MOUNTING DEVICE FOR A STICK OF AN EXCAVATOR

Description

The invention relates to a mounting device for a stick of an excavator.

DE 20 2011 100 482 U1 discloses an excavator which, at a free end of the stick, accommodates an mounting device which is connected to a coupling device of the mounting device so that it can pivot about an mounting axis on the stick. A swivel drive is provided on the coupling device, which in turn has a coupling opposite the coupling device for receiving an implement. The mounting device comprises a rotary device with a rotary drive, by means of which the coupling can be rotated about an axis of rotation relative to a drive housing of the rotary device. Furthermore, a further swivel drive is provided on an upper side of the drive housing, by means of which the entire rotary device can be swiveled about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation relative to the coupling device. The coupling device has an attachment bearing point and a coupling bearing point, both of which are located above the additional swivel drive. This provides a large overall height of the mounting device between the attachment bearing point of the coupling device and the coupling. This impairs the pivoting movement of the mounting device in relation to the stick.

The invention is based on the task of creating a mounting device for a stick of an excavator, by means of which an attachment with a larger swivel range is controllable.

This task is solved by an mounting device in which a plane of rotation is formed between a drive housing of the rotary device and the coupling and a fictitious connection plane for the coupling device fixedly arranged thereon is formed by the cover surface of the drive housing, which is formed at least in sections, wherein the attachment bearing point of the coupling device is located in the fictitious connection plane of the at least partially formed cover surface of the drive housing or in the plane of rotation or in a region between the connection plane and the plane of rotation and the coupling bearing point of the coupling device is positioned above the connection plane. This arrangement enables the axis of rotation, about which the mounting device can be pivoted on the stick, to be lowered in the direction of the plane of rotation of the mounting device. The axis of rotation of the mounting device lies in the axis of the attachment point, whereby the mounting device is pivotably fixed to the mounting axis of the stick

Preferably, the coupling device is provided on the drive housing in a rotationally fixed and/or non-pivoting manner. This enables direct power transmission.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the coupling bearing point of the coupling device is positioned in an area above the rotary feed-through to the drive housing. This allows a central force transmission to the coupling bearing point via the swivel kinematics. In addition, the arrangement of the attachment bearing point and coupling bearing point can enable improved leverage ratios and thus increased power transmission to the implement.

The coupling device is preferably provided detachably on the fictitious connection level or on the drive housing. Alternatively, the coupling device can also be connected in one piece to the connection level of the drive housing.

The coupling device preferably has two cheeks, which are provided detachably on the cover surface of the drive housing, which extends at least in sections. As a result, the cheeks can also be adapted depending on the stick or the design of the end of the stick in order to achieve a large swivel range of the mounting device. Alternatively, the cheeks of the coupling device can be integrally molded onto the drive housing. This can enable a cost-reduced production. In particular, this can result in weight savings.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the at least two cheeks of the coupling device are connected to each other by at least one connecting plate. This allows the cheeks and the connecting plates to be detachably connected to the rotary device as a single unit. In particular, it is provided that the at least one connecting plate can be connected to the rotary device by a screw connection. This provides flexibility in that the coupling device is provided interchangeably on the turning device, thus enabling adaptation to different sticks by replacing the coupling device.

The drive housing of the rotary device advantageously has at least one flattening or flattening between the cover surface, which is formed at least in sections, and the end face of the drive housing to which the attachment bearing point is assigned. This allows the attachment bearing point to be moved closer to the drive housing. The distance between the axis of rotation of the attachment bearing point of the coupling device and the axis of rotation of the rotary device, around which the coupling is rotatably mounted in relation to the drive housing, can thus be further reduced.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the at least one flattening is inclined at an angle of between 15° and 75° relative to the cover surface in the direction of the end face of the rotary device. Preferably, only one flattening is provided between the cover surface and the end face of the turning device is provided. This can be inclined at an angle of 45° to the cover surface. Alternatively, two or more slopes arranged in a row can also be provided. These can be positioned at the same or at different angles to each other in a row.

In particular, it is intended that the distance between the axis of the attachment point and the axis of rotation of the rotary device is shortened by the at least one incline. This allows improved force ratios to be created. In addition, the at least one flattening can also be used to reduce the shear forces on a screw connection for the coupling device on the rotary device. This means that screw cross-sections can be reduced.

