Wear Pad for Telehandler, Wear Pad Arrangement, Telehandler and Method

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a wear pad (20) for a telehandler (10). A pad body (21) extends through a thickness (22) between opposing sliding and mounting surfaces (23). The sliding surfaces (23) are configured for a sliding boom section (14) to slide along. A wire conductor (30) extends through the thickness (22) of the pad body (21) at a wear depth (40) from the sliding surface (23). When the sliding boom section (14) wears through the thickness (22) of the pad body (21) by the wear depth (40) to contact at least one wire conductor (30), the wire conductor (30) conducts current from a power source (51) to the sliding boom section (14). Also disclosed are wear pad arrangements having a wear monitoring system (18), telehandlers having such arrangements, and methods of monitoring wear pads of a telehandler.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure is directed to wear pads, and more particularly, to wear pads for telehandlers, machines, or telehandlers comprising such wear pads, and methods for identifying wear of wear pads.

Background Art

[0002] Machines such as telehandlers generally include one or more sacrificial and replaceable wear pads for the position between two contacting movable parts. A telehandler, also known as an extensible handler or a rotatable handler, typically includes an extensible boom or telescopic cylinder to which a work tool such as a fork or bucket can be attached. The extensible boom includes a main boom section attached to the body of the telehandler via a hinge and a telescopic boom section attached to the main boom section. The telescopic boom section is slidable along the main boom section between a retracted orientation and an extended orientation. The telehandler may have a further telescopic boom section mounted within another telescopic boom section.

[0003] One or more wear pads are located between boom sections that would otherwise contact each other and are configured to wear sacrificially during use. The wear pads are replaced during repair or earlier if maximum wear is reached. DE102018115872A1 published in the name of LIEBHERR WERK TELF GMBH

[0004] discloses a wear detection device for assisting an operator during identification of the wear state of a sliding element having a sliding surface for guiding a movable telescopic section.

[0005] There is a continuing need to improve the detection of wear pads without direct visual inspection. A particular need is to reduce repair costs, which can be relatively high due to the cost of skilled labor required for repairing telehandlers. Further, many telehandlers are rented to operators, and thus, reducing service or downtime would be particularly beneficial. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a wear pad for a telehandler, the wear pad including a pad body extending across a thickness between opposing sliding and mounting surfaces, the sliding surface being configured such that a sliding boom section slides therealong, and a wire conductor extending from the sliding surface through the thickness of the pad body to a wear depth, the sliding boom section being configured to conduct current from a power source to the sliding boom section when the sliding boom section wears through the thickness of the pad body by the wear depth and contacts at least one wire conductor.

[0007] The present disclosure provides a wear pad arrangement for a telehandler, the wear pad arrangement including the aforementioned wear pad, a wear monitoring system including a wire conductor or a power source electrically connected to each wire conductor, and a detection system for detecting conduction of current through the sliding boom section by the wire conductor or each wire conductor from the power source.

[0008] The present disclosure further provides a telehandler including a mounting boom section, a sliding boom section, and the aforementioned wear pad arrangement, the wear pad being attached to the attached boom section, the sliding boom section being configured to slide along the sliding surface of the wear pad relative to the attached boom section.

[0009] The present disclosure further provides a method for monitoring wear of a wear pad of a telehandler, the wear pad comprising a pad body extending over a thickness between opposing sliding surfaces and an attachment surface, and a wire conductor extending through the thickness of the pad body by a wear depth from the sliding surface. The method includes sliding a sliding boom section along the sliding surface, thereby wearing the thickness of the pad body, and when the sliding boom section wears the thickness of the pad body by the wear depth, contacting the sliding boom section with the wire conductor and conducting a current from a power source to the sliding boom section via the wire conductor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] Although by way of illustration only, embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings as shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The present disclosure generally relates to wear pads for a telehandler and a wear pad monitoring system for monitoring wear of such wear pads. The wear pads are positioned between boom sections that slide relative to each other and comprise a series of wear conductors at different wear levels. When the wear pad wears against a first wear conductor, current from a power source can flow through the first wear conductor and return to the power source via a ground return including a boom section sliding on the wear pad. The wear level can be determined when the wear pad wears further and each wear conductor continuously contacts the sliding boom section to provide a ground return.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a telehandler 10 comprising a wear pad 20 of the present invention. The telehandler 10, also known as an extendable handler, may be any type of telehandler, such as a rotatable or rotary telehandler. The telehandler 10 comprises a chassis or body 11 and a boom 12 attached thereto by a boom hinge 13. The boom 12 comprises a main boom section 14 and a telescopic boom section 15 attached to the main boom section 14. A work tool 16, in this case forks, is attached to the telescopic section 15 for performing work.

