Patent Publication Number: US-2022228344-A1

Title: Frame of construction machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates to a frame used in construction machines including hydraulic shovels. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a hydraulic shovel as a typical example of construction machines comprises a lower traveling body, an upper swiveling body swivelably mounted on to the lower traveling body, and a working arm device operably installed on the upper swiveling body. A frame of upper swiveling body comprises a bottom plate, a pair of vertical plates being disposed spacedly in a width direction on a top surface of the bottom plate and extending longitudinally and vertically, and multiple support members extending toward outside in a width direction from breadthwise outer surface of the pair of vertical plates. A cab and various components (fuel tank, hydraulic tank, and others, for example) are mounted on the multiple support members. 
     When the frame of upper swiveling body is produced, a lower end of a pair of vertical plates is welded on a top surface of the bottom plate, then an upper end position of support members is adjusted with reference to the top or lower surface of the bottom plate, and a breadthwise inner end part of support members is welded on the breadthwise outer surface of the vertical plates. In this case, in order to adjust upper end position of support members, the lower end of support members may not be welded on the top surface of the bottom plate (refer to PTL 1, for example). 
     CITATION LIST 
     [Patent Document] 
     PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-105499 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     As for the frame of upper swiveling body, since it is required to avoid interfering of the lower end of support members with the welded part between top surface of the bottom plate and lower end of the vertical plates, the lower end position of support members is restricted. Also, as for the frame of upper swiveling body, the upper end position of components is restricted in order to avoid visibility degradation of an operator in the cab, in addition, the components have become larger nowadays, and dimensions of construction machines are restricted during transportation, so the upper end position of support members is also restricted. 
     Therefore, since vertical dimensions of the welded part between support members and vertical plates are restricted as a result that vertical dimensions of support members are restricted, if a lower end of support members is not welded on the top surface of the bottom plate similar to the frame described in PTL 1 above, there arises a problem that it is difficult to secure a rigidity of the support members. 
     In consideration of what mentioned above, a task of the present invention is to provide a frame of construction machines that can enhance the rigidity of support members. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     In order to solve the task above, this invention provides following frame of construction machines. That is to say, this invention provides the frame of construction machines that comprises a bottom plate, a pair of vertical plates being disposed spacedly in a width direction on a top surface of said bottom plate and extending longitudinally and vertically, and multiple support members extending toward outside in a width direction from breadthwise outer surface of said pair of vertical plates, wherein at least one of said multiple support members comprises a vertical wall perpendicular to said bottom plate, a breadthwise inner end part of said vertical wall is welded on one breadthwise outer surface of said pair of vertical plates, a lower end of said pair of vertical plates is welded intermittently on the top surface of said bottom plate, and there exists a non-welded part where the lower end of said vertical plates is not welded on the top surface of said bottom plate under breadthwise inner end part of said vertical wall. 
     A notch is preferably formed at a breadthwise inner portion of said vertical wall. It may be suitable that an annular swiveling bearing is connected to a lower surface of said bottom plate and said non-welded part is located at other than a portion intersecting said pair of vertical plates and said swiveling bearing as seen from vertical direction. It may be convenient that a recess is formed on a top surface of said bottom plate in said non-welded part. A through opening may be formed at said bottom plate in said non-welded part. 