According to a further advantageous design of the mounting device, it is provided that the at least one connecting plate of the coupling device is connected to the flattening or rests against the flattening and the at least one further connecting plate of the coupling device is connected to the top surface of the rotary device. This has the advantage that shear forces occurring in the coupling device can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the attachment bearing point of the coupling device is assigned to the flattening or the end face of the rotary device. This assignment also depends on the positioning of the attachment bearing point between the connection plane and the rotation plane. This assignment can also depend on the size of the slope, as this can extend from the cover surface at least partially or completely opposite the end face of the rotary device.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the attachment bearing point and the bearing point of the coupling device are arranged at an angle β to the mounting device, which is formed by two fictitious straight lines. The first or the one fictitious straight line extends through the attachment bearing point and the coupling bearing point and the second or the other fictitious straight line extends in a plane of rotation or parallel to a plane of rotation of the rotary device, which is offset in the direction of the cover surface. Due to this offset arrangement of the coupling bearing point and the attachment bearing point of the coupling device, the attachment bearing point can be offset in the direction of the plane of rotation of the rotary device, which enables a reduction in the installation height in the mounting device to the stick. In particular, this allows a swivel angle range of the mounting device to the lower side of the stick to be increased.

Advantageously, the fictitious straight lines of the mounting device are provided at an angle β of 15° to 45°, preferably 25° to 35°. This in turn enables an advantageous connection of the mounting device to both a straight and a cranked stick section of the stick.

Furthermore, it is preferable that a rotary feedthrough is provided in the drive housing, which has a stator that is rotationally fixed to the drive housing and a rotor that can rotate relative to the stator, which is connected to a coupling and which is connected to at least one connection, preferably three connections, in the coupling. This enables a compact design for the mounting device. In addition, an internal supply and discharge of a drive fluid from and to an implement or to the coupling can be made possible. Advantageously, one connection is provided as a supply line for supplying a working fluid. A further connection is connected to a supply line for discharging the working fluid, and a third connection can be provided for a leakage fluid.

The invention and other advantageous embodiments and further embodiments thereof are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The features to be taken from the description and the drawings can be used individually or in any combination in accordance with the invention. It shows:

FIG. 1 a schematic side view of an excavator with a stick, a mounting device and a working tool,

FIG. 2 a schematic side view of a stick for an excavator with a cranked stick section,

FIG. 3 a perspective view of the stick as shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 a perspective view of a mounting device for connection to the stick as shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 a schematic side view of the mounting device as shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 a schematic sectional view of the mounting device along line IV-IV in FIG. 4,

Figure a perspective view of the stick according to FIG. 2 with a mounting device according to FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 a schematic side view of the stick according to FIG. 3 with a mounting device according to FIG. 4 in a first working position,

FIG. 9 a schematic side view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 in a further working position,

FIG. 10 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the stick to FIG. 3,

FIG. 11 a perspective view of the stick according to FIG. 10 with a mounting device according to FIG. 4 in a working position,

FIG. 12 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the stick to FIG. 3,

FIG. 13 a perspective view of the stick according to FIG. 12 with a mounting device according to FIG. 4 in a working position,

FIG. 14 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the stick to FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 a perspective view of the stick according to FIG. 14 with a mounting device according to FIG. 4 in a working position, and

FIG. 16 a schematic side view of an excavator with an alternative working tool to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an excavator 11. The excavator comprises a basic machine 13 with a boom 12, which is hinged together at the end with a stick 14. The boom 12 is moved up and down by a lifting cylinder 19. The boom 12 comprises at least one stick cylinder 18 for actuating a pivoting movement of the stick 14. At least one pressure cylinder 16 is provided on the stick 14, by means of which a mounting device 21 provided on the stick 14 can be actuated. The mounting device 21 is pivotably mounted at the end of the stick 14 in a mounting axis 17. This mounting device 21 can comprise a rotary device 22 with a rotary drive 24 and a coupling 23, in particular a quick-change coupling. The rotary device 22 comprises a drive housing 66. The rotary drive 24 allows the coupling to rotate relative to the drive housing 66 along an axis of rotation 26. A working tool 25 is interchangeably provided on the coupling 23. Swivel kinematics 27 are provided to control a swivel movement of the mounting device 21. This comprises a deflector 28, which is articulated at one end on a deflector axis 29 to the stick 14. Furthermore, the swivel kinematics 27 comprises a coupling 31, which is connected at one end to the deflector 28 via a common swivel axis 35. At the opposite end, the coupler 31 engages with a coupling device 33. This coupling device 33 is a component of the mounting device 21 or is mounted on the mounting device 21. Preferably, the drive housing 66 has a cover surface 67 extending at least in sections, on which the coupling device 33 is provided. The pressure cylinder 16, in particular a piston rod of the pressure cylinder 16, engages on the swivel axis 35 of the swivel kinematics 27.

