BOOM ASSEMBLY FOR CONSTRUCTION MACHINES Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a boom assembly of a construction machine and to a method of mounting a boom to a construction machine.

Background

Construction machines, such as wheeled or crawler excavators, wheel loaders, backhoes, or the like, may be provided with a boom and a stick for accommodating a work tool, such as a bucket, for executing specific operations.

It is common to operably mount the boom to the construction machine via a boom mounting pin extending through corresponding bores at the chassis of the construction machine and the boom.

US 2006/0275074 Al discloses a linkage pin including a mechanical deformation to form a joint, wherein the components are arranged in a particular orientation to provide optimum durability.

A loader attachment pivot pin assembly is known from US 6 694 571 B2. The pivot pin assembly is formed by providing a cylindrical pin portion with a boss at one end, which has a flat shoulder surface, so that its periphery is non-circular.

US 5 630 673 A discloses a pivot joint assembly that mounts a first member to a second member for relative rotation therebetween. The first member is positioned between a pair of brackets defined by the second member and both members define a plurality of bores aligned on common axis.

The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving or overcoming one or more aspects of prior systems. Summary of the Disclosure

[08] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a boom assembly for a construction machine may comprise a first side barrier including a first pin receiving groove, and a second side barrier being spaced apart the first side barrier for defining a boom mounting portion therebetween. The second side barrier includes a second pin receiving groove. A boom may include a pin receiving bore and may be disposed within the boom mounting portion, such that the pin receiving bore may be aligned with the first pin receiving groove and the second pin receiving groove. A boom mounting pin may extend through the pin receiving bore, the first pin receiving groove and the second pin receiving groove. A first mounting member may be mounted on the boom mounting pin at the first pin receiving groove and may be removably attached to the first side barrier, and a second mounting member may be mounted on the boom mounting pin at the second pin receiving groove and may be removably attached to the second side barrier.

[09] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for assembling a boom assembly is disclosed. The boom assembly may comprise a first side barrier including a first pin receiving groove and a second side barrier being spaced apart the first side barrier for defining a boom mounting portion therebetween, wherein the second side barrier may include a second pin receiving groove aligned with the first pin receiving groove. The exemplary disclosed method may comprise inserting a boom mounting pin into a pin receiving bore of a boom, such that the boom mounting pin at least partially protrudes out of the pin receiving bore on both sides, positioning the boom within the boom mounting portion, such that the boom mounting pin is at least partially accommodated by the first pin receiving groove and at least partially by the second pin receiving groove. The method may further comprise mounting a first mounting member on the boom mounting pin at the first pin receiving groove and removably attaching the first mounting member to the first side barrier, and mounting a second mounting member on the boom mounting pin at the second pin receiving groove and removably attaching the second mounting member to the second side barrier.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a boom assembly may comprise a first side barrier, a second side barrier being spaced apart the first side barrier for defining a boom mounting portion therebetween, a boom comprising a pin receiving bore and being disposed within the boom mounting portion, a boom mounting pin extending through the pin receiving bore and configured to at least partially protrude out of the pin receiving bore on both sides, a first mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at a first protruding side, and a second mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at a second protruding side opposite to the first protruding side. The first mounting member may be removably attached to the first side barrier and the second mounting member may be removably attached to the second side barrier.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a boom assembly may comprise, a first side barrier including a first pin receiving bore, a second side barrier being spaced apart the first side barrier for defining a boom mounting portion therebetween and including a second pin receiving bore aligned with the first pin receiving bore, a boom disposed within the boom mounting portion and comprising a boom receiving groove aligned with the first pin receiving bore and the second pin receiving bore, a boom mounting pin extending through the first pin receiving bore, the second pin receiving bore and the pin receiving groove, and a boom mounting member mounted on the boom mounting pin at the pin receiving groove and removably attached to the boom.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a superstructure of a construction machine may comprise a boom assembly according to the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the second mounting member may be integrally formed with the second side barrier at the second pin receiving groove, thereby forming a pin receiving bore. In such embodiments, the boom mounting pin may extend through the first mounting groove, the pin receiving bore of the boom, and the pin receiving bore of the second side barrier.

Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view of a construction machine comprising a boom;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the construction machine of Fig. 1 without the boom;

Fig. 3 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 4 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 5 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a third embodiment;

Fig. 6 is an explosion view of a boom assembly according to a fourth embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a boom mounting pin; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a boom mounting pin.

Detailed Description

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments described therein and illustrated in the drawings are intended to teach the principles of the present disclosure, enabling those of ordinary skill in the art to implement and use the present disclosure in many different environments and for many different applications. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not intended to be, and should not be considered as, a limiting description of the scope of protection. Rather, the scope of patent protection shall be defined by the appended claims.

[ 17] The present disclosure may be based in part on the realization that inserting a boom mounting pin into a boom and, subsequently, disposing the boom with the pre-assembled boom mounting pin into a boom mounting portion of a construction machine, which provides corresponding pin receiving grooves may facilitate attachment of the boom to the construction machine. Particularly, alignments of the pin receiving bore at the boom and the pin receiving bores at the chassis of the construction machine may at least partially disappear.

[18] Referring to Fig. 1, a construction machine 10 as, for example, a wheeled excavator is shown. The construction machine 10 includes a power source, such as an internal combustion engine 12. The construction machine 10 further includes a superstructure 14 which is rotatably attached to an

undercarriage 16 via a swivel 15. Alternatively, the superstructure 14 may be fixedly mounted onto the undercarriage 16 or in any suitable fashion or configuration.

[19] The construction machine 10 also includes a traction system 18, for instance a plurality set of wheels 24, 26, which is operably attached to the undercarriage 16. At least one set of wheels may be steerable.

[20] While the traction system 18 has been shown to include wheels, the present disclosure may also apply to construction machines or vehicles with one or more endless tracks and/or belts, or any other type of traction device. In addition, the present disclosure may apply to steering systems that vary a steering angle of one or more traction devices, as well as skid steer, and differential steering systems. Further, these systems may each apply to work machines with a variety of types of tracks and devices. For example, while track work machines are commonly configured with skid-steer or differential steering systems, they may automatically or additionally be configured with steering systems that vary a steering angle of one or more tracks. Similarly, wheeled work machines or vehicles may steer with a variable steering angle system, skid-steer, and/or differential steering systems.

[21] The construction machine 10 shown in Fig. 1 as a wheeled

excavator may be any type of work machine with operator-controlled steering and travelling. For example, the construction machine 10 may include wheel loaders, motor graders, backhoe loaders, skid steers, track-type tractors, tracked excavators, material handlers, cranes, and any other type of work machine with operator-controlled steering and travelling.

[22] In some embodiments, the construction machine 10 may include a cab-raiser function, by which the operator station 14 may be raised and lowered relative to the undercarriage 16. Alternatively or additionally, the cab-raiser function may cause the operator station 22 to be raised and lowered relative to the superstructure 14. The cab-raiser function may be hydraulically actuated.

[23] The construction machine 10 further includes a work implement

20 and an operator station 22 from which the work implement 20 is controlled. The work implement 20 may be any type of work implement and may include any type of work tool, such as, for instance, a bucket, blade, grapple,

jackhammer, shears, etc.

[24] As shown in Fig. 1, the work implement 20 includes a boom 28, a stick 30, and a work tool 32 attached to the end of the stick 30. The boom 28 is pivotably attached to the superstructure 14. At least one boom actuator 34 is attached to the superstructure 14 and the boom 28, such that a distal end 36 of the boom 28 is raised and lowered by actuation of the boom actuator 34.

[25] The distal end 36 of the boom 28 is also moved side-to-side. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the boom 28 is moved side-to-side by rotation of the superstructure 14 relative to the undercarriage 16 about an axis 38 in a direction indicated by an arrow 40. The construction machine 10 may also include an offset boom function by which the boom 28 may be pivoted side-to- side relative to the superstructure 14.

The stick 30 is pivotally attached to the boom 28 at a proximal end 42. A stick actuator 44 is attached to the boom 28 and the stick 30 such that actuation of the stick actuator 44 causes the stick 30 to extend and retract with respect to the boom 28 in a manner of a jackknife. That is, a distal end 46 of the stick 30 is extended further away from the undercarriage 12, and retracts closer to the undercarriage 16 by actuating the stick actuator 44.

