Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Gary P Freese

Robert J Trayler

James A Olthoff

Roger M Smith

Clifton D Wheeler

A slide rail assembly (18) and slide plate (20) are used, for example, to position an implement (14) of a work vehicle (10), such as a bulldozer (14), at various angles. The bulldozer connected slide plate (20) moves along a vehicle connected rail (22) of the rail assembly (18) to a desired position of the bulldozer (14). A pin (50) is positioned through openings (48,52) in the rail (22) and slide plate (20) to maintain the position. The pin (50) or rail (22) can sometimes fail owing to working loads exerted on the bulldozer (14). Support members (54) each having pin receiving openings (56) in register with respective rail openings (48) are connected to the rail assembly (18) to increase bearing support area of the pin (50) and to strengthen the rail assembly (18). The support members (54) also each have openings (58) aligned with openings (44,46) in the rail assembly (18) for relief of material packed into the rail (22) and into the pin receiving openings (48,56).

Slide rail assembly for a work vehicle

The push arms (17) of a bulldozer assembly (12) are mounted outboard of the track roller frames (18) of a tractor (11) and a cushioning cylinder (20) is interconnected between each push arm (17) and track roller frame (18). This arrangement thus avoids the problem of imposing loads on the main frame (15) of the tractor to which the push arms (17) are normally connected and permits cushioned loads to be transmitted to a pivot shaft (45) pivotally mounting the track roller frames (18) on the main frame (15).

Cushioned bulldozer blade

PCT No. PCT/US 78/00250 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 21, 1978 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 21, 1978, PCT Filed Dec. 12, 1978, Ser. No. 014,018, PCT Pub No. W080/01296 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 26, 1980. A slide rail assembly (18) and slide plate (20) are used, for example, to position an implement (14) of a work vehicle (10), such as a bulldozer (14), at various angles. The bulldozer connected slide plate (20) moves along a vehicle connected rail (22) of the rail assembly (18) to a desired position of the bulldozer (14). A pin (60) is positioned through aligned openings (48,62) in the rail (22) and slide plate (20) to maintain the position. The pin (60) or rail (22) can sometimes fail owing to working loads exerted on the bulldozer (14). A plurality of bushings (50) are each positioned in a respective rail opening (48) and maintained substantially fixed in order to increase bearing support area of the pin (60) and to strengthen the rail assembly (18).

An angled bulldozer blade for an earthmoving machine is operatively connected to a slider assembly slidably carried on a rail fastened to each side arm of a C-frame. Removable pins engage with each slider assembly and pass into aligned apertures of a plurality of prelocated apertures in the rail to position the slider assembly for setting the blade in a desired angled position. Self-locking latches are provided for retaining the pins in position. Eight apertures in each side rail are located so as to provide five positions for the slider assembly.

Bulldozer blade angle slide mechanism

In an angled bulldozer blade and tractor assembly, a C-frame is constructed in two parts with interfitting elements at the midportion of the C-frame which are held together by axially aligned bearings or sleeves. A blade pivoting pin extends through the midportion of the interfitting elements with the axis of the pin lying transverse to the axis of the aligned bearings or sleeves. Parts of the interfitting elements of the connection are shaped to permit relative rotation between the two halves of the C-frame, particularly for use during storage and shipment of the C-frame.

C-frame assembly for bulldozer

A cushioned bulldozer blade mounting assembly is provided with a three-point support on the blade. The mounting assembly includes an upper and a lower frame, the upper frame being pivotally mounted at spaced apart points on the tractor frame and having a single sliding and pivoting connection with the upper midportion of the blade. Cushioning members carried by the upper frame are provided between the upper portion of the blade and said upper frame. The lower frame is connected to the track roller assembly and to the lower corners of the blade. The lower frame is comprised of two halves with the halves being provided with blade stabilizing mechanisms, such as a sliding center ball connection therebetween.

Cushion dozer with three point attachment support

A tractor is provided with a main frame, a blade, and a C-frame which has a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart legs joined together at one end portion thereof, each leg of the C-frame has a curved portion extending upwardly and away from said leg. Each curved portion of the C-frame is pivotally mounted to the main frame of the tractor. The C-frame is operatively connected to said blade whereby forces engaging said blade are transmitted through the C-frame directly to the main frame of the tractor.

Cushion dozer with high pivot mounting

A bulldozer including a vehicle frame, a dozer blade forwardly of the frame, a lift linkage movably secured to the frame and including two spaced arms extending longitudinally of the frame and connected to the blade, at least one motor connected to the frame and to one of the blade and the lift linkage for selectively elevating the blade relative to the frame, and a stabilizing linkage interconnecting the frame and one of the blade and the lift linkage including a first link mounted intermediate its ends on the frame for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the frame, and second and third elongated links each having an end pivoted to the first link on opposite sides of the axis and extending in opposite directions therefrom, the other ends of the second and third links being pivoted to one of a corresponding arm and blade.

Blade stabilizing linkage for a bulldozer

A bulldozer blade mounting assembly is provided for mounting a bulldozer blade on the front of a tractor. The mounting assembly includes a push frame connected between the tractor and the lower portions of the blade. A combined cushioning and stabilizing linkage assembly is provided with a link extending diagonally between each push arm of the push frame and the upper rear corner portions of the blade. The stabilizers on each link are interconnected with a closed loop hydraulic system so as to ensure that any deflection in one link must also occur in the opposite link.

Cushion link and hydraulic stabilizer for bulldozer blade

A work vehicle of the material pushing type has a blade having first and second portions. The second blade portion is pivotally movable in response to forces subjected thereupon. Biasing means is provided for urging the second blade portion in a preselected direction.

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Joliet, IL, United States of America

Gary P Freese