US 4,029,165 A · Convertible construction machine

Abstract

A construction machine is disclosed having a main frame that is supported by means of three or four vertically adjustable suspension points from a pair of walking beams located on opposite sides of the main frame. Each walking beam has a vertical steering axis at each of its ends connected to a bogey-mounted self-propelled ground engagement means in the form of a wheel or endless track. In one embodiment one of the walking beams is connected to a side of the main frame by two spaced vertically adjustable suspension means that attach to the beam through pivotal bogey-mounts. One of these adjustable suspension means is pivotally mounted to the frame, while the other is fixed to the frame. The other walking beam is connected to the opposite side of the main frame on a single central vertically adjustable suspension means through a bogey-mount to constitute a three-point suspension on two walking beams for the assembly. In a second embodiment, both walking beams have two spaced vertically adjustable suspension means, one of which on each beam is pivoted on a horizontal axis from the frame to constitute a four-point suspension on two modified walking beams. In each of the embodiments the four ground engagement means at the ends of the walking beams are steerable in pairs, in unison or independently and can be turned or re-oriented about their steering axes so that the direction of travel can be forward or backward (longitudinally) of the frame or toward either side, thus providing flexibility in operation and allowing for side-mounted or straddle-mounted tools. Steering can be in increments, or a full 360.degree. as desired. The frame telescopes in one direction, and the power of the machine used in widening or shortening the frame.

Claims33

Dependent claims

In a mobile construction machine the combination of:

a main frame adapted to carry a working tool;
a pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means spaced along one side of said main frame;
a first walking beam extending along said one side of said main frame and pivotally mounted to each said main frame support means;
one of said main frame support means being pivotally mounted to said main frame and a horizontal axis above and in substantially the same plane as its respective pivotal mount on said first walking beam;
a second vertically adjustable main frame support means on the other side of said main frame;
a second walking beam extending along said other side of said main frame;
said second main frame support means being pivotally mounted on an axis transverse and substantially central of the longitudinal axis of said second walking beam;
and
ground engagement means adapted to transport said machine pivotally mounted on means defining individual vertical steering axes at the ends of each of said walking beams to steer said machine.

6 more elements

In a mobile construction machine the combination of:

a main frame adapted to carry a working tool;
a pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means spaced along one side of said main frame;
a first walking beam extending along said one side of said main frame and pivotally mounted to each of said main frame support means;
one of said main frame support means being pivotally attached to said main frame on a horizontal axis above and substantially in the plane of its pivotal mounting with said first walking beam;
a second pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means spaced along the other opposite side of said main frame;
a second walking beam extending along said other side of said main frame and pivotally mounted to each of said second main frame support means;
one of said second main frame support means being pivotally attached to said main frame on a horizontal axis above and substantially in the plane of its pivotal mounting with said second walking beam;
and
ground engagement means adapted to transport said machine pivotally mounted on means defining individual vertical steering axes at the ends of each of said walking beams to steer said machine.

6 more elements

A construction machine comprising:

a main frame;
a pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means spaced along one side of said main frame;
a first walking beam extending along said one side of said main frame and pivotally mounted to each of said main frame support means;
one of said main frame support means being pivotally mounted to said main frame on a horizontal axis above and in substantially the same plane as its respective pivotal mount on said first walking beam;
a second vertically adjustable main frame support means on the other side of said main frame;
a second walking beam extending along said other side of said main frame;
said second main frame support means being pivotally mounted on an axis transverse and substantially central of the longitudinal axis of said second walking beam;
ground engagement means adapted to transport said machine pivotally mounted on means defining individual vertical steering axes at the ends of said walking beams to steer said machine;
said ground engagement means being positionable to transport and steer said machine in a first path perpendicular to said walking beams and in a second path parallel to said walking beams;
actuating means operatively connected to said pair of adjustable main frame support means and responsive to slope control means to independently adjust said pair of main frame support means and control the slope of said main frame along said first path of travel, and responsive to a reference disposed along said second path of travel to independently and simultaneously adjust said pair of main frame support means to control the grade of said main frame along said second path of travel;
actuating means operatively connected to said second adjustable main frame support means and responsive to a reference disposed along said first path of travel to independently adjust said second main frame support means and control the grade of said main frame along said first path of travel and responsive to slope control means to independently adjust said second adjustable main frame support means and control the slope of said main frame along said second path of travel;
power means to steer pairs of said ground engagement means in unison about their respective steering axes in both said first and second paths of travel;
and
actuating means operatively connected to said power steering means and responsive to a reference disposed along both paths of travel.

11 more elements

A construction machine comprising:

a main frame adapted to support a working tool;
said main frame including a pair of substantially U-shaped telescoping sections each having a connected transverse side girder said side girders being movable away from and toward each other;
a pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means disposed in spaced relationship along one of said side girders;
a first walking beam extending along said one side girder and pivotally mounted to each of said main frame support means;
one of said main frame support means being pivotally mounted to said one side girder on a horizontal axis extending transverse the length of said one side girder;
a second vertically adjustable main frame support means disposed from said other side girder and substantially centrally opposite said pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means;
a second walking beam extending along said other side girder;
said second walking beam being pivotally mounted from said second vertically adjustable main frame support means;
ground engagement means adapted to transport said machine disposed on means defining individual vertical steering axes at the ends of each of said walking beams to steer said mahcine;
and
said ground engagement means being positionable in pairs to transport and steer said machine along a first path of travel substantially perpendicular to said walking beams and in a second path of travel substantially parallel to said walking beams whereby in both paths of travel said vertically adjustable main frame support means control the attitude of said main frame and working tool and in said first path of travel said ground engagement means are adapted to accommodate the extension and retraction of said telescoping frame sections in relation to each other to vary the width of said main frame between said walking beams.

8 more elements

A construction machine comprising:

a main frame;
a first pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means spaced along one side of said main frame;
a first walking beam extending along said one side of said main frame and pivotally mounted to each of said main frame support means;
one of said first pair of main frame support means being pivotally mounted to said main frame on a horizontal axis above and in substantially the same plane as its respective pivotal mount on said first walking beam;
a second pair of vertically adjustable main frame support means spaced along the other side of said main frame;
a second walking beam extending along said other side of said main frame;
one of said second pair of main frame support means being pivotally mounted to said main frame on a horizontal axis above and in substantially the same plane as its respective pivotal mount on said second walking beam;
and
ground engagement means adapted to transport said machine pivotally mounted on means defining individual vertical steering axes at the ends of said walking beams to steer said machine;
said ground engagement means being positionable about said steering axes to transport said machine in a plurality of selected paths extending 360.degree. around each of said steering axes.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Convertible construction machine

Life of this patent

Convertible construction machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33