Abstract:
A device for fixing a warning lamp of a construction machine according to the present invention is disposed on a side of a frame of an operating compartment, and includes an upper sleeve, a fixing bracket, a lower sleeve, a supporting lever, an upper elastic member, and a lower elastic member. The supporting lever spaces the upper sleeve apart from the lower sleeve by a certain distance, and rotatably supports the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. The upper elastic member and the lower elastic member are coupled to both side ends of the supporting lever to elastically support the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve respectively, and are coupled in a multi-joint structure. When the construction machine is on a construction site in wet weather, or is kept on a certain site, the warning lamp can be adjusted to various postures.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in which the flashing lamp mounted at an cab frame is angularly adjusted to various fixed orientations so that foreign substances including moisture or earth and sand, and rock powder can be prevented from infiltrating into the flashing lamp as well as any collision or interference with an external object can be reduced. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In general, a construction machine including an excavator or a shovel requires a flashing lamp mounted at a side of an upper portion of an cab frame so as to emit a warning light to the outside so that a danger can be warned which may occur during the work. 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional flashing lamp fixing structure for a construction machine in accordance with the prior art. 
         [0004]    When a flashing lamp  1  is mounted at a side of the cab frame, it is erectly securely fixed to an upper end of a rod  2  pivotally mounted to a bracket  3 . When the flashing lamp  1  is operated, it is easily maintained so as to be identified visibly from the outside. The orientation of the flashing lamp  1  can be selectively adjusted between an upwardly erected position and a downwardly collapsed position facing the ground surface in use in order to prevent a damage due to collision or interference with an external equipment or a facility on a construction site depending on the circumstances. 
         [0005]    However, when the flashing lamp  1  is used or stored for a long period of time in its state of being downwardly collapsed to face the ground surface, foreign substances including moisture or soil and rock powder generated from the construction site under rainy weather conditions as well as moisture or the like generated in a washing process may be infiltrated into the flashing lamp  1  through the bracket  3  and the rod  2  to cause the flashing lamp to be electrically short-circuited. 
         [0006]    In addition, when the foreign substances adhere to the conventional flashing lamp fixing structure during the long-term use of the flashing lamp, there occurs a serious problem in that the flashing lamp and the bracket are erroneously operated and malfunctioned. 
         [0007]    Meanwhile, as an example of a similar flashing lamp fixing technique, Korean Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1999-006169 discloses a rotary type work lamp fixing structure in which a work lamp fixed to a boom of an excavator is rotated by means of a bracket attached to left and right side plates of the boom and a lamp-fixing pin. This technique has an advantage in that the lamp fixed to the upper portion of the bracket is always oriented toward the front of the excavator so that the irradiation angle of the work lamp for the excavator is maintained constantly, but still entails an disadvantage in that the orientation of the work lamp, i.e., a lamp support angle cannot be changed and then kept in a fixed state during the storage of the work lamp fixing structure or under variable work circumstances. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problems 
       [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention was made to solve the aforementioned problem occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine, in which the orientation angle of the flashing lamp is structurally adjusted variously and kept so that foreign substances including earth and sand or moisture can be prevented from being introduced to the inside of a flashing lamp and the connection portion of a fixing bracket 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in which a support lever and a lower sleeve that are coupled in a multi-joint structure are pivotally rotated to cause the flashing lamp and the support lever to be kept in an horizontal orientation during the storage of the flashing lamp fixing device, and the flashing lamp is erected to be kept in a vertical orientation during the operation of the flashing lamp fixing device. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0010]    To accomplish the above object, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine, which is installed at one side of an cab frame, the flashing lamp fixing device including: 
         [0011]    an upper sleeve securely fixed at a side of an outer circumferential surface thereof to a flashing lamp mounting plate and having a first pin-retaining indent formed at a front circumferential edge thereof; 
         [0012]    a fixing bracket having a fixed body part and a sleeve mounting part, the fixed body part being mounted to the one side of the cab frame; 
         [0013]    a lower sleeve securely fixed at a side of an outer circumferential surface thereof to the sleeve mounting part of the fixing bracket and having a second pin-retaining indent formed at a front circumferential edge thereof; 
         [0014]    a support lever having an upper adjusting pin and a lower adjusting pin mounted adjacent to both ends thereof in such a manner that the upper adjusting pin is resiliently fit into the first pin-retaining indent of the upper sleeve and the lower adjusting pin is resiliently fit into the second pin-retaining indent of the lower sleeve, the support lever being configured to rotatably support the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve in such a manner that the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval; and 
         [0015]    upper and lower elastic members joined to the both ends of the support lever and configured to elastically support the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. 
         [0016]    In addition, in the flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention, the upper and lower elastic members may be fittingly mounted into the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve, respectively. 
         [0017]    Further, in the flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention, each of the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve may have a plurality of pin-retaining indents formed thereon. 
         [0018]    Preferably, in the flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention, the first pin-retaining indents of the upper sleeve may be radially arranged at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other. 
         [0019]    Preferably, in the flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention, the second pin-retaining indents of the lower sleeve may be radially arranged at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other. 
