Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
A standard backhoe normally comprises a dipper
s~lck pivotally mounted for ver~ical movements on a boom
which is rotatably mounted for horizontal swinging move-
ments on a rearward end of the backhoe. A bucket is
pivotally mounted on a lower end of the dipper stick to
provide a work tool for perrormir-g a number of operations
which are difficult ~o perform with other types of earth-
working machines. The backhoe is particularly useful for
work in close quarters wherein the bucket may be moved
alongside of the backhoe for trenching purposes, for e~ample.-
The articulated front and rear frames are normally interconnected
by a pair of vertically spaced pivot pins.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved
pivotal connection between the front and rear frames of an
articulated vehicle. The connection comprises a single universal
pivot means directly interconnecting the frames together for
relative pivotal and vertical movement and a single link means
disposed vertically below the universal pivot means which is
disposed between the ends of the link means.
2 More specifically, the invention provides in an
articulated construction vehicle of the type comprising a front
frame, a rear frame and connection means pivotally interconnecting
said front and rear frames together, the improvement wherein
said connection means comprises a single universal pivot means
pivotally interconnecting said front and rear frames together
directly for relative pivotal and vertical movement and a single
link means disposed below and at least in general vertical align-
ment with respect to said pivot means and universally interconnected
by unlversal connections between said front and rear frames,
said universal pivot means disposed longitudinally between the
universal connections connecting said link means to said front
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and rear frames and further and continuously disposed in
ongitudinal alignment with respect to the universal connection
connecting said link means to said rear frame whereby upon
relative articulation of said front and rear frames about said
universal pivot means said link means will pivot about the
universal connection connecting said link means to said rear
frame and said front frame and said link means are permitted
vertical movements relative to said rear frame.
A backhoe Or this construction exhibits increased
work capabilities over conventional ones in that it provides
for selective multi-movements Or the work tool, usually a
bucket, for performing a wide variety Or work tasks. The
boom may be adapted for detachment from the support member
to be replaced by another work tool (trencher, grader, etc.)
and support therefor.
Some examples of a backhoe constructed in accor-
dance with the invention are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially
schematic, illustarting a backhoe Or this invention with
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portions broken away to expose internal constructions
thereof;
. FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the backhoe,
but with an operator's station and attendant structures
removed therefrom for clarification purposes;
- FIG. 3 is a back elevational view of the backhoe;
: FIGS. 4a through 4e are reduced top elevational
views similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the backhoe in
various positions of operat~on;
~; lO FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the backhoe,
taken in the direction of arrows V-~ in FIG. 4e;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged and partially sectioned side
. elevational view of a first hydraulic swing motor and
mounting therefor;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the swing
motor, taken in the direction of arrows VII-VII in FIG. 6;
.~ FIG. 8 is an enlarged and partially sectioned
side elevational view of a second hydraulic swing motor
and mounting therefor;
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a modification of
an actuating means employed in the backhoe;
FIG. lO is a top plan view of the FIG. 9 actuating
-- means;
~ FIG. ll is a top plan view of a further modifi-
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cation of the actuating means;
-~ FIG. 12 is a partial side elevational view of
the backhoe, but with the backhoe assembly thereof having
been replaced by a trencher assembly; and
FIG. 13 is a partial side elevational view of
the backhoe, but with the backhoe apparatus thereof having
been replaced by agrader assembly.
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Detailed Description
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a construction vehicle in the
form of a backhoe 10 comprising a tractor 11 mounted for
movement on ground-engaging wheels. The frame of the
tractor is articulated at a universal pivot means 12 pre-
ferably comprising a ball and socket connection. A pair
of double-acting hydraulic cylinders 13 are pivotally inter- - - -
connected by ball and socket connections between a front
frame 14 and a rear frame 15 of the backhoe for steering
10 purposes. -
A single link 16 is disposed vertically below
pivot means 12. The link is pivotally interconnected be-
tween the front and rear frames by universal pivot means
comprising ball and socket connections 17 and 18,
respectively. The above described connection means will
thus allow slight relative vertical movements of frames 14
and 15 upon steering of the vehicle.
An engine, schematically illustrated at 21, is
mounted on the front frame whereas an operator's cab 22 is
suitably mounted on the rear frame. Thr rear frame has an
elongated support member or beam 23 pivotally mounted
; t~lereon by a first pivot means 24 for permitting horizon-
tal pivotal movements of the support member relative to
rear frame 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such pivot means
is disposed at the approximate longitudinal center of the
backhoe and comprises a vertically disposed pivot pin 25
secured to a pair of vertically spaced projections 26 of
the support member.
A pair of vertically spaced clevises 27 are secured
to rear frame 15 to rotatably mount the ends of shaft 25
therein by suitably arranged bearing means (not shown).
A first actuating means 28 is operatively interconnected
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between the support member and rear frame for selectively
pivoting thesupport member about pivot means 24. Such
actuating means may comprise a pair of double-acting hydrau-
lic cylinders 29 pivotally connected at their forward ends
to the rear frame and having their rearward or rod ends
connected to a chain 30. The chain is entrained about a
sprocket 31, suitably secured to pivot pin 25, whereby
alternate extension and retraction of the cylinders will
rotate the sprocket and pin 25 to swing support member 23
about the vertical axis thereof.
The rearward end of the support member comprises a
pair of vertically spaced upper and lower brackets 32 and
- 33, respectively. The lower bracket is pivotally mounted
by a second pivot means 34 on a clevis 35, formed integrally
on a bracket 36 of a boom assembly. Upper bracket 32 forms
a clevis having a projection 37 of bracket 36 pivotally
- mounted therein.
Referring to FIG. 6, a second actuating means 38,
preferably in the form of a conventional hydraulic rotary
~- 20 actuator or swing motor, has a drive or output shaft 39
extending downwardly therefrom. The lower end of the shaft
is attached to bracket 37 at a key and slot or other suitable
connection 40. Standard annular bearings 41 are provided
to rotatably mount the shaft in bracket 32.
The swing motor further comprises a housing 42,
suitably secured to support member 23 by a bracket 43 or
the like. Referring to FIG. 7, the housing defines closed
and isolated chambers 44 and 45 therein adapted to be
selectively supplied with a pressurized fluid via flexible
30 lines 46 and 47, respectively, communicating with the
61~;~4
chambers on either side of a stationary vane 48 secured to
the housing. A movable vane 49 is secured to shaft 39 to
selectively pivot bracket 36 on the rear frame upon alter-
nate communication and exhaust of fluid via lines 46 and
47 in a conventional manner.
The boom assembly further comprises a boom 50,
; pivoted to bracket 36 about a horizontal pivot pin 19, for
horizontal swinging movements with the bracket and for
pivoting in a vertical plane relative to the bracket 36 by
means of an actuating means constituted by a double acting
hydraulic cylinder 20 which is pivotally interconnected
between boom 50 and bracket 36.
A dipper stick assembly is pivotally mounted on an
; upper end of the boom by third pivot means comprising a
pivot pin 51. The dipper stick assembly comprises a support
bracket 52 pivotally connected to the boom at pin 51 and a
dipper stick 53 extending downwardly therefrom.
~ Actuating means, preferably in the form of a double-
; acting hydraulic cylinder 54, is pivotally interconnected
between boom 50 and bracket 52 for selectively pivoting
the dipper stick assembly vertically on the boom. Actuating
means 55, preferably in the form of a second hydraulic
, rotary actuator or swing motor, is operatively interconnected
between bracket 52 and dipper stick 53 to selectively rotate
the dipper stick relative to the bracket about a longitu-
` dinal axis of the diper stick. Referring to FIG. 8, the
swing motor comprise~ a housing 56 suitably secured to
,~ bracket 52 and a drive or output shaft 57 extending down-
~; wardly therefrom.
The lower end of the shaft is suitably attached to
an upper arm 58 of a clevls, formed on the upper end of the
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dipper stick, by a spline connection 59, for example. A
pivot pin 60 issuitably secured to bracket 52 and has its
upper end rotatably mounted in a first annular bearing
assembly 61, suitably mounted in arm 58. The lower end of
the pivot pin is suitably mounted for rotation in a second
annular bearing assembly 62, mounted on the lower arm of
th`è clevis of the dipper stick. The construction,
arrangement and function of the drive motor are the same
as those shown and described in regard to swing motor 38
of FIG. 7.
The lower end of dipper stick 53 has a bucket 63
pivotally mounted thereon by a fourth pivot means comprising
a pivot pin 64. A fifth actuating means 65 for selectively
pivoting the bucket on the dipper stick preferably comprises
a double-acting cylinder 66 having its upper end pivotally
attached to the dipper stick. The lower rod end of the
cylinder is pivotally connected to pairs of conventional
links 67 and 68, pivotally connected to the bucket and dip-
per stick, respectively.
FIGS. 4a-4e illustrate the backhoe is various condi-
tions of operation to thus illustrate the work capabilities
thereof. In FIG. 4a, hydraulic cylinders 29 (FIG.2) have
been suitably actuated to rotate support member 23 towards
the right side of the backhoe as viewed in this figure. It
; should be noted in FIGS. 1-3 that a horizontally disposed
arcuate track 69 is preferably secured on rear frame 15 to
engage a support roller 70 attached to support member 23.
A combined support and guide means is thus provided for
supporting and guiding the support member upon pivoting
thereof relative to the frame.
FIG. 4b illustrates support member 23 in its same
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position relative to frame 15, but with hydraulic motor 38
; actuated to pivot boom 50 towards the left side of the
backhoe.
FIG. 4c illustrates a condition wherein the boom is
moved to a left side of the machine by cylinders 28 (FIG. 2)
and motor 55 is actuated to rotate dipper stick 53 counter-
clockwise on the boom.
FIG. 4d illustrates a progression from the FIG. 4c
condition wherein motor 38 is also actuated to pivot the
boom counterclockwise on support member 23 to move bucket
63 towards the right or opposite side of the backhoe. FIG.4e
illustrates a storage condition wherein cylinders 28 have
been actuated to move support member 23 to the right side of -
the backhoe, motor 38 has been actuated to pivot boom 50 in
close proximity to a backside of the backhoe and cylinders
54 and 66 have been extended to respectively pivot the
dipper stick and bucket in close proximity to the boom. FIG.
5 more clearly shows the latter positioning of the bucket
relative to the boom and also the raising of hydraulically
actuated stabilizing means 71, pivotally mounted on either
side of frame 15 and disposed longitudinally between pivot
means 24 and the boom assembly.
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a modification 28a of
actuating means 28 (FIG. 2). In particular, a double-
` acting hydraulic cylinder 29a has its rod end pivotally con-
nected to rear frame 15 and its housing pivotally mounted
' by trunnions 72 on a modified support member 23a having
an enlarged opening 73 formed therethrough. Thus, selective
extension or retraction of the cylinder will pivot the sup-
port member relative to frame 15.
FIG. 11 illustrates a further modification of actua-
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ting means 28 wherein a pair of double-acting hydraulic
cylinders 29b function to selectively pivot support member
23 relative to frame 15. The head end of each cylinder is
pivotally mounted on the frame whereas the rod end thereof
is pivotally connected to first ends of a pair of links 30b.
A first link has its second end pivotally mounted on the
framewhereas the second end of the second link is pivotally
mounted on the support member.
FIG. 12 partially illustrates a construction vehicle
of the type described above, except that a trenching
assembly has been substituted in lieu of the backhoe
assembly (boom 50, dipper stick 53, bucket 63, etc.). The
tr~ching assembly comprises a support 75 suitably attached
tO b~acket 36 (FIG. 1) having the frame of the trencher
assembly pivotally mounted thereon by a shaft 76. A
double-acting hydraulic cylinder 77 is pivotally inter-
connected between the frame of the trenching apparatus
and support 75 for selectively raising (FIG. 12) and lower-
ing the same relative to ground level.
FIG. 13 partially illustrates a construction
vehicle wherein a grader assembly 78 has been subsituted in
lieu of the above-described backhoe assembly. A support
frame 79 of the scraper assembly is suitably attached to
support member 23 and has a mold board 81 movably mounted
thereon in a conventional manner and is supported on a pair
of roadwheels 80 (one shown). ~-
; While preferred embodiments of the invention have
herein been illustrated and described, this has been done ~-
by way of illustration and not limitation, and the in-
- 30 vention should not be lim~ted except as required by the
scope of the appended claims.
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