TILTROTATOR FOR A WORK MACHINE

Abstract

 In the solution put forth, the tiltrotator of an accessory of a work machine includes a fixing arrangement for fixing the tiltrotator to an operating boom (3) of the work machine, a fixing arrangement for fixing the accessory to the tiltrotator, a rotating device (11), and a tilting device. The tilting device includes a body (1) of the tilting device as well as an axle (2) of the tilting device adapted within the body. The tiltrotator has the fixing point of the operating boom (3) end adapted below the plane of the upper surface of the tilting device body (1).

Description

Background of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a work machine, such as an excavator, and in particular to a tiltrotator of an accessory of the work machine.

[0002] An accessory such as a bucket may be hooked up to an excavator by adapting a tiltrotator, or a so-called rototilt, between a bucket boom and accessory of the excavator. This allows the accessory to be used in a diverse manner as it is easy, simple, and reliable to rotate and tilt the accessory. However, the structure presents the challenge in which the breaking strain and, for example, excavating efficiency are rather considerably weakened compared to, for example, such a solution where the accessory is fastened directly to the end of the bucket boom. Publication EP 2 208 828 discloses an arrangement for fixing a tool, in which an auxiliary body has been adapted between a boom and a tilting device. The structure is awkward and complicated, and requires changes in the boom end structure.

Brief description of the invention

[0003] It is the purpose of the invention to create a new type of tiltrotator for an accessory of a work machine, and a work machine. The solution according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0004] In the solution put forth, the tiltrotator of an accessory of a work machine includes a fixing arrangement for fixing the tiltrotator to an operating boom of the work machine, a fixing arrangement for fixing the accessory to the tiltrotator, a rotating device, and a tilting device. The tilting device includes a body of the tilting device as well as an axle of the tilting device adapted within the body. The tiltrotator has the fixing point of the operating boom end adapted below the plane of the upper surface of the tilting device body. With such a solution, the breaking strain of the structure and excavating efficiency when a bucket, for example, is used as the accessory may be kept at a relatively high level.

[0005] The idea of an embodiment is that the fixing point of the end of the operating boom is adapted on the same plane with the tilting device axle. This allows the breaking strain and excavating efficiency to be kept at a particularly advantageous level, and in addition the structure, as a whole, may be made simple and durable.

[0006] According to second embodiment, the tiltrotator includes a fork part having a branch part and arm part, whereby the branches of the branch part may be adapted in connection with the ends of the axle of the operating boom end located at the fixing point of the operating boom, and the arm part is fixed to the tilting device axle. In such a case, the fork part is adaptable to connect the axle of the operating boom end to the tilting device axle. This type of structure is simple and reliable.

[0007] According to a third embodiment, the fork part is fixed to a first end of the tilting device axle, and the tiltrotator has a fixing part which is fixed to a second end of the tilting device axle to connect the second end of the tilting device axle to a swivel pin of the drive cylinder of a work machine. Such a solution is also durable and reliable.

Brief description of the drawings

[0008] The invention will now be described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a tiltrotator of an accessory of an excavator; and

Figure 2 shows a detail of the solution according to Figure 1 when viewed from above.

Detailed description of the invention

[0009] Figure 1 shows a tiltrotator of an accessory of an excavator. The tiltrotator is a hydraulic device fixed to an end of a bucket boom 3 of an excavator. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the work machine is thus an excavator, whereby the operating boom of the work machine is a bucket boom 3. By means of the tiltrotator, an operator of the excavator may hydraulically rotate and/or tilt an accessory fixed to the tiltrotator from the cabin. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the accessory is a bucket 14. The accessory may be a bucket, hydraulic hammer, vibrating plate or another accessory that may be used with an excavator or other work machine.

[0010] The tiltrotator includes a rotating device 11 and tilting device. The tilting device has a body 1 and an axle 2 of the tilting device, adapted on the inside of it. The body 1 may be turned in relation to the axle 2. Such turning may be implemented by the use of, for example, hydraulic cylinders, screw thread/piston solution, vane motor solution or another method suitable for the purpose. The structure and operation of the tilting device are known to such an extent to a person skilled in the art that they are not explained in any closer detail in this context. Furthermore, the structure and operation of the rotating device 11 are also known to such an extent to a person skilled in the art that they are not explained in any closer detail in this context.

[0011] In Figure 1, the bucket 14 acting as the accessory is fixed to the tiltrotator by a hook-like quick clamp. The accessory may also be fixed to the tiltrotator with another type quick clamp or another suitable fixing method.

