Thumb Stop Cam Height Adjusting System and Method
An adjusting system is provided. The adjusting system includes: a slug defining an eccentric hole; and a locking structure defined by an outer circumference of the slug, the locking structure dimensioned and configured to lock the slug in a rotational orientation when the slug is placed in a hole having a corresponding locking feature, the locking structure configured to permit the slug to be placed in the corresponding hole in at least two different angular orientations and lock with the locking feature in the corresponding hole at each of the at least two different angular orientations. A method for adjusting stop shoes is also provided. The method includes: rotating a slug to a desired angular orientation; inserting the slug into a hole; locking the slug to a particular angular orientation with locking structure attached to both of the slug and the hole; and securing a stop shoe to the slug.
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The present disclosure relates generally to a stop system and a mechanism for adjusting the stop system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a stop system for stopping a thumb against a stick on a mechanical arm and an adjusting system for adjusting features of the stop system.
BACKGROUNDExcavating machines often use an arm which may include a boom having a stick pivotally connected to the boom. A bucket is pivotally connected to the stick. In some instances, a thumb may also be connected to the stick which can open or close over the bucket. When the thumb is in its extreme open position, it may contact or reside against the stick. Sometimes the thumb may contact the stick with more force than is desired. For example, more force than desired can be caused by force resulting from the weight of the thumb cylinder, the stick, the boom, boom cylinder, and/or the stick cylinder. In order to reduce the likelihood of damage between the thumb and/or stick, a stop system may be instituted to stop or butt the thumb against the stick.
Some stop systems may use a linkage. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,818,901. Other systems may provide structure for the thumb to butt against on the stick. Examples of these type of systems are also described in this patent in its discussion of the prior art. The use of a linkage as a stop system may require various links to transmit large forces and require complicated linkages. Other stop systems may result in large projections extending from the surface of the stick, which may interfere with operation of the excavating equipment.
It may be desirable to provide an adjusting system in order to adjust the stop system to be in a desired location. Due to manufacturing tolerances, flexing of parts due to wear and/or damage, and a variety of other reasons, the stop system may move out of a desired location after manufacturing of the machine. Thus, it may be desirable for the adjusting system by be adjusted after the machine has left the factory.
Some adjusting systems use a cam washer for providing an adjustment. An example of such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,699. The cam member includes a mechanism for detachably attaching the cam member to the nut or to the head of the bolt such that the cam member is rotatable by engagement of the nut and/or the bolt. When the cam member is rotated, the cam member works against a cam member bearing surface such that the bolt is moved sideways thereby providing adjustment.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure describes a stop system, an adjusting system for the stop system, a method for stopping, and a method for adjusting a stop system.
In the disclosure, a stop system is described. The stop system may include: a first member; a second member movable with respect to the first member, the first and second members being different parts of a common machine; a body including a boss defining a hole; a base plate at least one of: attached to and part of, the body on the side of the body opposite of the boss, the body and base plate forming a shoe; and a fastener extending through the hole in the boss thereby pivotally attaching the body to one of the first and second members.
In the disclosure, a method of providing a stop for stopping a thumb against a stick is described. The method may include installing a pivotable shoe on one of the thumb and stick.
In the disclosure, a stop system is described. The system includes: a first member; a second member movable with respect to the first member, the first and second members being different parts of a common machine; a pivoting means for abutting attached to one of the first and second members; and a contact surface located on the other of the first and second members than the pivoting means for abutting, the contact surface located such that when the first and second members are in contact with each other the pivoting means for abutting is contacting the contact surface.
In the disclosure, an adjusting system is described. The adjusting system includes: a slug defining an eccentric hole; and a locking structure defined by an outer circumference of the slug, the locking structure dimensioned and configured to lock the slug in a rotational orientation when the slug is placed in a hole having a corresponding locking feature, the locking structure configured to permit the slug to be placed in the corresponding hole in at least two different angular orientations and lock with the locking feature in the corresponding hole at each of the at least two different angular orientations.
In the disclosure, a method for adjusting stop shoes is also described. The method includes: rotating a slug to a desired angular orientation; inserting the slug into a hole; locking the slug to a particular angular orientation with locking structure attached to both of the slug and the hole; and securing a stop shoe to the slug.
