Working machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11739496-B2
Application number	US-202017026102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2020
Priority date	Sep 19, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A working machine includes a ground engaging structure, and an undercarriage supported on the ground engaging structure. The undercarriage has a drive arrangement for moving the ground engaging structure to propel the working machine, the drive arrangement comprising a prime mover and a transmission comprising a hydraulic pump arrangement configured to be driven by the prime mover. A superstructure rotatably mounted to the undercarriage and a working arm is connected to the superstructure. A first implement mount connected the undercarriage for operably mounting a working implement to the undercarriage. The undercarriage has a first actuator for raising and lowering a working implement when mounted to the first implement mount and comprises a hydraulic connector for supplying hydraulic fluid to the first actuator to actuate the first actuator, and a first auxiliary hydraulic connector is provided that is configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to an implement connected thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A working machine comprising:
a ground engaging structure provided in the form of front and rear wheels or a pair of endless tracks;
an undercarriage supported on the ground engaging structure, the undercarriage comprising a drive arrangement for moving the ground engaging structure to propel the working machine, the drive arrangement comprising a prime mover and a transmission comprising a hydraulic pump arrangement configured to be driven by the prime mover;
a superstructure rotatably mounted to the undercarriage;
a working arm connected to the superstructure; and
a first implement mount connected the undercarriage for operably mounting a working implement to the undercarriage,
wherein the undercarriage comprises a first actuator for raising and lowering the working implement when mounted to the first implement mount and comprises a hydraulic connector for supplying hydraulic fluid to the first actuator to actuate the first actuator, and
wherein the undercarriage comprises a first auxiliary hydraulic connector configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to the working implement connected thereto;
further comprising a second implement mount connected to an opposing side of the undercarriage relative to the first implement mount for operably mounting the working implement or an alternative working implement to the undercarriage, wherein the undercarriage comprises a second actuator for raising and lowering the working implement connected thereto when mounted to the second implement mount and comprises a second hydraulic connector for supplying hydraulic fluid to the second actuator to actuate the second actuator; and
wherein the undercarriage comprises a second auxiliary hydraulic connector configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to the working implement connected thereto, and wherein the second auxiliary hydraulic connector and the second implement mount are provided on the opposing side of the undercarriage.

2. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first implement mount comprises a standardized interface configuration.

3. A working machine of claim 2 , wherein the first implement mount comprises a skid-steer loader implement interface configuration.

4. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first auxiliary hydraulic connector and the first implement mount are provided on the opposing side of the undercarriage.

5. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the undercarriage comprises a first control valve fluidly coupled to the hydraulic pump arrangement to regulate the supply of hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic auxiliary connector.

6. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic pump arrangement comprises a first hydraulic pump for moving the ground engaging structure to propel the working machine and a second hydraulic pump configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic connector and first auxiliary hydraulic connector.

7. A working machine according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second hydraulic pumps are driven by the prime mover via a common drive shaft.

8. A working machine according to claim 6 , wherein the first hydraulic pump and/or second hydraulic pump comprises a variable displacement hydraulic transmission pump.

9. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the undercarriage comprises a second auxiliary hydraulic connector configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to an implement connected thereto.

10. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the superstructure comprises an auxiliary hydraulic connector configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the working implement when connected thereto.

11. A working machine according to claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary hydraulic connector of the superstructure is provided on the working arm, and wherein the working arm comprises an arm implement mount at a distal end thereof for operably mounting a working implement to the working arm, and wherein the second auxiliary hydraulic connector is configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to a working implement mounted on the arm implement mount.

12. A working machine according to claim 1 , comprising a control system configured to control operation of the first and second auxiliary hydraulic connectors such that the first and second auxiliary hydraulic connectors are able to be operated independently or at the same time.

13. A working machine according to claim 12 , wherein the hydraulic pump arrangement comprises a variable displacement pump, and wherein the control system is configured to vary displacement of the variable displacement pump to supply hydraulic fluid to the one or more auxiliary hydraulic connectors.

14. A working machine according to claim 13 , wherein displacement of the hydraulic pump arrangement is set to a first displacement value to provide hydraulic fluid to the first auxiliary connection point, and wherein displacement of the hydraulic pump arrangement is set to a second displacement value to supply hydraulic fluid to the first and second auxiliary hydraulic connection points, wherein the second displacement value is greater than the first displacement value.

15. A working machine according to claim 1 , comprising an operator's cab rotatably mounted on the superstructure, and rotatable by a rotary connection, wherein the superstructure is rotatable about a first generally upright axis and the operator's cab is rotatable about a second generally upright axis.

16. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the drive arrangement is positioned below a level coincident with a lower extent of the superstructure.

17. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the working arm is hydraulically actuated and a control valve is provided in the superstructure for controlling fluid flow to the working arm.

18. A working machine according to claim 1 , wherein the working machine comprises a counterweight provided on the superstructure, the counterweight having a mass for counterbalancing the working arm.

Assignees

• Bamford Excavators Ltd

Inventors

• Smith Duncan Andrew
• Naylor Patrick Edward

Classifications

• E02F3/964 Primary

  of several tools mounted on one machine (E02F3/962 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02F3/3663

  hydraulically-operated · CPC title

• E02F9/02 Primary

  Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears ({drives therefor E02F9/20}; for motor vehicles B60B, B60G; undercarriages for locomotives or railroad cars B61F; track-laying vehicles B62D; for cranes B66C23/18) · CPC title

• E02F9/166

  movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins (seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00) · CPC title

• E02F9/18

  Counterweights {(for cranes B66C23/72, for tractors B62D49/085)} · CPC title