Motor grader circle drive assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9228316-B2
Application number	US-201313788262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2013
Priority date	Mar 7, 2013
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a circle drive assembly for a motor grader. The circle drive assembly includes a circle member being rotatable about a rotation axis, a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, and a first and second coupling mechanisms. The first hydraulic cylinder has a first end coupled to the first coupling mechanism and the second hydraulic has a second end coupled to the second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism and second coupling mechanism can be controllably moved between a clamped position and an unclamped position. The first hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the clamped position and the second hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the clamped position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A circle drive assembly for a motor grader, comprising:
a circle member being rotatable about a rotation axis, the circle member adapted to adjustably control a work implement;
a first hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, the first hydraulic cylinder having a first end;
a second hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, the second hydraulic cylinder having a second end;
a first coupling mechanism coupled to the first end of the first hydraulic cylinder, where the first coupling mechanism is controllably moved between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the first end coupled to the circle member via the first coupling mechanism when the first coupling mechanism is in the coupled position, the first end uncoupled from the circle member and moveable relative to the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the uncoupled position; and
a second coupling mechanism coupled to the second end of the second hydraulic cylinder, where the second coupling mechanism is controllably moved between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the second end coupled to the circle member via the second coupling mechanism when the second coupling mechanism is in the coupled position, the second end uncoupled from the circle member and moveable relative to the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the uncoupled position;
wherein the first hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the coupled position and the second hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the coupled position.

2. The circle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first coupling mechanism and second coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of calipers.

3. The circle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein each coupling mechanism is hydraulically controlled between the coupled and uncoupled positions.

4. The circle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first end and second end are structured to move in a circular manner relative to the rotation axis as the first and second hydraulic cylinders are actuated.

5. The circle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end is structured to move relative to the circle member from a first location to a second location along a circumference of the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the uncoupled position; and
the second end is structured to move relative to the circle member from a third location to a fourth location along the circumference of the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the uncoupled position.

6. The circle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circle member is structured to be rotatably driven in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

7. The circle drive assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a first structure and a second structure coupled to one another, the first structure being disposed at least partially above the circle member and the second structure being disposed at least partially beneath the circle member, where the circle member includes a first raised portion that is accommodated within a recess defined in the second structure when the first coupling mechanism is in at least the coupled position.

8. A motor grader, comprising:
a frame for supporting a plurality of wheels;
a work implement supported by the frame and adapted to perform a desired operation;
a controller;
a circle drive assembly for controlling the work implement, the circle drive assembly including:
a circle member being rotatable about a rotation axis;
a first hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, the first hydraulic cylinder having a first end coupled to the frame and a second end opposite the first end;
a second hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, the second hydraulic cylinder having a first end coupled to the frame and a second end opposite the first end;
a first coupling mechanism coupled to the second end of the first hydraulic cylinder, the first coupling mechanism controllably actuated between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the second end of the first hydraulic cylinder engaged with the circle member via the first coupling mechanism when the first coupling mechanism is in the engaged position, the second end of the first hydraulic cylinder disengaged from the circle member and moveable relative to the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the disengaged position; and
a second coupling mechanism coupled to the second end of the second hydraulic cylinder, the second coupling mechanism controllably actuated between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the second end of the second hydraulic cylinder engaged with the circle member via the second coupling mechanism when the second coupling mechanism is in the engaged position, the second end of the second hydraulic cylinder disengaged from the circle member and moveable relative to the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the disengaged position;

wherein, the first hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the engaged position and the second hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the engaged position.

9. The motor grader of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sensing mechanism electrically coupled to the controller, the sensing mechanism adapted to detect rotational movement of the circle member;
a first position sensor electrically coupled to the controller, the first position sensor adapted to detect a stroke length and position of the first hydraulic cylinder; and
a second position sensor electrically coupled to the controller, the second position sensor adapted to detect a stroke length and position of the second hydraulic cylinder;
wherein, the controller is structured to receive electrical signals from the sensing mechanism, first position sensor, and second position sensor, and based on said signals, actuate one or both of the first and second coupling mechanisms.

10. The motor grader of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the first hydraulic cylinder is structured to move in a circular manner relative to the rotation axis as the first hydraulic cylinder is actuated and the second end of the second hydraulic cylinder is structured to move in a circular manner relative to the rotation axis as the second hydraulic cylinder is actuated.

11. The motor grader of claim 8 , wherein each of the first coupling mechanism and second coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of calipers.

12. The motor grader of claim 8 , wherein:
the second end of the first hydraulic cylinder is structured to be moved relative to the circle member from a first location to a second location along a circumference of the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the disengaged position; and
the second end of the second hydraulic cylinder is structured to be moved relative to the circle member from a third location to a fourth location along the circumference of the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the disengaged position.

13. The motor grader of claim 8 , wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a first structure and a second structure coupled to one another, the first structure being disposed at least partially above the circle member and the second structure being disposed at least partially beneath the circle member, where the circle member includes a first raised portion that is accommodated

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Staade Dustin T
• Horstman Nathan J

Classifications

• E02F3/764

  with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis · CPC title

• E02F3/844 Primary

  for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically · CPC title

• E02F3/7654

  with the scraper blade being horizontally movable into a position near the chassis · CPC title

• E02F3/7668

  with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis · CPC title

• E02F3/845

  using mechanical sensors to determine the blade position, e.g. inclinometers, gyroscopes, pendulums · CPC title