Patent Grant
9702111
This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) an apparatus for a bulldozer crawler tractor.
A bulldozer is a crawler (continuous tracked tractor, bulldozer crawler tractor) equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, or other such material during construction or conversion work.
The bulldozer may be equipped at the rear with a claw-like device (known as a ripper) to loosen densely compacted materials, or a winch used for towing, etc. The term “bulldozer” is often used erroneously to mean any heavy equipment (sometimes a loader and sometimes an excavator), but precisely, the term refers only to a tractor (usually tracked) fitted with a dozer blade.
The ripper is the long claw-like device positioned on the back section of the bulldozer. Rippers can come as a single (single shank/giant ripper) or in groups of two or more (multi shank rippers). Usually, a single shank is preferred for heavy ripping. A multi-shank ripper may be deployed and used for light ripping operations. The ripper shank is fitted with a replaceable tungsten steel alloy tip. The ripper is used to break the ground surface rock or pavement into small rubble easy to handle and transport that can then be removed (so grading can take place). With agricultural ripping, a farmer breaks up rocky or very hard earth that is otherwise unploughable (in order to farm the land). With oilfield ripping operations, the multi-shank ripper is used to rip small areas of hard packed dirt, roots and stumps, etc.
The winch is a hydraulic-powered rotating drum with a wire or rope cable positioned on the back section of the bulldozer. The winch is used for towing or pulling. Fairlead rollers are attached so the machine can winch sideways (if desired).
An example of the bulldozer is the CATERPILLAR (TRADEMARK) Model D7 bulldozer that is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by CATERPILLAR Inc., and is as a bulldozer equipped with a detachable large blade and a rear ripper single shank ripper attachment. The CATERPILLAR Model D7 bulldozer is equipped with a large blade, a rear multi-shank ripper attachment or a rear winch attachment.
It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least in part) at least one problem associated with existing bulldozer crawler tractors. After much study of the known systems and methods with experimentation, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been identified and is articulated as follows:
Existing bulldozer crawler tractors have either a ripper assembly or a winch assembly (deployed as a rear attachment). Existing bulldozer crawler tractors have been traded out because of the rear attachment lacks the required assembly.
Therefore, by combining the ripper assembly and the winch assembly as a combination assembly that is mountable to the bulldozer crawler tractor, there is a synergy developed because of the improved versatility provided by such a combination.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with existing bulldozer crawler tractors, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus is for a bulldozer crawler tractor. The apparatus includes (and is not limited to) a mounting assembly that is configured to fixedly attach to the bulldozer crawler tractor. A ripper assembly is configured to be operatively attached to the mounting assembly. A winch assembly is configured to be operatively mounted to the ripper assembly.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with existing bulldozer crawler tractors, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus includes (and is not limited to) a bulldozer crawler tractor. A mounting assembly is configured to fixedly attach to the bulldozer crawler tractor. A ripper assembly is configured to be operatively attached to the mounting assembly. A winch assembly is configured to be operatively mounted to the ripper assembly.
Other aspects are identified in the claims.
Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims. For the description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that the phrase “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.
In accordance with a first specific embodiment (as depicted in
In accordance with a second specific embodiment (as depicted in
In accordance with the specific embodiments (as depicted in
In accordance with the specific embodiments (as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiment (as depicted in
The vehicle mount 200 defines a top swivel position 202. The top swivel position 202 is also called a swivel point, and two instances are depicted. The top swivel positions 202 (of each vehicle mount 200) are spaced apart from each other once the machine mounts 200 are operatively fixedly attached to the rear section of the bulldozer crawler tractor 900 (in a spaced apart arrangement). The top swivel position 202 is configured to be attached to the first swivel point 500 of the ripper-moving assembly 302 (as depicted in
The vehicle mount 200 also defines a bottom swivel point 204 (two instances are provided). The bottom swivel points 204 of each vehicle mount 200 are spaced apart from each other once the machine mounts 200 are operatively fixedly attached to the rear section of the bulldozer crawler tractor 900. The bottom swivel points 204 are spaced apart from the top swivel positions 202. The bottom swivel point 204 is configured to be attached to a third swivel point 700 of the winch-support assembly 306 (as depicted in
The machine mounts 200 provide an upper extension portion 206 that extends laterally toward the bulldozer crawler tractor 900. The upper extension portion 206 is configured to operatively fixedly (securely) connect to the rear section of the bulldozer crawler tractor 900. The upper extension portions 206 are spaced apart from each other once the upper extension portions 206 are operatively mounted to the bulldozer crawler tractor 900.
The machine mounts 200 provide a lower extension portion 208 that extends laterally. The lower extension portions 208 are configured to operatively fixedly (securely) connect to the rear section of the bulldozer crawler tractor 900. The lower extension portions 208 are spaced apart from each other. The lower extension portions 208 are spaced apart from the upper extension portions 206. The lower extension portions 208 are positioned below the upper extension portions 206.
