Abstract:
A support structure for an implement lift cylinder on an earth-working machine. The support structure includes first and second implement lift cylinder supports. The first implement lift cylinder support mounts to the work machine and the second implement lift cylinder support rotatably connects thereto about a first axis of rotation. The second implement lift cylinder support receives the implement lift cylinder and allows rotational movement thereof about a second axis of rotation. The first and second axes are located within a single plane. The dual axes provide stability and adjustability of the implement lift cylinder for different angle configurations of a work implement, such as an earth-working blade.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This disclosure relates generally to an earth-working machine and, more particularly, to an implement lift cylinder support on the earth-working machine.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Various earth-working implements attached to tractors and other earth-working vehicles require movement in multiple axes. In particular, a dozing attachment, or blade, must be attached to the dozer so that an operator can raise, lower, or tilt the blade for proper angle and pitch configurations. These different configurations are necessary so that the dozing attachment may be positioned relative to the dozer to accomplish any desired landscaping or earth-working effect.  
         [0003]     Typically, a push beam assembly and implement lift cylinders mounted on opposed sides of the dozer pivotally secure the dozing attachment to the dozer. Because the hydraulic cylinders experience much of the shifting of the dozing attachments, there have been several prior attempts to suitably mount the hydraulic cylinder to the dozer and the dozing attachment. For example, U.S. Pat. No 3,897,833 to Claude M. Frisbee, granted on Aug. 5, 1975 discloses a trunnion mounting for an implement lift cylinder on an earth-working machine. The mounting includes a post with an inner race on a first end, which is rotationally maintained within an outer race of a sidewall of the earth-working machine by a plurality of bearing elements fitting in annular grooves on the inner and outer race. An implement lift cylinder is secured between a pair of mounts and bolted to a second end of the post.  
         [0004]     The trunnion mounting discussed above suffers from at least four significant disadvantages. First, the inner and outer races include the annular complementary grooves that must be machined to very tight tolerances. The machining process is expensive, time consuming, and introduces additional manufacturing processes and handling, and thus increases overall manufacturing costs of the machine. Second, the post acting on the bearing elements provides a significant lever arm, which, under heavy loads, may result in increased wear and decreased component life. Third, the trunnion mount must be mounted to a side of the dozer, which may affect an operator&#39;s ability to view the area being worked. Fourth, the bearing elements are difficult to service. Well-lubed clean bearings are critical to bearing reliability and life. However, due to the tight machine requirements, disassembly may be difficult without moving the dozer to a maintenance facility with large hydraulic presses capable of separating the post from the bearing. As a result, down time and maintenance cause significant additional costs.  
         [0005]     The disclosed implement lift cylinder support is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect, an implement lift cylinder support for supporting a hydraulic cylinder is provided. The support includes a first implement lift cylinder support defining a first pair of axially aligned apertures, and a second implement lift cylinder support having a pair of posts extending into the first pair of axially aligned apertures. The second implement lift cylinder defines a second pair of axially aligned apertures configured to receive posts connected to the implement lift cylinder. The first pair of axially aligned apertures define a first axis of rotation, and the second pair of axially aligned apertures define a second axis of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation are located substantially within a plane.  
         [0007]     In another aspect, the support includes first and second implement lift cylinder supports and first and second means for connecting the first and second implement lift cylinder supports. The second implement lift cylinder support connects to the first implement lift cylinder support and is adapted to receive an implement lift cylinder. The first means rotatably connects the second implement lift cylinder support to the first implement lift cylinder support, and the second means rotatably connects the implement lift cylinder to the second implement lift cylinder support. The first means allows the second implement lift cylinder to rotate about a first axis, and the second means allows the implement lift cylinder to rotate about a second axis. The first and second axes are located within a plane.  
         [0008]     In yet another aspect, the support is adapted to connect to a mounting structure on a machine. The support includes a first implement lift cylinder support attached to the mounting structure, a second implement lift cylinder support rotatably connected to the first implement lift cylinder support about a first axis of rotation, and an implement lift cylinder rotatably connected to the second implement lift cylinder support about a second axis of rotation. The first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are located substantially within a plane.  
         [0009]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an earth-working machine having an implement lift cylinder support;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an implement lift cylinder support; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of an implement lift cylinder support. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary work machine  10 . The work machine  10  may be a fixed or mobile machine that performs some type of operation associated with an industry such as mining, construction, or farming, for example. The work machine  10  may be a dozer, as illustrated, an excavator, a harvester, a backhoe, or other work machine. The work machine  10  includes a machine body  12  and at least one work implement  14  movably connected to the machine body  12 .  
         [0016]     The machine body  12  may include any structural unit that supports movement of the work machine  10  and/or the work implement  14 . The machine body  12  may include, for example, a stationary base frame (not shown) connecting a power source (not shown) to a traction device  18 .  
         [0017]     The work implement  14  may include any device used in the performance of a task. For example, the work implement  14  may include a blade, a bucket, a shovel, a hammer, an auger, a ripper, or any other task-performing device known in the art. Work implement  14  may be configured to pivot, rotate, slide, swing, or move relative to the machine body  12  in any other manner known in the art.  