[0014] As further shown in FIG. 2, the telescopic boom section 15 is removably mounted within the main boom section 14 such that the telescopic boom section 15 is slidable relative to the main boom section 14 along a sliding direction 80. The telehandler 10 comprises a wear pad arrangement 17 comprising a wear monitoring system 18 and at least one wear pad 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0015] At least one wear pad 20 is located between boom sections 14, 15, and boom sections 14, 15 can slide relative to each other along wear pad 20. Typically, telehandler 10 and wear pad arrangement 17 include a plurality of wear pads 20 between boom sections 14, 15. Two upper and lower wear pads 20 are shown, but additional wear pads 20 can be located on the left and right sides and the top and bottom of main boom section 14. The following description regarding a single wear pad 20 can equally apply to some or all of the other wear pads 20.

[0016] Wear pad 20 is attached to main boom section 14 such that telescopic boom section 15 slides along it, or wear pad 20 is attached to telescopic boom section 15 such that main boom section 14 slides along it. The boom sections 14, 15 to which wear pad 20 is attached may be referred to as the boom sections 14, 15 to which the pad is attached, and the boom sections 14, 15 that slide along wear pad 20 may be referred to as the sliding boom sections 14, 15. During extension and contraction other than via wear pad 20, there may be no contact between boom sections 14, 15.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wear pad 20 includes a pad body 21 that extends over a thickness 22 between a sliding surface 23 configured such that sliding boom sections 14, 15 slide along it, and an opposing attachment surface 24 that faces and can be attached to boom sections 14, 15 to which the pad is attached. Thus, wear pad 20 is attached to boom sections 14, 15 to which the pad is attached, and sliding boom sections 14, 15 are configured to slide relative to boom sections 14, 15 to which the pad is attached along sliding surface 23 of wear pad 20, particularly in sliding direction 80.

[0018] The wear pad 20 and the pad body 21 may be plates, and the dimensions across the sliding surface 23 and / or the mounting surface 24 may be substantially larger than the thickness 22. The wear pad 20 may be elongated along the sliding direction 80 as shown. The sliding surface 23 and / or the mounting surface 24 may be substantially rectangular, and the wear pad 20 and the pad body 21 may be substantially cuboid.

[0019] The wear pad 20 may be attached to a pad mount (not shown) such as a recessed plate, and the pad mount is attached to the boom sections 14, 15 to which the pad is attached. The wear pad 20 may include at least one pad fixture 25 such as the hole shown in FIG. 3 for removably attaching the wear pad 20 to the pad mount.

[0020] The pad body 21 includes a suitable pad material for wearing during use. The pad material may have a lower hardness than the boom sections 14, 15 so that it wears rather than the sliding boom sections 14, 15. The pad material may include, for example, nylon.

[0021] During use, the thickness 22 of the wear pad 20 is reduced by the sliding contact of the sliding boom sections 14, 15 thereon. As shown in FIG. 4, the wear monitoring system 18 is connected to the wear pad 20 and arranged to detect the wear of the wear pad 20. In the present disclosure, the term "wear" refers to a reduction in thickness from the original, predetermined, and pre-installed thickness 22 due to the removal of the pad material during the sliding contact of the sliding boom sections 14, 15 on the wear pad 20.

[0022] The wear pad 20 includes wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33, and the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 extend through the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 at wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 from the sliding surface 23. The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 are configured to contact the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 and conduct current from the power source 51 to the sliding boom sections 14, 15 when the sliding boom sections 14, 15 wear the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 by the wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43. The sliding boom sections 14, 15 can at least partially form a ground return to the power source 51.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the wear pad 20 can include a plurality of wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 that each extend through the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 at one of a plurality of wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 from the sliding surface 23. If there are a plurality of wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33, each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33 can extend through the pad body 21 at a different wear depth 40, 41, 42, 43 to another wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33.

[0024] The plurality of wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 are configured to conduct current from the power source 51 to the sliding boom sections 14, 15 when the sliding boom sections 14, 15 wear the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 by each of the wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 and contact the respective wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. Thus, a detectable current can be conducted each time the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 are exposed by wear at different wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 during the life of the pad body 21, enabling determination of the wear of the wear pad 20. Each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33 is also at least partially worn during wear.

