Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
=
FLUID CONVEYANCE SYSTEM FOR EARTHMOVING MACHINE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No.
61/636,418, filed April 20, 2012, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of earthmoving
machines. Specifically, the
present invention relates to a fluid conveyance system for a machine
attachment.
[0003] On a conventional rope shovel, a frame supports a boom, and a
handle is coupled to
the boom such that the handle can be moved rotationally and translationally
relative to the boom.
An attachment such as a dipper is coupled to a handle, and the dipper is
supported by a cable, or
hoist rope, that passes over an end of the boom. The rope is secured to a bail
that is pivotably
coupled to the dipper. During the hoist phase, the rope is reeled in by a
hoist drum, lifting the
dipper upwardly through a bank of material and liberating a portion of the
material. Many of
these components require frequent lubrication. However, any fluid conduit for
providing a
lubrication medium to the various points that require lubrication must be
capable of
accommodating the wide range of translational and rotation movement of the
handle and dipper
with respect to the frame.
[0004] Furthermore, the orientation of the dipper relative to the handle
is generally fixed
during a dig cycle such that the operator cannot control the motion of the
dipper independent of
the handle and hoist rope in response to variations in the digging conditions.
It is possible to
improve the shovel's versatility by replacing the dipper with a pivotable
bucket and actuators,
such as hydraulic cylinders, for pivoting the bucket relative to the handle.
However, any fluid
conduit or electrical wiring must be capable of accommodating the wide range
of translational
and rotation movement of the handle and bucket with respect to the frame.
1
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
=
SUMMARY
[0005] In one embodiment, the invention provides an earthmoving machine
including a
frame, a boom, an elongated member, an attachment, a conduit, and a reel. The
frame supports a
fluid source. The boom includes a first end coupled to the frame and a second
end opposite the
first end. The elongated member is movably coupled to the boom and includes a
first end and a
second end. The attachment is coupled to the second end of the elongated
member. The conduit
is in fluid communication with the fluid source and conveys fluid between the
fluid source and
the attachment. The reel supports at least a portion of the conduit. The reel
is rotatable to reel in
and pay out the conduit as the elongated member moves relative to the boom.
[0006] In another embodiment, the invention provides an earthmoving
machine including a
frame, a handle, an attachment, a rotary union, a conduit, and a reel. The
frame supports a fluid
source and a boom. The handle is movably coupled to the boom for translational
and rotational
movement relative to the boom. The handle includes a first end and a second
end. The
attachment is coupled to the second end of the handle. The rotary union
includes a first portion
and a second portion. The first portion is stationary relative to the boom and
is in fluid
communication with the fluid source. The second portion is in fluid
communication with the
first portion and is movable relative to the first portion. The conduit is in
fluid communication
with the second portion of the rotary union and extends between the second
portion of the rotary
union and the attachment. The reel supports at least a portion of the conduit
and is rotatable to
reel in and pay out the conduit as the handle moves relative to the boom.
[0007] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a fluid
conveyance system for an
earthmoving machine having a frame supporting a fluid source and a boom, an
elongated
member movably coupled to the boom and having a first end and a second end,
and an
attachment coupled to the second end of the elongated member. The fluid
conveyance system
includes a rotary union, a conduit, and a reel. The rotary union includes a
first portion and a
second portion. The first portion is stationary relative to the boom and is in
fluid communication
with the fluid source. The second portion is in fluid communication with the
first portion and
movable relative to the first portion. The conduit provides fluid to a portion
of the attachment
and is in fluid communication with the second portion of the rotary union. The
reel supports at
2
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
.. '
.. least a portion of the conduit and is coupled to the second portion of
the rotary union. The reel is
rotatable to reel in and pay out the conduit as the elongated member moves
relative to the boom.
100081 Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed
description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining shovel.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle, a saddle block, a
shipper shaft, and a bucket.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a section view of the handle, saddle block, and shipper
shaft, of FIG. 2 taken
along section 3--3.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fluid conveyance system with a
handle in an
extended position.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fluid conveyance system of
FIG. 4 with the handle
in a retracted position.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a reel and a swivel.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the swivel of FIG. 6.