FIG. 2 shows a schematically enlarged side view of the stick 14. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the stick 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

The stick 14 has a stick main section 50. At one end of the stick main section 50 is a stick bearing point 41, through which the stick 14 is articulated to the boom stick 12. Adjacent to this is a stick bearing point 42, in which the stick cylinder 18 of the boom stick 12 engages. A lower side 43, which is designed as a lower chord, extends from the stick bearing point 41 to the front end 48 of the stick. Opposite, the stick 14 comprises an upper side 45, which is designed as an upper chord. A pressure cylinder bearing 46 for receiving the pressure cylinder 16 is provided on the upper side 45. The upper side 45 and the lower side 43 are aligned at an acute angle to each other in the direction of the deflector axis 29.

The stick 14 has a cranked stick section 51. This cranked stick section 51 is provided at the stick end 48. The stick 14 comprises a main stick section 50 with the stick bearing points 41 and 42 and the cranked stick section 51. The mounting axis 17 is provided in the cranked stick section 51. The cranked stick section 51 extends from the deflector axis 29 in the direction of the upper side 45 of the stick 14. The cranked stick section 51 is cranked upwards at an angle α of, for example, 30° to the lower side 43 of the stick 14. The angle for the cranking of the stick section 21 is determined by two fictitious straight lines 52, 53. The straight line 52 extends through the mounting axis 17 and the deflector axis 29 of the cranked stick section 51. The straight line 52 extends through the deflector axis 29 and preferably runs parallel to the lower side 43 of the stick 14. The straight line 53 can also extend through the deflector axis 29 and the stick bearing point 41.

The length of the cranked stick section 51 can be determined from the angle α and a height HS between the mounting axis 17 and the deflector axis 29. The distance between the mounting axis 17 and the deflector axis 29 comprises the height HS.

The cranked stick section 51 is the same width as the main section 50 of the stick 14. In the case of very long sticks 14, the main stick section 50 can taper towards the cranked stick section 51. The width of the cranked stick section 51 and the distance between the cheeks 36 of the coupling device 33 are adapted to each other.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the mounting device 21. FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of the mounting device 21 as shown in FIG. 4.

The coupling device 33 comprises two cheeks 36 arranged at a distance from one another. The cheeks 36 can be connected to at least one connecting plate 34, which extends between the cheeks 36. The at least one connecting plate 34 can rest against an upper side of the rotary device 22 and preferably be detachably fastened thereto. A connection plane 65 is formed between the upper side of the rotary device 22, to which the coupling device 33 is attached, and the coupling device 33, in particular the connecting plate 34 of the coupling device 33. Each cheek 36 comprises a coupling bearing point 37 and a mounting bearing point 38. The coupling bearing point 37 and the mounting bearing point 38 are offset from one another in height HK. The add-on storage location 38 is recessed relative to the coupling storage location 37. The attachment bearing point 38 of the coupling device 33 is located at, for example, in the connection level 65. Alternatively, the attachment bearing point 38 can also be offset in the direction of a plane of rotation 39 of the rotary device 22 or be located in this plane of rotation 39. The attachment bearing point 38 is offset laterally outwards relative to the mounting device 21, in particular the rotary device 22, or is assigned to an end face of the rotary device 22.

