US3792640A - Automatic bucket positioning device - Google Patents
Automatic bucket positioning device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3792640A US3792640A US00278510A US3792640DA US3792640A US 3792640 A US3792640 A US 3792640A US 00278510 A US00278510 A US 00278510A US 3792640D A US3792640D A US 3792640DA US 3792640 A US3792640 A US 3792640A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cylinder
- source
- piston
- drain
- line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000006386 neutralization reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000002459 sustained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
- F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
- F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
- F15B13/04—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
- E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
- E02F3/28—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms, e.g. dippers, buckets
- E02F3/36—Component parts
- E02F3/42—Drives for dippers, buckets, dipper-arms or bucket-arms
- E02F3/43—Control of dipper or bucket position; Control of sequence of drive operations
- E02F3/431—Control of dipper or bucket position; Control of sequence of drive operations for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like
- E02F3/432—Control of dipper or bucket position; Control of sequence of drive operations for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like for keeping the bucket in a predetermined position or attitude
Definitions
- draulic power unit for automatically stopping in an intermediate position a device whose position is controlled by the hydraulic power unit.
- a digging bucket is automatically stopped at a digging position interme- 1 of A, 91/47l;l37/624.27 p
- the present invention relates to automatic positioning by hydraulic means. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of hydraulic means for automatically placing a device in an intermediate position between extreme positions.
- the loader driver has set a bucket positioner valve in an operating position, causing the bucket positioner to rack back the bucket from dump position back to the intermediate digging position.
- a kickout device has been provided to kickout the valve from operating position to neutral or hold position as soon as, and no later than, the bucket reaches digging position.
- the practice then has been to interpose a stationary kickout trip.
- the kickout trip is mechanically tripped by physical contact with a synchronously moving actuator when the moving bucket reaches digging position, and the kickout trip then sets the kickout device in operation to kickout the valve from operating position, causing the bucket to stop and then holding the bucket where it stopped.
- My invention employs a contact-less positioning control having purely an hydraulic connection to kickout the valve of the bucket positioner.
- the hydraulic principle means freedom from the outside dirt and from loss of mechanical adjustment, because the hydraulics and actuation are inside.
- My novel method of automatic kickout involves a contact-free positioning control in an hydraulic power system having: a traveling member which is pressuremovable for performing work; a self-neutralizing valve for the system having an unsatisfied position in which it causes pressure-actuated travel of the pressuremovable traveling member; and a first-signal-locked, second-signal-kicked-out kickout control means for the valve.
- the method according to my invention comprises the steps of: developing a 1st signal in response to pressure-actuation of, and the resulting travel by, the pressure-movable traveling member; applying the 1st signal to the kickout control means as a detaining signal for locking-in the kickout to detain the self-neutralizing valve in unsatified position; sensing and signaling with a second signal when the pressure-movable member is part way in its travel; and applying the second signal to the kickout control means as a valve kickout signal to kickout the self-neutralizing valve and perforce stop travel of the pressure-movable traveling member.
- the foregoing operation employs a power cylinder piston having foreshortening movement and extension movement to force the bucket forward or to cause rack back of the bucket, and results in: the piston moving the bucket full forward into extreme dump position when the valve is manually sustained in the extreme depressed position hydraulically directing piston movement of foreshortening; the piston moving the bucket full back into the extreme carry position when the valve is manually sustained in the extreme extended valve position hydraulically directing piston movement of extension; and the piston pivoting and holding the bucket in an intermediate rack back position for digging when the valve is sustained in and then released automatically from the just said extreme extended valve position so as to reach its satisfied position.
- the present invention is illustrated and described to show its usage in automatically positioning a digging bucket with respect to a boom arm, but it may have various uses, including bringing the boom arm to some intermediate position with respect to a tractor loader on which the boom arm is mounted.
- FIG. l is a diagrammatic and sectional view of the hydraulic system of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of a tractor loader to which the present invention is applied.
- a hydraulic power unit 10 comprises a cylinder 1 1, a piston 12 slidably mounted in the cylinder, and a rod 13 secured to the piston 12 and projecting from one end of the cylinder 11.
- a control valve 14, which comprises a stationary housing 15 and a movable spool 16 slidably mounted in the housing 15 is connected with a pump 17 by a line 18, by a line 19 with drain indicated at 20, and by lines 21 and 22 with openings 23 and 24, respectively, in the cylinder 1 1 adjacent its opposite ends.
- the lines 18 and 19 are connected with one another so that the pump 17 takes hydraulic fluid from drain indicated at 24a and returns the fluid directly by way of lines 18 and 19 to drain at 20.
