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| Illustration 1 | g00987149 |
Location of the Hydraulic Rotator | |
The hydraulic rotator is located on the end of the boom (2) under cover (1) .
The hydraulic rotator that is used for the Continuous Rotation grapple system is a high torque hydraulic motor. The rotator motor is a vane motor. The rotator is bidirectional, and capable of rotating 360° continuously.
The bearings that are contained in the rotator are designed to withstand large external axial loads. The bearings that are contained in the rotator can also withstand large radial loads.
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| Illustration 2 | g00987070 |
Connections for the Hydraulic Rotator (Side View) | |
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| Illustration 3 | g01155707 |
The hydraulic rotator is disassembled for clarity. (3) Vane (4) Tube (5) Stator frame (6) Tube (7) Yoke (A) Grapple OPEN Port (B) Grapple CLOSE Port (C) Grapple Rotate COUNTERCLOCKWISE Port (D) Grapple Rotate CLOCKWISE Port (E) Grapple OPEN Port (F) Grapple CLOSE Port | |
Hydraulic connections for the tong cylinders begin at the top of the hydraulic rotator. Oil for the tong cylinders will flow through the rotator assembly by way of tube (4) and tube (6). Both tubes are sealed from each other by O-rings. Tube (6) is inside of tube (4). Tube (6) is longer in order to reach the grapple OPEN port that is located on top of the grapple. Oil for the tong cylinders will exit at the bottom of yoke (7) .
Oil for the rotator will enter one of the ports that is located on the side of the housing. Oil will then flow around stator frame (5). Oil will then react against nine vanes (3). Oil is then forced out of the opposite port that is located on the side of the rotator assembly.
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| Illustration 4 | g00987092 |
Connections for the Hydraulic Rotator (Bottom View) | |
The ports that are located on the bottom of the grapple are connected to the tong cylinders. The hydraulic fluid that flows to the tong cylinders will flow through the inside of the rotator, but the oil for the tong cylinders is separate from the oil for the hydraulic rotator motor.