Patent Application
20170350092
The present disclosure generally relates to a snubber for a dipper door. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a snubber for a dipper having a body and a movable door coupled to the body.
Many industrial machines such as rope shovels, diggers, excavators, and the like employ dippers to dig, haul, and transport materials in a given job site. Each of these machines may employ a specific configuration or type of dipper to meet the particular requirements of an application. In the case of a rope shovel, the dipper may typically be configured to have a body and a door that is pivotally coupled to the body so as to allow a swinging movement of the door in relation to the body. If the door is allowed to swing freely it can slam into the body which has a deleterious effect on the working life of the dipper.
Numerous designs and mechanisms of linkages have been developed by various manufacturers of such industrial machines to allow the swinging movement of the door for accomplishing an opening and closing of the door with respect to the body of the bucket.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,202 discloses a dipper door that is pivotally mounted to a dipper. In one embodiment the door is pivotally mounted to the dipper by a pin, and the door is controlled by a linkage actuated by a linear actuator to control the opening and closing of the door.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a snubber for a dipper door is provided. The snubber comprises a five bar linkage including a linear actuator, the linear actuator being configured to provide resistive force to the dipper door via the linkage assembly when the door is closing.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a linkage assembly for a door coupled to a body at a pivot mount is provided. The linkage assembly comprising a first link, a second link, and a linear actuator. The first link is pivotally coupled to the body spaced from the pivot mount. The second link is pivotally coupled to the door spaced from the pivot mount, and the first and second links pivotally coupled together at a link pivot. The linear actuator is provided between the pivot mount and the first link.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of controlling angular movement of a door relative to a body to which the door is coupled at a pivot mount is provided. The method includes pivotally coupling a first link to the body, pivotally coupling a second link to the door, and pivotally coupling the first and second links together. A resistive force is provided to the first link remote from where the first link is pivotally coupled to the body.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings and figures, which show the exemplary embodiments by way of illustration only. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the pertinent art that this disclosure can also be employed in a variety of other applications. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.
With reference to
Although the exemplary machine 100 is embodied as an ERS in the illustrated embodiment of
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment of
Additionally, the articulation system 110 may further include a hoist assembly 122 having cables 124 as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
In alternative embodiments of this disclosure, it is contemplated that the hoist assembly 122 may be implemented using links, ropes or any other structures or mechanisms known to persons skilled in the art. For example, in an alternative configuration, the hoist assembly 122 may be implemented using hydraulic actuators in conjunction with other types of link structures and mechanisms known to one skilled in the art for performing functions that are consistent with the present disclosure.
Further, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
The dipper 112 also includes a snubber in the form of a linkage assembly, shown and generally indicated by numeral 138. The linkage assembly 138 is disposed between the body 128 of the dipper 112 and the door 130. The linkage assembly 138 includes a first link 140 and a second link 142. The first link 140 is pivotally coupled to the body 128 and disposed in a spaced-apart relation to the first pivot mount 132. As shown in the illustrated embodiments of
The first link 140 and the second link 142 are pivotally connected at a link pivot 144. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of
An end 142a of the second link 142 is pivotally coupled to the door 130 at a third pivot mount 150 as shown in
Each linkage assembly 138 further includes a linear actuator 152 disposed between the first pivot mount 132 and the first link 140. In one embodiment the linear actuator 152 extends between the first pivot mount 132 and the first link 140 at the link pivot 144. In other embodiments only one linkage assembly 138 may be provided. In a further embodiment the linkage assembly 138 may be provided centrally between the pivot mounts 132.
In the illustrated embodiment of
It is hereby envisioned that the door 130 should be held closed while the dipper 112 is being loaded and also while the load in the dipper 112 is swung to a deposit point. At that point, the door 130 should be opened to allow the contents of the dipper 112 to fall out. As such, it may be noted here that while loading, hauling and transporting the load, the door 130 and the body 128 of the dipper 112 are configured to co-operatively prevent the contents in the dipper 112 from falling out of the dipper 112.
The linear actuator 152 of the linkage assembly 138 is configured to operatively resist an angular movement of the door 130 relative to the body 128 vis-à-vis the first and second links 140, 142. As shown in the schematic representation of the linkage assembly 138 in
In embodiments disclosed herein, it is envisioned that the first link 140 has a length L which is a multiple of a distance D by which the first link's pivotal coupling to the body 128 i.e., the second pivot mount 146 is spaced from the first pivot mount 132, said multiple being in the range of about 0.5 to 1.5. In an example, length L may be 0.7 times the distance D i.e., L=0.7*D. It is envisioned that the length L, being maintained as a multiple of the distance D, also allows control of the angle θ between the linear actuator 152 and the first link 140 while the linear actuator 152 is connected to the first link 140 at the link pivot 144. The length L may therefore, be selected to provide maximum mechanical advantage to the linear actuator 152 for providing resistive force to the first link 140 as angle θ approaches 90 degrees corresponding to the door 130 approaching a closing position with respect to the body 128.
