Patent Application
20230332376
The present disclosure relates to a scarifier system associated with a machine, and more particularly, to a carriage for the scarifier system of the machine.
A machine, such as a motor grader, may be used in construction and maintenance of various ground surfaces, such as, roads. The motor grader may be used to displace, distribute, and level materials, such as, soil, gravel, snow, and the like. The motor grader typically includes one or more implements for performing such tasks. For example, the motor grader may include blade systems, such as, a drawbar-circle-moldboard (DCM) system, a ripper, a scarifier system, and the like. The scarifier system is generally mounted between the DCM system and a pair of front wheels of the motor grader.
In some applications, motor graders may have limited availability of tractive force to push the scarifier system on the ground surface. In an example, tire slip of the motor grader may limit the tractive force to push the scarifier system. In other examples, factors, such as, a weight of the motor grader, power, traction, and ground conditions may also affect the tractive force availability.
The scarifier system typically includes a carriage, a number of shanks, and a number of teeth, such that each tooth is coupled to a corresponding shank. The teeth may engage with the ground surface to cut or scarify the ground surface. During an operation, such as a cutting operation, material may build-up in front of the scarifier system. A conventional carriage associated with the scarifier system includes a thick box shaped section having a flat front surface. Due to the design of the carriage, a large amount of material may accumulate on the carriage. The accumulation of the material on the carriage may increase the weight of the motor grader, may add resistance to the movement of the scarifier system, and may also increase the push force being experienced by the scarifier system.
Typically, the tractive force is a combination of the push force and the cut force of the scarifier system. An increase in the push force may reduce a cut force of the scarifier system, thereby limiting an ability of the scarifier system to dig deeper and faster. The increase in the push force caused due to the material build-up may reduce the efficiency of the scarifier system and may also affect the fuel efficiency of the motor grader, which may not be desirable.
CN104929180 describes a land leveler and a scarifier thereof and belongs to the field of engineering machines. The scarifier mainly comprises a rocker support. A rocker is hinged to the upper portion of the rocker support. The lower portion of the rocker support is fixedly connected with a soil loosening support. Soil loosening harrow teeth are arranged at the bottom of the soil loosening support. Supporting arms are arranged on the two sides of the soil loosening support respectively. The two ends of the rocker are fixedly connected with an oil cylinder and one end of a pull rod. The other end of the oil cylinder is fixedly connected with an oil cylinder fixing base. The other end of the pull rod is fixedly connected with the soil loosening support. The scarifier is arranged between a front axle of the land leveler and a scraper knife working device. The land leveler is good in cutting vision, the steering performance of front wheels is not affected, the soil loosening, and leveling effects are good, and the working efficiency is high. The land leveler and the scarifier thereof are mainly used for leveling of roads and farmland.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, a carriage for a scarifier system of a machine is provided. The carriage includes a body portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first height. The body portion includes a first surface. The body portion also includes a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, such that the first height of the body portion is defined between the first surface and the second surface. The body portion further includes a first side surface connecting the first surface and the leading edge. The body portion includes a second side surface connecting the second surface and the leading edge. At least one of the first side surface and the second side surface includes a beveled profile. The carriage also includes a plurality of shank attachment portions fixedly coupled to the body portion. Each shank attachment portion extends from the second surface of the body portion. Each shank attachment portion defines a second height.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a carriage for a scarifier system of a machine is provided. The carriage includes a body portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first height. The body portion includes a first surface. The body portion also includes a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, such that the first height of the body portion is defined between the first surface and the second surface. The body portion further includes a first side surface connecting the first surface and the leading edge. The body portion includes a second side surface connecting the second surface and the leading edge. The carriage also includes a plurality of shank attachment portions fixedly coupled to the body portion. Each shank attachment portion extends from the second surface of the body portion. The plurality of shank attachment portions are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the first height.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a carriage for a scarifier system of a machine is provided. The carriage includes a body portion having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first height. The body portion includes a first surface. The body portion also includes a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, such that the first height of the body portion is defined between the first surface and the second surface. The body portion further includes a first side surface connecting the first surface and the leading edge. The body portion includes a second side surface connecting the second surface and the leading edge. At least one of the first side surface and the second side surface includes a beveled profile. The carriage also includes a plurality of shank attachment portions fixedly coupled to the body portion. Each shank attachment portion extends from the second surface of the body portion. Each shank attachment portion defines a second height. The carriage further includes a plurality of shank retention elements fixedly coupled to the body portion. Each shank retention element extends from the first surface of the body portion.
