Mobile machine containing displaceably mounted power unit or power unit components

The mobile machine is provided with a power unit containing a prime mover and a hydraulic system connected thereto for supplying power to hydraulically operated machine parts. The power unit includes a number of components and is mounted at a support frame. Either the entire power unit as such or selected ones of its components are arranged for displacement between a first or operative position and a second or displaced position in which free access is provided to the power unit as such or its selected components for maintenance and/or repair operations. Also, those parts of the machine, which are hidden behind the power unit or its selected components in their first or operative position, become accessible in the second or displaced position of the power unit or selected components thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
This application is related to my copending U.S. application Ser. No. 
08/215,326, filed Mar. 21, 1994, entitled "Mobile Material Processing 
Machine With Tandem Axle". 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a new and improved construction of a mobile 
machine containing a power unit. 
In a mobile processing machine such as known, for example, from U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,927,528, granted May 22, 1990, to the applicant of the instant 
application, the processing machine constitutes a rotatable sieve device 
for separating compost from comminuted waste material, which has been 
deposited in stacks or pits, after completion of a rotting process. The 
sieve device has associated therewith a number of conveyors for taking up 
and conveying the different materials resulting from the sieving 
operation. The sieve device as well as the conveyors associated therewith 
are mounted at a common support frame which also supports the power unit. 
The power unit includes a diesel engine as a prime mover drivingly 
connected to a sieve drum and a hydraulic system which drivingly acts upon 
the conveyors and other hydraulically operated parts of the sieve device. 
The aforementioned power unit of the mobile waste processing machine has 
been recited merely as an example of widely used power units of such type. 
Multi-component power units of this kind are generally employed in various 
fields in connection with a variety of mobile machines which are operated, 
like the aforenoted material processing machine, in a basically comparable 
manner and comparable environmental conditions. 
In many cases like in the aforementioned specific case, the power unit is 
placed on the support frame in a position in which the power unit as a 
whole or certain components thereof are accessible essentially only from 
one side. Also, parts of the machines driven by such power unit are 
covered or hidden by the power unit or certain components thereof and thus 
become inaccessible. However, in a great number of cases mobile machines 
of this type are utilized in places and environments which are way distant 
from a workshop or any other place permitting the power unit and/or 
machine parts hidden thereby to be readily accessed for maintenance and/or 
repair work. 
Thus, with the presently known constructions of mobile machines, the 
severely restricted accessibility of either the power unit or certain 
components thereof and the machine parts hidden by the power unit or its 
components poses a serious problem if maintenance and/or repair operations 
become required. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, with the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the 
present invention to provide a new and improved construction of a mobile 
machine which is not afflicted with the drawbacks and limitations of the 
prior art heretofore discussed. 
Another and more specific object of the present invention is directed to a 
new and improved construction of a mobile machine in which access is 
provided to the power unit of the mobile machine in the event that 
maintenance and/or repair thereof are required. 
It is an important object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved construction of a mobile machine in which access is provided to 
selected components of the power unit in the event that maintenance and/or 
repair are required for such selected components. 
A further important object of the present invention is directed to a new 
and improved construction of a mobile machine in which access is provided 
to machine parts which are covered or hidden by the power unit or selected 
components thereof, in order to permit maintenance and/or repair of such 
machine parts. 
It is a further significant object of the present invention to provide a 
new and improved construction of a mobile machine in which either the 
power unit or selected components thereof are permitted to be displaced 
into a position for ready access thereto. 
Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the 
invention, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, 
the mobile machine of the present development is manifested by the 
features that, among other things, selectively either the power unit or at 
least one selected component thereof is displaceably supported at the 
mobile machine for displacement between a first or operative position and 
a second or displaced position permitting ready access to selectively 
either the power unit as a whole, the selected component thereof or a 
machine part which is hidden behind the power unit or its selected 
component in their first or operative position. 