Moreover, in a further embodiment of this disclosure, it may be additionally or optionally contemplated to shape the second link 142 in a way such that the second link 142 provides a clearance between the second link 142 and the linear actuator 152. As shown in the illustrated embodiments of
Referring again to
As disclosed earlier herein, an angular motion of the door 130, the second link 142, and the first link 140 relative to the second pivot mount 146 may be restricted by the linear actuator 152 while the door 130 is closing in on the body 128 of the dipper 112. In an embodiment herein, the linear actuator 152 is configured to provide resistive force when a closing angle α between the door and the body is preferably in the range of about 0 to 30 degrees. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the snubber disclosed herein is beneficially configured to provide the resistive force to the door 130 as the door 130 is nearing the body 128 of the dipper 112 to prevent or at least reduce slamming of the door and such resistive force from the snubber may be easily facilitated by providing the first and second links 140, 142 and by virtue of the first and second links 140, 142 being able to pivot about the link pivot 144.
Moreover, in embodiments disclosed herein, it is envisioned that when the door 130 is in a closed position, an angle θ between the linear actuator 152 and the first link 140 is in the range of about 60 to 90 degrees depending on a configuration of the given linkage assembly 138. For example, in one exemplary configuration of the linkage assembly 138, the angle θ between the linear actuator 152 and the first link 140 may be 70 degrees when the door 130 is in the closed position. In another exemplary configuration of the linkage assembly 138, the angle θ between the linear actuator 152 and the first link 140 may be 80 degrees when the door 130 is in the closed position. In a preferred embodiment, the linear actuator 152 would be configured in a substantially perpendicular position (i.e., approx. or equal to 90 degrees) with respect to the first link 140 when the door 130 is in a closed position.
Referring to
It may be seen that an amount of resistive force needed with use of the present linkage assembly 138 is significantly lower than the resistive force needed with use of the conventional 3-bar linkage mechanism when the door is positioned at relatively small angles α with respect to the body 128 of the dipper 112, wherein such small angles α0 lie in the range of 0 to 30 degrees as shown in
Various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various embodiments, variations, components, and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any embodiment, variation, component and/or modification relative to, or over, another embodiment, variation, component and/or modification.
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.
At step 606, the method 600 further includes pivotally coupling the first and second links 140, 142 together at the link pivot 144. At step 608, the method further includes providing resistive force to the first link 140 remote from where the first link 140 is pivotally coupled to the body 128. As disclosed earlier herein, each of the second pivot mount 146 and the link pivot 144 are spaced apart from the first pivot mount 132 at which the first link 140 is pivotally coupled to the body 128.
As disclosed in embodiments herein, the linear actuator 152 is configured to offer resistive force to a closing movement of the door when a closing angle α between the door 130 and the body 128 is in the range of about 0 to 30 degrees. Moreover, such resistive force is provided by the linear actuator 152 when the snubber is substantially perpendicularly to the first link. In a preferred embodiment, the linear actuator 152 would be configured to remain in a substantially perpendicular position (i.e., approx. or equal to 90 degrees) with respect to the first link 140 when the door 130 is in a closed position.
Embodiments of the present disclosure have applicability for use and implementation in controlling an angular movement of the door 130 relative to the body 128 of the dipper 112. Although embodiments of the present disclosure are implemented in conjunction with the dipper 112 of the exemplary machine 100 i.e., the ERS, buckets typically used on other types of machines such as, but not limited to, diggers, hydraulic excavators, and the like may be optionally used to implement the embodiments herein.
With implementation of embodiments disclosed herein, the angular movement of the door 130 may be controlled using a reduced or minimal amount of force and/or torque from the linear actuator 152, due at least in part, to the configuration of the first and second links 140, 142 present in the linkage assembly 138 disclosed herein. As the linkage assembly 138 is configured to represent a 5-bar linkage mechanism and by virtue of the first and second links 140, 142 being pivotally operable about the link pivot 144, a length of travel i.e., compression executed by the linear actuator 152 when the door 130 is in the range of 30 degrees or lesser with respect to the body 128 beneficially helps the linear actuator 152 to offer resistive force to the door 130 when the door 130 is nearing the body 128 and hence, decelerate a movement of the door 130 as the door 130 is closing in on the body 128. Therefore, embodiments disclosed herein can beneficially help in preventing the door 130 from slamming against the body 128 of the dipper 112 after a dumping operation is completed or prior to initiation of a digging cycle.
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.