[0016] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the swivel of FIG. 6.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a section view of the reel of FIG. 6 taken along
section 9--9 and including a
transmission.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a section view of the reel and swivel of FIG. 6 taken
along section 10-10
and including the transmission of FIG. 9 and the saddle block and shipper
shaft of FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 11 is an enlarged section view of the transmission of FIG. 9
and the shipper
shaft.
3
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
'
[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the reel of FIG. 6 coupled to a
transmission
according to another embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a reel according to another
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 14 is a section view of the reel of FIG. 13 taken along
section 14--14 and
including a transmission according to another embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 15 is a side view of the shovel including a fluid conveyance
system according to
another embodiment.
[0024] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail,
it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of construction and the
arrangement of components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the following
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
or of being
carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology
used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, a mining shovel 10 rests on a support surface
or floor, and
includes a frame 22 supporting a boom 26, an elongated member or handle 30, an
attachment or
bucket 34 including pivot actuators 36, and a fluid conveyance system 38. The
frame 22
includes a hoist drum 40 for reeling in and paying out a cable or hoist rope
42. The boom 26
includes a first end 46 coupled to the frame 22, a second end 50 opposite the
first end 46, a boom
sheave 54, a saddle block 58, and a shipper shaft 62. The boom sheave 54 is
coupled to the
second end 50 of the boom 26 and guides the rope 42 over the second end 50.
The saddle block
58 is rotatably coupled to the boom 26 by the shipper shaft 62, which is
positioned between the
first end 46 and the second end 50 of the boom 26. The shipper shaft 62
extends through the
boom 26 in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the boom
26, and includes at
least one pinion 70 (FIG. 3). The rope 42 is coupled to the bucket 34 by a
bail 66, and the bucket
34 is raised or lowered as the rope 42 is reeled in or paid out, respectively,
by the hoist drum 40.
4
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
- =
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 30 includes a pair of arms 78
defining a first end 82, a
second end 86, and a rack 90 for engaging the pinion 70. The second end 86 is
movably
received in the saddle block 58, and the handle 30 passes through the saddle
block 58 such that
the handle is capable of rotational and translational movement relative to the
boom 26. Stated
another way, the handle 30 is linearly extendable relative to the saddle block
58 and is rotatable
about the shipper shaft 62. The first end 82 is pivotably coupled to the
bucket 34. The saddle
block 58 is rotatable relative to the boom 26 (FIG. 1) about the shipper shaft
62, and the handle
30 rotates relative to the boom 26 while the arms 78 remain in the saddle
block 58. In the
illustrated embodiment, the handle 30 is substantially straight. In other
embodiments, the handle
30 may include a curved portion. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rack 90
engages the pinion 70,
forming a rack and pinion coupling between the handle 30 (FIG. 2) and the boom
26 (FIG. 1).
Rotation of the shipper shaft 62 facilitates translational movement of the
handle 30 relative to the
boom 26.
[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the bucket 34 is a
clamshell-type bucket
having a main body 98 and an end wall 102 that can be separated from the main
body 98 to
empty the contents of the bucket 34. In other embodiments, the shovel 10 may
include other
types of attachments, buckets, or dippers. Each pivot actuator 36 is coupled
between the bucket
34 and the handle 30. The pivot actuators 36 actively control the pitch of the
bucket 34 by
rotating the bucket 34 about the handle first end 82. In the illustrated
embodiment, the pivot
actuators 36 are hydraulic cylinders.
