Patent Publication Number: US-6655053-B1

Title: Tool attachment for excavating machines and the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In performing various groundworking operations, if often is required to use different types tools to accomplish a particular task. The task may involve ripping or cutting a surface area and excavating, grading and compacting an area, splitting stumps and the like and excavating or raking debris and variety of other multiple operations to accomplish a particular task. Typically, it has been the conventional practice in performing such tasks to either utilize separate pieces of equipment or to change tools on a single piece of equipment which in either circumstance requires an increase in capital investment, unproductive downtime and/or increased operation costs. It thus has been desirable and the principal object of this invention to provide an attachment for a machine such as an excavator providing multiple tools capable of performing multiple operations in accomplishing a particular task. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally provides for an excavating machine and like having a handle, operable to perform groundworking functions, consisting of an arm member pivotally connectable to the underside of the machine handle, an extendable strut pivotally connected to the arm member and pivotally connectable to the under side of the machine handle when the arm member is connected to such handle, and at least two tools, each detachably mountable on the arm member. Preferably, the extendable strut consists of a hydraulic cylinder assembly having a cylinder member pivotally connected to the machine handle and a rod member pivotally connected to the arm member when the attachment is connected to the machine handle, means intercommunicating the base and rod ends of the cylinder member, a valve disposed in the intercommunicating means, selectively operable to open the valve and prevent the free flow of fluid between the base and rod ends of the cylinder member, and correspondingly the angular displacement of the arm member relative to the handle upon maneuvering of the handle by an operator of the machine, and to close the valve and preclude the free flow of fluid between the base and rod ends of the cylinder member, and correspondingly the angular displacement of the arm member relative to the handle, and means for operating such control valve. The tools detachably mountable on the arm member are interchangeable and may include a ripping tooth, a ground compactor, circular cutter, a stump splitter, a rake and the like. Such detachably mountable tools may be operated independently or with another component of the handle such as an excavating bucket to permit multiple ground working functions in accomplishing a particular task. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the front end assembly of an excavating machine embodying the present invention, having a portion thereof broken away; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing of a fluid control system of the attachment shown in the FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is perspective view of a ripper tooth which may be detachably mountable on the arm member of the attachment shown in the FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is perspective view of a compactor which may be detachably mountable on the arm member of the attachment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a circular cutter detachably mountable on the arm member of the attachment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stump splitter which may be detachably mountable on arm member of the attachment shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rake detachably mountable on the arm member of the attachment shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a handle  10  operatively connected to a boom of an excavator machine, a bucket  11  pivotally mounted on handle  10  and a tool attachment  12  mounted on the underside of the handle adjacent the free end thereof. The handle is pivotally connected to the boom of the machine, the boom is pivotally connected to a rotatable frame of the machine and hydraulic cylinder assemblies operatively interconnect the machine frame and boom and the boom and the handle for angularly displacing and thus maneuvering such components in the conventional manner. Bucket  11  is pivotally connected to the end of the handle by means of a connecting pin  13  and is pivoted by means of a hydraulic cylinder assembly  14 . The hydraulic cylinder assembly is of a conventional type having a cylinder member  15  pivotally connected to a bracket mounted on the upper side of handle  10  and an extendable rod member  16  pivotally connected to a support link  17  by means of a connecting pin  18 . Support link  17  is pivotally connected to handle  10  by a connecting pin  18   a . Motion is transmitted from support link  17  to bucket  11  by means of a connecting link  19  pivotally connected to support link  17  by means of connecting pin  18  and pivotally connected to bucket  11  by means of a connecting pin  20 . 
     Attachment  12  generally consists of an arm member  21 , a tool selected from the group of tools shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 detachably mountable on the free end of arm member  21  and extendable strut assembly  22 . Arm member  21  is pivotally connected to a depending bracket  23  rigidly secured to the underside of handle  10  adjacent to connecting pin  13 , and is provided with a bifurcated end portion  21   a  defining a slot  21   b  for receiving a shank portion of one of the tools shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 for detachably securing such tool to the end of the arm member. The lower bifurcated portion of the arm member further is provided with a transversely aligned bolt receiving openings  21   c  which are adapted to register with openings in the shank portion of a tool received within the slot in the arm member for receiving fastening bolts therethrough. 