In the disclosure, an adjusting system is described. The system may include: a means for defining an eccentric hole; a means for preventing the rotation of the means for defining an eccentric hole when the means for defining an eccentric hole is inserted into the means for preventing the rotation of the means for defining an eccentric hole; means for abutting pivotally attached to the means for defining an eccentric hole; and a fastener pivotally connecting the means for abutting to the means for defining an eccentric hole, the fastener extending through both the means for abutting and the eccentric hole.
The apparatus and methods disclosed herein will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. The present disclosure describes several systems and methods for providing a thumb stop to stop a thumb that moves to cover a bucket against a stick that supports the thumb and bucket. The present disclosure further describes various systems and methods for adjusting the height of various thumb stop systems.
The thumb 66 may pivot about the pivot joint 62. The thumb 66 may move, close to or contact the bucket 60 to allow the arm 50 pickup various objects. Furthermore, the thumb 66 may be used as a cover for the bucket 60 to avoid or hinder material contained in the bucket 60 from falling out. When the thumb 66 is in a position distal from the bucket 60 similar to that shown in
As seen in
The tread plate 78 is shown butted up against the pressure plate 84. If the pressure plate 84 is not level with respect to the stop shoe 74, the initial contact between the stop shoe 74 and the pressure plate 84 can cause the stop shoe 74 to pivot about the bolt 80 in order to have the tread plate 78 lay flat against the pressure plate 84 as the pressure plate 84 and stop shoe 74 move closer together.
In some embodiments there is no pressure plate. In such embodiments, the stop shoe 74 may directly contact the stick 54 however the same basic principles described herein will apply.
When the thumb 66 opens to its extreme position causing the stop shoe 74 to impact the stick 54 via the pressure plate 84, the stop shoes 74 may not only rotate about the bolt 80 they may also slide a little bit along the pressure plate 84. The sliding motion may be caused by the difference in diameters of the bolt 80 and the holes 94 in the stop shoe 74 and the holes 107 in the rib 72. Furthermore, the openings 95 in the holes 94 in the stop shoe 74 and opening or hole 107 in the hole 107 in the rib 72 may facilitate minor deflections in the material forming the rib 72 and or stop shoe 74 when the stop shoe 74 or rib 72 are under stress. These deflections may also cause the sliding action of the tread plate 78 or surface along the pressure plate 84 and or stick 54. In some embodiments the sliding motion may be desired in that it along with a pivoting of the stop shoe 74 helps with aligning the tread plate 78 with the pressure plate 84 or stick 54 in a manner that reduces the likelihood of gouging the pressure plate 84 or stick 54 (in instances where a pressure plate 84 is absent). The sliding motion of the stop shoes 74 may also be caused, in part, by deflection of the thumb 66 and tolerances in the joint 62.
In some embodiments the size and strength of the bolts 80 may be selected so that if the thumb 66 is opened quickly, or otherwise provides a hard strike to the pressure plate 84 and or stick 54, the bolts 80 will shear before the stop shoes 74 dent, gouge, or damage the pressure plate 84 or stick 54. This shearing feature allows the bolts 80 to act as a mechanical fuse.
An adjusting system 115 for the stop system 73 will now be described.
The slug 106 has a center 114. The eccentric hole 108 has a center 116 that is significantly offset 118 from the center 114 of the slug 106. By rotating the slug 106 about its center 114, the height of the eccentric hole 108 will vary. As result, in instances where a slug 106 having an eccentric hole 108 is used as part of the adjusting system 115, adjustments in height can be made by rotating the slug 106.
A fastener 76 (which may include a bolt 80 and lock nut 82) attaches the stop shoe 74 to the rib 72 in a manner similar to that described above. A bolt 80 extends through the hole 94 securing the body 120 between a lock nut 82 and the bolt head 88.
There is an offset 126 between the tread surface 122 and the rib 72. This offset 126 can be adjusted by removing the fastener 76 the stop shoe 74 and the slug 106. Once outside the hole 124, the slug 106 can be rotated to place the eccentric hole 108 into a desired position with respect to the rib 72. Then the slug 106 is placed into the hole 124 where it is rotationally locked in place. The stop shoe 74 is then attached to the slug 106 via the fastener 76. The offset 126 can also be affected by pivoting the stop shoe 74 about the fastener 76.
