US-20260125875-A1 - DUAL POWER SWIVEL SYSTEM

Abstract

A power swivel system for an articulated machine can include a core having a rotational axis and configured to permit electrical conduit passage. A first portion couples to and rotates with the cabin, including a first slip ring assembly for electrical power distribution and manifolds for hydraulic power coupling. A second portion rotatably disposed about the core rotates with the boom apparatus, can include a second slip ring assembly for electrical power and a first jug for hydraulic power distribution. A third portion remains stationary within the front chassis, providing both hydraulic and electrical power distribution. The first portion and the second portion rotate independently of each other and the third portion, enabling the cabin and boom apparatus to operate independently while maintaining continuous power transmission throughout the articulated machine.

Inventors

• Levi Stauffer, JR.
• Jason Jones
• Paul Jones
• Alvin Zook
• David Cooper
• Dyan Cooper
• David Troyer

Assignees

• LATITUDE INNOVATIONS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251229

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A power swivel system for an articulated machine having a front chassis, a cabin, and a boom apparatus, comprising: a core having a rotational axis extending from a first end to a second end, the core including an electrical conduit running from the first end to the second end; a first portion disposed about and coupled to the core and configured to rotate with the cabin of the articulated machine, the first portion including a first slip ring assembly for providing electrical power to the cabin, and a first manifold and a second manifold coupling the first portion to the cabin and providing hydraulic power to the first portion; a second portion rotatably disposed about the core and configured to rotate with the boom apparatus of the articulated machine, the second portion including a second slip ring assembly for providing electrical power to the boom apparatus, a first jug for providing hydraulic power to the boom apparatus, and a support manifold for coupling the second portion to the boom apparatus; and a third portion disposed about the core and stationary within and coupled to the front chassis, the third portion for providing hydraulic power and electrical power to the front chassis, wherein the first portion and the second portion rotate independently of one another and the third portion to allow the cabin and the boom apparatus to rotate independently of one another and the front chassis.
2. 2 . The power swivel system of claim 1 , wherein the core includes a port disposed as a vertical channel along the rotational axis of the core.
3. 3 . The power swivel system of claim 1 , wherein the first slip ring assembly includes a first slip ring input configured to receive an electrical wire from the cabin.
4. 4 . The power swivel system of claim 3 , wherein the first slip ring assembly includes a first slip ring lug and a first conductive ring, the first slip ring lug in electrical communication with the first conductive ring.
5. 5 . The power swivel system of claim 4 , wherein the first conductive ring is in electrical communication with a first brush of the first slip ring assembly.
6. 6 . The power swivel system of claim 5 , wherein the first brush is in electrical communication with a first slip ring disposed inward toward the rotational axis relative to the first slip ring assembly.
7. 7 . The power swivel system of claim 6 , wherein the first slip ring is connected to and in electrical communication with a rod disposed within the core.
8. 8 . The power swivel system of claim 7 , further including an electrical hub including a first electrical ring in electrical communication with the rod.
9. 9 . The power swivel system of claim 8 , wherein the first electrical ring includes one or more first electrical ring lugs, each of the one or more electrical ring lugs in electrical communication with an electrical wire.
10. 10 . The power swivel system of claim 9 , wherein the electrical wire is disposed through an opening of the electrical hub and runs through the electrical conduit of the core from the first end to the second end of the core.
11. 11 . The power swivel system of claim 1 , wherein the second slip ring assembly includes a second slip ring input for receiving electrical power from an external power source.
12. 12 . The power swivel system of claim 11 , wherein the second slip ring assembly includes a second slip ring lug configured to receive an electrical wire.
13. 13 . The power swivel system of claim 12 , wherein the second slip ring assembly includes a second conductive ring electrically coupled to the second slip ring lug.
14. 14 . The power swivel system of claim 13 , wherein the second slip ring assembly includes a second brush electrically coupled to the second conductive ring.
15. 15 . The power swivel system of claim 14 , wherein the second slip ring assembly includes a second slip ring in electrical communication with the second brush.
16. 16 . The power swivel system of claim 1 , wherein the first jug includes a first ring.
17. 17 . The power swivel system of claim 16 , wherein the first jug includes a plurality of first rings, each first ring of the plurality of first rings includes a cross-drilled opening corresponding to a port in the core.
18. 18 . The power swivel system of claim 16 , wherein the first jug includes a first jug output corresponding to the first rings.
19. 19 . The power swivel system of claim 1 , wherein the third portion includes a second jug and a third jug for supplying hydraulic power to the front chassis.
20. 20 . A power swivel system for an articulated machine having a front chassis, a cabin, and a boom apparatus, comprising: a core having a rotational axis extending from a first end to a second end, the core including an electrical conduit running from the first end to the second end, and a port disposed as a vertical channel along the rotational axis of the core; a first portion disposed about and coupled to the core and configured to rotate with the cabin of the articulated machine, the first portion including a first manifold and a second manifold coupling the first portion to the cabin and providing hydraulic power to the first portion and a first slip ring assembly for providing electrical power to the cabin, the first slip ring assembly including a first slip ring input configured to receive an electrical wire from the cabin, a first slip ring lug, a first conductive ring in electrical communication with the first slip ring lug, a first brush in electrical communication with the first conductive ring, a first slip ring in electrical communication with the first brush and disposed inward toward the rotational axis relative to the first slip ring assembly, and a rod in electrical communication with the first slip ring; a second portion rotatably disposed about the core and configured to rotate with the boom apparatus of the articulated machine, the second portion including a support manifold for coupling the second portion to the boom apparatus, a first jug for providing hydraulic power to the boom apparatus, a second slip ring assembly for providing electrical power to the boom apparatus and having a second slip ring input, a second slip ring lug, a second conductive ring in electrical communication with the second slip ring lug, a second brush in electrical communication with the second conductive ring, and a second slip ring in electrical communication with the second brush and disposed inward toward the rotational axis relative to the first slip ring assembly; and a third portion disposed about the core and stationary within and coupled to the front chassis, the third portion for providing hydraulic power via a second jug and a third jug and electrical power to the front chassis, wherein the first portion and the second portion rotate independently of one another and the third portion to allow the cabin and the boom apparatus to rotate independently of one another and the front chassis.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/271,923 filed on Jul. 17, 2025, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/803,564 filed on Aug. 26, 2022. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The present technology relates to a construction machine, and more specifically, to an articulated machine for moving objects. INTRODUCTION This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. In the field of agricultural and construction machinery, several challenges impact operational efficiency and accessibility. Tractors and earth-moving equipment can include a fixed operator cabin with limited visibility and restricted operational angles, making maintained visual contact with work areas during complex tasks difficult. Visibility issues can require an operator to work in an uncomfortable position, leading to reduced productivity and increased operator fatigue. Agricultural and construction tasks can further require multiple specialized machines, each designed for a specific function such as moving materials, processing timber, or performing excavation work. The necessity for multiple machines increases operational costs, storage requirements, and maintenance complexity. The financial burden of purchasing and maintaining several specialized pieces of equipment creates barriers to entry for small operations and individual property owners. Additionally, the logistics of transporting multiple machines between work sites and storing the machines securely presents challenges. The physical demands of operating heavy machinery pose an additional barrier for elderly or disabled individuals who wish to maintain property or perform agricultural work. Equipment often lacks adequate accessibility features and requires physical effort to operate effectively, limiting who can use such machinery. The physical requirements of frequent mounting and dismounting, manual attachment changes, and operation of controls in fixed positions can create exclusionary conditions that prevent certain individuals from participating in property maintenance and agricultural activities. These limitations can particularly impact aging farmers and property owners who wish to continue managing land independently. Agricultural and construction equipment can be limited in the ability to efficiently move and transport large quantities of materials. While certain machines can lift and move materials within the capacity of a bucket or attachment, such machines can lack an integrated system for collecting and transporting bigger loads. The inability to transport large loads can require multiple trips between collection and drop-off points, increasing operational time and reducing efficiency. The need to repeatedly travel between locations with only bucket-sized loads further creates unnecessary wear on equipment and terrain while consuming more fuel and operator hours. Additionally, the absence of substantial integrated storage capacity means operators must coordinate multiple pieces of equipment, one for collecting material and another for transport, further complicating logistics and increasing operational costs. Various patents are known in the art such as WO2001027397A1, CN200974980U, WO201389074, U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,074B2 and GB2184419A, discloses usage of a machine of digging, agriculture, and transportation purposes. Patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,764,369B2, and US2013026271A1 discloses bale spear in agriculture machines, U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,167,180B2 and 7,658,235B2 discloses usage of pallet forks in vehicles, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,739,813B2 and 7,506,506B2 discloses usage of grading bucket in vehicles, U.S. Pat. Nos. 398,240A and 7,914,226B2 discloses usage of digging buckets in the excavator; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,322,133B2 and 6,385,870B1 discloses usage of hydraulic hammer in the excavator machines. Accordingly, there is a need for an articulated machine with an accessible attachment system that provides large load transport and independent operability. SUMMARY In accordance with teachings of the present application, a machine having attachment units for 360° rotation of a digger and a cab is provided. An object of the present application is to provide a machine having a front frame and a rear frame connected by a hydraulic powered articulated steering, and mechanism for rotation of a digger, a dumper or a rear portion and a cab. Another object of the present application is to provide a hydraulic motor for rotating the digger or grasping element to 360 degrees around the arm, and further providing a plurality of hydraulic actuators and a hydraulic outrigger. An object of the present application is to provide a forestry management machine 109 (see FIG. 1) for processing residual fallen trees and tree tops into useful logs, firewood and burnable w