Patent Description:
In mining or construction industry hydraulic devices, such as a rock drilling machines, are often arranged on a movable arm or the like of a mining or construction vehicle. Such hydraulic devices often include several hydraulic components which need to be furnished with hydraulic fluid, and in some cases flushing medium and pressurised air also need to be furnished to the hydraulic device, such that additional conduits need to be provided along the movable arm.

In <CIT> a rotation device for a boom of a mining or construction work rig is disclosed. The arrangement of <CIT> comprises a hydraulic device in the form of a drilling machine. Although not shown in the disclosure of <CIT>, the hydraulic device therein is provided with hydraulic fluid via hoses arranged in flexible reel arrangements allowing the different parts of the rig arm arrangement to rotate and pivot with respect to each other. <CIT> further discloses a boom extending in a first direction, which boom, via a first and a second rotation device, is connected to a mining or construction device arranged on a mounting device arranged in connection to a free end of said boom, the first rotation device being arranged to provide a rotation around a first axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction, the second rotation device being arranged to provide a rotation around a second axis that is arranged at an angle with respect to the first axis, wherein an angle unit is arranged between said first and second rotation devices to provide an angular movement of said second axis of said second rotation device with respect to said first axis of said first rotation device. The boom may be an extendable boom comprising a first and a second telescopic section.

A problem is the reach of the mining or construction vehicle. Specifically, a mining or construction device arranged via a first and a second rotation device at a free end of the boom may be obstructed from reach by limitations inherent in the arrangement of the rotation devices.

There is a need of an arrangement that increases the flexibility and/or the reach of the mining or construction device.

<CIT> discloses a mining or construction vehicle comprising a boom extending in a first direction, which boom, via a first and a second rotation device, is connected to a mining or construction device arranged on a mounting device arranged in connection to a free end of said boom, the first rotation device being arranged to provide a rotation around a first axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction, the second rotation device being arranged to provide a rotation around a second axis that is arranged at an angle with respect to the first axis, wherein an angle unit with a pivot point is arranged between said first and second rotation devices to provide an angular movement of said second axis of said second rotation device with respect to said first axis of said first rotation device. The boom may be an extendable boom comprising a first and a second telescopic section. <CIT> does not disclose how the first rotation device is arranged in relation to the telescopic sections.

<CIT> relates to an extensible boom comprising a stationary outer member, a non-rotatable intermediate extensible member and a rotatable inner extensible member, wherein the two extensible members are extended and retracted simultaneously. Rotation of the inner extensible member is effected by a hydraulic motor with a worm and worm-wheel gearing. A rotation device comprising the hydraulic motor with a worm and worm-wheel gearing is arranged at the stationary outer member, which arrangement is essential for enabling the simultaneous extension and retraction of the two extensible members.

<CIT> discloses an extendable boom comprising a first and a second telescopic section, a boom actuator mechanism and a feed bar actuator mechanism. The boom is mounted on a rotary actuator for swinging the boom about a vertical axis. Another rotary actuator is pivotally mounted on the free end of the boom and supports a feed bar for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the boom.

<CIT> discloses a boom carrying a machine unit, an actuator mechanism for the boom and an actuator mechanism for the machine unit. The actuator mechanism for the machine unit comprises a directional valve, which ensures a set position since any deviation results in misalignment of the elements and flow through the directional valve.

<CIT> relates to a boom assembly to which a rock drill assembly is swiveled such that the rock drill assembly may be rolled over or rotated about the longitudinal axis of the boom assembly from one position to a diametrically opposite position, or to any position intermediately of such positions. A hydraulically powered means is arranged to control angular positioning of the rock drill assembly relative to a shaft.

According to an aspect the invention relates to a mining or construction vehicle comprising a boom extending in a first direction, which boom, via a first and a second rotation device, is connected to a mining or construction device arranged on a mounting device arranged in connection to a free end of said boom, the first rotation device being arranged to provide a rotation around a first axis that is substantially parallel to the first direction, and a second rotation device being arranged to provide a rotation around a second axis that is arranged at an angle with respect to the first axis. A pivot point is arranged between said first and second rotation devices to provide an angular movement of said second axis of said second rotation device with respect to said first axis of said first rotation device. The first rotation device is arranged at the outer end of the second telescopic section of the boom.