     Favorable Effects of the Invention 
     Since there exists non-welded part in the frame of this invention where the lower end of vertical plates is not welded on a top surface of bottom plate under breadthwise inner end part of vertical wall, a lower end of the vertical wall may not interfere with the welded part between top surface of the bottom plate and lower end of vertical plates, vertical dimensions of the vertical wall may be increased by extending lower end position of the vertical wall downward, and in addition, length of welded part can be increased between breadthwise inner end part of vertical wall and breadthwise outer surface of vertical plates. Thus, the rigidity of support members can be enhanced according to the frame of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view seen from the back of the frame configured according to this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view seen from the front of the frame shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a plane view of the frame shown in  FIG. 1  where support members and others are removed. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view at section A in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view at section B in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view equivalent to  FIG. 5  when a recess is formed on the bottom plate. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view equivalent to  FIG. 5  when a through opening is formed on the bottom plate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Now, an explanation is provided for a suitable embodiment of the frame of construction machines configured according to this invention by giving a frame (swiveling frame) used for upper swiveling body of hydraulic shovel as an example and by referring to drawings. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a frame, the whole of which is indicated by symbol  2 , is formed of appropriate metallic material such as steel material and comprises a bottom plate  4 , a pair of vertical plates  6  being disposed spacedly in a width direction on a top surface of the bottom plate  4  and extending longitudinally and vertically, and multiple support members  8  extending toward outside in a width direction from breadthwise outer surface of the pair of vertical plates  6 . In addition, note that the longitudinal and breadthwise (horizontal) directions are shown with back, forth, right, and left letters and arrows respectively in  FIGS. 1, 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the bottom plate  4  extends longitudinally and breadthwise and has a relatively wide anterior part  10  and a back part  12  narrower in width than the anterior part  10 . An annular swiveling bearing (not shown) is connected to a lower surface of anterior part  10  and frame  2  is swivelably mounted on to a frame (not shown) of lower traveling body via swiveling bearing. Chain double-dashed lines in  FIG. 3  illustrate a portion where the swiveling bearing is connected to the lower surface of anterior part  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for illustration, a pinhole  14  for boom connection is formed at a top part of triangular vertical plates  6  for operably connecting base end part of a boom of working arm device (not shown) with a pin. A pinhole  16  for boom cylinder connection is formed at a front end part of vertical plates  6  for connecting base end part of a boom cylinder (not shown) with a pin which actuates the boom. A pair of counter weight attaching parts  18  are provided on a rear side of vertical plates  6  for attaching the counter weight (not shown) in order to balance with the working arm device. The bottom plate  4  and vertical plates  6  are structural members on which a large load may act from the working arm device and counter weight and are formed out of relatively thick plate materials. Also, the lower end of each vertical plate  6  is intermittently welded on the top surface of bottom plate  4  from breadthwise inside and outside. Non-welded part of the lower end of vertical plates  6  not welded on the top surface of bottom plate  4  will be described later. 
     The cab and various components (neither is shown) are mounted on the support members  8 , and the support members  8  are formed in various shapes according to members to be mounted. This specification describes in detail the support members  8   a  on a right front side and support members  8   b  on a left rear side. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4  for illustration, an explanation is provided about support member  8   a  on a right front side. The support member  8   a  includes a first vertical wall  20  perpendicular to the bottom plate  4 , a second vertical wall  22  perpendicular to the bottom plate  4  and disposed in front of the first vertical wall  20 , and a top surface wall  24  extending from upper end of the first vertical wall  20  to upper end of second vertical wall  22 . As for the support member  8   a  shown in illustrated embodiment, although first vertical wall  20  and top surface wall  24  are composed of a plate material bent at a right angle, they may be composed of separate plate materials. Also, first vertical wall  20 , second vertical wall  22 , and top surface wall  24  may be composed of a plate material. 
     Each breadthwise inner end part of first vertical wall  20 , second vertical wall  22 , and top surface wall  24  is welded on breadthwise outer surface of right vertical plate  6 . A symbol  26  shown in  FIG. 4  indicates a welded part between each of first vertical wall  20  and top surface wall  24  and vertical plates  6 . Meanwhile, each lower end of first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22  is not welded on the top surface of bottom plate  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an arc notch  28  is formed at a lower end of breadthwise inner portion of first vertical wall  20 , and an arc notch  30  is also formed at a lower end of breadthwise inner portion of second vertical wall  22 . Also, on the support member  8   a , a notch  32 , is formed which extends from an upper end side of breadthwise inner portion of first vertical wall  20  to a rear end side of breadthwise inner portion of top surface wall  24 . In this manner, since three notches  28 ,  30 , and  32  are formed on the support member  8   a  in illustrated embodiment, a stress concentration on the welded part  26  is mitigated and a development of crack is prevented on the welded part  26 . Also, hydraulic conduit line or wire, and others may be passed through notches  28 ,  30  on a lower end side of first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22 . 
     As explained above, while lower end of vertical plates  6  is intermittently welded on the top surface of bottom plate  4 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , under each breadthwise inner end part of first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22  of the support member  8   a , there exists a non-welded part  34  where the top surface of bottom plate  4  is not welded with a lower end of right vertical plate  6 . Thus, each lower end of first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22  may not interfere with welded part  36  on a breadthwise outside between the top surface of bottom plate  4  and the lower end of right vertical plate  6 . Therefore, as for the frame  2  in illustrated embodiment, each lower end position of first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22  may be extended downward so that respective vertical dimensions of the first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22  can be increased, and in addition, the length of welded part  26  can be increased. Thus, the rigidity of support member  8   a  can be enhanced according to the frame  2  in illustrated embodiment. 