The coupling bearing point 37 and the attachment bearing point 38 are arranged at an angle β to the plane of rotation 39, which is determined by two fictitious straight lines 56, 57. The fictitious straight line 56 extends through the coupling bearing point 37 and the attachment bearing point 38. The fictitious straight line 57 extends through the plane of rotation 39 or is aligned parallel to it. This can also be located in the at least partially formed cover surface 67 of the drive housing 66 of the rotary device 22. The attachment bearing point 38 can be located on the straight line 57 or lower in the direction of the plane of rotation 39, preferably within a height formed by the straight line 57 and the plane of rotation 39. Preferably, the angle β between the straight lines 56, 57 is provided in a range from 15° to 60°. In particular, an angle β of 30° is provided. This angle β preferably corresponds to the angle α.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view along line VI-VI as shown in FIG. 4. The rotary device 22 has a flattening 69 between the upper side or the connection level 65 and an end face 81 of the rotary device 22. This flattening 69 can, for example, be inclined at an angle of 45° to the connection plane 65. The flattening 69 can also be provided at an angle to the connection plane 85. In particular, this flattening 69 can enable the attachment bearing point 38 of the cheeks 36 to be offset closer to the rotary device 22 on the one hand and/or downwards relative to the connection plane 65 on the other. This arrangement has the particular advantage that a reduced introduction of force from the stick 14 into the mounting device 21 is possible, whereby shearing forces acting on the coupling device 33 of the mounting device 21 can be reduced during operation.

The coupling device 33 is preferably connected to the turning device 22 by a screw connection 83. In particular, one or more connecting plates 34 are in contact with the upper side of the rotary device 22 and with the flattening 82 of the rotary device 22 and are fixed in particular by the screw connection 83. This detachable arrangement of the coupling device 33 to the rotary device 22 also enables increased flexibility due to a possible replacement of the coupling device 33 to the rotary drive 24 and the coupling 23.

By reducing the installation height of the mounting device 21, which can be achieved in particular by shifting the attachment bearing point 38 into the connection level 65 or below it in the direction of the plane of rotation 39, the kinematics of the stick 14 and the mounting device 21 are improved to the extent that an overload height and/or a breakaway force can be increased. This is particularly the case if the attachment bearing point 38 is located in the plane of rotation 39.

The mounting device 21 according to FIGS. 4 to 6 also has the advantage that the integration of the rotary drive 24 and the coupling 23 makes it possible to reduce the number of hydraulic connections for controlling an implement 25. For example, the number of connections in the coupling 23 can be reduced from five connections to three connections. Two of the connections serve a main function, namely a supply and a return of the working fluid, in particular hydraulic oil. The third connection is intended for a so-called leakage oil. The connection or integration of the coupling 23 in the rotary actuator 24 enables the hydraulic connections required for the rotary actuator for control to be provided within the rotary actuator 24 and/or the coupling 23 and permanently connected to each other.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the stick 14 according to FIG. 3 and the hinged mounting device 21 connected to it according to FIG. 4. The fork-shaped connection 20 is provided between the swivel kinematics 27 and the mounting device 21. The swivel kinematics 27 comprises two deflectors 28, each of which is positioned on an outer side of the stick section 51 and mounted in the deflector axis 29. These deflectors 28 engage opposite each other on the swivel axis 35 of the swivel kinematics 27. The coupling 31 of the swivel kinematics 27 is fork-shaped. The coupling 31 has two coupling arms 64 pointing towards the mounting device 21. These coupling arms 64 preferably each engage on an outer side of the cheek 36 of the coupling device 33. The respective ends of the coupling arms 64 are pivotably mounted at the coupling bearing point 37, preferably by a pin. Opposite the coupling arms 64, the coupling 31 comprises, for example, a coupling stick 65. The width of this coupling stick 65 is narrower than the distance between the two coupling arms 64. The coupling stick 65 can comprise a recess so that a piston rod of the pressure cylinder 16 can be positioned in between and engages on the pivot axis 35.

The height HK of the coupling bearing point 37 and the attachment bearing point 38 of the coupling device 33 advantageously corresponds to the height HS on the cranked stick section 51, which is formed by the distance between the mounting axis 17 and the deflector axis 29. The cranked stick section 51 is positioned between the cheeks 36. The mounting axis 17 of the cranked stick section 51 is aligned with the attachment bearing point 38, so that these are pivotably connected to one another by a bearing pin.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic side view of the stick 14 with the mounting device 21 in a first swivel or working position. In FIG. 9, the stick 14 with the mounting device 21 is shown in a further swivel or working position that differs from the arrangement in FIG. 7.

