Patent Application
20160207472
The present disclosure relates to a holder assembly, and more particularly to a holder assembly for mounting of an accumulator.
Machines such as those used in the mining industry include a hydraulic system associated with steering and/or brake systems of the machine. The hydraulic system includes accumulators associated therewith. The accumulators are configured to store pressurized fluid therein, which may be used by the hydraulic system during an operation of the machine. The accumulators are generally coupled to a frame of the machine using a holder system. The accumulators associated with the machines operating in the mining environment are generally large and heavy. It is desirable that the holder system is robust enough to survive the load of the accumulators. If not, the holder system may fail during an operation of the machine, thereby leading to an accumulator detachment and/or hydraulic system issues.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,727 describes an accumulator for a hydraulic system including a polymer liner defining a cavity. A metal bellows assembly is housed in the cavity and separates the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, with the first and second chambers isolated from one another by the bellows assembly. A composite shell substantially encases the liner. The liner and shell are configured so that the first chamber receives hydraulic fluid from and delivers hydraulic fluid through an opening in the liner and the shell as the bellows assembly expands and compresses due to pressurized gas in the second chamber balancing fluid pressure changes in the first chamber.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a bracket assembly for an accumulator is provided. The bracket assembly includes a holding element. The holding element includes a body having a front surface and two side surfaces. The two side surfaces extend from two ends of the front surface. Further, an inner side of the holding element is configured to face the accumulator. The holding element also includes a corner portion disposed at each of the two ends of the front surface. The corner portion is formed by an angular relationship between the front surface and each of the two side surfaces at the respective end of the front surface. The bracket assembly also includes a mold member extending from the inner side of the holding element. A thickness of the mold member at the corner portion is greater than a thickness of the mold member at the front surface of the holding element, such that the mold member at the corner portion is configured to be in a contacting relationship with the accumulator.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a holder assembly for an accumulator is provided. The holder assembly includes a housing having a hollow configuration. The housing includes one or more cut portions formed thereon, such that the one or more cut portions are provided laterally spaced apart from each other. Further, each of the one or more cut portions has a curved profile configured to receive the accumulator. The holder assembly also includes a holding element coupled to the housing. The holding element includes a front surface and two side surfaces. The two side surfaces extend from two ends of the front surface, wherein an inner side of the holding element is configured to face the accumulator. The holding element also includes a corner portion disposed at each of the two ends of the front surface. The corner portion is formed by an angular relationship between the front surface and each of the two side surfaces at the respective end of the front surface. The holder assembly also includes a mold member extending from the inner side of the holding element. A thickness of the mold member at the corner portion is greater than a thickness of the mold member at the front surface of the holding element, such that the mold member at the corner portion is configured to be in a contacting relationship with the accumulator.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided. The system includes a plurality of accumulators. The system also includes a holder assembly for each of the plurality of accumulators. The holder assembly includes a housing having a hollow configuration. The housing includes one or more cut portions formed thereon. The one or more cut portions are provided laterally spaced apart from each other, wherein each of the one or more cut portions has a curved profile to receive each of the plurality of accumulators therein. The holder assembly also includes a holding element coupled to the housing. The holding element includes a body having a front surface and two side surfaces. The two side surfaces extend from two ends of the front surface, wherein an inner side of the holding element faces each of the plurality of accumulators. The holding element also includes a corner portion disposed at each of the two ends of the front surface. The corner portion is formed by an angular relationship between the front surface and each of the two side surfaces at the respective end of the front surface. The holder assembly also includes a mold member extending from the inner side of the holding element. A thickness of the mold member at the corner portion is greater than a thickness of the mold member at the front surface of the holding element, such that the mold member at the corner portion is in a contacting relationship with each of the plurality of accumulators.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts. An exemplary embodiment of a machine 100, according to the present disclosure is shown in
The machine 100 may include an engine (not shown) associated therewith. The machine 100 also includes a plurality of ground-engaging elements 104, in this case being wheels. As should be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the engine may provide propulsion power to the ground-engaging elements 104 and may power a variety of other machine systems, including various mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems and/or components. Further, the machine 100 may also include an operator control station 106, including a variety of operator controls and displays useful for operating the machine 100 and/or a dump body 108 which may be pivotal relative to the frame 102
The machine 100 includes a braking system (not shown). An actuation of the braking system may slow down or halt the machine 100, as per an operator's command The braking system may be operated hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, or mechanically. Further, the machine 100 includes a steering system (not shown). The steering system is configured to change a course of the machine 100, based on inputs from the operator. The steering system associated with the machine 100 may be operated hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, or mechanically. In a situation wherein the steering and/or braking systems are hydraulically operated, the steering and/or braking systems may include a plurality of accumulators 202 associated therewith. Three such exemplary accumulators 202 are as shown in
The present disclosure is directed towards a holder assembly 200. The holder assembly 200 is used for coupling the accumulators 202 to the frame 102 of the machine 100. The holder assembly 200 includes a fixture plate 204. The fixture plate 204 is provided near a bottom portion 206 of the accumulator 202. The fixture plate 204 is configured to be coupled to the frame 102 of the machine 100. More particularly, a first plate 208 of the fixture plate 204 is attached to the frame 102 of the machine 100. Further, each of the accumulators 202 is configured to rest on a second plate 210 of the fixture plate 204.
