Tiltrotator

Abstract

The invention relates to a tiltrotator (1) for mounting on a construction machine, comprising a quick coupler (3; 57) arranged on a connection part (2) rotatable about a rotary axis (5) by means of a hydraulic rotary drive (4) and pivotable about a pivot axis (7) orthogonal to the rotary axis (5) by means of a hydraulic swivel drive (6) for coupling a tool or attachment, and a hydraulic circuit arrangement (34; 55) for controlling the tiltrotator (1) via two hydraulic circuits (H1, H2). According to the invention, a hydraulically actuated gripper assembly (26) is arranged on the quick coupler (3; 57) and the tiltrotator (1) contains a mechanical switching device (42) via which either a hydraulic gripper drive (31, 32) of the gripper assembly (26) or the swivel drive (6) can be controlled by the hydraulic circuit (H2) connected to the mechanical switching device (42).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tiltrotator for attachment to a construction machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such tiltrotators are used on excavators or other similar construction machines between an attachment of the construction machine and the tool as a rotary-swivel unit to expand the range of motion. Such tiltrotators typically include a quick coupler mounted on a connecting part that can be rotated about a rotation axis by means of a hydraulic rotary drive and pivoted about a pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis by means of a hydraulic pivot drive. The quick coupler has mounts and at least one locking element for releasably securing an attachment coupled to the quick coupler. Using such a tiltrotator, the attachments coupled to the quick coupler, such as tilt buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, or the like, can be rotated not only about a pivot axis arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of an excavator boom, but also about a pivot axis orthogonal to this pivot axis.Such a tiltrotator is known from DE 10 2020 127 313 B3.

[0003] Simpler construction machines and standard excavators typically have only five hydraulic connections. In addition to two double-acting hydraulic circuits for operating and controlling work equipment, a drain line leading directly to the excavator's tank is usually provided. This type of hydraulic control can also control the rotation and swivel drives of a tiltrotator. However, other functions, such as locking the quick coupler, must then be performed manually. Therefore, tiltrotators are often used in conjunction with manually operated quick couplers on standard excavators.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a tiltrotator of the type mentioned above, which enables an expanded range of applications without complex modifications to the control system of a construction machine.

[0005] This object is achieved by a tiltrotator having the features of claim 1. Expedient embodiments and advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0006] In the tiltrotator according to the invention, an additional gripper assembly for gripping pipes, rods, stones or the like is arranged on the quick coupler, which can be rotated about a rotation axis by a hydraulic rotary drive and pivoted about a pivot axis orthogonal to the rotation axis by a hydraulic pivot drive. In order to be able to operate the additional gripper assembly using the conventional hydraulics without complex modifications or changes to the hydraulic control system, the tiltrotator also contains a mechanical switching device, via which either a hydraulic grapple drive of the gripper assembly or the swivel drive can be controlled via the hydraulic circuit connected to the mechanical switching device. This means that, for example, sandwich-type tiltrotators can also be operated with an additionally attached gripper assembly on standard excavators with two double-acting hydraulic circuits.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical switching device contains a manually operable switching element, by means of which two input-side connections of the switching device can be connected either to two output-side first connections for controlling the hydraulic gripper drive or to four output-side further connections of the switching device for controlling the swivel drive.

[0008] The manually operable switching element is preferably arranged such that its position can be recognized from the driver's cab of the construction machine. This allows the operator of the construction machine to immediately recognize which mode the tiltrotator is in. The manually operable switching element is preferably arranged on the outside of a crosspiece of the connecting part facing away from the gripper assembly. This allows the switching element to be operated from the driver's cab.

[0009] In a possible design in which the tiltrotator includes, for example, a manually operated quick coupler with an attached gripper assembly, the gripper drive of the gripper assembly can be connected to the two first output connections of the mechanical switching device, and the swivel drive can be connected as an additional consumer to the other output connections of the mechanical switching device. By manually switching the switching device, the operator can decide whether the manually operated quick coupler should be operated in rotation and swivel mode or whether the quick coupler should be operated in rotation mode with the additional gripper function.

