IP Library Granted Patent US 7,311,489
Granted Patent B2
US 7,311,489 · App. 10/494,963 · Granted Dec 25, 2007

Device for mounting of a turnable implement

Assignee: Komatsu Forest AB
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,311,489
App. No.
10/494,963
Granted
Dec 25, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive of mounting a rotating implement to a crane arm or similar, comprises a rotator located between the crane arm and the unit that at one end is pivot-mounted to the implement for rotating the same relative to the crane arm and slewing around a first pivot axis and at the other end is mounted to the crane arm via a hinged link for slewing around a second pivot axis, a swivel coupling arranged on the rotator for supplying the working chambers of a drive for the rotator and any other consumers included in the unit with a hydraulic medium and that to one end of the swivel coupling is arranged connecting unions, to which hydraulic medium lines leading from the crane arm are attached. For the flexible hydraulic lines between the crane and implement to be both well protected and cannot swing to and fro in an uncontrolled manner during the operational movement of the implement and/or crane arm, the hinged link between the crane arm and the rotator is designed as an open joint defined by two hinged points located at a distance from each other along the joint axis of pivot axis, that the connecting unions are arranged extending parallel to the first pivot axis and facing towards the second pivot axis, whereby the hydraulic medium lines connected to the connecting unions pass between the hinged points situated a distance from each other.

Claims (39)

1. A device to mount a rotating implement to a crane arm, comprising:

a rotator locatable between the crane arm and the implement that at one end is pivot-mounted to the implement for rotating the same relative to the crane arm and slewing around a first pivot axis and at the other end is mountable to the crane arm via a hinged link for slewing around a second pivot axis,

a swivel coupling arranged on the rotator for supplying the working chambers of a drive for the rotator with a hydraulic medium;

one or more connecting unions provided to one end of the said swivel coupling, said connecting unions being provided with hydraulic medium lines leading from the crane arm, wherein:

the hinged link between the crane arm and the rotator is designed as an open joint defined by two hinged points located at a distance from each other along the joint axis of the second pivot axis,

the connecting unions are arranged extending parallel to the first pivot axis and facing towards the second pivot axis, whereby the hydraulic medium lines connected to the connecting unions pass between said hinged points located at a distance from each other,

the crane arm is of the extendable telescopic type comprising two telescopic boom-like parts mounted one inside the other,

a guide for the lines is arrangable on the free end of the crane arm between which guide and the crane arm the lines are arrangable during the relative movement of the boom-like parts, and

the guide comprises a rigid arm, one end of which is fastenable at the hinged link on the free end of the crane arm and which arm, locatable parallel with the outer section of the crane arm and a distance from its upper side, exhibits an inside to face the crane arm against which the lines are brought and fixed.

2. A device according to claim 1 , in which the connecting unions are distributed in a circle around pivot axis.

3. A device according to claim 1 , in which the hinged link to the crane arm comprises an intermediate hollow link to which one end of the rotator is hinged for slewing around the second pivot axis and the other end of which link is hinged to the crane arm for slewing the unit around a third pivot axis relative the crane arm, in which also the third axis is also designed as an open joint defined by two hinge points located a distance from each other along its joint axis.

4. A device according to claim 3 , whereby the hydraulic medium lines connected to the connecting unions run through a link cavity passing between the hinge points for both the second and the third pivot axes and respectively located a distance from each other along the joint axis.

5. A device according to claim 3 , whereby the first and the second pivot axis respectively are located at an angle to each other so that the unit is allowed to slew cardanically in different directions.

6. A device according to claim 3 , whereby each open joint is formed by two interlocking forked parts, one in the other, the hinged fork shanks of which form the hinge points located a distance from each other.

7. A rotator intended to be applied between a crane arm and an implement for rotating the implement around a first pivot axis relative to the crane arm, said rotator comprising an attaching part that can be pivot-mounted to the crane arm via a joint for slewing the implement around a second pivot axis, the attaching part carrying a swivel pin that for slewing around the first pivot axis is pivot-mounted in a housing that can be joined to the implement, the swivel pin containing parallel and in the direction of the first pivot axis running hydraulic medium passages that open into circular cavities of a swivel coupling included in the housing and in which housing are arranged passages for a hydraulic medium for supplying the working chambers of a drive for rotating the implement relative to the attaching pail, whereby the passages extend diagonally through the part of the housing, and whereby the swivel pin exhibits an end face facing the second pivot axis on which are arranged a set of protruding connecting unions for hydraulic medium lines which connecting unions are oriented coaxially with the first pivot axis.

8. A rotator according to claim 7 , whereby for slewing the implement around the first pivot axis the attaching part comprises a circular hub or bearing that is pivot-mounted and can be joined to the implement frame.

9. A rotator according to claim 8 , whereby the circular bearing in its mounted position at least partially surrounds the swivel pin.

10. A rotator according to claim 7 , whereby the housing has a set of unions protruding radially towards the first pivot axis between which hydraulic motor hydraulic medium lines are meant to extend.

