SERVICEABLE ANTI-SKID STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an anti-skid structure and more specifically, to a serviceable anti-skid structure.

BACKGROUND

Heavy equipments such as hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, etc. typically have walkway platforms to facilitate maintenance personnel to reach different access points for daily maintenance activities. These walkway platforms are well above the ground level and, depending on the weather and working conditions, are exposed to dry, wet or muddy conditions. The walkway platforms are desired to provide a non-slippery surface for better safety of operators. Typically, walkway platforms are provided with a number of protrusions embossed on a plate.

Currently, such protrusions are formed by punching using turret machines on the plate with a specialized tool. The parts of the specialized tool are expensive, and it needs regular maintenance and complete replacement after certain number of punches, making the manufacturing of the walkway platforms costly. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize cost of manufacturing for the walkway platforms, without compromising anti-skid properties of the walkway platforms. Moreover, as the protrusions are embossed on the plate, it may happen that some of the protrusions may flatten during regular use of the platform. In such cases, limited techniques are available to selectively repair such flattened protrusions, which are time consuming and costly. In other cases, the entire plate may need to be replaced due to few flattened protrusions, making the serviceability of the known platforms very limited, costly and time consuming.

Korean Publication Number 20090004074 discloses a non-slip cover for heavy equipments including a top plate having a plurality of holes, and a plurality of non-slip hardware made of rubber, fitted into the plurality of holes. The reference discloses a specialized non-slip hardware, which is costly to manufacture, and has low durability when exposed to wet or muddy conditions, decreasing the serviceable life of the non-slip cover. Moreover, the reference discloses a complex multi-layered structure, which is costly and difficult to manufacture and assemble. Therefore, there is a need for improved anti slip structures with improved serviceability, low cost, and improved durability.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an anti-skid structure is provided. The anti-skid structure includes a plate having a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface. The anti-skid structure further includes a plurality of fasteners fastened to the plate through the plurality of apertures. Each one of the plurality of fasteners includes a first member and a second member. The first member having a head placed on the first surface, and a body extending through an aperture of the plurality of apertures. The body includes a locking portion structured and arranged to prevent a rotation of the first member relative to the plate, and a threaded portion. The second member is coupled to the threaded portion of the body and is positioned on the second surface. Further, the second member is configured to fasten the one of the plurality of fasteners to the plate using the threaded portion. Further, each head of the plurality of fasteners has a predetermined shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydraulic excavator having an anti-skid structure, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the anti-skid structure, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a detailed side view of the anti-skid structure, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a plate having square-shaped openings, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fastener with a zoomed in view of a top portion of the fastener, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydraulic excavator 100 having an anti-skid structure 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. The hydraulic excavator 100 includes a rotatable superstructure 102, counterweights 104, a cabin 106, and the anti-skid structure 200. In an embodiment, the hydraulic excavator 100 further includes various other components such as a boom, a lower carriage, a bucket, an arm, and so on. For the purpose of simplicity, the various components of the hydraulic excavator 100 are not labeled in FIG. 1. Various components of the hydraulic excavator 100 may require regular maintenance to ensure proper functioning of the hydraulic excavator 100. For example, the rotatable superstructure 102, the counterweights 104, or the doors of the cabin 106 etc, may require timely maintenance and regular cleaning. Typically, for this purpose, the anti-skid structure 200 is utilized by a user to reach different access points for the regular maintenance of the various components of the hydraulic excavator 100. The user may be a worker, an operator, or a maintenance person. The anti-skid structure 200 provides a non-slippery surface to the user to ensure better safety of the user, otherwise the user may fall while, for example, cleaning the doors of the cabin 106, or the user may slip while walking on the anti-skid structure 200.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the use of the anti-skid structure 200 is not limited to the hydraulic excavator 100 only. In an embodiment, the anti-skid structure 200 is utilized in a travelator, a ramp, and an escalator. In another embodiment, the anti-skid structure 200 is utilized in various other heavy machines. Examples of different types of the heavy machines may include, but is not limited to, a motor grader, a dozer, a haul truck, and an articulated truck.

