Rotating tool head
AssigneeProgress Rail Services Corporation
InventorsConnor Henderson, Robin J. Intagliata
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool head has a frame, a tool connected to the frame, an inner rotation manifold connected to the frame, a rotation motor that rotates a spindle, and an outer rotation manifold surrounding the inner rotation manifold. The outer rotation manifold is connected to the rotation motor in a fixed manner. The spindle continuously rotates the inner rotation manifold inside of the outer rotation manifold around an axis of the inner rotation manifold, and the frame and tool are rotated with inner rotation manifold.
Claims19
A tool head, the tool head comprising:
- a frame;
- a tool connected to the frame;
- an inner rotation manifold connected to the frame and including a center bore;
- a rotation motor configured to rotate a spindle;
- a shaft located in the center bore of the inner rotation manifold and connected to the spindle of the rotation motor and to the frame;
- and
- an outer rotation manifold surrounding the inner rotation manifold, the outer rotation manifold fixedly connected to the rotation motor,
- wherein the spindle is configured to be inserted into the center bore of the inner rotation manifold and produce a rotation of the inner rotation manifold and the shaft by continuously rotating the inner rotation manifold and the shaft inside of the outer rotation manifold about an inner manifold axis, and the frame and tool are rotated with the inner rotation manifold and the shaft.
A work machine configured to cut timber, the work machine comprising:
- a work machine frame;
- a fluid system connected to the work machine frame;
- an engine connected to the work machine frame for driving the fluid system;
- a boom supporting one or more fluid lines connected to the fluid system;
- and
- a tool head connected to the boom, the tool head further comprising:
- a frame,
- a tool connected to the frame,
- an inner rotation manifold connected to the frame and including a center bore,
- a rotation motor configured to rotate a spindle,
- a shaft located in the center bore of the inner rotation manifold and connected to the spindle of the rotation motor and to the frame, and
- an outer rotation manifold surrounding the inner rotation manifold, the outer rotation manifold fixedly connected to the rotation motor;
- wherein the spindle is configured to be inserted into the center bore of the inner rotation manifold and produce a rotation of the inner rotation manifold and the shaft by continuously rotating the inner rotation manifold and the shaft inside of the outer rotation manifold about an inner manifold axis, and the frame and tool are rotated with the inner rotation manifold and the shaft.
A method of rotating a tool with a tool head, the method comprising:
- providing the tool head having a frame, a tool connected to the frame, an inner rotation manifold connected to the frame and including a center bore, a rotation motor configured to rotate a spindle to produce a rotation of the inner rotation manifold and a shaft located in the center bore of the inner rotation manifold and connected to the spindle of the rotation motor and to the frame, the tool head including an outer rotation manifold surrounding the inner rotation manifold and fixedly connected to the rotation motor;
- powering the rotation motor by a fluid;
- continuously rotating the inner rotation manifold and the shaft about an inner rotation manifold axis with the spindle;
- and
- rotating the frame and tool with the inner rotation manifold and the shaft,
- wherein the spindle is inserted into the center bore of the inner rotation manifold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.