One of ordinary skill the art will understand after reviewing this disclosure that the more corners 128 in the corresponding hole 124 the more height adjustments can be made to the eccentric hole 108 without actually increasing the extreme range between the highest and lowest positions of the eccentric hole 108. The locking structure 113 shown in
Where locking structures 113 are used similar to that shown in
The rib 72 also has a void 132 and when a void 130 in the slug 106 is aligned with the void 132 in the rib 72, a locking pin 134 may be placed to partially extend into the void 130 in the slug 106 and the void 132 in the rib 72 to thereby angularly lock the slug 106 with respect to the rib 72. One of ordinary skill in the art after viewing this disclosure will appreciate that the adjusting system 115 shown in
The voids 130 and locking pin 134 are not limited to the cross-sectional shapes of semicircle and circular as shown. Many different shapes may be used for the voids 130 and locking pin 134. For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the voids 130 and locking pin may include a square, rectangle, parallelogram, and a triangle. Other shapes may also be used.
The voids 130 in the slug 106 and the void 132 in the rib 72 can be seen in
When the void 130 in the slug 106 is aligned with the a void 140 in the rib 72 (or hole 124), a locking pin 134 may be placed to partially extend into the void 130 in the slug 106 and the void 140 in the rib 72 to thereby angularly lock the slug 106 with respect to the rib 72. One of ordinary skill in the art after viewing this disclosure will appreciate that the adjusting system 115 shown in
The voids 130, 140 and locking pin 134 are not limited to the cross-sectional shapes of semicircle and circular as shown. Many different shapes may be used for the voids 130, 140 and locking pin 134. For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the voids 130, 140 and locking pin may include a square, rectangle, parallelogram, and a triangle. Other shapes may also be used.
In some instances when it is desired to have one of the stop shoes 74 at a height between levels permitted by the adjusting system 115 the stop shoe 74 may easily be removed and ground or have material added to achieve the desired level.
Many features and advantages of apparatus and methods described in the current disclosure are apparent from this disclosure, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the disclosure which fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYAs can be appreciated the disclosure herein contains several industrial applications. For example, the apparatus and method disclosed herein can provide a function of protecting a stick 54 from damage by a thumb 66 striking the stick when the thumb 66 is moved to an open position. Protection of the stick 54 allows the stick 54 to provide long and reliable service. The adjusting system 115 allows for the adjustment of a pair of stop shoes 74 to be adjusted so that they obtain a height that allows the stop shoes 74 to both contact either the stick 54 or a pressure plate 84 on the stick 54 at the same time. Having the stop shoe 74 contact or butt against the stick 54 or pressure plate 84 at the same time helps to avoid placing too much stress on one or the other stop shoe 74 or one or the other side of a stick 54 or pressure plate 84. The system described herein may also reduce the likelihood of the stick 54 from being gouged or otherwise damaged by the thumb 66.
Furthermore the apparatus described herein allows for an adjusting system 115 and the stop system 73 to be installed at the factory rather than relying on a dealer or operator to install stop systems. By allowing the manufacturer to install the stop system 73 and or adjusting system 115 additional quality control may be assured, and manufacturing burdens may be relieved from dealers and/or operators.
Some systems and methods described herein may provide an advantage in that the stop system may not use a significant projection on the stick 54. Omitting projections on the stick 54 may make digging specifically shaped holes such as trenches easier for operators in than an operator does not need to worry about a projection on the stick 54 contacting or interfering with the edges of the hole or trench. Furthermore, welding a projection onto the stick 54 may change the structural stiffness of the stick 54 in a negative manner. This disclosure may be an improvement over the prior art which occasionally requires operators to mind the projection on the stick when digging and may use a stick with a compromised structural stiffness.
Claims
1. An adjusting system comprising:
- a slug defining an eccentric hole; and
- a locking structure defined by an outer circumference of the slug, the locking structure dimensioned and configured to lock the slug in a rotational orientation when the slug is placed in a hole having a corresponding locking feature, the locking structure configured to permit the slug to be placed in the corresponding hole in at least two different angular orientations and lock with the locking feature in the corresponding hole at each of the at least two different angular orientations.
2. The adjustment system of claim 1, further comprising a fastener dimensioned to fit in the eccentric hole in the slug.
3. The adjustment system of claim 2, further comprising a stop shoe defining a hole for the fastener to extend through the hole in the stop shoe and the eccentric hole in the slug thereby attaching the stop shoe to the slug.