With this arrangement the angle arrangement becomes more compact than prior art arrangements, and therefore the reachability of the mining or construction device of the mining or construction vehicle is increased.

In a specific embodiment a pressure cylinder is arranged to provide the angular movement of said second axis of said second rotation device with respect to said first axis of said first rotation device around said pivot point.

Specifically, a first arm may be arranged to extend backwards with respect to the first direction of the boom from a point at an outer end of said boom so as to rotate with said rotation device, said first arm being connected to a first end of the pressure cylinder, the opposite, second end of the pressure cylinder being connected to a second arm arranged at the second rotation device.

In one specific embodiment the second arm extend along the second axis past at least a part of the second rotation device, and wherein the pressure cylinder is arranged inside said angle, such that an extension of the pressure cylinder will act to increase the angle between the first axis and the second axis and a retraction of the pressure cylinder will act to decrease said angle.

In one specific embodiment a first hinge limb pair extends from the first rotation device and is connected at the pivot point to a second hinge limb pair that extends from the second device, the pivot point comprising two spaced apart hinges, connecting the first and second hinge limb pairs and providing a space between said hinges.

In one specific embodiment the second rotation device comprises a swivel arrangement for supply of hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic device on said mounting device through said swivel arrangement of said second rotation devices, and wherein a valve unit for the distribution of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic device is arranged in direct connection to said swivel arrangement.

Other embodiments and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the, dependent claims, detailed description and the appended drawings.

An exemplary embodiment related to the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which;.

In <FIG> a mining or construction vehicle <NUM> according to an aspect of the invention is shown. The mining or construction vehicle <NUM> comprises a boom <NUM> extending in a longitudinal direction D1, i.e. an axial direction, of the boom <NUM>. A pressure cylinder <NUM> is arranged to provide an angular movement of the boom <NUM> with respect to mining or construction vehicle <NUM>. In the shown embodiment the boom <NUM> is an extendable boom with a first and a second telescopic section <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The invention may however also be used in combination with a non-extendable boom.

The first telescopic section <NUM> of the shown extendable boom is arranged to be connected to the mining or construction vehicle <NUM>. A mounting device <NUM> is arranged in connection to a free end <NUM> of the boom <NUM> to carry a hydraulic device (not shown). In a specific embodiment, the vehicle is a drill rig and the hydraulic device is a hydraulic rock drilling machine, typically comprising a percussive drill hammer. The mounting device <NUM> of the shown embodiment is arranged in direct connection to the free end <NUM> of the boom <NUM>, but the fact that it is arranged in connection to the free end <NUM> of the boom <NUM> should be construed as it may be arranged at a distance from the boom <NUM>, e.g. connected via a further boom or the like.

The boom <NUM> may comprise more than two telescopic sections, wherein additional sections may be telescopically arranged between the first and second telescopic sections <NUM> and <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, the mounting device <NUM> arranged to carry the hydraulic device is arranged on a pivot arm at the free end <NUM> of the boom <NUM>. The mounting device <NUM> may e.g. be comprised of a mounting plate, a bracket, a holder or a set of mounting holes for attachment of a hydraulic device.

In <FIG> an angle unit <NUM> is shown. This angle unit <NUM> is arranged on a boom <NUM> extending in a first direction D1. The boom <NUM> is connected to a mining or construction device arranged on a mounting device <NUM>, via a first and a second rotation device <NUM>, and <NUM>, arranged in connection to the free end of said boom <NUM>. The mining or construction device is preferably a device for producing holes in a rock or the like, e.g. a rock drilling device. In a specific embodiment it is a hydraulic rock drilling machine.

Preferably the mining or construction device is a drill rig including a rock drilling machine arranged on a mounting device <NUM>.

Preferably the boom <NUM> is extendable, comprising a first telescopic section <NUM> and second telescopic section <NUM>.

The first rotation device <NUM> is arranged to provide a rotation around a first axis A1 that is substantially parallel to the first direction D1, and the second rotation device <NUM> is arranged to provide a rotation around a second axis A2 that is arranged at an angle with respect to the first axis A1. In an alternative embodiment, the first rotation device <NUM> is arranged inside the boom, specifically an extendable boom. In such an arrangement the second telescopic section <NUM> is cylindrical and arranged with splines inside the first telescopic section <NUM>. The first rotation device may be arranged inside the first telescopic section <NUM> to be translated along with the inner end of the second telescopic section <NUM>. Such an arrangement is described in detail in <CIT> and may be implemented on the inventive mining or construction vehicle.

