ROBUST MULTI -TOOL ASSEMBLY FOR HYDRAULIC EXCAVATORS

PRIORITY This application claims priority based upon GB provisional applications:

• GB-1604983.5, filed 23 March 2016, and,

• GB-1701204.8, filed 24 January 2017, FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a multiple tool assembly relating to rotatable tools secured to the working distal boom end of hydraulic excavators for controlled relative rotation between a working tool and the assembly framework. BACKGROUND

The overall form of a hydraulic excavator has been well known for decades. There are many examples of such excavators with a 2-boom stick hydraulically and rotationally secured to work within in a vertical plane, itself rotatable about a vertical axis coincident with a engine/cab combination mounted to a pair of tracks. The position and movement of the distal working end of the stick is controlled typically from a operator's cab mounted on the excavator. Although this general design profile is common, the range of sizes and shapes varies considerably due to the type and extent of work to be conducted.

The most common working tool used with a hydraulic excavator, among many, is a digging bucket rotatably secured to the distal end of the stick for rotation about a horizontal axis. The bucket is independently hydraulically driven in rotation about the horizontal axis by a cylinder positioned to apply hydraulic force between the stick and the bucket. The power of such machines and the amount of energy involved has and continues to increase with increasingly larger, heavier and more difficult materials and includes not only digging but also breaking and shearing, among others. Generally the bucket cylinder and its related hydraulic lines and connections are positioned on the outside of the stick well away from the working parts of the bucket and its various motions. The outside is that part of the operating range which lies outside of the work area between the stick/ bucket and an engine/cab.

Necessarily, hydraulic excavators are designed to carry out a broad range of construction and demolition duties in extremely adverse and highly variable conditions, including high impact loading during initial contacts and continuing work, abrasive debris and severe vibration while working in all manner of solid, semi -solid and liquidy or mixed materials. Any tool failure or work failure is not only unacceptable but also very dangerous and must occur under tightly controlled conditions. Typically the operator is or prefers to concentrating on the machine interaction with the work area and not exclusively the moving parts of the excavator other than the actual working tool. As such, operational conditions, with or without error or failure, and with or without high energy events.

The variety of work types and conditions is exacerbated by location of the work which is often far beyond the reach of support or repair opportunities and even, on occasion, far beyond immediate accident support.

In many cases the work being done or which could be done would be facilitated by expanded flexibility in the form and use of the excavator as a whole and by an increase in the speed and continuity of operations. Thus, modern excavators are available with multiple working tools and with quick-connect mounting components adapted for rapid and operator-free changing of at least the primary working tool.

While convenient, these requirements bring about mechanical complexity as the bucket or other primary working tool is no longer a permanent fixture at the distal end of the stick. Consequently it is advantageous to secure as many moving parts, particularly relatively fragile and expensive hydraulic parts against the harsh environment in which they are called to operate.

To increase utility, in the past traditional bucket arrangements have been coupled with additional support tools such as thumb-like arrangements which operate to secure materials within and against the body of the bucket. Of these, there have been several common types, including:

1 . a fixed retractable thumb secured to the stick,

2. a hydraulic thumb secured between the stick and the bucket for rotation about a single horizontal axis on the stick. The bucket and thumb are in relative rotation and motion during working and carriage of a load.

3. a stick pivot thumb where the thumb rotates on the same pivot point as the original bucket pin, not a secondary weld-on pivot point. A hydraulic cylinder is also directly connected between the thumb and the stick, providing rotation in relation to the bucket. The thumb and the bucket pivot on the same axis providing for maintenance of a constant grip on the load with suitable hydraulic circuits. The pivot eliminates scraping and slippage and reduces risk of release during rotation, reducing complexity ,and,

4. more recently a hydraulic thumb secured to the bucket for rotation about a horizontal bucket axis driven by a hydraulic cylinder operating between the thumb and the sick.

OBJECTS

It is an object of the invention to provide a more robust muti-tool assembly for use with heavy duty hydraulic excavators.

It is a further object to provide an excavator working tool assembly with expanded utility.

It is a another object to provide particularly, a rake or bucket tool assembly for secure mounting to an excavator stick which assembly includes a separately pivotable thumb, whereby the range of rotation of a thumb is greatly increased while maintaining operating components, particularly bearing surfaces and thumb components, in a protected position while within the work area under control of relative movement. It is a further object to provide a method and procedure for improving the range of motion and utility of multi-use excavator tools while maintaining the robust character of the main working tool.

