U.S. patent application number 10/282858 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for cylinder mounting assembly for truck mounted scraper blade.
Invention is credited to Helder, Bruce A., Vermeulen, David M..
Application Number | 20030188461 10/282858 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28678080 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030188461 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vermeulen, David M. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
CYLINDER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR TRUCK MOUNTED SCRAPER BLADE
Abstract
An improved hydraulic cylinder construction having a feature
thereon facilitating operative connection with a service kit to
enable a quick and injury free removal thereof from a location
whereat the hydraulic cylinder is spring biased in a shock absorber
installation, particularly for use in a scraper blade mounting
assembly.
Inventors: |
Vermeulen, David M.;
(Vicksburg, MI) ; Helder, Bruce A.; (Grand Rapids,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLYNN THIEL BOUTELL & TANIS, P.C.
2026 RAMBLING ROAD
KALAMAZOO
MI
49008-1699
US
|
Family ID: |
28678080 |
Appl. No.: |
10/282858 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60369910 |
Apr 4, 2002 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 403/1633 20150115;
Y10T 403/18 20150115; Y10T 403/255 20150115; Y10T 403/253 20150115;
E01H 5/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/231 |
International
Class: |
E01H 005/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members
comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame
members and supported therebelow, a scraper blade pivotally mounted
on said pivotal support, an operating cylinder support bracket
fixedly supported from the frame of said truck, spaced trunnion
bearings carried by said support bracket, a spring housing having
trunnion bearings transverse to an axis thereof pivotally supported
by the trunnion bearings on said bracket and having a first annular
abutment at one end, a hydraulic cylinder positioned in spaced
relation within said spring housing and having a piston rod
reciprocable in said hydraulic cylinder, and means pivotally
connecting said piston rod to said scraper blade, said hydraulic
cylinder additionally having a second annular abutment spaced from
said first annular abutment and being axially slidable and
non-rotatively engaged with said spring housing, a compression
spring bearing between said first annular abutment on said spring
housing and said second annular abutment on said hydraulic
cylinder, said hydraulic cylinder having at least one fluid
connection at an end adjacent said first annular abutment, wherein
the improvement comprises in combination: (a) said fluid connection
is defined by a first internally threaded opening in said hydraulic
cylinder through which hydraulic fluid is supplied; (b) a service
kit comprising a first coupling member having a first external
thread threadedly coupled to the thread of said first internally
threaded opening and having an a axially extending bore
therethrough with at least a portion of said bore having a second
internal thread configured to provide a connection to a fluid
system; (c) a second coupling member having a second external
thread and an enlarged head at one end thereof, said second
external thread being configured identically to said first external
thread; and (d) a plate-like member having a guide hole
therethrough configured to loosely receive therethrough said second
external thread and prevent said enlarged head from passing
therethrough.
2. In a fluid cylinder assembly, comprising, an operating fluid
cylinder having a cylinder housing, an elongate piston rod
reciprocal in said cylinder housing and a spring abutment collar
adjacent a first end from which projects said piston rod, a spring
housing into which is housed said operating fluid cylinder, said
spring housing being open at opposite ends while simultaneously
providing a spring abutment at a second end remote from a third end
thereof whereat said piston rod projects from said spring housing,
a stop encircling said cylinder housing adjacent said first end
thereof and being secured to said spring housing adjacent said
third end thereof, a spring oriented in a compressed state between
and engaging said spring abutment collar and said spring abutment
to continually urge said cylinder housing and said spring abutment
collar thereon toward said stop, said cylinder housing having at
least one fluid connection at a forth end remote from said first
end, wherein the improvement comprises in combination: (a) said
fluid connection is defined by a first internally threaded opening
in said hydraulic cylinder; (b) a service kit comprising a first
coupling member having a first external thread threadedly coupled
to the thread of said first internally threaded opening and having
an axially extending bore therethrough with at least a portion of
said bore having a second internal thread configured to provide a
connection to a fluid system; (c) a second coupling member having a
second external thread and an enlarged head at one end thereof,
said second external thread being configured identically to said
first external thread; and (d) a plate-like member having a guide
hole therethrough configured to loosely receive therethrough said
second external thread and prevent said enlarged head from passing
therethrough.
