Abstract:
Construction equipment includes an undercarriage on which an upper frame is mounted, especially in the form of an excavator or crane. At an underside of the upper frame at least one flap and/or at least one compartment is arranged which can be open and closed and which is adapted such that a component of the construction equipment can be operated or is accessible or can be stored when the flap or compartment is open, or such that a compartment is provided for a fuel filler pump, a fuel suction hose, tools, accessories and/or spare parts.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to a construction equipment comprising a lower carriage or undercarriage on which an upper carriage or upper frame is mounted. (In the following the terms “undercarriage” and “upper frame”, respectively, are used to designate these units.) In many such construction equipments, the upper frame is mounted in such a way on the undercarriage that it can be rotated in a horizontal plane. The invention especially relates to such a construction equipment in the form of an excavator or crane or another construction vehicle. 
     When designing such a construction equipment, it is often difficult to position certain components of the construction equipment appropriately such that they are accessible in an easy and comfortable manner for an operator or driver of the construction equipment, because the space is usually very limited. Such components are e.g. a fuel filler pump, a fuel suction hose, certain hydraulic or electric devices, or compartments for tools, accessories, operation valves or spare parts, etc. 
     Furthermore, it is desirable that such components are protected against a possible damage during the operation of the construction equipment and against damaging environmental influences like e.g. dirt, dust, water, ice, snow, heat, etc. 
     In view of these problems, it is desirable to provide a construction equipment as mentioned in the opening paragraph, in which components as exemplarily mentioned above are accessible in an easy manner and at the same time are protected against damage and said environmental influences. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, in construction equipment comprising an upper frame to be mounted on an undercarriage, wherein at least one flap and/or at least one compartment is mounted by means of an assembly unit at an underside of the upper frame, such that the at least one flap and/or compartment can be moved or operated between an open and a closed position. 
     Generally, it is to be noted that the compartment or flap can also be provided in the form of a locker or box. However, in the following description, the terms compartment or flap are used for designating all these possible alternatives. 
     By providing the compartment or flap at an underside of the upper frame, it is easy to access and to open it by a person standing on the ground or on the undercarriage, as the case may be, due to its low position in comparison to the length of the operator or driver of the construction equipment and his/her relative position to the compartment or flap. Furthermore, at the underside of the upper frame, the compartment or flap is widely protected against damage and the above mentioned environmental influences. 
     Another advantage is that even in an open position, the compartment or flap and its content is widely protected against rain, snow, ice, dirt, dust, etc. due to its position at the underside of the upper frame. 
     Furthermore, one or more of such compartments or flaps can be provided around the upper frame at its underside so that any free space within the upper frame can be used according to its size by compartments or flaps with accordingly adapted sizes, for storing various components or providing compartments as mentioned above. 
     Furthermore, such a flap can also be positioned at an appropriate place at the underside of the upper frame in order to easily provide access to a component of the construction equipment when the flap is open, so that e.g. maintenance of certain components can be conducted in a quick and easy way. 
     It will be appreciated that features of the invention are susceptible to being combined in any combination without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details, features and advantages of the invention become apparent from the following description of preferred and exemplary embodiments of the invention which are given with reference to the drawings, in which shows: 
         FIG. 1  a perspective total view of an upper frame of a construction equipment; 
         FIG. 2  a perspective side view of a part of an upper frame of a construction equipment with a first embodiment of a compartment according to the invention in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  a front view of the part of the upper frame according to  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  a perspective side view of a part of an upper frame of a construction equipment with a second embodiment of a compartment according to the invention in an open position; 
         FIG. 5  a front view of the part of the upper frame according to  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  a perspective side view of a part of an upper frame of a construction equipment with a third embodiment of a compartment according to the invention in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  a front view of the part of the upper frame according to  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  a perspective side view of the part of the upper frame with the compartment in a closed position; and 
         FIG. 9  a front view of the part of the upper frame according to  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the accompanying Figures, an underlined number represents an item over which the underlined number is positioned. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the nonunderlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing. 
     In all Figures the same reference numerals designate the same or corresponding components or parts of the embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective total view of substantial parts of an upper frame  1  of a construction equipment, here in this and the following Figures by way of an example in the form of an excavator. The upper frame  1  generally comprises a driver cabin  10 , fuel tanks  11 , a boom, an engine, gears, and other components (which are not shown in this Figure) for operating the construction equipment, most of which are arranged behind related covers of the upper frame  1 . As generally known, the upper frame  1  is mounted at its underside  2  in a horizontally turnable or rotatable manner on a lower carriage or undercarriage (which is not shown in this Figure). In case of construction vehicles like excavators, the undercarriage usually is equipped with wheels in order to drive, move or dislocate the vehicle. 
