EXCAVATOR DRIVE SYSTEM WITH BI STATE MOTOR TRANSFER SWITCHES
First Claim
1. An excavator drive system, comprising:
- a first motor for powering an excavator bucket;
a second motor for powering an excavator propulsion system;
a power source for the motors;
.a first non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the first motor to the power source;
a second non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the second motor to the power source;
at least one relay device for controlling energization of electromagnetic actuators, electrically coupled to at least one of the respective electromagnetic actuators; and
a controller electrically coupled to and in communication with the at least one relay device, transmitting control signals thereto for selective coupling of one of the motors to the power source while decoupling the other motor from the power source.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An excavator drive system wherein one of a pair of propulsion motors shares one of a pair of inverter power sources with another of a pair of motors dedicated to crowd and hoist motions. A pair of non-volatile bi-state switches, triggered under control of a controller, allow sharing of inverters between hoist and propel 1 motors. Another pair of switches allows inverter sharing between propel 2 and crowd motors. Each,pair of switches enables change over and power transfer from one of the paired motors to the other motor. The bi-state switches enable quicker transfer of power between motors than transfer switches employing external motor-powered mechanical transfer linkages. Bi-state transfer switches also maintain transfer coupling status in the event of power failure to the switch actuators, allowing an excavator operator to continue the drive function in operation prior to the switch power failure.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An excavator drive system, comprising:
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a first motor for powering an excavator bucket; a second motor for powering an excavator propulsion system; a power source for the motors;
.a first non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the first motor to the power source; a second non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the second motor to the power source; at least one relay device for controlling energization of electromagnetic actuators, electrically coupled to at least one of the respective electromagnetic actuators; and a controller electrically coupled to and in communication with the at least one relay device, transmitting control signals thereto for selective coupling of one of the motors to the power source while decoupling the other motor from the power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An excavator system, comprising:
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a chassis having a propulsion system, a boom and an excavator bucket coupled to the boom; a first motor for powering the excavator bucket; a second motor for powering the propulsion system; a power source for the motors; a first non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the first motor to the power source; a second non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the second motor to the power source; at least one relay device for controlling energization of electromagnetic actuators, electrically coupled to at least one of the respective electromagnetic actuators; and a controller electrically coupled to and in communication with the at least one relay device, transmitting control signals thereto for selective coupling of one of the motors to the power source while decoupling the other motor from the power source. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An excavator system, comprising:
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a chassis having a propulsion system including a pair of first and second tracks, a boom and an excavator bucket coupled to the boom; a first motor for powering the excavator bucket hoist motion; a second motor for powering the propulsion system first track; a third motor for powering the excavator bucket hoist crowd motion; a fourth motor for powering the propulsion system second track; a first power source for the first and second motors; a second power source for the third and fourth motors; a first non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the first motor to the first power source; a second non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the second motor to the first power source; a third non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the third motor to the second power source; a fourth non-volatile bi-state switch, having a motorized electromagnetic actuator for selectively coupling and decoupling the fourth motor to the second power source; at least one relay device for controlling energization of electromagnetic actuators, electrically coupled to at least one of the respective electromagnetic actuators; and a controller electrically coupled to and in communication with the at least one of relay device, transmitting control signals thereto for selective coupling of one of the first or second motors to the first power source while decoupling the other motor from the first power source and for selective coupling of the third or fourth motors to the second power source while decoupling the other motor from the second power source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification