Patent Application
20160194852
The present invention relates to industrial machinery and specifically to an excavator attachment gripping device.
As is known in the prior art, mini-excavators use one end of a working arm for a variety of attachments. Such attachments are well known in the prior art and included buckets, forks, tie tampers and etc. In the related art, a known gripping device provided at an end of a working arm of a working machine includes a gripping-device body mounted to the working arm, a pair of movable gripping members that are pivotably connected to the gripping-device body so as to be openable and closable with respect to each other, and a driver that drives these gripping members so as to open and close the gripping members.
Such gripping devices are not capable of grasping buckets, attachments or to be used for digging. As such an operator is required to switch from the gripping attachment to a bucket attachment or a digging attachment. Having such a requirement for switching prolongs the time required to perform a task and inconveniences the excavator operator.
Conventional grapples are generally used for lifting and moving objects but are not capable of performing heavy work themselves as the arrangement of the pivoting grasping members may be too fragile to withstand excessive downward force.
The prior art describes bucket attachments for excavators that contain a “thumb” attachment. These attachments are capable of performing the work of a bucket and perform some grasping of objects. However, picking up of single objects and smaller objects such as railroad ties is often difficult with such devices. There is a need for a device that is capable of performing multiple tasks such as grasping of a collection or single objects and that has a means for quickly attaching and using other conventional attachments so as to save time and make the use of an excavator easier for multipurpose tasks.
The present invention is a multifunctional grappling attachment for an excavator arm. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gripping device capable of gripping various types and various sizes of objects without the requirement of switching between attachments. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention consists of a grappling body which is mounted to the excavator arm. The grappling body is further made of a first grappling member and a second grappling member. The grappling members are aligned in parallel and are pivotally supported at the ends proximal to the excavator arm. The grappling members are configured to open and close on command by an excavator operator.
Furthermore, the grappling members of the present invention are designed such that they are able to grab different sizes of objects. The grappling members at their distal end contain a flat portion which is used for picking up smaller objects such as rail road ties. The grappling members also contain a plurality of grooves which aid the present invention in grasping larger objects such as logs, pipes, and other similar objects. A specially designed groove in the grappling members also allows the present invention to pick up excavator buckets. Accordingly, the present invention is capable of replacing several tools.
The present invention is further capable of being mounted on a tiltrotator attached to the excavator arm. A tiltrotator allows for 360 degree rotation and +/−40 degree tilt of the present invention thereby providing more flexibility and range in the use of the present invention. The present invention is engaged with the tiltrotator via a quick-coupler assembly that is part of the tiltrotator's body.
Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Reference is now made to
The gripping portion 121-131 also allows for lifting other attachments and gripping and keeping them in a straight position such that it allows for them to be used for digging. The pivotal joint of the grappling members is located within the grappling body 11 and is covered by a metal plate 111 on each side. A single pin pivoting assembly is located in the grasping body 11 and is covered by the metal plate 111. An alternative embodiment of the present invention 10 can include having each grappling member 12-13 on separate pins located inside the grappling body 11. As the grappling members 12-13 open and close they exert a force on the pivot that may misalign the grappling members 12-13 with each opening and closing motion. The metal plates 111 act against that force and serve to keep the pivoting assembly from misaligning the grappling members 12-13 with each opening and closing motion.
The metal plate 111 also protrudes at the bottom creating a flange 112 to which various attachments are held securely. When a force is exerted on an attachment held by the present invention 10, the flange 112 prevents any motion and misalignment of the attachment. A lack of a straight flange 112 that aligns with the attachment may result in tools rocking back and forth and a user having to readjust the position of the attachments.
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One embodiment of the present invention 10 is it being used on a rail excavator. As such, the present invention is mounted 10 on a tiltrotator 22 attached to a rail excavator arm. In this embodiment, the present invention 10 is capable of grasping the required tools for rail installation or removal. Since the present invention is capable of grasping and holding a wide variety of excavator tools and attachments, it is capable of performing the task much faster than conventional rail excavator attachments.
In this embodiment, the present invention's usability is demonstrated in an example in which a railway tie is to be replaced. The present invention can use the gripping portion 121 or 131 as a tool to loosen up a ballast where a tie 30 has been removed so as to provide a means for placing a new railroad tie 30. When enough space has been made for inserting a railroad tie 30, the present invention 10 will then grasp a railroad tie with the gripping portion 121-131 of its grasping members 12-13 and maneuver it in position underneath the rail. The gripping surface 121-131 on the lateral side of the grasping members may also be used to exert force on the railroad tie 30 when inserting. Once the tie 30 has been inserted and the rail plates installed on top of the tie 30, the tie tamper 40 attached to the present invention 10 tamps the tie 30 forcing the ballast underneath the railway tie 30 and thus forcing the tie upward against the rail. At any time during this process the present invention 10 is capable of grasping a bucket 50 and moving tools or gravel that have been placed in it if such a need arises.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
