Counterweight system for an industrial machine

1. A counterweight system for an industrial machine having a front end and a back end, the counterweight system comprising:

a body having a front end and a back end, the body defining a cavity;

a plurality of discrete sections within the body, each discrete section having an aperture for laterally inserting a counterweight into the cavity in a direction toward the front end of the body and the front end of the industrial machine;

a plurality of counterweights, wherein each counterweight fits within one of the plurality of discrete sections;

wherein the body includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall forming the front end of the body, a plurality of fixed, non-pivoting doors forming the back end of the body and closing off the plurality of discrete sections, and a plurality of generally vertical internal walls that define the discrete sections, the internal walls extending along a direction from the front wall toward the doors; and

a plurality of external elements coupled to the top wall of the body, wherein portions of the doors extend above the top wall, and wherein the plurality of external elements are located adjacent the portions of the doors that extend above the top wall.

2. The counterweight system of claim 1 , wherein the first side wall, one of the internal walls, a portion of the front wall, a portion of the top wall, a portion of the bottom wall, and one of the doors form a first one of the discrete sections.

3. The counterweight system of claim 2 , wherein the second side wall, one of the internal walls, a portion of the front wall, a portion of the top wall, a portion of the bottom wall, and one of the doors form a second one of the discrete sections.

4. The counterweight system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete sections includes seven discrete sections.

5. The counterweight system of claim 4 , wherein two of the discrete sections are larger than the other discrete sections.

6. The counterweight system of claim 1 , wherein each of the counterweight units has a generally rectangular configuration, is made of steel, and includes a lift point for lifting the counterweight unit into the body.

7. The counterweight system of claim 1 , further comprising a first supporting element coupled to a first side wall of the body, the first supporting element engaged with and supporting a first staircase.

8. The counterweight system of claim 7 , wherein the first supporting element includes a first inner portion, the first staircase movably coupled to the first inner portion.

9. The counterweight system of claim 8 , further comprising a second supporting element coupled to a second side wall of the body, the second supporting element engaged with and supporting a second staircase.

10. The counterweight system of claim 9 , wherein the second supporting element includes a second inner portion, the second staircase movably coupled to the second inner portion.

11. The counterweight system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second staircases are retractable to upright positions.

12. The counterweight system of claim 1 , wherein the doors are welded to the top wall and the bottom wall.

13. The counterweight system of claim 1 , wherein the external elements are plates.

14. A mining machine comprising:

a base having a front end and a back end;

a boom coupled to the base;

a handle coupled to the boom;

a dipper coupled to the handle; and

the counterweight system of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight system is coupled to the back end of the base.

15. A mining machine comprising:

a base having a front end and a back end;

a boom coupled to the base;

a handle coupled to the boom;

a dipper coupled to the handle; and

a counterweight system coupled to the back end of the base, the counterweight system having:

a body defining a cavity, the body including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a closed end, an open end for providing access to the cavity, and a plurality of generally vertical internal walls defining discrete sections within the body, wherein each section extends along a portion of the open end;

a plurality of counterweight units, each counterweight unit sized to fit entirely within one of the sections by inserting the counterweight unit laterally along a direction toward the closed end of the body and the front end of the industrial machine; and

a plurality of doors configured to be welded to the top wall and bottom wall to close off of the discrete sections, wherein a portion of each door extends above the top wall, and wherein a plurality of external elements are located proximate the portions of the doors that extend above the top wall.

16. The mining machine of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of counterweight units is a steel slab.

17. The mining machine of claim 15 , wherein the external elements are plates.