STONE BREAKING APPARATUS

Abstract: A stone breaking apparatus (1) for mounting on the arm of a wheeled loader or similar vehicle as auxiliary equip­ ment, for splitting large stone blocks. The apparatus (1) com­ prises a fastening means (4) for mounting on the arm and an oblong cylinder (2) for guiding therein a sliding, hoistable weighted element (6) for impingement on a hardened impact tool (7) disposed in the lower end section of the cylinder (2). The cylinder (2) has limited movability in relation to the fas­ tening means (4) along one or more guide elements (3, 13) which extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (2) and where between the cylinder (2) and the fastening means (4) there are disposed one or more shock absorbers (8). The fastening means (4) also comprises a rap­ id release coupling (5) for simple mounting and dismounting of the apparatus to/from the construction machine.

Description: The invention relates to a stone breaking apparatus for mounting on the arm of a wheeled loader or similar vehicle. The apparatus is meant to serve as auxiliary equipment for splitting of large blocks of stone, where the apparatus comprises a fastening means with rapid release coupling for mounting on the arm, and an oblona cylinder to guide therein a sliding, hoistable weight or piston for fall engagezlent with a hardened impact tool disposed in the lower end section of the cylinder. In stone breaking operations, there is during blasting always a certain proportion of the rock mass which is too large for further handling. For example, in a blasted rock mass to be sent through a crushing plant, there are always a number of stone blocks that are too large to be received by a stone crusher. Also, there are stone blocks too large for further transport. These must split up prior tofurther transport or processing. The apparatus could conceivably also be used in breaking or concrete decks, foundations and building elements which must be removed, either where blasting is not desirable or in inhabited areas where it is not allowed. This problem has previously been solved by means of a compressor/ drilling hammer and by explosives, if necessary. This entails efficiency. problems, which increase the costs per produced unit of mass. According to German published patent application 2,120,517, meanwhile, there exists a stone breaking apparatus adapted for mounting to the arm of a construction machine or similar vehicle. The stone breaking apparatus comprises an oblong cylinder for guiding a sliding and hoistable weight for direct or indirect impact against the stone block to be parted. This stone breaking apparatus, however, is permanently mounted to the arm of the construction machine. This means that, should the operator "miss" in directing the impact, or should the stone block be split substantially more easily than expected, the impact is transferred directly to the arm of the construction machine, which results in considerable stress on the arm and the components connected thereto. In the stone breaking apparatus according to the invention, the above disadvantage is avoided. Experiments with a prototype have demonstrated that this apparatus breaks stone blocks of considerable size and functions- entirely in accordance with its intended purpose. According to the invention, this is achieved by the cylinder's having limited movability in relation to a fastening means along one or more guide elements substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. In addition, between the cylinder and the fastening means there may be mounted one or more shock absorbers, the longitudinal axis thereof running substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The stone breaking apparatus is further provided with a rapid release coupling for simple mounting and dismounting to/from the arm of a wheeled loader or similar vehicle. The stone breaking apparatus will now be described in more detail by means of an embodiment example as illustrated in the attached drawings, where: Fig. 1 is a side view of the stone breaking apparatus accord ing to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section along the line 1-1 in fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows an enlarged side view of the lower section of the cylinder in fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows the stone breaking apparatus 1 which is adapted for mounting on the arm (not shown) of a wheeled loader or similar vehicle. The apparatus 1 is mounted on the vehicle's arm over the fastening means 4 by rapid release couplings 5. The apparatus 1 comprises a cylinder 2 for guidance of the weighted element 6. A hydraulic motor 16 drives a cable pull device 18 by means of a chain transmission 17. The cable pull device 18 is connected to the weighted element 6 by a wire cable 15 for hoisting the weight to an upper position in the cylinder 2. A disconnecting means (not shown) on the cable pull device 18 makes possible disconnection of the weighted element from the hoisting mechanism 18 for an approximate free fall within the cylinder 2. In the lower end section of the cylinder 2, a hardened impact tool 7 is detachably infixed thereto. The impact tool has limited movability in the guide sleeve 12. In fig. 1 the guide sleeve 12 is shown infixed to the cylinder 2 by means of bolt connections. Between the lower flange on the cylinder 2 and the flange on the guide sleeve 12 are disposed one or more hard rubber liners 21. The impact tool's 7 movement is restricted by means of a blocking bolt 14, which bolt is fastened to the guide sleeve 12. The blocking bolt 15 engages with a worked groove in the upper part of the impact tool 7. Around the lower part of the cylinder 2 there is attached a reinforcing flange 19 extending along the circumference thereof. Onto the cylinder are attached two brackets 10, 11 for fastening one or more guide bars 3. On the lower part of the guide bar 3 is provided a stopper 20. To the upper bracket 10 are attached holders, for example, in the form of H-beams, to anchor the upper section of one or more shock absorbers 8. On the fastening means 4 there are similarly provided holders, e.g., in the form of an H-beam, to anchor the lower section of one or more shock absorbers 8. The fastening means 4 is provided with guide elements 13 for sliding engagement with the guide bars 3. During operation, the stone breaking apparatus is brought to a suitable place on the stone block which is to be split. The apparatus is maneuvered and positioned by means of the various functions which can be executed by the arm of a wheeled loader or similar vehicle. The cylinder 2 is positioned substantially vertically on the stone block. With the impact tool 7 resting against the stone block, the fastening means 4 is brought down toward,but not necessarily into, the stopper 20. The motor 16 is supplied with hydraulic fluid via hoses from the vehicle's hydraulic system. The hydraulic motor 16 drives the cable pull device 18 and thereby hoists the weighted element to the desired height. The height of the weighted element 6 in the cylinder is determined on the basis of the stone block to be split, based on both the size, form, and material character of the block. A disconnecting means or clutch in the cable pull device 18 makes possible a free-fall movement of the weighted element 6 in the cylinder 2. The weighted element 6 impinges on the hardened impact tool 7, - and the shock-like impact thereof against the stone block splits the block. Any "residual forces" remaining after the stone is split are absorbed by the shock absorber 8. If the tool is inaccurately placed, or the stone block is able to be split considerably more easily than expected, the substantial portion of the impact is received by the shock absorber 8, so that the wheeled loader arm and its components are spared the direct stresses of the shock impact. The displacement of the cylinder 2 in relation to the fastening means 4 may be as much as 70-80 cm. When the stone is split, the impact tool 7 and the cylinder 2 usually will be retarded rapidly down through the split stone, so that the stone breaking apparatus 1 might also be used without the shock absorber 8. In that case the guide bar 3 must also be equipped with an upper stopper against which the cylinder 3 rests during movement of the apparatus 1 from one place to another. When the stone breaking apparatus is used with the shock absorber, this takes up the weight of the cylinder 3 during transfer movement and thereby functions as an upper stopper.