100281 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fluid conveyance system 38
includes a first conduit
106, a valve block 114 coupled to the handle 30 proximate the second end 86, a
rotary union or
swivel 118, a reel 122, a transmission 126 (FIGS. 9 and 10), and a second
conduit 130. In other
embodiments, a fluid conveyance system 38 is positioned on each side of the
handle 30. The
first conduit 106 extends between a fluid source 132 on the frame 22 and the
swivel 118 and
provides fluid communication therebetween. The second conduit 130 includes a
first, stationary
portion 130a that extends substantially along the handle 30 from the second
end 86 toward the
first end 82 (FIG. 2) and a second, adjustable portion 130b that is
alternatively wrapped onto and
paid out by the reel 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion
130a is in fluid
communication with the valve block 114 and is in fluid communication with the
pivot actuators
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
- =
36 to provide pressurized fluid to the actuators 36. The first portion 130a is
also in
communication with various mechanical connections on the bucket 34 and the
handle 30 to
provide a lubrication medium to the connections. It is understood that the
first portion 130a is
connected to the pivot actuators 36 and/or the mechanical connections on the
bucket 34 by one or
more conventional tubes or hoses 132 (shown schematically in FIG. 2), which
may extend
internally through the handle 30. In other embodiments, the second conduit 130
does not include
a first portion 130a extending substantially along the handle 30 but instead
only the second
portion 130b extending directly from the reel 122 to the first end 82 of the
handle 30. As
discussed in further detail below, channels 166 (FIG. 6) provide fluid
communication between
the swivel 118 and the second conduit 130.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the swivel 118 includes a first,
stationary portion or
manifold 134 and a second, rotating portion or rotary housing 138 positioned
around at least a
portion of the manifold 134. The manifold 134 includes inlet ports 142 and
passages 146
extending through the rotary housing 138. In one embodiment, the manifold 134
is coupled to a
stationary portion of the frame 22 in order to support the manifold 134 and
the first conduit 106
against torque caused by the rotation of the reel 122 and the rotating portion
138. The inlet ports
142 are in fluid communication with a fluid source 132 (FIGS. 4 and 5) or pump
(not shown) via
the first conduit 106. The passages 146 are in fluid communication with the
inlet ports 142. The
rotary housing 138 is rotatable relative to the manifold 134 and includes
seals 152 (FIG. 8) to
seal the internal passages 146 of the manifold 134 with respect to one
another, and outlet ports
154 in fluid communication with the passages 146. The rotary housing 138 is
coupled to the reel
122 (FIG. 7) such that the rotary housing 138 rotates with the reel 122 while
the manifold 134
remains stationary.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, the reel 122 includes a body 158, a surface
162 extending along
the periphery of the body 158, and channels 166 secured to the body 158. In
the illustrated
embodiment, the body 158 is circular and the channels 166 extend from the
rotary housing 138
to the surface 162 in a generally radial direction. The channels 166 are in
fluid communication
with the outlet ports 154 of the rotary housing 138. The second portion 130b
of the second
conduit 130 is in fluid communication with the channels 166, which secure the
second portion
130b to the reel 122. The second portion 130b is also coupled to the valve
block 114 (FIG. 5)
6
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
'
proximate the handle second end 86 (FIG. 5) and is in fluid communication with
the first portion
130a (FIG. 5). As the reel 122 rotates, the second portion 130b wraps around
the surface 162. In
the illustrated embodiment, a circumference of the reel 122 is approximately
equal to a
maximum extension length of the handle 30 (i.e., a length of the rack 90, also
referred to as the
crowd distance). As a result, the reel 122 rotates through approximately 360
degrees as the
handle is retracted or extended, thereby causing the second portion 130b of
the second conduit
130 to wrap substantially around the reel 122 when the handle 30 is fully
extended. In other
embodiments, the reel 122 may rotate through more or less than 360 degrees
(i.e., more or less
than one full rotation) as the handle 30 moves between the retracted and
extended positions.
Also, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the reel 122 rotates
clockwise as the handle
30 is extended and counter-clockwise as the handle 30 is retracted. In other
embodiments in
which the second portion 130b of the second conduit 130 extends directly
between the reel 122
and the first end 82 of the handle 30, the second portion 130b is wrapped
around the reel 122 as
the handle 30 is retracted.
