Snubber for machine

Abstract

A snubber for a machine includes a housing mounted on an implement, a shaft, a first member that has multiple helical splines that is coupled to the shaft. The shaft is rotatably received within the housing and operatively coupled to a movable component of the implement. The snubber also includes a cylinder defining a cavity, a piston received in the cylinder and dividing the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, a second member that has multiple helical splines and is coupled to the piston and, a hydraulic device. The helical splines of the first and second member engage with each other to convert a rotation of the shaft into a linear movement of the piston. The hydraulic device is in fluid communication with the cavity and controls a flow of fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber to oppose rotation of the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snubber for a machine, the snubber comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted on an implement of the machine;   a shaft rotatably received within the housing and operatively coupled to a movable component of the implement;   a first member coupled to the shaft, the first member comprising a plurality of helical splines;   a cylinder at least partly disposed within the housing, the cylinder defining a cavity therein;   a piston slidably received within the cylinder, the piston dividing the cavity of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber;   a second member coupled to the piston, the second member comprising a plurality of helical splines configured to engage with the helical splines of the first member to convert a rotation of the shaft into a linear movement of the piston; and   a hydraulic device in fluid communication with the cavity of the cylinder, the hydraulic device configured to control a flow of a fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber to oppose the rotation of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The snubber of  claim 1 , the hydraulic device comprising a first flow control module configured to control a flow from the first chamber to the second chamber to oppose the rotation of the shaft in a first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The snubber of  claim 2 , the hydraulic device further comprising a second flow control module configured to control a flow from the second chamber to the first chamber to oppose the rotation of the shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The snubber of  claim 2 , the first flow control module comprising:
 a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the first chamber of the cylinder, the first flow control valve configured to restrict a flow of the fluid therethrough,   a first check valve in fluid communication with the first flow control valve, the first check valve configured to allow a unidirectional flow from the first flow control valve to the second chamber of the cylinder; and   a first pressure relief valve disposed in parallel to the first flow control valve and the first check valve, the first pressure relief valve having an inlet end in fluid communication with the first chamber and an outlet end in fluid communication with the second chamber, wherein the first pressure relief valve is configured to allow a flow of the fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end if a pressure at the inlet end exceeds a first predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The snubber of  claim 3 , the second flow control module comprising:
 a second flow control valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the cylinder, the second flow control valve configured to restrict a flow of the fluid therethrough,   a second check valve in fluid communication with the second flow control valve, the second check valve configured to allow a unidirectional flow from the second flow control valve to the first chamber of the cylinder; and   a second pressure relief valve disposed in parallel to the second flow control valve and the second check valve, the second pressure relief valve having an inlet end in fluid communication with the second chamber and an outlet end in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second pressure relief valve is configured to allow a flow of the fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end if a pressure at the inlet end exceeds a second predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The snubber of  claim 3 , the hydraulic device further comprising a manifold configured to receive the first control module and the second control module therein. 
     
     
         7 . The snubber of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is disposed on an outer surface of the shaft and the second member is disposed on an inner surface of the piston. 
     
     
         8 . The snubber of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder further defines a first port in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second port in fluid communication with the second chamber, wherein the hydraulic device is in fluid communication with the first port and the second port. 
     
     
         9 . The snubber of  claim 1  further comprising a bearing disposed between the shaft and the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A dipper system for a machine, the dipper system comprising:
 a dipper body;   a dipper door coupled to the dipper body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position; and   a snubber disposed on the dipper body, the snubber comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted on the dipper system; 
 a shaft rotatably received within the housing and operatively coupled to the dipper door; 
 a first member coupled to the shaft, the first member comprising a plurality of helical splines; 
 a cylinder at least partly disposed within the housing, the cylinder defining a cavity therein; 
 a piston slidably received within the cylinder, the piston dividing the cavity of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber; 
 a second member coupled to the piston, the second member comprising a plurality of helical splines configured to engage with the helical splines of the first member to convert a rotation of the shaft into a linear movement of the piston; and 
 a hydraulic device in fluid communication with the cavity of the cylinder, the hydraulic device configured to control a flow of a fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber to oppose the rotation of the shaft. 
   
     
     
         11 . The dipper system of  claim 10  further comprising a linkage assembly configured to transmit a movement of the dipper door to the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The dipper system of  claim 10 , the hydraulic device comprising a first flow control module configured to control a flow from the first chamber to the second chamber to oppose the rotation of the shaft in a first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The dipper system of  claim 12 , the hydraulic device further comprising a second flow control module configured to control a flow from the second chamber to the first chamber to oppose the rotation of the shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The dipper system of  claim 12 , the first flow control module comprising:
 a first flow control valve in fluid communication with the first chamber of the cylinder, the first flow control valve configured to restrict a flow of the fluid therethrough,   a first check valve in fluid communication with the first flow control valve, the first check valve configured to allow a unidirectional flow from the first flow control valve to the second chamber of the cylinder; and   a first pressure relief valve disposed in parallel to the first flow control valve and the first check valve, the first pressure relief valve having an inlet end in fluid communication with the first chamber and an outlet end in fluid communication with the second chamber, wherein the first pressure relief valve is configured to allow a flow of the fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end if a pressure at the inlet end exceeds a first predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The dipper system of  claim 13 , the second flow control module comprising:
 a second flow control valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the cylinder, the second flow control valve configured to restrict a flow of the fluid therethrough,   a second check valve in fluid communication with the second flow control valve, the second check valve configured to allow a unidirectional flow from the second flow control valve to the first chamber of the cylinder; and   a second pressure relief valve disposed in parallel to the second flow control valve and the second check valve, the second pressure relief valve having an inlet end in fluid communication with the second chamber and an outlet end in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second pressure relief valve is configured to allow a flow of the fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end if a pressure at the inlet end exceeds a second predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The dipper system of  claim 13 , the hydraulic device further comprising a manifold configured to receive the first control module and the second control module therein. 
     
     
         17 . The dipper system of  claim 10 , wherein the first member is disposed on an outer surface of the shaft and the second member is disposed on an inner surface of the piston. 
     
     
         18 . The dipper system of  claim 10 , wherein the cylinder further defines a first port in fluid communication with the first chamber and a second port in fluid communication with the second chamber, wherein the hydraulic device is in fluid communication with the first port and the second port. 
     
     
         19 . The dipper system of  claim 10  further comprising a bearing disposed between the shaft and the housing. 
     
     
         20 . A method of damping a movement of a dipper door, the method comprising:
 receiving a shaft rotatably within a housing, the shaft operatively coupled to the dipper door;   coupling a first member to the shaft, the first member comprising a plurality of helical splines;   providing a piston slidably within a cavity of a cylinder, the piston dividing the cavity of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber;   coupling a second member to the piston, the second member comprising a plurality of helical splines;   transmitting the movement of the dipper door to the shaft;   engaging the helical splines of the first member with the helical splines of the second member to convert a rotation of the shaft into a linear movement of the piston;   controlling a flow of a fluid from the first chamber of the cylinder to the second chamber of the cylinder to oppose the rotation of the shaft in a first direction; and   controlling a flow of the fluid from the second chamber of the cylinder to the first chamber of the cylinder to oppose the rotation of the shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction.