MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR TENSIONING UNITS IN TRACKED UNDERCARRIAGES OF LARGE MACHINES

Abstract

A mounting arrangement for a tensioning device with a tensioning unit in a side carrier of a crawler of a tracked undercarriage in a large machine is disclosed. The tensioning unit is arranged in a side carrier compartment in the side carrier of the crawler, wherein a mounting opening is arranged in the side carrier on the outside thereof in an installation area of the tensioning unit for allowing removal of the tensioning unit, when installed, from the side carrier compartment through the mounting opening transversely to a track running direction.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A mounting arrangement for a tensioning device with a tensioning unit in a side carrier of a crawler of a tracked undercarriage in a large machine, wherein the tensioning unit is arranged in a side carrier compartment in the side carrier of the crawler, wherein a mounting opening is arranged in the side carrier on the outside thereof in an installation area of the tensioning unit for allowing removal of the tensioning unit, when installed, from the side carrier compartment through the mounting opening transversely to a track running direction.

10. The mounting arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a cover configured to close the mounting opening in a dust and water-repellent manner.

11. The mounting arrangement of claim 10, wherein the cover has longitudinal sides profiled to form an undercut for formfitting operative connection with a corresponding profile on a longitudinal side of the mounting opening.

12. The mounting arrangement of claim 11, further comprising guide profiles arranged on the longitudinal sides of the mounting opening for allowing insertion of the undercut of the cover.

13. The mounting arrangement of claim 9, further comprising guide profiles arranged in a bottom of the side carrier compartment transversely to the track running direction.

14. The mounting arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a pullout unit insertable into the guide profiles and operatively connected to the tensioning unit, so that the tensioning unit together with the pullout unit is removable from the side carrier compartment transversely to the track running direction through the mounting opening.

15. The mounting arrangement of claim 9, wherein the side carrier compartment has a bottom formed with recesses transversely to the track running direction for allowing insertion of a mobile load-bearing device underneath the tensioning unit.

16. The mounting arrangement of claim 15, wherein the tensioning unit is removable from the side carrier compartment through the mounting opening via the load-bearing device from at least one support transversely to the track running direction.

Description

[0017] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures show in:

[0018] FIG. 1 an isometric view of the mounting arrangement according to the invention in a side carrier of a crawler of a large machine with open side carrier compartment and removed cover plate before removal of the tensioning unit from its installation area;

[0019] FIG. 2 the isometric view according to FIG. 1, with the tensioning unit being removed from the side carrier compartment;

[0020] FIG. 3 a detailed isometric view of the mounting arrangement according to the invention with guide profiles placed into the bottom of the side carrier compartment for insertion of a pullout unit, with the tensioning unit being in operative connection with the pullout unit and being able to be pulled out together with the pullout unit from the side carrier compartment;

[0021] FIG. 4 a detailed isometric view of the mounting arrangement according to the invention with recesses arranged in parallel relationship in the bottom of the side carrier compartment and transversely to the track running direction for allowing insertion of the load-bearing means underneath the tensioning unit, so that the tensioning unit can be removed from a support and from the side carrier compartment.

[0022] In the following, same features are designated with same reference signs. For ease of illustration, the reference numerals have not been repeated in every figure for every feature shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting arrangement 10 essentially includes an installation area 11 which is arranged in a side carrier 12 of a crawler of a large machine, in particular a mining excavator (neither of which is shown). The installation area 11 is configured as a side carrier compartment 12a, which in the installed position is provided on the outside of the side carrier 12 with a mounting opening 13.

[0023] The mounting opening 13 can be closed with a cover 14 designed as a plate (configured in this embodiment as a cover plate). An inspection opening 15 is associated in this embodiment to the cover 14 and can be provided with a sight glass 24 in order to be able to carry out a visual inspection of the machine components arranged in the mounting opening at any time.

[0024] A tensioning unit 12b is arranged in the compartment 12a of the side carrier 12. The tensioning unit 12b is hereby mounted between a sliding block 22 and a support plate 23.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 14 can be removed from the side carrier 12 to thereby clear the mounting opening 13. This avoids the need to open the crawler track 16 and to remove it from the idler wheel 17 in order to be able to access the stop plate 18 of the side carrier 12.

[0026] In the past, dismantling of the stop plate 18 from the end face 19 of the side carrier 12 was complicated and the sliding block 22 with the idler wheel 17 had to be removed in order to gain access to the tensioning unit 12b. As a consequence of the novel mounting arrangement, the tensioning unit 12b can now be removed laterally out of the side carrier compartment 12a of the side carrier 12 through the mounting opening 13, as indicated by the arrow 21.

[0027] In order to facilitate removal of the tensioning unit 12b from the side carrier compartment 12a of the side carrier 12, the tensioning unit 12b can be securely mounted on a pullout unit 25, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The pullout unit 25 is movably mounted in or on guide profiles 26 formed in parallel relationship in the bottom 20 of the side carrier compartment 12a.

[0028] The pullout unit 25 can be inserted into the guide profiles and receive the tensioning unit 12b. The tensioning unit 12b together with the pullout unit 25 can now be pulled out transversely to the track running direction from the side carrier compartment 12a in the installation area 11 of the side carrier 12 through the mounting opening 13.

[0029] Latching the tensioning unit 12b for further transport is hereby considerably simplified, since the tensioning unit 12b can now be moved out laterally of the side carrier 12 and completely out of the side carrier compartment 12a to the outside.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, recesses 27 are provided in parallel relationship in the bottom 20 of the side carrier compartment 12a transversely to the track running direction for insertion of the mobile load-bearing means (not shown) underneath the tensioning unit 12b in order to be able to then remove the latter from at least one support 28 and to lift it out of the side carrier compartment 12a. A mobile load-bearing means involves hi particular a forklift or similar mobile devices.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0031] 10 mounting arrangement [0032] 11 installation area [0033] 12 side carrier [0034] 12a side carrier compartment [0035] 12b tensioning unit [0036] 13 mounting hole [0037] 13a longitudinal side [0038] 14 cover [0039] 14a longitudinal side [0040] 15 inspection opening [0041] 16 crawler track [0042] 17 idler wheel [0043] 18 stop plate [0044] 19 front [0045] 20 bottom [0046] 21 removal direction transversely to the crawler track running direction [0047] 22 sliding block [0048] 23 support plate [0049] 24 sight glass [0050] 25 pullout unit [0051] 26 guide profile [0052] 27 recess [0053] 28 support