Abstract:
A system for controlling an earthworking implement having a plurality of orientations is provided. The earthworking implement is operable in a plurality of orientations. The earthworking implement is removably attached to a track-type tractor that includes a blade support member. The system includes four independently operable hydraulic cylinders where one end of each hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to the earthworking implement and other end attached to the blade support member. Further, each of the hydraulic cylinders is adapted to control the orientations of the earthworking implement with respect to the blade support member. A blade support member includes a first end and a second end. Further, the first end is pivotally attached to a center portion of the earthworking implement, and the second end is attached to the main frame.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a system for controlling an earthworking implement for multiple orientations. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Machines such as track-type tractors includes an implement to carryout various operations such as dumping, levelling, mining and the like. The implement is mounted to a main frame by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes support members to hold the implement and multiple hydraulic actuators for operating the implement. Typically, the arrangement includes separate hydraulic actuators for every orientation of the implement such as angle, pitch, tilt and the like. Such an arrangement makes the track-type tractor bulky and further requires counterbalance for operation. This leads to low performance and control of the implement. Also, this increases the complexity of the mounting assembly and operation. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,682 hereinafter referred as the &#39;682 patent, describes an apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement. The earthworking implement is movably attached to a track-type tractor having a main frame and a track roller frame. The track roller frame is located on a left and a right side of the main frame. The apparatus includes a c-frame attached to inner portions of the track roller frame at positions toward a forward portion of the track-type tractor. The apparatus also includes four independently operable hydraulic cylinders attached to one of the main frame and the c-frame. Each of the hydraulic cylinders has a head end located toward the attachment to one of the main frame and the c-frame, and a rod end located substantially vertically upwards of the head end. The apparatus also includes an earthworking blade attached to each of the rod ends of the hydraulic cylinders and to the c-frame. The implement system of the &#39;682 patent sets forth an implement actuation and control system to address the complexities of controlling movement along four degrees of freedom relative to the implement. However, a more simplified system which addresses three degrees of movement of the implement not including lift would be desirable, providing more durable components and more simplified controls. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for controlling an earthworking implement is provided. The earthworking implement is operable in a plurality of orientations. The earthworking implement is removably attached to a track-type tractor that includes a main frame. The system includes a blade support member. The blade support member includes a first end and a second end. Further, the first end is pivotally attached to a center portion of the earthworking implement, and the second end is rigidly attached to the main frame. The system includes four independently operable hydraulic cylinders where one end of each hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to the earthworking implement and other end attached to the blade support member. Further, each of the hydraulic cylinders is adapted to control the orientations of the earthworking implement with respect to the blade support member. 
         [0005]    Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a lower portion of a track-type tractor having an earthworking implement coupled to a frame of the track-type tractor by means of a mounting system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a front portion of the track-type tractor of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the earthworking implement coupled to hydraulic cylinders, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates operation of hydraulic cylinders of  FIG. 2  to control pitch orientation of the earthworking implement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates operation of hydraulic cylinders of  FIG. 2  to control angle orientation of the earthworking implement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates operation of hydraulic cylinders of  FIG. 2  to control angle orientation of the earthworking implement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates operation of hydraulic cylinders of  FIG. 2  to control angle orientation of the earthworking implement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a lower portion of a track-type tractor  100 . The track-type tractor  100  includes a main frame  102  and an earthworking implement  104  coupled to the main frame  102 . The track-type tractor  100  may include a power source (not shown), for example, a diesel engine, a gasoline engine, a gaseous fuel powered engine such as a natural gas engine or any other type of engine apparent to one of skill in the art. The power supplied by the power source may be used for propelling the track-type tractor  100  by means of tracks  106 . Further the power source may supply power for the working of various components such as the earthworking implement  104 , valves, electrical equipment and the like. 
         [0014]    In the present embodiment, the main frame  102  of the track-type tractor  100  includes a blade support member  126  rigidly coupled to the main frame  102 . The blade support member  126  includes a first end  128 , and a second end  130 . The first end  128  of the blade support member  126  is pivotally attached to a center portion  132  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the earthworking implement  104  proximate to a bottom portion  124 . The first end  128  of the blade support member  126  is coupled to the earthworking implement  104  such that the first end  128  is positioned above the third and fourth rod ends  114 R and  116 R. The second end  130  of the blade support member  126  is rigidly attached to the main frame  102  (not shown). In an example, a first axis  134 , a second axis  135  and a third axis  136  define the geometry of the track-type tractor  100  such that they are perpendicular to each other. Further, the axes  134 ,  135  and  136  have an origin at the first end  128 . The first axis  134  extends laterally along the earthworking implement  104  and passes through the first end  128  of the blade support member  126 . The second axis  135  passes horizontally along the lateral direction of the track-type tractor  100 . The third axis  136  passes vertically through the first end  128  of the blade support member  126  as shown. 
