Modular Tilt Rotate System

This application claims priority in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/640,622, filed Apr. 30, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to power equipment, and more particularly to a modular tilt rotate system used with power equipment attachments.

Motorized vehicles are used to perform a variety of tasks, such as grading, leveling, packing, sweeping, vibrating, moving material and product, etc. Many times, a vehicle and the components used for such purposes are dedicated to a specific task. Some vehicles can be used with a variety of attachments, with each attachment performing a different task. However, even with such vehicles, it can be difficult, and time consuming to remove one attachment and replace it with a different attachment. This is particularly true for attachments that require tilt or rotation functionality or both.

The disclosed subject matter includes a modular tilt rotate system and apparatus for use with a boom arm of a motorized vehicle, such as an excavator. The system includes a pivot assembly operably connected to a tilt coupler assembly. The tilt coupler assembly includes a top plate forming a first mounting formation hole arrangement of a plurality of holes, and a base plate forming a second mounting formation hole arrangement of a plurality of holes. The base plate is pivotally connected to the top plate, and an actuator operably connected to the top plate and the base plate moves the base plate and top plate about the pivot connection. The top plate is connected to the boom arm, and the pivot assembly is connected to an attachment used with excavators, such as, for example, a bucket. The pivot assembly presents a third mounting formation hole arrangement of a plurality of holes adapted for use with an attachment. The pivot assembly provides rotation of the attachment relative to the tilt coupler assembly. Various attachments used with excavators can be adapted for use with the system when the attachment includes an upper component forming a fourth mounting hole arrangement of a plurality of holes adapted for use with the second mounting formation hole arrangement of the base plate or the third mounting formation hole arrangement of the mounting pivot assembly. The use of the same mounting formation hole arrangement of holes for the attachments, pivot assembly, and tilt coupler assembly provides a modular system for mounting and removing different attachments to the boom arm, and allows quick and flexible options for using various combinations of the modular tilt rotate system.

In some embodiments the tilt coupler is formed by a first side plate depending from the top plate, a second side plate depending from the top plate parallel to the top plate, and a transverse opening extending through the first side plate and second side plate. In addition, a third side plate extends from the base plate and forms a first aperture, and a fourth side plate extends from the base plate parallel to the third side plate forming a second aperture, with the first aperture, transverse opening, and second aperture forming the pivot connection.

In other embodiments the tilt coupler assembly is formed by an upper coupler pivotally connected to a lower coupler. The upper coupler has a first side plate and second side plate depending from a top plate. The side plates have an opening at a lower end, a first arm forming first aperture, and a second arm forming a second aperture. The lower coupler has a first side plate and a second side plate extending from a base plate. The side plates a body forming a first opening at an upper end, a first foot depending from the body forming a first aperture, and a second foot depending from the body forming a second aperture. A first hydraulic cylinder connects to the upper coupler first arms and lower coupler first feet, and a second hydraulic cylinder connects to the upper coupler second arms and lower coupler second feet. The upper coupler lower openings and lower coupler upper openings are aligned and secured by a pin to form the pivot connection.

Referring to, a tilt rotate systemembodying aspects of the disclosed subject matter is shown, with a pivot assemblyoperably connected to a tilt coupler. The pivot assemblyprovides rotational movement of an attachmentin a first directionand a second directionat the end of a boom armof a motorized vehiclefor doing work, such as work on a work surface, such as the ground, or work to materials, such as a payload of a vehicle. The tilt couplerprovides side-to-side movement of an attachmentin a first directionand a second directionat the end of such a boom arm.

An implementation of the tilt rotate systemis shown between an attachmentand a mounting assemblyor “ears”. The attachmentis of a type used by a motorized vehicle() such as a backhoe, or excavator and is attached to the end of a boom armto do work. The exemplary attachmentis a bucket, but the attachmentmay be one of many types of devices used with a boom armto perform work on or at a work surface, or to work materials, such as the attachments shown in, including a packer wheel, pallet forks, grading bar, leveling bar, frost ripper, roller packer, root rake, vibratory plate compactor, wire brush, and sweeper. The boom armextends from a first endattached to the motorized vehicleand a second endattached to the mounting assembly. The mounting assemblyconnects the device connected to it to the boom arm. The motorized vehiclemoves the boom armup and down, and side to side, and delivers power to the pivot assemblyand tilt coupler. In an implementation, components of the tilt rotate systemare powered by hydraulics, such as a hydraulic pump connected to the components by hydraulic lines, or by electrical power.