4. The adjustment system of claim 3, wherein when the fastener is in the eccentric hole and the slug is in one of the at least two different angular orientations, the stop shoe is at a first height with respect to a center of the slug, and when the slug is in the other of the at least 2 different angular orientations, the stop shoe is at a second height with respect to the center of the slug.
5. The adjustment system of claim 1, further comprising a rib located on a thumb and the corresponding hole is located in the rib.
6. The adjustment system of claim 1, wherein the locking structure includes flat portions on the outer circumference of the slug.
7. That adjustment system of claim 6, wherein the flat portions are configured to form the shape of least one of: a square, pentagon, hexagon, and an octagon.
8. The adjustment system of claim 7, wherein the corresponding hole defines more corners than the number of corners defined by the flat portions intersecting at the outer circumference of the slug.
9. The adjustment system of claim 8, wherein the corresponding hole defines at least twice as many corners than the number of corners defined by the flat portions intersecting at the outer circumference of the slug.
10. The adjustment system of claim 1, wherein the locking structure includes voids in at least one of the outer circumference of the slug and a wall that defines the corresponding hole, the voids each form a geometric shape when viewed in cross-section and a discontinuity in the other of the wall forming the hole and the outer circumference of the slug, the discontinuity having the corresponding locking feature, the discontinuity forming a void forming a geometric shape when viewed in cross-section and a locking rod that fits one of the voids in the slug and hole having a corresponding locking feature to thereby rotationally lock the slug.
11. The adjustment system of claim 10, wherein the geometric shape of the voids is a half circle, and the geometric shape of corresponding locking feature void is also a half circle and the cross-sectional shape of the rod is a circle.
12. The adjustment system of claim 10, wherein the geometric shape of the voids is one of: a rectangle, a square, a parallelogram, and a triangle, and the geometric shape of the void in the hole having the corresponding locking feature is one of: a rectangle, a square, a parallelogram, and a triangle and the cross-sectional shape of the rod is one of a rectangle, a square, a parallelogram, and a triangle.
13. The adjustment system of claim 10, further comprising:
- a second slug defining a second eccentric hole; and
- a second locking structure defined by the outer circumference of the second slug, the second locking structure dimensioned and configured to lock the second slug in a rotational orientation when the second slug is placed in a second hole having a corresponding locking feature, the second locking structure configured to permit the second slug to be placed in the second corresponding hole in at least two different angular orientations and lock with the second locking feature in the corresponding second hole at each of the at least two different angular orientations;
- first fastener and second fastener dimensioned to fit in the eccentric hole in the slug and second slug and respectively;
- first and second stop shoes defining a first and second holes for the first and second fasteners respectively to extend through the first and second holes in the first and second stop shoes and the eccentric hole in the slug and second slug thereby attaching the first stop shoe to the slug and the second stop shoe to the second slug and an angular orientation of the slug and second slug is selected to cause the first and second stop shoes to evenly contact a contact surface on a stick.
14. A method for adjusting stop shoes comprising:
- rotating a slug to a desired angular orientation;
- inserting the slug into a hole;
- locking the slug to a particular angular orientation with locking structure attached to both of the slug and the hole; and
- securing a stop shoe to the slug.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting a pair of stop shoes to have substantially coplanar tread surfaces by rotating a slug associated with each stop shoe.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting a fastener into the stop shoe and an eccentric hole in the slug.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising pivoting the stop shoe about the fastener.
18. The method of claim 14 comprising selecting a desired height of an eccentric hole in the slug and achieving desired height by rotating the slug.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting a locking rod into a void in the slug.
20. An adjusting system comprising:
- a means for defining an eccentric hole;
- a means for preventing the rotation of the means for defining an eccentric hole when the means for defining an eccentric hole is inserted into the means for preventing the rotation of the means for defining an eccentric hole;
- means for abutting pivotally attached to the means for defining an eccentric hole; and
- a fastener pivotally connecting the means for abutting to the means for defining an eccentric hole, the fastener extending through both the means for abutting and the eccentric hole.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2014
Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC. (Peoria, IL)
Inventors: Ryan Patrick Shea (Manhattan, KS), Aaron Dean Kovar (Topeka, KS)
Application Number: 13/650,041