Referring to
As shown in the accompanying figures, the housing 212 includes at least one cut portion 216. In one example, the cut portion 216 of the housing 212 may be formed using a laser cutting operation. Alternatively, the cut portion 216 may be formed using any conventional metal forming techniques known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, a profile of the cut portion 216 is decided based on a shape of the accumulator 202. In the illustrated embodiment, the cut portion 216 of the housing 212 has a curved profile 218. The curved profile 218 of the cut portion 216 is configured to receive the accumulator 202 therein. Further, the number of the cut portions 216 in the housing 212 may depend on the number of accumulators 202 held by the holder assembly 200. The housing 212 of the illustrated embodiment includes three cut portions 216 provided along a length of the housing 212. The cut portions 216 on the housing 212 are provided laterally spaced apart from each other along a length of the housing 212.
Referring to
Referring to
The present disclosure will be explained in reference to the first holding element 300. The first holding element 300 is hereinafter interchangeably referred to as the holding element 300. Referring to
The body 304 also includes a pair of side surfaces, namely a first side surface 314 and a second side surface 316. The first and second side surfaces 314, 316 of the body 304 extend from the first and second ends 308, 310 of the front surface 306 respectively. The holding element 300 includes a corner portion 320, 322 disposed at each of the first and second ends 308, 310 of the front surface 306. The corner portions 320, 322 are formed by an angular relationship between the front surface 306 and each of the first and second side surfaces 314, 316 at the respective end 308, 310 of the front surface 306. In one example, the angular relationship between the front surface 306 and each of the first and second side surfaces 314, 316 at the respective end 308, 310 of the front surface 306 may be approximately between 65 to 100 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle between the front surface 306 and each of the respective first and second surfaces 314, 316 may be approximately between 65 to 85 degrees or approximately between 85 to 100 degrees. For example, the front surface 306 may form an angle of approximately 90 degrees with each of the first and second side surfaces 314, 316 of the holding element 300 respectively.
The holding element 300 includes a pair of mounting legs 324, 326 extending from each of the first and second side surfaces 314, 316 of the holding element 300. The pair of mounting legs 324, 326 is configured to couple the holding element 300 to the attachment surfaces 228 of the housing 212. Referring to
It should be noted that the body 304 of the holding element 300 may have a unitary piece design. Any known additive or subtractive manufacturing process may be used to manufacture the body 304 of the holding element 300. In one example, a casting process may be used to manufacture the holding element 300. Alternatively, the front surface 306, the side surfaces 314, 316, and the mounting legs 324, 326 may be manufactured as separate components and assembled later on to form the holding element 300.
Referring to
The mold member 400 includes a first surface 404 and a second surface 406. The first surface 404 of the mold member 400 may have a planar profile. Alternatively, the first surface 404 of the mold member 400 may have a curved profile. The second surface 406 of the mold member 400 has a curved profile 408. The curved profile 408 includes a pair of surfaces 410, 412 configured to contact with the accumulator 202. As shown in
It should be noted that the design of the mold member 400 is not limited to that explained herein, and may vary based on system requirements. For example, in one embodiment, instead of two contacting surfaces 410, 412, a single surface of the mold member 400 may contact the accumulator 202. In such an example, a thickness of the mold member 400 at the single surface may be greater as compared to a thickness near remaining portions of the mold member 400.
As shown in
Hydraulic systems associated with a steering system of a machine generally include a plurality of accumulators. The accumulators are configured to store pressurized fluid source therein. A size of the accumulator varies based on a type of the machine and an operating environment of the machine. Accumulators for the machine, such as a mining truck are generally heavy in weight. The mounting of these accumulators onto a frame of the machine requires a robust holder assembly, to ensure the accumulators remain functional and undamaged.
The present disclosure describes the holder assembly 200 for the accumulators 202. The holder assembly 200 includes the housing 212. The housing 212 includes the plurality of cut portions 216. In one example, the cut portions 216 may be provided using the laser cutting operation. The holder assembly 200 further includes the bracket assembly 301. The bracket assembly 301 is coupled to the housing 212 using the mechanical fasteners 328. The bracket assembly 301 includes the holding element 300, 302 and the mold member 400. The body 304 of the holding element 300, 302 may be completely or partially received within the mold member 400.
The mold member 400 of the bracket assembly 301 may be made of urethane, allowing for optimal compression. Further, the mold member 400 has the thickness “T” which is thicker near the corner portions 320, 322 of the holding element 300, 302 in order to firmly hold the accumulator 202 within the interior space 414. The accumulators 202 are supported within the holder assembly 200, such that the accumulators 202 are supported at three points, i.e., by the surfaces 410, 412 and by the pad 226 respectively. Alternatively, the accumulators 202 may be supported within the holder assembly 200 at two points, i.e., by a single surface of the mold member 400 and by the pad 226 respectively. This feature ensures and promotes a stable holding of the accumulators 202 within the holder assembly 200. The present design of the holder assembly 200 can accommodate an array of tolerances and provide a solid bolted joint. The holder assembly 200 has a robust and sturdy structure.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
