Self-propelled work machines

Abstract

A self-propelled work machine, such as an excavator, comprises an underworks (4) with wheels (5) or track chains, and an upperworks (1) supported on the underworks for rotation of 360 degrees about a vertical axis. A first articulated boom (2) is pivotally mounted on the upperworks (1), and a first implement (3) is attached to the free end of the first articulated boom. The underworks (4) is fitted with a mounting and swivel adapter (8) to which a second articulated boom (6) is attached. The adapter (8) comprises a mounting part (8a) attached to the underworks and a swivel part (8b) attached to the mounting part (8a) so as to be swivelable at least 120 degrees about a vertical axis (9), with the second articulated boom (6) attached to the swivel part so as to be swivelable about a horizontal axis (11). A second implement (7) is attached to the free end of the second articulated boom (6).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The subject of the invention is a self-propelled working machine comprising a lower work with wheels or track chains, an upper work supported on said lower work for rotation of 360 degrees about a vertical axis, and a first articulated boom pivotally mounted on said upper work, the first articulated boom having a first implement mounted on its free end, said lower work being fitted with a mounting and swivel adaptor (hereinafter referred to as adaptor) on which is mounted a second articulated boom having a second implement mounted on its free end, said adaptor comprising a mounting part mounted on said lower work and a swivel part mounted on the mounting part so as to be swivelable about a vertical axis and with said second articulated boom mounted on the swivel part so as to be swivelable about a horizontal axis. Typically the working machine is an excavator and the implement is a bucket. [Background technology]

[0002] Backhoe loaders with an excavator boom at one end of the working machine and a wheel loader boom at the other end are known. They make it possible to carry out the work of both machines on the same construction site, i.e. first one machine, then the other, in sequence, and only one machine and one driver are needed. The combined use of the booms for simultaneous work is not possible.

[0003] There is also a known Hitachi prototype machine in which two independent excavator booms, controlled by a single operator, are mounted on the rotating superstructure of the excavator. The problem with this Hitachi is that when only one of the booms is swiveled, for example to pick something up from behind, the other boom rotates with it. This arrangement of two booms means that the two booms can only be used individually to a limited extent, and the other cannot be programmed to perform its own set of tasks.

[0004] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-80563 discloses a work machine of the first mentioned type in which the position of the vertical axis of the adapter between the track chains under the upper works limits the pivot angle of the second articulated boom about the vertical axis, which makes combined use of the booms for simultaneous work difficult, although the publication does not suggest such.

[0005] Furthermore, US Patent No. 6,032,094 discloses a work machine with two articulated booms and a system for preventing the work machine from tipping over. The system includes sensors for detecting the position of the boom and the load. If the system detects a risk of tipping over based on signals from the sensors, the movement of the boom is stopped and an alarm is sounded, or the boom together with the load is moved to a new position where there is no risk of tipping over. The machine does not have a separate swivel and mounting adapter that can be removably attached to the lower works to remove the second boom. Instead, the second boom is attached to a rotation mechanism between the upper works and the lower works, and the rotation axis of the rotation mechanism coincides with the rotation axis of the rotation mechanism of the upper works. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for the preparation of ... medicament for use in a more versatile manner than before, The objective is to provide a work machine, such as an excavator, that is operable to perform tasks that were previously impossible or to make some tasks significantly faster and easier to perform. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features presented in the attached claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a working machine according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the undercarriage and lower articulated boom of the work machine of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Figures 1 and 2 show a self-propelled work machine, such as an excavator, comprising an underworks 4 provided with wheels 5 or track chains and an upperworks 1 supported on the underworks via a rotating platform 18 for rotation of 360 degrees about a vertical axis. A first articulated boom 2 is mounted on the upperworks 1 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis and has a first implement 3 attached to the free end of the first articulated boom.

[0011] The lower works 4 is fitted with a mounting and pivoting adapter 8 (hereinafter, adapter), to which the second articulated boom 6 is mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis 11. The adapter 8 comprises a mounting part 8a attached to the lower works 4 and a pivoting part 8b attached to the mounting part 8a so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis 9 by a hydraulic cylinder 15 by at least 120 degrees, preferably at least 180 degrees. In other words, the pivoting part 8b and the second articulated boom 6 together with the pivoting part are pivotable about the vertical axis 9 of the mounting part 8a by at least 120 degrees, preferably at least 180 degrees. The piston rod of the cylinder 15 engages with a lug 14 of the pivoting part 8b on the opposite side of the vertical axis 9. Reference number 16 indicates a space within the mounting part 8a in which the cylinder 15 can pivot.