90 It is a still further object to provide for minimal extra components and minimal interference with bucket or machine operations while isolating thumb components from the full range of the harshest uses of the main working tool.

It is yet another object to provide a tool including a rotary hydraulic drive cylinder positioned securely within boundary walls. The exterior armor protects the 95 moving hydraulic parts and flexible lines from the serve working environment to which excavators and their working tools are routinely subjected to. Manufacturing tolerances, and tool variety dictate that tool parts may be spaced apart by a significant and variable distance.

Exposure of hydraulic cylinders and lines to severe environments such as excavator 100 operations is a condition to be avoided. Typical hydraulic cylinders completely expose their hydraulic seals and piston rods to these conditions and full protection is difficult to achieve and expensive to implement while making the attachment tool itself cumbersome and heavy, thereby interfering with the ongoing excavator work.

105 It is an object of the invention to reduce excavator tool complexity and cost, reduce size where possible, increase utility across a wider variety of excavator types and models and all the while maintaining rigorous protection protocols in respect of system hydraulics and providing simple controlled operations.

It is an object of the invention to provide an excavator tool capable operating in 110 the most demanding conditions for long periods and far from maintenance and repair facilities as the slightest interruption of work schedules by failure or even simple tool switching can be extremely expensive and ruinous to production schedules in such conditions, or elsewhere.

. THE INVENTION

115 The invention provides a hydraulic excavator tool adapted to be secured to the distal working end of an excavator boom comprising

• a main tool assembly including a tool framework, a spaced apart pair of connection flanges fast with said tool framework, and, a structural tubular casing integral with the tool framework extending across and through the

120 tool framework and through the flanges, plus

• a rotary hydraulic actuator within the tubular casing extending between the connection flanges and adapted to provide a rotational drive motion of a drive axle extending between the connection flanges adapted to provide a rotary drive motion of the axle adjacent the connection flanges, and

125 · a working tool framework fast to the axle adjacent each of the connection flanges for rotation of the working tool framework about the drive axle between the tool framework and a working position.

The invention also provides a hydraulic excavator tool with the rotary actuator fast with the tubular casing adjacent both of the connection flanges to support the 130 drive axle adjacent both of the connection flanges.

The invention also includes a working tool skeletal framework with a pair of working arms spaced apart along the direction of the axle by at least the length of the tubular casing, each fast to the axle, and a working tool remote from the axle spaced apart by the length of the tubular casing.

135 Further the invention provides the axle lying between the working tool and the distal working end of an excavator boom and controlled rotation of more that 45, 60 and 90 degrees relative between the working tool and tool framework.

The invention also provides an excavator bucket tool with a controlled rotation thumb tool for relative controlled rotation between the bucket the the thumb 140 about an axle integral with the bucket and between the bucket mount to the distal working end of the bucket and the working teeth.

Simlarly, controlled and protected rotation about such an tool mounted axle is provided for rake tools and tool couplers. DRAWINGS

145 Figure 01 is an elevation view of the bucket tool assembly embodiment of the invention in in-use conditions separately shown in sub-Figures 01 A and 01 B depicting the thumb-bucket combination secured to the distal working end of the excavator boom in fully closed and fully open condition, respectively.

Figure 02 is a perspective view of the working tool assembly of Figure 01 adapted 150 in to a rake configuration.

Figures 03 and 04 are front and side elevations of a variation of the the rake tool assembly of Figure 02 shown the tool in fully closed, pinching, partially open and fully open condition in dotted relief in Figure 04.

Figure 05 is an end view of the structural tube and encased rotary hydraulic 155 actuator of Figures 01 through 04 the invention.

Figure 06 is a cross-sectional view of the tube and actuator of Figure 05 taken along line A-A in Figure 05 and showing the spatial relationship with the secondary arm of a hydraulic excavator.

Figure 07 is a partial perspective view of the rotary tool coupler embodiment of 160 the invention.

Figure 08 is a central cross-section of the coupler embodiment of Figure 07 shown an end view of the rotary hydraulic actuator and the range of relative controlled motion between the coupler and the working tool pin and the coupler framework.

Figure 09 shows an internal elevation and an external elevation of the A through D 165 sequence of operations of the coupler embodiment of Figure 07.

