Boom suspension assembly

Abstract

A mining shovel including a frame having an upwardly support member. A boom extends upwardly and forwardly from the frame from a connecting end toward a distal end along a boom longitudinal axis. At least one first suspension cable has one end attached to the boom proximal the boom distal end and an opposing end attached to the support member. The at least one first suspension cable defines an angle relative to the boom longitudinal axis, wherein in tension, the at least one first suspension cable resists a first side load imposed on the boom.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A mining shovel comprising: 
 a frame having an upwardly support member;    a boom extending upwardly and forwardly from said frame from a connecting end toward a distal end along a boom longitudinal axis;    at least one first suspension cable having one end attached to said boom proximal said boom distal end and an opposing end attached to said support member, said at least one first suspension cable defining an angle relative to said boom longitudinal axis, wherein in tension said at least one first suspension cable resists a first side load imposed on said boom.    
     
     
         2 . The mining shovel as in  claim 1 , in which said cable one end is spaced from said boom longitudinal axis a first distance and said cable opposing end is spaced from said boom longitudinal axis a second distance, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.  
     
     
         3 . The mining shovel as in  claim 1 , in which a boom point box is fixed to said boom distal end, and said cable one end is attached to a lug fixed to said boom point box.  
     
     
         4 . The mining shovel as in  claim 3 , in which said lug is aligned with the angle of said cable.  
     
     
         5 . The mining shovel as in  claim 1 , in which at least one second suspension cable having one end attached to said boom proximal said boom distal end and an opposing end attached to said support member on an opposite side of said longitudinal axis as said first suspension cable, said at least one second suspension cable defining an angle relative to said boom longitudinal axis, wherein in tension said at least one second suspension cable resists a second side load imposed on said boom which is opposed to said first side load.  
     
     
         6 . The mining shovel as in  claim 1 , including at least one second suspension cable having one end attached to said boom proximal said boom distal end and an opposing end attached to said support member, said at least one second suspension cable defining an angle relative to said boom longitudinal axis, wherein lines defined by said first and second suspension cable intersect within the perimeter of said boom.  
     
     
         7 . A boom suspension assembly for supporting a distal end of a boom, said assembly comprising: 
 a boom point box having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the boom when said boom point box is fixed to the distal end of the boom; and    a first lug fixed to said boom point box, and defining an angle greater than 0 degrees relative to said boom point box longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         8 . The boom suspension assembly as in  claim 7 , in which at least one suspension cable is attached to said first lug and extending toward a first attachment point at an angle substantially aligned with said lug.  
     
     
         9 . The boom suspension assembly as in  claim 7 , including a second lug fixed to said boom point box, and defining an angle greater than 0 degrees relative to said boom point box longitudinal axis, wherein said second lug is not parallel to said first lug.  
     
     
         10 . The boom suspension assembly as in  claim 9 , in which at least one suspension cable is attached to said second lug and extending toward an attachment point at an angle substantially aligned with said second lug.  
     
     
         11 . The boom suspension assembly as in  claim 10 , in which said suspension cable attached to said first lug defines a first line and said suspension cable attached to said second lug defines a second line, wherein said first and second lines intersect within the perimeter of said boom point box.  
     
     
         12 . The boom suspension assembly as in  claim 7 , in which said first lug defines an angle greater than 5 degrees relative to said boom point box longitudinal axis.