U.S. patent number 3,915,501 [Application Number 05/526,280] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-28 for mounting arrangement for impact rock-breaker.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Caterpillar Tractor Co.. Invention is credited to Delwin E. Cobb, Jerry D. Fidler, Nathan Gutman, Richard E. Livesay, Orrin A. Stemler.
United States Patent |
3,915,501 |
Cobb , et al. |
October 28, 1975 |
Mounting arrangement for impact rock-breaker
Abstract
An impact rock breaker includes detachable mounting means and
latching means operative to mount the rock breaker on the stick of
a backhoe or excavator adjacent the bucket such that the rock
breaker can be pivoted between a non-operative position out of the
way of the bucket to permit normal operation of the bucket and an
operative position latched to the bucket for movement with the
bucket for normal operation of the rock breaker.
Inventors: |
Cobb; Delwin E. (Peoria,
IL), Fidler; Jerry D. (Peoria, IL), Gutman; Nathan
(Loudonville, NY), Livesay; Richard E. (Peoria, IL),
Stemler; Orrin A. (East Peoria, IL) |
Assignee: |
Caterpillar Tractor Co.
(Peoria, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
24096678 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/526,280 |
Filed: |
November 22, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/67; 173/46;
173/193; 414/723; 414/912; 37/403; 37/447; 37/904 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F
3/32 (20130101); E02F 3/425 (20130101); E02F
3/962 (20130101); Y10S 37/904 (20130101); Y10S
414/125 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02F
3/04 (20060101); E02F 3/96 (20060101); E02F
3/42 (20060101); E02F 003/96 () |
Field of
Search: |
;299/37,67 ;173/46
;37/117.5,DIG.18 ;214/145,620 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purser; Ernest R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Phillips, Moore, Weissenberger,
Lempio & Strabala
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Material-fracturing apparatus for mounting adjacent the bucket
of an excavator having a boom and a stick, said apparatus
comprising:
a housing having a fracturing shank supported by and extending
therefrom and means for applying impact blows to said shank for
breaking hardened materials;
bracket means extending from said housing for pivotal connection to
the stick of an excavator adjacent the bucket of said
excavator;
first latch means for latching said housing means to said bucket
for manipulation of said fracturing device into operative position
by manipulation of said bucket; and
second latch means for latching said housing to said stick to
permit free operation of said bucket.
2. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the
material-fracturing shank is mounted for angular adjustment
relative to said bucket while latched thereto.
3. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said
bracket means pivotally connects to said stick at the pivotal
connection of said bucket thereto so that said housing and said
bucket pivots about the same point on said stick.
4. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 3 including means for
preventing disengagement of said second latch means until said
first latch means is latched to said bucket.
5. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 4 wherein said
bracket means extends from said housing in a direction opposite
that of said fracturing shank.
6. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said
bracket means pivotally connects to said stick at the pivotal
connection of said bucket thereto so that said housing and said
bucket pivots about the same point on said stick.
7. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 6 including means for
preventing disengagement of said second latch means from said stick
until said first latch means is latched to said bucket.
8. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means
for applying impact blows to said shank comprises a machanical
impact device driven by a rotary hydraulic motor.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rotary hydraulic motor is
detachably secured to said housing and said second latch means is
operative to latch said rotary motor to said stick so that said
fracturing apparatus can be readily removed from said stick leaving
said motor latched to said stick to thereby avoid the removal of
hydraulic lines therefrom.
10. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said
bracket means extends from said housing in a direction opposite
that of said fracturing shank.
11. The material-fracturing device of claim 10 wherein said
fracturing shank is mounted for relative angular adjustment about a
generally vertical axis.
12. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 11 wherein said
bracket extends at an angle of approximately 45.degree. from said
axis of angular adjustment.
13. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means
for applying impact blows to said shank comprises a mechanical
impact device driven by a rotary hydraulic motor.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said rotary hydraulic motor
is detachably secured to said housing and said second latch means
is operative to latch said rotary motor to said stick so that said
fracturing apparatus can be readily removed from said stick.
15. The material-fracturing device of claim 1 wherein said housing
is pivotally mounted to said bracket for relative angular
adjustment about an axis extending at substantially a right angle
to the pivotal connection of said housing to said stick.
16. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 15 wherein said
bracket extends at an angle of approximately 45.degree. from said
axis of angular adjustment.
17. Material-fracturing apparatus for mounting on a support arm
adjacent an excavating bucket, said apparatus comprising:
a support arm having an excavating bucket pivotally connected to
one end thereof;
a housing having a fracturing shank supported by and extending
therefrom and means for applying impact blows to said shank for
breaking hardened materials;
bracket means extending from said housing for pivotal connection to
the end of said support arm adjacent and forward of said
bucket;
first latch means for latching said housing means to said bucket
for manipulation of said fracturing apparatus into operative
position by manipulation of said bucket; and
second latch means for latching said housing to said stick to
permit free operation of said bucket.
18. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 17 wherein the
material-fracturing shank is mounted for angular adjustment
relative to said bucket while latched thereto.
19. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 18 wherein said
bracket means pivotally connects to said arm at the pivotal
connection of said bucket thereto so that said housing and said
bucket pivots about the same point on said stick.
20. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 19 including means
for preventing disengagement of said first latch means until said
second latch means is securely latched to said arm.
21. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 20 wherein said
bracket means extends from said housing in a direction opposite
that of said fracturing shank.
22. The material-fracturing device of claim 18 wherein said
relative angular adjustment is about an axis extending at
substantially right angles to the pivotal connection of said
housing to said arm.
23. The material-fracturing device of claim 22 wherein said bracket
extends at an angle of approximately 45.degree. from said axis of
angular adjustment.
24. The material-fracturing apparatus of claim 22 wherein said
angle of adjustment is up to 40.degree. to either side of a line
defining zero adjustment thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to excavating apparatus and
particularly to an impact rock-breaking apparatus for mounting on
an excavator or backhoe.
When undertaking excavating work such as with backhoes or
excavators, it is frequently necessary to carry out distinct phases
of the operation requiring different tools. For example, when
excavating with a backhoe or excavator one may encounter hard rock
formations or concrete which requires breaking up before it can be
removed. Such situations may require that a jackhammer or similar
tool be moved to break up the rock or concrete in order that it may
be removed from the excavation. Frequently, however the rock or
concrete cannot be reached by or is inaccessible to a
jackhammer.
Rock-breaking tools for mounting on the end of the boom or stick of
an excavator or backhoe are known. Such tools, however, generally
require that the bucket be removed in order that the rock-breaking
tools can be attached to the stick of the excavator. This approach
is extremely time-consuming and expensive.
Another approach to this problem has been providing the excavator
bucket with vibrating teeth for breaking the rock or concrete. The
major problem with this approach is that such apparatus is
generally incapable of developing sufficient force to efficiently
break concrete and other hard rock-materials.
Another approach to this problem is such as disclosed in British
specification 1,172,537 published Dec. 3, 1969. That specification
discloses an arrangement having two separate booms and an
arrangement wherein a bucket and a rock-breaking device are both
mounted on the same arm of an excavator. The bucket is slidably
mounted on the arm to swing or slide into and out of operative
position. The problem with this arrangement is that it requires
complicated and expensive apparatus and the bucket suffers in
strength and durability.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to
provide a machine capable of performing multiple types of
operations with a minimal amount of time required switching from
one operation to another.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
material-fracturing apparatus for mounting on the stick of an
excavator without interfering with the use of the bucket of the
excavator.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
rock-breaking apparatus that is attachable to the stick of an
excavator or backhoe in a manner to permit normal operation of both
the backhoe and the bucket.
In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, a
rock-breaking apparatus is pivotally secured at a common pivot
point with the bucket of an excavator and is swingable and
latchable into an operating position and latchable into a
non-operating position to permit normal operation of the bucket of
the machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an excavator machine embodying an
apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 with the apparatus of the present
invention latched in a non-operative position;
FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 with the apparatus of the present
invention moved to a position preparatory to removal thereof;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present
invention with portions broken away to reveal details; and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is
illustrated a hydraulic excavator disignated generally by the
numeral 10 which includes an upper structure 11 rotatably mounted
on a lower structure including movable endless track assemblies 12.
