Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Orrin A Stemler

Delwin E Cobb

Richard E Livesay

Gerald P Simmons

Howard A Marsden

Willard J Haak

George J Jackson

James E Kelley

In a vehicle including a stick cylinder movable to change the attitude of a stick relative to a boom, and an implement cylinder movable to change the inclination of an implement relative to the stick, hydraulic circuit means are provided for serially connecting the cylinders so that as the stick cylinder moves the stick in one direction, discharge of fluid from the stick cylinder is used to actuate the implement cylinder to maintain substantially the same attitude of the implement relative to the ground. A flow divider is interposed between the cylinders to provide the desired degree of actuation of the implement cylinder in response to actuation of the stick cylinder. A dual pressure-responsive bypass valve provides a relatively high pressure relief to the implement cylinder when the implement cylinder is operated independently of the stick cylinder and provides a relatively low discharge path for the implement cylinder when operated in series with the stick cylinder.

Attitude control for implement

A locking apparatus has first and second assemblies each containing an inclined plane. The inclined planes contact one another at a locking position and releasably fix the first assembly to the second assembly. The apparatus includes means for urging one of the inclined planes into the other at a force sufficient for maintaining the inclined planes in contact one relative to the other during movement of one assembly relative to the other and during wear for maintaining locking contact and compensating for the wear.

Apparatus for forcibly engaging machine assemblies

A lubricating and damping system for mechanisms which undergo large changes in orientation during operation is disclosed. The system includes a scavenge compartment built into the housing of the system and a plurality of scavenge pumps mounted within the housing having separate inlets so located that at least one of the inlets is submerged within the lubricating oil regardless of the orientation of the housing with the oil picked up by the scavenge pumps delivered through deaeration means and into a collection tank. A lubrication pump draws the oil from the collection tank and supplies it for lubrication of the mechanism and for the damping means of the system.

Hydraulic system for rock breaker

An earth working apparatus having a ripper for loosening earth and the like. An impact member is associated with the ripper to provide a cushioned transfer of impact force for improved earth working operation.

Impact means for ripper

An impact rock breaker includes detachable mounting means and latching means operative for mounting the rock breaker on the stick of a backhoe or excavator adjacent the bucket such that the rock breaker can be pivoted to a nonoperative position latched to the stick out of the way of the bucket to permit normal operation of the bucket and an operative position pivoted to and latched to the bucket for movement with the bucket for normal operation of the rock breaker.

Growing community of inventors

East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Orrin A Stemler