Figure 10 shows a partial perspective view of the coupler with the grabbing hook claw bolted to rotary actuator flanges and the rotary axle at each end of the axle adjacent the connection flanges.

THE PRFERRED EMBODIMENTS 170 The hydraulic excavator 2 tool 1 of the invention is shown in a side elevation view in Figure 01 configured as a bucket 12 plus a gripper thumb 13 connected for controlled relative rotation about axle 14 separate from the main bucket axes of work 10 and 1 1 . Figure 01 a shows the thumb 13 in a fully closed position which Figure 01 b shown the thumb in the full open position.

175 All of the operating requirements for the tool assembly 1 are within the working area A between the cab 3, tracks 4, the primary arm or stick 5 and the secondary arm or stick 6 of the excavator while none of these are in the external area B. Tool assembly 1 is operated hydraulically from the cab completely independently of the bucket 12 or the secondary arm 6 or their operating or connecting linkages

180 and thus is under separate operator control.

As is commonly the case, rotation of stick 5 about stick 6 is driven and maintained by linear hydraulic cylinder 7. Similarly, stick 6 includes a further secondary linear hydraulic cylinder 9 adapted to drive and maintain bucket 12 in rotation about stick 6. Notably both cylinders and related bearings and linkages 7 and 9 are fully 185 within external area B and are fully protected from work area A by the body of each of the sticks 5 and 9 respectively.

Main working tool 1 of the bucket embodiment is secured to secondary stick 6 for pivotal movement about horizontal working axis 10. The angular position of bucket 1 in respect of stick 6 is driven and maintained by tool linkage 8 mounted 190 between cylinder 9 and a bucket drive horizontal working axis 1 1 in a traditional and well-known manner which is very comfortable for use by the excavator operator. Axes 10 and 11 are parallel to each other and fitted with very robust bearings.

Thumb 13 is mounted to the bucket tool assembly about a 3 ^rd parallel and 195 horizontal axis of rotation 14. Preferably, bucket axis 14 is between the mounting axes 10 and 1 1 and the distal working end of the bucket tool. Mounting the thumb 13 to the bucket 1 separates the thumb and its mechanisms from the harshest of the work activity carried out by the excavator and bucket combination as it may be independently rotated from a fully engaged position along line 15 in 200 Figure 01 A to a fully open or disengaged position along line 16 as shown in Figure 01 B.

The range to open is as shown at item 17 in Figure 01 A and as item 18 in Figure 01 B as a range to close.

The working tool assembly of the invention is shown in the rake tool 19 embodiment depicted in a partially open perspective view in Figure 02.

The rake tool 19 includes a rake frame 20 and a plurality of extending rake tines 21 monolithic with the frame 20, a pair of tool mount flanges 29 and 30 and a drive casing 34. As with Figure 01 , tool mount flanges 29 and 30 provide for horizontal pivot axes 10 and 1 1 and for a quick tool change between a bucket tool of Figures 01 and the rake tool of Figure 02 without interference with thumb components.

Drive casing 34 is a hollow tubulal structural element tool of rake frame 20, as by welding, and extends across a substantial proportion of the width of the rake tool 19 so as to include both mounting connecting flanges 29 and 30 and the rake frame 20. The rake tool 19 may include an inter-tine support framework 25 adjacent the working tips.

The thumb 22 is shown in partially open angular position depicted along line 26.

Thumb 22 includes a pair of spaced apart arms 26 monolithic with a horizontal drive rotary hydraulic cylinder for pivotal motion in respect of tool 19 about transverse axis 14 central to the drive cylinder and the drive casing 34.

Thumb may be driven closed along arc 27 towards a fully closed position depicted by line 15 or driven open along arc 28 towards a fully open position depicted at line 16 or even further in rotation.

Thumb 22 also includes a thumb framework 24 extending between arms 23. Thumb 22 encompasses a fully open relief spacing 48 between the arms 23, the thumb framework 24 and the tool frame 20 as it is mounted to the rotary drive at points external to both the drive casing 34 and the tool framework 20.

Figures 03 and 04 show a frontal and side elevation of a variant upon the rake tool of Figure 02 shown in fully closed position 31 and an open position in dotted relief 230 in Figure 04.

