Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Sarl

Caterpillar Commercial Sarl

Jeffrey A Deneve

Robert S Anderson

Rodney D McLamb

Kevin E Pielmeier

Mirza Q Baig

Owen S Loughrin

Huan T Nguyen

Brian R Dershem

James H Siwicke

Hasan Kabir

Charles T McMillan

Richard A Naugle

Charles F Sieck

Robert E Klimko

Matthew P Rosefsky

Morris W Koehler

Alfred C Wingate

Reid W Waitt

Alan A Davidovich

Michael E Mursch

Paul J Staebler

Kevin J Romanchok

Matthew P Burr

Peter Knopp

H Patrick Gaines

Andrew P Lodge

Christopher L Johnston

James B Amy

Sherrie R Baker

Scott D Avis

Al C Wingate

Hasan A Kabir

James G Davis

Brian R Dreshem

James A Joy

A lower frame assembly for use in a skid steer loader machine has front and rear end portions. A front wall is positioned at the front end portion of the lower frame assembly and is connected between a pair of side rails. Each of a pair of spaced transmissions housings with front and rear end portions is connected at the front end portion to the front wall and extends rearwardly along a respective side rail. A fuel tank is connected at the rear end portion of the transmission housings and extends between the side rails so that the fuel tank is integral with the lower frame assembly.

Lower frame assembly

In the operation of a construction machine, such as a wheel loader, it is essential to provide load distribution capabilities for improved strength characteristics in the components. Additionally, high visibility is required for an operator to view a work implement during normal operation or coupling. The present invention includes a hydraulic coupler utilizing a pair of separate coupler assemblies which are connected at opposing ends of an upper and lower coupler pin boss at a pair of pin joints including a pair of pins to define a spatial relationship therebetween. The pins each have a cylindrical central portion and rectangular shaped end portions which are fixed within rectangular shaped pin mounting openings in first and second end portions of the coupler assemblies. The separation of the coupler assemblies provides enhanced visibility for an operator. The utilization of the pins as structural members distributes loading in a substantially straight path from the work implement to the machine decreasing the load burden on components, such as the hydraulic coupler.

Vertical engagement hydraulic tool coupler

A main frame assembly is assembled by manufacturing a lower frame assembly with a pair of spaced side rails. A front wall extends continuously between the side rails and a pair of spaced and separated transmission housings are connected to the front wall and extend rearwardly therefrom a predetermined distance along a respective side rail. An upper frame assembly is manufactured with a pair of spaced tower assemblies and a pair of side members connected to a respective tower assembly. The upper frame assembly is mounted to the lower frame assembly by a horizontal connection exclusively between the side members of the upper frame assembly and the respective side rails of the lower frame assembly.

Main frame assembly

A mounting and stabilizing arrangement for an engine with first and second end portions is disclosed. The mounting and stabilizing arrangement is adapted for use in a work machine with a frame assembly which includes a pair of side rails. A crossmember is connected between the pair of side rails. A bumper assembly is connected to the frame assembly at one end portion of the work machine. A pair of spaced mounts are connected to the crossmember. Each of the pair of mounts are positioned in a spaced relationship from a respective side rail. A single stabilizer is connected on the bumper assembly so that the first end portion of the engine is connected on the stabilizer and the second end portion of the engine is mounted on the pair of mounts to align the engine parallel with the pair of side rails of the frame assembly.

Engine mounting and stabilizing arrangement

An upper frame assembly for a skid steer loader machine includes a pair of spaced tower assemblies. Each of a pair of side members has a rear end portion connected to a respective tower assembly so that a front end portion of the side members extends longitudinally from the tower assemblies. A crossmember assembly extends between the pair of tower assemblies at a position between the front and rear end portions of the side members. The crossmember assembly and front end portions of the side members define an open access area. The crossmember assembly and rear end portions of the side members define an open service area. Both the open access area and open service area are unobstructed by structural elements of the upper frame assembly.

Upper frame assembly

An rear engine end frame for a compact wheel loader has an engine compartment with open corners behind the rear wheels of the loader. The open corners are closed by wraparound bumper corners made from relatively heavy metal castings that serve as counterweights as well as bumper corners. The bumper corners are detachably mounted to the engine compartment to permit ready access to the ends of the transversely mounted engine and to other components located in the rear corners of the engine compartment.

Bumper corner for a wheel loader engine end frame

A skid steer loader has at least one or a pair of implement lift arm assemblies pivotally connected with a body of the loader. The lift arms, their associated lift actuators, and the connections between the various components of the lift arm assemblies and the machine implement are configured to provide increased dump reach without negatively impacting structural life, to increase machine productivity by reduced cycle times, and to improve visibility of the implement from the operator's station.

Implement lift arm arrangement for a skid steer loader

A method of assembling a work machine, such as a skid steer loader, includes manufacturing a lower frame assembly with a pair of laterally spaced side rails which extend along the entire length of the lower frame assembly and a pair of spaced engine mounts distanced from the side rails. Then, manufacturing an upper frame assembly with a pair of laterally spaced side members which extend along the entire length of the upper frame assembly. A rear end portion of an engine is then mounted to the pair of engine mounts. The upper frame assembly is then mounted to the lower frame assembly by connecting the respective side members exclusively to the respective side rails to define a main frame assembly. A bumper assembly is then mounted to the main frame assembly through a connection with the lower frame assembly and includes an engine stabilizer. Finally, a front end portion of the engine is then connected to the bumper assembly at the engine stabilizer.

Method of assembling a work machine

A frame assembly includes a central tower portion having a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion. The first side wall portion has a first leg and a first arm each extending therefrom, and the second side wall portion has a second leg and a second arm each extending therefrom. The frame assembly also includes a hitch support assembly having an upper plate and a lower plate vertically spaced from each other. The hitch support assembly also includes a connecting member interposed between and connected to the upper plate and the lower plate. The hitch support assembly is secured to the central tower portion such that a lower end of both the first leg and the second leg are supported on the lower plate. The frame assembly further includes an axle mount assembly having a first axle plate, a second axle plate, and a support member extending therebetween, wherein both the first arm and the second arm are secured to the support member. A method of manufacturing the frame assembly is also disclosed.

Frame assembly for a construction machine and an associated method of

An upper frame assembly is mounted to a lower frame assembly to define a main frame assembly for a work machine, such as a skid steer loader, which has distributed loading throughout the mounting therebetween. The distribution of loading is achieved by mounting the upper frame assembly along a pair of side members which extend along its length to a respective pair of side rails of the lower frame assembly which extend along its length. The side members and respective side rails of the upper and lower frame assemblies are connected by exclusive horizontal bolting therebetween.

A skid steer loader has a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted to a main frame of the loader. The lift arms are connected together by a cross member located at the forward ends of the arms. The cross member is spaced ahead of a front wall member of the main frame when the lift arms are in their lowered positions so as to create a gap between the cross member and the cross member and the front wall member of the main frame where the operator enters the loader. A combination step/stop arrangement is carried on the front wall member to provide a skid resistant stepping surface across the gap between the front wall member of the main frame and the cross member of the lift arm assembly and to prevent the lift arm assembly from moving past its lowered position.

Combination step/stop arrangement for a skid steer loader

The box boom lift arm assembly of the present invention includes a single plate steel top wall and a bottom wall connected with a substantially non-transverse weld to a pair of single plate steel inner side walls and a pair of single plate steel outer side walls to define a closed box section having a rectangular cross section along the entire length, varying only in height and width. The unique configuration and shape of the plates and the use of non-transverse weld during manufacturing improve the fatigue characteristics, load distribution and strength of the box boom lift arm assembly without increasing the weight of the machine.

Box boom lift arm assembly

In the operation of a wheel loader, the linkage arrangement that mounts the bucket to the machine must provide components with adequate loading capabilities while maintaining good visibility to the bucket for an operator. The present linkage arrangement includes a tilt lever with a pair of spaced side walls and a tilt link with a pair of spaced side rails. Each spaced side rail of the tilt link has a pair of legs, respectively, which straddle one of the pair of spaced side walls of the tilt lever in a connection which improves visibility while possessing superior strength capabilities.

Tilt linkage arrangement

The present invention includes a box boom loader mechanism utilizing a box boom lift arm assembly with a single plate steel top wall and a bottom wall connected with a non-transverse weld to a pair of single plate steel inner side walls to define a rectangular cross section therealong. The connection of the top and bottom walls and the inner side walls defines a bifurcated second end portion straddling a central portion of a frame and being connected therewith. A tilt linkage means is connected to the box boom lift arm assembly and includes a tilt lever, tilt link and tilt cylinder. The connection of the components of the tilt linkage means achieves high visibility and optimal linkage performance. The connection of the bifurcated second end portion to the frame and the non-transverse weld improves strength and fatigue characteristics of the box boom loader mechanism without increasing the weight of the machine.

Growing community of inventors

Sanford, NC, United States of America

Jeffrey A Deneve