Rotating and / or turning unit

Abstract

To provide a rotating and / or turning unit which ensures periodical lubrication at different lubrication points.SOLUTION: A rotating and / or turning unit for being mounted on a construction machine includes: a connection part (1); and a support body (6) which is arranged so as to be movable on the connection part (1) for a tool or a quick changer (9) for coupling the tool or an attachment, wherein the support body (6) is arranged on the connection part (1) so as to be rotatable by a motor around a rotation axis by a rotation driving part (8), and / or tiltable around a pivotal axis by a pivot driving part. The rotating and / or turning unit has a central lubricant supply part (27) including a lubricant pump (29) which is provided with a lubricant reservoir (28) for transmitting a lubricant to different lubricant points and is automatically operated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating and / or swivel unit for mounting on a construction machine according to the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] Such a rotating and / or swivel unit is used in an excavator or other equivalent construction machine as a rotating and / or swivel unit for increasing the range of movement between an attachment and a tool of the construction machine. Such a rotating and swivel unit typically includes a connection part that can be attached to the construction machine and a support that is movably arranged on the connection part for coupling a tool or attachment, the support being arranged on the connection part so that it can be rotatable by a motor about a rotation axis by a rotation drive and / or tiltable by a pivot drive about a pivot axis perpendicular to the rotation axis. A combined rotating and / or swivel unit, also referred to as a tiltrotator, is also known from Patent Document 1. In this case, the support of the quick changer is arranged on the connection part that can be attached to the excavator so that it can be rotatable about a rotation axis by a hydraulic rotation drive and pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the rotation axis by a hydraulic pivot drive. Such a tiltrotator allows an attachment connected to the quick changer, such as a tilt bucket, grapple, shear, compactor, magnet, hydraulic hammer, etc., to be rotated not only about a pivot axis arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the excavator boom, but also about a rotation axis perpendicular to this pivot axis.

[0003] Rotating and / or swivel units of the aforementioned types typically have several different lubrication points that must be lubricated regularly to ensure proper operation and avoid wear. However, regular lubrication during daily operation is often neglected or forgotten, which can lead to unwanted wear and associated damage and interruptions in operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent No. 10 2020 127 313 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create a rotating and / or pivoting unit of the aforementioned type that ensures regular lubrication of the different lubrication points without separate intervention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This problem is solved by a rotating and / or pivoting unit having the features of claim 1. Useful embodiments and advantageous modifications of the invention are provided in the dependent claims.

[0007] The rotating and / or swivel unit according to the present invention includes a connection part that can be attached to a construction machine and a support movably arranged on the connection part for connecting a tool or attachment, where the support is arranged on the connection part so that it can be rotatable by a motor about a rotation axis by a rotation drive part and / or tiltable about a pivot axis by a pivot drive part. The rotating and / or swivel unit also includes a central lubricant supply part with an automatically activated lubricant pump provided with a lubricant reservoir. The automatically activated lubricant pump arranged on the rotating and / or swivel unit allows the supply of lubricant provided in the lubricant reservoir to different lubrication points of the rotating and / or swivel unit without a lubricant connection to the central lubrication system of the construction machine and without separate intervention by the operator. The lubricant pump can be activated automatically, for example, when the rotating and / or swivel drive part is operated or when the construction machine is started. This means that the lubrication of different lubrication points, which is essential for preventing wear, cannot be overlooked. Due to the fact that the lubricant supply to the rotating and / or swivel unit is independent from the central lubrication system of the construction machine and is integrated into the rotating and / or swivel unit, no lubricant lines and specially designed couplings are required between the rotating and / or swivel unit and the central lubrication system provided on the construction machine.

[0008] In a particularly useful variant, the housing part is arranged on the connection part, the housing part being pivotable about a pivot axis and the support being mounted so as to be tiltable by a pivot drive part which is rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the pivot axis and can be rotated by a motor by the rotation drive part. Such a rotating and swivel unit, also called a tiltrotator, makes it possible to rotate an attachment connected to the rotating and swivel unit, such as a tilt bucket, grapple, shear, compactor, magnet, hydraulic hammer, etc., not only about a pivot axis arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the excavator boom, but also about a rotation axis perpendicular to this pivot axis.