     Strut assembly  22  includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly  24 , a control valve  25  and accumulator  26 . The cylinder assembly consist of a cylinder member  27  connected at its base end to depending bracket  28  mounted on the underside of handle  10  by means of a connecting pin  29 , and a rod member  30  pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of arm member  21  by means of a connecting pin  31 . Control valve  25  and accumulator  26  are mounted on cylinder member  27  which functions to control the intercommunication of fluid between the base and rod ends of cylinder member  27 . 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, valve  25  includes a fluid passageway  31  intercommunicating the base and rod ends of cylinder member  27  by means of fluid lines  32  and  33 , having a pair of electrically actuated valves  34  and  35  normally disposed in the closed condition, and a fluid passageway  36  interconnecting portions of fluid passageway  31 , disposed parallel to a segment of fluid passageway  31  including valves  34  and  35 , and including a pair check valves  37  and  38  permitting fluid flow therefrom only in the direction of segments of fluid passageway  31 . Fluid passageway  31  and passageway  36  are interconnected by means of a fluid passageway  39  interconnecting a portion of passageway  31  disposed between valves  34  and  35 , and a portion of passageway  36  disposed between check valves  37  and  38 . A fluid passageway  40  intercommunicates passageway  39  and a fluid line  41  of accumulator  26 , and includes a check valve  42 . Valve  42  is provided with an orifice and functions in a manner to provide restricted flow of fluid from passageway  39  into accumulator  26  and unrestricted flow of fluid out of the accumulator into passageway  39 . Valve  25  further includes a fluid passageway  43  intercommunicating a portion of fluid passageway  31  between fluid line  32  and valve  34 , and fluid passageway  39 , including a pressure relief valve  44 . Valve  25  also is provided with a passageway  45  intercommunicating fluid passageway  39  and a portion of passageway  31  between valve  35  and fluid line  33 , which includes a pressure relief valve  46 . 
     Control valve  25  is selectively operable to open, permitting the free flow of fluid between the base and rod ends of cylinder member  27  and thus an adjustment of its length and correspondingly the angular adjustment of the arm member relative to the handle, and to close, precluding the free flow of fluid between the base and the rod ends of the cylinder member, thus fixing its length and correspondingly the angular relationship of the arm member relative to the handle. In the condition as shown in FIG. 2, intercommunication of fluid between the base and rod ends of the cylinder member is precluded. Whenever it is desired to adjust the angular relationship of arm member  21  relative to handle  10  by adjusting the length of the strut assembly, the machine operator need only operate controls at the operator&#39;s station on the machine to open valves  34  and  35 , maneuver the boom and handle to cause arm member  21  to pivot and thus assume a different angular relationship relative to the handle, and then close valves  34  and  35  to lock the strut assembly and thus fix the angular relationship of the arm member relative to the handle. 
     When valve  34  is in the open condition and the operator operates the controls of the machine to cause the lower end of the arm member to engage the ground and pivot rearwardly to shorten the length of the strut assembly, fluid will flow from the base end of cylinder member  27  through fluid line  32 , fluid passageway  31  including valve  34 , fluid passageway  39 , fluid passageway  36  including check valve  38 , a segment of fluid passageway  31  and fluid line  33  into the rod end of the cylinder member. Excess of fluid from the base end of cylinder member  27  would be caused to flow through passageway  40  and check valve  42  into the accumulator. When the position of the arm member is set at the desired angle relative to the handle and it is desired to lock the arm member in such position, the operator merely operates the controls at his station to close valve  34  to preclude intercommunication between the base and rod ends of the cylinder member and correspondingly fix the length of the strut assembly. 
     When the machine operator opens valve  35  and maneuvers controls of the machine to cause arm member to engage the ground and be pivoted forwardly to extend rod member  30 , fluid will be caused to flow out the rod end of the cylinder member through fluid line  33 , a portion of fluid passageway  31  including valve  35 , passageway  39 , a portion of fluid passageway  36  including check valve  37 , a portion of fluid passageway  31  and fluid line  32  into the base end of the cylinder member. Since the volume of the chamber at the rod end of cylinder member  27  is less than the volume of the chamber at the base end of the cylinder member, and there accordingly would be a deficiency of fluid flowing from the rod end to the base end of the cylinder member, such deficiency is compensated for by fluid supplied by accumulator  26  through check valve  42  and fluid passageway  40 . 
     A selected one of the tools shown in FIGS. 3 through 7 may be detachably connected to the lower end of arm member  21  to provide an additional tool which may be operated solely and independently of, concurrently with or sequentially with bucket  11 . The tool shown in FIG. 3 consists of a ripping tooth  50  which includes an upper shank portion  51  having a pair of spaced, transversely disposed bolt openings  52 , a lower shank portion  53  provided with a jagged edge  54  and a peripheral flange portion  55 . Ripping tooth  50  may be secured to the lower end of arm member  21  simply by inserting the upper shank portion thereof into the lower recess or socket in the lower end of arm member  21  so that peripheral flange portion  55  engages the lower edge of the arm member and bolt holes  52  register with bolt holes  21 c in the arm member, and then inserting bolts in the registered openings of the two members to rigidly secure the members together. 
     The tool illustrated in FIG. 4 consists of a ground compactor  60  and includes an upper shank portion  61  comparable to upper shank portion  51  of ripping tooth  50 , having a pair bolt holes  62 , a transverse beam portion  63 , a set of depending leg portions  64 ,  65  and  66  in which there is provided a shaft  67  and pair of cylindrical drums  68  and  69  rotatively mounted on shaft  67  and having a plurality of radially projecting studs  70 . Compactor  60  may be detachably connected to arm member  21  in the same manner as ripping tooth  50  simply by maneuvering the front end of the machine to receive upper shank portion  61  so that bolt holes  62  register with bolt holes  21   c  in the lower end of the arm member, and inserting bolts through the registered holes to secure the compactor to the arm member. 
