The present disclosure relates to a walkway assembly for the work machine.
A work machine, such as a paving machine, is used for construction of road surfaces, for example. Specifically, the work machine may be used to apply, spread, and compact a mat of paving material evenly over a paving surface.
The work machine includes a walkway. The walkway is pivotally coupled to a screed assembly of the work machine. The walkway may enable one or more users to stand, observe, and/or control an ongoing paving operation. In some cases, it may be required to move the walkway from a deployed position to a stowed position. For example, the walkway may be move to the stowed position during transportation of the work machine, especially where length requirements necessitate folding of the walkway to reduce an overall length of the work machine. In other examples, it may be necessary to fold the walkway to back the work machine or the screed assembly up to a curb, building, etc. Further, during some paving operations, the walkway may be required to be disposed in the stowed position so that the paving operation can be performed efficiently. The walkway may include a locking mechanism that may retain the walkway in the stowed position.
Currently, manual effort is required to move the walkway to the stowed position. In some cases, a user may use a tool, such as a shovel or a lever, to increase mechanical advantage to move the walkway to the stowed position. However, moving the walkway manually may be a tedious task, may be time consuming, and may cause fatigue/exertion to the user.
U.S. Publication Application Number 2016/0102439 discloses a paving machine that includes a tractor, a screed, and an operator platform. The screed is coupled to the tractor and is located behind the tractor. The operator platform is movably coupled to the tractor and has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the operator platform is located at least partially above the screed, and in the second position, the operator platform is located behind the screed.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, a walkway assembly for a work machine is provided. The walkway assembly includes a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine. The walkway assembly also includes a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position. The at least one coil spring is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof. The at least one coil spring is coupled to a portion of the work machine at another end thereof. The at least one coil spring is adapted to urge the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on potential energy stored within the at least one coil spring.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a walkway assembly for a work machine is provided. The walkway assembly includes a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine. The walkaway assembly also includes a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position. The system includes at least one winch. The at least one winch includes a drum having an axis. The drum is rotatable about the axis. The at least one winch also includes an elongate, flexible member at least partially wound around the drum. The flexible member is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof. The flexible member is coupled to the drum at another end thereof. The flexible member is adapted to move the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on a rotation of the drum.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a walkway assembly for a work machine is provided. The walkway assembly includes a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine. The walkway assembly also includes a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position. The at least one actuating device is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof. The at least one actuating device is coupled to a portion of the work machine at another end thereof. The at least one actuating device is adapted to move the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on an actuation of the at least one actuating device. The at least one actuating device includes at least one of a strut and an actuator.
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 work machine 100 includes a chassis 102. The chassis 102 supports various components of the work machine 100 thereon. The work machine 100 includes an enclosure 104 mounted on the chassis 102. The enclosure 104 encloses a power source (not shown) therein. The power source may include an engine, such as, an internal combustion engine, a battery system, a fuel cell system, and the like. The power source provides power to the work machine 100 for operational and mobility requirements.
The work machine 100 also includes a set of ground engaging members 106. The ground engaging members 106 are operably coupled to the chassis 102. In the illustrated example of
The work machine 100 also includes an operator cabin 108 mounted on the chassis 102. The operator cabin 108 may include one or more controls (not shown) that may enable an operator to control one or more components of the work machine 100, such as, a screed assembly 110.
The work machine 100 includes a hopper assembly 120 operably coupled to the chassis 102. The hopper assembly 120 holds a volume of paving material on the work machine 100 received from an external source (not shown), for example, a truck or a transfer vehicle. The hopper assembly 120 also transfers the paving material from one portion of the work machine 100 to another. As such, the hopper assembly 120 may include one or more components (not shown), such as one or more conveyors, augers, sensors, and so on, based on application requirements.