       Advantageous Effect 
       [0020]    The flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as constructed above has the following advantages. 
         [0021]    The upper sleeve, the support lever, and the lower sleeve structurally performs a multi-articulate function, and the fixing angle of the flashing lamp is changed variously so that foreign substances including earth and sand or moisture can be prevented from introduced into the inside of the flashing lamp and a connection portion of the fixing bracket. In addition, even in the case where the construction machine is stored in any place or there occurs collision or interference between the construction machine and an external object, the flashing lamp and the support lever can be easily angularly adjusted to various orientations with respect to a side of the cab frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0022]    The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional flashing lamp fixing structure for a construction machine in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is an assembled perspective view showing a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which a flashing lamp and a support lever are fixedly oriented vertically with respect to a side an cab frame; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view showing a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which a flashing lamp and a support lever are fixedly oriented horizontally with respect to a side an cab frame; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view showing a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which only a flashing lamp is fixedly oriented vertically with respect to a side an cab frame. 
       
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter. 
         [0029]    Prior to description of this embodiment, elements substantially identical to those in the prior art described with reference to  FIG. 1  are designated by like reference numerals to avoid a redundant description. 
         [0030]    A reference numeral  11  designates a support lever, a reference numeral  14  designates an upper sleeve, a reference numeral  15  designates a flashing lamp mounting plate, a reference numeral  16  designates an upper elastic member, a reference numeral  24  designates a lower elastic member, a reference numeral  25  designates a fixing bracket, and a reference numeral  26  designates a lower elastic member. 
         [0031]    An embodiment in accordance with the present invention will be described centering on the structure in which the orientation of the flashing lamp is adjusted to a vertical or horizontal orientation with respect to a side of an upper portion of an cab frame  100  of an excavator or shovel for a construction machine. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention is installed at one side of an cab frame  10 . 
         [0033]    The flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine includes: an upper sleeve  14  that is securely fixed at a side of an outer circumferential surface thereof to a flashing lamp mounting plate  15  and having a first pin-retaining indent  18  formed at a front circumferential edge thereof; 
         [0034]    a fixing bracket  25  having a fixed body part  25   a  and a sleeve mounting part  25   b , the fixed body part  25   a  being mounted to the one side of the cab frame  10 ; 
         [0035]    a lower sleeve  24  that is securely fixed at a side of an outer circumferential surface thereof to the sleeve mounting part  25   b  of the fixing bracket  25  and having a second pin-retaining indent  28  formed at a front circumferential edge thereof; 
         [0036]    a support lever  11  having an upper adjusting pin  12  and a lower adjusting pin  22  mounted adjacent to both ends thereof in such a manner that the upper adjusting pin  12  is resiliently fit into the first pin-retaining indent  18  of the upper sleeve  14  and the lower adjusting pin  22  is resiliently fit into the second pin-retaining indent  28  of the lower sleeve  24 , the support lever  11  being configured to rotatably support the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24  in such a manner that the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24  are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval; and upper and lower elastic members  16  and  26  that are joined to the both ends of the support lever  11  and configured to elastically support the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24 . 
         [0037]    During the assembly of the flashing lamp fixing device, upper and lower fastening members  17  and  27  are mounted to both ends of the support lever  11  so that the upper and lower sleeves  14  and  24 , the upper and lower elastic members  16  and  26  are fixed in position so as to be prevented from escaping from the both ends of the support lever  11 . 
         [0038]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper and lower elastic members  16  and  26  are fittingly mounted into the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24 , respectively. 
         [0039]    In addition, each of the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24  may have a plurality of pin-retaining indents  18  and  28  formed thereon. 
         [0040]    In order to help to understand the invention in an embodiment of the present invention, a state is shown in which both ends of each of the upper and lower adjusting pins  12  and  22  are formed at an angle of 180° with respect to each other so as to be seated in the first and second pin-retaining indents  18  and  28 . 
         [0041]    Preferably, the first pin-retaining indents  18  of the upper sleeve  14  may be radially arranged at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other, and the second pin-retaining indents  28  of the lower sleeve  24  are also radially arranged at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other. It is of course noted that the arrangement angle of the first pin-retaining indents  18  and the second pin-retaining indent  28  can be modified variously in consideration of the relative displacement between the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24  during the pivotal rotation of the support lever  11 . 
         [0042]    Meanwhile, the upper and lower fastening members  17  and  27  are preferably formed as a bolt member to facilitate the fastening thereof at both ends of the support lever  11 , but a pin engagement member or a mechanical coupling member may be applied in consideration of the frictional force of the upper sleeve  14  and the lower sleeve  24   
         [0043]    A non-reference numeral  13  denotes an upper pin hole and a non-reference numeral  23  denotes a lower pin hole. 
         [0044]    Hereinafter, the operation principle of the flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention will be described. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the flashing lamp  1  is mounted at the flashing lamp mounting  15  at ordinary times so that it is fixedly oriented vertically with respect to a side of an cab frame together with the support lever  11 . 