A boom 13 is pivotally mounted at its inner end in the usual manner
to the upper structure 11 and pivotally supports a stick or an arm
14 at its outer end. A bucket 15 is pivotally supported on the
outer end of the stick 14.
A material-fracturing or rock-breaking apparatus in accordance with
the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 16 and
is pivotally mounted about the same pivot point 18 as that of the
bucket 15. Suitable first latching means 17 is provided for
latching the apparatus to the bucket 15 for movement therwith in
the operative position.
The boom 13 is controlled in the usual manner by means of a pair of
cylinders 19, and the stick 14 is similarly controlled by means of
a hydraulic cylinder 20. A hydraulic cylinder 21 is pivotally
connected at its upper end to the stick 14 and at its lower end to
wrist linkage 22 which in turn is connected to the bucket 15 for
movement of the bucket about its pivot point 18.
The apparatus includes second latch means, including suitable latch
mechanism 24, engaging in a latch slot 25 formed in the stick 15
for retaining or holding the apparatus in a position as shown in
FIG. 2 to permit normal operation of the bucket 15. The latch 17
holds the apparatus latched to bucket 15 as shown in FIG. 1 for
movement therewith. When the apparatus is latched into the position
as shown in FIG. 2, the bucket 15 is free to function in the normal
manner. Latching the mechanism in the position as shown in FIG. 2
is accomplished by curling the bucket 15 upwards against the stick
until the latch mechanism 24 engages the slot 25, at which time the
latch mechanism is actuated, securing the materialfracturing
apparatus into the position as shown in FIG. 2. The latch mechanism
17 is then unlocked from bucket 15, permitting the bucket to swing
away for use in the normal manner.
Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated the fracturing
apparatus in a position to be removed or detached from the
excavator. The material-fracturing device preferably includes a
mechanism of the type shown in either one of U.S. application Ser.
Nos. 390,911 entitled Eccentric Ring Impacting Mechanism or 390,912
entitled Impact Material Fracturing Device for Excavators and the
Like both filed Aug. 23, 1973 of common assignment herewith, which
are rotary impact devices and are preferably driven by rotary
hydraulic motors. With the present arrangement, the hydraulic motor
is constructed as a sub-assembly generally designated by the
numeral 26 and is readily detachable from the main housing and
frame assembly of the fracturing apparatus. With such an
arrangement the hydraulic motor sub-assembly 26 can be left latched
in the position as shown in FIG. 3 and detached from the remainder
of the assembly, permitting the fracturing apparatus housing and
support frame to fall away as shown, so that it can be readily
removed simply by removing bearing caps 18a from pivot pins 18.
This leaves the hydraulic lines 27 for supplying fluid to the motor
26 intact without requiring them to be uncoupled therefrom. This
arrangement permits ready detachment of the fracturing apparatus
without the possibility of contamination of the hydraulic oil
supply. Such contamination would be possible if the hydraulic lines
were required to be removed and capped upon removal of the
assembly.
The apparatus can be reattached to the excavator simply by
reversing the above process.
Turning now to FIG. 4, wherein the device or apparatus is
illustrated in a plan view, a housing 29 which encloses and mounts
the drive shaft, flywheels and other related internal components,
is rotatably supported by means of a main support member 30 and is
adjustable with respect thereto by means of a pair of hydraulic
cylinders 31 & 32. The internal mechanism of the impact
material-fracturing apparatus including the fracturing shank 33 and
fracturing tip 34 are similar to those disclosed in application
Ser. No. 390,911 pointed out above.
As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the fracturing shank and mechanism
is rotatable 40.degree. to either side of its zero position. This
selective adjustment is an important consideration when digging a
trench through rock or hard substances. The apparatus is capable of
forming a trench with fairly vertical walls by rotating the cutting
tool from side to side. The housing portion 29 is pivoted with
respect to the support structure 30 about a substantially vertical
axis. A pair of brackets 28 extend backward at approximately
45.degree. with respect to this axis and are pivotally connected by
means of the pin 18 to the stick 14.
