Loader with boom swing control system
AssigneeLogging Equipment Mfg. Co., Inc.
InventorBruce E. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a loader having a boom, a hydraulic motor, a slewing ring, and a boom swing control assembly. The boom is configured to rotate in response to operation of the hydraulic motor. The boom swing control assembly comprises a control gear, a first valve, and a first hydraulic line. The control gear is engaged with a slew gear of the slewing ring such that the control gear rotates in response to rotation of the boom. The hydraulic line is in fluid communication with the first valve and the hydraulic motor. Depending on whether the first valve is in an open or a closed configuration, hydraulic fluid is either free to pass, or is restrained from passing, through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor.
Claims34
A loader having an upper assembly, a base assembly, a slewing ring, a hydraulic motor, and a boom swing control assembly, the upper assembly comprising a boom and being mounted on the base assembly so as to rotate relative to the base assembly in response to operation of the hydraulic motor, the slewing ring comprising a slew gear, the boom swing control assembly comprising a control gear engaged with the slew gear such that the control gear rotates in response to rotation of the upper assembly, the boom swing control assembly further comprising a first valve and a first hydraulic line, the first hydraulic line being in fluid communication with both the first valve and the hydraulic motor, the first valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration, such that when the first valve is in the open configuration hydraulic fluid is free to pass through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor, and when the first valve is in the closed configuration hydraulic fluid is restrained from passing through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor, the first valve being configured to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration in response to a desired amount of rotation of the control gear in a first direction, wherein the first valve comprises a first valve member that is moveable between an open position and a closed position, such that when the first valve member is in the open position the first valve is in the open configuration, and when the first valve member is in the closed position the first valve is in the closed configuration, and the first valve further comprises a first spring operably coupled to the first valve member so as to resiliently bias the first valve member toward the open position.
A loader having an upper assembly, a base assembly, a slewing ring, a hydraulic motor, and a boom swing control assembly, the upper assembly comprising a boom and being mounted on the base assembly so as to rotate relative to the base assembly in response to operation of the hydraulic motor, the slewing ring comprising a slew gear, the boom swing control assembly comprising a control gear engaged with the slew gear such that the control gear rotates in response to rotation of the upper assembly, the boom swing control assembly further comprising a first valve and a first hydraulic line, the first hydraulic line being in fluid communication with both the first valve and the hydraulic motor, the first valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration, such that when the first valve is in the open configuration hydraulic fluid is free to pass through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor, and when the first valve is in the closed configuration hydraulic fluid is restrained from passing through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor, the first valve being configured to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration in response to a desired amount of rotation of the control gear in a first direction, wherein the boom swing control assembly comprises a threaded shaft, the control gear being operably coupled to the threaded shaft such that the control gear and the threaded shaft rotate together, such that the first valve is configured to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration in response to sufficient rotation of the threaded shaft in a desired direction, said first direction and said desired direction being the same direction.
A loader having a boom, a slewing ring, a gear box, a hydraulic motor, and a boom swing control assembly, the hydraulic motor operably coupled with the gear box, the gear box comprising a drive gear, the slewing ring comprising a slew gear, the drive gear of the gear box engaged with the slew gear of the slewing ring such that the boom rotates in response to rotation of the drive gear, the boom swing control assembly comprising a control gear engaged with the slew gear such that the control gear rotates in response to rotation of the boom, the boom swing control assembly further comprising a first valve and a first hydraulic line, the first hydraulic line being in fluid communication with both the first valve and the hydraulic motor, the first valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration, such that when the first valve is in the open configuration hydraulic fluid is free to pass through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor, and when the first valve is in the closed configuration hydraulic fluid is restrained from passing through the first hydraulic line to the hydraulic motor, the first valve being configured to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration in response to a desired amount of rotation of the control gear in a first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.