Method for attaching adapters and car body weights

Abstract

To provide an adapter for a car body weight, which enables the car body weight to be mounted on multiple models, and a method of mounting the car body weight.SOLUTION: An adaptor of the present invention is detachably provided between a support body mounted on one end side of a car body weight and a holding groove formed on a holding part of a car body for holding the support body and including an arc-shaped portion that is formed in an arc shape to engage with a part of an outer peripheral surface of the support body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter and a method for attaching a counterweight.

Background Art

[0002] As a construction machine, there is known a crane including a lower traveling body having a pair of traveling parts such as crawlers and an upper slewing body to which a boom that can be raised and lowered is attached and that is supported rotatably on the lower traveling body.

[0003] In order to ensure stability during operation, such a construction machine may have a counterweight attached to the carbody of the lower traveling body. A method for easily manufacturing such a counterweight has been devised (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-125281).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The counterweight described in the above publication is manufactured by welding brackets for attaching to the carbody to a weight body formed by laminating and welding a plurality of iron plate-like bodies. Such counterweights are generally manufactured for each model of construction machine. Therefore, for example, it may not be possible to attach a counterweight for a relatively large model to a relatively small carbody. If counterweights are prepared for each model of construction machine, the cost may increase and the management may become complicated.

[0006] The present invention has been made based on the circumstances described above, and aims to provide an adapter for car body weights and a method for attaching car body weights that can be easily attached to multiple car body weight models. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An adapter according to one aspect of the present invention, made to solve the above problems, is detachably disposed between a support attached to one end of a car body weight and a retaining groove formed in a retaining portion of the car body that holds the support, and which includes an arc-shaped portion formed in an arc shape to engage with a part of the outer circumferential surface of the support.

[0008] Another embodiment of the present invention, made to solve the above problems, is a method for attaching a car body weight, comprising the steps of: attaching the adapter to a support for the car body weight; and engaging the support with the adapter attached to a retaining groove formed in the holding portion of the car body, wherein the adapter attachment step comprises the steps of: suspending the adapter from the support by the arc portion such that the flat portion is positioned below the arc portion; and gripping the flat portion or the extension portion of the suspended adapter and rotating the adapter so that the flat portion is positioned above the arc portion, thereby bringing the extension portion into contact with the car body weight. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The adapter and car body weight mounting method of the present invention allows for easy attachment of the car body weight to multiple vehicle models. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view showing an example of construction machinery. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the lower traveling body of the construction machine shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4]Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the retaining portion in section B of Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of the car body weight. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a right side view of the car body weight shown in Figure 5. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a bottom view of the car body weight shown in Figure 5. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the main part of section B in Figure 2. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of the adapter. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a schematic right side view of the adapter shown in Figure 9. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a schematic top view of the adapter shown in Figure 9. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a close-up view of the main part showing the adapter suspended from the support in cross-section C of Figure 5. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a left side view of Figure 12. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a magnified view of the main part showing the adapter in Figure 12 in a rotated state. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a left side view of Figure 14. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] An adapter according to one aspect of the present invention is detachably disposed between a support attached to one end of a car body weight and a retaining groove formed in a retaining portion of the car body that holds the support, and which includes an arc-shaped portion formed in an arc shape to engage with a part of the outer circumferential surface of the support.

[0012] When the adapter is disposed between a support of a carbod weight and a holding groove of a carbod for holding the support, it can fill the gap between the support and the holding groove. Therefore, even when the carbod weight is attached to carbods of a plurality of models, the attachment can be stabilized. Further, the adapter is detachable and does not require processing such as welding the carbod weight or the carbod. Therefore, the carbod weight can be easily attached to a plurality of models.

[0013] The adapter may be formed of a flat plate member and may have a rectangular planar portion and a semi-cylindrical portion that extends from one side of the planar portion and is curved so that one continuous surface from the planar portion serves as an inner peripheral surface. By doing so, it can be easily disposed between the carbod weight and the carbod.

