Apparatus for adjusting spacing between caterpillar tracks of a working vehicle

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting spacing between a pair of caterpillar tracks (1) of a working vehicle such as a backhoe. This apparatus is capable of moving the caterpillar tracks independently of each other. When one of the caterpillar tracks (1) is moved laterally outwardly of the vehicle, the other may be maintained in an inward position.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting spacing between caterpillar tracks of a working vehicle having a backhoe implement or the like. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART A conventional working vehicle having right and left caterpillar tracks is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. 5-331877, for example. These caterpillar tracks are movable by the same amount toward and away from the longitudinal centerline of the working vehicle. In this type of working vehicle, both of the caterpillar tracks are moved toward the centerline even when it is desired to move only one of the caterpillar tracks toward the centerline. Where, for example, a backhoe, which is one type of working implement, is used to dig earth adjacent a wall, the swivel deck should be placed as close to the wall as possible to dig earth adjacent the wall. Thus, a digging operation is started after the working vehicle is placed parallel and close to the wall in order to move the swivel deck as close to the wall as possible. However, with the above conventional construction, an operation to vary the spacing between the right and left caterpillar tracks causes both of the caterpillar tracks to move by the same amount relative to the centerline. When the caterpillar track opposed to the wall is moved toward the centerline, the caterpillar track remote from the wall will also be moved by the same amount toward the centerline. As a result, the spacing between the right and left caterpillar tracks will become small. In some cases, a better balance is desired when the swivel deck is turned to direct the backhoe implement to a truck or the like parked in a position opposite the wall across the working vehicle, to load the truck with earth. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a working vehicle which is stable and highly flexible under various working conditions. This object is achieved by the features of the new claim 1. According to the present invention a backhoe implement may advance through a spacing almost as narrow as a minimum distance between right and left caterpillar track means, and carry out a swiverling operation without any interference between its swivel deck and obstacles such as a wall. This is accomplished by the fact that the minimum distance between the right and left caterpillar track means is not smaller than a locus of rotation (S) of the swivel deck's peripheries. Therefore, by the arrangement according to the invention the vehicle is able to work under narrow conditions having at least one caterpillar track means retracted as well as over trenches having both caterpillar track means expanded wherein secure and stable working conditions are always realized. Further and other objects, features and effects of the invention will become more apparent from the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a working vehicle having a backhoe implement according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line A-A' of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram of a hydraulic circuit for controlling spacing between caterpillar tracks according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the working vehicle parked adjacent a wall. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the working vehicle engaging in an operation adjacent the wall. Figs. 6A and 6B are sectional side views showing a dozer implement according to the present invention. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modified construction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a backhoe as one example of working vehicles. This backhoe includes right and left caterpillar tracks 1 supported by a chassis frame 2, with a swivel deck 3 rotatable about a vertical axis X. The swivel deck 3 has, mounted thereon, a driver's section 4, a motor section 5, and a backhoe implement 6 swingable horizontally. A dozer implement 11 is attached to the chassis frame 2. As used hereinafter, the terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" refers to such directions with respect to the backhoe. In Fig. 2, the downward direction corresponds to the forward direction of the working vehicle. The longitudinal centerline of the working vehicle is shown in a broken line C. As shown in Fig. 2, the chassis frame 2 includes support frames 7a and 7b formed of square pipes and extending transversely of the working vehicle. These support frames 7a and 7b are longitudinally spaced from each other and interconnected through a pair of frames 7c extending longitudinally. The left caterpillar track 1 has a track frame 8 extending longitudinally. Two transverse frames 9 are attached to forward and rearward positions of the track frame 8. These transverse frames 9 are formed also of square pipes and extend toward the centerline C of the working vehicle. Distal ends of the transverse frames 9 extend into the support frames 7a and 7b, respectively. Thus, the transverse frames 9 are supported in the support frames 7a and 7b to be transversely slidable relative thereto. The right caterpillar track 1 also has a track frame 8, with transverse frames 9 attached to forward and rearward positions of the track frame 8. These transverse frames 9 are formed also of square pipes and have distal ends fitted in the support frames 7a and 7b to be transversely slidable relative thereto. Spacing between the left and right caterpillar tracks 1 is variable by a hydraulic cylinder 10 acting as an extendible and contractible left actuator and a hydraulic cylinder 12 acting as a right actuator. These hydraulic cylinders 10 and 12 are arranged between and extend substantially parallel to the front and rear support frames 7a and 7b. With one hydraulic cylinder 10 or 12 provided for each of the left and right caterpillar tracks 1, the caterpillar tracks 1 are transversely movable independently of each other relative to the chassis frame 2. Each of the left and right hydraulic cylinders 10 and 12 is pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to the track frame 8 and chassis frame 2. In Fig. 2, the right caterpillar track 1 is remote from the centerline C, and the left caterpillar track 1 is at a minimum distance to the centerline C. In this construction, the centerline C and vertical axis X cross each other. Thus, the caterpillar tracks 1 are in the same positions relative to the centerline C as relative to the vertical axis X. As shown in Fig. 4, the swivel deck 3 has a locus of rotation S of its peripheries substantially inscribed in outer lateral edges of the right and left caterpillar tracks 1 at the minimum distance to the vertical axis X. In the above construction, the right and left caterpillar tracks 1 are transversely movable independently of each other relative to the chassis frame 2. Consequently, when digging earth adjacent a wall W opposed to one of the caterpillar tracks 1, as shown in Fig. 5, only the caterpillar track 1 opposed to the wall W may be moved toward the vertical axis X, without moving the other caterpillar track 1 toward the vertical axis X. A digging operation may be carried out with the former disposed closer than the latter to the vertical axis X. The digging operation may be effected right next to the wall since the locus of rotation S of the peripheries of the swivel deck 3 is substantially inscribed in the outer lateral edges of the right and left caterpillar tracks 1 at the minimum distance to the vertical axis X (see Fig. 4). The digging operation may be carried out next to the wall with the right and left caterpillar tracks 1 spaced apart from each other. This maintains a good balance of the vehicle when the swivel deck 3 is turned to direct the backhoe implement 6 to a truck 25 parked in a position opposite the wall W across the vehicle, to load the truck 25 with earth. As shown in Figs. 2, 6A and 6B, the dozer implement 11 includes a main dozer 17, and auxiliary dozers 18 provided for right and left ends of the main dozer 17 to be slidable transversely of the working vehicle. Hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 extend transversely behind the opposite ends of the main dozer 17 for driving the auxiliary dozers 18, respectively. The auxiliary dozers 18 are extendible and retractable relative to the main dozer 17, so that the dozer implement 11 is adjustable to a width substantially corresponding to that of the caterpillar tracks 1. The auxiliary dozers 18 are arranged to overlap the main dozer 17 from behind. The hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 have pistons connected at distal ends thereof to extension edges at outer lateral ends of the auxiliary dozers 18, respectively. The hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 are surrounded by square guide pipes 27 attached to rear positions of the auxiliary dozers 18. These guide pipes 27 are slidably mounted in square guide pipes 28 attached to rear positions of the main dozer 17. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the left and right hydraulic cylinders 10 and 12 has a pair of oil supply and exhaust lines 13 or 14 extending from an oil pump (not shown) in the motor section on the swivel deck 3 through a rotary joint 16 to the chassis frame 2. The supply and exhaust lines 13 are connected to a left control valve 22, while the supply and exhaust lines 14 are connected to a right control valve 23. A synchronous driving device 21 is provided for each side for synchronously driving the hydraulic cylinder and auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinder on the same, right or left, side. The synchronous driving devices 21 include oil supply and exhaust ports 25 interconnecting the left auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinder 19 and left hydraulic cylinder 10, and oil supply and exhaust ports 26 interconnecting the right auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinder 20 and right hydraulic cylinder 12. According to the above construction, the left and right auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 are operable to extend and retract the auxiliary dozers 18 independently of each other relative to the main dozer 17. In addition, the caterpillar driving hydraulic cylinder and auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinder on the same side