The stick 14 with the cranked stick section 51 allows the mounting device 21 to be swiveled at a swivel angle A of up to 60° relative to the fictitious straight line 53 in the direction of the lower side 43 of the stick 14. Due to the offset arrangement of the attachment bearing point 38 relative to the coupling bearing point 37 and the cranked stick section 51, the rotary device 22 can be positioned almost parallel or parallel to the fictitious straight line 52 with respect to its axis of rotation.

FIG. 9 shows the further swivel position of the mounting device 21 in the opposite direction to that in FIG. 6. A swivel angle B of up to 160° can be assumed relative to the fictitious straight line 53 through the deflector axis 29. This swivel position can be assumed by the cranked stick section 51. This results in a swivel angle of the mounting device 21 of up to 220° to the cranked stick section 51.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the stick 14. The stick section 51 is not bent in relation to the main stick section 50. Such a stick 14 is referred to as a straight stick. It is provided that an upper and/or lower side of the stick section 51 and the main stick section 50 lie in a common plane. In all other respects, the explanations relating to the aforementioned stick 14 apply.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the stick 14 according to FIG. 10 and the mounting device 21 according to FIG. 4. A swivel movement of the mounting device 21 relative to the stick 14 is controlled using swivel kinematics 27, which corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. A fork-shaped coupling 31 is used. This embodiment therefore comprises a fork-shaped connection 20 between the swivel kinematics 27 and the mounting device 21.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the stick 14 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The stick 14 has an cranked stick section 51 towards the main stick section 50. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cranked stick section 51 according to FIG. 12 is fork-shaped. The cranked stick section 51 comprises two fork arms 61, which are spaced apart from one another. The deflector axis 29 and the mounting axis 17 are provided in each fork arm 61. Preferably, the distance between the fork arms 61 in the area in which the deflector axis 29 is provided is smaller than in the section pointing towards the free stick end 48, in which the mounting axis 17 is located. This has the advantage that analogous or the same ratios exist for connecting the mounting device 21 to the stick 14 as in the embodiment according to the stick in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the stick 14 according to FIG. 12 with the mounting device 21 according to FIG. 4 in a swivel position. The fork-shaped connection 20 is formed between the stick 14 and the mounting device 21. In this embodiment, the swivel kinematics 27 has a coupling 31 which is, for example, rod-shaped. Alternatively, it can also be provided that in this embodiment according to FIG. 12, the coupling 31 can also be designed as a fork-shaped coupling 31 with two coupling arms 64. Preferably, the coupler 31 can be designed as a welded construction in which two rod-shaped metal sheets are connected to a web, preferably also made of sheet metal, the rod-shaped metal sheets engaging both on the pivot axis 35 and on the coupling bearing point 37. Alternatively, the welded construction can also be designed as a cast construction.

FIG. 14 shows an alternative embodiment of the stick 15 to FIG. 11. This embodiment differs from that in FIG. 11 in that the stick section 51 is straight in relation to the main stick section 50. An offset of the stick section 51 is not provided. In all other respects, the comments on FIG. 12 apply.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the stick 14 as shown in FIG. 14 and the mounting device 21 as shown in FIG. 4 in a working position. At of this embodiment, the swivel kinematics 27 is designed analogously to that in FIG. 12. A fork-shaped coupling 31 can also be provided as an alternative in this respect.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic side view of the excavator 11 according to FIG. 1 with an alternative embodiment of the implement 25. The implement 25 shown in FIG. 16 is, for example, a scraper bar. The excavator 11 can be used as a grader by attaching the levelling bar to the attachment 21. Such graders, which are also called planers, earth graders or road graders, enable the creation of large flat surfaces in road construction, horticulture, landscaping or the like. By relocating the attachment bearing point 38 of the mounting device 21 to an area between the connection plane 65 and the rotation plane 69 and/or to the flattening 69 on the rotation device 22, it is possible for reduced leverage forces to act on the levelling bar during the production of level ground. In addition, there is only one interface between the stick 14 and the mounting device 21, as a result of which play is considerably reduced or there is no play at all. The design of the mounting device 21 with the rotary drive 22 also makes it possible to align the scraper bar relative to the direction of travel, but parallel to the ground, so that the travel drive of the excavator 11 can be used to operate it as a grader.