[0014] The adapter may further have an extension portion that extends parallel to the planar portion from the other side of the planar portion. By using this extension portion as a handle, the adapter can be easily handled.

[0015] Another aspect of the method for attaching a carbod weight of the present invention includes a step of attaching the adapter to the support of the carbod weight, and a step of engaging the support with the adapter attached thereto with a holding groove formed in the holding portion of the carbod. The adapter attachment step includes a procedure of suspending the adapter from the arc portion on the support so that the planar portion is positioned below the arc portion, and a procedure of rotating the adapter so that the planar portion is positioned above the arc portion by gripping the planar portion or the extension portion of the suspended adapter and bringing the extension portion into contact with the carbod weight.

[0016] Since the method for attaching the carbod weight does not require welding and fixing the adapter disposed between the support and the holding groove or using tools for detachment, the carbod weight can be easily attached to a plurality of models.

[0017] [Details of the mode for carrying out the invention] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that the figures schematically show the configuration of the present invention, and the shape, scale, etc. of each component (each member) in each figure may differ from the actual ones. In the following description, "front and rear" refers to the direction of travel of the lower vehicle, "left and right" refers to the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the lower vehicle in a plan view (vehicle width direction), and "up and down" refers to the vertical direction of the travel surface (ground, etc.) of the lower vehicle.

[0018] [Construction machinery] The adapter of the present invention is used in construction machinery. An example of construction machinery is a crane 1 as shown in Figure 1. This crane 1 mainly comprises a lower traveling body 2 and an upper slewing body 3 supported by the lower traveling body 2. The upper slewing body 3 is supported so as to be rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to the traveling surface of the lower traveling body 2. The crane 1 further comprises a crane attachment 4 that is mounted on the upper slewing body 2 so as to be able to raise and lower.

[0019] <Upper rotating body> The upper rotating body 3 includes a pilot's cabin, a luffing device for raising and lowering the crane attachment 4, an engine (internal combustion engine), a hydraulic pump driven by this engine, and the like.

[0020] <Crane Attachment> The crane attachment 4 is configured, for example, with a hook 41 attached to its tip. This crane attachment 4 includes a boom (main jib) 42 and a jib (auxiliary jib) 43, and is used to lift and lower loads such as construction materials.

[0021] <Lower running body> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower traveling body 2 has a pair of traveling sections 21 spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a car body 22 that connects this pair of left and right traveling sections 21 and supports the upper slewing body 3. The traveling sections 21 are crawler units, which give the crane 1 self-propelled capability, enabling movement within the work site, for example. The crawler unit includes a crawler frame 24 supported by an axle 23 arranged in the front-rear direction of the car body 22, and crawlers 25 mounted on the outer circumference of the crawler frame 24. The axle 23 is extendable and retractable, allowing the distance (vehicle width) between the pair of left and right traveling sections 21 to be expanded or contracted. In Figure 2, arrow F indicates the direction of travel (forward direction) of the lower traveling body 2. Also, in Figure 2, as an example, the left traveling section 21 is shown in a contracted state, and the right traveling section 21 is shown in an expanded state.

[0022] The car body 22 has a support portion that supports the upper slewing body 3. The support portion includes a slewing bearing 26, etc., for rotatably supporting the upper slewing body 3. The car body 22 has a holding portion 27 on each of its upper surface at the front end and the upper surface at the rear end for holding the rod-shaped support 51 of the car body weight 5. The holding portion 27 in this embodiment is composed of a pair of plate-shaped members (plates). Each of the pair of plates of the holding portion 27 has a holding groove 271 for receiving the support 51, as shown in Figure 4. Specifically, the holding groove 271 has an arc-shaped portion 272 whose lower end is formed in an arc shape, and a pair of opposing surfaces 273 that are continuous with the surface of this arc-shaped portion 272. The distance between the pair of opposing surfaces 273 gradually increases upward so that it can easily engage with the support 51.