The work machine 100 also includes the screed assembly 110 mounted on the chassis 102. The screed assembly 110 may include components, such as, a main screed, a left-hand extension, and a right-hand extension. The screed assembly 110 includes a frame 124 which is coupled to the chassis 102 of the work machine 100. As such, the screed assembly 110 may pivot about a pivotal connection with the chassis 102 to float freely over a surface being paved.
Referring to
The walkway assembly 200 for the work machine 100 includes a walkway unit 202 pivotally coupled to the work machine 100. The walkway unit 202 is pivotally coupled to the screed assembly 110 of the work machine 100. Specifically, the walkway unit 202 is pivotally coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110. The walkway unit 202 is movable between a deployed position (shown in
The walkway assembly 200 further includes a bracket 214 that pivotally couples the walkway unit 202 with the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110. In some examples, the walkway unit 202 may be a steel base structure, which is a flattened member that may be substantially horizontally laid out to allow stationing of users. The walkway assembly 200 further includes a locking mechanism (not shown) that locks the walkway unit 202 in the stowed position. The locking mechanism retains the walkway unit 202 in the stowed position. The locking mechanism may be moved to an unlocked state to allow movement of the walkway unit 202 from the stowed position to the deployed position.
Referring to
The system 204 includes one or more coil springs 206. Particularly, the one or more coil springs 206 include a first coil spring 206 disposed at a first side 208 of the walkway unit 202 and a second coil spring 206 disposed at a second side 216 (shown in
Further, the one or more coil springs 206 may include a flat coil spring and/or a round coil spring. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited by a type or a design of the coil springs 206. The coil springs 206 are disposed proximate to the pivotal connection between the walkway unit 202 and the frame 124. The one or more coil springs 206 define an end 210 and an end 212 that is distal from the end 210. The one or more coil springs 206 are coupled to the walkway unit 202 at the end 210. In some examples, the end 210 of the coil springs 206 may be removably coupled to the walkway unit 202, via mechanical fasteners (not shown). In other examples, the end 210 of the walkway unit 202 may be coupled to the walkway unit 202 via joining techniques, such as, welding, soldering, brazing, and the like. The one or more coil springs 206 are coupled to a portion of the work machine 100 at another end 212. Particularly, the one or more coil springs 206 is coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110, at the end 212. In some examples, the end 212 of the one or more coil springs 206 may be removably coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110, via mechanical fasteners. In other examples, the end 212 of the walkway unit 202 may be coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110, via joining techniques, such as, welding, soldering, brazing, and the like. It should be noted that in an alternative arrangement, the end 210 may be removably coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110 and the end 212 may be coupled to the walkway unit 202.
The one or more coil springs 206 urge the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on potential energy stored within the one or more coil springs 206. When the walkway unit 202 is to be moved to the stowed position, a user present on the ground may apply a small amount of lifting force to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. Additionally, the coil springs 206 provide the potential energy to assist movement of the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. It should be noted that the lifting force applied by the user is less or negligible, and a majority of lifting effort is applied by the coil springs 206.
Referring to
The walkway assembly 200 also includes a system 404 for assisting the movement of the walkway unit 202 from the deployed position to the stowed position, according to another example of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example of
The winch 406 includes a drum 408 having an axis A1. The drum 408 rotates about the axis A1. The drum 408 of the winch 406 is coupled to the screed assembly 110. Specifically, the drum 408 of the winch 406 is coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110. In some examples, the drum 408 may be coupled to the screed assembly 110, via mechanical fasteners. In other examples, the drum 408 may be coupled to the walkway unit 202, via joining techniques, such as, welding, soldering, brazing, and the like.
The winch 406 also include an elongate, flexible member 410 at least partially wound around the drum 408. The flexible member 410 includes a rope, a cable, a coil, and/or a strap. The flexible member 410 defines an end 412 and an end 414 that is distal from the end 412. The flexible member 410 is coupled to the walkway unit 202 at the end 412. The flexible member 410 is coupled to the drum 408 at another end 414. The flexible member 410 moves the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on a rotation of the drum 408. It should be noted that in an alternative arrangement, the end 412 may be coupled to the drum 408 and the end 414 may be coupled to the walkway unit 202.