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 like parts. Referring to
The machine 100 includes a frame 102. The frame 102 defines a front end 104 and a rear end 106. Further, the machine 100 includes two pairs of rear wheels 108 disposed proximate to the rear end 106 and one pair of front wheels 118 disposed proximate to the front end 104. The front wheels 118 and the rear wheels 108 allow movement of the machine 100 on the ground surface 120. The frame 102 supports various components of the machine 100, such as, a power source (not shown) disposed within an enclosure 110, an operator cabin 112, the front wheels 118, the rear wheels 108, etc. The power source may be an engine, such as an internal combustion engine, an electric source of power, and the like. The engine may include a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, a natural gas engine, and the like. The power source may supply output power to various components of the machine 100 for operation thereof.
Further, the machine 100 includes the operator cabin 112. An operator of the machine 100 may sit or stand in the operator cabin 112 for performing one or more vehicle operations. The operator cabin 112 may include a user interface (not shown). The user interface may include input and output devices for controlling one or more machine components. The machine 100 further includes a work implement 114. The work implement 114 may be used to perform work operations, such as, grading or snow removal. The work implement 114 is supported by a drawbar-circle-moldboard (DCM) system 116.
As illustrated in
Referring to
The scarifier system 122 also includes a first arm 132 and a second arm 134 spaced from the first arm 132. The first and second arms 132, 134 have similar shape and size. The first and second arms 132, 134 have an arcuate shape. Each of the first and second arms 132, 134 are pivotably coupled to the first and second plate members 126, 128, respectively, via corresponding first pin members 136 and corresponding second pin members 138. The scarifier system 122 further includes a first actuator 140 and a second actuator 142. The first actuator 140 is coupled between the first arm 132 and the attachment system 124. The second actuator 142 is coupled between the second arm 134 and the attachment system 124. The first and second actuators 140, 142 may facilitate a movement of the scarifier system 122 relative to the attachment system 124 or the frame 102. In various examples, the first actuator 140 and the second actuator 142 may include a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and the like.
Further, the scarifier system 122 includes a pair of coupling plates 144. The coupling plates 144 allow coupling of the scarifier system 122 with the frame 102 (see
The scarifier system 122 also includes a carriage 148. The scarifier system 122 further includes a number of shanks 178 coupled to the carriage 148. Further, the scarifier system 122 includes a number of teeth 188 that engage with the ground surface 120 (see
Further, the carriage 148 may be integrally coupled to the pair of coupling plates 144 (e.g., through a joining process, such as welding) without any limitations. Additionally, the scarifier system 122 further includes two wedge-shaped plates 150 (only one of which is illustrated herein). Each plate 150 may be integrally coupled to the carriage 148 and a corresponding coupling plate 144 (e.g., through a joining process, such as welding) without any limitations. The plates 150 may provide additional strength to the connection between the carriage 148 and the corresponding first and second arms 132, 134 via the corresponding coupling plates 144.
The carriage 148 includes a body portion 152. The body portion 152 includes a continuous plate member having a substantially V-shaped configuration (top view). In other examples, the body portion 152 may include a continuous plate member having a substantially straight configuration. In the illustrated example of
Referring now to
The body portion 152 also includes a first side surface 164 connecting the first surface 160 and the leading edge 154. The first side surface 164 is inclined with respect to the first surface 160 by a first angle “A1”. The first angle “A1” may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees. The body portion 152 further includes a second side surface 166 connecting the second surface 162 and the leading edge 154. The second side surface 166 is inclined with respect to the second surface 162 by a second angle “B1”. The second angle “B1” may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees. Further, at least one of the first side surface 164 and the second side surface 166 includes a beveled profile. Due to the beveled profile, each of the first and second angles “A1”, “B1” are greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. In the illustrated example of
In other examples, wherein an overall height of the carriage 148 may be decided such that minimum material may accumulate on the carriage 148, each of the first side surface 164 and the second side surface 166 may have a flat profile. In such examples, each of the first angle “A1” and the second angle “B1” may be substantially equal to 90 degrees.