A pivot point <NUM> is arranged between said first and second rotation devices <NUM> and <NUM> to provide an angular movement of said second axis A2 of said second rotation device <NUM> with respect to said first axis A1 of said first rotation device <NUM>. Conventionally, such a pivot point <NUM>, if at all present, is arranged outside of both the rotation devices <NUM> and <NUM>. The angular movement may be used to alter the tilt angle of a feed beam, not show, including a drilling machine arranged on the mounting device <NUM> into suitable drilling angles. Except from this difference the arrangements of the different embodiments of the angle unit <NUM> may be combined in any possible way.

As noted above, the angle unit <NUM> of the embodiment shown in <FIG> comprises a pivot point <NUM> arranged between said first and second rotation devices <NUM>,<NUM> and a pressure cylinder <NUM> arranged to provide the angular movement of the second axis A2 of the second rotation device <NUM> with respect to the first axis A1 of said first rotation device <NUM> around said pivot point <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, the first rotation device <NUM> is arranged at the outer end of second telescopic section <NUM> of an extendable boom <NUM>. Thereby, space is limited for the arrangement of the angle unit <NUM>.

In view of the limited space between the first and second rotation devices <NUM>,<NUM> a first arm <NUM> extends backwards with respect to the direction D1 of the boom <NUM>, so as to prolong the working length of the pressure cylinder <NUM> and make it possible to have a shorter angle unit <NUM> between the rotational units <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the first arm <NUM> is arranged to extend backwards with respect to the first direction D1 of the boom <NUM> from a point at an outer end of said boom <NUM> so as to rotate with said rotation device <NUM>, said first arm <NUM> being connected at a first end of the pressure cylinder <NUM>. The opposite, second end of the pressure cylinder <NUM> is connected to a second arm <NUM> arranged at the second rotation device <NUM>. The arms <NUM> and <NUM> may be a narrow arm structure as shown in <FIG> or a structure partly or fully enclosing the rotational devices <NUM>, <NUM>.

The angle unit <NUM> shown in <FIG> comprises a first part 32a connected to the first rotation device <NUM> and a second part 32b connected to the second rotation device <NUM> wherein the first and second parts of the angle unit <NUM> are connected to each other in the pivot point <NUM>. The first arm <NUM>, which extends backwards with respect to the direction D1 of the boom <NUM> and rotates with the rotation device <NUM>, extends past the connection between the first part and the first rotation device <NUM>. The second arm <NUM> is connected to the second part and extends along the second axis A2 past the connection between the second part and the second rotation device <NUM>. The arms <NUM> and <NUM> may be made integral, welded or bolted to the first and second parts of the angular unit <NUM>. An alternative design, not shown, would be to make the first and/or second parts of the angle unit <NUM> longer to include the connection points for the pressure cylinder <NUM>. However this will increase the length along the axis A1 and/or A2 and size of the angle unit in a non-desired way. The angle unit <NUM> is preferably bolted to the first and second rotational device <NUM>, <NUM> for easy connection and disconnection.

In the shown embodiment second arm <NUM> extends past at least a part of the second rotation device <NUM> along the second axis A2. The main object of the second arm <NUM> in this embodiment is not to increase the pivot length with respect to the pivot point <NUM>, but to allow a compact and reliable arrangement. Therefore, the second arm <NUM> extend along the second axis A2 past at least a part of the second rotation device <NUM>, thereby allowing the pressure cylinder <NUM> to be arranged inside the angle between the first and second axis A1 and A2. Thereby, an extension of the pressure cylinder <NUM> will act to increase the angle between the first axis A1 and the second axis A2 and a retraction of the pressure cylinder <NUM> will act to decrease said angle.

In an alternative, not shown embodiment, one or two pressure cylinders may be arranged at the outer end of the angle arrangement, i.e. on the outside of the angle, such that a extension of the pressure cylinder <NUM> will act to decrease the angle between the first axis A1 and the second axis A2 whereas a retraction of the pressure cylinder <NUM> will act to increase said angle. In this alternative the second arm <NUM> will extend in the opposite way, along the second axis A2, away from the second rotation device <NUM>. In this way, the outer end of the second arm will become visible below the boom <NUM>.

