Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Sarl

David D Henderson

Brian R Dershem

William Christopher Swick

Reid W Waitt

A lift boom assembly includes a pair of lift arm assemblies. Each of the lift arm assemblies include a main lift link with a rear end portion and a second lift link. The second lift links each have a first end portion, a second end portion pivotally connected to a frame of a work machine to define a first pivot, and a central portion pivotally connected to the rear end portion of a respective main lift link to define a second pivot. A pair of control links each having a first end portion that is pivotally connected to the frame of the work machine to define a third pivot. A second end portion of the control links being pivotally connected to a respective one of the main lift links to define a fourth pivot with each of the first, second, third, and fourth pivots being located above the lower portion of the frame. The pivots of the components are located on an upper portion of the work machine so that the components cooperate together to achieve a simple and efficient lift boom design.

Lift boom assembly

A rotomolded hydraulic oil tank includes an integral dividing baffle which strengthens the tank structure, and diverts and slows returning oil for better air removal and oil mixing. This occurs by positioning the dividing baffle so that the top of the baffle is just below the oil level in the tank so that returning oil must flow a greater distance around the baffle at a reduced velocity thereby increasing the time the oil is in the tank before exiting the tank through the tank suction. The lower velocity of the oil and the increased passage time allows air in the returning oil more time to float to the surface of the oil in the tank.

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Sanford, NC, United States of America

David D Henderson