[0009] In a particularly useful variant, the lubricant pump is connected via a supply line to a distributor for distributing the lubricant delivered by the lubricant pump to the different lubrication points. This allows the lubricant to reach the corresponding lubrication points in a predetermined manner. The amount of lubricant required by each individual lubrication point can be defined via the distributor unit. Several lubricant supply lines leading to the different lubrication points are connected to the distributor unit.

[0010] A lubricant quantity adjusting device is conveniently located on the lubricant pump for adjusting the amount of lubricant delivered by the lubricant pump when the lubricant pump is actuated, thereby making it possible to adjust the amount of lubricant delivered by the lubricant pump from the lubricant reservoir when the pump is actuated.

[0011] The lubricant pump may be arranged on or adjacent to a housing part of the rotating and / or swiveling unit that is tiltable about a pivot axis. The distributor unit is also preferably arranged on or adjacent to a housing part that is tiltable about a pivot axis.

[0012] In a particularly advantageous variant, the lubricant pump can be designed as a hydraulically operated lubricant pump with a hydraulically operated pump piston. However, the lubricant pump can also be electrically operated and activated, for example by an electrical control when the construction machine is started. This also makes it possible to ensure regular lubrication of the rotating and / or swivel unit.

[0013] The lubricant pump can be conveniently operated by controlling the pivot drive or by controlling the rotary drive. In hydraulic rotary and pivot drives and hydraulically operated lubricant pumps, the lubricant pump can be connected via a bypass line to the hydraulic circuit H2 for controlling the pivot drive or to the hydraulic circuit H1 for controlling the rotary drive.

[0014] The rotary drive may include a hydraulic motor that can be controlled by a first hydraulic circuit H1, and the pivotal drive may be formed by two double-acting cylinders that are movable in opposite directions and that can be controlled by a second hydraulic circuit H2.

[0015] A quick changer designed to connect a tool can be arranged on the support. However, it is also possible to arrange a grapple or other tool directly on the support 6. The support can also be designed as a housing for the quick changer.

[0016] The connecting part may include two spaced-apart pin-like connecting elements for connecting the connecting part to the quick changer. Therefore, the connecting part, and thus the rotating and / or swivel unit, is connected to the excavator boom via the quick changer and can be used in a sandwich assembly with an additional lower quick changer for automatically changing attachments. However, the connecting part can also be permanently attached to the excavator arm.

[0017] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] In a first perspective view, a rotating and swiveling unit with a quick changer and an automatic lubricant supply is shown. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the rotating and swivel unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hydraulic circuit configuration for controlling an automatic lubricant supply unit of the rotating and swivel unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The rotation and swivel unit, also referred to as a tiltrotator and shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, comprises a connection part 1 that can be mounted on an excavator boom or another attachment of a construction machine, either directly or via a hydraulically operated quick changer, on which a housing part 2 is mounted so as to pivot about a pivot axis 3, in this case tiltable about the pivot axis 3 by a pivot drive formed by two hydraulic actuating cylinders 4 and 5. In the housing part 2 that can be tilted relative to the connection part 1, a support 6 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 7 perpendicular to the pivot axis 3 and can be rotated 360° by a rotation drive 8. In the illustrated embodiment, a quick changer 9 designed to connect a tool is arranged on the support 6. However, a grapple or other tool can also be arranged directly on the support 6. In addition, the support 6 can also be designed as a housing for the quick changer.

[0020] The rotary drive 8, here designed as a hydraulic drive, includes a hydraulic motor 10, which allows the support 6 to be rotated 360° relative to the housing part 2 around the rotation axis 7 by the motor via a gear mechanism having a worm gear arranged inside the housing part 2 and a worm drive that can be rotated by the hydraulic motor 10.

[0021] The housing part 2 is arranged on the connecting part 1 via a laterally protruding journal 11 on the inner side of two spaced bearing lugs 12 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 3 perpendicular to the rotation axis 7, and can be pivoted by approximately + / - 45° about the pivot axis 3 relative to the connecting part 1 via a hydraulic pivot drive formed by two actuating cylinders 4 and 5. An attachment connected to the quick changer 9 can not only be rotated about the rotation axis 7 by a tiltrotator, also referred to as a rotation pivot drive, but can also be tilted relative to the connecting part 1 about the pivot axis 3 perpendicular to the rotation axis 7, thereby expanding the range of movement and increasing the application area.

