System for measuring load on lower boom block yoke of pipelayers
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSimon Tabutin, Sean David Lawson, Aaron Gnagey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for measuring load, from a cable, associated with a boom of a pipelayer is disclosed. The system includes a linkage configured to be coupled between a boom block, engaged with the cable, and a portion of the pipelayer. In addition, the system includes a load cell coupled between the linkage and the boom block for measuring the load, from the cable, on the linkage. A measurement load path, of the load cell, is aligned with a load path, of the load, between the boom block and the linkage.
Claims18
A system for measuring load from a cable associated with a boom of a pipelayer, the system comprising:
- a linkage coupled between a boom block engaged with the cable and a portion of the pipelayer;
- and
- a load cell coupled between the linkage and the boom block and configured to measure the load from the cable on the linkage,
- wherein a measurement load path of the load cell is aligned with a load path of the load between the boom block and the linkage,
- wherein the linkage includes:
- a clevis bracket pivotable relative to the portion of the pipelayer about a first axis of rotation, and
- a yoke pivotable relative to the clevis bracket about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation, and
- wherein a first end of the load cell is coupled to the yoke and a second end of the load cell opposite the first end is coupled to an engagement portion coupled to the boom block.
A pipelayer comprising:
- a main frame;
- a boom configured to pivot with respect to the main frame to allow lifting and lowering of the boom, the boom defining a first end coupled to the main frame and a second end away from the main frame;
- a first boom block coupled to the second end of the boom;
- a linkage coupled to main frame;
- a second boom block coupled between the linkage and the first boom block;
- a cable engaged with the first boom block and the second boom block and configured to be actuated to pivot the boom;
- and
- a load cell coupled between the linkage and the second boom block for measuring load, from the cable, on the linkage,
- wherein a measurement load path of the load cell is aligned with a load path of the load between the second boom block and the linkage, and
- wherein a first end of the load cell is directly coupled to the linkage and a second end of the load cell opposite the first end is directly coupled to an engagement portion coupled to the second boom block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.