The work tool 32 is attached to the distal end 46 of the stick 30. While the work tool 32 has been illustrated in Fig. 1 as a bucket 48, the work tool 32 may be any type of work tool. The work tool 32 is pivotably attached to the distal end 46 of the stick 30. A work tool pivot actuator 50 is attached to the stick 30 and the work tool 32 such that actuation of the work tool pivot actuator 50 causes the work tool 32 to pivot relative to the stick 30.

The boom actuator 34, the stick actuator 44, and the work tool pivot actuator 50 may be any kind of actuators, such as, for instance, hydraulic cylinders as shown in Fig. 1. Each hydraulic cylinder may be associated with its own hydraulic circuit in order to be independently controlled. Some work tools, such as the bucket 48, may have a single actuator, and thus may be controlled by a single hydraulic circuit. Other type of work tools, such as grapple may include more than one actuator, and thus may be controlled by more than one hydraulic circuit. For example, grapple may be controlled by two or more hydraulic circuits. One circuit may control the work tool pivot actuator 50, which may pivot the grapple in the same manner as it does the bucket 48. Additionally, a second circuit may control an auxiliary function, such as rotation of the grapple.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a top view of the construction machine 10 of Fig. 1 is illustrated. Specifically, a top view of the superstructure 14 without an attached boom is shown. The operator station 22 is depicted from which the operator is able to control operation of the construction machine 10. [30] The construction machine 10 is provided with a boom mounting portion 60 configured to receive the boom (not explicitly shown in Fig. 2) and to provide space for moving the boom relative to the superstructure 14.

[31] The superstructure 14 may comprise a base frame including a first side barrier 70 and a second side barrier 80 for accommodating the boom 28 and the at least one boom actuator 34 (see Fig. 1). As indicated in dotted lines, the first and second side barriers 70, 80 may extend from the backside of the construction machine 10 to the front side.

[32] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the first side barrier 70

comprises a pin receiving groove 72, and the second side barrier 80 comprises a pin receiving bore 82 indicated by dotted lines. The pin receiving groove 72 and the barrier bore 82 are aligned to each other (indicated by an axis 62) and configured to accommodate a boom mounting pin 94 (see, for example, Fig. 3) for mounting the boom 28 to the base frame of the superstructure 14.

[33] Referring to Fig. 3, an explosion view of a first embodiment of a boom assembly 90 is illustrated. The first side barrier 70 provides two mounting surfaces 73, 74 configured to receive a mounting member 78. Particularly, each of the two mounting surfaces 73, 74 comprise at least one bore 75, 76 configured to receive, for example, screws configured to removably attach the mounting member 78 to the first side barrier 70. Therefore, the mounting member 78 comprises at least two holes corresponding to the at least two bores 75, 76.

[34] In some embodiments, the mounting member 78 may be fixedly attached to the first side barrier 70 by means of, for instance, welding, soldering, riveting, adhering, or any other suitable means known in the art.

[35] As further shown in Fig. 3, the mounting member 78 may also comprise a pin receiving groove 79 corresponding to the pin receiving groove 72 of the first side barrier 70. It is to be understood that the pin receiving groove 72 and the pin receiving groove 79 together form a cylindrical opening for accommodating a boom mounting pin 94. [36] The boom 28 comprises a pin receiving bore 92 at its end at which the boom 92 is mounted to the superstructure 14 (see Fig. 1). The pin receiving bore 92 is configured to receive the boom mounting pin 94 via an axis 64. The pin receiving bore 92 may comprise a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the boom mounting pin 94.

[37] The boom mounting pin 94 is further configured to be disposed within the pin receiving groove 72 and the pin receiving bore 82, which will be explained in greater detail below. The boom mounting pin 94 comprises a length of at least the distance between the first side barrier 70 and the second side barrier 80. Preferably, the boom mounting pin 94 comprises a length, such that the boom mounting pin 94 extends from the pin receiving groove 72 across the boom mounting portion 60 into the pin receiving bore 82.

[38] Referring to Fig. 4, an explosion view of a second embodiment of the boom assembly 90 is illustrated. The first side barrier 170 of the second embodiment is identical to the first side barrier 70 of the first embodiment. The elements of the first side member 170 are denoted by the same reference signs as the first side barrier 70, but having a prefixed "1".

