Pontoons and amphibious work machines
By using a streamlined design and anti-roll device, the floating box solves the problems of travel resistance and stability of amphibious machinery, achieving reduced fuel consumption and improved stability, while also providing an emergency escape function.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SANY HEAVY MACHINERY
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, rectangular pontoons increase the resistance of amphibious machinery during operation, leading to increased fuel consumption and decreased stability.
The streamlined design of the floating box includes a middle box and end boxes, with the outer surface gradually decreasing in size. It is equipped with a first anti-roll device and a second anti-roll device to reduce drag and sway. It uses quick-connect joints and quick-connect interfaces to provide buoyancy and stability.
It effectively reduces frictional and wave-making resistance during the movement of amphibious machinery, improves stability, and provides an escape device in emergency situations.
Smart Images

Figure CN116834485B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of amphibious equipment technology, and in particular to a buoy and amphibious operation machinery. Background Technology
[0002] Amphibious excavators and other amphibious work machines are multi-purpose work machines that can be used in land, swampy soft ground and shallow water working environments. They are widely and efficiently used in water conservancy projects, urban and rural construction for dredging of rivers and lakes, resource development and environmental remediation of wetlands, swamps and tidal flats.
[0003] The amphibious machinery uses sealed box-shaped track plates for its walking mechanism, enabling it to move and operate safely in mud and water. When the water depth exceeds 1.5 meters, floats need to be added to both sides of the walking mechanism to further increase the buoyancy of the amphibious machinery.
[0004] In related technologies, pontoons are mostly hollow rectangular boxes. The rectangular box shape increases the resistance of amphibious machinery during operation, resulting in increased fuel consumption and decreased stability.
[0005] Therefore, how to solve the problem that rectangular floats increase the resistance of amphibious machinery during operation has become an urgent technical problem for those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This invention provides a pontoon and an amphibious operation machine to solve the problem that the rectangular pontoon shape of the prior art increases the resistance of the amphibious operation machine during movement. The invention achieves the effect of reducing the resistance of the amphibious operation machine by designing the pontoon in a streamlined shape.
[0007] This invention provides a pontoon for detachably connecting to both sides of an amphibious work machine distributed along its width, comprising:
[0008] The middle box has a streamlined outer surface, and its width gradually decreases from top to bottom.
[0009] The end boxes are located at both ends of the middle box along its length. The outer surfaces of the end boxes are streamlined, and the width of the end boxes gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. The distance between the side of the end box away from the middle box and the middle box gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. The outer surfaces of the transition connection between the end boxes and the middle box are both streamlined.
[0010] According to the pontoon provided by the present invention, a first anti-roll device is further provided on the end box body, the first anti-roll device being used to provide resistance to the up-and-down movement of the end box body.
[0011] According to the buoy provided by the present invention, the first anti-sway device is disposed at the top of the end box, and the first anti-sway device is disposed on one or both sides of the end box along the width direction, or the first anti-sway device is disposed on the side of the end box away from the middle box.
[0012] According to the pontoon provided by the present invention, the first anti-sway device is a float plate, and the density of the float plate is less than that of water.
[0013] According to the pontoon provided by the present invention, the interior of the pontoon plate is hollow.
[0014] According to the pontoon provided by the present invention, a second anti-sway device is provided on the side of the middle pontoon away from the amphibious operation machinery and near the bottom. The second anti-sway device is used to provide resistance to the up-and-down movement of the side of the middle pontoon away from the amphibious operation machinery.
[0015] According to the pontoon provided by the present invention, a quick-connect connector is provided on the side of the middle pontoon body near the amphibious operation machinery. The quick-connect connector is used to connect with the quick-connect interface on the amphibious operation machinery. A pluggable pin is provided between the quick-connect connector and the quick-connect interface. The pin is used to restrict the quick-connect connector and the quick-connect interface from moving away from each other.
[0016] According to the floating box provided by the present invention, a gap is provided between the quick-connect connector and the quick-connect interface.
[0017] According to the float provided by the present invention, the top of the middle box, the end box and / or the float plate is provided with anti-slip texture.
[0018] The present invention also provides an amphibious operation machine, including an operation machine body and a pontoon as described above, wherein the pontoon is detachably connected to both sides of the operation machine body distributed along the width direction.