[0023] [Carbohydrate body weight] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the car body weight 5 has a support 51. The support 51 in this embodiment is a single rod-shaped (approximately cylindrical) member. Specifically, the car body weight 5 has a main body 52 that is approximately a rectangular parallelepiped, a support 51 that is positioned at one end of the main body 52 so as to be spaced apart from the main body 52, and a pair of support plates 53 that are positioned at the one end to support the support 51 above the upper surface of the main body 52. ​​The car body weight 5 has a contact portion 54 on the lower side of the side surface (rear end surface) at the one end for contacting the front end side surface or the rear end side surface of the car body 22.

[0024] The car body weight 5 is attached to the car body 22 by engaging the support portion 51 with the retaining grooves 271 of a pair of retaining portions 27 of the car body 22, and by bringing the contact portion 54 into contact with the front end side or rear end side of the car body 22.

[0025] <Adapter> As shown in Figure 8, the adapter 6 is positioned between the support 51 of the car body weight 5 and the retaining groove 271 of the retaining portion 27 of the car body 22. The adapter 6 is intended to reduce or eliminate the gap between the support 51 and the retaining groove 271, and by being positioned between the support 51 and the retaining groove 271, it can stabilize the car body weight 5 attached to the car body 22.

[0026] As shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, the adapter 6 is formed from a flat plate member. By forming the adapter 6 from a flat plate member, it can be manufactured at low cost and handled easily. The material of the adapter 6 is not particularly limited, but steel is one example.

[0027] The adapter 6 has a rectangular flat portion 61, a semi-cylindrical portion 62 extending from one side of the flat portion 61 and curved so that one of the surfaces (surfaces) continuous with the flat portion becomes the inner circumferential surface, and an extension portion 63 extending parallel to the flat portion 61 from the other side of the flat portion 61. The adapter 6 of this embodiment further has a flat portion 64 extending from the tip of the semi-cylindrical portion 62.

[0028] Specifically, the semi-cylindrical portion 62 is curved to fit into the retaining groove 271. In other words, the outer surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 62 is curved so that it fits into the arc-shaped portion 272 of the retaining groove 271. The inner surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 62 is in contact with the outer surface of the support 51.

[0029] The semi-cylindrical portion 62 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and the range of its circumferential surface (the range that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the support 51) is formed to be 180° or less. The lower limit of the range of the circumferential surface is not particularly limited, but 150° is preferred, 160° is more preferred, and 170° is even more preferred.

[0030] The surface of the flat portion 64 and the surface of the planar portion 61 are continuous and substantially parallel to each other via the surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 62. The length (height) from the lower end of the semi-cylindrical portion 62 to the end of the flat portion 64 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is approximately half the length from the lower end of the semi-cylindrical portion 62 to the end of the planar portion 61.

[0031] The semi-cylindrical portion 62 extends from one side of the flat portion 61. An extension portion 63 is formed from the other side of the flat portion 61, extending parallel to the flat portion 61. Specifically, the semi-cylindrical portion 62 extends from one side of the flat portion which is substantially rectangular in plan view, and the extension portion 63 extends from a part of the side adjacent to the side from which the semi-cylindrical portion 62 extends. Preferably, the part of the side is the side that is spaced apart from the semi-cylindrical portion 62. The surface of the flat portion 61 and the surface of the extension portion 63 are flush. Because the adapter 6 has a flat portion 61 and an extension portion 63, the worker can grasp at least one of the flat portion 61 and the extension portion 63, and the adapter 6 can be easily handled.

[0032] The extension portion 63 may extend from one of the upper sides of the flat portion 61 (the side opposite to the side from which the semi-cylindrical portion 62 extends), but it is preferable that it extends from one of the left or right sides of the flat portion 61 (the side adjacent to the side from which the semi-cylindrical portion 62 extends). Furthermore, since the adapter 6 is used in pairs, it is preferable to prepare one adapter 6 in which the extension portion 63 extends from the right side of the flat portion 61, and another adapter in which the extension portion 63 extends from the left side of the flat portion 61. This allows for the contact procedure in the car body weight mounting method described later to be performed.

