Patent Application
20170198456
The present disclosure relates generally to a bucket for moving material such as dirt and the like. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an improved upper hinge design for a bucket.
Buckets for moving dirt and the like are well known in the art. These buckets are typically used by machines in construction, mining, agriculture etc. There are different types of machines that use buckets such as large wheel loaders and that connect to the bucket for controlling its movement in certain ways.
For example,
The vehicle 100 of the illustrated embodiment includes a work implement, which in this case is a bucket 122 connected at the end of a pair of lift arms 114 that are pivotally connected to the non-engine frame portion 104 of the vehicle 100 at hinges 116. Other work implements such as a forklift, shears, etc. may be used.
The bucket 122 is attached to the lift arms 114 at a lower hinge point 112 and an upper hinge point 118. When movement of the bucket is triggered by the operator, the hydraulic cylinder 120 moves the upper lift arm and this motion is transferred to the upper hinge point 118 by a linkage system. This causes the bucket to rotate about the lower hinge point. It has been discovered over time, that the upper hinge point experiences a great deal of cyclic stress as loading and unloading the bucket takes place. As can be imagined, a variety of bucket hinge designs have been developed to provide the necessary movement and endure the repeated stress necessary for this type of machine interface.
However, it has been found that previous designs are heavier than desirable and create additional problems. They often have welded brackets and gussets to strengthen the hinge but this adds significant bucket weight. The increased weight may lead to high stresses that may cause problems with the buckets that necessitate repair or replacement. The increased weight may also lead to machine downtime and fuel inefficiency. Tire life and machine stability may also be adversely affected.
For all the above reasons, it is desirable to develop a lighter and more durable bucket that uses lower and upper hinge points than has been previously devised.
A work implement for use with a machine is provided that includes a body that is configured to perform work and that includes a wall that has a hinge attachment bracket attached thereto. The bracket may comprise a substantial I-beam configuration that includes a first flange, a second flange, a web that connects the first flange to the second flang and that defines a boss that defines a pin receiving bore that establishes a radial direction, a radial plane and a longitudinal axis. The first and second flanges may merge toward each other tangentially forming a first extension portion.
A hinge attachment bracket for use with a work implement is provided. The bracket may comprise a substantial I-beam configuration that includes a first flange, a second flange, a web that connects the first flange to the second flang and that defines a boss that defines a pin receiving bore that establishes a radial direction, a radial plane and a longitudinal axis. The first and second flanges may merge toward each other tangentially forming a first extension portion.
A machine that comprises a motor, a frame, at least two lift arms that are configured to be attached to work implement using upper and lower hinge point is provided. The work implement may be configured to perform work and may include a wall that has a plurality of hinge attachment brackets attached thereto. At least one hinge attachment bracket may comprise a substantial I-beam configuration that includes a first flange, a second flange, a web that connects the first flange to the second flang and that defines a boss that defines a pin receiving bore that establishes a radial direction, a radial plane and a longitudinal axis. The first and second flanges may merge toward each other tangentially forming a first extension portion.
Focusing now on
A spill guard 216 is attached to the top plate 214 that is angled slightly up from the top plate 214. Reinforcing plates 218 are spaced laterally along the bucket that connect the spill guard 216 to the top plate 214, strengthening the connection between the spill guard 216 and the top plate 214. Cutting edge support 220 can also be seen that is attached proximate the front lip of the bucket.
The hinge attachment brackets that form the upper and lower hinge structures will now be discussed. First, there are two outside hinge attachment brackets 222 of similar construction that form part of the lower hinge structure. The outside attachment bracket 222 includes boss 224 that defines a pin receiving bore 226 and lower attachment structure 228 that attaches the bracket to the bottom of the bucket. The upper attachment structure 230 of the outside attachment bracket 222 comprises an I-beam configured span that gradually transitions or bleeds into the rear wall 208 and the back portion of the torsion tube 212. An aperture 232 is present between the boss 224 and the flanges 234 that merge near the rear wall 208. This reduces the weight of the hinge attachment bracket.