In an advantageous development of the inventive construction, the power 
unit may be mounted at a platform which is supported at a support frame 
for pivotation about a substantially vertical axis by up to nearly 
180.degree.. In such case, the platform may be generally rectangularly 
shaped and pivotably supported at the support frame for pivoting about a 
pivot pin which is placed at an external corner of the platform in the 
operative or non-pivoted position of the platform. 
In a preferred embodiment of the inventive construction the aforenoted 
selected component of the power unit may constitute a cooler which is 
arranged at the power unit for pivoting about a laterally disposed pivot 
axis. The cooler may constitute a cooler for hydraulic oil supplied to a 
hydraulic drive system by means of a pump operated under the action of the 
power unit. Alternatively, when the prime mover of the power unit 
constitutes a water-cooled diesel engine or the like, the cooler may 
constitute a water cooler through which the cooling water for the 
combustion engine is passed. 
In a further development of the inventive construction, the aforenoted 
selected component of the power unit may constitute an oil reservoir of a 
hydraulic system. The pumps of such hydraulic system are located below the 
oil reservoir and connected therewith through flexible lines; the oil 
reservoir is arranged to be laterally pivoted away about a substantially 
horizontally extending pivot axis such as to provide access to the 
hydraulic system or the pumps thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Describing now the drawings, it is to be understood that only enough of the 
construction of the power unit in connection with a mobile machine has 
been shown as needed for those skilled in the art to readily understand 
the underlying principles and concepts of the present development, while 
simplifying the showing of the drawings. It will also be understood that 
the same or analogous features are generally utilized in connection with 
mobile machines of the most variable types and substantially independent 
of the specific purpose of use of such machine, particularly in connection 
with machines which tend to be deployed in environments which are not 
readily accessible and materially distant from any workshop or other 
installation at which maintenance and/or repair operations can be readily 
carried out, if required. 
The first exemplary embodiment of the inventive construction, which is 
schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, relates to a mobile material 
processing machine containing, for example, a sieve device and associated 
components (not illustrated) of the type as disclosed in the initially 
mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,528. Such mobile material processing machine 
includes a support frame 1 which is only schematically indicated and which 
supports the sieve device and its parts and a power unit 2 powering the 
sieve device and its parts. 
The power unit 2 is placed on mounting means in the form of a platform 4 
which is disposed at the support frame 1 laterally of the sieve device. 
The power unit 2 includes a prime mover 6 which in most cases will 
constitute a water-cooled diesel engine but may also constitute an 
electric motor where electric power is available. An air filter 8 of 
conventional construction is connected to the inlet side of the prime 
mover or diesel engine 6. A water cooler 10 is located on one side of the 
power unit 2 and associated with a ventilator driven by the diesel engine 
6. On the side remote from the water cooler 10, a conventional hydraulic 
system (not illustrated) is disposed and contains, inter alia, a main pump 
like, for example, an axial piston pump which is in driven connection with 
the diesel engine 6. The hydraulic system further includes a plurality of 
hydraulic pumps for supplying hydraulic oil to the various hydraulically 
operated parts of the machine like the aforementioned sieve device. These 
components of the power unit 2 are arranged below an oil reservoir 12 and 
behind a front panel 14 which includes an indicating and operating section 
16 on the left of the diesel engine 6 as shown in FIG. 1. 
Furthermore, and as shown on the right in FIG. 1, an oil cooler 18 is 
located on the outer right-hand side of the water cooler 10 and 
communicates with the aforementioned hydraulic system. Basically, the oil 
cooler 18 is housed in a frame 20 which is made of perforated sheet metal. 