[0010] In a practical embodiment, the mechanical switching device can be designed as a manually switchable shuttle valve. The shuttle valve can, for example, be formed by two interconnected 3-way ball valves.

[0011] The gripper arrangement preferably has two gripper arms that can be pivoted relative to one another, and the gripper drive has a first gripper cylinder associated with the first gripper arm and a second gripper cylinder associated with the second gripper arm.

[0012] The swivel drive can be formed by two double-acting actuator cylinders that can be moved in opposite directions. However, the swivel drive can also be designed as a hydraulic motor.

[0013] The hydraulic circuit connected to the input side of the mechanical switching device is conveniently controlled by a control valve designed as a 4 / 3-way valve. The control valve can thus actuate or control either the hydraulic gripper drive of the gripper assembly or the swivel drive.

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Figure 1 a tiltrotator with a quick changer and a gripper arrangement in a first perspective view; Figure 2 the tiltrotator with the quick coupler and the gripper assembly of Figure 1 in a second perspective view and Figure 3 a hydraulic circuit arrangement for controlling the Figures 1 and 2 shown tiltrotators and Figure 4 a hydraulic circuit arrangement for controlling another tiltrotator.

[0015] The one in the Figures 1 and 2The tiltrotator 1 shown in different perspectives contains a connecting part 2 which can be mounted either directly or via a hydraulically actuated quick coupler on an excavator boom or another attachment element of a construction machine, on which connecting part 2 a quick coupler 3 designed for coupling an attachment is arranged so as to be rotatable by 360° about an axis of rotation 5 by means of a hydraulic rotary drive 4 and pivotable about a pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the axis of rotation 5 by means of a hydraulic pivot drive 6.

[0016] The one in the Figures 1 and 2The tiltrotator 1 shown contains a drive housing 8 in which the quick coupler 3 is mounted so as to be rotatable by 360° about the rotation axis 5, which is oriented vertically here. Also arranged in the drive housing 8 is a hydraulic rotary feedthrough (not visible here) with a stator arranged in the drive housing 8 so as to be non-rotatable relative to the latter and a rotor rotatably mounted within the stator for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the quick coupler 3. The rotary drive 4 contains a hydraulic motor 9 designed as a hydraulic drive, by means of which the quick coupler 3 can be rotated by 360° relative to the drive housing 8 about the rotation axis 5 via a gear with a worm wheel arranged within the drive housing 8 and a drive worm rotatable by the hydraulic motor 9.

[0017] The drive housing 8 is arranged on the connecting part 2 via laterally projecting bearing pins 10 within two spaced-apart bearing eyes 11 so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the rotation axis 5 and can be pivoted relative to the connecting part 1 about the pivot axis 6 relative to the Figure 1 and 2 The tiltrotator 1, also known as a rotary-swivel drive, allows the attachments connected to the quick coupler 1 to be rotated not only about the rotation axis 5, but also tilted relative to the connecting part 2 about the swivel axis 7, which is orthogonal to the rotation axis 5, thereby expanding the movement options and thus increasing the range of application.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting part 2 has two parallel side walls 12 as well as front and rear cross pieces 13 with the bearing eyes 11 arranged thereon. The drive housing 8 is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis 7 via the two bearing pins 10 in the bearing eyes 11 of the front and rear cross pieces 13. In the connecting part 1 shown, two parallel and spaced-apart bolt-shaped coupling elements 14 and 15 are arranged in the two side walls 12 for connection to a hydraulically actuated quick coupler (not shown here) arranged on the construction equipment. A coupling element carrier 16 is attached to the bolt-shaped first coupling element 14 for holding coupling elements for connecting power supply lines when coupling the tiltrotator 1 described above to a quick coupler.

[0019] An embodiment of a hydraulically actuated quick coupler mounted on an excavator arm or other construction equipment for automatically coupling the tiltrotator is disclosed in DE 10 2018 128 479 A1. For the known structure and operation of such a hydraulically actuated quick coupler, reference is expressly made to this document. However, the connecting part 2 could also be mounted directly on a boom and coupling of an excavator without the interposition of a hydraulically actuated quick coupler.

[0020] In the embodiment shown, the swivel drive 6 is formed by two double-acting actuating cylinders 17 and 18, each with a cylinder housing 19 fastened to the respective side wall 12 of the connecting part 2 and a piston rod 20 slidably arranged and hydraulically movable in the cylinder housing 19. The free ends of the piston rods 20 are connected to the drive housing 8 via a joint eye 21 and a corresponding holder 22. By appropriately extending and retracting the two piston rods 20 of the actuating cylinders 17 and 18, the drive housing 8 with the quick coupler 3 rotatably mounted therein can be tilted relative to the connecting part 2. The swivel drive 6 can also be formed by a hydraulic motor or another suitable hydraulic drive.

[0021] As from Figure 2As can be seen, the quick coupler 3, which is designed for coupling an attachment or tool and can be manually locked or released here, contains a carrier 23 designed as a welded construction or as a cast part, which has first receptacles 24 which are open towards one side for receiving and holding a first bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side on one side and on the other side, as well as second receptacles 25 which are open downwards for receiving and holding a second bolt-shaped coupling element on the tool side on the other side. The first receptacles 24, which are open on one side, are claw-shaped or fork-shaped. The second receptacles 25, which are open towards the other side and downwards, have a curved lower contact surface for the contact of a bolt-shaped coupling element.A manually operable locking device with two locking pins movable between an extended locking position and a retracted unlocking or change position is provided on the second receptacles 25. The locking pins can be moved, for example, via a manually pivotable lever between the retracted unlocking or change position and the extended locking position. An embodiment of such a manually operable quick coupler is disclosed in DE 20 2017 001 992 U1. Various attachments, such as tilting buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, or the like, can be coupled to the quick coupler 3.

[0022] Also mounted on the support 23 of the quick coupler 3, which is equipped with a manually operable locking mechanism, is a hydraulically actuated gripper assembly 26 with two gripper arms 27 and 28 that can be pivoted relative to one another. The two gripper arms 27 and 28 are each pivotable about an axis 29 and 30, respectively, and can be folded out or in via a hydraulic gripper drive formed here by two double-acting gripper cylinders 31 and 32, respectively. The second gripper arm 28 has a slot-shaped recess 33 for receiving the first gripper arm 27. This allows the two gripper arms 27 and 28, each pivotable by a gripper cylinder 31 and 32, to be moved into one another and completely folded in during folding.

[0023] In Figure 3is a circuit diagram of a hydraulic circuit arrangement 34 and a control unit 35 for controlling a hydraulically actuated quick coupler 36 arranged on an excavator arm or other construction equipment and a quick coupler 36 coupled to the quick coupler 36 and inserted into the Figures 1 and 2 shown tiltrotator 1 with the manually operated quick coupler 3 and the hydraulically operated gripper assembly 26.

[0024] The control unit 35 contains a first control valve 37 designed as a 4 / 3-way valve for controlling a first hydraulic circuit H1, used here to control the rotary drive 4. The control unit 35 further contains a second control valve 38 designed as a 4 / 3-way valve for controlling a second hydraulic circuit H2, via which either the swivel drive 6 or a drive of the gripper assembly 26 can be controlled. The control unit 35 also contains a third control valve 39 designed as a 4 / 2-way valve for controlling the hydraulic quick coupler 36 arranged for automatically coupling the tiltrotator 1 to the excavator or other construction machine. The hydraulic quick coupler contains two synchronously movable double-acting hydraulic cylinders 40 and 41 for hydraulically actuating a locking mechanism. The two hydraulic cylinders 40 and 41 of the hydraulically actuated quick coupler 36 arranged on an excavator or other construction machine can be used, for example,Two locking pins allow the tiltrotator 1 to be moved between a retracted change position and an extended locking position. This allows the tiltrotator 1 to be conveniently coupled or uncoupled from the hydraulically operated quick coupler 36 without manual intervention from the excavator.

