Catwalk for construction machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153171-A1
Application number	US-201414905055-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 18, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A catwalk for a machine is disclosed. The machine may have an upper slewing body. The catwalk may be a passage extending from a front end to a rear end. The catwalk may be installed along a side surface of the upper slewing body. The catwalk may have a fixed portion. The fixed portion may extend from adjacent the front end to adjacent a central location disposed between the front end and the rear end. The catwalk may also have a movable portion. The movable portion may extend from adjacent the central location to adjacent the rear end. The movable portion may be pivotable about an axis positioned generally parallel to the upper slewing body.

First claim

1 . A catwalk for machine with an upper slewing body, the catwalk being a passage extending from a front end to a rear end and installed along a side surface of the upper slewing body, the catwalk comprising:
a fixed portion extending from adjacent the front end to adjacent a central location disposed between the front end and the rear end; and a movable portion extending from adjacent the central location to adjacent the rear end, the movable portion configured to be pivotable about an axis disposed generally parallel to the upper slewing body.

2 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , further including:
a fixed passage surface disposed adjacent the side surface.

3 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , wherein the axis is positioned below a passage surface of the movable portion.

4 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , wherein the movable portion is mounted on the axis via an elastic bearing.

5 . The catwalk according to claim 2 , wherein a passage surface of the movable portion is disposed spaced apart from the side surface.

6 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , wherein the movable portion is pivotable from a horizontal position disposed generally orthogonal to the side surface towards the side surface.

7 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , wherein the movable portion includes at least one arm extending away from the movable portion and configured to be attached to a frame mounted to the side surface.

8 . The catwalk according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one arm is generally inclined relative to the movable portion.

9 . The catwalk according to claim 7 , further including:
a hinge attached to the side surface; and a hinge plate attached to the hinge and configured to cover the at least one arm, the hinge plate being configured to move from a horizontal position disposed generally orthogonal to the side surface towards the side surface.

10 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm includes a first arm disposed adjacent the rear end and the movable portion further includes:
a second arm extending away from the movable portion and configured to be attached to a frame mounted to the side surface, the second arm spaced apart from the first arm and disposed adjacent the central location.

11 . The catwalk according to claim 1 , wherein the movable portion includes a bumper mounted at an outer end portion of the movable portion away from the side surface of the upper slewing body.

12 . The catwalk according to claim 11 , wherein the bumper is mounted so as to face obliquely downward relative to a horizontal position of the movable portion.

13 . The catwalk according to claim 12 , wherein the bumper is mounted to the movable portion using at least one fastener.

14 . A machine comprising:
a lower body; an upper body mounted to the lower body, the upper body including a side surface extending from a front end to a rear end; an engine configured to propel the lower body; and a catwalk installed along the side surface, the catwalk being a passage extending from the front end to the rear end, the catwalk including:
a fixed portion extending from adjacent the front end to adjacent a central location disposed between the front end and the rear end; and
a movable portion extending from adjacent the central location to adjacent the rear end, the movable portion configured to be pivotable about an axis disposed generally parallel to the side surface.

15 . The machine according to claim 14 , further including a fixed passage surface disposed adjacent the side surface.

16 . The machine according to claim 15 , wherein a passage surface of the movable portion is disposed spaced apart from the side surface.

17 . The machine according to claim 14 , wherein the axis is positioned below a passage surface of the movable portion.

18 . The machine according to claim 14 , wherein the movable portion is mounted on the axis via an elastic bearing.

19 . The machine according to claim 14 , wherein the movable portion is pivotable from a horizontal position disposed generally orthogonal to the side surface towards the side surface.

20 . The machine according to claim 14 , wherein
the movable portion includes at least one arm extending away from the movable portion and configured to be attached to a frame mounted to the side surface, and the at least one arm is generally inclined relative to the movable portion.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Sarl
• Caterpiller Sarl

Inventors

• Shimizu Kunitomo
• Akahane Eiji
• Akizuki Tomohiro

Classifications

• E02F9/0833 Primary

  Improving access, e.g. for maintenance, steps for improving driver's access, handrails · CPC title

• B60R3/005

  Catwalks, running boards for vehicle tops, access means for vehicle tops; Handrails therefor · CPC title

• E02F3/32

  working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes · CPC title