Dipper door retarding mechanism

• US 8,732,994 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Projet International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alexandre Levesque, Yannick Dube
• Inventors: Dub, Yannick, Lvesque, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/074,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 374/44, 374/45, 374/42, 373/98, 414/726, 414/565, 414/715, 414/706, 414/699, 604/69, 188/312, 188/317, 188/322.11, 188/307, 188/322.2, 267/136, 267/137, 267/217, 294/119.4, 294/192
• US Class Current: 37/445
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/304 with the dipper-arm slidably mounted on the boom E02F3/305 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/4075 Dump doors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/02 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/00 Brakes with substantially-radial braking surfaces pressed together in axial direction, e.g. disc brakes similar clutches F16D13/38

Abstract

A retarding mechanism for continuously retarding the swinging movements of a dipper door comprises a hydraulic braking assembly mounted to the dipper bucket and operatively connected to the dipper door via at least one braking arm pivotally mounted within the braking assembly and at least one linking member pivotally mounted to the dipper door. The retarding mechanism continuously retards the opening and closing movements of the dipper door by controllably braking or slowing the at least one braking arm using the compressive action of at least one hydraulic piston mounted to the braking assembly.

Claims

1. A mechanism for continuously retarding movements of a door of a dipper with respect to a body of the dipper, the mechanism comprising:

a) a base configured to be secured to the body;

b) at least one hydraulic piston mounted to the base, the at least one piston being fluidly connected to a hydraulic pressure source;

c) a shaft mounted to the at least one piston;

d) at least one braking plate mounted to the shaft;

e) at least one braking arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the braking arm being pivotally mounted to the shaft;

f) at least one linking member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the linking member being pivotally connected to the second end of the at least one braking arm, and the second end of the linking member being configured to be pivotally connected to the door;

whereby when hydraulic fluid is provided to the at least one piston, the at least one piston presses the at least one braking plate and the first end of the at least one braking arm against each other, effectively retarding a pivotal movement of the at least braking arm and effectively retarding a pivotal movement of the door with respect to the body.

2. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a retaining plate mounted to the base, and wherein the shaft extends between the at least one piston and the retaining plate.

3. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one piston comprises an opening therethrough, and wherein the shaft extends through the opening.

4. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one braking plate is slidingly mounted to the shaft.

5. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 4, further comprising at least one braking disk interleaved between the at least one braking plate and the first end of the at least one braking arm.

6. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one braking disk is made from friction-generating material.

7. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 3, comprising several braking arms, each of the braking arms having a first end pivotally mounted to the shaft and a second end pivotally connected to the at least one linking member.

8. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 7, comprising several braking plates slidingly mounted to the shaft and interleaved between the first ends of the braking arms.

9. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 8, further comprising several braking disks interleaved between the braking plates and the first ends of the braking arms.

10. A mechanism for continuously retarding movements of a door of a dipper with respect to a body of the dipper, the mechanism comprising:

a) a base configured to be secured to the dipper body;

b) first and second hydraulic pistons mounted to the base such as to face each other, the first and second pistons being fluidly connected to a hydraulic pressure source;

c) a shaft mounted to the first and second pistons;

d) braking plates slidingly mounted to the shaft;

e) at least one braking arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one braking arm being pivotally mounted to the shaft and being interleaved between two of the braking plates;

f) at least one linking member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one linking member being pivotally connected to the second end of the at least one braking arm, and the second end of the at least one linking member being configured to be pivotally connected to the dipper door;

whereby when hydraulic fluid is provided to the first and second pistons, the first and second pistons move toward each other and press the braking plates against the first end of the at least one braking arm, effectively retarding a pivotal movement of the at least one braking arm with respect to the shaft.

11. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second pistons each comprises an opening therethrough, and wherein the shaft extends through the central openings.

12. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 11, further comprising braking disks interleaved between the braking plates and the first ends of the braking arms.

13. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 12, wherein the braking disks are made from friction-generating material.

14. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 11, comprising several braking arms, each of the braking arms having a first end pivotally mounted to the shaft and a second end pivotally connected to the at least one linking member.

15. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the first ends of the braking arms is interleaved between two of the braking plates.

16. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 15, further comprising several braking disks interleaved between the braking plates and the first ends of the braking arms.

17. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein the braking disks are made from friction-generating material.

18. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 11, further comprising first and second retaining plates mounted to the base, wherein the first retaining plate is located adjacent to the first piston and the second retaining plate is located adjacent to the second piston.

19. A retarding mechanism as claimed in claim 18, wherein the shaft is secured to the first and second retaining plates.

20. A dipper comprising a body, a door pivotally mounted to the body, and a mechanism for retarding a pivotal movement of the door with respect to the body, the mechanism comprising:

a) a base secured to the body;

b) first and second hydraulic pistons mounted to the base such as to face each other, the first and second pistons being fluidly connected to a hydraulic pressure source;

c) a shaft mounted to the first and second pistons;

d) braking plates slidingly mounted to the shaft;

e) at least one braking arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one braking arm being pivotally mounted to the shaft and being interleaved between two of the braking plates;

f) at least one linking member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one linking member being pivotally connected to the second end of the at least one braking arm, and the second end of the at least one linking member being pivotally connected to the door;

whereby when hydraulic fluid is provided to the first and second pistons, the first and second pistons move toward each other and press the braking plates against the first end of the at least one braking arm, effectively retarding a pivotal movement of the at least one braking arm with respect to the shaft as the door pivots with respect to the body.

21. A dipper as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first and second pistons each comprises an opening therethrough, and wherein the shaft extends through the central openings.

22. A dipper as claimed in claim 21, further comprising braking disks interleaved between the braking plates and the first ends of the braking arms.

23. A dipper as claimed in claim 22, wherein the braking disks are made from friction-generating material.

24. A dipper as claimed in claim 21, comprising several braking arms, each of the braking arms having a first end pivotally mounted to the shaft and a second end pivotally connected to the at least one linking member.

25. A dipper as claimed in claim 24, wherein each of the first ends of the braking arms is interleaved between two of the braking plates.

26. A dipper as claimed in claim 25, further comprising several braking disks interleaved between the braking plates and the first ends of the braking arms.

27. A dipper as claimed in claim 26, wherein the braking disks are made from friction-generating material.

28. A dipper as claimed in claim 21, further comprising first and second retaining plates mounted to the base, wherein the first retaining plate is located adjacent to the first piston and the second retaining plate is located adjacent to the second piston.

29. A dipper as claimed in claim 28, wherein the shaft is secured to the first and second retaining plates.

30. A dipper comprising a body, a door pivotally mounted to the body, and a mechanism for retarding a pivotal movement of the door with respect to the body, the mechanism comprising:

a) a base configured to be secured to the body;

b) at least one hydraulic piston mounted to the base, the at least one piston being fluidly connected to a hydraulic pressure source;

c) a shaft mounted to the at least one piston;

d) at least one braking plate mounted to the shaft;

e) at least one braking arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the braking arm being pivotally mounted to the shaft;

f) at least one linking member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the linking member being pivotally connected to the second end of the at least one braking arm, and the second end of the linking member being configured to be pivotally connected to the door;

whereby when hydraulic fluid is provided to the at least one piston, the at least one piston presses the at least one braking plate and the first end of the at least one braking arm against each other, effectively retarding a pivotal movement of the at least braking arm and effectively retarding a pivotal movement of the door with respect to the body.