In this embodiment, the anti-skid structure 200 is shown outside the cabin 106 and the rotatable superstructure 102 of the hydraulic excavator 100 in a horizontal direction. It should be noted that the anti-skid structure 200 may be placed/fastened in other direction as well, such as inclined at a particular angle with the ground, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the anti-skid structure 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. The anti-skid structure 200 includes a plate 202 having a first surface 210 and a second surface 212 (described in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3). The first surface 210 corresponds to an upper surface of the plate 202. On the other hand, the second surface 212 corresponds to a lower surface of the plate 202. For the purpose of simplicity, the second surface 212 is not shown in FIG. 2. Further, the plate 202 includes a number of apertures 204 extending from the first surface 210 to the second surface 212 of the plate 202. In an embodiment, the apertures 204 are formed in the plate 202 by using known techniques, such as, by drilling or punching.

Further, a number of fasteners 206 are fastened to the plate 202 through the apertures 204. In an embodiment, the fasteners 206 are fastened temporarily to the plate 202. In this case, a fastener 206, which is damaged or needs repair, may be selectively removed, thereby improving the serviceability of the anti-skid structure 200. In another embodiment, the fasteners 206 may be fastened permanently. The fasteners 206 may include, but not limited to, a M6 bolt and a nut, or a round headed bolt and nut.

Each one of the fasteners 206 includes a first member 214 and a second member 216. The first member 214 includes a head 208 placed on the first surface 210 of the plate 202, and a body 218 extending through an aperture of the apertures 204. The head 208 of each of the fasteners 206 has a predetermined shape. On the other hand, the body 218, extending through the aperture of the apertures 204 includes a locking portion 220 and a threaded portion 222. The locking portion 220 is arranged to prevent a rotation of the first member 214 relative to the plate 202, by engaging with the apertures 204. The second member 216 is coupled to the threaded portion 222 of the body 218, and is positioned on the second surface 212 (not shown in FIG. 2) of the plate 202. In an embodiment, the second member 216 is utilized to fasten the fasteners 206 to the plate 202 using the threaded portion 222 of the body 218. The detailed description of the second member 216 will be explained later in conjunction with FIG. 3.

Upon placing the first member 214 on the first surface 210 of the plate 202, the predetermined shape of the head 208 of the first member 214 serves to engage with a user's shoe, and provides friction between the user's shoe and the plate 202, thereby, increasing the safety of the user. For example, as discussed above in FIG. 1, the user utilizes the anti-skid structure 200 for the maintenance of the various components of the hydraulic excavator 100. Typically, in such type of scenarios, the user's shoe may accumulate mud on the sole while working which may cause the user, standing on the anti-skid structure 200, to fall. To prevent such a situation, the predetermined shape of the head 208 provides friction to the user's shoe that prevents the user from slipping.

As discussed above, the plate 202 includes the apertures 204 extending from the first surface 210 to the second surface 212. Further, the fasteners 206 are fastened to the plate 202 through the apertures 204. Each one of the fasteners 206 includes the first member 214, and the second member 216. The first member 214 includes the head 208, which is placed on the first surface 210, and the body 218. Upon placing the head 208 on the first surface 210, the body 218 of the first member 214 is extended through the aperture of the apertures 204 of the plate 102. The body 218 includes the locking portion 220 and the threaded portion 222. As discussed above in FIG. 2, the locking portion 220 is arranged to prevent the rotation of the first member 214 relative to the plate 202, by engaging with the apertures 204.

After placing the first member 214 on the plate 202, the second member 216 is coupled to the threaded portion 222 of the body 218 of the first member 214, and, consequently, the second member 216 is positioned on the second surface 212 of the plate 202. In an embodiment, the second member 216 is utilized for fastening the first member 214 of the fasteners 206 to the plate 202 using the threaded portion 222 of the body 218, and thus, the second member 216 also includes corresponding threads. As an example, the second member 216 may include, but not limited to, a nut of a M6 bolt. In an embodiment, the second member 216 may include, but is not limited to a square nut, a round nut, a hex nut, a wing nut, or a flange nut.