- the spool 16 of the control valve 14 is yieldingly held in the central position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a coil spring 25 and two cup-like members 26 and 27.
- the ends of the coil spring 25 act against outwardly directed flanges on the members 26 and 27, urging them against shoulders 28 and 29, respectively, formed on the housing 15 of the control valve 14.
- the extension 32 which may be of the same diameter as the spool 16, is spaced from the spool by the reduced portion 32a.
- the extension 32 has an annular peripheral groove 33 serving as a ball detent pocket and defined by opposed conical surfaces.
- a sleeve 23 which is mounted in the body 15 of the control valve 14 so as to slide therein, loosely receives the extension 32 of the spool 16 and has at one end a conical surface 35.
- the body 15 of the control valve 14 has a conical surface 36 which faces the conical surface 35 on the sleeve 34.
- a plurality of detent balls 37 which are distributed about the extension 32 and may be four in number, lie between the conical surfaces 35 and 36 in engagement therewith.
- a coil spring 38 surrounds the sleeve 34 and has one end in engagement with the inside of one end of the valve housing 15 and the other end in engagement with an external peripheral flange 39 formed on the sleeve 34. Coil spring 38 urges the conical surface 35 against the balls 37 and the balls 37 against the conical surface 36.
- the control valve 14 may be shifted manually from the neutral position of FIG. 1, by action against an external end portion 40.
- Control valve 14 is also regulated by a pilot valve 41 which comprises a movable spool 42 and a stationary housing 43 having a central bore 43a in which the spool 42 is slidably mounted.
- One end of the pilot valve 41 is connected with the end of the cylinder 11 of the hydraulic power unit where the opening 23 is located, by means of a line 44 con nected to the line 21.
- the other end of pilot valve 41 is connected by a line 45 with an opening 46 in the cylinder 11 at an intermediate or mid-region thereof.
- a coil spring 47 which engages the inside of the end of the housing 43 where the line 45 is connected, and a deep recess in the facing end of the spool 42, urges the spool to the position of FIG. 1, in which it engages the inside of the end of the housing 43 where the line 44 is connected.
- the spool 42 has a relatively long reduced portion 48 at an intermediate region.
- the body 43 of the pilot .valve 41 has three axially spaced annular grooves 49, 50, and 51 formed about the bore 43a in which the spool 42 is mounted.
- the groove 51 is connected by a passage 53 in the body 43 and a line 54 with drain indicated at 55.
- the groove 49 is connected to the pump line 18 by a passage 35a in the body 43 and a line 55b leading therefrom.
- the groove 50 is connected by way of a passage 56 in body 43, a line 57, and an opening 58 in the body of control valve 14, with a chamber 59 in the body.
- the chamber 59 is formed between sleeve 34, the body 15, flange 39 on sleeve 34, and a shoulder in body 15 facing flange 39. Seals 60 and 61 for the chamber 59 are located in external annular grooves formed in the sleeve 34 and its flange 39.
- Novelty is felt to reside in sensing the cylinder midstroke position hydraulically, that is strictly by hydraulic connection so as to eliminate mechanical connection back to, and physical actuation by, the bucket itself. More specifically when the piston 12 is moved sufficiently to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, in the cylinder 11, a second pressure signal develops in the midopening 46 formed in the cylinder 11 as the passing piston uncovers the mid-opening.
- the line 45 is now connected at pump pressure by virtue of the connection of the lines 45 and 21 with one another across the openings 23 and 46 in the cylinder 11 and the space therein to the left of the piston 12.
- lines 44 and 45 connected to the opposite ends of the pilot valve 41 transmit the same 1st and 2d pressure signals equalling pump pressure or line pressure, and so the spring 47 in the pilot valve 41 returns the spool 42 to the position of FIG. 1.
- the reduced portion 411 of the spool 42 connects the grooves 49 and 511 in the pilot valve 41 with one another, rather than the grooves 50 and 31, and so the chamber 59 in the control valve 14 is connected to the pump 17, rather than to the drain 55.
- the sleeve 34 moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, moving the conical surfaces 35 and 36 apart in the desired way and allowing the balls 37 to move outwardly out of the groove 33 in the extension 32 of the spool 16 of the control valve 14.
- the spring 25 returns the spool 16 to the position of FIG. 1 with the result that the control valve 14 blocks the lines 21 and 22, and hydraulic kickout thus stops the piston 12 against further movement to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 in the cylinder 11.
