Detachable Counterweight Linkage for Slope-Stable Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detachable counterweights for working machines, such as hydraulic excavators, tilt and separate from the back plate when attempting to attach on upward-sloping terrain, making proper attachment difficult.

Innovation Solution

A working machine design featuring a support bracket, main arm, hydraulic cylinder, and auxiliary arm that work together to rotate the counterweight into place, with the auxiliary arm pulling the counterweight towards the support bracket, ensuring secure attachment even on inclined surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the counterweight is attached pivotally to the tip of a rotating arm using a hydraulic cylinder, then the counterweight can be detached during transport and attached during operation, but on upward-sloping terrain the counterweight tilts due to its own weight causing the lower end to separate from the back plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetachable counterweightVSAvoidattachment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using the auxiliary arm to preliminarily position and guide the counterweight onto the back plate before the main arm completes the attachment. The auxiliary arm performs the preliminary task of aligning the counterweight's lower end with the back plate, ensuring proper positioning before the pivotal connection is finalized, which prevents separation on inclined terrain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an auxiliary arm as an intermediary component between the counterweight and the back plate. This auxiliary arm acts as a mediator that guides and supports the counterweight during the attachment process, ensuring stable connection by providing additional support points and preventing the counterweight from tilting and separating on inclined surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the counterweight is positioned to balance the front working machine, then operational stability is improved, but on upward-sloping terrain the counterweight separates from the back plate due to gravitational tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebalance stabilityVSAvoidattachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary arm performs preliminary positioning of the counterweight, ensuring it is correctly aligned and seated on the back plate before the main attachment mechanism engages. This preliminary action prevents gravitational tilting from causing separation by ensuring proper initial positioning that maintains balance stability while preventing attachment failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary arm serves as an intermediary that provides additional support and guidance during counterweight attachment. It mediates between the gravitational force causing tilting and the attachment mechanism, ensuring the counterweight remains properly positioned and connected to the back plate, thereby maintaining both balance stability and attachment reliability on inclined terrain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables proper attachment of the counterweight on both upward and downward slopes, preventing separation and ensuring stability during the attachment process.

Implementation Method 1

a hydraulic cylinder (33) with a base end part pivotally supported by the support bracket (31) and a tip part pivotally connected to the tip side of the main arm (32)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

when the vehicle body is positioned on an upward-sloping terrain and an attempt is made to attach the counterweight using the detachable device, the counterweight tilts due to its own weight around the pivoting part at the tip of the rotating arm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4650529A1Work machine
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP4650529A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4650529A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4650529A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A working machine comprises a vehicle body, a counterweight, a support bracket fixed to the vehicle body, a main arm with a base end part pivotally supported by the support bracket and a tip part pivotally connected to the counterweight via a connecting member, and a hydraulic cylinder with a base end part pivotally supported by the support bracket and a tip part pivotally connected to the tip side of the main arm, furthermore, the working machine can attach the counterweight to the vehicle body by rotating the main arm upward through the extension of the hydraulic cylinder, and remove the counterweight from the vehicle body by rotating the main arm downward through the compression of the hydraulic cylinder, wherein an auxiliary arm is attached on the support bracket, which pulls in the counterweight towards the support bracket side by interlocking with the upward rotation of the main arm.