Patent Application
20150122962
The present disclosure relates to reclaiming machines. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a floating mixing chamber for the reclaiming machines.
Various soil stabilizing and reclaiming machines are known in the earth moving machine industry. Such machines are generally equipped with a rotary cutter for working the soil or road material. The rotary cutter of the reclaiming machines is covered by a hood member that forms an open bottom mixing chamber for mixing additives to the material excavated by the rotary cutter. The mixing chamber supports additive-adding nozzles, fixtures, and other components required for mixing. For effectively mixing the additives to the worked material, bottom surface of the mixing chamber is to be kept in contact with the ground, that is, the mixing chamber should float on the ground by avoiding sinking into the ground while maintaining contact with the ground.
In order to avoid wear and tear of the bottom surface of the mixing chamber and to avoid excessive drag forces on the bottom surface of the chamber, a stopper mechanism is generally provided in existing systems. The stopper mechanism restricts the mixing chamber from sinking deep into the soil on the ground. The stopper mechanism stops the mixing chamber from moving downwards towards or into the soil after a certain amount of movement. However, there may be situations when the amount of movement allowed by the stopper mechanism still lets the mixing chamber sink into the mud during the stabilization process. In these situations, the bottom surface of the mixing chamber may wear out quickly, and may also result in lower fuel economy due to the high amount of drag forces, and lower service life of the ground engaging parts. These effects may lead to higher working costs and reduced life of some parts of the machine.
The present disclosure is directed to one or more of these problems associated with reclaiming machines.
A support assembly is disclosed herein for floating a mixing chamber of a reclaiming machine. The reclaiming machine comprises a rotary cutter, a mixing chamber for covering the rotary cutter, and the support assembly. The support assembly comprises a rod member, an L-linkage, a stop member, a float linkage, and a hydraulic cylinder.
The rod member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The rod member is pivotally supported on a frame of the reclaiming machine at the first end portion and the second end portion. The rod member is further coupled to the L-linkage and the stop member.
The L-linkage includes a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the rod member and the second end is coupled to the mixing chamber. The L-linkage is configured to rotate the rod member due to a movement of the mixing chamber, thereby causing a rotation of the stop member.
The float linkage of the support assembly comprises a base plate, a first section and a second section positioned at opposite ends of the base plate and a spring mounted on the base plate. The first section of the float linkage is in the form of a hollow cylinder pivotally coupled to the rod member. The spring of the float linkage is capable of being abutted with the stop member and configured to stop the rotation of the stop member in a plurality of positions. The second section of the float linkage is pivoted to the hydraulic cylinder.
The hydraulic cylinder is pivoted to the second section of the float linkage and mounted on the frame of the reclaiming machine. The hydraulic cylinder is configured to extend and retract to cause pivoting movement of the float linkage at the first section and adjust a position of the float linkage to one of a plurality of positions.
The rod member 202 of the support assembly 108 is connected to the L-linkage 208. The L-linkage 208 includes a first end 210 and a second end 212. The first end 210 of the L-linkage 208 is coupled to the first end portion 204 of the rod member 202 in a manner such that the rod member 202 rotates with the movement of the L-linkage 208. In other words, the first end 210 of the L-linkage 208 is rigidly attached to the first end portion 204 such that the movement of the L-linkage 208 is transmitted into rotation of the rod member 202.
The second end 212 of the L-linkage 208 can be pivoted at the mixing chamber 106. Hence the L-linkage 208, at the first end is connected with the rod member 202 and at the second end 212 is connected with the mixing chamber 106. The L-linkage 208 is configured to translate a vertically upward and downward movement of the mixing chamber 106 into the rotational movement of the rod member 202. In other words, any movement in the mixing chamber 106 while floating over the ground is translated into rotation of the rod member 202. In an embodiment, one or more L-linkages 208 can be attached with the rod member 202. In one embodiment the L-linkage 208 can be attached at first end portion 204 of the rod member 202. In another embodiment a similar L-linkage can be attached at the second end portion 206 of the rod member 202.
The rod member 202 of the support assembly 108 is also connected to the stop member 214 at the first end portion 204 of the rod member 202. The stop member 214 rotates with the rotation of the rod member 202. Hence, the vertical upward and downward movement of the mixing chamber 106 causes the movement on the rod member 202 and thereby the stop member 214. The vertical movement of the mixing chamber 106 can be translated into rotation of the stop member 214 through the L-linkage 208 and the rod member 202. In alternative embodiments, one or more stop member can be coupled to the rod member 202. In one embodiment, the stop member 214 is coupled at the first end portion 204 of the rod member 202. In another embodiment, a stop member similar to the stop member 214 can be coupled at the second end portion 206 of the rod member 202.
