to pivotally mount the blade assembly 52 to the body 54 of the machine 50. A suitable fastening element can include a pin, for example. In other embodiments, the distal end 156 of each push arm 90, 91 can include another mechanism adapted to pivotally connect the blade assembly 52 to the machine 50, e.g., a trunnion or a component of a ball and socket connection.
Each push arm 90, 91 includes a handling tab 160 disposed adjacent the intermediate transverse support. Each handling tab 160 defines a hole 162 that is adapted to receive a coupling element therethrough, such as a hook or other coupling element, for example. A suitable chain or rope can be secured to the hooks at one end and to a suitable lifting machine at the other end. The lifting machine can lift the blade assembly 52 via the connection through the handling tabs 160 to facilitate the transport of the blade assembly 52 to a desired location.
Referring to
Referring to
The lower transverse support 130 includes a bottom backup plate 190 that extends to the moldboard 104. The bottom backup plate 190 is disposed adjacent the base edge 176 of the moldboard 104. The bottom backup plate 190 defines a bottom of the integral liquid storage tank 110.
A plurality of base edge support gussets 192 can be provided to increase the rigidity of the base edge 176 of the moldboard 104. The base edge support gussets 192 can be welded to the base edge 176 and to the bottom backup plate 190. In other embodiments, other suitable connection techniques can be used.
Referring to
The valve mechanism 114 is adapted to selectively dispense liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 110 from at least one of the dispensing ports 202. The valve mechanism 114 can control the flow of liquid from the liquid storage tank 110 through the dispensing ports 202. The valve mechanism 114 can be suitably supported by the frame 102. To selectively dispense liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 110, the valve mechanism 114 can be moved over a range of travel from a closed position (
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The fill ports 232, 233 can be each adapted to be selectively occluded such that liquid in the liquid storage tank 110 is prevented from being dispensed from the liquid storage tank 110 through the fill ports 232, 233 even in the event of the machine 50 undergoes a rollover. In some embodiments, each fill port 232, 233 can be equipped with a removable threaded plug that threadedly engages the fill port 232, 233 with which it is engaged. In other embodiments, a quick-type fill device such as a spring-loaded flap which opens inwardly can be provided to act as the cover for each fill port 232, 233. The inward-opening flap can allow a user to readily fill the liquid storage tank 110 by, for example, inserting a fill hose into the liquid storage tank 110 by pushing the inward-opening flap into the liquid storage tank 110 to allow the fill hose to be inserted into the liquid storage tank through one of the fill ports 232, 233 without having to remove a threaded plug. The inward-opening flap can also prevent liquid from unintentionally flowing from the liquid storage tank 110 by way of the fill ports 232, 233, even in situations where the machine 50 undergoes a rollover.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 230 of the liquid storage tank 110 is adjacent the rack portion 168 of the moldboard 104, and the lower portion 236 of the liquid storage tank 110 is adjacent the cutting edge blade 106. In some embodiments, the liquid storage tank 110 can include an interior surface 238 having a corrosion-resistant coating.
In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid storage tank 110 includes a first outer segment 250, a second outer segment 252, and a middle segment 254 disposed between the first and second outer segments 250, 252. Each outer segment 250, 252 is disposed in outward lateral relationship to one of the push arms 90, 91. The middle segment 254 is disposed between the first and second outer segments 250, 252. Each outer segment 250, 252 of the liquid storage tank 110 includes one of the fill ports 232, 233. In some embodiments, a fill port can be provided in the middle segment 254.
The first outer segment 250 of the liquid storage tank 110 is defined by the first side upright 122, the moldboard 104, a first portion 260 of the intermediate transverse support 128 defining the first fill port 232, the first cover plate 132 (
The first and second outer segments 250, 252 are substantially mirror images of each other. Accordingly, it should be understood that the description of one of the outer segments 250, 252 is applicable to the other, as well.
In the first outer segment 250 of the liquid storage tank 110, the first portion 260 of the intermediate transverse support 128, the moldboard 104, the first side upright 122, and the first push arm 90 define an upper compartment 280. The bottom flange 218 of the intermediate transverse support 128, the first cover plate 132, the top flange 217 of the lower transverse support 130, the moldboard 104, the first side upright 122, and the first push arm 90 define an intermediate compartment 282. The first portion 262 of the lower transverse support 130, the moldboard 104, the first side upright 122, and the first push arm 90 define a first outer lower compartment 284.