As a consequence, the cooling air flow generated during operation of the 
diesel engine 6, will first pass and act upon the oil cooler 18 and 
thereafter the water cooler 10. The water cooler 10 and the frame 20 of 
the oil cooler 18 are connected by means of a hinge connection 22 which 
extends along one edge of the frame 20 substantially perpendicular to the 
platform 4. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting means or platform 4 is of substantially 
rectangular shape and defines an outward facing side 23 which extends 
around part of a lateral member of the support frame 1. In the region 4A 
of a front left-hand corner, as viewed in FIG. 1, the platform 4 is 
displaceably supported at the support frame 1 by displacing means in the 
form of pivot means containing a pivot pin 24 which defines a pivot axis 
24A. In the region of a front right-hand corner, as viewed in FIG. 1, the 
platform 4 is secured by a linch pin 26 or the like in a position in which 
the power unit 2 assumes a first or operative position. 
The displacing or pivot means 24,28 are provided for manually pivoting the 
platform 4 inclusive of the power unit 2 after removing the linch pin 26. 
The pivot means include a handle 28 on the outward facing side 23 of the 
platform 4 and permit a pivot angle up to nearly 180.degree. about the 
pivot pin 24 in the direction towards the viewer in FIG. 1. As shown in 
FIG. 2 in broken lines, in the pivoted position of the platform 4, the 
power unit 2 assumes a second position in which it is pivoted away from 
the support frame 1. The solid lines in FIG. 2 show part of the platform 4 
and part of the power unit 2 in the first or operative position. 
In the second or pivoted position illustrated in FIG. 2, the power unit 2 
is accessible substantially from all sides for, for instance, maintenance 
and/or repair operations. Furthermore, also those parts of the sieve 
device and the associated components, which are hidden behind the power 
unit 2 when the same is in its first or operative position shown in FIG. 
1, are now accessible without taking recourse to any complicated and 
undesirable dismounting or disassembling operations. As a result, such 
maintenance and/or repair operations are tremendously facilitated and 
accelerated as a further consequence. It should be noted in this context 
that the mobile machines of the type referred to frequently operate under 
comparatively unfavorable environmental conditions and also at unfavorably 
distant locations. 
The displacing or pivoting movement is not restricted to displacing or 
pivoting the entire power unit 2 but may also be carried out on selected 
components thereof independently of the displacement or pivotation of the 
power unit 2 as a whole. As shown in FIG. 1, the selected component can be 
the frame 20 containing the oil cooler 18 which is connected to an 
associated section or component of the power unit 2, namely the water 
cooler 10. Specifically, the connection is effected by displacing or pivot 
means in the form of the hinge connection 22. The hinge connection 22 
defines a pivot axis which extends, in the illustrated embodiment, 
substantially perpendicular to the platform 4. Due to the hinge connection 
22, the frame 20 and thereby the oil cooler 18 can be pivoted from a first 
or operative position as shown in FIG. 1 to a second or pivoted position 
through 90.degree., as shown by broken lines in FIG. 2, up to 180.degree., 
as shown in dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2. Ready access to the oil cooler 18 
and the associated section of the power unit 2, namely the water cooler 
10, is thereby provided. 
As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the selected component can be the oil 
reservoir 12 which has an associated section 33 of the power unit. This 
associated section 33 accommodates parts of the hydraulic system such as 
oil pumps 34 and 36. The section 33 is bounded by a structural element 30 
to which the oil reservoir is connected by displacing or pivot means in 
the form of a hinge connection 32. The hinge connection 32 defines a pivot 
axis which extends substantially parallel to the platform 4 and, in the 
illustrated embodiment, substantially parallel to the outward facing side 
23 of the platform 4. Due to the hinge connection 32, the oil reservoir 12 
can be pivoted from a first or operative position shown in FIG. 1, to a 
second or pivoted position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. Ready access 
to the oil reservoir and to the associated section 33 and the oil pumps 
34,36 is thereby provided. In order to maintain communication with the oil 
reservoir 12 during pivotation and in the second or pivoted position, the 
oil pumps 34,36 are connected thereto through respective flexible lines or 
conduits 38 and 40. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the oil reservoir 12 is mounted on top of 
the associated section 33. It will be appreciated that the oil reservoir 
12 can be placed at different locations. In any location, the access to 
the associated section 33 in the second or pivoted position of the oil 
reservoir 12 can be retained by appropriately arranging the hinge 
connection 32. 
