초록 ▼

The present invention is a rotatable work machine that includes a lower frame assembly having a recessed area in which the operator portion of an upper frame assembly and power source are at least partially positioned. Further, a method of manufacturing and assembling the lower frame assembly enable

The present invention is a rotatable work machine that includes a lower frame assembly having a recessed area in which the operator portion of an upper frame assembly and power source are at least partially positioned. Further, a method of manufacturing and assembling the lower frame assembly enables various size configurations for the work machine. The method of manufacturing and assembling the work machine, along with the specific design and positioning of the various components therein, enhances stability, clearance, and operator visibility with reduced costs and complexity.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A work machine having a vertical axis, comprising: a lower frame assembly having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recessed area, the recessed area including a floor adjacent the bottom surface; an upper frame assembly including a portion disposed adjacent the top surfac

What is claimed is: 1. A work machine having a vertical axis, comprising: a lower frame assembly having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recessed area, the recessed area including a floor adjacent the bottom surface; an upper frame assembly including a portion disposed adjacent the top surface of the lower frame assembly, the upper frame assembly being connected with the lower frame assembly for independent rotation about the vertical axis and including an operator portion, the operator portion being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly and supported on the floor of the recessed area; and an engine that transmits power to drive the work machine connected with the upper frame assembly and being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly. 2. The work machine of claim 1, including a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly and located at a predetermined position on the work machine. 3. The work machine of claim 2, wherein the boom assembly is pivotably connected with the upper frame assembly for movement between a lowered position and a plurality of angled positions and is extendable between a retracted position and a plurality of extended positions. 4. The work machine of claim 3, wherein the predetermined position of the boom assembly is spaced a predetermined distance from the lower frame assembly to define a substantially parallel relationship between the boom assembly and the lower frame assembly when the boom assembly is in the lowered position. 5. The work machine of claim 3, including a cab assembly pivotably connected with the upper frame assembly for movement between an operating position for substantially enclosing the operator portion and a maintenance position, the cab assembly being at least partially positioned within the operator portion and moveable to the maintenance position when the boom assembly is in one of the plurality of angled positions. 6. The work machine of claim 2, wherein the upper frame assembly includes a support portion for mounting the boom assembly, the support portion extending from the operator portion. 7. The work machine of claim 6, wherein the operator portion includes front and rear ends and the support portion includes a pair of spaced tower assemblies that define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the rear end of the operator portion. 8. The work machine of claim 7, wherein the upper frame assembly includes an enclosure portion adjacent the operator portion and being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly and a reinforcing wall is connected between the tower assemblies to substantially separate the operator portion from the enclosure portion, the reinforcing wall defining a window therethrough operative with the substantially non-obstructed viewing area. 9. The work machine of claim 2, wherein the predetermined position of the boom assembly traverses the vertical axis. 10. The work machine of claim 2, wherein the predetermined position of the boom assembly is above the operator portion opposite the lower frame assembly. 11. The work machine of claim 1, including a plurality of stabilizers pivotally connected with the lower frame assembly for movement between fully retracted and fully extended positions. 12. The work machine of claim 11, wherein the plurality of stabilizers define a substantially square footprint when the stabilizers are extended and in contact with the ground. 13. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the upper frame assembly includes an enclosure portion being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly adjacent the operator portion and being substantially separated therefrom, the power source being at least partially positioned within the enclosure portion. 14. The work machine of claim 1, including a cab assembly pivotably connected with the upper frame assembly for movement between an operating position for substantially enclosing the operator portion and a maintenance position, the cab assembly being at least partially positioned within the operator portion. 15. The work machine of claim 1, including a slew ring assembly having first and second ring portions, the first ring portion being connected with the lower frame assembly and the second ring portion being connected with the upper frame assembly and operable with the first ring portion to facilitate the independent rotation of the upper frame assembly, the first and second ring portions being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly. 16. The work machine of claim 1, including a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly, an implement connected with the boom assembly and the operator portion of the upper frame assembly having front and rear ends, the operator portion being adapted to receive a portion of an operator's body therein to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the front end of the operator portion to the implement. 17. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the operator portion includes front and rear ends and the upper frame assembly includes a support portion having a pair of spaced tower assemblies extending from the operator portion, a boom assembly being mounted on the support portion and an implement being connected with the boom assembly, the operator portion being adapted to receive a portion of an operator's body therein to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the front end of the operator portion to the implement and to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the rear end of the operator portion to the surrounding terrain. 18. The work machine of claim 1, including means for preventing the rotation of the upper frame assembly about the vertical axis. 19. A work machine having a vertical axis, comprising: a lower frame assembly having a top surface and a bottom surface and defining a recessed area therein, the recessed area including a floor adjacent the bottom surface; rotation means having a defined opening therethrough and being at least partially disposed within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly and connected therewith; an upper frame assembly including a portion disposed adjacent the top surface of the lower frame assembly, the upper frame assembly being connected with the lower frame assembly and connected with the rotation means for independent rotation about the vertical axis, the upper frame assembly including an operator portion at least partially disposed within the opening of the rotation means and supported on the floor of the recessed area; and an engine that transmits power to drive the work machine connected with the upper frame assembly and being at least partially disposed within the opening of the rotation means. 