Pipelayer machine with forward towing winch configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11970375-B2
Application number	US-202117449899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Oct 4, 2021
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A pipelayer machine may comprise a machine chassis; a towing winch assembly coupled to the machine chassis; an operator cabin supported by the machine chassis; an engine supported by the machine chassis; and a boom coupled to the machine chassis. The pipelayer machine may comprise a front portion and a rear portion. The towing winch assembly may be provided in the front portion of the pipelayer machine. The operator cabin may be provided between the towing winch assembly and the engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipelayer machine, comprising:
a machine chassis;
a towing winch assembly coupled to the machine chassis;
an operator cabin, supported by the machine chassis, comprising:
a seat assembly of the operator cabin, and
an opening of the operator cabin;

an engine supported by the machine chassis;
a boom coupled to the machine chassis; and
a winch tower associated with the boom,
wherein the pipelayer machine comprises:
a front portion defined in a direction of forward travel of the machine chassis, and
a rear portion defined in a direction of reverse travel of the machine chassis,
wherein the towing winch assembly is provided in the front portion of the pipelayer machine,
wherein the operator cabin is provided between the towing winch assembly and the engine,
wherein the towing winch assembly is entirely in front of the operator cabin,
wherein the winch tower is provided between the towing winch assembly and the seat assembly of the operator cabin,
wherein the boom is provided adjacent to a lateral surface that is on same side as the opening of the operator cabin,
wherein the opening of the operator cabin is adjacent to a rear side of the operator cabin,
wherein a section of the boom includes any portion of the boom that is above a bottom of the opening of the operator cabin, and
wherein an entirety of the section of the boom is entirely in front of an entirety of the opening of the operator cabin.

2. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 , wherein the operator cabin is stationary with respect to the machine chassis, and
wherein the seat assembly is configured to face the front portion of the pipelayer machine.

3. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 ,
wherein the seat assembly is provided in a first plane,
wherein the boom is provided in a second plane,
wherein the boom is forward with respect to the seat assembly, and
wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane.

4. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a counterweight assembly provided adjacent to a lateral side of the operator cabin,
wherein the counterweight assembly is configured to be extended away from the machine chassis, and
wherein, when the counterweight assembly is extended away from the machine chassis, a top surface of the counterweight assembly is provided below a top portion of the seat assembly.

5. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 ,
wherein a weight of the towing winch assembly is configured to counterbalance a weight of the engine.

6. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
ground engaging members,
wherein the machine chassis is provided between the ground engaging members.

7. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hook component connected to the boom via one or more lifting cables,
wherein the seat assembly is provided in a first plane,
wherein the hook component is provided in a second plane,
wherein the hook component is forward with respect to the seat assembly, and
wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane.

8. The pipelayer machine of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the operator cabin is a window.

9. A machine, comprising:
a machine chassis;
a towing winch assembly coupled to a front of the machine chassis,
wherein the front of the machine chassis is defined in a direction of forward travel of the machine chassis;

an operator cabin, supported by the machine chassis, comprising:
a seat assembly of the operator cabin, and
an opening of the operator cabin;

a boom coupled to the machine chassis;
a hook component connected to the boom via one or more lifting cables; and
a winch tower associated with the boom and the hook component,
wherein the winch tower is provided between towing winch assembly and the seat assembly of the operator cabin, wherein the boom is provided adjacent to a lateral surface that is on same side as the opening of the operator cabin,
wherein the opening of the operator cabin is adjacent to a rear side of the operator cabin,
wherein a section of the boom includes any portion of the boom that is above a bottom of the opening of the operator cabin, and
wherein an entirety of the section of the boom is entirely in front of an entirety of the opening of the operator cabin.

10. The machine of claim 9 , further comprising:
a counterweight assembly,
wherein the counterweight assembly is provided adjacent to a lateral side of the operator cabin.

11. The machine of claim 9 , further comprising ground engaging members,
wherein the machine chassis is provided between the ground engaging members.

12. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the seat assembly is configured to face the front of the machine.

13. The machine of claim 9 ,
wherein the seat assembly is provided in a first plane,
wherein the hook component is provided in a second plane,
wherein the hook component is forward with respect to the seat assembly, and
wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane.

14. The machine of claim 9 ,
wherein the seat assembly is provided in a first plane,
wherein the boom is provided in a second plane,
wherein the boom is forward with respect to the seat assembly, and
wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane.

15. The machine of claim 9 , further comprising an engine,
wherein the operator cabin is provided between the engine and the towing winch assembly.

16. A pipelayer machine, comprising:
a machine chassis;
an operator cabin including:
a seat assembly, and
an opening;

a weight assembly coupled to the machine chassis;
an engine supported by the machine chassis; and
a boom coupled to the machine chassis; and
a winch tower associated with the boom,
wherein the pipelayer machine comprises a front portion and a rear portion,
wherein the weight assembly is provided in the front portion of the pipelayer machine,
wherein the weight assembly is interchangeable with a towing winch assembly that is entirely in front of the operator cabin,
wherein the winch tower is provided between the seat assembly and one of the towing winch assembly or the weight assembly,
wherein the boom is provided adjacent to a lateral surface that is on same side as the opening,
wherein the opening is adjacent to a rear side of the operator cabin,
wherein a section of the boom includes any portion of the boom that is above a bottom of the opening,
wherein an entirety of the section of the boom is entirely in front of an entirety of the opening, and
wherein the seat assembly is configured to face the front portion of the pipelayer machine.

17. The pipelayer machine of claim 16 , wherein the operator cabin is provided between the weight assembly and the engine.

18. The pipelayer machine of claim 16 , wherein the pipelayer machine is configured to facilitate a replacement of the weight assembly with the towing winch assembly.

19. The pipelayer machine of claim 16 , further comprising:
a counterweight assembly,
wherein a top surface of the counterweight assembly is provided below a top portion of the seat assembly.

20. The pipelayer machine of claim 16 , further comprising:
a hook component connected to the boom via one or more lifting cables,
wherein the seat assembly is provided in a first plane,
wherein the boom and the hook component are provided in a second plane,
wherein the boom and the hook component are forward with respect to the seat assembly, and
wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Caldwell Curtis John
• Vance Donald L
• Barbier Benjamin

Classifications

• B66C23/44 Primary

  Jib-cranes adapted for attachment to standard vehicles, e.g. agricultural tractors · CPC title

• B66C23/76 Primary

  and movable to take account of variations of load or of variations of length of jib · CPC title

• F16L1/065

  fixed on or to vehicles · CPC title