Caterpillar Inc.

Aaron Dean Kovar

Ryan Patrick Shea

Mark William Thompson

John Kevin Clemons

Don Harlen Kleiner

Derek E Akin

A work tool position control for a work machine is disclosed. A bucket control is used to adjust the bucket of the work tool relative to an arm of a work machine. A controller receives a bucket movement signal from the bucket control and moves the bucket. A thumb position sensor is used to measure an opening angle between a thumb of the work tool and the bucket, and the measured opening angle is sent from the thumb position sensor to the controller prior to the controller moving the bucket.

Work tool position control

A thumb for a machine implement has first and second side plates having a pivot end for pivotally connecting to a linkage of the machine and an engagement end for engaging with a load. A belly plate extends across a width of the thumb between the first and second side plates and along a length of the thumb from the pivot end toward the engagement end. A yoke assembly mounted to a surface of the belly plate is configured to connect the thumb to a thumb actuator that pivots the thumb about the pivot end. A first yoke plate has a first opening and a second yoke plate opposing the first yoke plate has a second opening aligned with the first opening. First and second inner collar spacers are respectively mounted to inner surfaces of the first and second yoke plates aligned with the first and second openings.

Yoke assembly for excavator thumb

One embodiment of a thumb for an implement of a machine has first and second side plates each having a pivot end for pivotally connecting to a linkage of the machine and an engagement end for engaging with a load. The thumb also has a belly plate extending across a width of the thumb between the first and second side plates and extending along a length of the thumb from the pivot end toward the engagement end. Additionally, the thumb has a thumb support structure disposed closer to the engagement end than to the pivot end. The thumb support structure has a first support plate extending widthwise between the first and second side plates and a second support plate extending widthwise between the first and second side plates and further extending between the first support plate and the belly plate.

Excavator thumb with structural support

Excavator thumb

A tool coupler for coupling a tool to an end of a machine link. The tool coupler having a coupler frame, a hook configured to receive a first pin of the tool and configured to attach to the end of the machine link such that the tool coupler, a wedge slidingly received within the coupler frame, and an actuator connected to the wedge to move the wedge away from the hook to bias a second pin of the tool against the coupler frame. The tool coupler mounts the tool to the machine link such that the tool and the tool coupler pivots about the same axis.

Tool coupling arrangement having zero offset

A tool coupler assembly may include a power linkage assembly, and the power linkage assembly may include a first power link. The first power link may include a first end configured for pivotal connection to a tool, and a second, opposite end configured for pivotal connection to one end of a tool control actuator. The tool control actuator may be connected at an opposite end to a first end of a tool support member of a machine, wherein operation of the tool control actuator pivots the tool about a tool pivot axis coaxial with a tool engagement interface at a second end of the tool support member. A power linkage actuator may be pivotally connected at a first end for coaxial rotation with the tool engagement interface at the second end of the tool support member, and at a second end for coaxial rotation with the first end of the first power link.

Integrated excavator pin grabber quick coupler

An implement system for a machine having a stick member with a nose end and a mounting bracket is disclosed. The implement system includes a thumb pivotally connected to the nose end of the stick member, and a thumb actuator operatively connected between the mounting bracket of the stick member and the thumb to move the thumb between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. The implement system has one or more of an RTK Factor, a TP Ratio and an ITO Ratio having values within ranges that allow installation of the implement system with the thumb actuator connected the thumb either directly or by a linkage assembly without changing the position of the mounting bracket on the stick member.

Augmented hydraulic thumb kinematic member length

A stop system may include: a first member; a second member movable with respect to the first member, the first and second members being different parts of a common machine; a body including a boss defining a hole; a base plate at least one of: attached to and part of, the body on the side of the body opposite of the boss, the body and base plate forming a shoe; and a fastener extending through the hole in the boss thereby pivotally attaching the body to one of the first and second member. A method of providing a stop for stopping a thumb against a stick is also described.

Pivoting thumb stop system and method

A counteracting thumb for an implement of a machine may include first and second structure support plates each having first and second planar portions connected by an intermediate curved portion to orient the planar portions at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A first end edge of the first plate may be connected to an inner surface of the second plate proximate a first end edge of the second plate, and second end edge of the second plate may be connected to an inner surface of the first plate proximate a second end edge of the first plate. Side plates of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the first plate, and teeth of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the second plate.

Growing community of inventors

Topeka, KS, United States of America

Aaron Dean Kovar