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
The actuator assembly 300 may include a hydraulic piston, an electrical actuator or any equivalent thereof. The actuator assembly 300 includes a first end providing an first attachment point 400. The actuator assembly 300 also includes a second end having an second attachment point 402. The first attachment point 400 and the second attachment point 402 are spaced apart from each other (at the opposite ends of the actuator assembly 300). It will be appreciated that two instances of the actuator assembly 300 are deployed for the case where two instances of the ripper-moving assembly 302 are deployed (one instance of the actuator assembly 300 for each instance of the ripper-moving assembly 302). The first attachment point 400 is configured to be attached to the connection point 704 of the winch-support assembly 306. The second attachment point 402 is configured to be attached to the mounting point 608 of the ripper-support assembly 304.
The ripper-moving assembly 302 may be called longitudinally-extending bars. The ripper-moving assembly 302 is configured to move (lift or lower) the ripper-support assembly 304 (with assistance from the actuator assembly 300). Two instances of the ripper-moving assembly 302 are depicted, and are spaced apart from each other once the ripper-moving assembly 302 is operatively mounted to the winch-support assembly 306. The ripper-moving assembly 302 provides (defines) a first swivel point 500 positioned at an end of the ripper-moving assembly 302. The ripper-moving assembly 302 also provides (defines) a second swivel point 501 positioned at an opposite end of the ripper-moving assembly 302. The first swivel point 500 and the second swivel point 501 are spaced apart from each other. The first swivel point 500 is configured to be pivotally attached to the top swivel position 202 of the mounting assembly 102 (depicted in
The ripper-support assembly 304 includes a vertically-aligned support section 600 (two instances are depicted and are spaced apart from each other). The vertically-aligned support sections 600 may be called stand-off sections. The vertically-aligned support sections 600 provide (define or have) an upper swivel point 602 (two instances are depicted, one for each instance of the vertically-aligned support sections 600). The upper swivel point 602 is configured to be pivotally attached to the second swivel point 501 of the ripper-moving assembly 302. The upper swivel points 602 of each vertically-aligned support section 600 are spaced apart from each other.
The vertically-aligned support sections 600 also provide (define) a lower swivel point 604 (two instances are provided, one for each instance of the vertically-aligned support sections 600). The lower swivel points 604 of each vertically-aligned support section 600 are spaced apart from each other. The lower swivel point 604 is positioned below the upper swivel point 602. The lower swivel point 604 is configured to be attached to a fourth swivel point 702 of the winch-support assembly 306.
The vertically-aligned support sections 600 also provide (define) mounting points 608 positioned between the upper swivel point 602 and the lower swivel point 604. The mounting point 608 is configured to be attached to the second attachment point 402 of the actuator assembly 300.
The ripper-support assembly 304 also provides a horizontally-extending support 606 (also called a bar) that extends between, and is fixedly connected to, the vertically-aligned support section 600. Two instances of the vertically-aligned support sections 600 are spaced apart from each other once the vertically-aligned support sections 600 are affixed to the horizontally-extending support 606. The vertically-aligned support sections 600 extend from the horizontally-extending support 606.
The ripper-support assembly 304 further includes a ripper-shank assembly 610 (three instances are depicted) that are operatively fixedly mounted to the horizontally-extending support 606, are spaced apart from each other and depend (extend downwardly) from the horizontally-extending support 606. The ripper-shank assembly 610 may be aligned in a curved or straight manner (depending on job conditions).
The winch-support assembly 306 may be called a movable parallelogram structure. The winch-support assembly 306 provides (defines) a third swivel point 700 configured to be pivotally connected with the bottom swivel points 204 of the mounting assembly 102 (as depicted in
The winch-support assembly 306 provides lateral sidewalls 708 that are spaced apart from each other. The winch assembly 106 (as depicted in
Preferably, the controls of the bulldozer crawler tractor 900 include a lever joystick control configured to operate either the winch assembly 106 or the ripper assembly 104 by a user-selectable switch.
In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
For the case where the winch-support assembly 306 is positioned in the fully upright position, the safety lock pin 504 is received by the winch-support assembly 306 and the ripper-moving assembly 302 thereby locking out relative movement between the winch-support assembly 306 and the ripper-moving assembly 302 (causing the ripper-shank assembly 610 to remain stationary). For this case, the winch assembly 106 is operated and thus this arrangement removes safety concerns of any inadvertent (unwanted) operation of the winch-support assembly 306.
In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in
The bulldozer crawler tractor 900 includes a set of vehicle tracks 902 positioned on opposite sides of the bulldozer crawler tractor 900.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above may be connected with each other as required to perform desired functions and tasks within the scope of persons of skill in the art to make such combinations and permutations without having to describe each and every one in explicit terms. There is no particular assembly or component that may be superior to any of the equivalents available to the person skilled in the art. There is no particular mode of practicing the disclosed subject matter that is superior to others, so long as the functions may be performed. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope provided by the independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v) the description provided outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant application as filed, as prosecuted, and/or as granted). It is understood, for this document, that the phrase “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” The foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170058482 A1 | Mar 2017 | US |