[0022] In the embodiment shown, the connection part 1 has two parallel side walls 13 and front and rear cross members 14 on which bearing lugs 12 are arranged. The housing part 2 is mounted to pivot about the pivot axis 3 via two journals 11 inside the bearing lugs 12 of the front and rear cross members 14. Two parallel, spaced apart pin-like coupling elements 15 and 16 for connection to a hydraulically operated quick changer (not shown here) arranged on the construction machine are arranged on the two side walls 13 of the connection part 1 shown.

[0023] One embodiment of a hydraulically operated quick changer arranged on an excavator arm or other construction machine for automatically connecting a tiltrotator is disclosed in DE 10 2018 128 479 A1. This document is expressly referenced for the known design and operation method of such a hydraulically operated quick changer. However, the connection part 1 can also be mounted directly on the excavator boom and coupling without an intermediate hydraulically operated quick changer connection.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the pivot drive is formed by double-acting cylinders 4 and 5, each having a cylinder housing 18 fastened to the corresponding side wall 13 of the connection part 1 via a mount 17 and a piston rod 19 slidably arranged in the cylinder housing 18 and hydraulically movable. The free end of the piston rod 19 is connected to the drive housing 9 via a joint eye 20 and a corresponding mount 21. Thus, by retracting and extending the two piston rods 19 of the actuating cylinders 4 and 5, the housing part 2, in which the support 6 is rotatably mounted, can be tilted relative to the connection part 1. However, the pivot drive can also be formed by a hydraulic motor or another suitable hydraulic drive.

[0025] The quick changer 9, designed to connect an attachment or tool, includes a housing 22 designed as a welded or cast structure. It has a first receptacle 23, which opens on one side, for receiving and holding a first pin-like coupling element on the tool side, and a second receptacle 24, which opens toward the bottom, for receiving and holding a second pin-like coupling element on the tool side on the other side. The first receptacle 23, which opens on one side, is designed like a claw or fork. The second receptacle 24, which opens on the other side toward the bottom, has a curved lower support surface for supporting the pin-like coupling element. The second receptacle 24 is provided with a manually or hydraulically operated locking device having two locking pins 26 movable inside holes 25 between an extended locking position and a retracted unlocked or change position. The locking pins 26 can be moved manually via a manually pivotable lever or hydraulically between the retracted unlocked or change position and the extended locking position. A variety of tools or attachments can be connected to the quick changer 9, such as tilt buckets, grapples, shears, compactors, magnets, hydraulic hammers, and the like.

[0026] As can be seen particularly in the enlarged detail of FIG. 2 , the rotary and swivel drive includes a central lubricant supply 27 with an automatically operable lubricant pump 29 provided with a lubricant reservoir 28 and a distributor unit 31 connected to the lubricant pump 29 via a supply line 30 for distributing the lubricant to the different lubrication points 32. The lubricant reservoir 28, which is designed as a container for containing a sufficient amount of grease or a corresponding lubricant, is arranged on the lubricant pump 29 and can be mounted therewith on the housing part 2. Lubricant supplied to the lubricant reservoir 28 can be lubricating grease. Several lubricant supply lines 33 leading to the individual lubrication points 32 are connected to the distributor device 31 for distributing the lubricant to the different lubrication points 32. The amount of lubricant required by the individual lubrication points 32 can be determined via the distributor unit 31.

[0027] 3 shows a circuit diagram of a hydraulic circuit arrangement for controlling the rotary drive 3 formed by the hydraulic motor 10, the pivot drive formed by the two actuating cylinders 5 and 6 [sic; 4 and 5], and the lubricant pump 29 of the central lubricant supply 27 of the rotary and swivel drives. The circuit arrangement includes a control device 34, for example located on an excavator, which includes a first control valve 35 designed as a 4 / 3-way valve for controlling a first hydraulic circuit H1 used to control the hydraulic motor 10 of the rotary drive 3, and a second control valve 36 designed as a 4 / 3-way valve for controlling a second hydraulic circuit H2 used to control the cylinders 5 and 6 [sic; 4 and 5] of the pivot drive. The two actuating cylinders 4 and 5 of the pivot drive are controlled by the second hydraulic circuit H2 via a branch 37 and four connections 38-41 so that the actuating cylinders 4 and 5 can be extended or retracted in opposite directions, thereby tilting the support 6 around the pivot axis 3. A deceleration brake check valve 42 is arranged upstream of the connections for retracting and extending the two actuating cylinders 4 and 5 .