         [0018]     The work implement  14  may be movably connected to the machine body  12  by, for example, a linkage system  20  known in the art. Specifically, the work implement  14  may be connected to the machine body  12  by way of support structure  22 , push arms  24 , and tilt arms  26 .  
         [0019]     The linkage system  20  may be movable by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders. In particular, an implement lift cylinder  28  may be expandable and retractable to move the work implement  14  downward and upward relative to a working surface. A hydraulic cylinder may further be adapted to move the push arms  24  to angle the work implement  14  relative to the machine body  12 . The tilt arms  26  may be adapted to tilt the work implement relative to the machine body  12 . Finally, additional hydraulic cylinders may be attached to the work machine  10 , machine body  12 , and additional work implements to move the additional work implements as desired.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the support structure  22  includes a first implement lift cylinder support  30  and a second implement lift cylinder support  32  rotatably connected thereto.  
         [0021]     The first implement lift cylinder support  30  includes a first pair of opposed mounts  34  and the second implement lift cylinder support  32  includes a second pair of opposed mounts  36  connected to a frame  38 .  
         [0022]     Fasteners, such as bolts, connect the first and second pair of opposed mounts  34  and  36  to a mounting structure  40  and the frame  38 , respectively. The mounting structure  40  is integrally attached to the earth-working machine  10 . The mounting structure  40  may be cast integral to a front end casting  42  of the earth-working machine  10  to form a single integral piece or individually cast and secured to the front end casting  42  during assembly. The mounting structure  40  includes a pair of extensions  44  that attach to and extend outwardly from a front surface  46  of the earth-working machine  10 . However, the extensions  44 , or mounting structure  40 , may be positioned to attach to any surface of the earth-working machine  10 . For example, the extensions  44  or the mounting structure  40  may attach to and extend outwardly from a side surface  48  of the front end casting  42 .  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , each of the first and second pairs of opposed mounts  34  and  36  define apertures  52  therein. The defined apertures  52  provide first and second axes of rotation  53  and  55 . The second implement lift support  32  rotates about the first axis of rotation  53  and the implement lift cylinder  28  rotates about the second axis of rotation  55 . Preferably, the first and second axes of rotation  53  and  55  run substantially perpendicular to each other, and are located on a single plane.  
         [0024]     The defined apertures  52  may be fitted with sleeve bearings or bushings (not shown) to improve rotational movement of the frame  38  and the implement lift cylinder  28  while in operation. The defined apertures  52  may also be fitted with seals (not shown) to maintain proper lubrication of the interconnecting frame and ring posts  50  and  56  within the defined apertures  52 . Caps, or seals,  54  may be fit to cover the defined apertures  52  to prevent entrainment of undesirable particles, such as dirt, while in operation.  
         [0025]     Frame posts  50  attach to and extend from the frame  38 , and ring posts  56  attach to and extend from an implement lift cylinder ring  58 . A weld secures the implement lift cylinder ring  58  to the implement lift cylinder  28 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the implement lift cylinder ring  58  may be attached to the implement lift cylinder using other well known techniques.  
         [0026]     Optionally, the frame and ring posts  50  and  56  may be internally threaded to accept bolts (not shown) to secure the first pair of opposed mounts  34  to the frame  38  and the second pair of opposed mounts  36  to the ring posts  56 . Alternative means of securing the bolts to the posts  56 , and still allow rotational movement of the frame  38  and the implement lift cylinder  28 , that are known to those having ordinary skill, may be employed.  
         [0027]     It is noted that that the placement of the defined apertures  52  and frame and ring posts  50  and  56  may be reversed. For example, the defined apertures  52  may be positioned on the implement lift cylinder ring  58  and the frame  38 , and the frame and ring posts  50  and  56  may be positioned on the first and second opposed mounts  34  and  36 .  
         [0028]     The frame  38  features lowered fore-aft positions  60  for receiving the second pair of opposed mounts  36  to maintain a compact design.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0029]     The support structure  22  supports the implement lift cylinder  28  to prevent axial forces acting against the implement lift cylinder  28  from causing significant unintended movement while allowing the implement lift cylinder  28  desirable side-to-side and fore-aft movement.  
         [0030]     In operation, and referring back to  FIGS. 1-3 , the support structure  22  attaches to the front of the work machine  10 . The frame posts  50  rotate about the first axis  53  within the defined apertures  52  of the first pair of opposed mounts  34  and allow fore-aft movement of the implement lift cylinder  28  in direction of arrow  62 . The ring posts  56  rotate about the second axis  55  within the defined apertures  52  of the second pair of opposed mounts  36  and allow side-to-side movement of the implement lift cylinder  28  in direction of arrow  64 . Other connecting means, such as ball and sockets, universal joints, hinges, and other rotatable components may be used to provide the desired rotation.  
         [0031]     When an operator of the work machine  10  adjusts the angle and tilt of the work implement  14 , the implement lift cylinders  28  rotate about the first and second axes  53  and  55 . Specifically, the ring posts  56  rotate about the defined apertures  52  of the second opposed mounts  36  and the frame posts  50  rotate about the defined apertures  52  of the first pair of opposed mounts  34 .  
         [0032]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the support of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the support will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.