In the shown embodiment the first part 32a of the angle unit comprises a first hinge limb pair <NUM> that extends from the first rotation device <NUM> and is connected at the pivot point <NUM> to a second hinge limb pair <NUM> of the second part 32b of the angle unit. As is visible in <FIG>, the hydraulic connectors <NUM> are arranged to pass between the first hinge limb pair <NUM>, inside the pivot point <NUM> and between the second hinge limb pair <NUM>. Hence, in this embodiment, the pivot point is comprised of two spaced apart hinges, connecting the first and second hinge limb pairs <NUM> and <NUM> to each other and providing a space in between allowing e.g. the hydraulic conduits <NUM> to pass inside said spaced apart hinges.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> the first rotation device <NUM> comprises a first swivel arrangement <NUM> and the second rotation device <NUM> comprises a second swivel arrangement <NUM> for supply of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic device on the mounting device <NUM>. Hydraulic connectors <NUM>, typically in the form of flexible conduits, are arranged to connect the first swivel arrangement <NUM> to the second swivel arrangement <NUM>.

Also, in the shown embodiment, a valve unit <NUM> for the distribution of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic device is arranged in direct connection to the second swivel arrangement <NUM>. They may eve be arranged as one integral unit. The close connection between the valve unit <NUM> and the second swivel arrangement <NUM> is advantageous as it saves place and it is made possible in that the pivot point is arranged between the first and second rotation devices <NUM> and <NUM>. Namely, with such an arrangement, the hydraulic conduits downstream of the second rotation device <NUM> need only be compensated for the translational movement of the hydraulic device along the feed beam <NUM>, which is predictable and easily compensated for. The hydraulic connectors <NUM> arranged between the swivels <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to cope with the angular movement of the angle unit <NUM>. In a similar way, the hydraulic conduits <NUM> through the piston end part <NUM> may be directly connected to the first swivel arrangement <NUM>.

In the shown embodiment the hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic device is arranged through the first and second swivels <NUM> and <NUM> arranged in connection to the first and second rotation devices <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The swivels <NUM> and <NUM> may be fully or partly located in opening through the rotation devices <NUM> and <NUM>. In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the hydraulic conduits may be arranged in a more conventional manner outside of the boom <NUM> and/or the angle unit <NUM>. The use of a pivot point arranged between the first and second rotation devices <NUM> and <NUM> is hence not dependent of that the hydraulic conduits are internally drawn. For an arrangement where the hydraulic conduits are drawn around the angle unit <NUM> other types of motors, which do not include a hole through their centres, may be utilised.

Claim 1:
A mining or construction vehicle (<NUM>) comprising a boom (<NUM>) extending in a first direction (D1), which boom (<NUM>), via a first and a second rotation device (<NUM>,<NUM>), is connected to a mining or construction device arranged on a mounting device (<NUM>) arranged in connection to a free end of said boom (<NUM>), the first rotation device (<NUM>) being arranged to provide a rotation around a first axis (A1) that is substantially parallel to the first direction (D1), the second rotation device (<NUM>) being arranged to provide a rotation around a second axis (A2) that is arranged at an angle with respect to the first axis (A1), wherein an angle unit (<NUM>) with a pivot point (<NUM>) is arranged between said first and second rotation devices (<NUM>,<NUM>) to enable an angular movement of said second axis (A2) of said second rotation device (<NUM>) with respect to said first axis (A1) of said first rotation device (<NUM>), wherein the boom (<NUM>) is an extendable boom comprising a first (<NUM>) and a second (<NUM>) telescopic section, wherein the angle unit (<NUM>) comprises a first part (32a) and a second part (32b), the first and second parts (32a, 32b) of the angle unit (<NUM>) being connected to each other in the pivot point (<NUM>), the first part (32a) of the angle unit (<NUM>) comprises a first arm (<NUM>) and the second part (32b) of the angle unit (<NUM>) comprises a second arm (<NUM>); wherein the first rotation device (<NUM>) is connected to the first arm (<NUM>) and to the outer end of the second telescopic section (<NUM>) of the boom (<NUM>), and the second rotation device (<NUM>) is connected to the second arm (<NUM>) and to the mounting device (<NUM>); and wherein the first and second arms (<NUM>, <NUM>) enclose at least partly the first and second rotation devices (<NUM>, <NUM>) respectively.