Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Jerome A Thies

Lawrence F Schexnayder

Gene R Klett

Hugh K Williams

Mark E Tietje

Stanley A Oke

High-pressure hydraulic hoses are employed in hydrostatic drive systems to interconnect the transmission and motors thereof. It is imperative that fluid leakage be held to a minimum, or preferably eliminated, particularly where a vehicle employing the drive system is operated in a high-temperature environment, such as a foundry. The hose assembly (13) of this invention provides a high degree of system reliability, relative to hydraulic leaks, and shields a high-pressure hose thereof (14) against damage and heat conduction to hydraulic fluid therein. The hose assembly (13) comprises a flexible high-pressure hose (14), an impervious flexible jacket (17) surrounding the hose in out-of-contact relationship therewith to define a fluid chamber (18) therebetween, and a mounting assembly (22) for mounting the hose (14) and the jacket (17) on a support member (23) to maintain them in out-of-contact relationship relative to each other. The mounting assembly (22) includes a first mount (26) for securing the hose on the support member (23) under a predetermined first sealing pressure, and a second mount (34) for securing the jacket (17) about the hose and on the support member (23) under a predetermined second sealing pressure that is less than the first sealing pressure. Method steps are taught for assembling the hose assembly (13) in this manner.

Hydraulic hose assembly and method

A hydrostatic transmission (10) includes a variable displacement pump (12) for driving a fluid motor (14) in first and second directions. First and second high pressure conduits (20,22) connects the pump (12) and motor (14) in a continuous fluid circuit. A control pump (40) supplies make-up fluid to the first and second high pressure conduits (20,22) and simultaneously provides pressurized control fluid to a system control (50) for controlling the operation of the hydrostatic transmission (10). First and second low pressure conduits (24,26) are respectively disposed about the first and second high pressure conduits (20,22) and defines first and second spaces (28,30) therebetween. A pressure control arrangement (32) is connected to the first and second spaces (28,30) to control the maximum pressure level in the spaces (28,30) upon the failure of one of the high pressure conduits (20,22). By controlling the pressure level in the spaces (28,30), pressurized control fluid is maintained for the system control (50).

Maintaining hydrostatic system control pressure

Resilient mounting for engine enclosures

An earthmoving implement (10) has a sidewall member (12) and a cutting edge (14), and an adapter (26) is releasably secured thereto. The sidewall member (12) has a step (20), and the adapter (26) has a pair of outer and inner mounting portions (35, 36) defining a first slot (38) therebetween. The adapter (26) also has a bottom portion (40) connected to the outer mounting portion (35) and defining a second slot (42) with the inner mounting portion (36) so that the first slot (38) straddles the sidewall member (12) and the second slot (42) straddles the cutting edge (14). A projection (80) is defined on the adapter (26) forwardly of the first slot (38) for transmitting a portion of a working force on the adapter into the step (20), and a fastening device (28) releasably connects the adapter (26) to the implement (10) and transmits another portion of the working force into the sidewall member (12).

Releasable corner tooth assembly

A loader bucket comprises a pair of vertically disposed sidewalls, a bottom wall secured between the sidewalls and a cutting edge secured on a forward end of the bottom wall. A corner reinforcement for each side of the bucket comprises a member having a bottom edge thereof secured to the cutting edge and a rearward edge thereof secured to a forward edge of a respective sidewall. A bevel is formed on an inboard side of the member to intersect the rearward edge thereof and to define an obtuse angle relative to the sidewall. A first weld secures the bevel and rearward edge of the corner member to the inboard surface and forward edge of the sidewall whereas a second weld secures the rearward edge of the corner member to an outboard surface and the forward edge of the sidewall.

Growing community of inventors

Geneseo, IL, United States of America

Jerome A Thies