     The non-welded part  34  may be preferably located at any position other than crossing portion  38  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) seen vertically between a pair of vertical plates  6  and swiveling bearing. As the frame  2  of upper swiveling body is connected with the frame of lower traveling body via swiveling bearing, relatively high stress occurs at the crossing portion  38 . So, from the point of view of securing adequate rigidity and fatigue strength of frame  2 , it is suitable that top surface of bottom plate  4  is welded with lower end of vertical plates  6  at the crossing portion  38  and non-welded part  34  is located at other than the crossing portion  38 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 5  for illustration, an explanation is provided about support member  8   b  on a left rear side. The support member  8   b  includes a vertical wall  40  perpendicular to the bottom plate  4  and a top surface wall  42  connected to upper end of vertical wall  40 . Each breadthwise inner end part of vertical wall  40  and top surface wall  42  is welded on breadthwise outer surface of left vertical plate  6 . A symbol  44  in  FIG. 5  indicates the welded part between vertical wall  40  and vertical plate  6  and a symbol  46  in  FIG. 5  indicates the welded part between top surface wall  42  and vertical plate  6 . Meanwhile, the lower end of vertical wall  40  is not welded on the top surface of bottom plate  4 . Also, a notch  48  is formed at a lower end of breadthwise inner portion of vertical wall  40  in order to mitigate stress concentration on the welded parts  44 ,  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , there exists non-welded part  50  where the top surface of bottom plate  4  is not welded with the lower end of left vertical plate  6  under breadthwise inner end part of vertical wall  40  of the support member  8   b . Thus, the lower end of vertical wall  40  may not interfere with welded part  52  on a breadthwise outside between the top surface of bottom plate  4  and the lower end of left vertical plate  6 . Therefore, as for the frame  2  in illustrated embodiment, the lower end position of vertical wall  40  may be extended downward so that vertical dimensions of the vertical wall  40  can be increased, and in addition, the length of welded part  44  can be increased. Thus, the rigidity of support member  8   b  can be enhanced according to the frame  2  in illustrated embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a recess  54  may be formed on top surface of bottom plate  4  in non-welded part  50 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a through opening  56  may be formed at bottom plate  4  in non-welded part  50 . Since the recess  54  or through opening  56  is formed on the bottom plate  4 , the lower end position of vertical wall  40  may be extended downward so that vertical dimensions of the vertical wall  40  and the length of welded part  44  can be further increased. 
     In addition, in the frame  2  in illustrated embodiment, an example was provided where there existed non-welded parts  34 ,  50  under each of both first and second vertical walls  20 ,  22  of support member  8   a  on a right front side and vertical wall  40  of support member  8   b  on a left rear side, but the non-welded part just needs to exist under at least one vertical wall of multiple support members  8  and the non-welded part is not limited to the position under vertical wall of specific support member  8 . 
     Three notches  28 ,  30 , and  32  are formed on the support member  8   a  on a right front side in illustrated embodiment, but the number of notches is optional, and the notch may not have to be formed. As for vertical wall  40  of support member  8   b  on a left rear side, the number of notches is optional, and the notch may not have to be formed. 
     In the frame  2  in illustrated embodiment, an explanation was also provided that a recess  54  or through opening  56  was formed on the bottom plate  4  located under vertical wall  40  of support member  8   b  on a left rear side, but the recess or through opening may be formed on the bottom plate  4  located under first or second vertical wall  20  or  22  of support member  8   a  on a right front side. 
     In case when non-welded parts  34 ,  50  are located at the crossing portion  38  and when a through opening is formed on the bottom plate  4 , rainwater and others may enter into swiveling bearing, so a recess may be formed on a top surface of bottom plate  4 . Also, regardless of whether non-welded parts  34 ,  50  are located under crossing portion  38 , when a recess is formed on the top surface of bottom plate  4  in the non-welded parts  34 ,  50 , rainwater and others accumulated in the recess may cause rust, so in order to drain the rainwater and others away from the recess, a hole may be formed extending downward from a bottom of the recess, or a groove extending from the recess to an end part of bottom plate  4  may be formed on the top surface of bottom plate  4 . 
     A shape of the recess or through opening in non-welded parts  34 ,  50  is not limited to those shapes which are located only just under non-welded parts  34 ,  50 . At least a part of the recess and through opening only needs to be located just under non-welded parts  34 ,  50 . The shape of the recess or through opening in non-welded parts  34 ,  50  may be, for example, a groove or long hole extending just under non-welded parts  34 ,  50  to the end part of bottom plate  4 .