Counterweight Assembly with Integrated Guard Rail and Lifting Eyelets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Work machines, such as wheel loaders, face challenges in counterbalancing loads during earth moving operations while also needing protection from external elements and efficient maneuverability, including lighting and lifting capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A counterweight assembly with a structure, support studs, and side walls is coupled to the machine's frame, providing counterbalancing, lifting capabilities, and accommodating a guard rail, while also housing lighting fixtures to enhance visibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a counterweight assembly is added to stabilize the machine, then the counterbalancing capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated counterweight assembly structure that includes the counterweight, support studs, side walls with eyelets, and guard rail accommodation. This merging approach provides counterbalancing, lifting attachment, and guard rail support capabilities through one unified structure rather than separate components, thereby improving stability while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight assembly is designed with multi-functionality: it provides counterbalancing for the work implement, serves as an attachment point for lifting assemblies via eyelets, and accommodates guard rails for operator protection. This universal design allows a single structure to fulfill multiple functions, addressing the need for improved stability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lifting assemblies are integrated into the counterweight assembly, then the lifting capability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the main counterweight body, support studs for structural attachment, side walls with integrated eyelets for lifting, and guard rail accommodation features. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard processes and then assembled, improving lifting capability while managing manufacturing complexity through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The eyelets are pre-formed as integral features of the side walls during the manufacturing process, rather than being added as separate components. This preliminary action of incorporating lifting attachment points directly into the structure during manufacturing simplifies the overall assembly process and reduces the number of separate manufacturing operations required.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If guard rails are accommodated within the counterweight assembly, then the protection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guard rails are accommodated within the structural framework of the counterweight assembly, with the side walls serving as mounting structures for the guard rails. This nesting approach allows the guard rails to be integrated into the existing counterweight structure rather than requiring separate mounting brackets or additional complex support structures, thereby improving protection capability while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A counterweight assembly for a work machine includes a structure, support studs, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The structure is coupled to a frame of the work machine and defines through holes, a first side end, and a second side end. The support studs are coupled to the frame and correspondingly received into the through holes to support the structure against the frame. The first side wall extends from the first side end and defines a first eyelet. The second side wall extends from the second side end and defines a second eyelet. A work machine guard rail is received between the first side wall and second side wall. One or more of the first eyelet and the second eyelet receive a lifting assembly for lifting the work machine, and the support studs transfer a lifting force from the counterweight assembly to the frame.