In an implementation, the attachmentis directly connected to the stickat the end of the boom armby the mounting assembly. In an implementation, the tilt coupler assemblyis disposed between the attachmentand mounting assembly(). In an implementation, the pivot assemblyis disposed between the attachmentand mounting assembly. In an implementation, the pivot assemblyis disposed between the tilt coupler assemblyand attachment, and the tilt coupler assemblyis disposed between the pivot assemblyand mounting assembly(). The connection between and among the attachment, pivot assembly, tilt coupler assembly, and mounting assemblyuses a mounting formation hole arrangementcomprising a plurality of holes, allowing the tilt rotate system, and the components, to be connected using fasteners, making the tilt rotate systemmodular in that the components can connect via a common bolt hole arrangement. The number and arrangement of holes of the mounting formation hole arrangementcan be varied.

Referring to, the attachmentincludes the mounting formation hole arrangementin an arrangement of sixteen openingsor holes in an upper componentof the attachmentfor connecting the attachment to components of the tilt rotate system, such as the mounting assembly. It is contemplated the components of the tilt rotate systemcan be used in applications where the connection to the attachmentis not by means of a mounting formation hole arrangementand fasteners, and where the connection to the motorized vehicleis not by means of the mounting assemblydescribed herein.

The mounting assemblyprovides a connection between the tilt rotate systemand the boom arm. Various manufacturers of boom armsuse different types of connections between the second endand any attachments connected thereto. The mounting assemblypresents a mounting formation hole arrangementfor operably connecting the tilt rotate system, or its components, to a structure, such as a boom arm. In an implementation, the mounting assemblyincludes a mounting plate() at the upper componentforming openings in the mounting formation hole arrangement, such as hole patternthat align with openingsfor securing the mounting plateto the attachmentby fasteners, such as a nut and bolt combination. Referring to, the mounting assemblyis further formed by generally parallel first and second side plates,extending from the mounting plate. Spaced apart first and second pins,extend transversely between the side plates,, providing an attachment point between the mounting assemblyand the boom arm. The mounting assemblyis attached to the attachmentby aligning the openingsin the attachmentwith the hole patternin the mounting plate, and securing the components together with nut and bolt assemblies.shows the attachmentdirectly connected to the mounting assembly.

Referring to, an implementation of the tilt coupler assemblyis shown, with an upper coupler or top halfstage pivotally mounted to a base, and actuated with a tilt cylinder. The baseis formed by first and second lower couplers or side plates,extending from a base plate. The side plates,extend between a first endand a second end, and are secured to the base platealong their respective first edges,, such as by welding. The base plateincludes the mounting formation hole arrangementin the form of holesin a pattern of openings that align with openingsin the attachment. The side plates,extend upward from the base plateforming apertures for receiving a first pinfor pivotally mounting the top halfto the base. The side plates,form apertures at the second endfor receiving a second pinfor pivotally engaging the first endof the tilt cylinder. In an implementation, side plateforms a separate first halfforming the aperture for the first pin, and a separate second half, offset from the first half,forming the aperture for receiving the second pin.

The top halfis formed by opposing first and second side plates,depending from a top plate. The top plateincludes the mounting formation hole arrangementin the form of openingsin a pattern of holes that align with the hole patternin the mounting plateallowing the mounting assemblyto be attached to the top platein the manner shown in. The side plates,are secured to the top plateby welding. A transverse openingextending through the side plates,receives the pinpivotally mounting the top halfto the base. A removable pinat the bottom of the side plates,pivotally engages a second endof the cylinder.

The tilt cylindermay be hydraulically powered through hydraulic lines connecting the tilt cylinderto a hydraulic manifold and pump at the motorized vehicle, or by electrical means, or by other means known in the art. Extension and retraction of the rodof the tilt cylinderpivots the baseabout the pin. Referring to, whereby the tilt coupler assemblyis shown connected to the attachmentand mounting assembly, when the mounting assemblyis connected to a boom armas shown in, the attachmentpivots about the pinat the second endof the boom arm. In an implementation, the tilt coupler assemblyhas a seventy-degree range of motion permitting the attachmentto tilt thirty-five-degrees in either direction at the end of the boom arm. The tilting of the attachmentallows the operator to position the attachmentrelative to the work surface or work materials, such as the payload of a vehicle.