Second, there are two intermediate hinge attachment brackets 236 that form part of the upper and lower hinge structures that are also similarly configured. The lower attachment structure 238 of the intermediate bracket 236 is constructed similarly to that of the outside attachment bracket and its boss 240 also forms a pin receiving bore 242 that is in alignment with the pin receiving bore 226 of the outside attachment bracket. Also, its upper attachment structure 244 includes an I-beam configured span as well. However, the flanges 246 of this span do not merge into the rear wall but remain substantially equidistant from each other until another boss 248 is formed that defines another pin receiving bore 250 that is part of the upper hinge structure. The flanges 246 begin to merge above the second boss 248 and transition or bleed into the rear wall 208 and torsion tube 212. Two apertures 252 are provided, one between the bosses and one between the upper boss and the merging of the flanges. These apertures also reduce the weight of these attachment brackets.
Third, the inside hinge attachment brackets 300 are shown whose entire configuration is substantially shaped like an I-beam and are similarly configured. The inside attachment bracket includes a boss 302 that defines a pin receiving bore 304 that is aligned with the upper bore 250 of the intermediate bracket, establishing the upper hinge. As best seen in
For this embodiment though not shown explicitly, two pins are used for the upper hinges to connect to two upper lift arms and two pins are used for the lower hinges to connect to two lower lift arms. It is contemplated that the number of pins and connections may vary as desired. There will usually be at least one attachment bracket for an upper hinge and at least one attachment bracket for the lower hinge. The entire bucket and its attachment brackets are mirrored about its midplane M.
All of the various components of the bucket may be attached to each other using any suitable method or device known in the art including welding by way of an example. The attachment brackets may be manufactured using a casting process or may be assembled using structural steel plates, etc.
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The outside flange 306′ includes an upper straight portion 316′, a lower straight portion 316″ and a transition portion 320 that connects the straight portions together. The curvature of the transition portion 320 is concentric with the curvature of the boss 302 that defines the pin receiving bore 304. The transition or curved portion defines a point P of tangency that is located at a radial extremity of the hinge attachment bracket 300. A Cartesian coordinate system is defined by the bracket 300 with its origin being at the point P of tangency with its X axis aligned with the radial direction R and its Z axis parallel with the longitudinal axis L of the bore. The straight portions 316′, 316″ of the outside flange 306′ form an angle that is slightly less than ninety degrees and extend to points where they begin to merge with the inside flange 306″ near the upper and lower extension portions 312′, 312″ of the bracket. Each straight portion forms an angle of about 40 to 47 degrees from the X axis. The two apertures 322, which are thru-holes, can also be seen for decreasing the weight of the attachment bracket. The configuration of the inside attachment bracket including its various angles may be adjusted depending on the application.
The web 318 extends in a plane that is substantially parallel with the X-Y plane and the flanges extend in the Z direction defining a width. The web has a thickness in the Z direction that may vary from 15 mm to 60 mm but may be adjusted depending on the application. The width W of the flange, best seen in
A generous upper blend 314′ and lower blend 314″ is present near this merging on the outside surface flange. It is contemplated that for other embodiments, either flange may define a curve that is tangent to the other flange that defines a minimum radius of curvature to help provide a smooth transition or merging of the flanges toward each other for forming an extension portion 312.
For this embodiment, a radius of 500 mm is provided for both blends but this may be adjusted depending on the application. In most embodiments, this radius is at least 250 mm. Also, other transitional geometry other than a pure radius may be provided as long as a radius of curvature of a minimum size is maintained. As mentioned previously, the Cartesian coordinate system is positioned at a point P of the transitional region 320 of the outside flange that is vertically aligned with the center of the bore 304. Consequently, the Y axis is tangent to the curvature of the transitional region 320.