[0012] The tiltrotator is fixed to the end of the bucket boom 3. For fixing, the tiltrotator has a fork part 4, shown from above in Figure 2. The fork part 4 has a branch part 4a and arm part 4b. The branches 4c, 4d of the branch part 4a are adapted in connection with the ends of the axle 5 of the bucket boom end at the fixing point of the bucket boom 3. The arm part 4b of the fork part 4 is fixed to a first end of the tilting device axle 2. So, the fork part 4 connects the axle 5 of the bucket boom 3 end to the tilting device axle 2. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the centre point of the axle 5 of the bucket boom 3 end is on the same plane with the centre point of the tilting device axle 2.

[0013] The tiltrotator has a fixing part 23 fixed to a second end of the tilting device axle 2. So, the tilting device axle 2 extends through the tilting device 1, whereby the fork part 4 and fixing part 23 may be fixed to the ends of the axle 2 of the tilting device in a simple manner. The fixing part 23 connects the second end of the tilting device axle 2 to a pin 22 of a swivel 21 of the drive cylinder of the work machine, which in the embodiment of Figure 1 is a bucket cylinder 20 of an excavator.

[0014] In connection with this specification, the upper surface of the body 1 of the tilting device is towards the bucket boom 3, and in the common usage situation shown in Figure 1, the portion facing up. Correspondingly, the lower surface of the tiltrotator is the opposite in relation to the upper surface of the body, towards the accessory, and in the common usage situation shown in Figure 1, the portion facing down.

[0015] The fixing point of the end of the bucket boom 3 is below the upper surface of the tilting device body 1. The same matter may also be described so that in the common usage situation shown in Figure 1, the plane of the fixing point of the end of the bucker boom 3 is lower than the plane of the upper surface of the tilting device body 1.

[0016] In Figure 1, the marking F depicts the breaking strain of the bucket 14. The marking h depicts the distance of the plane of the tip of the bucket 14 from the plane of the lower surface of the tiltrotator, and correspondingly also the length of the accessory. The marking e depicts the distance of the plane of lower surface of the tiltrotator from the plane of the fixing point of the end of the bucket boom 3.

[0017] The larger the distance of the axle 5 of the bucket boom 3 end is from the tip of the bucket 14 (= e + h), the worse is the breaking strain F of the excavator bucket 14. In the solution now disclosed, the distance of the plane of the tip of the excavator bucket 14 from the plane of the fixing point of the bucket boom 3 end is, however, smaller than the distance of the plane of the tip of the excavator bucket 14 from the plane of the upper surface of the tilting device body 1. This is in particular due to the distance of the plane of the lower surface of the tiltrotator from the plane of fixing point of the bucket boom 3 end being smaller than the distance of the plane of the lower surface of the tiltrotator from the plane of the upper surface of the tilter body 1. Therefore, in the now disclosed solution, the breaking strain F of the excavator bucket 14 is at a fairly good level.

[0018] A person skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the above-described examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A tiltrotator of an accessory of a work machine, which includes a fixing arrangement for fixing the tiltrotator to an operating boom (3) of the work machine, a fixing arrangement for fixing the accessory to the tiltrotator, a rotating device (11), and a tilting device which includes a body (1) of the tilting device as well as an axle (2) of the tilting device adapted within the body, the tiltrotator having a fixing point of the operating boom (3) end adapted below the plane of the upper surface of the tilting device body (1), and the tiltrotator including a fork part (4) having a branch part (4a) and arm part (4b), whereby the branches (4c, 4d) of the branch part (4a) may be adapted in connection with the ends of the axle (5) of the operating boom end located at the fixing point of the operating boom (3), and the arm part is fixed to the tilting device axle (2), whereby the fork part (4) is adaptable to connect the axle (5) of the operating boom end to the tilting device axle (2).

2. A tiltrotator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing point of the operating boom (3) end is adapted on the same plane as the tilting device axle (2).

3. A tiltrotator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fork part (4) is fixed to a first end of the tilting device axle (2), and the tiltrotator has a fixing part (23) which is fixed to a second end of the tilting device axle (2) to connect the second end of the tilting device axle (2) to a swivel (21) pin (22) of a drive cylinder (20) of a work machine.

4. A work machine having a tiltrotator of an accessory of an excavator, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A work machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein the work machine is an excavator.

Drawing