[0025] As described above, the tiltrotator 1 contains a rotary drive 4, designed here as a hydraulic motor 9, by means of which the Figures 1 and 2 The manually operated quick coupler 3 shown can be rotated by a motor through 360° about the rotation axis 5 relative to the drive housing 8 via a gear with a worm wheel arranged within the drive housing 8 and a drive worm rotatable by the hydraulic motor 9. The tiltrotator 1 also contains the swivel drive 6 formed by the two actuating cylinders 17 and 18, by means of which the Figures 1 and 2The quick coupler 3 shown can be tilted about the pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the rotation axis 5. The tiltrotator 1 also contains the gripper assembly 26 with the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32, by means of which the two gripper arms 27 and 28 arranged on the quick coupler 3 can be pivoted between a folded-in closed position and an unfolded open position.

[0026] The tiltrotator 1 also contains a Figure 1 shown mechanical switching device 42, through which the hydraulic circuit H2 is switched via a Figure 2The manually operable switching element 43 shown, which is designed here as a switching lever, can be connected either to the swivel drive 6 or, via a rotary feedthrough 44, to the drive of the gripper assembly 26. For this purpose, the switching device 42 contains two input-side connections 45 and 46 for the hydraulic circuit H2, two output-side first connections 47 and 48 for controlling a first consumer, and four output-side further connections 49 to 52 for controlling a second consumer. Via the manually operable switching element 43, either the two output-side connections 47 and 48 for controlling a first consumer or the four further connections 49 to 52 for controlling a second consumer can be connected to the hydraulic circuit H2.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 of the gripper assembly 26 are connected to the two output-side connections 47 and 48 as the first consumer via the rotary union 44. The two actuating cylinders 17 and 18 of the swivel drive 6 are connected to the four other output-side connections 49 to 52 as additional consumers. The two actuating cylinders 17 and 18 of the swivel drive 6 are connected to the four connections 49 to 52 in such a way that they extend and retract in opposite directions, while the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 are connected to the two connections 47 and 48 in such a way that they extend and retract in the same directions.Via the mechanical switching device 42 arranged on the tiltrotator 1, the second hydraulic circuit H2 can be connected either to the two connections 47 and 48 for connection to the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 via the rotary union 44 or to the further connections 49 to 52 for connection to the two actuating cylinders 17 and 18 of the swivel drive 6. Depending on the position of the switching device 42, the control valve 38 can thus control either the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 of the gripper arrangement 26 as the first consumer or the two hydraulic cylinders 17 and 18 of the swivel drive 6 or the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 of the gripper arrangement 26 as an additional consumer via the second hydraulic circuit H2.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical switching device 42 is designed as a shuttle valve with two interconnected 3-way ball valves. A lowering brake check valve 53 is located upstream of each of the connections for extending and retracting the two actuating cylinders 17 and 18 of the swivel drive 6. A lowering brake check valve 54 is also located upstream of each of the connections for extending the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32.

[0029] In Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a further hydraulic circuit arrangement 55 with a control unit 56 for controlling a tiltrotator 1, for example, permanently mounted on an excavator arm, with a hydraulically actuated quick coupler 57. In contrast to the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2Here, the quick coupler 52 is hydraulically operated, which can be rotated 360° about a rotation axis by a hydraulic rotary drive 4 and pivoted about a pivot axis 7 orthogonal to the rotation axis by means of a hydraulic swivel drive 6. It has two synchronously movable, double-acting hydraulic cylinders 58 and 59 for hydraulically actuating a locking mechanism. For example, two locking bolts can be moved between a retracted change position and an extended locking position via the two hydraulic cylinders 58 and 59 of the hydraulically operated quick coupler 57. This allows a tool or attachment to be conveniently coupled to or uncoupled from the quick coupler 57 from the excavator without manual intervention on the quick coupler 57.