[0025] Before use and installation, each of the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 is electrically insulated by the wear pad 20 from, for example, the wear material of the wear pad 20, conductors external to the wear pad 20 (other than via connection to the power supply 51 as discussed below), and, if present, other wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 within the wear pad 20.

[0026] Similar to the illustrated embodiment, the wear pad 20 may include at least first, second, third, and fourth wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 each extending through the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 from the sliding surface 23 at respective first, second, third, and fourth wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43.

[0027] The first depth 40 may be at approximately 25% of the thickness 22 from the sliding surface 23. The second depth 41 may be at 50% of the thickness 22 from the sliding surface 23. The third depth 42 may be at 75% of the thickness 22 from the sliding surface 23. The fourth depth 43 may be at or adjacent to the mounting surface 24. Such measurements can be made before the wear pad 20 is installed and before wear begins.

[0028] The wear pad 20 may include additional wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 located at different wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43, or may include less than four of the first, second, third, and fourth wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. For example, the wear pad 20 may include the fourth wire conductor 33 for determining when complete wear has occurred, and optionally, one or more additional wire conductors 30, 31, 32.

[0029] The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may be embedded in the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 substantially parallel to the sliding surface 23 and the mounting surface 24. The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may be directly embedded in the pad body 21 such that the wire conductor 30 contacts only the wear material within the pad body 21. Each of the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may include a metal such as copper, wire, etc. that can be exposed without an insulating sheath or sleeve. The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may be formed within the pad body 21 during its formation, such as by molding the pad material around them. Alternatively, the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may be formed within the pad body 21 after its formation, for example, by sealing them in holes passing through the pad body 21.

[0030] The wear pad arrangement 17 may further include at least one wire conductor connector 45 electrically connected to at least one of the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. The at least one wire conductor connector 45 is configured to electrically connect a power source 51 to at least one of the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the at least one wire conductor connector 45 may form part of the wear pad 20 and may be attached to the pad body 21. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the at least one wire conductor connector 45 may be part of the wear monitoring system 18, and at least one of the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may extend outward from the pad body 21 (insulating around its outside) to connect to the at least one wire conductor connector 45 during installation. The at least one wire conductor connector 45 may be a harness connector of a harness 54 such as that of the boom 12 or the body 11.

[0032] The wear pad 20 can be configured such that when the sliding boom sections 14, 15 contact the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 or each of them, there is no ground return provided from the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 or each of them other than through the sliding boom sections 14, 15 (i.e., to a power source configured to supply current to the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 or each of them). The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may terminate within the pad body 21 or may extend from an end of at least one conductor connector 45 to an opposite end that terminates within the pad body 21. In particular, the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 or each of them may comprise metal wires that extend into the pad body 21 from an edge of the pad body 21 and terminate within the pad body 21.

[0033] The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 may extend elongately or longitudinally along and / or parallel to the sliding direction 80 within the pad body 21 (i.e., the relative direction of sliding between the sliding boom section 14 and the boom section 15 to which the pad is attached). As a result, any non-uniform wear of the wear pad 20 in the sliding direction 80 can be detected. The boom sections 14, 15 can pivot and apply higher forces at different positions of the wear pad 20 along the sliding direction 80, so the wear pad 20 may be particularly prone to such non-uniform wear.

[0034] The wear monitoring system 18 is configured to connect to the wear pad 20, supply current to and receive current from the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. In particular, the wear monitoring system 18 comprises a power source 51 electrically connected to the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 for supplying power thereto, and a detection system 52 for detecting the conduction of current from the power source 51 through the sliding boom sections 14, 15 by the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33.

[0035] The wear monitoring system 18 may include a controller 50 such as an engine control unit or an auxiliary engine control unit, and the controller 50 may include a power supply 51 and a detection system 52. The detection system 52 may be any sensor, driver, etc. that can detect the presence of current.

[0036] The wear pad arrangement 17 includes a ground return path from the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33, through the sliding boom sections 14, 15, to the power supply 51. The wear monitoring system 18 may include a ground return harness 53 connected between the power supply 51 or the controller 50 and the sliding boom sections 14, 15. The ground return harness 53 may be a common return from the boom 12.

[0037] The wear monitoring system 18 may include a main harness 54 extending between the power supply 51 or the controller 50 and at least one wire conductor connector 45 for conducting current from the power supply 51 to the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. The main harness 54 may be connected to the controller 50 via different input / output pins of the controller 50 having separate input / output pins for each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33. Thus, each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33 may be configured to receive current independently and separately from the power supply 51 or the controller 50.

