Work machine

• US 6,266,901 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Kanda, Toshimasa, Aoshiba, Norihiro, Chamura, Michio, Yoshinada, Hiroshi, Ohtsukasa, Naritoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/462,410
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 374/03, 374/17, 374/43, 374/66, 379/03, 374/10, 701/50
• US Class Current: 37/403
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/84 Slewing gear anti-friction bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/065 non-masted mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers B66F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/20 with tools that only loosen the material , i.e. mill-type wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/307 the boom and the dipper-arm being connected so as to permit relative movement in more than one plane
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/325 Backhoes of the miniature type
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3411 of the Z-type
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/965 of metal-cutting or concrete-crushing implements shearing devices B23D17/00; wrecking of buildings, e.g. tools therefor, E04G23/08
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/966 of hammer-type tools arrangements for breaking-up hard ground E02F5/305; percussion -type rippers E02F5/323
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/085 Ground-engaging fitting for supporting the machines while working, e.g. outriggers, legs for vehicles in general B60S9/00, for cranes B66C23/78
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/123 Drives or control devices specially adapted therefor E02F9/125 and E02F9/128 take precedence

Abstract

A work machine for achieving efficient coordinated operations by a plurality of kinds of operating units, comprising first and second swivel driving members and first and second swivel joints, wherein a first swiveling base bearing a first operating unit and a second swiveling base bearing a second operating unit can swivel around a common swiveling axis independently relative to a traveling base.

Claims

1. A work machine character in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base;

a first operating unit supported on the first swiveling base;

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about the swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base;

a second operating unit supported on the second swiveling base;

first swivel driving means, provided between the traveling base and the first swiveling base, for driving the traveling base and the first swiveling base in rotation with respect to each other;

second swivel driving means, provided between the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base, for driving the first and second swiveling bases in rotation with respect to each other;

a first swivel joint extending inside the traveling base and the first swiveling base in a state where a central axis thereof coincides with the swiveling axis, whereby hydraulic pressure fluid can be supplied to respective hydraulic circuits of the traveling base and the first swiveling base; and

a second swivel joint extending inside the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base in a state where a central axis thereof coincides with the swiveling axis, whereby hydraulic pressure fluid can be supplied to respective hydraulic circuits of the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base.

2. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is an outrigger device and the second operating unit is a crane operating unit.

3. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a fork operating unit provided with a fork and the second operating unit is a grapple operating unit provided with a hand.

4. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a fork operating unit provided with a fork and the second operating unit is a crane operating unit.

5. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating it is a loading operating unit provided with a loading bucket and the second operating unit is an excavating operating unit provided with an excavating bucket.

6. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a loading operating unit provided with a loading bucket and the second operating unit is a breaking operating unit provided with a breaker.

7. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a fork operating unit provided with a fork and the second operating unit is a tree processing operating unit provided with a grapple harvester.

8. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a grass cutting operating unit provided with a grass cutting unit and the second operating unit is a grapple operating unit provided with a hand.

9. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a cutting operating unit provided with a cutter and the second operating unit is a grapple operating unit provided with a hand.

10. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a gathering operating unit provided with a bucket and the second operating unit is a brush operating unit provided with a brush for brushing up objects into the gathering operating unit.

11. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a clamp operating unit provided with a clamper and the second operating unit is a grapple operating unit provided with a hand.

12. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a fork operating unit provided with a fork and the second operating unit is an excavating operating unit provided with a root-cutting bucket.

13. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a loading operating unit comprising:

a pair of lift arms supported via base end portions thereof on the first swiveling base, in an upwardly and downwardly movable fashion;

a loading bucket supported on the pair of lift arms, swingably about a horizontal axis linking front end portions of the pair of lift arms; and

a pair of dump cylinder actuators located respectively along the front end portions of the lift arms, in positions to the inside of the respective lift arms, cylinder tubes thereof being supported on the loading bucket and piston rods thereof being supported on the lift arms, whereby the loading bucket can be caused to swing with respect to the lift arms, and

the second operating unit is an excavating operating unit provided with an excavating bucket.

14. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a loading operating unit comprising:

a pair of lift arms supported via base end portions thereof on the first swiveling base, in an upwardly and downwardly movable fashion;

a loading bucket supported on the pair of lift arms, swingably about a horizontal axis linking front end portions of the pair of lift arms; and

a pair of dump cylinder actuators located respectively along the front end portions of the lift arms, in positions to the inside of the respective lift arms, cylinder tubes thereof being supported on the loading bucket and piston rods thereof being supported on the lift arms, whereby the loading bucket can be caused to swing with respect to the lift arms, and

the second operating unit is a breaking operating unit provided with a breaker.

15. The work machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first operating unit is a loading operating unit comprising:

a pair of first arms supported via base end portions thereof on the first swiveling base, in an upwardly and downwardly movable fashion;

a pair of second arms supported on respective front end portions of the first arms, swingably about a horizontal axis;

a loading bucket supported on the pair of second arms, swingably about a horizontal axis linking respective front end portions of the second arms; and

arm extension cylinder actuators, positioned respectively between the first arms and the second arms, which cause the loading bucket to move towards, or away from, the traveling base, by means of the second arms swinging with respect to the first arms;

the second operating unit is an excavating operating unit provided with an excavating bucket; and

the traveling base travels by means of wheels.

16. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base;

a first operating unit supported on the first swiveling base;

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about the swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base;

a second operating unit supported on the second swiveling base;

first swivel driving means, provided between the traveling base and the first swiveling base, for driving the traveling base and the first swiveling base in rotation with respect to each other;

second swivel driving means, provided between the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base, for driving the first and second swiveling bases in rotation with respect to each other; and

a two-stage swivel joint comprising a pair of rotors having respective center holes and a single shaft fitting into the center holes of the rotors, in a rotatable fashion, the two-stage swivel joint extending inside the traveling base, the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base, in a state where a central axis of the shaft is aligned with the swiveling axis, in such a manner that hydraulic pressure fluid can be supplied to respective hydraulic circuits of the traveling base, first swiveling base and second swiveling base via the pair of rotors and the shaft.

17. The work machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the two-stage swivel joint is fixed, in a central portion thereof in an axial direction, to either the traveling base or the first swiveling base.

18. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base, installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base, comprising a first major swiveling gearwheel and a second major swiveling gearwheel respectively having centers on the swiveling axis;

a first operating unit supported on the first swiveling base;

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about the swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base;

a second operating unit supported on the second swiveling base;

a first swivel drive motor, an output shaft of which is fixed to a first swiveling pinion, which is held on the traveling base in a state where the first swiveling pinion engages with the first major swiveling gearwheel; and

a second swivel drive motor, an output shaft of which is fixed to a second swiveling pinion, which is held on the second swiveling base in a state where the second swiveling pinion engages with the second major swiveling gearwheel.

19. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base;

a supporting frame section, extending from the first swiveling base in an outward radial direction from the swiveling axis and having an empty space in an inner portion thereof;

a first operating unit supported on the first swiveling base via the supporting frame section;

a hydraulic piping passing through the empty space in the supporting frame section, through which hydraulic coil can be caused to flow to the first operating unit;

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about the swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base;

a second operating unit supported on the second swiveling base;

first swivel driving means, provided between the traveling base and the first swiveling base, for driving the traveling base and the first swiveling base in rotation with respect to each other; and

second swivel driving means, provided between the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base, for driving the first and second swiveling bases in rotation with respect to each other.

20. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base;

a first operating unit supported on the first swiveling base;

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about the swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base;

a second operating unit supported on the second swiveling base;

first swivel driving means, provided between the traveling base and the first swiveling base, for driving the traveling base and the first swiveling base in rotation with respect to each other;

second swivel driving means, provided between the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base, for driving the first and second swiveling bases in rotation with respect to each other; and

swivel controlling means for controlling the first swivel driving means and the second swivel driving means, respectively, and, when the first swiveling base is swiveling in one direction with respect to the traveling base, causing the second swiveling base to swivel at the same angular speed in the other direction with respect to the first swiveling base.

21. The work machine according to claim 20, characterized in that the first swivel driving means is constituted by providing a first major swiveling gearwheel having a center on the swiveling axis, and a first hydraulic swiveling motor, an output shaft of which is fixed to a first swiveling pinion, the first major swiveling gearwheel being fixed to one of either the traveling base or the swiveling base, in a state where the first swiveling pinion engages with the first major swiveling gearwheel, and the first hydraulic swiveling motor being held on the other of either the traveling base or the swiveling base;

the second swivel driving means is constituted by providing a second major swiveling gearwheel similar to the first major swiveling gearwheel, having a center on the swiveling axis, and a second hydraulic swiveling motor, an output shaft of which is fixed to a second swiveling pinion similar to the first swiveling pinion, which is driven at the same number of revolutions as the first hydraulic swiveling motor when the same quantity of hydraulic oil is supplied thereto, the second major swiveling gearwheel being fixed to either one of the first swiveling base or the second swiveling base, in a state where the second swiveling pinion engages with the second major swiveling gearwheel, and the second hydraulic swiveling motor being held on the other of the first swiveling base or the second swiveling base; and

the swivel controlling means supplies the same quantity of hydraulic oil respectively to the first hydraulic swiveling motor and the second hydraulic swiveling motor.

22. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base, installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base, comprising a first major swiveling gearwheel and a second major swiveling gearwheel, which are mutually similar and respectively have centers on the swiveling axis;

a supporting frame section, extending from the first swiveling base in an outward radial direction from the swiveling axis and having an empty space in an inner portion thereof;

a first operating unit supported on the first swiveling base via the supporting frame section;

a hydraulic piping passing through the empty space in the supporting frame section, through which hydraulic oil can be caused to flow to the first operating unit;

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about the swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base;

a second operating unit supported on the second swiveling base;

a first hydraulic swiveling motor, an output shaft of which is fixed to a first swiveling pinion, which is held on the traveling base in a state where the first swiveling pinion engages with the first major swiveling gearwheel,

a second hydraulic swiveling motor, an output shaft of which is fixed to a second swiveling pinion similar to the first swiveling pinion, which is held on the second swiveling base in a state where the second swiveling pinion engages with the second major swiveling gearwheel and is driven at the same number of revolutions as the first hydraulic swiveling motor when the same quantity of hydraulic oil is supplied thereto;

swivel controlling means for supplying the same quantity of hydraulic oil to the first hydraulic swiveling motor and the second hydraulic swiveling motor, respectively, and, when the first swiveling base is swiveling in one direction, causing the second swiveling base to swivel at the same angular speed in the other direction with respect to the first swiveling base; and

a two-stage swivel joint comprising a pair of rotors having respective center holes and a single shaft fitting into the center holes of the rotors, in a rotatable fashion, the two-stage swivel joint extending inside the traveling base, the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base, in a state where a central axis of the shaft is aligned with the swiveling axis and a central portion of the joint in an axial direction thereof is fixed to either one of the traveling base or the first swiveling base, whereby respective hydraulic circuits of the traveling base, the first swiveling base and the second swiveling base can be mutually connected via the pair of rotors and the shaft.

23. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base and supporting a cutting operating unit provided with a cutter; and

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base and supporting a grapple operating unit provided with a hand.

24. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base and supporting a gathering operating unit provided with a bucket; and

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base and supporting a brush operating unit provided with a brush for sweeping up objects into the gathering operating unit.

25. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base and supporting a clamping operating unit provided with a clamper; and

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of the first swiveling base and supporting a grapple operating unit provided with a hand.

26. A work machine characterized in that it comprises:

a first swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of a traveling base and supporting a fork operating unit provided with a fork; and

a second swiveling base installed rotatably about a prescribed swiveling axis on an upper portion of the fire swiveling base and supporting an excavating operating unit provided with a root-cutting bucket.