AU2012203167B2

AU2012203167B2 - A vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2012203167B2
Application number: AU2012203167A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tracey Boxsell
Original assignee: D&t&g Pty Ltd
Current assignee: D&t&g Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-06-02
Filing date: 2012-05-29
Publication date: 2017-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-29
Also published as: AU2012203167A1

Abstract

Abstract A vehicle (1) including a series of wheels (3) connected to a chassis (4) to support the vehicle on a surface. The chassis (4) includes a motor to drive at least two of the wheels to move the vehicle along the surface. A body (2) is connected to the chassis. A first longitudinally extending arm (5) has a first end (5a) pivotally attachable to the body and a second end (5b) extending longitudinally away from the first end of the first arm. A second longitudinally extending arm (8) has a first end (8a) pivotally attachable to the second end of the first arm and a second end (8b) extending longitudinally away from the first end of the second arm. An excavation tool (10) is connectable to the second end of the second arm. First means (12) moves the first arm relative to the body. Second means (14) moves the second arm relative to the first arm. In use, the arms in a contracted configuration are locatable substantially parallel to each other so that the tool is locatable substantially adjacent the body to reduce a height of the vehicle from the surface. AH25(6311068_1):KEH A-A Figure

Description

S&FRef: P037493 2012203167 29 May 2012

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT

Name and Address of Applicant:

Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service:

Invention Title: CGB Engineering Pty Ltd, an Australian company, ACN 151 201 759, of Excalibur, Glen Alice Road, Rylstone, New South Wales, 2849, Australia Tracey Boxsell Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A vehicle

Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2011902173 02Jun2011 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(6322129_1) ι 2012203167 19 Jun2017

A VEHICLE

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle and in particular to a vehicle used in the construction or mining industry where there is a need for the vehicle to operate in both normal environments and in tight spaces and low access areas.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicles for the construction or mining industry are known. However, these vehicles tend to be large as the operational requirements of such vehicles is generally to excavate, mine and move large volumes of material as quickly as possible away from a job site. These vehicles generally include an articulated boom extending from a chassis. At one end of the boom there is a bucket, blade, auger or the like which is used to excavate, mine or move materials. These vehicles also tend to include a cabin for the driver which inhibits the vehicles use in tight spaces and low access areas.

[0003] In the mining industry, vehicles have been developed which assist in the mining process in low height environments such as down a mine shaft. However, these vehicles do not include a typical bucket, blade or auger arrangement and can not operate as a normal excavator or vehicle once out of the mine shaft and in a normal environment. Further, existing vehicles cannot lift material to load a normal or oversized truck having a tray at height above a surface.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] There is firstly disclosed herein an excavation vehicle including: a series of wheels connected to a chassis to support said vehicle on a surface, said chassis including a motor to drive at least two of said wheels to move said vehicle along said surface; 13151443 2 2012203167 19 Jun2017 a body connected to said chassis; a first longitudinally extending arm having a first end pivotally attachable to said body and a second end extending longitudinally away from said first end of said first arm; a second longitudinally extending arm having a first end pivotally attachable to said second end of said first arm and a second end extending longitudinally away from said first end of said second arm; an excavation tool connectable to said second end of said second arm; first means to move said first arm relative to said body; second means to move said second arm relative to said first arm; whereby, in use, said arms in a contracted configuration are locatable substantially parallel to each other so that said tool is locatable substantially adjacent said body to reduce a height of said vehicle from said surface, wherein in the contracted configuration, the height of said vehicle from said surface is less than 1 metre.

[0006] Preferably, said first and second means include one or more hydraulic rams.

[0007] Preferably, in said contracted configuration said tool is locatable at a front end of said vehicle.

[0008] Preferably, said tool is a bucket, auger or breaker.

[0009] Preferably, in a contracted configuration the height of said vehicle from said surface is less than 1 metre.

[0010] Preferably, said height is 550 to 700 millimetres.

[0011] Preferably, said tool includes means to interchange tools.

[0012] Preferably, said tool includes at least one hydraulic ram to move said tool relative to said second arm.

[0013] Preferably, said tool is pivotally attached to said second end of said second arm.

[0014] Preferably, in an expanded configuration said first and second arms are pivotable apart from each other so that said tool is locatable away from said body. 13151443 3 2012203167 29 May 2012

Brief Description of Drawings [0015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [0016] Figure 1 is a side view of the vehicle of the present invention; [0017] Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1; and [0018] Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1 in the contracted configuration.

Description of Embodiments [0019] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a vehicle 1 including a series of wheels 3 connected to a chassis 4. In the Figures only the wheel axles are shown of the chassis 4. A body 2 is connected to the chassis 4. Chassis 4 includes typical vehicle chassis structure including axles 4 and a motor (not shown) to drive at least one of the wheels 3 to move the vehicle 1 along a surface. The vehicle 1 further includes a first longitudinally extending arm 5 having a first end 5a pivotally attached to the body 2 and a second end 5b extending longitudinally away from the first end 5a of the first arm 5. A second longitudinally extending arm 8 has a first end 8a pivotally attached to the second end 5b of the first arm 5. A second end 8b extends longitudinally away from the first end 8a of the second arm 8. An excavation tool 10 is connectable to the second end 8b of the second arm 8. The vehicle 1 further includes first means 12 to move the first arm member 5 relative to the body 3 and a second means 14 to move the second arm 8 relative to the first arm 5. The arms 5,8 in a contracted configuration (as best seen in Figure 3) are locatable substantially parallel with each other (and the body 3) so that the excavation tool 10 is beatable substantially adjacent the body 2 to reduce a height X of the vehicle 1 from the surface 100.

