Undercarriage for a Working Machine

Abstract

An undercarriage for a working machine comprising a main chassis and a subsidiary chassis. The main chassis has a mounting arrangement to mount a superstructure thereon and a mounting interface to mount the subsidiary chassis thereon and the subsidiary chassis has a mount for an axle.

1 . An undercarriage for a working machine comprising a main chassis and a subsidiary chassis, wherein the main chassis comprises a mounting arrangement to mount a superstructure thereon and a mounting interface to mount the subsidiary chassis thereon, wherein the subsidiary chassis comprises a mount for an axle. 
     
     
         2 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the subsidiary chassis further comprises an actuator to perform a work function. 
     
     
         3 . An undercarriage according to  claim 2 , wherein the subsidiary chassis comprises a dozer blade arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . An undercarriage according to  claim 2 , wherein the subsidiary chassis comprises a stabilizer. 
     
     
         5 . An undercarriage according to  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is housed within the subsidiary chassis. 
     
     
         6 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the subsidiary chassis comprises a front and a rear end and two side surfaces extending therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein a side pod is mounted to the main chassis, the side pod comprising a drive arrangement including a prime mover. 
     
     
         8 . An undercarriage according to  claim 7 , wherein the main chassis further comprises an ECU for controlling the drive arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a slew ring to mount a superstructure thereon. 
     
     
         10 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the main and subsidiary chassis are secured substantially permanently to each other. 
     
     
         11 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the main and subsidiary chassis are releasably secured to each other. 
     
     
         12 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the subsidiary chassis further comprises a mounting interface. 
     
     
         13 . An undercarriage according to  claim 12  when dependent upon any one of  claims 1  to  11 , wherein the mounting interfaces of the main and subsidiary chassis comprise complementary welding surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . An undercarriage according to  claim 12 , wherein the mounting interfaces of the main and subsidiary chassis comprise a plurality of bores. 
     
     
         15 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein an axle is mounted to the subsidiary chassis. 
     
     
         16 . An undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein a second subsidiary chassis is mounted to the main chassis. 
     
     
         17 . A working machine comprising a superstructure including a working arm configured so as to be capable of performing working operations, and an undercarriage according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercarriage is mounted to the superstructure via the mounting arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . An undercarriage for a working machine comprising a main chassis and a subsidiary chassis, wherein the main chassis comprises a mounting arrangement to mount a superstructure thereon and a mounting interface to mount the subsidiary chassis thereon, wherein the subsidiary chassis comprises a mount for a dozer blade arrangement or a stabilizer leg arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming an undercarriage of a working machine, comprising the steps of:
 a. manufacturing a main chassis;   b. manufacturing a subsidiary chassis; and   c. mounting the subsidiary chassis to the main chassis.   
     
     
         20 . A method of forming an undercarriage of a working machine according to  claim 19  comprising a further step of selecting from at least two alternative working machines types which working machine type the undercarriage is to be incorporated into, and selecting the subsidiary chassis to be mounted to the main chassis in accordance with the working machine selected.