100311
As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the transmission 126 is a planetary gear system
including an
input gear or sun gear 174, spur or planet gears 178, a carrier 182 coupled to
the planetary gears
178, and a ring gear 186 coupled to the saddle block 58 (FIG. 10). The sun
gear 174 is coupled
to the shipper shaft 62 (FIGS. 10 and 11) such that rotation of the shipper
shaft 62 drives the sun
gear 174. The carrier 182 rotates as the planet gears 178 revolve around the
sun gear 174, and
the carrier 182 is coupled to the reel 122 such that the rotation of the
carrier 182 causes the reel
122 to rotate and pay out or reel in the second portion 130b of the second
conduit 130. The
transmission 126 therefore provides a speed reduction from the shipper shaft
62 to the reel 122 in
order to match the length of second portion 130b of the second conduit 130
paid out by the reel
122 as the handle 30 moves in a linear manner. In the illustrated embodiment,
the gear ratio is
equal to a diameter of the reel 122 divided by a diameter of the pinion 70. In
the illustrated
embodiment, when the sun gear 174 rotates in a first direction, the carrier
182 and ring gear 186
rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Thus, the reel 122
rotates in an opposite
direction of the rotation of the shipper shaft 62. In other embodiments, the
transmission is
configured so that the reel 122 rotates in the same direction as the shipper
shaft 62.
7
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
.. =
[0032] As the rack 90 (FIG. 10) travels over the pinion 70 (FIG. 10) and
rotates the shipper
shaft 62 and sun gear 174, the reel 122 pays out the appropriate amount of the
second portion
130b of the second conduit 130. In the illustrated embodiment, an additional
length of the
second portion 130b is paid out by the reel 122 in order to prevent the second
conduit 130 from
being placed under excess tension. Because the reel 122 is centered on the
rotation axis of the
pinion 70 in the illustrated embodiment, the length of the second portion 130b
that is paid out
will remain relatively constant.
100331 The fluid conveyance system 38 supplies pressurized fluid to the
pivot actuators 36
and accommodates various extension conditions of the handle 30 relative to the
saddle block 58
and boom 26. The second conduit 130 carries fluid in a manner that is
functionally parallel to
the rack and pinion interaction of the handle 30 and shipper shaft 62, and the
pinion 70 of the
shipper shaft 62 drives rotation of the reel 122 in order to take up or pay
out the second portion
130b of the second conduit 130 as the handle 30 moves. The transmission 126 is
configured to
provide a desired timing relationship between the rotation of the shipper
shaft 62 and the rotation
of the reel 122. In this way, the fluid conveyance system 38 utilizes the
rotation of the shipper
shaft 62 to pay out and reel in the correct length of the second portion 130b.
In some
embodiments, the fluid conveyance system 38 supplies a lubrication medium,
such as grease, to
various connection points on the bucket 34, such as the coupling between the
bucket 34 and the
first end 82 of the handle 30, the coupling between the main body 98 and the
end wall 102 of the
bucket 34, and the coupling between the bail 66 and the bucket 34. In some
embodiments, the
lubrication medium includes a liquid, solid, or semi-solid lubricant.
100341 FIG. 12 illustrates a transmission 526 according to another
embodiment of the
invention, and including a dual reduction parallel shaft configuration rather
than a planetary
gearbox. The transmission 526 includes a first shaft 532 coupled to the
shipper shaft 62 and a
second shaft (not shown) coupled to the reel 122. In the illustrated
embodiment, the first shaft
532 is coupled to a pinion 540 that engages a first gear 544. The first gear
544 is coupled to a
second gear 548 (for example, by mounting on a common shaft 536), which
engages a final drive
gear 552 coupled to the reel 122 via the second shaft. Rotation of the final
drive gear 552 rotates
the reel 122. The dual reduction transmission 526 permits the reel 122 to
rotate in the same
8
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
direction as the shipper shaft 62. The transmission 526 is coupled to the boom
26 (FIG. 1) or
another structure that is unaffected by the motion of the rack 90 and pinion
70.
[0035] In other embodiments, the reel 122 is not positioned adjacent the
shipper shaft 62 but
in another location on the machine 10, such as near an upper portion of the
boom 26 (FIG. 15),
near a lower portion of the boom 26, or on the machine house on the frame 22.