For example, if a M6 bolt is fitted on the plate 202 with a nut. Then, the head 208 of the M6 bolt engages with the user's shoe and provides friction to the user's shoe, thus preventing the user from slipping. In an embodiment, if the head 208 of the M6 bolt is flattened due to a regular use, then the M6 bolt may be easily replaced with another M6 bolt. In another scenario, if the nut is not able to tighten the M6 bolt due to wear off of the threaded portion 222 of the body 218, even then it may be easily replaced, and thus the serviceability of the anti-skid structure 200 is improved.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the plate 202 having square-shaped openings in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The plate 202 includes the first surface 210, and the apertures 204. For the purpose of simplicity, the second surface 212 is not shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plate 202 includes the apertures 204 extending from the first surface 210 to the second surface 212. The apertures 204 have square shaped openings. In an embodiment, the apertures 204 are formed in the plate 202 by using known techniques such as by drilling or by punching. In this embodiment, the apertures 204 are uniformly distributed over the entire first surface 210. It should be noted that a shape of the apertures 204 is not limited to square only. In an embodiment, the apertures 204 may be of shapes such as, but is not limited to a circle, or a rectangle. Further, the apertures 204 serve to engage the locking portion 220 (not shown) of the first member 214 (not shown), thereby preventing a rotation of the first member 214 about an axis (not shown) perpendicular to the first surface 210.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fastener 206 with a zoomed in view of a top portion of the fastener 206 in accordance with the present disclosure. The fastener 206 includes the first member 214 having the head 208, and the body 218. The body 218 includes the locking portion 220, and the threaded portion 222.

The predetermined shape of the head 208 provides an increased friction to the user's shoe in order to prevent the user from slipping or skidding, thereby increasing the safety of the user. The head 208 may be a round head, a flat head, a hex head, a truss head, an oval head, a hex washer head, or a slotted hex washer head. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the above-mentioned various shapes of the head 208 have been provided only for illustration purposes, and should not limit the scope of the disclosure to these shapes only.

Further, the body 218 of the fastener 206 includes the locking portion 220, and the threaded portion 222. The locking portion 220 is arranged to prevent a rotation of the first member 214 relative to the plate 202 (not shown), by engaging with the apertures 204 (not shown). On the other hand, the second member 216 (not shown) is coupled to the threaded portion 222 of the body 218. The second member 216 is configured to fasten the fastener 206 to the plate 202 using the threaded portion 222 of the body 218.

As shown in FIG. 5, the locking portion 220 is of square shape. In another embodiment, another shape is used, such as, but not limited to, a rectangle, a hexagon, an octagon etc. In such case, the apertures 204 may be of various shapes corresponding to the locking portion 220 such as, but is not limited to, a rectangle, a hexagon, or an octagon. The apertures 204 are utilized to fasten the fasteners 206 to the plate 202, which may be of a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, or a trapezium. A material of construction of the plate 202 may include, but not limited to, iron, aluminum, copper, steel, and any other metal or alloy.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In a hydraulic excavator, there are several walkway platforms to facilitate a user to reach different access points for daily maintenance activities. These walkway platforms are well above the ground level on the hydraulic excavator and are open to the sky, which results in different surface conditions of the walkway platforms, for example, dry, wet or muddy, depending on the working conditions. In all conditions, the walkway should be safe and provide sufficient friction between the surface of walkway platform and the shoes of a user.

The anti-skid walkways are manufactured by embossing projections on a metallic plate using turret machines, with a specialized tool. The parts of the specialized tool are expensive, and need regular maintenance and complete replacement after certain number of punches. Moreover, as the protrusions are embossed on the plate, it may happen that some of the protrusions may flatten during regular use of the platform. In such cases, limited techniques are available to selectively repair such flattened protrusions, which are time consuming and costly. In other cases, the entire plate may need to be replaced due to few flattened protrusions, making the serviceability of the known platforms very limited, costly and time consuming.

The present disclosure provides the anti-skid structure 200 including the fasteners 206 fastened to the plate 202 through the apertures 204. The head 208 of each one of the fasteners 206 has a predetermined shape, which engages with a user's shoe and provides friction between the user's shoe and the plate 202, thereby, increasing the safety of the user. Additionally, if the predetermined shape of the head 208 of the fastener 206 is flattened due to regular use, or the threaded portion 222 of the fastener 206 wears off during the use. Then, the fastener 206, which has a flattened head or a worn-off threaded portion 222, may be selectively removed, thereby improving the serviceability of the anti-skid structure 200.

Further, such type of design of the anti-skid structure 200 results in a minimum change in weight of the anti-skid structure 200, and results in eliminating the usage of the specialized tool, and thereby reducing the cost of manufacture of the anti-skid structure 200.

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.

SERVICEABLE ANTI-SKID STRUCTURE

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