Referring to, an implementation of the pivot assemblyis shown, with a hydraulically actuated rotator gear assemblybetween a rotator spacer plateand upper plate. In an implementation, the rotator gear assemblyis a slewing drive manufactured by Cone Drive Operations, Inc. of Traverse City, Michigan, a Timken company. The rotator spacer plateand upper plateinclude the mounting formation hole arrangement. The rotator gear assembly includes the mounting formation hole arrangementin the form of bolt holesextending through the rotator gear assemblythat align with the mounting formation hole arrangementin the upper plateand align with the mounting formation hole arrangementin the rotator spacer platefor securing the pivot assemblyto the tilt coupler assembly, mounting assembly, and attachment. A guard plateprovides protection for the manifold assemblyproviding hydraulic control of the motor operably connected to the rotor gear. The pivot assemblypermits the rotator spacer plate, and thus the attachment, to rotate about its vertical axis for 360 degrees, and provide high torque rotation.

Referring to, in an implementation the base plateof the tilt coupler assemblyforms the upper plateof the pivot assembly. Further, this arrangement permits the guard plateto be mounted to the side plate. It can be seen rom this arrangement that the disclosed subject matter provides the flexibility of adding a pivot assemblyto an attachment, a tilt coupler assemblyto the attachment, or both, providing flexibility as to the desired functionality for the particular attachmentinvolved.

Referring to, an implementation of the tilt rotate systemincludes a tilt coupler assemblyformed by an upper couplerpivotally connected to a lower coupler, and pivoted side-to-side by first and second tilt cylinders,. The upper coupleris formed by a first side plateand an adjacent second side platedepending from a top plate. The top plateforms the mounting formation hole arrangementin an arrangement of sixteen openings or holes for connecting the tilt couplerto components of the tilt rotate system, such as the mounting assembly. The first side platehas a bodyforming an openingat a lower end, and a first armextending upward forming a first earwith an aperture, and a second armextending upward forming a second earwith an aperture. The second side platehas a bodyforming an openingat a lower end, and a first armforming a first earwith an aperture, and a second armforming a second earwith an aperture.

The first tilt cylinderis mounted between opposing ears,. The first tilt cylinderextends from a cylinder bodyat a first endto a pistonat a second end. The cylinder bodyincludes a trunnionpivotally connected to the first side plateand second side plateby trunnion mounts,at the apertures,. The second tilt cylinderextends from a cylinder bodyat a first endto a pistonat a second end. The cylinder bodyincludes a trunnionpivotally connected to the first side plateand second side plateby trunnion mounts,at the apertures,.

A tubular bushingextends between the openings,, and provides support for a vertical braceextending between the bushingand top plate. A lateral bracebelow the bushingextends between the first side plateand second side plateproviding additional support to the upper coupler.

The lower coupleris formed by a first side plateand an adjacent second side plateextending from a base plate. The base plateforms the mounting formation hole arrangementin an arrangement of sixteen openings or holes for connecting the tilt couplerto components of the tilt rotate system, such as the pivot assembly. The first side platehas a bodyforming an openingat an upper end, and a first legforming a first footdepending from the first legwith an aperture, and a second legforming a second footdepending from the second legwith an aperture. The second side platehas a bodyforming an openingat an upper end, and a first legforming a first footdepending from the first legwith an aperture, and a second legforming a second footdepending from the second legwith an aperture. A crossmemberextending between the first and second side plates,provides addition support to the lower couplerat the feet, and aids in mounting collars,,,at the apertures. A cylinder pinextending through collars,pivotally connects the second endof the first tilt cylinderto the lower coupler, and a cylinder pinextending through collars,pivotally connects the second endof the second tilt cylinderto the lower coupler. The upper couplerand lower couplerare pivotally connected by a tilt pivot pin or bolt.

The coupler assemblyprovides side-to-side movement by actuation of the tilt cylinders. As above, the tilt cylinders,may be hydraulically powered through hydraulic lines connecting the cylinders to a hydraulic manifold and pump at the motorized vehicle, or by electrical means, or by other means known in the art. The assembly is moved in a first direction by retracting the pistonof the first tilt cylinderand extending the pistonof the second tilt cylinder, and the assembly is moved in a second direction by extending the pistonof the first cylinderand retracting the pistonof the second tilt cylinder.

It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described above, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.

Directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration with reference to the orientation of the components of the system and apparatus of the disclosed subject matter.