         [0046]    During the construction work such as excavation or loading of earth and sand, which is required in a construction site, a vibration or external force transferred to the flashing lamp through the cab frame can be buffered and absorbed via the upper elastic member  16 , the support lever  11 , and the lower elastic member  26 . Although the flashing lamp  1  receives an extreme vibration, it is held firmly in a vertical orientation with respect to a side of an cab frame. 
         [0047]    The flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention can change the orientation of the flashing lamp  1  through the adjustment of the orientation angle of the upper sleeve  14 , the support lever  11  and the lower sleeve  24  that are coupled in a multi-joint structure to fit the needs when the construction machine is placed on a construction site under rainy weather conditions or is stored in a certain other place. 
         [0048]    For example, when the construction machine is stored on a construction site, earth and sand or moisture on the construction site can infiltrate into the flashing lamp  1  that is in an erect orientation. In this case, it is preferable to change the orientation of the flashing lamp  1  to a vertical orientation relative to an operator&#39;s cab. That is, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when an operator pulls the support lever  11  with an external force exceeding a frictional force by which the lower adjusting pin  22  is supportingly retained in the second pin-retaining indent  28 , a lower end of the support lever  11  is released from the retaining state in which the lower adjusting pin  22  is retained in the second pin-retaining indent  28  of the lower sleeve  24  by the elastic force of the lower elastic member  26  to cause the support lever  11  to be pivotally rotated by 90° or 180°. 
         [0049]    An upper end of the support lever  11  pivotally rotated is maintained in its initial retaining state in which the adjusting pin  12  is retained in the first pin-retaining indent  18  of the upper sleeve  14  by the elastic force of the upper elastic member. Ultimately, after the pivotal rotation of the support lever  11  relative to the lower sleeve  24  is sufficiently performed, the flashing lamp  1  and the support lever  11  are fixedly oriented horizontally with respect to a side of the cab frame  10 . 
         [0050]    If the pivotal rotation between the support lever  11  and the upper sleeve  14  is needed, for example, the orientation of the flashing lamp  1  needs to be adjusted to a vertical orientation with respect to a side of the cab frame  10  while the support lever  11  is held in a horizontal orientation with respect to a side of the cab frame  10 , the operator can perform an additional manipulation of pulling the support lever  11  with an external force exceeding a frictional force by which the upper adjusting pin  12  is supportingly retained in the first pin-retaining indent  18  by means of the elastic force of the upper elastic member  16 . 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , during the additional manipulation by the operator, the flashing lamp mounting plate  15  and the upper sleeve  14  are pivotally rotated about the upper end of the support lever  11  while the support lever  11  is held in a horizontal orientation with respect to a side of the cab frame  10  in a state of being suspended from the lower sleeve  24 . 
         [0052]    In this case, it is of course noted that the upper end of the support lever  11  is released from the retaining state in which the upper adjusting pin  12  is retained in the first pin-retaining indent  18  of the upper sleeve  14  by the elastic force of the lower elastic member  26  to cause the support lever  11  to be pivotally rotated by 90° or 180° and the upper adjusting pin  12  to be re-retained in the first pin-retaining indent  18 . 
         [0053]    Thus, the flashing lamp mounting plate  15  and the flashing lamp  1  suspended from the upper end of the support lever  11  is adjusted to a secondary vertical orientation with respect to a side of the cab frame  10 . 
         [0054]    The adjustment of the secondary orientation of the support lever  11  and the flashing lamp  1  is advantageous in removing any collision or interference with an external object. 
         [0055]    Although the adjustment of orientation of the flashing lamp  1  and the support lever  11  to a vertical and horizontal orientation with respect to a side of the cab frame  10  has been described in the foregoing embodiment and drawings of the present invention, the orientation of the flashing lamp  1  and the support lever  11  can be modified in various manners depending on the needs of the operator or user. 
         [0056]    In accordance with a modified embodiment of the present invention, the first pin-retaining indents  18  of the upper sleeve  14  and the second pin-retaining indents  28  of the lower sleeve  24  may be radially arranged at a subdivided angle as well as at an angle of 90° or 180° in order to carry out the variation in the orientation of the flashing lamp  1  and the support lever  11 . In this case, the principle of configuration in which the support lever  11  and the upper sleeve  14 /the lower sleeve  24  are elastically rotatably coupled to each other is similar to that in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, and thus its detailed description will be omitted to avoid redundancy. 
         [0057]    In addition, the present invention can be modified or changed in various manners by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the subject matter claimed in the appended claims in view of the configuration of the coupling between the upper elastic member  16  and the upper sleeve  14 , and between the lower elastic member  26  and the upper sleeve  14 . Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned particular preferred embodiment. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0058]    As described above, the flashing lamp fixing device for a construction machine in accordance with the present invention can be usefully utilized to change the orientation of the flashing lamp  1  through the adjustment of the various orientation angles of the upper sleeve  14 , the support lever  11  and the lower sleeve  24  that are coupled in a multi-joint structure to fit the needs when the construction machine is placed on a construction site under rainy weather conditions or is stored in a certain other place.