The bottom flange 218 of the intermediate transverse support 128 includes a plurality of upper transfer holes 288 in communication with the upper compartment 280 and the intermediate compartment 282. The upper transfer holes 288 are adapted to allow fluid to flow between the upper compartment 280 and the intermediate compartment 282 of the first outer segment 250 of the liquid storage tank 110. For example, the upper transfer holes 288 allow liquid entering the upper compartment 280 of the first outer segment 250 of the liquid storage tank 110 through the first fill port 232 to flow through the upper compartment 280 into the intermediate compartment 282.
The top flange 217 of the lower transverse support 130 includes a plurality of lower transfer holes 290 in communication with the intermediate compartment 282 and the first outer lower compartment 284. The lower transfer holes 290 are adapted to allow fluid to flow between the intermediate compartment 282 and the first outer lower compartment 284 of the first outer segment 250 of the liquid storage tank 110. For example, the lower transfer holes 290 are adapted to allow fluid in the intermediate compartment 282 to flow from the intermediate compartment 282 to the first outer lower compartment 284.
The second outer segment 252 of the liquid storage tank 110 is a mirror image of the first outer segment 250. The second outer segment 252 includes an upper compartment 300, an intermediate compartment 302, and a second outer lower compartment 304.
Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the compartments 280, 282, 284, 300, 302, 304, 326 of the liquid storage tank 110 can have a coating applied to its interior to enhance the corrosion resistance of the storage tank 110. In other embodiments, other corrosion resistance measures can be taken.
In use, the liquid can flow from one of the upper compartments 280, 300 to the associated outer lower compartments 284, 304. Liquid can be selectively dispensed from the dispensing ports 202 across the lower compartments 284, 304 and the middle compartment 326 of the liquid storage tank 110. The valve mechanism 114 can control the flow of liquid from the liquid storage tank 110 through the dispensing ports 202.
A user can fill the liquid storage tank 110 by pouring liquid through one of the fill ports 232, 233 in the upper portion 230 of the liquid storage tank 110. For example, liquid entering the liquid storage tank 110 through the first fill port 232 enters the upper compartment 280 of the first outer segment 250.
Referring to
Liquid in the first outer lower compartment 284 can also flow through the middle transfer holes 314 disposed in the first push arm 90 into the middle segment 254 of the liquid storage tank 110. The liquid can continue to flow from the middle segment 254 to the second outer lower compartment 304 of the second outer segment 252 of the liquid storage tank 110. Liquid can flow between the first and second outer lower compartments 284, 304 and the middle compartment 326 so that the liquid in the storage tank 110 can achieve a self-balancing level. When the first and second outer lower compartments 284, 304 and the middle compartment 326 are completely filled with liquid, the self-balancing action of the liquid continues in the intermediate compartments 282, 302 of the first and second outer segments 250, 252 of the liquid storage tank 110. Further, when the intermediate compartments 282, 302 of the first and second outer segments 250, 252 are completely filled with liquid, the self-balancing action of the liquid continues in the upper compartments 280, 300 of the first and second outer segments 250, 252 of the liquid storage tank 110.
Referring to
In embodiments, the valve mechanism 114 can include a plurality of valve segments 340, 342, 344 corresponding to the outer segments 250, 252 and the middle segment 254 of the liquid storage tank 110. Each valve segment 340, 342, 344 can include a spring-loaded torsion bar 350 and a seal member 352 connected together by a framework 354. The framework 354 can include a series of curved connecting arms 358 in spaced relationship to each other axially along the torsion bar 350.
The torsion bar 350 and the seal member 352 are pivotally connected together via the framework 354 such that the seal member 352 is movable over a range of travel between a sealed position (
In embodiments, each valve segment 340, 342, 344 can include a trigger mechanism 364 that is arranged with the torsion bar 350. The trigger mechanism 364 can be operated to selectively move the seal member 352 from the sealed position to the disengaged position. In the illustrated embodiment, the trigger mechanism 364 is in the form of a handle.
In some embodiments, each valve segment 340, 342, 344 can be independently operated by the associated trigger mechanism 364 to selectively dispense liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 110 from the dispensing ports 202 occluded by the respective valve segment 340, 342, 344 associated with the operated trigger mechanism 364.