[39] According to the second embodiment, the second side barrier 180 is similar to the first side barrier 170, such that the second side barrier 180 comprises two mounting surfaces 183,184 configured to receive a mounting member 188. Particularly, each of the two mounting surfaces 183, 184 comprise at least one bore 185, 186 configured to receive, for example, screws configured to removably attach the mounting member 188 to the second side barrier 180.

[40] Referring to Fig. 5, an explosion view of a third embodiment of a boom assembly 90 is illustrated. According to the third embodiment, the first side barrier 270 comprises a first bore 275 and a second bore 276. The first and second bores 275, 276 are configured to receive, for example, screws configured to fixedly attach the mounting member 278 to the first side barrier 270. The second side barrier 280 comprises a first bore 285 and a second bore 286. The first and second bores 285, 286 are configured to receive, for example, screws configured to removably attach the mounting member 288 to the first side barrier 280.

[41] Each of the mounting members 278, 288 include one pin receiving bore 272, 282, respectively. The pin receiving bores 272, 282 are aligned to each other (indicated by the axis 62) and configured to be mounted on the boom mounting pin 94.

[42] Referring to Fig. 6, an explosion view of a fourth embodiment of a boom assembly 190 is illustrated. The second side barrier 380 is identical to the second side barrier 80 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the elements of the second side member 380 are denoted by the same reference signs as the second side barrier 80, but having a prefixed "3".

[43] According to the fourth embodiment, the first side barrier 370 comprises a barrier bore 372 configured to be aligned with the pin receiving bore 382 of the second side barrier 380 (indicated by the axis 62) and to receive the boom mounting pin 94.

[44] The boom 328 of the fourth embodiment comprises a pin

receiving groove 192 configured to accommodate the boom mounting pin 94. A boom mounting member 395 comprising a pin receiving groove 393

corresponding to the pin receiving groove 192 is configured to be mounted on the boom mounting pin 94 and to be removably attached to the boom 328 by, for example, four screws received by corresponding bores 396, 397, 398, and 399. In some embodiments, the boom mounting member 395 may be removably attached to the boom 328 via more or less than four screws. In some other embodiments, the boom mounting member 395 may be fixedly attached to the boom 328 by means of, for instance, welding, soldering, riveting, adhering, or any other suitable means known in the art

[45] As illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, the boom mounting pin 94 comprises a cylindrical shape corresponding to the shapes of the respective pin receiving grooves and the pin receiving bores at the side barriers, the mounting members, and/or the boom. In some embodiments, a bearing bushing (not shown) may be disposed between the boom mounting pin 94 and the pin receiving bore 92 at the boom 28 for providing rotational movement of the boom 28 relative to the boom mounting pin 94.

[46] Referring to Fig. 7, a further embodiment of the boom mounting pin 194 is illustrated. The boom mounting pin 194 comprises a cylindrical portion 195 and a flat portion 195. The flat portion 195 is configured to, after assembling the boom 28 to the side barriers, restrict the boom mounting pin 194 from rotating during movement of the boom 28. Therefore, the respective pin receiving grooves and pin receiving bores at the side barriers, the mounting members, and/or the boom may also comprise a flat portion for completely corresponding to the shape of the boom mounting pin 194, such that the boom mounting pin 194 is fixedly secured to the side barriers.

[47] With respect to Fig. 8, a further embodiment of a boom mounting pin 294 is depicted. The boom mounting pin 294 comprises a first section 295 having a first diameter, a second section 296 having a second diameter, and a third section 297 having a third diameter. The first diameter and the third diameter may be equal, wherein the second diameter may be larger than the first and third diameters. Thus, the boom mounting pin 294 of Fig. 9 is provided in a stepped shape.

[48] The first and third sections 295, 297 comprise a length

corresponding to the length of the pin receiving grooves and/or the pin receiving bores, wherein the second section 296 comprises a length substantially corresponding to the distance between the first and second side barriers.

[49] In some embodiments, the boom mounting pin 294 may only comprise the first section 295 and the second section 296 having unequal diameters. Industrial Applicability

[50] In the following, exemplary embodiments of methods for

mounting a boom to a construction machine, such as a wheeled excavator, may be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8.

