Circle drive system for a grading machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorBruce R. Vahling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade supported by a circle, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, and a circle drive system. The circle drive system includes a circle drive motor with a motor shaft, a gear box, a gear coupling, and a braking mechanism. The gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis. The braking mechanism is positioned between the circle drive motor and the gear coupling and is configured to selectively engage the motor shaft.
Claims20
A grading machine, comprising
- a machine body;
- a grading blade supported by a circle;
- a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body;
- and
- a circle drive system including a circle drive motor with a motor shaft, a gear box, a gear coupling, and a braking mechanism,
- wherein the gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis,
- wherein the gear coupling includes a worm and a worm gear,
- wherein the braking mechanism and the motor shaft are positioned between a housing of the circle drive motor and the worm,
- wherein the braking mechanism is configured to lock the housing of the circle drive motor and the motor shaft together when the braking mechanism is engaged,
- wherein one or more portions of the circle drive motor or the motor shaft include one or more grooves or notches,
- wherein the braking mechanism includes one or more locking elements that are configured to engage with the one or more grooves or notches to secure one or more of the circle drive motor or the motor shaft in a locked configuration, and
- wherein the one or more locking elements include one or more of ratcheted fingers, springs, or teeth.
A circle drive system for a grading machine, comprising:
- a circle drive motor that includes a motor shaft;
- a gear box configured to engage with and rotate a circle;
- a gear coupling including a worm and a worm gear coupling the circle drive motor to the gear box;
- and
- a braking mechanism,
- wherein the braking mechanism is positioned between a portion of the circle drive motor and the worm,
- wherein the braking mechanism includes one or more locking elements that are configured to engage with one or more portions of the circle drive motor or the motor shaft, and
- wherein the one or more locking elements include one or more of ratcheted fingers, springs, or teeth.
A blade positioning system for a grading machine, comprising:
- a circle coupled to a grading blade, wherein the circle is rotatable around a circle axis;
- and
- a circle drive system, including:
- a circle drive motor including a motor shaft and having a motor axis;
- a gear coupling coupled to the circle drive motor and including a worm and a worm gear,
- wherein the worm includes a worm axis parallel to the motor axis;
- a gear box driven by the circle drive motor and the gear coupling, wherein the gear box includes a gear axis parallel to the circle axis, and wherein the gear box is configured to engage with and drive a rotation of the circle;
- and
- a braking mechanism configured to selectively lock the motor shaft from rotating,
- wherein the braking mechanism and the motor shaft are positioned between a portion of the circle drive motor and the worm,
- wherein the braking mechanism includes one or more locking elements that are configured to engage with one or more portions of the motor shaft to lock the motor shaft from rotating, and
- wherein the one or more locking elements include one or more of ratcheted fingers, springs, or teeth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.