Counterweight device for arranging accumulators inside the counterweight of a working machine

• US 10,167,612 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kohzu, Yoshihisa, Nakai, Akito
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Saul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tighe, Brendan P
• Application Number:
  US15/021,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20160222632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 180165, 180312, 220562, 280834, 280835
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/18 Counterweights for cranes B66C23/72, for tractors B62D49/085
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2264 Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives

Abstract

Counterweight device in which an accumulator is disposed inside a counterweight, the work machine connecting the accumulator to piping at the machine body side and capable of moving a machine body or work device even though the counterweight is not attached to the body. A counterweight is fixed to a mount base at the rear end part of a swinging frame, an accumulator installed inside the counterweight by means of a temporary placing support structure. The temporary placing support structure can be temporarily placed on and attached to the end plate at the swinging frame side before attaching the counterweight.

Claims

1. A counterweight device in a working machine, the working machine including:

a plurality of fluid pressure actuators;

a machine body driven by a first actuator of the plurality of fluid pressure actuators;

a working device mounted at a first end side of the machine body and operatively coupled to a second actuator of the plurality of fluid pressure actuators; and

a counterweight disposed on a second end side of the machine body, the second end side of the machine body being disposed opposite the first end side of the machine body,

the counterweight device comprising;

a temporary placement support structure disposed inside a recess portion of the counterweight; and

a plurality of accumulators disposed within the temporary placement support structure and fluidly coupled to the plurality of fluid pressure actuators for transfer of fluid power therebetween, the temporary placement support structure and the plurality of accumulators being mounted to the machine body independent of whether the counterweight is mounted to the machine body.

2. The counterweight device in the working machine according to claim 1, wherein the temporary placement support structure comprises:

an accumulator support frame unit;

an end plate disposed at a height which corresponds to the accumulator support frame unit on a machine body side adjacent to the counterweight; and

a plurality of temporary joint units that temporarily join the accumulator support frame unit to the end plate.

3. The counterweight device in the working machine according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of temporary joint units comprises:

a plurality of temporary placement support hooks that are integrally fitted to the accumulator support frame unit; and

a plurality of temporary placement support holes that are formed on the end plate and that are engaged with the temporary placement support hooks to support the temporary placement support structure on the machine body.

4. The counterweight device in the working machine according to claim 1, wherein the temporary placement support structure further comprises

an accumulator support frame unit;

a temporary placement jig that extends the end plate of the machine body to a height which corresponds to the accumulator support frame unit, an upper end of the end plate being positioned at a low portion of the accumulator support frame unit on a machine body side adjacent to the counterweight; and

a plurality of temporary joint units that temporarily join the accumulator support frame unit to the temporary placement jig.

5. A machine comprising:

a plurality of fluid pressure actuators;

a machine body driven by a first actuator of the plurality of fluid pressure actuators;

a working device mounted at a first end side of the machine body, the working device being operatively coupled to a second actuator of the plurality of fluid pressure actuators;

a counterweight disposed on a second end side of the machine body, the second end side of the machine body being disposed opposite the first end side of the machine body;

a temporary placement support structure disposed inside a recess portion of the counterweight; and

a plurality of accumulators disposed within the temporary placement support structure and fluidly coupled to the plurality of fluid pressure actuators for transfer of fluid power therebetween, the temporary placement support structure and the plurality of accumulators being mounted to the machine body independent of whether the counterweight is mounted to the machine body.

6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the temporary placement support structure includes:

an accumulator support frame unit;

an end plate disposed at a height which corresponds to the accumulator support frame unit on a machine body side adjacent to the counterweight; and

a plurality of temporary joint units that temporarily join the accumulator support frame unit to the end plate.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of temporary joint units includes:

a plurality of temporary placement support hooks that are integrally fitted to the accumulator support frame unit; and

a plurality of temporary placement support holes that are formed on the end plate and that are engaged with the temporary placement support hooks to support the temporary placement support structure on the machine body.

8. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the temporary placement support structure includes:

an accumulator support frame unit;

a temporary placement jig that extends an end plate of the machine body to a height which corresponds to the accumulator support frame unit, an upper end of the end plate being positioned at a low portion of the accumulator support frame unit on a machine body side adjacent to the counterweight; and

a plurality of temporary joint units that temporarily join the accumulator support frame unit to the temporary placement jig.