- the tractor loader 62 comprises a body 63, front wheels 64, one being shown, a boom arm 65, and a digging bucket 66.
- the rear end of the boom arm 65 has a pivot 67 on the tractor body 63.
- the bucket 66 has a pivot 68 on the front end of the boom arm 65.
- the boom arm 65 is raised from a lowered full-line position to a raised dotted-line position by means of a by draulic power unit 69 comprising a cylinder 70, a piston (not shown) slidably mounted in the cylinder 70, and a rod 71 secured to the piston and projecting from the cylinder 70.
- the cylinder 70 has a pivot 72 on a depending bracket 73 secured to the underside of the tractor body 63.
- the piston rod 71 has a pivotal connection 74 with a mid-region of the boom arm 65.
- the hydraulic power unit 11 is used to control the position of the digging bucket 66 with respect to the boom arm 65.
- the cylinder 11 of the power unit has an end flange 75 which has a pivotal connection 76 with a bracket 77 secured to the tractor body 63.
- the piston rod 13 of the power unit 10 has a pivotal connection 78 with one end of a lever 79.
- the other end of the lever 79 has a pivotal connection 80 with a link 61, which in turn has a pivotal connection 82 with the digging bucket 66.
- a mid-region of the lever 79 has a pivot 83 on the boom arm 65.
- DUMP POSITION BUCKET FULL FORWARD
- the bucket goes full forward with movement of the piston 12 fully retracted to a corresponding dump posi' tion. Movement of the piston 12 to this position will have been brought about by leftward depression as viewed in FIG. 1 of the spool 16 ollthe control valve 14, with the spool 16 in dump position affording connection of the line 22 to the pump 17 and the line 21 to the drain 20.
- the bucket 66 In digging position, the bucket 66 will be as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. In breakout or carry position, the bucket 66 will be in the lower dotted-line position, dis placed counterclockwise somewhat beyond the fullline position of FIG. 2. It will be observed that when considered with reference to the boom arm 65, the digging bucket 66 will occupy the extreme dumping and carry positions and also the intermediate position which is angularly between the dumping and carry positions.
- TWO STAGE LOAD-CARRY POSITIONS The load position is taken in the first stage.
- the piston 12 is so connected and adjusted with respect to the digging bucket 66 through the piston rod 13, the lever 79, and the link 81 that the digging bucket 66 is properly angled with respect to the boom arm 65 Specifically, the bucket 66 will assume digging position in the lowered position of the boom arm when the piston 12 of the power unit 10 has moved in the cylinder 11 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 just beyond the opening 46 in the cylinder 11.
- the movement of the piston 12 to the right just beyond the opening 46 switches the line 45 from drain pressure to pump pressure, thus equalizing the pressures in the lines 44 and 45 connected to the ends of the pilot valve 41 and returning the spool 42 thereof to the position of FIG. 1 and applying pump pressure to the chamber 59 in the control valve 14.
- the result is that the spool 16 of the control valve 14 is returned to the blocking position of FIG. 1 in which blocking of the lines 21 and 22 by the control valve 14 holds the piston 12 against further rightward movement.
- the carry position is taken in the second stage.
- the operator pulls the control valve rightwardly from the neutral or hold position to the fully extended rack back or roll back position, retracting the bucket full back to the carry position.
- the automatic assumption of digging position by the bucket 66 facilitates operation of the tractor loader 62.
- the operator of the loader need concern himself only with the lowering of the boom arm 65 to the ground to position the bucket 66 for digging; he is freed of the chore of accurately angling of the bucket 66 with respect to the arm 65, because indexing the bucket to the desired angle is automatically brought about by adjustment of the connection of the lever 79 and link between the bucket 66 and the piston rod 13.
- the operator is merely required, just before or during lowering of the boom arm 65 by actuation of the power unit 69, to move the spool 16 of the control valve 14 to the right end, as viewed in FIG.
- An assembly comprising:
- a double acting hydraulic power unit comprising a cylinder and a piston mounted therein for longitudinal movement of the cylinder and piston with respect to one another
- a neutralizable control valve connecting the ends of the cylinder with a source of hydraulic pressure fluid and drain so as to move the piston in one direction and the other with respect to the cylinder and neutralizable to block both ends of the cylinder by hydraulic lock action to fix the piston and cylinder against relative movement
- c. means for holding the control valve out of the hydraulic-lock, hold setting and maintained in a setting involving connection of one end of the cylinder with the source and the other end with drain, and
- the further means being a pilot valve having other connections to the source and drain independent of the control valve, the further means operating in response to connection through the pilot valve with drain to enable actuation of the holding means to occur, the further means operating in response to connection through the pilot valve with the source to release the holding means,
- the further means being connected by the pilot valve to drain in response to movement of the piston from the said one end of the cylinder toward the said mid region thereon, and being connected to the source in response to movement of the piston from the said one end of the cylinder beyond the said mid region thereof.