are driven synchronously by the synchronous driving device 21. An operation to extend the dozer implement 11 is simpler than in the prior art, since this is be effected only by driving the caterpillar driving hydraulic cylinders 10 and 20. The auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 are driven through oil supply and exhaust hoses extending from the oil supply and exhaust ports 25 and 26 of the hydraulic cylinders 10 and 12 rather than the rotary joint 16. This is effective to avoid complication of an accommodating structure, compared with the case of hydraulic hoses being present between the auxiliary dozer driving hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 and the rotary joint 16. The construction for extending and retracting the auxiliary dozers 18 relative to the main dozer 17 is not limited to the foregoing embodiment. For example, the auxiliary dozers 18 may be attached to the opposite ends of the main dozer 17 to be pivotable back and forth about vertical axes, respectively. Then, the auxiliary dozers 18 are switchable between forward positions extending along the main dozer 17 to extend the dozer implement 11 transversely of the working vehicle, and rearward positions folded behind the main dozer 17 to diminish the dozer implement 11 transversely. The caterpillar tracks 1 may be adapted transversely movable relative to the chassis frame 2 through pantograph type mechanisms. As shown in Fig. 7, the two hydraulic cylinders 10 and 12 may be disposed in two separate, left and right spaces in a cylinder case 21. This cylinder case 21 is pivotally connected at a middle point thereof to the chassis frame 2. The hydraulic cylinders 10 and 12 are pivotally connected at outward ends thereof to the track frames 8 of the left and right caterpillar tracks 1, respectively.

Claims: A working vehicle having a centerline (C) extending longitudinally thereof, comprising: a chassis frame; a swivel deck supported by said chassis frame; right caterpillar track means and left caterpiller track means supported by said chassis frame; and actuator means for moving said right and left caterpillar track means toward and away from said centerline (C), characterized in that when said right and left caterpillar track means are at a minimum distance to each other, said swivel deck has a locus of rotation (S) of its peripheries substantially inscribed in outer lateral edges of said right and left caterpillar track means. A working vehicle as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said actuator means includes a right actuator for moving said right caterpillar track means toward and away from said centerline (C) and a left actuator for moving said left caterpillar track means toward and away from said centerline (C), said right actuator being operable independently of said left actuator. A working vehicle as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said right and left actuators are hydraulic cylinders. A working vehicle as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said right actuator is controlled by a right controller, and said left actuator is controlled by a left controller. A working vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising a dozer implement, characterized in that said dozer implement includes a main dozer connected to said chassis frame, a right auxiliary dozer extendible rightward and retractable relative to said main dozer, and a left auxiliary dozer extendible left and retractable relative to said main dozer. A working vehicle as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said dozer implement further includes a right dozer actuator for outwardly extending and retracting said right auxiliary dozer relative to said main dozer at a right side of said working vehicle, and a left dozer actuator for outwardly extending and retracting said left auxiliary dozer relative to said main dozer at a left side of said working vehicle, A working vehicle as defined in claim 4, further comprising a dozer implement, characterized in that said dozer implement includes a main dozer connected to said chassis frame, a right auxiliary dozer extendible rightward and retractable relative to said main dozer, and a left auxiliary dozer extendible left and retractable relative to said main dozer; a right dozer actuator for outwardly extending and retracting said right auxiliary dozer relative to said main dozer at a right side of said working vehicle; and a left dozer actuator for outwardly extending and retracting said left auxiliary dozer relative to said main dozer at a left side of said working vehicle; wherein said right controller is operable to control also said right dozer actuator such that an outer edge of said right caterpillar track means is substantially in the same position as an outer end of said right auxiliary dozer, and said left controller is operable to control also said left dozer actuator such that an outer edge of said left caterpillar track means is substantially in the same position as an outer end of said left auxiliary dozer. A working vehicle as defined in claim 7, characterized in that said right and left dozer actuators are hydraulic cylinders.

Inventors: MASUMOTO MASAO, SHIMOIE SHIZUO, MASUMOTO, MASAO, SHIMOIE, SHIZUO
Applicants: KUBOTA KK, KUBOTA CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E02F9
IPC codes: E02F3, E02F9, B62D55