Caterpillar Inc.

David O Zalanka

Timothy D Harman

Tad W Miller

Chad Arnold

Jacob Warner Bell

Thomas Alworth

A front suspension transition, which can be a fabrication, can comprise: a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a first pair of ribs on a first side of the body; a second pair of ribs on a second side of the body opposite the first side of the body; and a connection interface on the second end of the body, the connection interface being arcuate. The body can include at least a first curved opening and a second curved opening spaced from the first curved opening in a length direction of the body.

Space frame kinetic front suspension fabrication

A front rail weldment may include a base frame comprising a pair of substantially uninterrupted outlooking members extending from a first end to a second end and a cross member extending therebetween. The weldment may also include a pair of hangar bars each secured to respective outlooking members of the base frame at or near a midpoint of the respective outlooking members and extending upward to a top end. The weldment may also include a pair of struts extending from a respective first end of the pair of outlooking members to the top of a respective hangar bar of the pair of hangar bars. The weldment may also include a pair of tieback bars each configured for tying back the top end of a respective hangar bar of the pair of hangar bars.

Front rail weldment

A transition connection for a space frame can comprise a connection pad defining a first end of the transition connection, a node defining a second end of the transition connection opposite the first end, a pair of ribs on opposite sides, a first concave portion on a first side of one of the ribs, and a second concave portion on a second side of the one of ribs. In a side elevational view of the transition connection, an acute angle is formed on a same side as the first and second concave portions. The transition connection, which can be a casting, can be part of a pair or set of transition connections separate and distinct from each other. The pair of transition connections can be mirror images of each other.

Space frame kinetic front transition connections

A suspension connection weldment may include a cross member having a first end and a second end and a pair of substantially parallel flank walls spaced apart from one another and arranged at respective first and second ends of the cross member. The flank walls may extend upward and forward from the respective first and second ends of the cross member and generally orthogonal to the cross member. The flank walls may include a plurality of vertically extending rib elements spaced horizontally along respective flank walls from a rear side of the flank wall to a front side of the flank wall. Each rib element may include an upper bore in an upper end and a lower bore in a lower end. The upper and lower bores may be configured to receive a suspension connecting pin.

Suspension connection weldment

A connector for connecting a frame member to one or more other frame members of a space frame assembly is disclosed. The connector includes a body defining a surface and a projection extending outwardly from the surface along a main axis to define an axial end surface away from the surface. The axial end surface defines a curvature having continuity across an expanse of the axial end surface to facilitate formation of a full penetration weld joint between an end of the frame member and the axial end surface upon a contact of the end of the frame member with the axial end surface.

Connector for interconnecting frame members of a space frame assembly

A center lower frame connection for a space frame comprising an outer lift cylinder connection boss, an inner drop tube connection boss, a center cylinder between the outer lift cylinder connection boss and the inner drop tube connection boss, a suspension connection boss, an outer rearward angular center lower frame tube connection boss, an inner rearward angular center lower frame tube connection boss, a vertical center lower frame tube connection boss, a forward angular center lower frame tube connection boss, an outer forward horizontal center lower frame tube connection boss, and an inner forward horizontal center lower frame tube connection boss. The outer lift cylinder connection boss, the inner drop tube connection boss, and the center cylinder can have a common center axis. The center lower frame connection can also have a rearward angular beam and a forward horizontal beam.

Space frame center lower frame connection

A center upper frame connection for a space frame can comprise a pair of outer support beams spaced from each in a width direction, a rearward center support between the outer support beams, and support beam arch. Each outer support beam can have a rearward frame connection boss and a forward center frame nodal connection boss. The rearward center support can have a pair of rearward frame connection bosses oriented at an angle relative to each other, and a pair of side frame connection bosses provided on opposing sides of the rearward center support. The support beam arch can be provided adjacent to the outer support beams and the rearward center support. The rearward center support can be located on a longitudinal centerline of the support beam arch and can be parallel to the outer support beams.

Space frame center upper frame connection

A front lower frame connection can comprise a center boss, outer and inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, outer and inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward horizontal beam, and a forward horizontal beam. The rearward horizontal beam can have an outer rearward horizontal beam member, and an inner rearward horizontal beam member. The forward horizontal beam can have an outer forward horizontal beam member, and an inner forward horizontal beam member.

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Mt. Zion, IL, United States of America

David O Zalanka