As further indicated in FIG. 1, the selected component can be the front 
panel 14 of the power unit 2. The associated section of the power unit 2, 
then, is again the section 33 which accommodates parts of the hydraulic 
system such as the oil pumps 34,36. The front panel 14 is connected to 
displacing or pivot means in the form of a hinge connection 42. The hinge 
connection 42 defines a pivot axis which extends substantially 
perpendicular to the platform 4 between the platform 4 and the structural 
element 30. Due to the hinge connection 42, the front panel 14 can be 
pivoted from a first or operative position shown in FIG. 1 to a second or 
pivoted position in which ready access is provided to the rear side of the 
front panel 14, the associated section 33 and the oil pumps 34,36 
accommodated thereby. 
It should be noted that the arrangement is such that the power unit 2 is 
operable and thus can be checked and tested in practically all of its 
displaced or pivoted positions as well as in practically all of the 
displaced or pivoted positions of its selected components. 
It will also be appreciated that the selected components, if required, can 
be retained in their first or operative position by respective retaining 
members which preferably can be constructed in the manner of conventional 
snap or locking members. 
Also, not all of the aforenoted displacing or pivoting features need 
necessarily be present in a mobile machine. Depending upon prevailing 
structural conditions, for example, the power unit may be accessible as 
such in the operative position so that no displacement or pivotation is 
required in connection with maintenance and/or repair operations. Still, 
individual ones of the aforementionned selected components may require to 
be displaced or pivoted for providing ready access thereto and to 
associated sections of the power unit 2. 
The aforenoted aspect of the invention will become apparent upon 
considering a second exemplary embodiment of the invention which is 
schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown therein by solid lines, a 
support frame 44 of a mobile machine supports a conventional two-shaft 
breaking or crushing machine 46 inclusive of an infeed hopper 48. The 
support frame 44 also supports a conventional power unit 50 of the 
aforementioned type including a prime mover 51 and a hydraulic system 54. 
The power unit 50 is accessible from three sides and, therefore, does not 
need to be displaceably mounted at the support frame 44. The prime mover 
51 of the power unit 50 is a water-cooled diesel engine provided with a 
water cooler 52. The water cooler 52 is connected to the prime mover 51 by 
displacing or pivot means in the form of a hinge connection 56. The hinge 
connection 56 defines a pivot axis which extends substantially 
perpendicular to the support frame 44. Due to the hinge connection 56, the 
water cooler 52 can be pivoted from a first or operative position shown by 
solid lines in FIG. 4, to a second or pivoted position shown by broken 
lines in FIG. 4. Ready access to the water cooler 52 and the associated 
section of the power unit 50 is thereby provided. 
In this embodiment, an oil cooler (not shown) which communicates with the 
hydraulic system 54, is placed at a location separate from the power unit 
50. However, if desired, the oil cooler may also be mounted at the 
hydraulic system 54 and, then, may be mounted thereat in a displaceable or 
pivotable manner. 
The aforedescribed embodiments relate to mobile machines meaning that these 
machines are mounted on conventional mobile support structures which can 
be displaced at a given working location or travel to different working 
locations by means of a towing vehicle like a tractor or truck. The 
support structure may constitute a support frame which, in turn, is 
mounted at a wheel-supported undercarriage. Preferably, the undercarriage 
is part of a tandem axle provided with hydraulically operated drive means 
for displacing the mobile machine at a given working location and the 
support frame and the undercarriage are lengthwisely adjustable relative 
to each other for adjusting the load effective at the towing vehicle to a 
predetermined value, as described in the cross-referenced copending U.S. 
patent application Ser. No. 08/215,326, filed Mar. 21, 1994. 
While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced 
within the scope of the following claims wherein: