HYDRAULIC DOOR SNUBBER

• US 20140165431A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Bienfang, David T., Maguire, Patrick B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,180,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/445
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/4075 Dump doors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/60 Buckets, scrapers, or other digging elements
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/006 Pivot joint assemblies in general F16C11/04
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/02 Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/625 Accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7052 Single-acting output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/76 Control of force or torque of the output member
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/023 and characterised by damping force adjustment means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A dipper assembly for a mining shovel, includes a dipper having a dipper back and an open dipper bottom, and a dipper door pivotally mounted to the dipper, configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position with a swing speed, and to cover the open dipper bottom. The dipper assembly also includes one or more hydraulic door snubbers. The hydraulic door snubbers include a base having one or more connecting plates, one or more mounting plates coupled to the base and configured to receive a link extending from the dipper door, one or more friction plates, and a hydraulic cylinder configured to clamp the mounting plates, the connecting plates, the friction plates and the link together.

Claims

1. A dipper assembly for a mining shovel, the dipper assembly comprising:

a dipper having a dipper back and an open dipper bottom;

a dipper door pivotally mounted to the dipper, configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position with a swing speed, and to cover the open dipper bottom;

one or more hydraulic snubbers, comprising;

a base having one or more connecting plates;

one or more mounting plates coupled to the base and configured to receive a link extending from the dipper door;

one or more friction plates positioned parallel to the mounting plates and the link;

a hydraulic cylinder configured to clamp the mounting plates, the connecting plates, the friction plates and the link together, reducing the swing speed of the dipper door.

2. The dipper assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system comprising:

an accumulator configured to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder;

a valve configured to fill and bleed the hydraulic system;

a hydraulic pump configured to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to the accumulator; and

a gauge configured to monitor and indicate the fluid pressure within the hydraulic system.

3. The dipper assembly of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic pump is a portable hand pump configured to fluidly connect to the hydraulic cylinder.

4. The dipper assembly of claim 1, further comprising a retainer coupled to the hydraulic snubber, the retainer formed around a tail portion of the hydraulic cylinder and configured to retain the position of the tail portion of the hydraulic cylinder.

5. The dipper assembly of claim 4, wherein the tail portion comprises a recessed portion configured to receive the retainer.

6. The dipper assembly of claim 1, wherein the link further comprises a first end receiving the hydraulic cylinder and pivotally coupled to the hydraulic snubber, and a second end coupled to the dipper door, wherein the link is configured to pivot about the base as the dipper door moves between the open and closed position.

7. The dipper assembly of claim 6, wherein the first end comprises one or more mating plates, the mating plates positioned parallel to the mounting plates, connecting plate, and friction plates, a friction plate separating each of the mounting plates, mating plate and connecting plate.

8. The dipper assembly of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic snubber includes two mounting plates, four friction plates, and one connecting plate, and the link includes two mating plates, the two mounting plates at outside edges of the hydraulic snubber, the two mating plates inside of the mounting plates, and the connecting plate at the center of the hydraulic snubber, each of the mounting plates, mating plates, and connecting plate separated by one friction plate, the plates positioned adjacent and parallel to each other and configured to compress in response to the compressive force of the hydraulic cylinder.

9. The dipper assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more bars configured to retain the position of the hydraulic cylinder.

10. The dipper assembly of claim 1, the hydraulic cylinder further comprising one or more openings, the openings configured to receive or distribute fluids.

11. A hydraulic snubber for a door, comprising:

a base receiving the hydraulic cylinder and configured to couple to a pivotally mounted link;

one or more mounting plates coupled to the base and configured to receive a link extending from the door;

one or more friction plates positioned parallel to the mounting plates and the link;

a hydraulic cylinder configured to clamp the mounting plates, the friction plates and the link together.

12. The hydraulic snubber of claim 11, wherein the link has a first end receiving the hydraulic cylinder and pivotally coupled to the hydraulic snubber, and has a second end configured to couple to a pivotally mounted door, and the link is configured to pivot about the base as the door moves between an open and closed position, and wherein the hydraulic cylinder is configured to clamp the mounting plates, the friction plates and the link together, reducing the pivotal movement of the link about the base.

13. The hydraulic snubber of claim 11, further comprising a retainer coupled to the hydraulic snubber, the retainer formed around a tail portion of the hydraulic cylinder and configured to retain the position of the tail portion of the hydraulic cylinder.

14. The hydraulic snubber of claim 13, wherein the tail portion comprises a recessed portion configured to receive the retainer.

15. The hydraulic snubber of claim 11, wherein the link further comprises one or more mating plates pivotally coupled to the hydraulic snubber and configured to receive the hydraulic cylinder, the mating plates positioned parallel to the mounting plates and friction plates, a friction plate positioned between each mounting plate and mating plate.

16. The hydraulic snubber of claim 15, wherein the hydraulic snubber includes two mounting plates, four friction plates, and one connecting plate, and the link includes two mating plates.

17. The hydraulic snubber of claim 16, wherein the two mounting plates are positioned at outside edges of the hydraulic snubber, the two mating plates positioned inside of the mounting plates, and the connecting plate at the center of the hydraulic snubber, each of the mounting plates, mating plates, and connecting plate separated by one friction plate, the plates positioned adjacent and parallel to each other and configured to compress in response to the compressive force of the hydraulic cylinder.

18. The hydraulic snubber of claim 11, further comprising one or more bars configured to retain the position of the hydraulic cylinder.

19. A method for installing a hydraulic snubber for a dipper door, the method comprising:

providing a base having one or more connecting plates configured to receive a hydraulic cylinder;

providing one or more mounting plates configured to receive a hydraulic cylinder;

providing one or more friction plates configured to receive a hydraulic cylinder;

providing a link configured to pivot about the base, the link having one or more mating plates configured to receive a hydraulic cylinder;

positioning the mounting plates, friction plates, and mating plates adjacent to and parallel to each other;

inserting a hydraulic cylinder through the base and through each of the mounting plates, friction plates, and mating plates;

retaining the hydraulic cylinder substantially within the base;

applying compressive force to the hydraulic snubber by pumping pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder, reducing the pivotal motion of the link about the base.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a removable retainer, the removable retainer retaining the hydraulic cylinder substantially within the base when installed, and allowing the hydraulic cylinder to be removed from the hydraulic snubber when removed.