Quarrying Machine Parallelogram Boom and Curved Shovel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tunneling and loading machines face inefficiencies in conveying excavated rock, as the rock material often brushes past or falls out of the backhoe, requiring laborious rework to clean the working face and joints, making complete removal of rock material difficult and costly.

Innovation Solution

A tunneling and loading machine with a parallelogram arrangement of levers and a curved support arm for horizontal and vertical adjustment of the attachment, combined with a shovel design featuring hingedly connected parts for efficient rock pickup and discharge, allows for reliable and efficient movement of rock material to a loading table and subsequent conveyor system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a backhoe is used to push rock material onto the loading table, then rock material can be conveyed onto the loading table, but rock material brushes past the side or falls out of the receiving area, requiring laborious rework

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverock material conveyance efficiencyVSAvoidtime for cleaning rework
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional backhoe design by positioning the shovel opening upwards instead of backwards, allowing the machine to scoop rock material forward onto the loading table rather than pushing it backward. This inversion eliminates the problem of rock material falling out of the receiving area and eliminates the need for cleaning rework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the shovel from a backward-facing configuration to an upward-facing configuration. This parameter change allows the shovel to efficiently scoop and deposit rock material onto the loading table without material loss, directly improving productivity while eliminating time-consuming cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the shovel opening points backwards for rock pickup, then rock material can be pushed onto the loading table, but complete removal of excavated rock material is hardly possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverock material transport quantityVSAvoidcomplete rock removal capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the shovel orientation from backward-facing to upward-facing, the patent enables complete removal of excavated rock material. The upward-opening shovel can scoop rock material cleanly and deposit it completely onto the loading table, eliminating residual material that would otherwise require cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If a conventional extension arm is used, then the attachment can be positioned, but horizontal and vertical adjustment are not independent, making reliable rock material movement difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment positioning capabilityVSAvoidrock material movement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the extension arm into multiple independently adjustable components: a parallelogram arrangement for horizontal adjustment and a curved support arm for vertical adjustment. This segmentation allows independent control of horizontal and vertical positions, enabling reliable and precise positioning of the attachment for efficient rock material movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities through hydraulic cylinders that independently control the horizontal position of the parallelogram arrangement and the vertical position of the curved support arm. This dynamic control system allows the operator to reliably position the shovel for picking up rock material and move it to the loading table with precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This configuration enables quick and reliable pickup and transport of rock material, reducing the need for laborious rework and enhancing operational efficiency, particularly in narrow tunnels and mining routes, by ensuring complete removal of excavated rock without the need for extensive clean-up.

Implementation Method 1

at least a first hydraulic cylinder being provided for horizontal adjustment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic cylinder: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

at least a second hydraulic cylinder being provided for vertical adjustment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic cylinder: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3405619B1Advance working and loading machine and method for quarrying rock
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 HAZEMAG & EPR
  • EP3405619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3405619B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3405619B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an advance working and loading machine and to a method for quarrying rock using such a machine. Rock is quarried with an attachment implement (30) on an adjustable boom arm (20). The quarried rock is received by a loading table (40) at a front region of a chassis (12) of the advance working and loading machine. The quarried rock is conveyed by means of a conveying device (50) to a rear region of the chassis. The attachment implement used is a bucket (32) in which the quarried rock is received. The boom arm has a parallelogram arrangement (22) of levers (21), wherein at least one first hydraulic cylinder (25) is provided for horizontal adjustment and at least one second hydraulic cylinder (26) is provided for vertical adjustment. At least one arcuate supporting arm (24) is articulated on the parallelogram arrangement, the attachment implement being mounted on a distal end of the supporting arm.