In still other
embodiments, the reel 122 is driven by an alternative input instead of being
driven by the shipper
shaft 62. The alternative input includes a motor coupled to the reel to drive
the reel 122
independently of the shipper shaft 62, or coupling the boom sheave 54 to the
reel 122 to drive the
reel 122. Also, other embodiments of the reel 122 include a constant tensioner
(not shown) to
control the length of the second portion 130b of the second conduit 130 that
is paid out. As the
handle 30 extends and retracts, the tensioner applies a torque to the reel 122
to keep the second
portion 130b of the second conduit 130 taut as it is paid out or reeled in. In
addition, the second
portion 130b of the second conduit 130 may wrap around the reel 122 in various
ways. This
includes either single or multi-wrapping, and wrapping the second portion 130b
of the second
conduit 130 such that the second portion 130b exits the reel 122 either on the
top or the bottom
of the reel 122, or the second portion 130b exits the reel 122 on the side
proximate the bucket 34
or the side proximate the frame 22 of the shovel 10. Furthermore, the second
portion 130b may
be coupled to the handle 30 proximate the first end 82 rather than being
coupled to the first
portion 130a extending along the handle 30 from the second end 86 toward the
first end 82.
100361 FIGS. 13-14 illustrate a reel 922 for supporting at least a portion
of fluid conduit and
a transmission 926 (FIG. 14) for driving rotation of the reel 922 according to
another
embodiment. The reel 922 includes a surface 962 defined by arms 970 positioned
proximate a
perimeter of the reel 922. The second portion 130b of the second conduit 130
wraps around the
surface 962 as the reel 922 rotates. As shown in FIG. 14, the reel 922 also
includes channels 966
and a valve block 968 positioned proximate the surface 962. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
channels 966 extend from the rotary housing 138 to the valve block 968. The
channels 966 are
in fluid communication with the outlet ports of the rotary housing 138 similar
to the channels
166 described above with respect to FIG. 6. The second portion 130b is in
fluid communication
with the channels 966 via the valve block 968, which secures the second
portion 130b to the reel
922. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the surface 962 has a spiral shape and the
valve block 968 is
9
CA 02813280 2013-04-18
- =
positioned between the surface 962 and the swivel 118, allowing the second
portion 130b to
wrap onto the surface 962 and over the valve block 968. The position of the
valve block 968
prevents the valve block 968 from interfering with or binding the second
portion 130b as the reel
922 rotates, permitting the reel 922 to move through more than 360 degrees in
at least one
direction of rotation. Because the reel 922 can extend through more than one
full rotation, the
reel 922 can be sized such that the circumference of the surface 962 is
smaller than the maximum
length of the second portion 130b that is reeled in or paid out.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 14, the transmission 926 includes a carrier 960,
a hub 964
supported for rotation relative to the carrier 960 (for example, by a bearing
974), an input gear
968 coupled to an end of the shipper shaft 62, and a pair of idler gears 972.
The carrier 960
supports the input gear 968 for rotation. In one embodiment, the carrier 960
is coupled to the
saddle block 58 (FIG. 10). The hub 964 is coupled to the reel 922. In the
illustrated
embodiment, an internal ring gear 976 is coupled to the hub 964 and rotation
of the ring gear 976
causes rotation of the reel 922. The idler gears 972a, 972b are each supported
for rotation by the
carrier 960 and are mounted sequentially between the input gear 968 and the
ring gear 976. As
the shipper shaft 62 rotates, the input gear 968 rotates within the hub 964.
The input gear 968
drives a first idler gear 972a, which rotates a second idler gear 972b. The
second idler gear 972b
engages the ring gear 976, causing the hub 964 (and therefore the reel 922) to
rotate.
[0038] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the idler gears 972 are
approximately the
same size, such that there is little, if any, speed reduction between the two
gears 972. Rather, the
provision of the pair of idler gears 972 produces a desired direction of
rotation in the reel 922. In
other embodiments, the idler gears 972 may be sized differently to produce a
speed reduction.
The embodiment of FIG. 14 improves the timing relationship between the shipper
shaft 62 and
the reel 922 to reduce the discrepancy between the amount of travel of the
handle 30 and the
amount of the second portion 130b of the second conduit 130 that is paid out
by the reel 922.
[0039] Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a fluid
conveyance system for an
earthmoving machine. Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to
certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the
scope and spirit of
one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.