[51] A first embodiment for mounting a boom 28 to a chassis of a construction machine, such as the first and second side barriers 70, 80, is described with reference to Fig. 3. In a first assembling step, the boom mounting pin 94 is inserted into the pin receiving bore 92 of the boom 28, such that one end face of the boom mounting pin 94 is planar with one end side face of the boom 28 facing the pin receiving bore 82 of the second side barrier 80. Thus, the boom mounting pin 94 at least partially protrudes out of the pin receiving bore 92 at a side facing the pin receiving groove 72. Subsequently, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom mounting portion 60, such that the at least partially protruding boom mounting pin is accommodated within the pin receiving groove 72 and such that the pin receiving bore 92 of the boom 28 is aligned with the pin receiving bore 82 of the second side barrier 80.

[52] Next, the boom mounting pin 94 is slid into the pin receiving bore

82 from the protruding side of the boom mounting pin 94, such that the boom mounting pin 94 is at least partially arranged within the pin receiving groove 72 and at least partially within the pin receiving bore 82. In some embodiments, at least one cotter-pin (not shown in the drawings) may be employed for preventing the boom mounting pin from leaving the pin receiving groove 72 and the pin receiving bore 82.

[53] In a final step, the mounting member 78 is mounted on the boom mounting pin 94 at the pin receiving groove 72 and is removably attached to the mounting surfaces 73, 74 via, for instance, two screws. For example, for ensuring a rigid attachment of the boom 28 to the construction machine 10, the screws may have a size of M36 or larger. [54] With respect to Fig. 4, a second embodiment for mounting a boom

28 to a chassis of a construction machine, such as the first and second side barriers 170, 180, is described. First, the boom mounting pin 94 is inserted into the pin receiving bore 92 of the boom 28, such that the boom mounting pin 94 protrudes at least partially out of both sides of the pin receiving bore 92.

[55] Subsequently, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom

mounting portion 60, such that both protruding ends of the boom mounting pin 92 are accommodated within both pin receiving grooves 172, 182. Then, in a final step, the mounting members 178, 188 are mounted on the boom mounting pin 94 at the pin receiving grooves 172, 182, respectively, and are removably attached to the mounting surfaces 73, 74 and 183, 784, respectively, via screws.

[56] With respect to Fig. 5, a third embodiment for mounting a boom

28 to a chassis of a construction machine, such as the first and second side barriers 270, 280, is explained. First, the boom mounting pin 94 is inserted into the pin receiving bore 92, such that the boom mounting pin 94 protrudes at least partially out of the pin receiving bore 92 on both sides.

[57] Subsequently, the two mounting members 278, 288 are mounted on the boom mounting pin 92 at both protruding ends of the boom mounting pin 94, i.e. the boom mounting pin 94 is further accommodated within the pin receiving bores 272, 282.

[58] Then, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom mounting

portion 60, such that the attaching bores of the mounting members 278, 288 are aligned with the bores 275, 276 and 285, 286 of the respective side barriers 270, 280. In a final step, the two mounting members 272, 282 are secured to the side barriers 270, 280 via, for instance, respective screws.

[59] A fourth embodiment for mounting a boom 28 to a chassis of a construction machine, such as the first and second side barriers 370, 380, is described with respect to Fig. 6. First, the boom mounting pin 94 is inserted into the pin receiving bore 372 of the first side barrier 370 and into the pin receiving bore 382 of the second side barrier 380. Then, the boom 28 is positioned within the boom mounting portion 60, such that the pin receiving groove 192 of the boom is mounted on the boom mounting pin 94. Then, the boom mounting member 395 is also disposed within the boom mounting portion 60, such that the pin receiving groove 393 is also mounted on the boom mounting pin 94 at a side opposite to the side where the pin receiving groove 92 is mounted. In a final step, the boom mounting member 395 is removably attached to the boom 28 via, for example, screws.

In the embodiments described above, screws having a size of M36 or larger may be employed for mounting the boom to the chassis of the construction machine.

It is stated, that the above described methods for mounting a boom to a construction machine are not limited to a construction machine having at least two side barriers. In some embodiments, the two side barriers may be integrally formed with the chassis of the superstructure or the chassis of the construction machine. Thus, any described pin receiving grooves and pin receiving bores may be also disposed at the chassis of the construction machine, such that mounting a boom to the construction machine is still facilitated.

Although the preferred embodiments of this invention have been described herein, improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the following claims.