     The tool shown in FIG. 5 consists of a pavement cutter  80  which includes an upper shank portion  81  comparable to upper shank portion  61  of compactor  60  and upper shank portion  51  of ripping tooth  50 , provided with a pair of vertically spaced bolt holes  82 , a peripheral flange portion  83 , a pair of depending portions  84  and  85  provided with a shaft  86  and a cutter blade  87  mounted on shaft  86  and having a circular cutting edge  88 . The cutter also may be detachably connected to arm member  21  by inserting upper shank portion  81  into the lower end of arm member  21  and inserting a set of bolts in registered bolt holes  21   c  and  82 . 
     The tool shown in FIG. 6 consists of a stump splitter  90  which includes an upper shank portion  91  comparable to shank portions  51 ,  61  and  81 , having a pair of vertically spaced bolt holes  92 , a peripheral flange portion  93  and a depending blade portion  94  provided with a bottom, arcuate cutting edge  95  and front, arcuate cutting edge  96  cooperating with bottom edge  95  to provide a point  97 . The splitter is detachably connectable to arm member  21  in the same manner as the previously described tools with upper shank portion  91  being inserted into the lower end of the arm member and secured thereto by bolts extending through registered openings  21   c  and  92 . 
     The tool illustrated in FIG. 7 consists of a rake  100  and includes an upper shank portion  101  comparable to the previously described upper shank portions of the aforementioned tools, having a pair of vertically spaced bolt holes  102  registerable with bolt holes  21   c  in the arm member, a transverse beam portion  103  and plurality of downwardly and forwardly curved tine portions  104 . Here again, rake  100  may be detachably connected to arm member  21  by maneuvering the front end assembly of the machine to cause upper shank portion  101  to be received within the lower end of arm member  21 , and then inserting bolts in registered bolt holes  21   c  and  102 . 
     In the use of the attachment as shown, control valve  25  and the front end assembly of the machine may be operated to position arm member  21  in a fully retracted position, clear of the pivotal movement of bucket  11 . With the arm member thus retracted, the front end assembly of the machine may be operated to perform conventional excavating operations with bucket  11 . When it is desired to perform a different operation such as ripping, compacting, cutting, splitting or raking without the use of bucket  11 , suitable controls at the operator&#39;s station on the machine are operated to retract rod member  16  of cylinder assembly  14  and thus position bucket  11  in an upper and rearward position, valve  25  and other controls on the machine may be operated to position the arm member in the position shown in FIG. 1 for attaching one of the tools, one of the tools maybe attached to the arm member either by manually mounting the tool on the lower end of the arm member for maneuvering the front end assembly of the machine to cause the upper shank portion of one of the more heavier tools to be received within the lower end of the arm member, and securing it thereto with a set of bolts, operating valve  25  to permit free movement of rod member  30  and then operating the front end assembly of the machine to cause the tool mounted on the arm member to engage the ground and further causing the arm member to assume the desired angular relationship with the handle, and then operating control valve  25  to fix the length of the strut assembly and thus the angular relationship between the arm member and the handle. With the arm member thus positioned and the bucket in the upper retracted position, the front end assembly of the machine may be operated to perform a desired task with the attached tool. 
     With a tool attached to the arm member as described, the tool and the bucket may be used together or perhaps in sequence to perform further groundworking tasks. As an example, a tool may be used to rip, cut or rake a ground surface, the tool may be retracted and the bucket may be used to scoop up material which has been ripped, cut or raked, or the ground may be graded with the bucket and then compacted with the compactor. In addition, the rake could be used in conjunction with the bucket to grapple various materials such as debris, large rocks, tree trunks and the like. 
     The ability to detachably mount a selected tool to the arm member of the machine which may be used either independently or with the bucket provides an increased versatility permitting a greater number of tasks to be performed by the machine with a minimum amount of down time, resulting in greater productivity. Such versatility is made possible by the ability to detachably mount a plurality of different tools on the arm member of the machine which may be operated independent of the other tool mounted on the machine, in cooperation with such other tool or sequentially with such tool. Furthermore, such detachable tool either may be removed completely or positioned in a fully retracted position to permit the independent use of the other tool mounted on the handle. The attachment and detachment of the detachable tool may be accomplished simply by manually mounting the lighter weight tools or maneuvering the front end assembly of the machine for the heavier tools. 
     In the use of one of the detachable tools either independently of or with the other tool mounted on the handle, if an excessive load is applied to arm member  21  risking damage to the arm member or attached tool, pressure relief valves  44  or  46  will be cause to open providing intercommunication of fluid between the base and rod ends of cylinder member  27 , thus permitting the angular displacement of the arm member to relieve it of any stress resulting from any undue load imposed thereon. 
     From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations, and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.