AU728217B2

AU728217B2 - Earth moving apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU728217B2
Application number: AU60666/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nikola Solaja
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-07
Filing date: 1998-04-07
Publication date: 2001-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-07
Also published as: AU6066698A

Description

A,4

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

,ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: 0* *0 I NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: NIKOLA SOLAJA NIKOLA SOLAJA LORD COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

EARTH MOVING APPARATUS 4 INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER PO 6052 FILED APRIL 7, 1997 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: The present invention relates to earth moving apparatus.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an earth moving apparatus including a framework having mounted thereto an earthworking member that is arranged to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis up to 3600 or more.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:oo °oo Figure 1 is a plan view of an earth moving apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an arrangement for lateral movement of an earthworking member; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a scissor ram for laterally tilting an earthworking member.

In the drawings, there is shown an earth moving apparatus 10 including a framework 12 having a first end 14 provided with means 16 for attachment to a vehicle such as a tractor or a front end loader. The framework 12 also has a second end 18 to which is mounted an earthworking member 20 including a substantially cylindrical portion 22 (see Figure 4 in particular) and a blade 24 attached to and projecting from a curved surface 111 of the cylindrical portion 22. Apparatus of this general type is described in Australian Patent 586119 in the name of the present applicant.

10 Further, the blade 24 is provided with an upwardly extending guard 25 arranged to retain earth excavated by the blade 24.

The apparatus 10 includes a central disc 26 having a toothed periphery 28. The disc 26 is mounted below a horizontal plate 30 of the framework 12. The disc 26 is drivingly connected to an hydraulic motor 32 mounted above the plate 30. The motor 32 is operatively connected to the disc 26 through an aperture in the plate Further, the disc 26 is mounted to the earthworking member 20 by means of .depending plates 33.

Further, a pair of hydraulic rams 34 are mounted parallel to one another on the plate The rams 34 have piston rods 36 connected to respective ends of a bar 38. The bar 38 has an inner toothed profile 40 arranged to engage and conform with the toothed periphery 28 of the disc 26.

Further, the piston rods 36 are normally urged to their innermost positions as shown in Figure 1 by means of coil springs 42 mounted about extensions of the piston rods 36 on the other sides of the rams 34.

Further, there is provided an hydraulic ram 44 extending between a mounting 46 on the curved surface 111 of the cylindrical member 22 and a mounting 47 on the framework 12. There is provided a piston rod 48 connected to the mount 46 and a cylinder 50 connected to the framework 12. The ram 44 is arranged to be extended and contracted to move the earthworking member 20 laterally to the left and right relative to the framework 12. This is achieved by having a support 100 mounted in an upper portion of the curved surface 111 and a flat plate 102 mounted on top of the support as shown in Figure 5. The flat plate 102 has lateral edge portions 104 oo.o extending outwardly from the support 100. The edge portion 104 engage with grooves 106 (one of which can be seen in Figure 5) in the framework 12. Thus the earthworking member 20 can move laterally readily by movement of the edge i" portions 104 relative to the grooves 106.

In addition, there is an hydraulic ram 52 extending between the framework 12 and an arm 53 mounted to the earthworking member 20. The ram 52 can be extended or contracted to cause the earthworking member 20 to be tilted about a substantially horizontal axis.

As shown in Figure 6, the ram 52 is pivotally connected at one end to a fixed arm 53 which is non rotatably and fixedly mounted to a tubular support 108. Another end of the ram 52 is pivotally connected to a pivotable arm 54. The arm 54 is pivotally mounted on a socket member 110. Further, the support 108 engages with and is contained within the socket 110, in use. Thus, when the ram 52 is extended, the arm 53 remains stationary whilst the arm 54 is pivoted together with the socket 110. The socket 110 is mounted on and fixed to an upper surface of the plate 30. Thus, the plate 30 is pivoted about the support 108 upon the arm 54 being pivoted together with the remainder of the earthworking member 20 and thus on the socket 110 and portions of framework 112 connected to the socket 110. The reverse action takes place when the ram 52 is retracted.

The ram 52 and the arms 53 and 54 form a scissor ram arrangement.

In operation, in order to rotate the earthworking assembly 20 through up to 3600 or more, the rams 34 are supplied with hydraulic fluid so as to extend the pistons 36 against the springs 42. Thus, the bar 38 is moved away from the toothed periphery 28 of the disc 26. This position is shown in Figure 4. Further, the hydraulic motor 32 is energised so as to cause the disc 26 and thus the earthworking assembly 20 to be rotated through an angle up to 3600 or more.

As a matter of practice it may be necessary to restrict the rotational movement to an angle of less than 3600, such as 3590, to alleviate problems which may be encountered with hydraulic connections.

When the desired angle of rotation is achieved the rotation of the disc 26 is stopped by cessation of rotation of the motor 32. Further, fluid pressure is withdrawn from the rams 34 so that the springs 42 retract the pistons 36 to the position shown in Figure 1 whereat the toothed periphery 28 is engaged by the bar In this way the earthworking assembly 20 can be rotated about a vertical axis to any desired orientation.

Also, by operation of the ram 44 the earthworking assembly 20 can be moved to the left and right relative to the framework 12 if desired.

o .o.

Further, the earthworking assembly 20 can be tilted about a horizontal axis extending from front to back by operation of the ram 52. This enables the blade 24 to be used oo** for digging of trenches and ditches by using the lowermost end to achieve this.

Still further, it is envisaged that means would be provided for tilting the earthworking member 20 about a laterally extending horizontal axis to enable either the cylinder 22 or the blade 24 to engage the ground as described in Australian .Patent 586119.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

2. An earthmoving apparatus according to claim 1, which includes a central disc mounted to the earthworking member about the substantially vertical axis, the disc having means for enabling it to be selectively axially rotated with the earthworking member and means for locking it in a desired position so as to 10 prevent rotation of the earthworking member.
3. An earthmoving apparatus according to claim 2, in which the central disc has a toothed periphery means is provided to lock the central disc in position, said means being arranged to disengage from the toothed periphery to enable the central disc to be axially rotated.
4. An earthmoving apparatus according to claim 3, in which the means for engaging with the toothed periphery includes a bar having a toothed profile arranged to engage with and conform with the toothed periphery and means is provided for moving the bar into and out of engagement with the toothed periphery.
5. An earthworking apparatus according to claim 4, in which an hydraulic ram is provided for the bar, a piston rod of the hydraulic ram being normally spring urged to an inner position so as to urge the bar into engagement with the toothed periphery.
6. An earthworking apparatus according to claim 5, in which the hydraulic ram is arranged to extend the piston rod so as to disengage the bar from the toothed periphery.
7. An earthworking apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which means is provided for moving the earthworking member laterally relative to the framework.
8. An earthworking apparatus according to claim 7, in which a further hydraulic ram extends between the framework and the earthworking member, the further hydraulic ram being arranged to be extended or contracted so as to move the earthworking member laterally relative to the framework.
9. An earthworking apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which means is provided for laterally tilting the earthworking member about a substantially horizontal axis.
10. An earthworking apparatus according to claim 9, in which a scissor ram 15 arrangement is provided, which scissor ram arrangement may be extended or contracted to cause the earthworking member to be tilted laterally about a substantially horizontal axis.
11. An earthworking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 3rd DAY OF APRIL 1998 NIKOLA SOLAJA BY HIS PATENT ATTORNEYS LORD COMPANY, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 4Lelu L