In other embodiments, the trigger mechanisms of various valve segments can be tied together such that operating one trigger mechanism operates the other trigger mechanisms so that the entire valve mechanism is in the open position. In still other embodiments, a trigger mechanism can be provided that is adapted to selectively operate multiple valve segments.
The valve mechanism 114 can be arranged with the dispensing ports 202 and adapted to selectively dispense liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 110 from the dispensing ports 202. Referring to
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing element 370 comprises a neoprene pad. In other embodiments, other suitable materials can be used for the sealing element 370.
The valve segment 340 can be biased to a sealed position in which the sealing element 370 sealingly occludes the dispensing ports 202 over which the seal member 352 is disposed. A biasing mechanism in the form of the torsion bar 350, for example, can force the neoprene sealing element 370 against the dispensing ports 202 in the bottom of the liquid storage tank 110 to prevent liquid in the liquid storage tank 110 from flowing out of the tank 110 through the dispensing ports 202 while the valve segment 340 is in the sealed position.
The torsion bar 350 provides rotational force to the connecting arms 358 of the framework 354 to urge the seal member 352 against the dispensing ports 202 disposed at the bottom of the liquid storage tank 110 to prevent liquid flow from the tank 110. An external force can be applied to the torsion bar 350 to overcome the biasing force it creates which urges the torsion bar 350 to the sealed position to rotate the seal member 352 from the sealed position to the disengaged position.
The trigger mechanism 364 can be provided to selectively rotate the valve segment 340 against the biasing rotational force of the torsion bar 350 to separate the neoprene sealing element 370 from the dispensing ports 202 at the bottom of the liquid storage tank 110 to release liquid from the storage tank 110. In the illustrated valve segment 340, a handle 374 is mounted to the torsion bar 350 to facilitate the movement of the torsion bar 350 from the sealed position to the released position. The illustrated handle 374 can be provided to facilitate the application of external force to the torsion bar 350.
In embodiments, a latch mechanism (not shown) can be provided that is selectively engageable with the handle 374 to retain the handle 374 in place when the torsion bar 350 is acted upon to move the seal member 352 to the disengaged position. The handle 374 and the latch can be operated manually to open the dispensing ports 202 at the bottom of the tank 110.
In other embodiments, the valve segment 340 can be provided with a trigger mechanism 364 that is adapted to be triggered so that the torsion bar 350 moves the seal member 352 from the sealed position to the disengaged position by lowering the blade assembly 52 to the point where the trigger mechanism 364 contacts an external object (e.g., a handle can be triggered by coming into contacting engagement with the ground or a part of the body 54 of the machine 50). In other embodiments, the trigger mechanism 364 can be in the form of an electric step motor adapted to be operated remotely to rotate the seal member 352 about the torsion bar 350. In still other embodiments, the trigger mechanism 364 can be in the form of a hydraulically-activated actuator or valve provided within the torsion bar 350 and adapted to selectively rotate the framework 354.
Referring to
The industrial applicability of embodiments of a blade assembly constructed according to principles of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated from the foregoing discussion. The described principles are applicable to various machines and equipment and have applicability in many machines which use dozer blades.
For example, in some embodiments, a worksite can comprise a landfill. Leachate can be collected from the landfill and poured into an integral liquid storage tank 110 of a blade assembly 52 constructed in accordance with principles of the present disclosure. The leachate can be re-circulated to the landfill by reintroducing the collected leachate into the landfill. A machine 50 to which the blade assembly 52 is mounted can traverse a surface of the landfill and dispense the collected leachate from the liquid storage tank 110 of the blade assembly 52. The surface of the landfill can be wetted with leachate to promote compaction, litter control, and uniform distribution of liquid throughout the waste mass of the landfill.
In another embodiment, an integral liquid storage tank 110 of a blade assembly 52 constructed in accordance with principles of the present disclosure can be mounted to a machine 50. The liquid storage tank 110 can be filled with water. The machine 50 can be driven over a worksite that includes an area of soil selected for compaction. The machine 50 can traverse the worksite area. Water can be dispensed from the liquid storage tank 110 of the blade assembly 52 upon the worksite area to promote the compaction of the soil.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for the features of interest, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise specifically indicated.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