- An assembly comprising:
- a power unit comprising a cylinder and a piston mounted therein for longitudinal movement of the cylinder and piston with respect to one another
- a control valve connected with the source and the ends of the cylinder so as in a first setting to block the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the cylinder and connect the source with drain, in a second setting to connect one end of the cylinder with the source and the other end with drain, and in a third setting to connect the said one end of the cylinder with drain and the said other end with the source,
- first and second lines connecting the pilot valve with said one end of the cylinder and a mid region of the cylinder, respectively, for enabling the holding means to be activated during the second setting of the valve
- the second line thereby communicating drain pressure to the pilot valve when the piston is between the said one end and the said mid region of the cylinder and the said other end of the cylinder is connected as aforesaid with drain
- the piston being moved with respect to the cylinder toward its said other end by virtue of the connection of its said other end to drain and its said one end with the source, the passage of the piston beyond the mid region of the cylinder at which the said second line is connected shifting the connection of the same from drain to the source and thereby making the pilot valve release the holding means, whereby the spring means returns the valve to its first setting and further movement of the piston with respenct to the cylinder is prefifth line, the pilot valve, and the fourth line and thereby enable the additional spring means to actuate the holding means,
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (3)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US7177870A | 1970-09-14 | 1970-09-14 | |
US27851072A | 1972-08-07 | 1972-08-07 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3792640A true US3792640A (en) | 1974-02-19 |
Family
ID=26752655
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00278510A Expired - Lifetime US3792640A (en) | 1970-09-14 | 1972-08-07 | Automatic bucket positioning device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3792640A (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3980000A (en) * | 1973-08-24 | 1976-09-14 | Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Control system for a hydraulic clamping device |
US5052883A (en) * | 1988-08-31 | 1991-10-01 | Caterpillar Inc. | Implement positioning control system for construction machines |
US5673558A (en) * | 1994-06-28 | 1997-10-07 | Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. | Hydraulic circuit system for hydraulic excavator |
CN104024658A (en) * | 2011-11-02 | 2014-09-03 | 卡特彼勒公司 | Machine, control system and method for hovering an implement |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2159879A (en) * | 1936-02-07 | 1939-05-23 | Servo Frein Dewandre Sa | Pneumatic control apparatus |
US3511133A (en) * | 1968-03-06 | 1970-05-12 | Caterpillar Tractor Co | Position control for hydraulic jacks |
US3547293A (en) * | 1968-12-16 | 1970-12-15 | Caterpillar Tractor Co | Automatic loader bucket control and indicator |
-
1972
- 1972-08-07 US US00278510A patent/US3792640A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2159879A (en) * | 1936-02-07 | 1939-05-23 | Servo Frein Dewandre Sa | Pneumatic control apparatus |
US3511133A (en) * | 1968-03-06 | 1970-05-12 | Caterpillar Tractor Co | Position control for hydraulic jacks |
US3547293A (en) * | 1968-12-16 | 1970-12-15 | Caterpillar Tractor Co | Automatic loader bucket control and indicator |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3980000A (en) * | 1973-08-24 | 1976-09-14 | Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Control system for a hydraulic clamping device |
US5052883A (en) * | 1988-08-31 | 1991-10-01 | Caterpillar Inc. | Implement positioning control system for construction machines |
US5673558A (en) * | 1994-06-28 | 1997-10-07 | Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. | Hydraulic circuit system for hydraulic excavator |
CN104024658A (en) * | 2011-11-02 | 2014-09-03 | 卡特彼勒公司 | Machine, control system and method for hovering an implement |
CN104024658B (en) * | 2011-11-02 | 2016-10-19 | 卡特彼勒公司 | Machine, for the control system of facility and the method for hovering |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DEL., STATELE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004130/0646 Effective date: 19821101 Owner name: DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DEL. Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004130/0646 Effective date: 19821101 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KOMATSU DRESSER COMPANY, E. SUNNYSIDE 7TH ST., LIB Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:DRESSER FINANCE CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:004994/0077 Effective date: 19880901 Owner name: DRESSER FINANCE CORPORATION, DALLAS, TX., A DE COR Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004994/0061 Effective date: 19880831 |