[0030] The control unit 56 contains a hydraulic pump 60 for supplying the tiltrotator 1 with hydraulic fluid. The control unit 56 also contains a first control valve 61 designed as a 4 / 3-way valve for controlling a first hydraulic circuit H1, which in the illustrated embodiment is connected to the quick coupler 57 via the rotary union 44 and is used to control a tool or attachment coupled to the quick coupler 57. Furthermore, the control unit 56 contains a second control valve 62 designed as a 4 / 2-way valve for controlling the two hydraulic cylinders 58 and 59 of the hydraulically actuated quick coupler 57 via the rotary union 44.

[0031] As with the execution of the Figures 1 and 2The tiltrotator 1 contains a swivel drive 6 formed by two actuating cylinders 17 and 18, by means of which the quick coupler 57 can be tilted about the swivel axis 7 orthogonal to the rotation axis 5. The tiltrotator 1 also contains a Figures 1 and 2 The gripper assembly 26 shown has two gripper cylinders 31 and 32, by which two gripper arms 27 and 28 can be pivoted between a folded-in closed position and a folded-out open position. The two actuating cylinders 17 and 18 of the pivot drive 6 are connected in such a way that they extend and retract in opposite directions.

[0032] In this embodiment, the tiltrotator 1 also features a mechanical switching device 42 that can be manually switched by a switching element 43. It has two input-side connections 45 and 46 for a hydraulic circuit H2, two output-side first connections 47 and 48 for controlling a first consumer, and four output-side additional connections 49 to 52 for controlling a second consumer. Via the manually operable switching element 43, either the two output-side first connections 47 and 48 for controlling a first consumer or the four additional connections 49 to 52 for controlling a second consumer can be connected to a hydraulic circuit H2.

[0033] In this design, the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 of the gripper assembly 26 are connected to the four output-side connections 49 to 52 of the mechanical switching device 42. Hydraulic lines 63 and 64 leading to the quick coupler 57 are connected to the two connections 47 and 48 of the mechanical switching device 42 for supplying and controlling a tool or attachment coupled to the quick coupler 57 as an additional consumer. The two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 are connected to the four connections 49 to 52 such that the gripper cylinders 31 and 32 extend and retract in the same directions.

[0034] A third control valve 65, designed as a 4 / 3-way valve, is arranged on the tiltrotator 1 for controlling the second hydraulic circuit H2. Also arranged on the tiltrotator 1 are a fourth control valve 66, designed as a 4 / 3-way valve, for controlling the two actuating cylinders 17 and 18 of the swivel drive 6, and a fifth control valve 67, designed as a 4 / 3-way valve, for controlling the rotary drive 4.

[0035] Depending on the position of the switching device 42, the Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the control valve 38 can control either the two gripper cylinders 31 and 32 of the gripper arrangement 26 or the two hydraulic lines 63 and 64 for supplying and controlling a tool or attachment coupled to the quick coupler 57 as an additional consumer via the second hydraulic circuit H2.

[0036] As from Figure 1As can be seen, the mechanical switching device 42 is arranged on the inside of the crosspiece 13 of the connecting part 2 facing away from the gripper arrangement 26, ie facing a driver's cab of an excavator or other construction machine. Figure 2 It can be seen that the switching element 43 designed as a switching lever is arranged on the outside of the cross piece 13 of the connecting part 2 facing away from the gripper arrangement 26, ie facing a driver's cab of an excavator or another construction machine, and is connected to the switching element 43 via an opening 68 in the cross piece 13.

[0037] This allows the position of the switching element 43 to be seen from the driver's cab. Furthermore, the switching element 43 can be operated from the driver's cab. List of reference symbols

[0038] 1 Tiltrotator 2 Connecting part 3 Mechanically operated quick coupler 4 Rotary drive 5 Rotary axis 6 Swivel drive 7 Swivel axis 8 Drive housing 9 Hydraulic motor 10 Bearing journal 11 Bearing eyes 12 Side cheek 13 Crosspiece 14 First coupling element 15 Second coupling element 16 Coupling element carrier 17 First actuating cylinder 18 Second actuating cylinder 10 Cylinder housing 20 Piston rod 21 Joint eye 22 Bracket 23 Carrier 24 First mount 25 Second mount 26 Grab assembly 27 First grab arm 28 Second grab arm 29 First axis 30 Second axis 31 First grab cylinder 32 Second grab cylinder 33 Recess 34 Circuit arrangement 35 Control unit 36Hydraulically operated quick coupler 37First control valve 38Second control valve 39Third control valve 40First hydraulic cylinder 41Second hydraulic cylinder 42Switching device 43Switching element 44Rotary union 45First input connection 46Second input connection 47First output connection 48Second output connection49Third output connection 50Fourth output connection 51Fifth output connection 52Sixth output connection 53Lowering brake lock valve 54Lowering brake lock valve 55Circuit arrangement 56Control unit 57Hydraulically operated quick coupler 58First hydraulic cylinder 59Second hydraulic cylinder 60Hydraulic pump 61First control valve 62Second control valve 63First hydraulic line 64Second hydraulic line 65Third control valve 66Fourth control valve 67Fifth control valve 68Breakthrough

Claims

1. Tiltrotator (1) for attachment to a construction machine, which comprises a quick-change device (3; 57) for coupling a tool or attachment, which is arranged on a connecting part (2) by means of a hydraulic rotary drive (4) so ​​as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (5) and by means of a hydraulic swivel drive (6) so as to be pivotable about a swivel axis (7) orthogonal to the rotation axis (5), and a hydraulic circuit arrangement (34; 55) for controlling the tiltrotator (1) via two hydraulic circuits (H1, H2), characterized in that a hydraulically actuated gripper arrangement (26) is arranged on the quick changer (3; 57), and the tiltrotator (1) contains a mechanical switching device (42) via which either a hydraulic gripper drive (31, 32) of the gripper arrangement (26) or the swivel drive (6) can be controlled by the hydraulic circuit (H2) connected to the mechanical switching device (42).

2. Tiltrotator according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe mechanical switching device (42) contains a manually operable switching element (43) by means of which two input-side connections (45, 46) of the switching device (42) can be connected either to two output-side first connections (47, 48) for controlling the hydraulic gripper drive (31, 32) or to four output-side further connections (49, 50, 51, 52) of the switching device (42) for controlling the pivot drive (6).

3. Tiltrotator according to claim 2, characterized in that the manually operable switching element (43) is arranged such that its position can be recognized from a driver's cab of the construction machine.

4. Tiltrotator according to claim 3, characterized in that the manually operable switching element (43) is arranged on the outside of a crosspiece (13) of the connecting part (2) facing away from the gripping tongs arrangement (26).

5. Tiltrotator according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe gripper drive (31, 32) of the gripper tong arrangement (26) is connected to the two first output-side connections (47, 48) of the mechanical switching device (42) and the swivel drive (6) is connected to the further output-side connections (49, 50, 51, 52) of the mechanical switching device (42).

6. Tiltrotator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mechanical switching device (42) is designed as a manually switchable shuttle valve.

7. Tiltrotator according to claim 6, characterized in that the manually switchable shuttle valve is formed by two 3-way ball valves coupled together.

8. Tiltrotator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the gripper arrangement (26) contains two gripper arms (27, 28) which can be pivoted relative to one another, and the gripper drive (31, 32) contains a first gripper cylinder (31) assigned to the first gripper arm (27) and a second gripper cylinder (32) assigned to the second gripper arm (28).

9. Tiltrotator according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the swivel drive (6) is formed by two double-acting actuating cylinders (17, 18) which can be moved in opposite directions.

10. Tiltrotator according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the hydraulic circuit (H2) connected to the input side of the mechanical switching device (42) can be controlled by a control valve (38; 65) designed as a 4 / 3-way valve.