Load bearing member arrangement and method

Abstract

In the design of load bearing members for use in work machines, it is oftentimes beneficial to minimize the weight of such structures which, in turn, may allow for increased payloads and decreased cycle times of the work machine. A load bearing arrangement for use with a work machine of the type having a platform is provided. The load bearing arrangement comprises a plurality of pieces connectable to form a member structured and arranged for pivotable attachment to the platform. A weldment connects at least two of the pieces where at least one weldment is simulated for effects of heat on at least one of the pieces subject to the weldment.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A load bearing arrangement for use with a work machine of the type having a platform, comprising: 
 a plurality of pieces connectable to form a load bearing member structured and arranged for pivotable attachment to the platform; and    a weldment connecting at least two of said pieces,    said weldment being simulated for effects of heat on at least one of said pieces subject to said weldment before said weldment is constructed.    
     
     
         16 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said effects are at least one of stress and deformation.  
     
     
         17 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 an end attached to said load bearing member and comprising a material having a first yield strength;    an aperture formed in said end and having an aperture wall;    at least one support member contained within said aperture adjacent to at least a portion of said aperture wall; and    said support member having a second yield strength greater than said first yield strength.    
     
     
         18 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said support member comprises a substantially cylindrical structure having a through opening.  
     
     
         19 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising a bearing received in said opening.  
     
     
         20 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said support member is laser welded to said end.  
     
     
         21 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said load bearing member comprises: 
 at least one top plate;    at least one bottom plate; and    at least one pair of spaced apart side plates each attached to said top plate and said bottom plate.    
     
     
         22 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said top plate comprises at least one integral mounting structure.  
     
     
         23 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical attachment structure extending from at least one of said pair of side plates; and    wherein said at least one of said pair of side plates is attached to said attachment structure.    
     
     
         24 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 23  wherein: 
 said load bearing member has a transverse width; and    said attachment structure spans said transverse width.    
     
     
         25 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 21  further comprising at least one reinforcing structure attached to at least one of said pair of side plates.  
     
     
         26 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said reinforcing structure comprises: 
 a base portion; and    a rib portion extending from said base portion.    
     
     
         27 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said reinforcement structure is laser welded to said at least one of said pair of side plates.  
     
     
         28 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 15  wherein: 
 said load bearing member comprises a first side and a second side;    one of said first side or said second side comprises a plurality of side plates;    each said side plate having a centerline axis; and    at least two adjacent side plates, each having a different thickness, on one of said first side or said second side are coupled together such that said centerline axis of each said side plate are colinear.    
     
     
         29 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising an attachment pivotally coupled to said member.  
     
     
         30 . The load bearing arrangement as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said attachment comprises a bucket.  
     
     
         31 - 35 . (canceled)  
     
     
         36 . A method of manufacturing a load bearing member, comprising a plurality of pieces, for use with a work machine, comprising the steps of: 
 forming the pieces;    connecting at least two of the pieces by a weldment; and    determining the effects of heat caused by the weldment on at least one of said pieces subject to said weldment.    
     
     
         37 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said forming step is a performed by a thermal cutting process.  
     
     
         38 . The method as set forth in  claim 37  wherein said thermal cutting process is laser cutting.  
     
     
         39 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein forming step includes a simulation step of simulating distortions of the pieces caused by said thermal cutting process.  
     
     
         40 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said welding process is a robotic process.  
     
     
         41 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said determining step includes the steps of: 
 determining a model of a geometry of the material;    defining a set of coordinates of elements and nodes of the geometry model for a finite element analysis mesh;    delivering the finite element analysis mesh coordinates to a thermal analysis model, the thermal analysis model including an analytical solution model and a finite element analysis model;    determining a thermal analysis of the welding process as a function of at least one of the analytical solution model and the finite element analysis model, the analytical solution model being adapted to provide a thermal history of the welding process for a global distortion analysis, and the finite element analysis model being adapted to provide a thermal history of the welding process for a detailed residual stress analysis;    delivering the thermal history of the welding process to a structural analysis model; and    providing a structural analysis of the welding process as a function of the thermal history.    
     
     
         42 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said determining step includes the steps of: 
 determining a history annihilation model of a material being welded;    determining a strain hardening model of the material being welded;    determining a three-dimensional virtual elements detection model of the material being welded; and    incorporating the above models into a constitutive model for the welding simulation.    
     
     
         43 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said determining step occurs during the creation of the weldment.  
     
     
         44 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said determining step occurs prior to the creation of the weldment.  
     
     
         45 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein said effects are at least one of stress and deformation.  
     
     
         46 . The method as set forth in  claim 36  further comprising the step of modifying said connecting step to minimize the effects of the heat.  
     
     
         47 - 48 . (canceled)