[0019] The pontoon provided by this invention is detachably connected to both sides of an amphibious work vehicle distributed along its width, thereby improving the buoyancy and stability of the amphibious work vehicle. The pontoon includes a central body and end bodies, with the end bodies located at both ends of the central body along its length. The outer surfaces of the central body are streamlined, and its width gradually decreases from top to bottom. The outer surfaces of the end bodies are also streamlined, and their width gradually decreases from top to bottom, with the sides of the end bodies away from the central body extending gradually from top to bottom towards the central body. The transition joints between the end bodies and the central body are also streamlined. Compared to cuboid pontoons in related technologies, the pontoon provided by this invention, due to its streamlined design, can effectively reduce frictional resistance and wave-making resistance during movement, thereby reducing the fuel consumption of the amphibious work vehicle equipped with this pontoon.
[0020] The pontoon provided by the present invention is further provided with a first anti-sway device on the end box. When the pontoon floats on the water surface and the front and rear ends float in the up and down direction, the first anti-sway device can provide resistance to the end box to prevent its up and down movement, reduce the amplitude of the pontoon's swaying in the up and down direction, and shorten the time for the pontoon to return to a stable state, thereby improving the stability of amphibious machinery equipped with pontoons.
[0021] The pontoon provided by this invention has a second anti-sway device installed near the bottom on the side of the central pontoon body away from the amphibious machinery. Because of this second anti-sway device, the up-and-down swaying of the amphibious machinery along its width is reduced, thus decreasing the time it takes for the machinery to return to stability and mitigating the amplifying effect caused by the superposition of swaying from multiple degrees of freedom.
[0022] The pontoon provided by this invention has a quick-connect connector on the side of the central body near the amphibious work vehicle. This quick-connect connector is used to connect to a quick-connect interface on the amphibious work vehicle. A removable pin is also provided between the quick-connect interface and the quick-connect connector. During connection, the quick-connect connector is inserted into the quick-connect interface, and the pin is used to sequentially pass through the quick-connect interface and the quick-connect connector to restrict the pontoon's movement away from the amphibious work vehicle. In the event of an accident such as fire or sinking of the amphibious work vehicle, workers can board the pontoon and remove the pin, quickly disengaging the quick-connect connector and quick-connect interface. At this point, the pontoon is an independent structure and can be used for worker escape.
[0023] Furthermore, in the amphibious operation machinery provided by the present invention, since the pontoon is provided as described above, it has the same advantages as described above. Attached Figure Description
[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.
[0025] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pontoon provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;
[0026] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pontoon provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;
[0027] Figure 3 This is a top view of the pontoon provided in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the pontoon provided in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The left view;
[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the quick-connect interface and pin provided in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 7 This is a top view of an amphibious operation machine with a pontoon on one side, provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] Figure 8 This is a front view of an amphibious operation machine with a pontoon on one side, provided in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] Figure label:
[0034] 100: Middle housing; 200: Front housing; 300: Rear housing; 400: Float; 500: Quick-connect connector; 510: Second pin hole; 600: Quick-connect interface; 610: First pin hole; 700: Pin; 800: Second anti-sway device; 900: Main body of the working machinery. Detailed Implementation
[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.
[0036] Currently, amphibious excavators and other amphibious machinery are frequently used in water conservancy projects, river and lake dredging, and resource development and environmental remediation of wetlands, marshes and tidal flats.
[0037] Amphibious work vehicles typically use tracked chassis for movement. These chassis are fitted with sealed enclosures to provide buoyancy, allowing them to float on the water's surface during operations. When operating in water deeper than 1.5 meters, greater buoyancy is required for these vehicles to remain afloat.
[0038] However, the pontoons in related technologies are usually designed as rectangular sealed box structures to provide a certain amount of buoyancy. However, when amphibious vehicles equipped with rectangular pontoons move on the water, the pontoons will generate a large amount of resistance with the water, resulting in increased fuel consumption of the amphibious vehicles.
[0039] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a floating box and an amphibious operation machine.
[0040] Before describing the pontoon and amphibious operation machinery provided in the embodiments of the present invention, we will first explain the roll and pitch.
[0041] When amphibious work vehicles are floating on the water, the two sides of the amphibious work vehicle distributed along the width direction may float in the vertical direction, causing the amphibious work vehicle to swing left and right around the axis along the front and back direction. In the relevant field, this action is called rolling.
[0042] When amphibious work vehicles are floating on the water, the two sides of the amphibious work vehicle distributed in the front-to-back direction may float in the up-and-down direction, causing the amphibious work vehicle to swing back and forth around the axis in the left-to-right direction. In the relevant field, this action is called pitching.
[0043] Both rolling and pitching will affect the stability of amphibious machinery.
[0044] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 8 The present invention describes a pontoon and an amphibious work machine.