3. A service kit for facilitating access to a fluid cylinder
assembly, comprising, an operating fluid cylinder having a cylinder
housing, an elongate piston rod reciprocal in said cylinder housing
and a spring abutment collar adjacent a first end from which
projects said piston rod, a spring housing into which is housed
said operating fluid cylinder, said spring housing being open at
opposite ends while simultaneously providing a spring abutment at a
second end remote from a third end thereof whereat said piston rod
projects from said spring housing, a stop encircling said cylinder
housing adjacent said first end thereof and being secured to said
spring housing adjacent said third end thereof, a spring oriented
in a compressed state between and engaging said spring abutment
collar and said spring abutment to continually urge said cylinder
housing and said spring abutment collar thereon toward said stop,
said cylinder housing having at least one fluid connection at a
fourth end remote from said first end, said fluid connection
including an opening in said hydraulic cylinder, said opening
having a first internal thread, said service kit comprising: a
coupling member having a first external thread and an enlarged head
at one end thereof, said first external thread being configured to
threadedly coupled to said first internal thread; and a plate-like
member having a hole therethrough configured to loosely receive
therethrough said second external thread and prevent said enlarged
head from passing therethrough.
4. The service kit according to claim 3, wherein said fluid
connection includes a fluid coupling member having a second
external thread configured to couple to said first internal thread,
said fluid coupling member having an axially extending bore
therethrough with at least a portion of said bore having a second
internal thread configured to provide a connection to a fluid
system.
5. The service kit according to claim 4, wherein said plate-like
member is of a size larger than the cross section of said spring
housing.
6. The service kit according to claim 4, wherein a length of said
coupling member is greater than the length that said spring is
operatively compressed between said spring abutment collar and said
spring abutment with no load applied to said piston rod.
7. A method for accessing a hydraulic cylinder in a fluid cylinder
assembly, comprising, an operating fluid cylinder having a cylinder
housing, an elongate piston rod reciprocal in said cylinder housing
and a spring abutment collar adjacent a first end from which
projects said piston rod, a spring housing into which is housed
said operating fluid cylinder, said spring housing being open at
opposite ends while simultaneously providing a spring abutment at a
second end remote from a third end thereof whereat said piston rod
projects from said spring housing, a stop encircling said cylinder
housing adjacent said first end thereof and being secured to said
spring housing adjacent said third end thereof, a spring oriented
in a compressed state between and engaging said spring abutment
collar and said spring abutment to continually urge said cylinder
housing and said spring abutment collar thereon toward said stop,
said cylinder housing having at least one fluid connection at a
fourth end remote from said first end, said fluid connection
including an opening in said hydraulic cylinder, said opening
having a first internal thread, comprising the steps of: placing a
coupling member having a first eternal thread and an enlarged head
at one end thereof through a hole in a plate-like member and
effecting a threaded coupling of said first external thread with
said first internal thread, orienting said plate-like member
against said spring housing and drawing by operation of said
coupling member in a first direction of rotation said hydraulic
cylinder toward said plate-like member to further compress said
spring and draw said spring abutment collar away from said stop,
unsecuring and removing said stop from said spring housing,
operating said coupling member in a second direction of rotation to
effect movement of said hydraulic cylinder away from said
plate-like member to reduce the compression of said spring entirely
to facilitate removal of said hydraulic cylinder from said spring
housing after disengagement of said first external thread from said
first internal thread.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said coupling member
has a length greater than the length that said spring is
operatively compressed between said spring abutment collar and said
spring abutment with no load applied to said piston rod.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an improved hydraulic cylinder
construction and, more particularly, to a cylinder construction for
use on a snow scraper blade mounting for trucks and a service kit
therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention arose out of a need to minimize the down time
involved in repairing a hydraulic cylinder mounted on a truck for
use in controlling the elevation of a snow scraper blade. A typical
hydraulic cylinder mounting is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,086,303. The subject matter of this patent is to be incorporated
herein by reference. The difficulty in gaining access to the
hydraulic cylinder after it, along with the spring housing, has
been removed from the truck is to effect a compressing of the
spring in order to facilitate removal of the nuts and bolts
limiting the downward travel of the hydraulic cylinder within the
spring housing. Since the spring is large and the spring force is
also large, there is a risk of injury if the spring compression
activity is not carefully controlled while the travel limiting nuts
and bolts are removed.