     In the enlarged perspective side view of  FIG. 2 , a cutout of the upper frame  1  of Figure with two fuel tanks  11  is schematically shown. However, instead of fuel tanks  11 , covers can as well be provided at these places for covering certain other components. 
     The upper frame  1  is provided at its underside  2  with a first embodiment of a compartment  3  according to the invention which is shown in an open position in which the compartment  3  is pivoted downwards. The position of the compartment  3  at the upper frame  1  is preferably selected such that either a free space  4  is available for storing the compartment  3  in its closed position within the upper frame  1  so that the above mentioned equipment or components can be arranged within the compartment  3 , or a certain component within the upper frame  1  (like e.g. a certain hydraulic or electric device) is accessible when the compartment  3  is open. 
     The form and dimensions of the compartment  3  are either selected in dependence on the space  4  which is available within the upper frame  1  for the compartment  3  and/or in dependence on the geometrical size of the equipment or components to be arranged or stored within the compartment  3 . 
     The compartment  3  according to  FIG. 2  has at least substantially the form of a parallelepiped comprising a bottom plate  31  and three side walls  32 ,  33 ,  34  extending perpendicularly from the bottom plate  31 . This first embodiment of the compartment  3  is mounted in a rotatable or turnable manner by means of an exemplary assembly unit at the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 , wherein the assembly unit is provided in the form of an edge, preferably a rear edge  5  of the compartment  3  which is pivotally mounted at the underside  2  of the upper frame  1  so that the compartment  3  can be opened and closed by tilting it down and up, respectively. 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of the upper frame  1  of  FIG. 2  from the right (according to arrow A in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in a cross section through the upper frame  1 , wherein one side wall  34  and the bottom plate  31  of the first embodiment of the compartment  3  in its open position is shown. From this Figure it is apparent that in order to open and close the compartment  3 , it is guided along a rotational path, i.e. tilted down and up, respectively, or by turning it in a downward and upward direction, respectively, around its rear edge. 
       FIG. 4  again shows a schematic enlarged perspective side view similarly to  FIG. 2  in the form of a cutout of the upper frame of  FIG. 1 . The upper frame  1  is provided at its underside  2  with a second embodiment of a compartment  3  according to the invention which is shown in an open position. 
     Regarding the position of this compartment  3  at the upper frame  1  and the form and dimensions of this compartment  3 , it is referred to the related explanations with respect to the first embodiment. 
     Again, this second embodiment of the compartment  3  has at least substantially the form of a parallelepiped comprising a bottom plate  31  and a first, a second and a third side wall  32 ,  33 ,  34 , and a fourth side wall (not shown) at the rear of the compartment  3  extending at least substantially perpendicularly from the bottom plate  31 . 
     However, deviating from the first embodiment, the second embodiment of the compartment  3  comprises an exemplary assembly unit in the form of four rods  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 , wherein a first and a second rod  51 ,  52  extends between the second side wall  33  of the compartment  3  and the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 , and the third and fourth rod  53 ,  54  extends between the third side wall  34  and the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 . The rods  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  are pivotally fastened both at the second and third side wall  33 ;  34 , respectively, and the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of the upper frame  1  of  FIG. 4  again from the right according to arrow A in  FIG. 4  in a cross section through the upper frame  1  wherein the third side wall  34  and the bottom plate  31  of the second embodiment of the opened compartment  3  is indicated. 
     Furthermore, the third and the fourth rod  53 ,  54  are shown. By pivotally mounting the rods  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  both at the underside of the upper frame  1  and at the related side wall  33 ;  34  of the compartment  3 , the compartment  3  can be opened and closed by swiveling it according to arrow B in  FIG. 5  by substantially parallelly shifting it along a curved motion path or a combined translational and rotational path. 
       FIG. 6  again shows a schematic enlarged perspective side view similarly to  FIG. 4  in the form of a cutout of the upper frame of  FIG. 1 . The upper frame  1  is provided at its underside  2  with a third embodiment of a compartment  3  according to the invention which is shown in an open position. 
     Regarding the position of this compartment  3  at the upper frame  1  and the form and dimensions of this compartment  3 , it is again referred to the related explanations with respect to the first and second embodiment. 
     Again, this third embodiment of the compartment  3  has at least substantially the form of a parallelepiped comprising a bottom plate  31  and a first, a second, a third side wall  32 ,  33 ,  34 , and a fourth side wall (not shown) at the rear of the compartment  3 , extending at least substantially perpendicularly from the bottom plate  31 . 
