Caterpillar Inc.

Paul J Staebler

Jeffrey A Deneve

Brian C Buchanan

Chris F Camplin

Scott D Avis

Philip C Wright

Adrian Mulholland

Al C Wingate

Gary D Hiatt

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

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 an elongated member and a block member connected to the blade and a frame, respectively, of the machine. The elongated member has upper and lower surfaces defined on a body portion and a pair of spaced openings therethrough. The block member has a lower surface substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the elongated member and a pair of spaced threaded openings therein substantially coaxial with the pair of openings in the elongated member. A pair of spacers having notched end portions are disposed in a stacked relationship on the upper surface of the elongated member. A pair of threaded bolts extend through the notched end portions of the spacers and the openings in the elongated member for threading into the block member, to secure the top link assembly at a first predetermined length. The desired pitch angle of the cutting edge may be adjusted by loosening the threaded bolts and repositioning any one of the spacers between the lower surfaces of the elongated and block members to secure the top link assembly at a second predetermined length. The ability to adjust the pitch angle without removing the top link assembly increases productivity and decreases costs.

Variable blade pitch adjustment mechanism

A frame assembly for an operator's compartment includes an upper roof portion, a lower base portion, and first and second side support assemblies connected between the roof portion and the base portion. Each side support assembly includes a straight part, comprised of a formed tube, and a curved part, formed as a fabricated box section having several individual wall plates. The fabricated box section curved parts are stronger than the formed tubes and are, therefore, in the area of highest stress.

Frame assembly for an operator's compartment

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Clayton, NC, United States of America

Paul J Staebler