[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
hydraulic cylinder mounting assembly which can be easily assembled
and disassembled from a truck as well as easily accessing the
hydraulic cylinder to facilitate a repair thereto or replacement
thereof.
[0004] It is a further object of the invention to provide a service
kit for facilitating removal of the hydraulic cylinder from the
spring housing.
[0005] It is a further object of the invention to provide a service
kit, as aforesaid, wherein the force of the spring is overcome to
enable the hydraulic cylinder to be removed from the spring
housing.
[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide a service
kit, as aforesaid, which is easy to use and is not dangerous to the
user while it is in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The objects and purposes of the invention are met by
providing a hydraulic cylinder and a service kit therefor for
facilitating removal of the hydraulic cylinder from the spring
housing. The service kit is usable in association with a hydraulic
cylinder having a cylinder housing, and an elongate piston rod
reciprocal in the cylindrical housing and a spring abutment collar
adjacent a first end from which projects the piston rod. The
hydraulic cylinder is mounted in a spring housing which is open at
opposite ends while simultaneously providing a spring abutment at a
second and remote from a third end whereat the piston rod projects
from the spring housing. A stop ring encircles the hydraulic
cylinder adjacent the first end and is secured to the spring
housing adjacent the third end. A spring is oriented in a
compressed state between and engaging the spring abutment collar
and the spring abutment to continually urge the cylinder housing
and the spring abutment collar thereon toward the stop ring. The
cylinder housing has a fluid connection at a fourth end remote from
the first end. The hydraulic cylinder additionally includes an
opening having a first internal thread therein. The service kin
includes a coupling member having a first external thread at one
end and an enlarged head at the other end. The first external
thread is configured to threadedly couple directly to the first
internal thread. The service kit also includes an abutment member
which has a hole therethrough configured to loosely receive
therethrough the first external thread but preventing the enlarged
head from passing therethrough.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a highway truck with a
snow scraper blade mounted in operative position thereon by means
of mounting connections;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a conventional support
mechanism for the spring housing;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through the longitudinal
center of the inventive hydraulic cylinder and spring housing mount
therefor;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the hydraulic
cylinder and spring housing assembly;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top of view of a fragment of the hydraulic
cylinder housing adjacent the end from which the piston rod
extends;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional highway maintenance truck
having a frame 1, rear driving wheels 2 and front wheels 3 with the
usual operator's cab 4 and bed 5. An elongate snow scraper blade 6
having a wearing edge plate 7 is mounted obliquely across the
underside of the frame 1 by means of a pair of upright mounting
posts 8 and 9 secured to the side frame members by identical
brackets 10. The posts 8 and 9 rigidly support a hinge shaft 11
from which the scraper blade is pivotally supported by means of
knuckle plates 12 secured to the back side of the blade at the
upper edge thereof.
[0016] An adjusting cylinder support bracket 13 of a channel shaped
cross section is provided with a sleeve 14 on its forward end
supported upon the hinge shaft 11 so that the bracket projects
perpendicularly to the hinge shaft and obliquely to the frame of
the truck. Spaced rightwardly (FIG. 2) from the sleeve 14 the web
of the channel bracket 13 defines a transverse slot 15 adjustably
receiving a clamp screw 16 which clamps the lower end of a third
cylindrical support post 17 to the bracket 13. The post 17 projects
upwardly and is fixedly secured in a third mounting bracket 18
secured to the side frame member 1 of the truck. The third mounting
bracket 18 may be identical to the previously described brackets
10.
[0017] Toward the rear end of the mounting bracket 13, the side
flanges 23 of the channel shaped bracket have upwardly and
rearwardly inclined trunnion plates 24 secured thereto with
inwardly projecting male trunnion bearings 25 near their upper
ends. The bearings 25 coact with and pivotally support the female
trunnion bearings 26 projecting transversely from a cylindrical
spring housing 27. The lower left end 28 of the spring housing 27
is open and is axially slotted as at 29 (FIG. 3) on its upper side.
