Caterpillar Inc.

Andrew Lee Vering

Karl E Lindenmuth

Richard Kent Oswald

Daniel Eugene Peschel

Ryan Patrick Shea

Joel Robert Grimes

Jimmy L Stewart

Anand Ramchandra Mijar

Bradley Robert Lancaster

Wayne Edward Harshberger, Ii

Rayme J Collins

Daniel E Peschel

A pallet fork includes a structural frame, a fork bar, a swing bar, and a pair of fork tines. The fork tines can be fixed or swinging through the removal of the swing bar. The swing bar can be conveniently stored onboard the pallet fork when it is inoperative. The structural frame is arranged for enhanced visibility by an operator to the fork tines to improve productivity and operator comfort.

Pallet fork with improved visibility and versatility

A pallet fork includes a frame having a top support tube and a bottom support tube between opposing end plates. A fork bar and a carriage plate are supported by the frame. A fork tine is mounted to the fork bar via a slotted tube. The fork tine includes a vertical leg and a horizontal leg. The slotted tube is at an upper portion of the vertical leg. A locking plate is provided on the top support tube. An upper locking member selectively inserted through a slot in the slotted tube and through one of a plurality of notches to engage the vertical leg of the fork tine with the locking plate and restrict lateral motion of the fork tine. The upper locking member has a head portion with an open point that rests on a top surface of the top support tube.

Pallet fork

A pallet fork including a frame and a fork tine. The frame supports a fork bar and a carriage plate. Further, the fork bar and the carriage plate extend in a longitudinal direction of the pallet fork. The fork tine is mounted to the fork bar. Also, the fork tine has a swingable motion and a lateral motion relative to the fork bar. Moreover, the fork tine includes a vertical leg and a horizontal leg. A bracket is attached to the vertical leg of the fork tine. A first locking member is selectively inserted in the bracket to engage the fork tine with the carriage plate and restrict the swingable motion of the fork tine.

Locking members for pallet fork

A coupler for connecting an implement to a machine includes a first mounting structure configured to attach the coupler to the implement. The first mounting structure includes a first actuator including a first cylinder rod extendable relative to a first cylinder body. The first cylinder rod has a first rod longitudinal axis. The first mounting structure also includes a first wedge attached to the first cylinder rod. The first wedge is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by the first actuator. The first wedge includes a first wedge tip insertable into the implement. The first wedge tip has a first wedge longitudinal axis. The first rod longitudinal axis is offset from the first wedge longitudinal axis to form a first opening extending through the coupler adjacent the first actuator. The coupler also includes a second mounting structure configured to attach the coupler to the machine.

Coupler with visibility window

A quick coupler includes mounting structure for mounting the coupler to a machine, and for mounting the coupler to an implement. The mounting structure on the coupler includes wedge coupling surfaces and a tube. The mounting structure on the implement includes hooks for engaging the tube, and complementary wedge coupling surfaces. The wedge coupling surfaces wedge together during coupling to produce and tight fit and solid hold between the coupler and implement. The mounting structure is robust, and can accommodate future possible wear. The kinematic impact on the performance of the implement due to the use of the quick coupler is minimized.

Growing community of inventors

Manhattan, KS, United States of America

Andrew Lee Vering