Patent Application
20180051438
The present disclosure relates to pivot designs for buckets that tilt. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to a recessed pivot design for buckets that tilt that allows for a spill guard to be used that lacks any notch for facilitating the bucket to tilt 45 degrees without impinging or pinching any hydraulic lines or cylinders, etc. that power the tilting of the bucket.
Tilting buckets are well known in the construction industry and the like for allowing an operator of a machine to properly grade sloped surfaces by tilting the bucket at the desired angle. In many bucket designs, the maximum angle accommodated by the pivot design for the bucket is approximately 45 degrees.
The coupling system used to connect the bucket to a machine may include hook members that are spaced apart a predetermined distance in a direction that is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the bucket. In such a case, if the hooks are too far apart and it is desirable to provide a 45 degree angle of tilting, it is often necessary to cut clearance notches such as v-shaped notches in the spill guard or similarly positioned structure of the bucket assembly to allow the 45 degree angle of tilt to be accomplished. However, dirt and debris may evade through the notch during use, such as when the full 45 degrees of tilt is not needed because the coupling or adapter subassembly of the bucket assembly is not in the notch. This happens to be the case for most excavating and grading operations. As a result, this area may become clogged with dirt or debris, which may interfere with the operation of the bucket assembly. Also, parts of the hydraulic system such as the hoses may become abraded, necessitating maintenance or replacement.
Looking at
It should be noted that typically dimensions like the tip radius TR and pivot height PH are measured with the bucket subassembly 120 and adapter subassembly 122 are in their purely horizontal and vertical positions. More specifically, the tilt angle is zero degrees such that the front working edge 126 and base plate 116 are horizontally oriented.
A tilting bucket assembly is provided comprising an adapter subassembly including a pair of coupler members that define a coupler distance which is the minimum distance therebetween, a base plate attached to the coupler members and that defines a first recess, a torsion tube that defines a second recess that is in communication with the first recess, and a bucket subassembly that is pivotally connected to the adapter subassembly defining a pivot axis, the bucket subassembly including a spill guard lacking clearance notches for receiving the adapter subassembly, the spill guard including at least one stop portion that is configured to contact the adapter subassembly, and a tilting mechanism, wherein the adapter assembly defines a pivot height that is the minimum distance measured from the base plate to the pivot axis, and wherein a pivot clearance ratio of the coupler distance to the pivot height ranges from 3 to 6.
A tilting bucket assembly is provided comprising an adapter subassembly including a pair of coupler members that define a coupler distance, which is the minimum distance therebetween, a base plate attached to the coupler members and that defines a first recess, a torsion tube that defines a second recess that is in communication with the first recess, and a bucket subassembly that is pivotally connected to the adapter subassembly defining a pivot axis, the bucket subassembly including a spill guard including at least one stop portion that is configured to contact the adapter subassembly, and a tilting mechanism, wherein the first recess and second recess are configured to clear the tilting mechanism and the spill guard when the base plate contacts a stop portion of the spill guard.
A tilting bucket assembly is provided comprising an adapter subassembly including a pair of coupler members that define a coupler distance therebetween, a base plate attached to the couple members and that defines a first recess, a torsion tube that defines a second recess that is in communication with the first recess; and a bucket subassembly that is pivotally connected to the adapter subassembly defining a pivot axis, the bucket subassembly including a spill guard including at least one stop portion that is configured to contact the adapter subassembly, and a tilting mechanism, wherein the adapter assembly defines a pivot height that is the minimum distance measured from the base plate to the pivot axis and the torsion tube defines a perimeter in a plane defined by the pivot height and the pivot axis, the perimeter including a straight portion that is substantially parallel to the pivot height that leads to a straight segment that is parallel to the pivot axis that transitions to an angled portion that forms an included angle with the pivot axis.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In some cases, a reference number will be indicated in this specification and the drawings will show the reference number followed by a letter for example, 100a, 100b or a prime indicator such as 100′, 100″ etc. It is to be understood that the use of letters or primes immediately after a reference number indicates that these features are similarly shaped and have similar function as is often the case when geometry is mirrored about a plane of symmetry. For ease of explanation in this specification, letters or primes will often not be included herein but may be shown in the drawings to indicate duplications of features discussed within this written specification.
This disclosure provides various embodiments of tilting bucket assemblies that allow higher pivot clearance ratios and break out force optimization ratios to be provided than has been previously been provided. In some embodiments, an optimization of the recesses formed by the base plate and the torsion tube facilitate this improvement. In other embodiments, less dirt and debris may infiltrate the area near the tilting mechanism. This may be accomplished by providing a spill guard that lacks clearance notches for receiving the base plate as the assembly approaches a maximum tilt angle.
Looking at
The tilting bucket assembly 200 further comprises a bucket subassembly 220 that is pivotally connected to the adapter subassembly 222 defining a pivot axis 218. The pivot connection 206 includes a pin 234 that extends through a bushing member 236 that extends through bores defined by members 240 of the adapter subassembly 222 in a manner well known in the art. More specifically, at least two ear members 240 extend downwardly from the adapter subassembly 222 that define bores for receiving the bushing member 236 and the pin 234. A middle member 240″ is also provided to allow the functioning of the tilt mechanism as will be described later herein. It should be noted that
Referring still to
As best seen in
Referring back to
In such applications, it is desirable to provide features that allow the tilt angle of 45 degrees to be achieved without requiring the spill guard 204 to be configured with clearance notches for receiving the base plate 216 or another portion of the adapter subassembly 222. For example as best seen in
Looking now at
Similarly,
Looking back at
It should be noted that any of the embodiments described herein may be substantially symmetrical about a vertical plane VP (see
In other embodiments, the pivot clearance ratio may not be important while providing clearance between the adapter subassembly and the spill guard and the tilting mechanism may be important. Referring again to
As mentioned previously, a pivot clearance ratio may be defined as the hook distance D202 divided by the pivot height PH. While these embodiments are not limited to any particular pivot clearance ratios, it is contemplated that this pivot clearance ratio may range from 3 to 6 for some of these embodiments.
