Accessory For Converting Excavators

Abstract

Accessory for providing an excavator with a dual function in earth-moving tasks: digging and refilling trenches, and as a crane (hoisting capability), to be used with advantage in the construction of pipelines. The accessory includes a frame, sheaves and a winch with hydraulic action, installable on top of the boom of a hydraulic excavator without involving modifications to the original machine, thereby providing the excavator with hoisting capability.

1 . An accessory for an excavator, the accessory comprising a frameplate, a winch with a brake and a hydraulic motor, and a device for holding the end of a lifting cable, the accessory characterized by the fact that it can be connected to lugs of a boom of an excavator by a pin without requiring any other connecting means. 
     
     
         2 . The accessory of  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the hydraulic motor of the winch is connected for operating purposes to the hydraulic supply and return lines that operate a hydraulic cylinder of a bucket on the excavator when the machine is in excavation mode. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory of  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the accessory has an alignable sheave that allows it to increase the number of lifting cables. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory of  claim 1 , further including a by-pass valve between fluid supply entrances of a jib cylinder, the by-pass valve being open when the accessory is installed. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory of  claim 1 , further including a protective cage built of profiles fixed to the frameplate, and further characterized by the way that, when the accessory is laid on the floor (ground), the holes in the top of the boom and the profile of the support plates are aligned so that they coincide with the hole at the top of the boom and the profile of the fork which enables the pin to be introduced without using any additional resources (such as a crane) thereby fixing the accessory to the top of the boom.