[0020] In the preferred form, the first means 12 includes at least one hydraulic cylinder, ram or the like which is pivotally connected to the body 2 at one end and pivotally connected to the first arm 5 at the other end as best seen in Figure 1. The first means 12 moves the second end 5b of the first arm 5 in an anti-clockwise direction away from the first end 5a of the first arm 5. In the preferred form, the first means 12 can move the first arm 5 from an angle of 0 degrees to 90 degrees from the body 2. As best seen in Figure 1, the second means 14 can move the second

AH25(63II068_1):KEH 4 2012203167 29 May 2012 arm 8 away from the first arm 5 from 0 degrees to 90 degrees taken along a longitudinal axis of each arm 5, 8. To assist in this movement and to provide further support, a support plate 20 can be utilised between the first end 8a of the second arm 8 and one end 22 of the second means 14. The use of the support plate 20 allows the arms 5, 8 in a contracted configuration (see Figure 3) to locate substantially parallel with each other and the body 2. As best seen in Figure 3, in a contracted configuration, the excavation tool (in this case a bucket) 10 is shown pivotally attached to the second end 8b of the second arm 8 and located adjacent a front end 25 of the vehicle 1. In the preferred form, the shape of the body 2 would be shaped with the arm 8 so that they fit snugly together and further reduce space. The excavation tool 10 could be any typical excavation type tool, such as, a bucket, auger, breaker or the like. The tool 10 should include all mini loader type attachments and in the preferred form would be interchangeable and pivotally attached to the second arm 8. The excavation tool 10 could also include one or more hydraulic rams 30 or other such means to move the tool 10 independently of the body 2 as will be noted in particular from Figure 2. The vehicle l could include a series of arms 5, 8 and movement means 12, 14 on each side of the vehicle 1. As best seen in Figure 1, in an expanded configuration the first and second arms 5, 8 are pivotable apart from each other so that the excavation tool 10 is located away from the body 2 and surface 100.

[0021] Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the vehicle 1 in use and in an expanded configuration (as best seen in Figure 1) has a height X where the excavation tool 10 is locatable away from the surface 100. That is, a substantially normal height for such vehicles so that the tool 10, such as a bucket, could have access to the back of a tipper truck or other similar type height locations. In a preferred form, the bracket 10 should be able to be used with oversized trucks. The bucket 10 once loaded can then be moved into a contracted configuration (as shown in Figure 3) and the vehicle 1 moved into an area where there is a low height. In the contracted configuration, the height X, top of the vehicle 1 away from the surface 100 would be less than 1 metre. In the preferred form, it could be 550 to 700 millimetres. The vehicle 1 should also have a width of only just around 1 metre and an overall length of less than 2.5 metres. In the reverse arrangement (in the contracted configuration Figure 3), the vehicle 1 can be moved into a low height area and the excavation tool 10 utilised to obtain material to be removed from a site. The vehicle 1 once away from the low height area can then expand the arms 5, 8 so that the excavation tool 10 can deliver the load of material to a tipper truck or other such device or location at a greater height from the surface 100.

AH25(6311068_I):KEH 5 2012203167 29 May 2012 [0022] In a preferred form, the wheels 3 could also include hydraulics, springs or the like to move the wheels 3 with respect to the body 2 so that the height X of the vehicle can be adjusted by adjusting the wheel height or angle. The vehicle 1 in a preferred form would also be radio controlled, or remote controlled by way of a control box or the like. The vehicle could also include one or more sensors to indicate when the vehicle is close to an object or person.

[0023] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

AH25(631I068_1):KEH

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An excavation vehicle including: a series of wheels connected to a chassis to support said vehicle on a surface, said chassis including a motor to drive at least two of said wheels to move said vehicle along said surface; a body connected to said chassis; a first longitudinally extending arm having a first end pivotally attachable to said body and a second end extending longitudinally away from said first end of said first arm; a second longitudinally extending arm having a first end pivotally attachable to said second end of said first arm and a second end extending longitudinally away from said first end of said second arm; an excavation tool connectable to said second end of said second arm; first means to move said first arm relative to said body; second means to move said second arm relative to said first arm; whereby, in use, said arms in a contracted configuration are locatable substantially parallel to each other so that said tool is locatable substantially adjacent said body to reduce a height of said vehicle from said surface, wherein in the contracted configuration, the height of said vehicle from said surface is less than 1 metre.
2. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second means include one or more hydraulic rams.
3. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in said contracted configuration said tool is locatable at a front end of said vehicle.
4. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said tool is a bucket, auger or breaker.
5. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said height is 550 to 700 millimetres.
6. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said tool includes means to interchange tools.
7. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said tool includes at least one hydraulic ram to move said tool relative to said second arm.
8. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said tool is pivotally attached to said second end of said second arm.
9. The excavation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in an expanded configuration said first and second arms are pivotable apart from each other so that said tool is locatable away from said body.