Focusing now on
It is contemplated that in most embodiments, the spill guard 204 lacks clearance notches for receiving the adapter subassembly. However, it is further contemplated that spill guards 104 with clearance notches 106 (see
In yet further embodiments, the shape of the recesses 230, 232 of the torsion tube 224 or base plate 216 may be more important than the pivot clearance ratio or whether the recesses 230, 232 are configured to avoid hitting the spill guard 204. For example, the shapes of these recesses may be optimized to provide the required strength for adapter subassembly. In such embodiments as shown by
As best seen in
In many such embodiments, the first recess 230 and second recess 232 are configured to clear the spill guard 204, the hydraulic cylinder 212, and the hydraulic hose 210 when the base plate 216 contacts a stop portion 248 of the spill guard 204. A backup plate 216 may also be provided that is disposed behind the spill guard 204 that is fits within the recesses 230, 232, allowing the base plate 216 to contact the spill guard 204 without needing clearance notches in the spill guard 204.
In some embodiments, the included angle α of the angled portion 264 may range from 25 to 45 degrees. Likewise, in some embodiments, the pivot clearance ratio of the hook distance D202 divided by the pivot height PH may range from 3 to 6. The values of the angle and pivot clearance ratio may be varied as needed or desired in other embodiments.
As also best seen in
In practice, a tilting bucket assembly may be sold, manufactured, bought or otherwise provided according to any of the embodiments described herein. In some applications, a bucket subassembly may be retrofitted or repaired with a tilting mechanism, spill guard and an adapter subassembly according to any of the embodiments discussed herein. The parts and/or subassemblies needed for retrofitting or repairing may be sold, manufactured, bought or otherwise provided.
Any of the tilting bucket assemblies as described herein may be attached to a work machine using a quick coupling mechanism that is now known or that will be devised in the art. Alternatively, these tilting bucket assemblies may be more permanently attached to the work machine. Accordingly, the hook members may be substituted with any coupler member that is capable of mating with a coupling mechanism of the machine, whether that mechanism is a quick coupler mechanism or not. For example, the hook apertures may be substituted with pins that mate with apertures of the coupler mechanism of the machine, etc. Consequently, the hook distance may be more generally characterized as the coupler distance and the pivot clearance ratio and break out force optimization ratio may be defined as the coupler distance divided by the pivot height or tip radius respectively.
A method for attaching the tilting bucket assembly to a machine may comprise attaching the adapter subassembly to the machine using a coupling mechanism. Then, the tilt mechanism may be placed in communication or operative association with means for activating the tilt mechanism.
In some embodiments, this may include attaching the hydraulic cylinder to the hydraulic system of the machine through a hydraulic hose of the assembly that is connected at one end to a hydraulic cylinder and to the other end by a coupler to a hydraulic hose of the machine that is in communication with the hydraulic system of the machine.
The tilting mechanism may be powered mechanically or electrically, etc. in other embodiments.
The adapter assembly may be configured to provide one or more recesses that are configured to provide clearance so that the base plate may contact the stop portion of a spill guard without contacting any portion of the tilt mechanism or another member of the bucket subassembly.
A torsion tube may be provided that is formed using a stamping die or brake pressing operation to form the perimeter of the torsion tube and a base plate may be welded or otherwise attached to the torsion tube. A bottom plate may be welded or otherwise attached to the base plate and the torsion tube. The torsion tube may extend past a hook member in both a downward vertical as well as horizontal direction. The hook member may be machined by laser, water jet, etc. to cutout a profile that is suitable for receiving the upper portion of the torsion tube. The hook member may be welded or otherwise attached to the torsion tube and base plate.
Any of the members including the spill guard, preformed sheet for the torsion tube and the base plate may be machined using any suitable process including laser, water jet, etc.
Once the tilting bucket assembly is attached to the machine, the tilting mechanism may be activated causing the bucket subassembly to pivot relative to the adapter subassembly until the base plate hits a stop portion of the spill guard. In some instances, this may be accomplished without needing clearance notches in the spill guard. The torsion tube and the base plate may be configured to allow this movement without hitting any portion of the tilt mechanism or other part of the bucket subassembly. The rear of the bucket subassembly including the rear pivot plate, such as shown by
The configuration of the spill guard may also be optimized to limit the exposure of hydraulic lines and other components of the tilt mechanism from dirt and debris (see
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed assembly and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the apparatus and methods of assembly as discussed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure(s). Other embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the various embodiments disclosed herein. For example, some of the equipment may be constructed and function differently than what has been described herein and certain steps of any method may be omitted, performed in an order that is different than what has been specifically mentioned or in some cases performed simultaneously or in sub-steps. Furthermore, variations or modifications to certain aspects or features of various embodiments may be made to create further embodiments and features and aspects of various embodiments may be added to or substituted for other features or aspects of other embodiments in order to provide still further embodiments.
Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