Further, the body portion 152 defines a number of first through-openings 170 (shown in
The carriage 148 also includes a number of shank attachment portions 172 fixedly coupled to the body portion 152. Each shank attachment portion 172 extends from the second surface 162 of the body portion 152. The number of shank attachment portions 172 are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the first height “H1”. The number of shank attachment portions 172 may be equidistant from each other between the lateral ends 158 (see
Referring to
The carriage 148 further includes a number of shank retention elements 176 fixedly coupled to the body portion 152. Each shank retention element 176 extends from the first surface 160 of the body portion 152. The shank retention elements 176 are embodied as rectangular plate shaped members that may be coupled to the body portion 152 using a joining technique, such as, welding, without any limitations. In another example, the body portion 152, the shank attachment portions 172, and the shank retention elements 176 may be manufactured as a single piece component through a process, such as, casting. In some examples, the shank attachment portions 172 and the shank retention elements 176 may be made of metal or alloys. In an example, the shank attachment portions 172 and the shank retention elements 176 may be made of stainless steel, without any limitations.
As illustrated in
As illustrated herein, the groove 180 receives a portion of the shank retention element 176 for engaging the shank 178 with the shank retention element 176. Further, the groove 182 receives the first projection 168 of the body portion 152 for engaging the shank 178 with the body portion 152. Moreover, the groove 184 receives the second projection 192 of the shank attachment portion 172 for engaging the shank 178 with the shank attachment portion 172. Further, the scarifier system 122 includes a number of locking elements 186. Each locking element 186 may lock the shank 178 with the body portion 152, a corresponding shank attachment portion 172, and a corresponding shank retention element 176.
Referring to
The body portion 500 also includes a second side surface 510. The second side surface 510 connects the second surface 506 and the leading edge 502. In the illustrated example of
Referring to
The body portion 600 also includes a second side surface 610. The second side surface 610 connects the second surface 606 and the leading edge 602. The second side surface 610 is inclined with respect to the second surface 606 by a second angle “B3”. In the illustrated example of
It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment. The above described implementation does not in any way limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood although some features are shown or described to illustrate the use of the present disclosure in the context of functional segments, such features may be omitted from the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
The scarifier system 122 of the present disclosure includes the carriage 148. The body portion 152, 500, 600 of the carriage 148 defines the height “H1”, “H3”, and “H4”, respectively, that are substantially less than a substantially vertical height of conventional carriages that have a thick box shaped design. In some examples, the height “H1”, “H3”, and “H4” of the body portion 152, 500, 600, respectively, may be about 60% less in comparison to a height of conventional carriages. Therefore, the carriage 148 of the present disclosure may be lighter weight and may be less costly as less material may be used to manufacture the carriage 148. Moreover, during operation, the reduced height “H1”, “H3”, and “H4” of the body portion 152, 500, 600, respectively, may prevent excess material build-up on the body portion 152, 500, 600.
Further, the carriage 148 includes the first side surface 164, 508, 608 and the second side surface 166, 510, 610. In some embodiments, the first side surface 164, 508 and the second side surface 166, 610 include the beveled profile. The beveled profile of the first side surface 164, 508 and/or second side surface 166, 610 may provide the carriage 148 with a streamlined design that may prevent material build-up on the body portion 152, 500, 600. Specifically, each of the first side surface 164, 508 and the second side surface 166, 610 having the beveled profile may act as an aerodynamic surface. Such aerodynamic surfaces may prevent the accumulation of the material on the carriage 148 during work operations, such as, cutting or digging. It should be noted that the first angles “A1”, “A2”, “A3” of the first side surface 164, 508, 608 and the second angles “B 1”, “B2”, “B3” of the second side surface 166, 510, 610 may be increased so as to improve an aerodynamic profile of the carriage 148. In some examples, wherein the overall height of the carriage 148 may be decided such that minimum material may accumulate on the carriage 148, each of the first side surface 164, 508, 608 and the second side surface 166, 510, 610 may have a flat profile. In such examples, the first angle “A1”, “A2”, “A3” and the second angle “B1”, “B2”, “B3” may be substantially equal to 90 degrees.
The design of the carriage 148 as described herein may reduce a drag on the carriage 148 due to reduction of the material build-up thereon, which may allow the carriage 148 to push more material during various work operations. Moreover, as the carriage 148 may experience reduced resistance, a force required to push the scarifier system 122 may decrease, and a cut force for performing work operations may increase. Further, the increase in the cut force may allow the scarifier system 122 to dig deeper and faster. Furthermore, the design of the carriage 148 may increase an efficiency of the scarifier system 122 and may also improve a fuel efficiency of the machine 100 as the drag on the carriage 148 during the work operations may be reduced. Moreover, the carriage 148 described herein may be retrofitted on existing scarifier systems without changing a design of existing scarifier systems. Additionally, the carriage 148 is designed such that the carriage 148 may be compatible with conventional shanks.
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 the disclosure. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