[0012] As an alternative to the hydraulic cylinder 15, the rotational movement of the articulated boom 6 about the vertical axis 9 may be realised by a toothed rim surrounding the vertical axis 9 of the swiveling part 8b and rotated by a hydraulic motor (not shown) in the mounting part via gears.

[0013] The term articulated boom refers to a boom with at least two boom sections connected to each other by means of a swivel joint 12 or 22. There may be more than two boom sections and accordingly more than two swivel joints. This allows the work machine to have a larger working range. Furthermore, the articulated boom may be equipped with an extension part that allows the reach of the boom to be extended. A second implement 7 is attached to the free end of the second articulated boom 6. The implements 3 and 7 may be buckets, screening devices, crushing and screening devices, grippers such as tongs or jaws, impact hammers, crushing jaws, or cutter crushers. The implements 3 and 7 may be connected to the articulated boom by swivel joints 23 and 13, respectively. The swivel cylinders of the implements 3 and 7 are not shown, nor are the hydraulic hoses or the swivel cylinders of the upper boom, as they are well known installations in work machines.

[0014] The hydraulic drive required to move the second articulated boom 6 is taken from the same work machine motor as the drive required to move the work machine or the drive required to move the first articulated boom 2. The same applies to the drive input to the implement 7 of the second articulated boom 6.

[0015] For example, for an excavator used in the normal way with one boom, the mounting part 8a of the adapter 8 is removably attached to the frame of the undercarriage 4 so that the second articulated boom 6 can be removed from the work machine. Known fastening solutions for attaching the mounting part 8a can be used, such as, for example, fastening lugs and hooks and / or pins engageable therewith and lockable in sockets. In this embodiment, the undercarriage 4 preferably has a hydraulic oil quick connect coupler into which the inlet pipe of the adapter is guided and connected when the adapter 8 is mounted on the undercarriage 4. Alternatively, the adapter 8 has a hydraulic oil quick connect coupler into which a supply pipe connected to a hydraulic hose of the work machine is guided and connected when the adapter 8 is mounted on the undercarriage.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the axis of the vertical shaft 9 of the adapter is at a distance from the undercarriage 4 in the direction of travel of the work machine.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second articulated booms 2,6 together with the tools 3,7 are movable to a mutual position where the first tool 3 is directly above the second tool 7. In this embodiment, the tools 3,7 are generally sieving or crushing sieving devices. In this case, the material sieved by the upper sieving device flows directly to the lower sieving device for sieving the next (smaller) fraction. This allows, for example, three different fractions, e.g. aggregates, to be sieved using two different sieving devices with one working machine in one work step, in which case the combination replaces three separate fraction sieves and the machines feeding them, as well as the machine moving the final fraction off under the sieving conveyor.

[0018] The adapter 8 according to the present invention preferably comprises a valve housing 10 with a hydraulic valve which can be remotely controlled by an electronic control unit by means of which the movement of the second articulated boom 6 and / or the second implement 7 can be remotely controlled.

[0019] Additionally, the work machine preferably includes a programmable processor that is programmed to automatically control predetermined movements of at least the second articulated boom 6 and / or the second implement 7. Productivity is greatly improved when a programmable or teachable processor is used to control the path of some or all of one or both articulated booms.

[0020] For some tasks, it is advantageous from the standpoint of support and stability of the work machine for the mounting portion 8a of the adapter to be provided with removable support legs 17 which are pressed against the ground and extend a desired distance from the centre line of the work machine when viewed in the direction of travel of the work machine.

[0021] To lift or support long parts, the first and second articulated booms 2, 6 together with the tools 3, 7 can be moved into a mutual position where the tools are arranged at a distance from each other, the tools being advantageously grippers. The tools of the two articulated booms can be used to hold the long part at two points, for example to set it in position. Furthermore, in the demolition of structures, it is often safer and more feasible to remove parts using the tools of the two articulated booms.