Claims: Pa tent Claims 1. Stone breaking apparatus (1) for mounting on the arm of a wheeled loader or similar vehicle, as auxiliary equipment, for splitting stone, wherein the apparatus comprises a fastening means (4) for mounting the apparatus on the arm and an oblong cylinder (2) for guidinq therein a sliding, hoistable weighted element (6) or piston for fall engagement with a hardened impact tool (7) disposed in the lower end section of the cylinder (21, where during rock splitting operation the cylinder (2) assumes a substantially vertical position, c h a r a c t e r z z e d i n that the cylinder (2) has limited movability in relation to the fastening means (4) along one or more guide elements (3, 13) substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (2). 2. Stone breaking apparatus according to claim 1, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that between the cylinder (2) and the fastening means (4) there are mounted one or more shock absorbers (8), the longitudinal axis (es) of which extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. 3. Stone breaking apparatus according to claim 1, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that the cylinder includes one or more externally mounted brackets (10, 11) for attachment of the guide bar(s) (3). 4. Stone breaking apparatus according to claims 1-3, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that the fastening means (41 includes a rapid release coupling (5) and one or more guide channels (9) for engagement with the guide bar(s) (3) of the cylinder. 5. Stone breaking apparatus according to claims 1-4, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that between an upper bracket (10) infixed to the cylinder and the fastening means (4) there are mounted one or more shock absorbers (8). 6. Stone breaking apparatus according to claim 4, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that the guide channel (9) in the fastening means (4) is U-shaped. 7. Stone breaking apparatus according to claim 1, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises a movable impact tool (7), disposed in a guide sleeve (12) in the cylinder's (2) lower end section, the movement of said tool being restricted by a blocking bolt (14) between two outer positions and the direction of movement thereof coinciding with the direction of movement of the weighted element (6). 8. Stone breaking apparatus according to claim 7, c h a r a ct e r i z e d i n that the impact tool (7) and its guide sleeve (12) are detachably infixed to the cylinder (2). 9. Stone breaking apparatus according to claim 1, c h a r a ct e r i z e d i n that the weighted element (6) is brought to its upper position by means of a cable pull device (18)which is driven by a hydraulic motor (16) over a chain transmission (17). 1. Stone breaking apparatus according to claims 1-8, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that the shock absorber (82 is singleacting or double-acting. 11. Stone breaking apparatus according to claims 1-9, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that it is maneuverable in relation to the vehicle in a manner corresponding to that of a conventional loading shovel.

Inventors: AASBO, HARALD
Applicants: AASBO, HARALD
Application year: 1985
Main classification: E02F5
IPC codes: E02F3, B28D1