Counterweight for construction vehicle

• US 6,481,748 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Shigehisa, Yoshitsugu, Okuda, Kozo
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/606,234
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 280/755, 280/757, 280/759
• US Class Current: 280/755
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0833 Improving access, e.g. for maintenance, steps for improving driver's access, handrails
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/18 Counterweights for cranes B66C23/72, for tractors B62D49/085

Abstract

An object is to provide an arrangement which enables the worker to easily carry out checking and maintenance on a part such as an engine from outside in a natural pose without climbing on a counterweight. In a construction vehicle having a traveling vehicle body and a revolving superstructure with an implement, a counterweight installed in the rear of the revolving superstructure comprises a detachable, separable sub-counterweight which is located on the position corresponding to the position of a part requiring maintenance.

Claims

1. A counterweight in combination with a construction vehicle having a traveling vehicle body and a revolving superstructure with an implement, and the counterweight placed in the rear of the revolving superstructure, the counterweight comprising a region of the counterweight corresponding to the position of a part on said construction vehicle requiring repairs being detachably formed, and at least one opening transversely penetrating completely through the counterweight, wherein the opening transversely penetrating completely through the counterweight is located at the center of a top portion of the counterweight and a central separable sub-counterweight having a shape of the opening is adapted to be detachably mounted in the opening from above.

2. A counterweight in combination with a construction vehicle having a traveling vehicle body and a revolving superstructure with an implement, and the counterweight placed in the rear of the revolving superstructure, the counterweight comprising a region of the counterweight corresponding to the position of a part on said construction vehicle requiring repairs being detachably formed, and at least one opening transversely penetrating completely through the counterweight, wherein openings transversely penetrating completely through the counterweight are located at the right and left comers of a top portion of the counterweight and a separable left and right sub-counterweight is adapted to be detachably mounted on the opening defined at the left and right corners respectively.

3. A counterweight in combination with a construction vehicle having a traveling vehicle body and a revolving superstructure with an implement, and the counterweight placed in the rear of the revolving superstructure, the counterweight comprising

a region of the counterweight corresponding to the position of a part on said construction vehicle requiring repairs being detachably formed,

a central sub-counterweight disposed at the center of the counterweight,

an auxiliary sub-counterweight detachably attached to the inner side of the upper half of the central sub-counterweight disposed at the center of the counterweight, and

a separable sub-counterweight detachably mounted on either or both of the right and left sides of the central sub-counterweight, wherein:

parting faces of the central sub-counterweight and either or both of the left and right separable sub-counterweights are provided with a fitting section, and

each fitting section serves to support the separable sub-counterweight for preventing vertical downward movement at the time of attachment.

4. The counterweight in combination with a construction vehicle according to claim 3, wherein each fitting section formed on the central sub-counterweight and left and right separable sub-counterweights has a horizontally oriented gap, and the fitting section serves as a stopper for preventing vertical movement of the left and right separable sub-counterweights at the time of detachment.

5. A counterweight in combination with a construction vehicle having a traveling vehicle body and a revolving superstructure with an implement, and the counterweight placed in the rear of the revolving superstructure, the counterweight comprising a region of the counterweight corresponding to the position of a part on said construction vehicle requiring repairs being detachably formed, at least one opening transversely penetrating completely through the counterweight, a central sub-counterweight disposed at the center of the counterweight, and an auxiliary sub-counterweight detachably attached to the inner side of the upper half of the central sub-counterweight disposed at the center of the counterweight and, a separable sub-counterweight detachably mounted on either or both of the right and left sides of the counterweight, parting faces of the central sub-counterweight and left and right separable sub-counterweights being provided with a fitting section,

wherein each fitting section formed on the central sub-counterweight and left and right separable sub-counterweights has a horizontally oriented gap, and the fitting section serves as a stopper for preventing vertical movement of the left and right separable sub-counterweights at the time of detachment,

wherein each fitting section has a projection formed on a parting face of one sub-counterweight which works as a base, and an engagement recess formed in a parting face of the other sub-counterweight which fits to the parting face of said one sub-counterweight, said projection and said recess having the horizontally oriented gap, said engagement recess being adapted to be fitted on said projection, and

wherein said parting faces are fastened by fasteners from outside.

6. The counterweight in combination with a construction vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the central sub-counterweight and the left and right separable sub-counterweights have, at their lower portions, a common lower face plate for covering lower parts of the construction vehicle requiring maintenance.