[0045] An embodiment of the present invention provides a pontoon, which is detachably connected to both sides of the walking device of an amphibious operation vehicle to improve the buoyancy and stability of the amphibious operation vehicle.
[0046] In this embodiment, the float box comprises three parts: a central box 100 and end boxes located at both ends of the central box 100 along its length. Each end box includes a front end box 200 and a rear end box 300. The front end box 200 is located at the front end of the central box 100 along its length, and the rear end box 300 is located at the rear end of the central box 100 along its length. The central box 100, the front end box 200, and the rear end box 300 can be a single integrated structure.
[0047] The central box 100 can be a hollow, elongated box, and the central box 100 can include a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces distributed along the width direction.
[0048] The top and bottom surfaces of the central box 100 can be flat. The top ends of the two sides of the central box 100 distributed along the width direction are respectively connected to the two sides of the top surface of the central box 100 distributed along the width direction. The bottom ends of the two sides of the central box 100 distributed along the width direction are respectively connected to the two sides of the bottom surface of the central box 100 distributed along the width direction. The connection points are all transitioned with arc surfaces.
[0049] The two sides of the central housing 100 distributed along the width direction can be symmetrically arranged along the width direction. Taking the side away from the amphibious operation machinery as an example, this side extends downward and towards the amphibious operation machinery. This side can extend in a sloping manner or in an arc shape. When it extends in an arc shape, the arc surface protrudes in the direction away from the amphibious operation machinery.
[0050] Thus, the central box 100 forms a streamlined structure, which can effectively reduce the resistance between the central box 100 and the water when it is moving.
[0051] The front end housing 200 may include a top surface, two sides distributed along the width direction, and a front side away from the middle housing 100. The side of the front end housing 200 near the middle housing 100 is connected to the side of the middle housing 100 near the front end housing 200.
[0052] The top surface of the front housing 200 is flush with the top surface of the middle housing 100, and the top surfaces of the front housing 200 and the middle housing 100 are integrated into one structure. The top ends of the two sides of the front housing 200 distributed along its width direction are connected to the two sides of the top surface of the front housing 200 distributed along its width direction, with the connection points using rounded transitions. The bottom ends of the two sides of the front housing 200 distributed along its width direction extend in a direction approaching each other, and can be connected at the bottom of the front housing 200 using rounded transitions.
[0053] The front box 200 can be symmetrically arranged on both sides along the width direction. Taking the side away from the amphibious operation machinery as an example, this side extends downward and towards the amphibious operation machinery. This side can extend in a sloping direction or in an arc shape. When it extends in an arc shape, the arc surface protrudes in the direction away from the amphibious operation machinery.
[0054] The top of the front side of the front box 200 away from the middle box 100 is connected to the side of the top surface of the front box 200 away from the middle box 100. The bottom of the front side of the front box 200 extends downward and towards the middle box 100. The front side can extend in a sloping manner or in an arc shape. When it extends in an arc shape, the arc surface protrudes in the direction away from the middle box 100.
[0055] The connection surfaces between the sides of the front box 200 near the middle box 100 and the sides of the middle box 100 near the front box 200 along the width direction are streamlined to achieve a smooth transition connection.
[0056] The pontoon provided in the embodiments of the present invention adopts a streamlined design, which can effectively reduce the friction between the pontoon and the water when the pontoon is moving, thereby reducing the fuel consumption of amphibious machinery equipped with the pontoon.
[0057] Furthermore, the front end of the track wheels of the amphibious transport vehicle is sloped, and the angle between this slope and the ground is the approach angle, which facilitates the landing of the amphibious transport vehicle. The side of the end box away from the middle box 100 is sloped towards the middle box 100. This not only reduces drag but also prevents the side of the end box away from the middle box 100 from extending to the front of the track wheels, thus preventing it from affecting the landing of the amphibious transport vehicle.
[0058] Existing pontoons can only alleviate the rolling motion of amphibious vehicles, but their effect on suppressing pitching is not ideal. Therefore, existing technologies typically place pitching pontoons at the front and rear of the amphibious vehicle, with the pitching pontoons positioned between the two tracked wheels, in order to suppress the pitching motion of the amphibious vehicle.
[0059] Taking amphibious excavators as an example, after installing pitching pontoons between the track wheels, the area between the two track wheels is occupied. The pitching pontoons interfere with the bucket of the amphibious excavator, preventing the bucket from moving between the two track wheels. Moreover, the pitching pontoons, located at the front and rear of the amphibious excavator, also create significant resistance to the movement of the amphibious machinery.
[0060] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the float provided in this embodiment of the invention is provided with a first anti-roll device on the end box. More specifically, the first anti-roll device is provided on the front box 200 and the rear box 300 respectively.
[0061] Taking the first anti-roll device installed on the front housing 200 as an example, when the front end of the amphibious operation machinery moves downward and the first anti-roll device comes into contact with the water surface, resistance is generated between the first anti-roll device and the water to prevent the front end of the amphibious operation machinery from moving downward. When part or all of the first anti-roll device reaches below the water surface, the buoyancy generated by the first anti-roll device will drive the amphibious operation machinery to return to its original position.
[0062] The first anti-roll device can be installed at the top of the end housing. When the amphibious machinery is operating on the water, the first anti-roll device is positioned above the water surface because it is located at the top of the end housing. With this configuration, the first anti-roll device does not come into contact with the water during the amphibious machinery's movement, thus generating no resistance and effectively reducing fuel consumption caused by resistance.
[0063] The first anti-sway device can be set on the front side of the front box 200, or on the side of the front box 200 close to the amphibious operation machinery, or on the side of the front box 200 away from the amphibious operation machinery.
[0064] Of course, the first anti-sway device can also be set in any two of the above-mentioned positions, or all three positions can be equipped with the first anti-sway device.
[0065] Similarly, the first anti-sway device can be set on the rear side of the tail end box 300, or on the side of the tail end box 300 close to the amphibious operation machinery, or on the side of the tail end box 300 away from the amphibious operation machinery.
[0066] Of course, the first anti-sway device can also be set in any two of the above-mentioned positions, or all three positions can be equipped with the first anti-sway device.
[0067] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first anti-roll device may be a float 400. The purpose of the float 400 is to generate a certain buoyancy when in contact with water, thereby reducing the pitching of the amphibious machinery. Therefore, the density of the float 400 is less than the density of water.
[0068] In one embodiment, the float 400 can be an expanded board, or in another preferred embodiment, the float 400 can be a hollow structure.
[0069] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, taking the float plate 400 disposed on the front box 200 as an example, the float plate 400 can be disposed on the side of the front box 200 close to the amphibious operation machinery. Since the float plate 400 is located at the top of the front box 200, when the float box is installed on the amphibious operation machinery, the bottom surface of the float plate 400 is located on the track wheels of the amphibious operation machinery.
[0070] In this embodiment, since the float 400 extends above the track wheels of the amphibious operation machinery, when the amphibious operation machinery is operating on the water surface, the staff can stand on the float 400 to inspect and maintain the amphibious operation machinery.
[0071] Alternatively, the float 400 can be positioned on the side of the front box 200 away from the amphibious operation machinery. In addition to reducing the pitching of the amphibious operation machinery, the float 400 can also assist the middle box 100 and the end box in reducing the rolling when the amphibious operation machinery rolls.
[0072] Alternatively, floats 400 can be installed on both the side of the end box away from the amphibious operation machinery and the side closer to the amphibious operation machinery. This can simultaneously meet the needs of maintenance of the amphibious operation machinery and assist the middle box 100 and the end box in reducing roll.
[0073] In order to reduce the swaying of amphibious machinery in a short time, a second anti-sway device 800 can be installed on the side of the middle box 100 away from the amphibious machinery and near the bottom.
[0074] The second anti-sway device 800 can be a long strip plate structure. When connecting, the preferred embodiment is that the width direction of the second anti-sway device 800 is perpendicular to the outer side of the middle box 100 where the second anti-sway device is located. Of course, it can also be at other angles.
[0075] The second anti-sway device 800 can be set in one or more. When there are multiple second anti-sway devices 800, the multiple second anti-sway devices 800 are distributed along the length direction of the central box 100, and the two adjacent second anti-sway devices 800 can be set at a certain distance.
[0076] In one embodiment of the present invention, a detachable connection structure is used between the pontoon and the amphibious operation machinery. For example, a quick-connect connector 500 can be provided on the side of the central pontoon 100 near the amphibious operation machinery, and a quick-connect interface 600 corresponding to the quick-connect connector 500 can be provided on the outside of the walking device of the amphibious operation machinery. During connection, the quick-connect connector 500 is aligned with the quick-connect interface 600 and inserted into the quick-connect interface 600.
[0077] The quick-connect interface 600 on the walking device of the amphibious machinery can be located near the top of the walking device, with its axis horizontal. A first pin hole 610 extending downwards is located at the top of the walking device corresponding to the quick-connect interface 600, and the first pin hole 610 communicates with the interior of the quick-connect interface 600. The quick-connect connector 500 has a second pin hole 510 extending vertically. When the quick-connect connector 500 is inserted into the quick-connect interface 600, the first pin hole 610 and the second pin hole 510 are aligned. At this time, a pin 700 can be passed through the first pin hole 610 and the second pin hole 510 in sequence to prevent the quick-connect connector 500 from dislodging from the quick-connect interface 600.
[0078] With this setup, in the event of a fire or sinking of the amphibious work equipment, staff can transfer to the pontoon and quickly pull out pin 700 to separate the pontoon from the amphibious work equipment. At this point, the pontoon can be used as a life-saving device, allowing staff to escape in an emergency.
[0079] In some embodiments of the present invention, a certain gap may exist between the quick connector 500 and the quick interface 600 in order to facilitate the quick connection or disconnection of the quick connector 500 and the quick interface 600.
[0080] For example, quick-connect connector 500 can be a cylindrical structure with its axis extending horizontally, and quick-connect interface 600 can be a cylindrical structure with its axis extending horizontally. The outer diameter of quick-connect connector 500 needs to be smaller than the inner diameter of quick-connect interface 600 to achieve a clearance fit between the two.
[0081] Alternatively, the quick-connect connector 500 can be a plate-shaped structure, and the quick-connect interface 600 can be a cylindrical structure. The length of the quick-connect connector 500 along the length direction of the central housing 100 is less than the inner diameter of the quick-connect interface 600, so as to achieve a clearance fit between the two.
[0082] In some embodiments of the present invention, anti-slip textures may be provided on the top surface of one, two or more of the middle box 100, the front box 200, the tail box 300 and the float 400. When workers stand on the top of the float to inspect the amphibious machinery, it can play a certain anti-slip role, preventing slippage and accidental falls into the water, and greatly protecting the personal safety of the workers.
[0083] For example, the anti-slip texture can be a protrusion or groove stamped on the top surface of the pontoon, or it can be an anti-slip rubber strip pasted on the top of the pontoon.
[0084] In some embodiments of the present invention, an amphibious operation machine is also provided, including an operation machine body 900 and a pontoon, the pontoon being detachably connected to both sides of the operation machine body 900 distributed along the width direction.
[0085] For example, amphibious work machinery can be amphibious excavators or amphibious dredging machinery, and amphibious work machinery mostly uses tracked wheels for movement.
[0086] The buoyancy tanks described above are detachably mounted on the outer side of the track wheels of the amphibious machinery along the width direction, and have the same beneficial effects as described above.
[0087] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims
1. A floating box, characterized in that, For detachable connections distributed along the width of the amphibious work machinery on both sides, including: The middle box (100) has a streamlined outer surface and its width gradually decreases from top to bottom. End boxes are disposed at both ends of the middle box (100) along the length direction. The outer side of the end box is streamlined, and the width of the end box gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. The distance between the side of the end box away from the middle box (100) and the middle box (100) gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. The outer side of the transition connection position between the end box and the middle box (100) is streamlined. The end box is also provided with a first anti-sway device, which is used to provide resistance to the up and down movement of the end box. A second anti-sway device is provided on the side of the central box (100) away from the amphibious operation machinery and near the bottom. The second anti-sway device is used to provide resistance to the up-and-down movement of the side of the central box (100) away from the amphibious operation machinery.
2. The pontoon according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first anti-sway device is disposed on the top of the end box, and the first anti-sway device is disposed on one or both sides of the end box along the width direction, or the first anti-sway device is disposed on the side of the end box away from the middle box (100).
3. The pontoon according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first anti-sway device is a float (400), and the density of the float (400) is less than that of water.
4. The pontoon according to claim 3, characterized in that, The interior of the float (400) is hollow.
5. The pontoon according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, A quick-connector (500) is also provided on the side of the central housing (100) near the amphibious operation machinery. The quick-connector (500) is used to connect with the quick-connect interface (600) on the amphibious operation machinery. A pluggable pin (700) is provided between the quick-connector (500) and the quick-connect interface (600). The pin (700) is used to restrict the quick-connector (500) and the quick-connect interface (600) from moving away from each other.
6. The pontoon according to claim 5, characterized in that, A gap is provided between the quick-connect connector (500) and the quick-connect interface (600).
7. The pontoon according to claim 3, characterized in that, The top of the middle box (100), the end box and / or the float (400) is provided with anti-slip texture.
8. An amphibious operation machine, characterized in that, It includes a main body of the working machinery (900) and a pontoon as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pontoon is detachably connected to both sides of the main body of the working machinery (900) distributed in the width direction.