The support assembly 108 further includes the float linkage 216. The magnified view of the float linkages 216 is shown in
The base plate 218 of the float linkage 216 can be a flat metal surface. The spring 224 is mounted on the base plate 218. In an embodiment, the spring 224 can be a rubber stopper or a resilient material which can act as a spring. The spring 224 is capable of being abutted with the stop member 214. The spring 224 abuts the stop member 214 connected with the rod member 202 to prevent further movement of the stop member 214.
In an embodiment, a float linkage and a hydraulic cylinder similar to float linkage 216 and the hydraulic cylinder 226 can be mounted at the second end portion 206 of the rod member 202.
Although, the present disclosure is explained with reference to one L-linkage 216, one stop member 214, one float linkage 216, and one hydraulic cylinder 226, it is contemplated that any number of L-linkages 208, stop members 214, float linkages 216, and hydraulic cylinders 226 are within the scope of the present disclosure.
In operation, when the mixing chamber 106 moves downwards, the vertical motion of the mixing chamber 106 can be transmitted to the L-linkages 208. The L-linkages 208 further induces a rotary motion in the rod member 202 about the longitudinal axis X-X. The rotation of the rod member 202 causes the stop members 214 to rotate about the axis X-X. The rotation of the stop members 214 is restricted after a certain angle of rotation by the spring 224 of the float linkages 216. This in turn restricts further movement of the mixing chamber 106 after moving for a corresponding depth. In other words, the amount of rotation allowed for the stop members 214 corresponds to the amount of vertical movement allowed to the mixing chamber 106. Hence, the position of the spring 224 on the base plate 218 can be modified to constraint the movement of the stop members 214, and thereby restrict the movement of the mixing chamber 106.
In an embodiment, the amount of movement allowed to the mixing chamber 106 may require to be changed depending on the desired distance of the mixing chamber 106 from the ground. The amount of movement allowed to the mixing chamber 106 may be changed by adjusting the angle between the stop member 214 and the spring 224. In other words, the angular position of the float linkages 216 is modified to adjust the position of the spring 224. The angular position of the float linkages 216 can be adjusted by expanding or retracting the hydraulic cylinders 226. It is contemplated that the expansion of the hydraulic cylinder 226 rotates the float linkage 216 anti clockwise and reduces the angular distance between the stop member 214 and the spring 224. Similarly, retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 226 again rotates the float linkage 216 clockwise, and increases the angular distance between the stop member 214 and the spring 224. Hence, vertical movement of the mixing chamber 106 can be controlled by adjusting a position of the float linkage 216 to one of a plurality of positions.
In an exemplary embodiment, a first sensor may be mounted on the bottom surface of the mixing chamber 106. In another embodiment, the first sensor can be mounted on the frame 102. The first sensor may measure the distance of the mixing chamber 106 from the ground. The first sensor may provide an output corresponding to the distance of the mixing chamber 106 from the ground to a control system. Further, a second sensor and a third sensor may continuously monitor and provide angular position of the float linkage 216 to a control system.
The control system may instruct a controller, based on the output from the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor. The controller may control the expansion and retraction of the hydraulic cylinders 226. The hydraulic cylinder 226 may be adjusted at the positions such that, the float linkages 216 may allow a calculated amount of rotation to the stop member 214. The calculated amount of rotation of the stop member 214 allows corresponding amount of movement to the mixing chamber 106.
In an exemplary embodiment, the spring 224 of the float linkage 216 can be about an angle of 30 degree from the stop member 214 which allows the mixing chamber 106 a downward movement of about 245 mm. The first sensor measures the distance between the mixing chamber 106 and the ground to be 200 mm. For restricting the mixing chamber 106, to a movement of 200 mm, the float linkages 216 are to be adjusted such that the angle between the stop member 214 and the spring 224 is of 24 degree. The first sensor gives an output to the control system. The control system activates a controller. The controller controls the hydraulic cylinders 226. The hydraulic cylinders 226 are expanded or retracted to adjust the float linkage 216, hence the angle between the stop member 214 and the spring 224 to 24 degree. The example in the above embodiment may be considered as exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
As shown in
As shown in