[0033] The length (width) of the semi-cylindrical portion 62 in the left-right direction is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that it be greater than or equal to the thickness of the plate of the holding portion 27. The length (height) of the adapter 6 in the up-down direction is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that it be greater than the diameter of the support 51.

[0034] [How to attach car body weights] The method for attaching the car body weight comprises the steps of attaching the adapter 6 to the support 51 of the car body weight 5, and engaging the support 51 with the adapter 6 attached with a retaining groove 271 formed in the retaining portion 27 of the car body 22. The adapter attachment step includes the steps of suspending the adapter 6 from the support 51 by the semi-cylindrical portion 62 such that the flat portion 61 is positioned below the semi-cylindrical portion 62, and gripping the flat portion 61 or the extension portion 63 of the suspended adapter 6 and rotating the adapter 6 so that the flat portion 61 is positioned above the semi-cylindrical portion 62, thereby bringing the extension portion 63 into contact with the car body weight 5.

[0035] <Adapter installation process> The adapter mounting process involves attaching the adapter 6 to the support 51 of the car body weight 5. The adapter mounting process includes the steps of: suspending the adapter 6 from the support 51 by the semi-cylindrical portion 62 such that the flat portion 61 is positioned below the semi-cylindrical portion 62; and rotating the adapter 6 by grasping the flat portion 61 or the extension portion 63 of the suspended adapter 6 so that the flat portion 61 is positioned above the semi-cylindrical portion 62, thereby bringing the extension portion 63 into contact with the support plate 53 that supports the support 51 of the car body weight 5.

[0036] [Hanging procedure] In the suspension procedure, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the adapter 6 is suspended from the support 51 by the semi-cylindrical portion 62 such that the flat portion 61 is positioned below the semi-cylindrical portion 62. In other words, the adapter 6 is suspended from the support 51. When suspending the adapter 6 from the support 51, it is preferable that the back surface of the flat portion 61 (the surface continuous with the outer circumferential surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 62) faces the main body 51 of the car body weight 5, and that the extension portion 63 is positioned on the support plate 53 side. It is also preferable that the extension portion 63 does not come into contact with the support plate 53.

[0037] [Contact procedure] In the contact procedure, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the flat portion 61 or the extension portion 63 of the suspended adapter 6 is grasped, and the adapter 6 is rotated so that the flat portion 61 is positioned above the semi-cylindrical portion 62, and the extension portion 63 is brought into contact with the car body weight 5. That is, the adapter 6 is rotated on the support 51 toward the main body of the car body weight 5 so that the flat portion 61 and the extension portion 63 are positioned above the support 51, and the lower edge of the extension portion 63 that protrudes in the left-right direction is brought into contact with the upper edge of the support plate 52. In other words, the adapter 6 is moved (slid) toward the support plate 53 while rotating. In this way, it is preferable that the extension portion 63 is formed so that its lower edge contacts the upper edge of the support plate 52. By bringing the lower edge of the extension portion 63 into contact with the upper edge of the support plate 52, it is possible to suppress the adapter 6 from rotating unintentionally and to prevent the adapter 6 from detaching from the support 51.

[0038] <Engagement process> In the engagement process, the support body 51 with the adapter 6 attached is engaged with the retaining groove 271 formed in the retaining portion 27 of the car body 22 (see Figure 8). The car body weight 5 is attached to the car body 22 when the support body 51 engages with the retaining groove 271 and the contact portion 54 contacts the front end side or rear end side of the car body 22.

[0039] [advantage] The adapter 6 is positioned between the support 51 of the car body weight 5 and the retaining groove 271 of the car body 22 that holds the support 51, thereby filling the gap between the support 51 and the retaining groove 271. Therefore, even when a car body weight 5 having a support 51 with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the arc-shaped portion 272 of the retaining groove 271 is attached to the car body 22, the rattling of the support 51 within the retaining groove 271 can be suppressed, and its attachment can be stabilized.

[0040] The method for attaching the car body weight involves suspending a detachable adapter 6 from the support 51 and inverting it, thereby attaching the adapter 6 to the car body weight 5. Therefore, there is no need to weld the adapter 6 to the support 51 or the retaining groove 271, or to fix it with tools. As a result, a car body weight 5 having a support 51 with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the arc-shaped portion 272 of the retaining groove 271 can be easily attached to the car body 22.

[0041] [Other embodiments] The above embodiments do not limit the configuration of the present invention. Accordingly, the above embodiments allow for the omission, substitution, or addition of components of each part of the above embodiments based on the description herein and common technical knowledge, and all such omissions should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the present invention.

[0042] The adapter does not necessarily have to be made of a flat plate, and its shape is not particularly limited, as long as it can reduce or eliminate the gap between the support for the car body weight and the retaining groove of the car body.

[0043] The extension portion extending from the planar portion is not limited to one; multiple extension portions may extend from multiple sides of the planar portion.

[0044] The flat portion and the extended portion do not need to be formed flush with each other; they may have a stepped portion. Furthermore, the surface of the flat portion and the surface of the extended portion do not necessarily have to be parallel.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the lower edge of the extension of the adapter is shown to be in contact with the upper edge of the support plate of the car body weight. However, the extension of the adapter may be in contact with other members of the car body weight as long as it prevents the adapter from rotating and falling. The part that contacts the car body weight to prevent the adapter from rotating may be a flat surface.

[0046] The car body support structure is not limited to being composed of a pair of plates, as long as it can support the support structure for the car body weights.

[0047] The support does not need to be a single rod-shaped member; a support may be attached to each of the pair of support plates of the car body weight. [Industrial applicability]

[0048] The adapter of the present invention can be used suitably in construction machinery because a single car body weight can be attached to multiple car body models. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 Crane 2 Lower running body 21 Running section 22 Car Body 23 Axle 24 Crawler Frames 25 Crawler 26 Swivel bearings 27 Holding part 271 Retaining groove 272 Arc-shaped part 273 Opposing surfaces 3. Upper rotating body 4. Crane Attachment 41 Hooks 42 Boom 43 Jib 5 Carbohydrate body weight 51 Support 52 Main unit 53 Support plate 54 Contact part 6 adapters 61 Plane part 62 Semi-cylindrical section 63 Extension 64 Flat area F Direction of movement of the vehicle (forward direction)

Claims

1. An adapter detachably disposed between a support attached to one end of a car body weight and a retaining groove formed in the retaining portion of the car body that holds the support, the retaining groove including an arc-shaped portion that is formed in an arc shape to engage with a part of the outer circumferential surface of the support.

2. Formed from flat plate members, A rectangular planar section, A semi-cylindrical portion extends from one side of this flat portion and is curved such that one of the surfaces continuous with the flat portion becomes the inner circumferential surface. The adapter according to claim 1, having the following features.

3. The adapter according to claim 2, further comprising an extension portion extending parallel to and flush with the planar portion from a part of one side adjacent to the above side.

4. A method for attaching car body weights to a car body, The steps include attaching the adapter described in claim 3 to the support of the above-mentioned car body weight, The process involves engaging the support body with the adapter attached with a retaining groove formed in the retaining portion of the car body. Equipped with, The above adapter installation process, A procedure for suspending the adapter from the support by the arc-shaped portion such that the flat portion is positioned below the arc-shaped portion, The procedure involves grasping the flat portion or the extended portion of the suspended adapter, rotating the adapter so that the flat portion is positioned above the arc-shaped portion, and bringing the extended portion into contact with the car body weight. A method for attaching car body weights having [a certain characteristic].

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