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the lubricant pump 29 is designed as a hydraulically operated lubricant pump with a hydraulically operated pump piston 43 and a lubricant quantity regulating device 44 for regulating the amount of lubricant delivered. The lubricant pump 29 is controlled by the hydraulic circuit H2 via a bypass line 45 branching off from the hydraulic circuit H2. This ensures that when the two actuating cylinders 4 and 5 for operating the pivot drive are activated, the lubricant pump 29 is also activated at the same time to supply lubricant to the lubrication points 32. However, the bypass line 45 can also branch off from the first hydraulic circuit H1 so that the lubricant pump 29 is activated when the hydraulic motor 10 of the rotary drive 8 is activated. This also ensures regular lubrication.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the rotating and swivel units detailed above: the central, automatically actuated lubrication device can also be used for purely rotating or swivel units. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Connection 2 Housing 3 Pivot axis 4. First working cylinder 5 Second working cylinder 6 Support 7 Pivot axis 8 Rotation drive unit 9 Quick Changer 10 Hydraulic motor 11 Journals 12 Bearing lug 13 Side wall 14 Crosspiece 15 First coupling element 16 Second coupling element 17 Mount 18 Cylinder housing 19 Piston rod 20 Joint Eye 21 Mount 22 Housing 23 First Receptacle 24 Second Receptacle 25 holes 26 Lock pin 27 Central lubricant supply 28 Lubricant reservoir 29 Lubricant Pump 30 Supply Line 31 Distribution unit 32 Lubrication points 33 Lubricant supply line 34 Control Devices 35 First control valve 36 Second control valve 37 Branch 38 First Connection 39 Second Connection 40 Third Connection 41 Fourth Connection 42 Deceleration brake check valve 43 Pump piston 44 Lubricant quantity adjustment device 45 Bypass Line

Claims

1. 1. A rotating and / or swivel unit for mounting on a construction machine, comprising: a connection part (1); a support (6) movably arranged on said connection part (1) for a tool or quick changer (8) for coupling a tool or attachment, said support (6) being arranged on said connection part (1) so as to be rotatable by a motor about a rotation axis (8) by means of a rotation drive (8) and / or tiltable about a pivot axis (3) by means of pivot drives (4, 5); and characterized by a central lubricant supply part (27) with an automatically operated lubricant pump (29) provided with a lubricant reservoir (28) for delivering lubricant to different lubrication points (32) of said rotating and / or swivel unit.

2. 2. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a housing part (2) is arranged on the connection part (1), the housing part (2) is pivotable about the pivot axis (3), the support (6) is mounted so as to be tiltable by the pivot drive parts (4, 5) which are rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (7) perpendicular to the pivot axis (3), and can be rotated by a motor by the rotation drive part (8).

3. 3. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lubricant pump (29) is connected via a supply line (30) to a distributor unit (31) for distributing the lubricant delivered by the lubricant pump (29) to the different lubrication points (32).

4. 4. Rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 3, characterized in that lubricant supply lines (33) leading to the different lubrication points (32) are connected to the distributor unit (31).

5. 3. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a lubricant quantity regulating device (44) is arranged on the lubricant pump (29) for regulating the amount of lubricant delivered by the lubricant pump (29) when the lubricant pump (29) is activated.

6. 3. Rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lubricant pump (29) is arranged on the housing part (2).

7. 3. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lubricant pump (29) is designed as a hydraulically operated lubricant pump with a hydraulically operated pump piston (43).

8. 3. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lubricant pump (29) is activated by controlling the pivoting drive (4, 5) or by controlling the rotary drive (8).

9. 9. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the lubricant pump (29) is connected via a bypass line (45) to a hydraulic circuit H2 for controlling the pivoting drive (4, 5), to a hydraulic circuit H1 for controlling the rotary drive (8), or to another hydraulic circuit.

10. 9. Rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotary drive (8) comprises a hydraulic motor (10) that can be controlled by the first hydraulic circuit H1.

11. 10. Rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the pivot drives (4, 5) are formed by two double-acting cylinders movable in opposite directions and controllable by the second hydraulic circuit H2.

12. 3. Rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a quick changer (9) designed for connecting a tool or an attachment is arranged on the support (6).

13. 3. A rotating and / or swiveling unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection part (1) comprises two spaced apart pin-like connecting elements (15, 16) for connecting the connection part (1) to a quick changer.

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