The system 404 illustrated in
Referring now to
When the walkway unit 202 is to be moved from the deployed position to the stowed position, the user may press the switch 420. The switch 420 may in turn actuate the actuation system 418 to rotate the drum 408, thereby causing the flexible member 410 (see
Referring to
The walkway assembly 200 also includes a system 504 for assisting the movement of the walkway unit 202 from the deployed position to the stowed position, according to yet another example of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example of
The one or more actuating devices 506 include a strut and/or an actuator. The one or more actuating devices 506 may include a gas strut, a coil strut, an electric actuator, an electromechanical actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and/or a pneumatic actuator. Specifically, in the illustrated example of
The one or more actuating devices 506 define an end 508 and an end 510 that is distal from the end 508. The end 508 is defined by the piston 516 of the actuating device 506 and the end 510 is defined by the barrel 514 of the actuating device 506. The one or more actuating devices 506 are coupled to the walkway unit 202 at the end 508. In some examples, the actuating devices 506 may be coupled to the walkway unit 202 at the end 508, via mechanical fasteners. In other examples, the actuating devices 506 may be coupled to the walkway unit 202 at the end 508, via joining techniques, such as, welding, soldering, brazing, and the like.
The one or more actuating devices 506 are coupled to a portion of the work machine 100 at another end 510. Particularly, the one or more actuating devices 506 is coupled to the frame 124 of the screed assembly 110 (see
The actuating devices 506 move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on an actuation of the one or more actuating devices 506.
It should be noted that, when the actuating devices 506 are embodied as the gas strut or the coil strut, the user present on ground may apply a small amount of lifting force to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. Additionally, the gas strut or the coil strut causes the walkway unit 202 to move to the stowed position. It should be noted that the lifting force applied by the user is less or negligible, and a majority of the lifting effort is applied by the gas strut or the coil strut.
Further, when the actuating devices 506 are embodied as the actuator, such as, the electric actuator, the electromechanical actuator, the hydraulic actuator, or the pneumatic actuator, the system 504 further includes a switch 518 communicably coupled to the actuating devices 506. The switch 518 is operable to actuate the actuating devices 506 to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. The switch 518 may be disposed proximate to the walkway assembly 200 or in the operator cabin 108 (see
When the walkway unit 202 is required to be moved to the stowed position, the user may actuate the switch 518. The switch 518 may cause the actuating devices 506 to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. It should be noted that when the actuating devices 506 include the actuator, the user may not have to apply any lifting force to the walkway unit 202 to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position.
Referring now to
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 present disclosure is related to the walkway assembly 200. The walkway assembly 200 includes the system 204, 404, 504 to move the walkway unit 202 from the deployed position to the stowed position. The movement of the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position may reduce space required to accommodate the work machine 100 during transportation of the work machine 100 as well as during some paving operations. For example, when the paving operation is being performed proximate to a curb, the system 204, 404, 504 may be used to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position.
The system 204, 404, 504 uses the coil springs 206, the winch 406, and the actuating devices 506, respectively, to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. The coil springs 206, the winch 406, and the actuating devices 506 may reduce the lifting force applied by users to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. Furthermore, the system 204, 404, 504 of the walkway assembly 200 may allow movement of the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position in a time efficient manner, without requiring costly set-ups or high operator expertise. Overall, the system 204, 404, 504 may reduce time, efforts, and human interference to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position as compared to a conventional walkway assembly. The system 204, 404, 504 may improve user experience also and reduce operator fatigue/exertion as the operator may have to apply minimal lifting force to move the walkway unit 202 to the stowed position. The system 204, 404, 504 may also ensure smooth operation at a worksite.
Further, the system 204, 404, 504 of the walkway assembly 200 is simple in construction and may be cost-effective to implement. Moreover, the walkway assembly 200 may be retrofitted to existing work machines.
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 work machine, 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.