[0038] The wear pad arrangement 17, particularly the wear monitoring system 18, may further include an alarm system 60 for warning the operator when the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 conduct current from the power supply 51 to the sliding boom sections 14, 15. The alarm system 60 may be connected to the controller 50 and may receive a signal from the detection system 52 indicating whether current has been conducted through the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 to the ground return path. The alarm system 60 may include an alarm device 61 such as a display, gauge, light, etc. for notifying the operator of the state of the wear pad 20.

[0039] The wear pad arrangement 17 may include a communication device 62 for wirelessly communicating information related to the wear of the wear pad 20 to a remote computing system 70. The communication device 62 may be a transceiver, may be connected to the controller 50 and / or the warning system 60, or may form a part thereof. Information or data regarding the wear of the wear pad 20 may be stored on the controller 50 and / or transmitted to the remote computing system 70 via the communication device 62. The wear data may store the amount or depth of wear 40, 41, 42, 43 and the time at which the amount or depth of wear 40, 41, 42, 43 was reached. The remote computing system 70 may belong to the owner, manufacturer, and / or supplier of the telehandler 10, and the wear data may be used to track wear across multiple telehandlers 10. The wear data may be used at the controller 50 and / or the remote computing system 70 to determine the wear rate through the depths of wear 40, 41, 42, 43.

[0040] In a method of monitoring the wear of the wear pad 20, the sliding boom sections 14, 15 slide along the sliding surface 23, thereby wearing the thickness 22 of the pad body 21. When the sliding boom sections 14, 15 wear the thickness 22 of the pad body 21 by the depths of wear 40, 41, 42, 43, the sliding boom sections 14, 15 contact the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 at the depths of wear 40, 41, 42, 43. The wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 conduct current from the power source 51 to the sliding boom sections 14, 15 via the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. When the current is conducted, the method may include warning the operator.

[0041] When the sliding boom sections 14, 15 are sequentially worn through wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43, they are at least partially worn through the wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33. Thus, current is sequentially conducted through each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33 in the order of those 40, 41, 42, 43 where the wear depth is located. For example, current can be sequentially conducted through the first, second, third, and fourth wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 by continuous wear of the pad body 21 to the first, second, third, and fourth wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43.

[0042] In each case, the sliding boom section 14 at least partially forms a ground return path to the power supply 51 or the controller 50, and the ground return harness 53 can also form a ground return path.

[0043] The detection system 52 or the controller 50 can detect the conduction of current through each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33. The controller 50 can record the time of the first conduction of current through each wire conductor 30, 31, 32, 33 and store it on the local memory and / or the remote computing system 70.

[0044] When detecting the conduction of current, the alarm system 60 may receive data from the detection system 52 or the controller 50 and alarm the operator of the reached wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 via the alarm device 61. For example, the alarm device 61 may be a display that graphically shows the reached wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 (e.g., showing 25%, 50%, 75%, and / or 100% wear).

[0045] When the current is first conducted through the first wire conductor 30 at the first wear depth 40 (e.g., at 25% wear), the alarm system 60 may not provide an alarm to the operator. The reaching of the first wear depth 40 may be stored in the controller 50, and the operator can identify that the wear pad 20 is, for example, 25% worn in the settings of the display 61 or the vehicle information menu.

[0046] When current is first conducted through the second wire conductor 31 at the second wear depth 41 (e.g., at 50% wear), a second wear depth alarm may be provided to the operator by the alarm system 60. The second wear depth alarm may be shown on the alarm device 61 only upon activation of the telehandler 10.

[0047] When current is first conducted through the third wire conductor 32 at the third wear depth 42 (e.g., at 75% wear), a third wear depth alarm may be provided to the operator by the alarm system 60. The third wear depth alarm may be shown on the alarm device 61 only upon activation and / or continuously during use of the telehandler 10, and may be visually different from that of the second wear depth alarm (e.g., a different color of light).

[0048] When current is first conducted through the fourth wire conductor 32 at the fourth wear depth 42 (e.g., at approximately 100% or 100% wear), a fourth wear depth alarm may be provided to the operator by the alarm system 60. The fourth wear depth alarm may be shown continuously during use of the telehandler 10 and may be visually different from that of the second and / or third wear depth alarms. The fourth wear depth alarm may indicate to the operator that the boom 12 and / or the use of the telehandler 10 must be stopped.

