Caterpillar Inc.

James E Johnston

Michael Steven Freberg

Brian C Buchanan

John M Dickerson

Keith A Howell

Francis G Snekhaus

Phillip W Alexander

Top link assemblies for a construction machine are typically used to adjust the pitch angle of a cutting edge of a blade. The present top link assembly has substantially co-planar first and second adjustment plates with each including a pair of slots therein. Joint upper and lower surfaces are defined between the first and second adjustment plates. Upper and lower spacer plates are disposed on the joint upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and each include a pair of openings coaxially aligned with the slots within the first and second adjustment plates. A threaded portion of a bolt extends through the upper spacer plate, first and second adjustment plates and lower spacer plate through the co-axially aligned openings and slots. A nut is tightened on the threaded portion at any one of a plurality of positions along the pair of slots and the desired pitch angle of the cutting edge may be adjusted by loosening the nuts and repositioning at any one of the plurality of positions. The ability to adjust the pitch angle without removing the top link assembly increases productivity and decreases costs.

Adjustable top link assembly

This invention relates to systems for locking a brake in a brake actuated position. The invention is similar to other such systems in that the system comprises a brake, a pedal lever having a ratcheted edge and being connected via a linkage to the brake, a locking member such as a pawl with a tooth for engaging the ratcheted edge of the pedal lever in a brake actuated position, and a locking lever connected to the pawl for displacing the pawl between a first position at which the pawl is remote from the ratcheted edge of the pedal lever and a second position at which the pawl interfaces with the ratcheted edge of the pedal lever, the locking lever being hand manipulated by a handle connected to the locking lever via a linkage. However, this invention is an improvement over such other systems in that an elastic member is connected between the pawl and the locking lever so that when the locking lever is moved from its first position to its second position, and any frictional forces between the pawl and ratcheted edge are relieved, the pawl will return automatically to its disengaged position.

Brake locking and release system

Method and apparatus for selectively tensioning an endless, inextensible elastomeric belt entrained about a cooperating drive structure and idler structure having respective axes of rotation. A roller frame joined to a vehicular main frame supports the idler structure and constrains movement thereof to a longitudinal recoil path. The drive and idler structures are biasingly separated by a compression spring which exerts biasing force thereon in opposite longitudinal directions through a drive strut and an idler strut, respectively. The idler strut is connected to the idler structure longitudinally in front of the idler's axis. The length of one of the struts is adjustable to provide the desired tension in the spring and, thus, the entraining belt. Increases in tension are preferably provided by displacing one component member of the one strut relative to a second component member thereof-one of such members being reciprocatably receivable in the other and provided with a seal therebetween such that the two members cooperatively define a pressurizable chamber. Pressurized fluid, when transmitted into the pressurizable chamber, provides relative longitudinal displacement of the two members so as to decrease the spring and belt tension. A locking assembly threadably engaged with one of the members is rotated until it abuts the other member and permits the fluid pressure to be reduced while maintaining the length of such adjustable strut.

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Geneseo, IL, United States of America

James E Johnston