         [0015]    In the present embodiment, the blade support member  126  includes a mounting system  108 . The mounting system  108  is configured to manoeuver the earthworking implement  104 . Further, the mounting system  108  couples the earthworking implement  104  to the blade support member  126 . The mounting system  108  includes a first hydraulic cylinder  110 , a second hydraulic cylinder  112  (shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 ), a third hydraulic cylinder  114  and a fourth hydraulic cylinder  116  (shown in  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 ). The first, second, third and fourth hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  couple the earthworking implement  104  to the blade support member  126  by spherical joints  118  as shown. When the track-type tractor  100  is viewed from a front end  120 , the first and third hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  114  are coupled proximate to a left end  121  of the earthworking implement  104  and the blade support member  126 . When the track-type tractor  100  is viewed from the front end  120 , the second and the fourth hydraulic cylinders  112 ,  116  are coupled proximate to a right end  123  of the earthworking implement  104  and the blade support member  126 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  has a head end  110 H,  112 H,  114 H, and  116 H that is coupled to the main frame  102 . In addition, each of the hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  has a rod end  110 R,  112 R,  114 R,  116 R that is coupled to the earthworking implement  104 . The rod ends  110 R,  112 R of the first and second hydraulic cylinder  110 ,  112  are coupled to a top portion  122  of the earthworking implement  104 . The rod ends  114 R,  116 R of the third and fourth hydraulic cylinder  114 ,  116  are coupled to the bottom portion  124  of the earthworking implement  104 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first and second hydraulic cylinder  110 ,  112  are relatively angled with the third and fourth hydraulic cylinder  114 ,  116 . The hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 , and  114 , and  116  are angled to form a shape of an alphabet “A” when viewed from sideways. The hydraulic cylinder  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  may receive power from the power source via a pump or motor (not shown). The hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  may be controlled by a control unit (not shown) which may in turn be operated by an operator. The hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116  operate together to control the orientations of the earthworking implement  104 , which will now be described in detail. 
         [0018]    In an example, the bottom portion  124  of the track-type tractor  100  initially rests on the ground. The first end  126  of the blade support member  126  is coupled to the earthworking implement  104  When the track-type tractor  100  needs to carry load on the earthworking implement  104 , the operator executes pitching operation of the earthworking implement  104 , the rod ends  110 R and  112 R of the first and second hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112  are directed outwards. Further, the rod ends  114 R and  116 R of the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders  114 ,  116  are directed inwards. The earthworking implement  104  rotates about the first end  128  of the blade support member  126  about the first axis  134  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    In an example, referring to  FIG. 4 , when the track-type tractor  100  needs to tilt the earthworking implement  104  in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front end  120 . The rod ends of diagonally opposite the hydraulic cylinders, for example the rod ends  110 R,  116 R of the first and fourth hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  116  is directed inwards. Simultaneously, the rod ends  112 R,  114 R of the remaining hydraulic cylinders  112  and  114  are directed outwards as shown in  FIG. 4 . Further, the earthworking implement  104  turns about the first end  128  of the earthworking implement  104  along the second axis  135 . Further, the rod ends  110 R,  112 R,  116 R of the first, second and fourth hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  116  are directed outwards. Similarly, for tilting the earthworking implement  104  in a counter-clockwise direction the rod end  112 R and  114 R of the second and third hydraulic cylinders  112 ,  114  are directed inwards and the rod ends  110 R and  116 R are directed outwards. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the track-type tractor  100  may need to angle the earthworking implement  104  such that the left end  121  is distal and the right end  123  is proximate to the main frame  102 . Simultaneously, the rod end  110 R and  114 R of the first and the third hydraulic cylinders  110 ,  114  are directed outwards. Further, the rod ends  112 R,  116 R of the second and fourth hydraulic cylinders  112 ,  116  are directed inwards. The earthworking implement  104  rotates about the third axis  136  of the earthworking implement  104  as shown. Similarly, when the track-type tractor  100  needs to angle the earthworking implement  104  such that the right end  123  is distal and the left end  121  is proximate to the main frame  102 , the rod ends  112 R,  116 R are directed outwards and the rod ends  110 R,  114  are directed inwards. Therefore, the mounting system  108  provides angle, tilt, and pitch movement of the implement  104  from four cylinders  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0021]    The present disclosure relates to a system  100  of controlling the earthworking implement  104 . The present mounting system  108  enables the earthworking implement  104  to move through an angle, the implement  104  may also tilt and pitch. By facilitating three degrees of freedom of movement of the implement, the mounting system  108  is more compact and is easier to control compared to four degree of movement systems which contemplate implement lift. Further, the compactness of the mounting system  108  also helps to place the connection between the blade support member  126  and the earthworking implement  104  closer to the main frame  102  which eliminates the need of any counterbalance. The compactness of the mounting system  108  also enables the hydraulic cylinders,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  to put higher force per cylinder thereby enhances the accuracy of control, the durability of the components, and the performance of the track-type tractor  100 . The accuracy of control of the earthworking implement  104  further enables variable pitching of the earthworking implement  104 . The mounting system  108  is also easy to operate and cost effective. 
         [0022]    While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.