[0049] At each wear depth 40, 41, 42, 43, wear data indicating that the wear pad 20 has reached each respective wear depth 40, 41, 42, 43 may be transmitted to a remote computing system 70 that may store it at the time it is reached.

Industrial Applicability

[0050] Since the wear of the wear pad 20 can be intelligently tracked, the need to manually check for wear is avoided. This means reduced downtime, cost, and the ability to identify the need to replace the wear pad 20 early without manual checks.

[0051] The incorporation at the continuous wear depths 40, 41, 42, 43 of the plurality of wire conductors 30, 31, 32, 33 means that the wear of the wear pad 20 can be accurately tracked and appropriately scheduled for repair. Further, it is possible to identify the use that results in a high wear rate of the wear pad 20.

[0052] Furthermore, using the wear data on the controller 50 or the remote computing system 70, it is possible to automatically identify when to order a new wear pad 20 before replacement is needed, and remotely track the wear by, for example, the owner of the telehandler who rents the telehandler 10 to the operator.

Claims

1. A wear pad for a telehandler, wherein the wear pad comprises a pad body extending over a thickness between opposing sliding surfaces and an attachment surface, the sliding surface being configured such that a sliding boom section slides along it, and a wire conductor extending from the sliding surface through the thickness of the pad body by a wear depth, the sliding boom section being configured to conduct current from a power source to the sliding boom section when the sliding boom section wears through the thickness of the pad body by the wear depth and contacts at least one wire conductor.

2. The wear pad according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wire conductors each extending through the thickness of the pad body at one of a plurality of wear depths from the sliding surface, the plurality of wire conductors being configured to conduct current from a power source to the sliding boom section when the sliding boom section wears through the thickness of the pad body by each wear depth and contacts each respective wire conductor.

3. The wear pad according to claim 2, further comprising at least first, second, third, and fourth wire conductors each extending through the thickness of the pad body from the sliding surface at respective first, second, third, and fourth wear depths, the first depth being 25% of the thickness from the sliding surface, the second depth being 50% of the thickness from the sliding surface, the third depth being 75% of the thickness from the sliding surface, and the fourth depth being at or adjacent to the attachment surface.

4. The wear pad according to claim 1, wherein the wire conductor or each wire conductor is embedded in the thickness of the pad body substantially parallel to the sliding surface and the attachment surface.

5. The wear pad according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wire conductor connection at least partially externally attached to the pad body, the at least one wire conductor connection being conductively connected to the wire conductor and configured for connection to a power source.

6. The wear pad according to claim 1, configured such that when the sliding boom section contacts the wire conductor or each wire conductor, a ground return does not occur from the wire conductor or each wire conductor other than through the sliding boom section.

7. The wear pad according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface is configured such that the sliding boom section slides along it in the sliding direction, and the wire conductor or each wire conductor extends longitudinally through the pad body in the sliding direction.

8. A wear pad arrangement for a telehandler, the wear pad arrangement comprising the wear pad according to claim 1, and a wear monitoring system comprising a power supply electrically connected to the wire conductor or each wire conductor, and a detection system for detecting a flow of current from the power supply through the sliding boom section by the wire conductor or each wire conductor.

9. The wear pad arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the wear monitoring system comprises a controller, and the controller comprises the power supply and the detection system.

10. The wear pad arrangement according to claim 8 or claim 9, comprising a ground return path from the wire conductor through the sliding boom section to the power supply.

11. The wear pad arrangement according to claim 8, comprising a harness for passing a current from the power supply to the wire conductor or each wire conductor.

12. The wear pad arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising an alarm system for warning an operator when the wire conductor or each wire conductor passes a current from the power supply to the sliding boom section.

13. A telehandler comprising a mounting boom section, a sliding boom section, and the wear pad arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the wear pad is attached to the attached boom section, and the sliding boom section is configured to slide relative to the attached boom section along the sliding surface of the wear pad.

14. A method of monitoring wear of a wear pad of a telehandler, the wear pad comprising a pad body extending over a thickness between opposing sliding and mounting surfaces, and a wire conductor extending through the thickness of the pad body from the sliding surface by a wear depth, the method comprising sliding a sliding boom section along the sliding surface, thereby wearing the thickness of the pad body. ​ A method comprising: when the sliding boom section wears the thickness of the pad body by the wear depth, bringing the sliding boom section into contact with the wire conductor and passing a current from a power source through the wire conductor to the sliding boom section. **Claim 15** The method according to claim 14, further comprising warning an operator when the wire conductor passes the current from the power source to the sliding boom section.

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