With reference now to FIG. 5, the latching mechanism 17 for locking
the impact apparatus to the bucket includes a latching rod 36
connected to a pivotally mounted bracket 37 at one end and a
pivotal yoke member 38 at the other end, which yoke is connected in
a suitable manner to a hydraulically actuated cylinder 39. A
locking detent member or wedge 40 is secured to the bucket as shown
for engagement by the latching rod 36 to latch mechanism to the
bucket. To operate the latch mechanism the hydraulic cylinder 39 is
actuated pivoting the yoke member 38 forward, which forces the
latching rod 36 and bracket 37 downward to engage behind and lock
to wedge member 40. In order to unlatch the mechanism from the
bucket the hydraulic cylinder 39 is deactivated, which pulls the
yoke 38 backward and latching rod 36 and bracket 37 upward out of
engagement with the wedge member 40.
The latching mechanism 24 for latching the impact material
fracturing apparatus 16 to the stick includes a bracket 42 having a
pin member 43 secured to the bracket for engaging slot 25, formed
in stick 14. A C-shaped lock member 44 pivotally mounted at 47 to
the stick 14 engages with the pin 43 for retaining the bracket 42
in the latched position. This latching mechanism is operated by
means of a hydraulic cylinder 45 including piston rod 46 secured as
illustrated to the C-shaped bracket 44. When the bucket 15 is swung
upward as shown to swing the impact apparatus against the stick,
pin 43 engages slot 25 on the stick. Actuation of hydraulic
cylinder 45 then forces the piston rod 46 forward and pivots
C-shaped lock member 44 around pivot point 47, forcing the C-shaped
member's lower leg 48 to engage pin 43 and pull the entire
mechanism upward against the stick until a stop member 49 engages
the lower surface of the stick.
Hydraulic pressure is maintained in the cylinder 45 as long as the
mechanism is in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 5 to provide
a fail-safe lock system. This latching mechanism as shown, 17 and
24, is duplicated on the other side of the bucket and stick. The
fail-safe lock system is provided between latch mechanisms 17 and
24 in order to ensure that the impact material-fracturing apparatus
16 is securely latched to the stick, by the latch mechanism 24
before the latching rods 36 can be unlocked from the bucket. This
prevents the bucket from swinging away from the impact device
without its being securely latched to the stick. The interlock
device also prevents the latch member 24 from being unlocked until
the latching rod 36 is securely locked to the bucket. This
fail-safe latching and unlatching is accomplished through
sequencing of various valves within the hydraulic circuit not
shown.
Turning now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated the mechanism for
rotating or swinging the housing 29 about its pivot point with
respect to the housing 30. This assembly includes a pair of
hydraulic cylinders 31 and 32 which are pivotally connected by
suitable rods 52 and 53 which are pivotally connected to a rotator
plate 54 which in turn is pivotally mounted within housing 29 by
suitable pivot pin or the like 55. The piston rods 52 and 53 are
pivotally connected at 57 and 58 to the plate 54 which in turn
engages a bracket 56 which is secured to the upper portion of the
rotatable housing 29. Actuation of either one of the hydraulic
motors 31 or 32 along with deactivation of the opposite motor
pivots the housing 29 about the pivot support axis 55. This permits
the apparatus to be pivoted about the pivot point 55 and the
fracturing tool, as best seen in FIG. 4, to be swung to either side
of the center line of the apparatus for engagement of walls to
either side of the apparatus. This permits the engagement of the
side walls of a trench or the cutting of a very wide trench through
a rock or the like material. The shank can be pivoted up to
27.degree. to either side of the center line thereof.
From the above description it is seen that there is described and
illustrated a fracturing apparatus for mounting adjacent the bucket
of an excavator with means for latching the apparatus into an
operative and a non-operative position. The operative position is a
position wherein the apparatus is latched to the bucket of the
excavator for movement therewith and engagement with material to be
broken or fractured. The non-operative position is a position in
which the apparatus is pivoted against and latched to the stick of
the excavator with the bucket then being free to operate in the
usual manner. The fracturing apparatus is mounted and includes
swivel means permitting the fracturing tool to swing to either side
of the device for engaging side walls or the like to the sides of
the apparatus.
While the present invention has been described by means of a single
embodiment, it is to be understood that numerous changes and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *