Caterpillar Inc.

Jay Holloman Renfrow

Joel Robert Grimes

Wayne Harshberger

Jason J Hagedorn

Brian C Buchanan

Gary L Walth

George Carl Pinther, Ii

John P Hall

Susan Green

Michael R Helgeson

Jia X Zhao

An improved Z-bar linkage for wheel loader machines for maneuvering an implement such as a bucket or pallet forks may include lift arms pivotally connected between an end frame of the machine and the implement, a tilt link pivotally connected between the implement and a tilt lever that is pivotally connected between the tilt link and the lift arms. Lift cylinders may rotate the lift arms to raise and lower the implement, and a tilt cylinder may drive the tilt lever and tilt link to rotate the implement between a dump position and a racked position. Ratios of the lengths of these kinematic elements are provided such that the good performance with one implement, such as bucket, does not result in poor performance with another implement, such as the pallet forks.

Z-bar linkage for wheel loader machines

A wear pad on a linkage of a work machine is disclosed. The linkage includes a first and a second linkage member in a telescoping relationship. The wear pad includes a first end having a first thickness and a second end having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. The wear pad also includes a flat wear face configured to slidably interface with the first linkage member. A fixed surface has a bore formed therein. The bore is configured to receive an attachment member to securely attach the wear pad to the second linkage member.

Wear pad for an extendable linkage

A work machine having a stick assembly which- includes (i) a stick having a forward stick aperture (ii) a guide which is pivotally coupled to the stick, and (iii) a link pivotally coupled to the guide is disclosed. The work machine also includes a coupler having a left lateral support and a right lateral support, wherein (i) the left lateral support has a left rear coupler aperture, a left intermediate coupler aperture, and a left forward coupler notch, and (ii) the right lateral support has a right rear coupler aperture, a right intermediate coupler aperture, and a right forward coupler notch. The work machine also includes an implement assembly having a left bracket and a right bracket, wherein (i) the left bracket has a left rear implement aperture, a left intermediate implement aperture, and a left forward implement aperture, and (ii) the right bracket has a right rear implement aperture, a right intermediate implement aperture, and a right forward implement aperture, and wherein the left intermediate coupler aperture, the right intermediate coupler aperture, the left intermediate implement aperture, and the right intermediate implement aperture are linearly aligned when (i) the left rear coupler aperture, the right rear coupler aperture, the forward stick aperture are linearly aligned with the left rear implement aperture and the right rear implement aperture, and (ii) the left forward coupler notch, the right forward coupler notch are linearly aligned with the left forward implement aperture and the right forward implement aperture.

Work machine having improved implement coupling arrangement

Growing community of inventors

Kenly, NC, United States of America

Jay Holloman Renfrow