     The third embodiment of the compartment  3  is provided with an exemplary assembly unit in the form of an extractable and retractable assembly unit for parallelly shifting the compartment  3  along a straight or linear motion path (translational path), in contrary to the first and second embodiment, in which the assembly unit is provided for rotating or parallelly shifting the compartment  3  along a curved motion path, in order to open and to close it. 
     More in detail, this assembly unit comprises according to  FIG. 6  four rods  55 ,  56 ,  57 ,  58 , wherein a first and a second rod  55 ,  56  is fastened between the second side wall  33  of the compartment  3  and the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 , and the third and fourth rod  57 ,  58  is fastened between the third side wall  34  and the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 . 
     Furthermore, the second side wall  33  is provided with a first and a second guiding or rail, and the third side wall  34  is provided with a third and a fourth guiding or rail, each for guidingly fastening the rods  55 ,  56 ,  57 ,  58  at the compartment  3 , so that in order to open and close the compartment  3 , it can be parallelly shifted along a substantially straight or linear motion path. 
       FIG. 7  shows a front view of the upper frame  1  of  FIG. 6 , again from the right according to arrow A in  FIG. 6  in a cross section through the upper frame  1  wherein the third side wall  34  and the bottom plate  31  of the third embodiment of the opened compartment  3  is indicated. Furthermore, the third rod  57 , the third guiding  343 , the fourth rod  58  and the fourth guiding  344  is shown. 
     As exemplarily indicated in  FIG. 7  for the third and the fourth guiding  343 ,  344 , all guidings are provided each in the form of a slit-like rail which extends in a longitudinal direction of the related rod and in which e.g. a roll (not shown) of the related rod is guided, so that the compartment  3  can be opened and closed by parallelly shifting it along a substantially straight or linear motion path as indicated by arrow C in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, instead of a roll, a cylindrical pin mounted perpendicular at the corresponding rods  55 - 58  could be used which is slideably moving within the guidings or rails. 
     In order to have the compartment  3  of this third embodiment in its closed position completely embedded into the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 , the rods  55 - 58  are preferably each movable along further guidings or rails (not shown) mounted inside the upper frame  1 . In this case, the guidings and rails  343 ,  344  mounted at the compartment  3  are not necessary while the corresponding guidings and rails mounted inside the upper frame  1  are necessary for completely embedding the compartment  3  into the underside  2 . Of course, both types of guidings or rails can be used in order to avoid that guidings or rails mounted inside the upper frame are extending too much into the inner space of the upper frame  1  and/or are extending into the available access space between the compartment and the upper frame in case the compartment  3  is in its opened position. 
     As an alternative to the guidings or rails mounted inside the upper frame  1 , the rods  55 - 58  according to  FIGS. 6 and 7  can be pivotally connected to the upper frame  1  as described in connection with the second embodiment, so that the compartment  3  can be opened and closed by additionally swiveling it according to arrow B in  FIG. 5  along a curved motion path in combination with the above mentioned substantially straight or linear motion path (arrow C in  FIG. 7 ). 
     An extractable and retractable assembly unit could also be provided by means of rods which are telescopically extractable and retractable, so that no guidings or rails would be needed at the second and third side wall  33 ,  34  of the compartment  3  and/or inside the upper frame  1 . 
       FIG. 8  again shows a schematic enlarged perspective side view similarly to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  6  in the form of a cutout of the upper frame of  FIG. 1 , in which the compartment  3  is turned up into its closed position. From this Figure it can be seen that the bottom plate  31  of the closed compartment  3  is forming an integral part of the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 , in which it lies in an at least substantially common plane with the surrounding underside  2  of the upper frame  1 . By this, the compartment  3  is in its closed position completely embedded into the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 . 
     In its position at or in the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 , the compartment  3  is widely protected against rain, snow, ice, dust or dirt, as well as against damage during operation of the construction equipment. 
       FIG. 9  shows a front view of the upper frame  1  of  FIG. 8  from the right (arrow A in  FIG. 8 ) in which again a section through the upper frame  1  is indicated. From this Figure it is apparent that the compartment  3  does not project from the surrounding underside  2  of the upper frame  1  in its closed position, but is embedded into the underside  2  or lies in an at least substantially common plane with the underside  2  of the upper frame  1 . 
     The compartment  3  is preferably provided with a snap closure, or a lock in order to prevent an unauthorized opening, or it is held closed e.g. by means of screws. 
     Generally, it is to be noted that modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. 
     Furthermore, expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present invention are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. 
     Finally, numerals included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended to assist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in any way to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.