Swing Reducer Parking Brake for Excavator Upper Body Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swing units for construction equipment, such as excavators, lack reliable braking performance when using variable capacity pumps or electric motors as swing torque sources, leading to potential unintended movement of the upper swing body, especially on slopes, due to the absence of a parking brake device that constrains the output shaft.
Innovation Solution
A swing unit with a parking brake device that includes a cover, return spring, seal members, and a manual release mechanism, which ensures braking performance by constraining the rotation of the swing reducer, regardless of the type of swing torque source used, and allows for manual release of the braking mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a variable capacity pump or electric motor is used as a swing torque source, then power loss is minimized and energy regeneration is enabled, but braking performance deteriorates because these motors lack a parking brake device to constrain the output shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the parking brake device with the swing reducer by integrating the brake piston, brake discs, and friction discs into the swing reducer housing. This merging allows the electric motor or variable capacity pump to function without an integrated brake while still providing reliable braking through the shared swing reducer component, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and braking performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing reducer acts as an intermediary component that receives the swing torque from the electric motor or variable capacity pump and provides the braking function through its integrated parking brake device. This intermediary structure enables the use of energy-efficient motors while maintaining reliable braking capability, as the brake function is provided through the swing reducer rather than the motor itself.
2Reliability
If a fixed capacity hydraulic motor with parking brake is used, then braking performance is ensured, but energy regeneration and efficiency improvement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The swing reducer is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a gear reduction mechanism and as a housing for the parking brake device. This universal design allows the system to use energy-efficient electric motors or variable capacity pumps while the swing reducer provides the necessary braking function, thus achieving both energy efficiency and reliable braking performance.
3Device complexity
If the parking brake device is integrated into the swing reducer, then device complexity is reduced and reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The parking brake device components (brake piston, brake discs, friction discs) are integrated into the swing reducer housing, reducing the total number of separate components and simplifying the overall system structure. This merging reduces device complexity while the standardized design of the integrated components helps manage manufacturing precision requirements.
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
The solution ensures reliable braking of the upper swing body, preventing unnecessary movement and improving operational efficiency and fuel efficiency by allowing regenerative power storage during deceleration, while also enhancing the convenience and reliability of the braking system.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring (134) which squeezes a brake piston (133) in the housing (131)
Implementation Method 2
the brake piston (133) is squeezed between two friction discs (160) and two brake discs (150), thereby rotating the coupler (140)
Implementation Method 3
Lubricant may be contained within the housing to a level sufficient for at least the brake discs and the friction disc to be submerged in the lubricant
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pivoting unit for a construction equipment and, more specifically, to a pivoting unit for a construction equipment, which can ensure a brake performance for an upper pivoting body thereof for any pivoting power source applied thereto without a limitation to the applied pivoting power source. To this end, the present invention provides a pivoting unit for a construction equipment, comprising: a pivoting motor; a pivoting reducer connected to the pivoting motor; and a parking brake device which is installed between the pivoting motor and the pivoting reducer and restricts the rotation of the pivoting reducer independently of the pivoting motor.