Excavator Apron and Conveyor Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Excavators face challenges when operating in enclosed spaces, particularly with carbon-monoxide emitting engines and the need to manage recoil forces during material excavation, which can lead to unwanted movement and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
An excavator design featuring an apron and conveyor system that provides resilient contact with the ground to stabilize the vehicle during excavation, combined with a removable power pack to manage emissions and a rotatable arm for enhanced operational flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the excavator operates in enclosed spaces with carbon-monoxide emitting engines, then power and mobility are maintained, but safety hazards increase due to carbon monoxide emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The power pack containing the combustion engine is separated from the main excavator body and can be removed. This allows the engine to be extracted from enclosed spaces, eliminating carbon monoxide emissions in confined areas while maintaining the option to use the full powered excavator in open environments where the power pack remains attached
2Ease of operation
If the excavator arm is positioned at the front during excavation, then material can be effectively excavated, but recoil forces cause unwanted movement and instability
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight is provided at the rear of the excavator main body, opposite to the front-mounted arm. This counterweight generates a counterbalancing moment that offsets the recoil forces generated during excavation, preventing unwanted movement and maintaining vehicle stability while allowing the arm to remain positioned at the front for effective material excavation
3Productivity
If the conveyor extends from front to rear of the main body, then excavated material can be transported efficiently, but the structure becomes complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor is configured to extend laterally from one side of the main body to the other, rather than extending longitudinally from front to rear. This lateral arrangement achieves efficient material transport across the excavator while reducing structural complexity and space requirements in the longitudinal direction, allowing the arm and other components to be more compactly arranged
Data Source
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AI summary
An excavator (1) comprising an excavator main body (7), an apron (2) for the receipt of excavated material and a conveyor (3), the apron being located at or in proximity to the front of the main body, the conveyor extending from the apron to the rear of the main body, the conveyor, in use, moving excavated material from the front to the rear of the main body, the excavator further comprising an arm (11) comprising an attachment (5) for excavating material and moving said excavating material towards the apron (2) the excavator comprising a support associated with the front of the main body, the support being movable from a first position in which the support is in resilient contact with the ground to a second position in which there is substantially no contact between the support and the ground, wherein the support comprises one or both of the apron and conveyor.