Tri-directional break-away boom assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10212927-B2
Application number	US-201515533437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A break-away apparatus for a boom arm ( 11 ) is positioned at a joint between a main boom portion ( 14 ) and a boom tip ( 12 ) to allow the boom tip to assume a neutral position and forward, rearward, and upward positions. First and second plates ( 30, 28 ) are disposed at the joint and a hinge assembly ( 22 ) is positioned between the first and second plates ( 30, 28 ). The hinge assembly ( 22 ) includes a first ball joint ( 38 ); a first hinge pin ( 34 ); and a second hinge pin ( 36 ). The first and second plates ( 30, 28 ) are in a first position when the boom tip ( 12 ) assumes the neutral position, and the first and second plates ( 30, 28 ) are movable with respect to each other about the first hinge axis ( 25 a ), the second hinge axis ( 25 b ), and a pivot point defined by the first ball joint ( 38 ). A first spring ( 50 ) assists a return of the first and second plates ( 30, 28 ) to the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A break-away apparatus in combination with a boom arm, the boom arm comprising a main boom portion and a boom tip, the apparatus being positioned at a joint between the main boom portion and the boom tip, the apparatus allowing the boom tip to assume a neutral position and to pivot to a forward position and to a rearward position and to an upward position with respect to the main boom portion, the apparatus comprising:
a first plate disposed at the joint, the first plate being attached to the main boom portion;
a second plate disposed at the joint, the second plate being attached to the boom tip;
a breakaway hinge assembly positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the breakaway hinge assembly comprising:
an upper joint comprising a first ball joint, the upper joint connected to both the main boom portion and the boom tip;
a first hinge comprising a first hinge pin connected to the first plate, the first hinge being pivotable about a first hinge axis defined between the first ball joint and the first hinge pin;
a second hinge comprising a second hinge pin connected to the second plate, the second hinge being pivotable about a second hinge axis defined between the first ball joint and the second hinge pin;
a hinge connecting bar connecting the first hinge pin and the second hinge pin;
wherein the first and second plates are in a first position with respect to each other when the boom tip assumes the neutral position, and wherein the first and second plates are movable with respect to each other about the first hinge axis, the second hinge axis, and a pivot point defined by the first ball joint;
a first spring that generates a holding force to provide a break away threshold, wherein the first and second plates are movable with respect to each other when the threshold is exceeded, and wherein the first spring assists a return of the first and second plates to the first position after the first and second plates move from the first position;
a mid-joint attached to the first plate, the mid-joint comprising a second ball joint, wherein the second ball joint is connected to the first spring with an elongated rod, wherein horizontal and vertical movement of the elongated rod is accommodated at the mid joint by the second ball joint;
a first hinge seat attached to the second plate and shaped to receive a portion of the hinge connecting bar proximate the first hinge pin;
a second hinge seat attached to the first plate and shaped to receive a portion of the hinge connecting bar proximate the second hinge pin, wherein a force coming from a front of the boom arm causes the first hinge seat to release from the hinge connecting bar such that the boom tip pivots with respect to the main boom portion about the second hinge axis, and wherein a force coming from a rear of the boom arm causes said second hinge seat to release from the hinge connecting bar such that the boom tip pivots with respect to the main boom portion about the first hinge axis, and wherein a force coming from below the boom arm causes both the first and second hinge seats to release from the hinge connecting bar such that the boom tip pivots about the first ball joint causing an upward break of the boom tip; and
a lever pivotally mounted to said boom tip with a first pin connection and connecting the elongated rod to the first spring, wherein a first end of the first spring is pivotally mounted to the boom tip and a second end of the first spring is pivotally mounted to the lever at a second pin connection to move with the lever, wherein the lever has a triangular configuration with the first pin connection, the second pin connection and a third pin connection, with each of the three pin connections being pivotally mounted relative to the lever, wherein one end of the elongated rod connects to the third pin connection to connect the first spring to the lever.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lever swings down upon the first pin connection when the boom tip moves away from the neutral position because the breaking away of boom tip increases a distance between the first pin connection and the mid-joint, wherein such movement of the lever results in compression of the first spring.

3. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a second spring located proximate the third pin connection between the elongated rod and the lever.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the second spring is a helical coil spring surrounding a portion of the elongated rod.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of first hinge seat and second hinge seat has a resilient insert configured to fit snugly about the hinge connecting bar such that when the boom tip is in the neutral position the hinge connecting bar mates with the resilient insert of each of the first seat and the second seat.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first spring has first and second ends, and wherein the first end is pivotally connected to the boom tip, and wherein the second end is configured to move with the lever.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first spring is a gas spring.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein a force coming from a front of the boom arm causes the first hinge seat to release from the hinge connecting bar such that the boom tip pivots with respect to the main boom portion about the second hinge axis, and wherein a force coming from a rear of the boom arm causes said second hinge seat to release from the hinge connecting bar such that the boom tip pivots with respect to the main boom portion about the first hinge axis, and wherein a force coming from below the boom arm causes both the first and second hinge seats to release from the hinge connecting bar such that the boom tip pivots about the first ball joint causing an upward break of the boom tip.

9. A break-away apparatus in combination with a boom arm, the boom arm comprising a main boom portion and a boom tip, the apparatus being positioned at a joint between the main boom portion and the boom tip, the apparatus allowing the boom tip to assume a neutral position and to pivot to a forward position and to a rearward position and to an upward position with respect to the main boom portion, the apparatus comprising:
a first plate disposed at the joint, the first plate being attached to the main boom portion;
a second plate disposed at the joint, the second plate being attached to the boom tip;
a breakaway hinge assembly positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the breakaway hinge assembly comprising:
an upper joint comprising a first ball joint, the upper joint connected to both the main boom portion and the boom tip;
a first hinge comprising a first hinge pin connected to the first plate, the first hinge being pivotable about a first hinge axis defined between the first ball joint and the first hinge pin;
a second hinge comprising a second hinge pin connected to the second plate, the second hinge being pivotable about a second hinge axis defined between the first ball joint and the second hinge pin;
wherein the first and second plates are in a first position with respect to each other when the boom tip assumes the neutral position, and wherein the first and second plates are movable with respect to each other about the first hinge axis, the second hinge axis, and a pivot point defined by the first ball joint;
a first spring that generates a holding force to provide a break away threshold, wherein the first and second plates are movable with respect to each other when the threshold is exceeded, and wherein the first spring assists a return of the first and second plates to the first position after the first and second plates move from the first position;
a mid-joint atta

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Bouten Petrus Henricus Johannes

Classifications

• A01M7/0078 Primary

  including break-away devices · CPC title