Universal breaker

Abstract: A universal breaking machine (3) is provided which comprising a pair of movable arms (5) pivotably connected to a support frame (4) for open-close movement, and a hydraulic cylinder (6) for causing the open-close movement of the pair of movable arms (5). The pair of movable arms (5) are adapted to secure detachably, at the opposite, forward end surfaces thereof, a set of or a pair of tool rests (8) for long cutter (12) having a long cutter thereon, tool rests for short cutter (9) having, at the rearward end thereof, a short cutter of a length smaller than that of the long cutter, and having a crusher at the forward end thereof, or smashing blocks having a plurality of large protrusions. A secondary breaking attachment having a plurality of small protrusions thereon may be removably attached, as desired, to the opposite, forward-most surfaces of the pair of movable arms. In a preferred embodiment, a first ring is removably attached to a pivot portion of the pair of movable arms (5), at which the movable arms (5) are attached to the support frame (4), on the surface opposite to the surface on which the cutter is to be attached. A second ring, confronting the first ring, is also removably attached to the support frame (4).

Description: Field of the Invention This invention relates to a universal breaking machine adapted to be attached to a drive arm of a working machine, such as a power shovel, at the forward end thereof for breaking or de-constructing buildings or the like of reinforced concrete construction. Background of the Invention In order to break constructions such as buildings or bridges made of reinforced concrete, it is common to use a breaking machine or breaker which is adapted to be attached to a forward end of a drive arm of a working machine, such as a power shovel. It is noted that various operations, such as crushing of concrete material, secondary crushing of such concrete material, and shearing of steel bars or steel frames, are involved in de-construction work for constructions such as buildings of reinforced concrete, or bridges. However, such operations cannot be performed by a single breaking machine. Thus, according to the prior art, it is necessary to provide a plurality of shearing machines or breaking machines suitable for the above mentioned individual operations, for selective attachment to the tip of the drive arm of a working machine, depending upon the particular operation. Such replacement of breaking or crushing machines is time-consuming and inefficient, making de-construction work inefficient and slow. The breaking machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No: 02(1990) - 232470, comprises a pair of movable arms pivotably attached at the intermediate portions thereof, to a support frame, and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the rearward end of each of the pair of movable arms. When the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to be extended or retracted, the pair of movable arms are closed or opened, clamping the material to be broken between the forward ends. The disclosed machine also permits a single working machine to perform the various breaking operations by providing tool rests, detachably secured to the movable arms, upon which cutting, crushing and/or smashing attachments are selectively mountable. UK Patent Application No: 2 146 918 A teaches a breaking machine with a rotative coupling means for allowing smooth rotation of the jaw members and preventing excessive lateral loads. However, in the breaking machines known from the prior art, it is noted that play or backlash may be created between the pair of movable arms after prolonged use thereof, so that the steel bars or steel frames cannot be sheared accurately. Such play results from abrasion or wear of the slide surface of the movable arms, opposite to the surface on which the cutter is attached, and the surface of the support frame in slidable engagement with the slide surface of the movable arms. This wear is due to a force component generated upon shearing of steel bars or steel frames, in the direction perpendicular to the opening and closing movement of the arms, the force component tending to separate the pair of movable arms from one another. When this happens in the machines known from the prior art, it is necessary for the movable arms to be repaired or replaced, to maintain accurate shearing. This is uneconomical. Summary of the Invention In view of the problems experienced in the prior art, it is the main object of this invention to provide a universal breaking machine which protects the movable arms from wear due to force perpendicular to the direction of the arm opening and closing, as generated upon shearing. According to one aspect of the present invention, the universal breaking machine comprises: a pair of movable arms pivotally connected to a support frame for open-close movement, under hydraulic cylinder drive; tool rests detachably fitted to the movable arms, at opposite, forward surfaces thereof, for mounting cutting, crushing and/or smashing accessories; characterised by a first wear ring removably fitted to one side of each movable arm pivot, opposite that upon which the tool rests are installed; and a second wear ring, abutting the first ring, and removably fitted to the support frame to inhibit lateral play between the movable arms and the support frame. In a preferred embodiment the breaking machine includes: smashing blocks, having a plurality of large protrusions, and secondary breaking attachments, having a plurality of small protrusions, removably attachable to the opposite, forward-most surfaces of the movable arms. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to shear steel bars when tool rests for long cutter are attached to the pair of movable arms at the forward, opposite ends thereof. When tool rests for short cutter are mounted on the movable arms, it is possible to crush concrete material and to shear steel bars contained in such concrete material. Furthermore, and when smashing blocks, together with secondary crushing attachments, are mounted on the movable arms at the forward, opposite surfaces and forward-most, opposite end surfaces thereof, respectively, it is possible to perform secondary crushing of concrete material. When play or backlash is created between the pair of movable arms after prolonged use thereof, whereby steel bars or steel frames cannot be sheared accurately (such play is caused from abrasion or wear of the slide surface of the movable arms, opposite to the surface on which the cutter is attached, and the surface of the support frame in slidable engagement of the slide surface of the movable arms, due to a force component, generated upon shearing of steel bars or steel frames, in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the movable arms are opened and closed, the force component tending to separate the pair of movable arms from one another), it is possible to eliminate such play between the movable arms by replacing the rings mounted on the movable arms and support arms, respectively, with new ones. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a working machine provided with a universal breaker according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the universal breaker according to the invention mounted with a tool rest for a long cutter. Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the universal breaker according to the invention mounted with a tool rest for a short cutter. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the universal breaker according to the invention mounted with a smashing block. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a support portion for a pair of movable arms. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The invention will be explained below with reference to several embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 illustrates a working machine 1, such as a power shovel, having a drive arm 2. The drive arm 2 is mounted, at the forward end thereof, with a universal breaker 3 according to the invention. The universal breaker 3 includes, as shown in Fig. 2, a pair of movable arms 5, 5 attached to a support frame 4 for open-close movement, and a hydraulic cylinder 6 for pivoting the pair of movable arms 5,5 to be opened and closed. The pair of movable arms 5, 5 are pivotably connected to the support frame 4 in a symmetrical manner by means of separate support shafts 7, 7, respectively. As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, tool rests for a long cutter 8, 8, tool rests for a short cutter 9, 9, or smashing blocks 10, 10 can be removably attached to opposite surfaces of the forward ends of the pair of movable arms 5, 5. As shown in Fig. 4, secondary braking attachments 11,11 are removably attached to opposite surfaces of the tip ends of the movable arms. The tool rest for long cutter 8 is mounted with a long cutter 12 which extends along substantially entire length of the tool rest, as shown in Fig. 2. The long cutter 12 is capable of shearing steel frames, such as H beam. The tool rest for short cutter 9 includes, at its forward side, a crusher 13 being integral therewith, and, at its rearward side, a short cutter 14 attached thereto. The crusher is capable of breaking or crushing a concrete construction, while the short cutter 14 is capable of shearing reinforcing bars. Thus, the tool rest for short cutter 9 may be used to crush a concrete construction and to reinforcing bars contained in a concrete construction. In this connection, it is noted that, since the short cutter 14 is disposed at rearward side and the crusher 13 is disposed at forward side, it is possible to crush or break a concrete construction by means of the forward portion of the tool rest having a relatively large opening, and to securely shear reinforcing bars by means of the rearward portion of the tool rest. The smashing block 10 includes a plurality of large protrusions 15 arranged along substantially the entire length of the smashing block, as shown in Fig. 4. The large protrusions 15 are capable of performing secondary crushing or breaking of a concrete construction. That is, the smashing block 10 is used to further crush concrete blocks into pieces for facilitating handling thereof, the concrete blocks resulting from crushing or breaking of a concrete construction by means of the forward end 5a of the movable arm 5 or the crusher 13 of the tool rest for short cutter. The secondary breaking attachment 11 includes a plurality of small protrusions 16, as shown in Fig. 4. The small protrusions 16 are capable of crushing a concrete block into pieces. Thus, the secondary breaking attachment 11 is used, together with the smashing block 10, so as to further crush concrete blocks into pieces for facilitating handling thereof, the concrete blocks resulting from crushing or breaking of a concrete construction by means of the forward end 5a of the movable arm 5 or the crusher 13 of the tool rest for short cutter 9. The support frame 4 includes a pair of bifurcated support arms 17, 17 formed integral therewith and extending from the rearward portion to the forward portion of the support frame 4. The pair of movable arms 5, 5 are pivotably connected between the support arms 17, 17 by means of the respective support shaft 7, 7 so that the movable arms 5, 5 can be opened and closed. A mounting bracket 19 is pivotably attached to the support frame 4 at the rearward end thereof by means of a rotary bearing 18. The mounting bracket 19 is connected swingably to the forward end of the drive arm 2 of the working machine 1 through a pin. The support frame 4 is connected to a rotating mechanism (not shown) so as to be rotated through 360 degrees relative to the mounting bracket 19. A hydraulic cylinder 6 is disposed between the support arms 17, 17 of the support frame 4. A cylinder body 6a is pivotably connected to one of the movable arms 5, at the rearward end thereof, through a pin 20. A forward end of a piston rod 6b extending from the cylinder body 6a is pivotably connected to the other of the movable arms 5, at the rearward end thereof, through a pin 21. When the piston rod 6b is extended from the cylinder body 6a, the pair of the movable arms 5, 5 are pivoted about the support shafts 7, 7, respectively, to be closed. When the piston rod 6b is retracted into the cylinder body 6a, the pair of movable arms 5, 5 are pivoted about the support shafts 7, 7, respectively to be opened. The support shafts 7, 7 are supported between the support arms 17, 17 of the support frame 4 in parallel relationship with each other, and tightened by nuts 22, 22, respectively. The nuts 22, 22 are secured by detents 23, 23, respectively, so as not to be loosened upon actuation of the movable arms 5, 5. The detent 23 is attached to a bolt 25 by means of a retainer 24. The retainer 24 is prevented against rotation by means of the support arm 17. An arm-side ring 26 is attached, through a key (not shown), to a slide surface, opposite to the blade when installed, of the intermediate portion, i.e., the support portion carried by the support shaft 7, of each of the pair of movable arms 5, 5. Frame-side ring 27, 27, opposite to the corresponding arm-side rings 26, 26, are removably attached to the respective support arms 17, 17 of the support frame 4. Each frame-side ring 27 is mounted on the support arm 17 by means of a bolt 28 extending through the support arm 17. It is noted that, upon installation of the rings, the bolts 28 are manipulated outwardly of the support arms 17 so as to be tightened. One exemplary operation of the universal breaking machine 3 according to the invention, as constructed above, will be explained below. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 6 for extension or retraction movement thereof, the pair of movable arms 5, 5 are rotated about the respective support shaft 7, 7 so as to be closed or opened. When the tool rests for long cutter 8 are installed on the pair of movable arms 5, 5 in the opposed, forward surfaces thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, it is possible to shear or cut steel frames. When, as shown in Fig. 3, the tool rest for short cutter 9 having, at the forward end thereof, the crusher 13 being integral therewith, is installed on the movable arms, it is possible to crush concrete material by means of the crusher 13, and to shear or cut steel frames contained in such concrete material. Furthermore, and when the smashing block 10, together with the secondary breaking attachment 11 at the forward-most end of the movable arm, is installed as shown in Fig. 4, it is possible to break concrete material into smaller pieces. Thus, operation including shearing of steel bars or steel frames, crushing of concrete material, and secondary breaking of concrete material, as required upon de-construction of building or bridges of reinforced concrete construction, may be performed by a single working machine. When the arm-side rings 26,26 attached to the pair of movable arms 5, 5 at the side surface thereof, opposite to the side surface on which the cutter is mounted, and the frame-side rings 27, 27 attached to the support arms 17, 17 of the support frame 4 in opposite relationship with the arm-side rings wear out, due to a force component, caused upon shearing of steel bars or steel frames, acting in the direction perpendicular to the open-close direction of the pair of movable arms 5, 5, and tending to separate the movable arms from one another, it is possible to obviate such play between the movable arms by simply replacing the rings 26, 26, and rings 27, 27 with new ones so as to facilitate secure cutting or shearing of steel bars or steel frames. This is advantageous in view of economy over the prior art in which the pair of movable arms per se, when worn out, should be repaired or replaced with new ones. In the above embodiment, the pair of movable arms 5, 5 are actuated by means of a single hydraulic cylinder. It is noted, however, that the pair of movable arms 5, 5 may be separately actuated by their respective hydraulic cylinders. In accordance with the invention, various operations, including shearing of steel bars or steel frames, crushing of concrete material, and secondary crushing of such concrete material, may be performed by means of a single breaking machine. Accordingly, the breaking machine of the invention permits efficient and quick de-construction work for constructions, such as buildings or bridges of reinforced concrete construction. The breaking machine of the invention may be usefully applied to various fields.

Claims: A universal breaking machine comprising: a pair of movable arms (5), pivotally connected to a support frame (4) for open-close movement, under hydraulic cylinder (6) drive; tool rests detachably fitted to the movable arms, at opposite, forward surfaces thereof, for mounting cutting, crushing and/or smashing accessories; characterised by a first wear ring (26) removably fitted to one side of each movable arm pivot, opposite that upon which the tool rests are installed; and a second wear ring (27), abutting the first ring, and removably fitted to the support frame (4) to inhibit lateral play between the movable arms and the support frame. A universal breaking machine according to Claim 1, including smashing blocks (10), having a plurality of large protrusions (15), and secondary breaking attachments (11), having a plurality of small protrusions (16), removably attachable to the opposite, forward-most surfaces of the movable arms.

Inventors: MORIKAWA SUMIO, ZAKOHJI NOBUYUKI, MORIKAWA, SUMIO, ZAKOHJI, NOBUYUKI
Applicants: OYODO DIESEL KK, OHYODO DIESEL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: E02F3
IPC codes: E02F3, E04G23