[0022] On the opposite side of the adapter 8, the undercarriage 4 is fitted with a rack 19, by means of which a tool 20 suitable for use with the working machine can be transported together with the working machine to the construction site. The tool 20 shown in FIG. 2 is an impact hammer. The rack 19 can be fitted with mountings suitable for different tools and working equipment. There are no other requirements for the shape of the rack 19, as long as a tool-specific mount can be fitted. While in the rack 19, the tool is in a position to be directly attached to the rotating articulated boom 2 and used. Especially when using hydraulic quick-connect couplers, the tool transport rack 19 proves to be effective, since in that case all the oil flows are also connected at the same time and several tools can be quickly utilized. If the articulated boom 6 has a quick-connect coupler for the hydraulic drive of the tool 7, the rotating articulated boom 2 can be used to bring the tool 7 of the second articulated boom 6 within its reach for replacement.

[0023] The boom combination according to the present invention can also be effectively used in applications where large volumes of concrete and aggregate need to be processed in a small space into a form that can be utilized on-site or easily transported in common transportation facilities. An example of this is the use of impact hammers to break up larger pieces, followed by crushing the resulting smaller pieces using crushing jaws or bucket crushers.

Claims

1. A self-propelled work machine such as an excavator, a substructure (4) with wheels (5) or track chains, an upper structure (1) supported on said lower structure for rotation of 360 degrees about a vertical axis; a first articulated boom (2) pivotally mounted on the upper works, the first articulated boom (2) having a first implement (3) attached to a free end thereof; The undercarriage (4) is fitted with a mounting and swivel adapter (8) (hereinafter referred to as "adapter") to which a second articulated boom (6) is attached, the second articulated boom (6) having a second implement (7) attached to its free end; a work machine, wherein the adapter (8) comprises a mounting portion (8a) attached to the undercarriage, and a swiveling portion (8b) attached to the mounting portion (8a) so as to be swivellable about a vertical axis (9), the swiveling portion (8b) having the second articulated boom (6) attached to the swiveling portion so as to be swivellable about a horizontal axis (11); the axis of the vertical shaft (9) of the adapter is at a distance from the undercarriage (4) in the direction of travel of the work machine, and the swiveling part (8b) together with the articulated boom (6) is swivellable by at least 120 degrees around the vertical shaft (9) of the adapter; the work machine comprises a programmable processor programmed to automatically control predetermined movements of the second articulated boom (6) and / or the second implement (7); and / or the adapter (8) comprises a valve housing (10) with a hydraulic valve that is remotely controllable by an electronic control unit, by means of which the movement of the second articulated boom (6) and / or the second implement (7) can be remotely controlled; A work machine characterized by:

2. the hydraulic drive power required to move the second articulated boom (6) is taken from the same motor of the work machine as the drive power required to move the work machine or the drive power required to move the first articulated boom (2); 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

3. a mounting portion (8a) of the adapter (8) that is removably attached to a frame of the undercarriage (4) for removing the second articulated boom (6) from the work machine; 3. The work machine according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the first articulated boom and the second articulated boom (2, 6) together with the implements (3, 7) are movable to a mutual position in which the first implement (3) is directly above the second implement (7); 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

5. The tool (3, 7) is a sieving device or a crushing and sieving device, 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

6. the undercarriage (4) has a hydraulic oil quick connect coupler to which an inlet pipe of the adapter (8) is guided and connected when the adapter (8) is attached to the undercarriage (4), or the adapter (8) has a hydraulic oil quick connect coupler to which a supply pipe connected to a hydraulic hose of the work machine is guided and connected when the adapter (8) is attached to the undercarriage; 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

7. the mounting portion (8a) of the adapter is provided with removable support legs (17) which are pressed against the ground and extend a desired distance from the centerline of the work machine when viewed in the direction of travel of the work machine; 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

8. the pivoting portion (8b) and the second articulated boom (6) together with said pivoting portion are pivotable by at least 180 degrees around a vertical axis (9) of the mounting portion (8a); 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

9. the first articulated boom and the second articulated boom (2, 6) together with the tools (3, 7) are movable to a mutual position where the tools are spaced apart from each other, the tools being grippers; 2. The work machine according to claim 1.

10. Opposite the adapter (8), the undercarriage (4) is fitted with a rack (19) by means of which tools (20) suitable for use with the work machine can be transported to a construction site together with the work machine.

2. The work machine according to claim 1.

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