11. A rotator according to claim 7 , whereby the drive comprises a chamber or space arranged in the housing where the swivel pin can be rotated relative to the housing by at least one vane or flap acting in the chamber that divides the chamber into two sub- or working chambers and wherein the said chambers are supplied with hydraulic medium via the passages arranged in the housing.

12. A rotator intended to be applied between a crane arm and an implement for rotating the implement around a first pivot axis relative to the crane arm, said rotator comprising an attaching part that can be pivot-mounted to the crane arm via a joint for slewing the implement around a second pivot axis, the attaching part carrying a swivel pin that for slewing around the first pivot axis is pivot-mounted in a housing that can be joined to the implement, the swivel pin containing parallel and in the direction of the first pivot axis running hydraulic medium passages that open into circular cavities of a swivel coupling included in the housing and in which housing are arranged passages for a hydraulic medium for supplying the working chambers of a drive for rotating the implement relative to the attaching part, whereby the passages extend diagonally through the part of the housing, wherein the rotator further comprises a swivel and slip-ring unit for conveying electrical signals between the implement and a control system via the crane arm that exhibits a stator joined to the swivel pin and a rotor joined to the housing.

13. A rotator according to claim 12 , whereby the swivel and slip-ring unit is enclosed in a space arranged in the end of the swivel pin.

14. A rotator intended to be applied between a crane arm and an implement for rotating the implement around a first pivot axis relative to the crane arm, said rotator comprising:

an attaching part that can be pivot-mounted to the crane arm via a joint for slewing the implement around a second pivot axis, the attaching part carrying a swivel pin that is pivot-mounted in a housing that can be joined to the implement, the swivel pin containing hydraulic medium passages parallel to the first pivot axis that open into circular cavities of a swivel coupling included in the housing and in which housing are arranged passages for a hydraulic medium for supplying the working chambers of a drive for rotating the implement relative to the attaching part; and

a swivel and slip-ring unit for conveying electrical signals between the implement and a control system via the crane arm that exhibits a stator joined to the swivel pin and a rotor joined to the housing,

wherein a passage is arranged extending between one of the swivel pin hydraulic medium passages and the inner space and a strand of the electrical wiring exits the crane arm and extends through said hydraulic medium passages and the passage, respectively.

15. A rotator according to claim 14 , in which the electrical lead is contained in a hydraulic line connected to a connecting union.

16. A unit for crane-mounted rotatable implements comprising:

a rotator locatable between the crane arm and the implement that at one end is pivot-mounted to the implement for rotating the same relative to the crane arm and slewing around a first pivot axis and at the other end is mountable to the crane arm via a hinged link for slewing around a second pivot axis;

a swivel coupling arranged on the rotator for supplying the working chambers of a drive for the rotator with a hydraulic medium;

one or more connecting unions provided to one end of the swivel coupling, said connecting unions being provided with hydraulic medium lines leading from the crane arm, wherein:

the hinged link between the crane arm and the rotator is designed as an open joint defined by two hinged points located at a distance from each other along the joint axis of the second pivot axis,

the connecting unions are arranged extending parallel to the first pivot axis and facing towards the second pivot axis, whereby the hydraulic medium lines connected to the connecting unions pass between the said hinged points located a distance from each other,

the crane arm is of the extendable telescopic type comprising two telescopic boom-like parts mounted one inside the other,

the rotator comprises an attaching part connectable to the crane arm via a pivot joint that carries a swivel pin that for slewing around the first axis of rotation is pivot-mounted to a housing joined to the implement, and

the swivel pin includes parallel hydraulic medium passages running in the direction of the first axis of rotation and opening into circular cavities of the swivel coupling included in the housing and to which housing are arranged passages for supplying the working chambers for a drive for rotating the implement relative to the attaching part, whereby the passages extend diagonally through part of the housing and the swivel pin exhibits an end face facing the second pivot axis on which are arranged a set of protruding connecting unions; and

a guide for the lines arrangable on the free end of the crane arm between which guide and the crane arm the lines are arrangable during the relative movement of the boom-like parts, wherein the guide comprises a rigid arm, one end of which is fastenable at the hinged link on the free end of the crane arm and which arm, locatable parallel with the outer section of the crane arm and a distance from its upper side, exhibits an inside to face the crane arm against which the lines are brought and fixed.

17. A unit according to claim 16 , further comprising a swivel and slip-ring unit for conveying electrical signals between the implement and a control system via the crane arm that exhibits a stator joined to the swivel pin and a rotor joined to the housing.

18. A unit according to claim 17 , wherein a passage is arranged extending between one of the swivel pin hydraulic medium passages and the inner space and a strand of the electrical wiring exits the crane arm and extends through said hydraulic medium passages and the passage, respectively.

19. A unit according to claim 18 , in which the electrical lead is contained in a hydraulic line connected to one of the connecting unions.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2005
From: CRANAB AB
To: KOMATSU FOREST AB
Reel/Frame 016656/0997 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2004
From: EKMAN, TOMMY
To: CRANAB AB
Reel/Frame 015836/0104 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2004
From: NICOLA, MAZIN; GRAY, NEALE
To: ADVANCED PHYTONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 015799/0156 →
Priority Claims (1)
SE 0103935 · Nov 26, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050017528A1 · Jan 27, 2005