20. The work machine of claim 19, including a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly and located at a predetermined position on the work machine. 21. The work machine of claim 20, wherein the connection of the boom assembly with the upper frame assembly is spaced a predetermined distance from the ground to define a mounting height for the boom assembly and a swing radius height for the work machine. 22. The work machine of claim 21, wherein the work machine has a predetermined height substantially equal to the mounting height and is substantially equal to or greater than six feet and less than nine feet. 23. The work machine of claim 21, wherein the swing radius height is substantially equal to or greater than six feet. 24. The work machine of claim 20, wherein the operator portion includes front and rear ends and the upper frame assembly includes a support portion for mounting the boom assembly, the support portion includes a pair of spaced tower assemblies positioned respectively at the rear end of the operator portion to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the rear end of the operator portion. 25. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the rotation means includes a slew ring assembly having first and second ring portions, the first ring portion being connected with the lower frame assembly and the second ring portion being connected with the upper frame assembly and operable with the first ring portion to facilitate the independent rotation of the upper frame assembly. 26. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the upper frame assembly includes an enclosure portion being at least partially disposed within the opening of the rotation means adjacent the operator portion for retaining the power source, the enclosure portion being substantially separated from the operator portion. 27. The work machine of claim 19, including a plurality of stabilizers pivotally connected with the lower frame assembly for movement between fully retracted and fully extended positions wherein the plurality of stabilizers define a substantially square footprint when the stabilizers are extended and in contact with the ground. 28. The work machine of claim 19, including a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly, an implement connected with the boom assembly and the operator portion of the upper frame assembly having front and rear ends with the operator portion being adapted to receive a portion of an operator's body therein to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the front end of the operator portion to the implement. 29. The work machine of claim 19, wherein the operator portion includes front and rear ends and the upper frame assembly includes a support portion having a pair of spaced tower assemblies extending from the operator portion, a boom assembly being mounted on the support portion and an implement being connected with the boom assembly, the operator portion being adapted to receive a portion of an operator's body therein to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the front end of the operator portion to the implement and to define a substantially non-obstructed viewing area from the rear end of the operator portion to the surrounding terrain. 30. The work machine of claim 19, including means for preventing the rotation of the upper frame assembly. 31. A work machine having a vertical axis, comprising: a lower frame assembly having top and bottom surfaces and a predetermined height; an upper frame assembly including a portion disposed adjacent the top surface of the lower frame assembly, the upper frame assembly being connected with the lower frame assembly for independent rotation about the vertical axis and having a predetermined height, a portion of the height of the upper frame assembly defining a portion of the height of the lower frame assembly; and driving means comprising an engine and having top and bottom surfaces and a midpoint substantially therebetween, the driving means supporting the lower and upper frame assemblies with the top surface of the lower frame assembly being equal with or below the top surface of the driving means and the bottom surface of the lower frame assembly being equal with or below the midpoint of the driving means, wherein the upper frame assembly has upper and lower portions with the lower portion being at least partially positioned within the lower frame assembly and including the engine that transmits power to drive the work machine connected with the lower portion of the upper frame assembly. 32. The work machine of claim 31, wherein the engine counterweights the work machine throughout rotation of the upper frame assembly. 33. The work machine of claim 32, wherein an additional counterweight for the work machine is spaced a predetermined distance from the power source. 34. The work machine of claim 33, wherein the additional counterweight is connected at the upper portion of the upper frame assembly. 35. The work machine of claim 34, including a cooling system operable with the engine, a portion of the cooling system being connected with the upper portion of the upper frame assembly adjacent the additional counterweight. 36. The work machine of claim 31, including a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly wherein the work machine has a front end portion, a rear end portion and a central portion through which the vertical axis extends and the boom assembly traverses the vertical axis. 37. A work machine having a vertical axis, comprising: a lower frame assembly having a recessed area therein; an upper frame assembly connected with the lower frame assembly for independent rotation about the vertical axis and including an operator portion, the operator portion being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly; and an engine connected with the upper frame assembly and being at least partially positioned within the recessed area of the lower frame assembly; and a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly and located at a predetermined position on the work machine rearward of the engine relative to the operator portion, wherein the connection of the boom assembly with the upper frame assembly is spaced a predetermined distance from the ground to define a mounting height for the boom assembly and a swing radius height for the work machine. 38. The work machine of claim 37, wherein the work machine has a predetermined height substantially equal to the mounting height and is substantially equal to or greater than six feet and less than nine feet. 39. The work machine of claim 37, wherein the swing radius height is substantially equal to or greater than six feet. 40. A work machine having a vertical axis, comprising: a lower frame assembly including a top surface and a bottom surface; a slew ring assembly defined by an inner and outer rings, the inner ring being connected with the lower frame assembly between the top and bottom surfaces; an upper frame assembly defining an operator portion and an enclosure portion being at least partially disposed within the lower frame assembly, the upper frame assembly being connected with the lower frame assembly through the outer ring of the slew ring assembly so that rotation of the outer ring of the slew ring assembly causes rotation of the upper frame assembly about the vertical axis; a cab assembly attached to the upper frame assembly and having a lower portion at least partially disposed within the operator portion, the cab assembly being rotatable with the upper frame assembly; an engine that transmits power to drive the work machine attached to the upper frame assembly and being at least partially disposed within the enclosure portion, the engine being rotatable with the upper frame assembly; and a boom assembly connected with the upper frame assembly at a position rearward of the engine relative to the operator portion.