Jib assembly

Abstract

A jib assembly includes a support; a jib attached pivotally to the support for pivotal movement of the jib in relation to the support about a horizontal axis; a first linear hydraulic actuator attached to the support for regulating pivotal movement of the jib and for maintaining the jib in a specific position relative to the support; a lever arm attached unrotatably to the jib; and a draw member attached to the lever arm and to the jib; wherein the first linear hydraulic actuator is attached to the lever arm, and the lever arm is arranged to extend in the direction above the jib.

Claims

1. A jib assembly comprising: a support; a jib including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the jib is pivotally attached to the support for pivotal movement of the jib in relation to the support about a horizontal axis; and a first linear hydraulic actuator attached to the support for regulating pivotal movement of the jib and for maintaining the jib in a specific position relative to the support; a lever arm attached to the jib; and a draw member unrotatably attached to the lever arm and to the second end of the jib at the second end of the jib, wherein the draw member is attached between the lever arm and the second end of the jib at the second end of the jib; wherein: the first linear hydraulic actuator is connected to the draw member so that a force generated by the first linear hydraulic actuator is transmitted to the draw member; the first linear hydraulic actuator and the draw member are supported by the lever arm; and the lever arm is arranged to extend in the direction above the jib.

2. The jib assembly according to claim 1, wherein the draw member is a drawbar.

3. The jib assembly according to claim 1, wherein the draw member is a cable.

4. The jib assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a second linear hydraulic actuator comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the second linear hydraulic actuator being attached to the support and the second end of the second linear hydraulic actuator being attached to the jib.

5. An excavator comprising the jib assembly according to claim 1.

6. A material handler comprising the jib assembly according to claim 1.

7. The jib assembly according to claim 1, wherein the draw member extends longitudinally along a length of the jib.

8. The jib assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the jib is disposed adjacent the support.

9. The jib assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the jib is pivotally attached to the support at the support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following the disclosure will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a jib assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

(3) The disclosure relates to a jib assembly 1. The jib assembly 1 comprises a support 11. The support 11 is for example formed by a frame of an excavator.

(4) The jib assembly 1 comprises a jib 12. For example, the jib is arranged to support the arm of the excavator connected to the bucket (not shown in the FIGURE). The jib 12 is attached pivotally to the support 11 for pivotal movement of the jib 12 in relation to the support 11 about a horizontal axis. For example, the jib 12 comprises a first end 121 and a second end 122, and the first end 121 of the jib 12 is attached to the support 11.

(5) The jib assembly 1 comprises a lever arm 14. The lever arm 14 is attached essentially unrotatably to the jib 12. For example, the lever arm comprises a first end 141 and a second end 142, and the first end 141 of the lever arm 14 is attached to the jib 12. The lever arm 14 is arranged to extend in the direction above the jib 12. For example, the lever arm 14 is bolted or welded to the jib 12. Alternatively, the lever arm 14 is attached to the jib by pins (not shown in the FIGURE) According to an embodiment, the lever arm 14 is integral with the jib 12.

(6) The jib assembly 1 comprises a first linear hydraulic actuator 13 for regulating pivotal movement of the jib 12 and for maintaining the jib 12 in a specific position relative to the support 11. For example, the first linear hydraulic actuator 13 comprises a hydraulic cylinder. According to an embodiment, the jib assembly 1 comprises a plurality of the first linear hydraulic actuators 13. The first linear hydraulic actuator 13 is attached to the support 11. For example, the first linear hydraulic actuator 13 comprises a first end 131 and a second end 132, and the first end 131 of the first linear hydraulic actuator 13 is attached to the support 11. The first linear hydraulic actuator 13 is supported by the lever arm 14. For example, the second end 132 of the first linear hydraulic actuator 13 is connected to the second 142 end of the lever arm 14.

(7) The jib assembly 1 comprises a draw member 15. The draw member 15 is attached essentially unrotatably to the lever arm 14 and to the jib 12. The draw member 15 is attached to the jib 12 at a position away from the support 11 in relation to the lever arm 14. For example, the draw member 15 comprises a first end 151 and a second end 152, and the first end 151 of the draw member 15 is attached essentially unrotatably to the second end 142 of the lever arm 14 and the second end 152 of the draw member 15 is attached essentially unrotatably to the second end 122 of the jib 12. According to an embodiment, the draw member 15 is a drawbar. According to an alternative embodiment, the draw member 15 is a cable. The first linear hydraulic actuator 13 is connected to the draw member 15 so that a force generated by the first linear hydraulic actuator 13 is transmitted to the draw member 15. The draw member 15 is supported by the lever arm 14. Preferably the lever arm 14 has a length and it is attached to the jib 12 at a location that allow a straight draw member 15 to be connected to the lever arm 14 and to the second end 122 of the jib.

(8) According to an embodiment, the jib assembly 1 comprises a second linear hydraulic actuator 16. The purpose of the second linear hydraulic actuator 16 is to aid the first linear hydraulic actuator 13 with the pivotal movement of the jib 12. For example, the second linear hydraulic actuator 16 comprises a hydraulic cylinder. The second linear hydraulic actuator 16 is attached to the support 11 and to the jib 12. For example, the second linear hydraulic actuator 16 comprises a first end 161 and a second end 162, and the first end 161 of the second linear hydraulic actuator 16 is attached to the support 11 and the second end 162 of the second linear hydraulic actuator 16 is attached to the jib 12.

(9) The disclosure relates also to an excavator comprising a jib assembly 1 as described above.

(10) The disclosure relates also to a material handler comprising a jib assembly 1 as described above.

(11) The disclosure relates also to use of the jib assembly 1 as described above in an excavator.

(12) The disclosure relates also to use of the jib assembly 1 as described above in a material handler.