The upper height 324′ of the inside hinge attachment bracket 300 is shown as being measured from the origin of the coordinate system to the vertical extremity of the bracket in the positive Y direction. Similarly, the lower height 324″ of the attachment bracket is shown as being measured from the origin of the coordinate system to the vertical extremity of the bracket in the negative Y direction. In some embodiments, the upper and lower height dimensions may vary but may range from 900 to 1000 mm and may be between 940 and 950 mm.
Similarly, the upper depth 326′ of the attachment bracket is shown as being measured from the point of origin to the horizontal extremity of the upper extension 312′ of the attachment bracket in the positive X direction and the lower depth 326″ of the attachment bracket is shown as being measured from the point of origin of the coordinate system to the horizontal extremity of the lower extension 312″ of the attachment bracket in the positive X direction. In some embodiments, the upper and lower depth dimensions may vary but may range from 750 to 850 mm and may be between 790 and 820 mm.
The inside and outside flanges 306″, 306′ merge tangentially to form an upper extension 312′ and a lower extension 312″. The upper extension also defines a thickness TE that is the minimum distance of this extension in the X-Y plane. Likewise, the lower extension defines a thickness TE that is the minimum distance of the extension in the X-Y plane. The thickness of the extensions in this embodiment may vary as desired but are often less than the thickness of the web or the flanges and in this embodiment are about 20 mm but they may vary from each other. The upper extension 312′ also defines a length 328′ that is measured from a point where the local thickness is no greater than the thickness of the flange in the X-Y plane to its outer extremity. Similarly the lower extension 312″ also defines a length 328″ that is measured in like fashion. In both cases, the distance is the minimum distance in the X-Y plane between these points.
For this embodiment, the upper extension 312′ is substantially straight along the straight rear wall portion of the torsion tube 212. The lower extension 312″ is slightly curved matching the curvature of the transition region 210 of the shell 204. The lengths of both extensions may change depending on the application but for this embodiment they typically range from 200 to 300 mm, or more specifically, from 230 to 260 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the upper extension may be about 250 mm and the length of the lower extension may be about 237 mm.
The inventor performed a FEA study so see what effect the ratios of these various dimensions had on the durability of the new design for the upper hinge. Table 1 below shows the recommended ranges of these ratios to obtain the desired benefits of reduced weight or, in some circumstances, increased longevity of the upper hinge.
In practice, the hinge attachment bracket with the improved design may be used to retrofit an existing bucket or other work implement that may be used with any machine that has an interface with the work implement. Consequently, it may be sold separately from any machine or work implement. While the embodiments specifically discussed herein are used with upper and lower hinge connections to a machine, the principles of the new hinge design may be used for any type of hinge connection.
More specifically, the improved hinge design may be used with any work implement that includes a body that is configured to perform work such as manipulating or moving a work material. The work implement would also include a wall for attaching the hinge attachment bracket.
Referring back to
The attachment bracket may form at least one extension portion. The extension may be formed by the merging of the flanges toward each other in a tangential manner. In some cases, this tangential merging is achieved by providing a curve having a predetermined minimum radius of curvature. In some embodiments, the curve may be a precise radius but may be other curvilinear shapes or curves. In still further embodiments, the attachment bracket may have two extension portions that are formed by the merging of the flanges toward each other in a tangential manner. The tangential merging of the second extension may also be achieved by providing a curve having a predetermined minimum radius of curvature and the curve may also be a precise radius.
When two extensions are present, one may be referred to as an upper extension and the other may be referred to as a lower extension and the extensions may extend primarily in directions that are in the radial plane of the pin receiving bore, which is also the X-Y plane as mentioned previously herein.
A machine that uses a work implement that has a hinge attachment bracket as described herein may weigh less and have better stability. Also, the durability of the hinge design may increase the life of the bucket resulting in less machine downtime and maintenance costs.
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. Also, the numericals recited are also part of the range.
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 invention(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.