In the embodiment of Figures 03 and 04 the structural casing 34 extends only to a width 35 just slightly less that the inter-arm spacing 36 of thumb arms 23.

As can be seen, spacing 32 between flanges 29 and 30, including mounting hardware 33, is fully within the length 35 of casing 64 and also within the nominal 235 width 45 of secondary stick 6.

Since thumb arm width 35 is greater than stick width 45 the thumb 13 is able to rotate from the fully closed position of Figures 03 and 04 to an open position shown in dotted relief if Figure 04 as line 26 rotates through arc 28 to a first open position 16a and further to open position 16b whereat the arms 23 have rotated to 240 the fullest extent past the outer boundaries of stick 6 until rake framework 24 contacts stick 6. As can be seen, the extent of rotation will vary depending upon the particular embodiment being designed as a small er thumb frame 24 or longer arms 23 will provide for a larger inter-arm spacing 48

Figures 05 and 06 are an end elevation of the rotary actuator and a cross-section 245 taken along line A-A of Figure 05 in Figure 06.

Rotary actuator 40 is generally cylindrical and is mounted monolithically, as by welding, into structural casing tube 34 at least at its horizontal extremities 49 so that non-axially aligned stresses are transmitted through to casing 34 and then the more robust elements of the tool framework and the excavator. Arms 23 are 250 secured to opposite ends of the rotary actuator for rotation on the actuator horizontal axis 14. Actuator axle bearings 42 are thus in close proximity to extremities 49. Arm spacing 36 is shown close coupled to casing length 35.

Hydraulic drive lines may be fully engaged outside of work area B and connect through casing 34. Engagement of hydraulic pressure drives the piston laterally in 255 direction 44 and thus along a spline to rotate axle 41 in either direction through a broad arc as in 28 or larger.

The tool coupler embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 07 through 10 with independent numbering corresponding in element type or function to Figures 01 through 06. Rotary hydraulic drive cylinder is welded into a protective cylindrical sleeve to form rotary cylinder arrangement RH as in Figure 07 preferably at weldment points 6. Claw G1 from Figure 07 is formed of an opposing pair of grapple claws 4 and 7 with engagement teeth 4, one affixed at each end of the central x-y axis of arrangement RH for rotation about axis 3 which corresponds to axis 14 in Figure 01 through 06..

As can be seen in Figure 07 the main working hydraulics of the rotary actuator and its hydraulic lines have been completely isolated from the rigors of the excavating environment with only exterior seals showing, if at all, and no moving (linear) internal parts. This provides for economies of space along the axis 3 and in the remaining body of the coupler C whose volume is now solely occupied by pawl or claw operations.

Figure 08 shows a central vertical cross-section of the rotary cylinder RH of Figure 07.

Central x-y axis 3 is provided by the central rotating drive shaft of cylinder RH ( R in this view) and rotates about axis 3 preferably about 62 degrees from the fully open position to a fully locked position. In this transition pins 2a and 2b are placed and then driven from positions Zai ^' i to posiition 2ai where it may be captured by pawl S. The rotation of claws G1 secure pins 2b and drive them from positions 2bii to Zbi. Preferably rotary drive RH is only required to work in the range of about 0 to 62 degrees. In the present preferred embodiment the rotary cylinder may be quite short.

Once in position Zbi the operation of pawl S rotates pawl P into engagement with ratchet R for mechanical security. 285 Figure 09 shows another perspective view of the rotary cylinder assembly RH of this embodiment of the invention. Outer tubular structural casing is fixed as by welding to cylinder body as at weldments 6. Claws G1 are shown as elements a and b at opposite ends of the tubular casing and connection flanges assembly and are fixed to the rotary axle for rotation about axis 3. Between elements a and b are a

290 pair of ratchet pawls 1 and 3 separated by spacers 2 and 4 and the whole affixed into a single rotating claw assembly supported on the end arms adjacent the connecting flanges and the rotary cylinder axle.

Once the coupler C is encased in its armor cover casing the isolation of the moving components from the work environment is complete and the user is provided with 295 a robust and compact working coupler tool.

It should be understood that components and features provided in respect of one embodiment described herein can be interchanged with corresponding features in other embodiments, insofar as that is physically possible, unless otherwise stated.

The scope of the patent protection sought herein is defined by the accompanying 300 claims. The apparatuses and procedures shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein are examples.

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