Slewing assist system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10260214-B2
Application number	US-201715586361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2017
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A slewing assist system for a machine having an upper body structure supported on an undercarriage structure includes a central rotation member. The central rotation member is rotatably coupled to undercarriage structure. A slip member is concentrically coupled to central rotation member and allows a relative rotational motion. At least one pin is coupled to slip member and engages slip member in expanded position such that central rotation member and slip member rotate together. A lever arm is fixedly coupled to slip member. A first end and a second end of an actuating element are coupled to lever arm and upper structure, respectively. The slewing assist system provides additional slewing assist to upper body structure by engaging slip member and central rotation member through pin. The slewing assist system assists in a first and a second rotational direction by extending and retracting second end of actuating element, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A slewing assist system for a machine, the machine having an upper body structure supported on an undercarriage structure such that the upper body structure swings about the undercarriage structure, the slewing assist system comprising:
a central rotation member coupled to the undercarriage structure, wherein the central rotation member rotates with the undercarriage structure;
a slip member concentrically coupled to the central rotation member, wherein the slip member is adapted to allow a rotational motion of the central rotation member relative to the slip member;
at least one pin coupled to the slip member, the at least one pin movable between a retracted position and an expanded position, wherein the at least one pin engages the slip member with the central rotation member in the expanded position such that the central rotation member and the slip member rotate together;
a lever arm fixedly coupled to the slip member; and
an actuating element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the actuating element is coupled to the lever arm, and the second end of the actuating element is coupled to the upper structure;
wherein the slewing assist system provides additional slewing assist to the upper body structure through the lever arm by engaging the slip member and the central rotation member through the at least one pin, and extending the second end of the actuating element to assist in a first rotational direction, and retracting the second end of the actuating element to assist in a second rotational direction.

2. The slewing assist system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pin may includes a first pin and a second pin configured to provide additional slewing assist in the first and second rotational directions, respectively.

3. The slewing assist system of claim 2 , further comprising a controller communicably coupled to the first pin, the second pin, and the actuating element.

4. The slewing assist system of claim 3 , wherein the controller controls actuation of the first pin and the second pin between the retracted position and the expanded position based on at least one of a bucket load, an engine load, an operator command, and a rotational speed of the upper body structure.

5. The slewing assist system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pin can be actuated through at least one of a mechanical actuation means, an electrical actuation means, or an electromechanical actuation means.

6. The slewing assist system of claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is a piston-cylinder assembly.

7. The slewing assist system of claim 1 , wherein the actuating element is actuated by at least one of a hydraulic means or a pneumatic means.

8. A slewing assist system for a machine, the machine having an upper body structure supported on an undercarriage structure such that the upper body structure swings about the undercarriage structure, the slewing assist system comprising:
a central rotation member coupled to the undercarriage structure, wherein the central rotation member rotates with the undercarriage structure;
a slip member concentrically coupled to the central rotation member, wherein the slip member is adapted to allow a rotational motion of the central rotation member relative to the slip member;
at least one pin coupled to the slip member, the at least one pin movable between a retracted position and an expanded position, wherein the at least one pin engages the slip member with the central rotation member in the expanded position such that the central rotation member and the slip member rotate together;
a lever arm fixedly coupled to the slip member;
an actuating element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the actuating element is coupled to the lever arm, and the second end of the actuating element is coupled to the upper structure; and
a controller communicably coupled to the slip member, the at least one pin, and the actuating element, the controller configured to:
provide additional slewing assist to the upper body structure through the lever arm by engaging the slip member and the central rotation member through the at least one pin, and extending the second end of the actuating element to assist in a first rotational direction, and retracting the second end of the actuating element to assist in a second rotational direction.

9. The slewing assist system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pin may includes a first pin and a second pin configured to provide additional slewing assist in the first and second rotational directions, respectively.

10. The slewing assist system of claim 9 , wherein the controller controls actuation of the first pin and the second pin between the retracted position and the expanded position based on at least one of a bucket load, an engine load, an operator command, and a rotational speed of the upper body structure.

11. The slewing assist system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one pin can be actuated through at least one of a mechanical actuation means, an electrical actuation means, or an electromechanical actuation means.

12. The slewing assist system of claim 8 , wherein the actuating element is a piston-cylinder assembly.

13. The slewing assist system of claim 12 , wherein the actuating element is actuated by at least one of a hydraulic means or a pneumatic means.

14. A machine comprising:
an undercarriage structure;
an upper body structure supported on the undercarriage structure such that the upper body structure swings about the undercarriage structure;
a slew gear assembly coupled to the upper body structure;
a slew drive coupled to the slew gear assembly, wherein the slew drive is configured to drive the slew gear assembly to swing the upper body structure relative to the undercarriage structure; and
a slewing assist system coupled to the undercarriage structure and the upper body structure, the slewing assist system including:
a central rotation member coupled to the undercarriage structure, wherein the central rotation member rotates with the undercarriage structure;
a slip member concentrically coupled to the central rotation member, wherein the slip member is adapted to allow a rotational motion of the central rotation member relative to the slip member;
at least one pin coupled to the slip member, the at least one pin movable between a retracted position and an expanded position, wherein the at least one pin engages the slip member with the central rotation member in the expanded position such that the central rotation member and the slip member rotate together;
a lever arm fixedly coupled to the slip member; and
an actuating element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the actuating element is coupled to the lever arm, and the second end of the actuating element is coupled to the upper structure;
wherein the slewing assist system provides additional slewing assist to the upper body structure through the lever arm by engaging the slip member and the central rotation member through the at least one pin, and extending the second end of the actuating element to assist in a first rotational direction, and retracting the second end of the actuating element to assist in a second rotational direction.

15. The machine of claim 14 , wherein the at least one pin may includes a first pin and a second pin configured to provide additional slewing assist in the first and second rotational directions, respectively.

16. The machine of claim 15 , further comprising a controller communicably coupled to the first pin, the second pin, and the actuat

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Rutherford Stephen Platt

Classifications

• B66C23/86

  hydraulically actuated · CPC title

• E02F9/123 Primary

  Drives or control devices specially adapted therefor (E02F9/125 and E02F9/128 take precedence) · CPC title

• B66C23/84

  Slewing gear (anti-friction bearings F16C) · CPC title