The upper right end 31 of the spring housing 27 defines a center
hole 32 for a fluid connection surrounded by an annular spring
abutment 33. A short length of angle iron 34 is welded over the
slot 29 to protect the slot and restore the strength of the
cylinder housing 27.
[0018] Centrally and reciprocally within the spring housing 27 is
an inner hydraulic cylinder 36 substantially smaller than the
spring housing 27 and having an annular abutment 37 projecting
outwardly adjacent its lower left end. An ear 38 on the annular
abutment 37 projects into the slot 29 to prevent rotation of the
hydraulic cylinder while permitting axial movement of the hydraulic
cylinder. A split ring stop 39 is received in the lower end 28 of
the spring housing 27 and is secured thereto by a plurality of
bolts 41 (FIG. 4) received in tapped holes 40. A heavy compression
spring 42 is positioned within the spring housing 27 and bears
between the abutments 33 and 37.
[0019] The hydraulic cylinder 36 includes a cylindrical body 43
having at its upper right end 44 a relatively thick end plate 46
(FIG. 3) closing off the upper end of the cylindrical body 43. The
end plate 46 has an internally threaded opening 47 extending
therethrough. A bolt 48 having an enlarged head 49 at one end and
an external thread 50 at the other upper right end configured so
that the external thread 50 is threadedly received directly into
the internally threaded opening 47. A lock washer 45 can be
provided if desired. The bolt 48 has a central passageway 51
therethrough with the upper right end of the passageway 51 located
within the enlarged head of the bolt 48 being internally threaded
as at 54 and configured to receive a fluid connection member 55
(FIG. 1) therein.
[0020] A piston to 52 is reciprocally mounted within the
cylindrical body 43. A cylinder rod 53 is fixedly secured to the
piston 52 and is movable therewith. The distal end of the piston
rod at 52 is configured to be secured to the snow scraper blade 6
in a conventional manner as depicted in FIG. 2.
[0021] The cylindrical body 43 additionally has a fluid inlet port
59 adjacent the lower left end thereof. The inlet port 59 is
configured for connection to a fluid supply as at 61 (FIG. 1).
[0022] In this particular embodiment, the ear 38 has a wear piece
57 fastened thereto by a screw 58. The wear piece 57 is configured
to slidably engage the angle iron 34 and protect the ear 38 from
wear as well as assure alignment of the inlet port 59 with the slot
29.
[0023] In order to disassemble the assembly illustrated in FIG. 3,
a service kit 60 consisting of an elongate bolt 62 (FIG. 4) in
combination with a disk or plate 63 is provided, the plate 63
having a central hole 64 therethrough the diameter of which is
smaller than the enlarged head 66 on the bolt 62. The external
thread 67 on the bolt 62 is configured to directly threadedly
engage the internally threaded opening 47. First, however, the bolt
48 must be removed from the internally threaded opening 47. This
will also necessitate the removal of all of the fluid connection
lines that are coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 36. Thereafter,
the bolt 62 is oriented so that the threaded end 67 thereof is
inserted through the central hole 64 in the plate 63. The threaded
end 67 of the bolt 62 is then inserted into the internally threaded
opening 47. The length of the bolt 62 is sufficiently long that
several turns thereof are required before the head end 66 engages
the plate 63. Once the head end 66 engages the plate 63, continued
rotation thereof is to occur and the end plate 46 will be drawn
toward the plate 63 to compress the spring 42 and draw the annular
spring abutment collar 37 away from the split ring 39. Thereafter,
the bolts 41 can be removed so that the split ring 39 can be
removed from the spring housing 27. At this time, the bolt 62 can
be rotated in the opposite direction so that the end plate 46 and
the hydraulic cylinder 36 are driven away from the plate 63 and
annular spring 33. The bolt 62 is sufficiently long to facilitate a
total relaxation of the spring 42 before the thread 67 thereof
disengages from the thread 47. After the bolt 62 has exited from
the internally threaded opening 47, the hydraulic cylinder 36 can
be drawn out of the spring housing 27 at the left end of the spring
housing 27 for replacement and/or servicing.
[0024] In order to install a repaired or new hydraulic cylinder 36
into the spring housing 27, one need only reverse the procedure
described above.
[0025] Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention
has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *