Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Robert N Stedman

James E Gee

Gerald P Simmons

Thomas C Meisel

Robert O Chambers

Raymond L Moser

Robert T McNeely

Industrial trucks commonly include a unitary frame having a roller mast and carriage assembly mounted forwardly thereon. The ability of such trucks to traverse narrow aisles is limited and their stability is normally increased with use of outriggers, counterweights, or the like. The vehicle (10) of this invention, such as an industrial truck, comprises a rear frame (14) and a pair of laterally spaced front frames (16) pivotally mounted forwardly on the rear frame (14). A roller mast (20) and carriage (26) is adapted to be mounted forwardly on the rear frame (14), between the front frames (16). The vehicle (10) will thus exhibit high degrees of maneuverability and stability by its ability to pivot the front frames (16) towards and away from each other, depending on the job task under consideration.

Industrial truck with pivotal front frames

Vehicle with multi-directional movement capabilities

Free-lift of a lift truck carriage is desirable without extension of the uprights, along with the capability to extend the carriage above the uprights, all while retaining clear forward vision and a rigid mast structure. Herein, relatively movable mast members (14a,14b) are shorter than relatively fixed mast members (12a,12b), the sheaves (28a,28b) are affixed to the movable members (14a,14b), the chains (30a,30b) are attached to the carriage (16) over the sheaves (28a, 28b) and to the relatively fixed members (12a,12b), while the jacks (24a,24b) act between the relatively fixed (12a,12b) and movable (14a,14a) members. Slide bars (44a,44b) are movably mounted to the relatively movable members (14a,14b) and to the carriage (16). A structure (50) is provided for preventing further linear movement of the slide bars (44a,44b) relative to the relatively movable mast members (14a,14b) while allowing further linear movement of the carriage (16) relative to the slide bars (44a,44b), as the jacks (24a,24b) extending beyond a selected length.

Extra lift mast for lift trucks

A compact reversible variable speed clutch transmission and differential including a rotable input shaft having a drive gear (76), forward and reverse gears (88,84) engaged with the drive gear on opposite sides thereof, and a pair of selectively operable clutches each having an input (92) connected to an associated one of the forward and reverse gears and an output (94). The clutch outputs are connected to the inputs (110) of a variable speed nutating transmission (120) which includes a pair of independently rotatable outputs (116). The transmission includes a pair of nutating elements (130) each having a surface (132) which is a non-cylindrical surface of revolution. The elements are mounted for rotation by a mounting device (126,128) for rotation and there is included a pair of drive units (134) one for each nutating element, fixedly connecting thereto and to an associated one of the outputs. Included is a pair of second drive units (140,142) one for each nutating element and in frictional engagement with the surface of revolution thereof. The second drive unit may be selectively moved along the associated surface of revolution for speed variation if moved together in concert or, to provide for differential action if moved differentially.

Compact reversible variable speed transmission and differential

A track assembly (11) for a track-type vehicle (10) includes a pair of link assemblies (17,18) having inboard links (20,24) thereof solely engageable with the idler (13) and track rollers (14) of the vehicle (10). When the vehicle (10) traverses wet or swampy ground, wherein it proves desirable to utilize relatively wide track shoes (16), torsional loads imposed on the shoes can cause premature wear or damage to the shoes (16). The track assembly (11) exhibits a high resistance to such torsional loads imposed thereon and adapts itself for use in lieu of a standard track assembly on a conventional track-type vehicle. A method for prolonging the service life of the track assembly comprises interchanging the two link assemblies (17,18).

Track assembly for track-type vehicles with dual link assemblies

A work vehicle (10) such as, for example, a tractor (74) or loader (27) has a center of gravity (12), a body (14) and first and second continuous track assemblies ( 18,20). In the use of the tractor (74), for example, forwardly locating the center of gravity (12) can increase penetration of a bulldozer (76) on the tractor (74) during bulldozing operations. During ripping operations, penetration of a ripper (78) on the tractor (74) can be increased by rearwardly locating the center of gravity (12). Apparatus (22) is provided for controllably moving the body (14) relative to both of the track assemblies ( 18,20). Said apparatus (22) thus controllably shifts the center of gravity (12) of the tractor (74) relative to both of said track assemblies ( 18,20) for selectively increasing penetration of the ripper (78) or bulldozer (76) depending upon the operation being performed by said tractor (74).

Apparatus for shifting center of gravity of a work vehicle

An apparatus (10) is used for transporting one or more elongated members (12), such as logs (12) or pipes. The absence of developed roadways into tree cutting sites, for example, requires an apparatus (10) for transporting logs (12) over difficult terrain from the site to other locations. In the apparatus (10) for transporting the elongated member (12), first apparatus (20) controllably engages a first end portion (14) of the elongated member (12) in supporting relationship in response to being urged between the first end portion (14) and the ground (32) in a direction (34) generally longitudinal relative to the elongated member (12). Second apparatus (26) controllably engages a second end portion (16) of the elongated member (12) and maintains the first end portion (14) in supporting relationship with the first apparatus (20). Each of the first and second apparatus (20,26) controllably raises the first and second end portions (14,16) of the elongated member (12), respectively, for transporting the elongated member (12) in a position elevated above the ground (32).

Apparatus for transporting elongated members

A lift mechanism for lift vehicles of a type including an operator's station and a carriage arranged for vertical travel upon a mast assembly. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism includes a lever arrangement, preferably an overhead guard structure, pivotably connected to the vehicle and operatively connected with the carriage by means of a pivotable link. In other disclosed embodiments, the lever mechanism is also an overhead guard structure providing an overhead guard function for the operator station while the mast assembly preferably includes a fixed upright portion and at least one movable upright portion supporting the carriage, the movable overhead guard structure and link being operable to cause vertical travel of both the movable upright portion and carriage. An additional embodiment has the overhead guard lift the movable upright and the short lift cylinder lifts the carriage.

Combined lifting mechanism and overhead guard for lift vehicles

A ground-engaging implement assembly for installation on a vehicle includes a U-shaped frame having a bight portion extending around one end of the vehicle and a pair of spaced leg portions extending along and connected to the respective sides of the vehicle. Each of the leg portions of the frame has a mounting face thereon and an implement such as a ripper mechanism is connected to each mounting face for penetrating material at the opposite sides of the vehicle.

Ground-engaging implement assembly

A self loading scraper has upper and lower members of an ejector pivotally interconnected at a pivot. The upper member is automatically pivoted about the pivot rearwardly relative to the lower member as the ejector is moved forwardly for ejecting the load from the bowl.

Ejector assembly having a pivotal upper member

A material ripping vehicle includes first and second traction units, and a frame having an upright pivot axis for steerably connecting the traction units. The second traction unit has a pair of spaced apart ground engaging members and a ripping apparatus is mounted on the frame and positioned between the ground engaging members.

Material ripping vehicle

A track assembly for a vehicle has a plurality of grousered track shoes and a cleaning member extending between at least two of the shoes. The member moves relative to the track shoes as the track assembly deflects and avoids the packing of dirt and material between the grousers of the track shoes.

Apparatus for cleaning a track assembly

A crawler vehicle rides on four spaced-apart crawler track assemblies which extend lengthwise beneath the vehicle body. Ground pressure is reduced and traction, flotation and stability are enhanced by a suspension system which enables the forward portion of each track assembly to rise and fall independently of the others to accommodate to irregular terrain. For similar purposes, the suspension system enables the outer and inner track assemblies below the right portion of the vehicle to oscillate outward and inward as a unit about an axis extending lengthwise of the vehicle while enabling the outer and inner track assemblies below the left side of the vehicle to oscillate as a unit in a similar but independent manner.

Four-track low ground pressure crawler vehicle

A track shoe adapted for use in an endless track assembly for a track-type vehicle comprises a base having a pair of sidewalls formed integrally thereon. The sidewalls extend away from the base in converging relationship with respect to each other and terminate at edges which may be welded together. The method for making the track shoe comprises the steps of forming a blank to include the base and sidewalls of the track shoe, bending the sidewalls towards each other and then welding them together, if so desired.

Apex track shoe and method for making the same

A ripping apparatus includes a housing having a bearing assembly therein which is connected to a support member of a vehicle, a ripper mechanism having a shaft member pivotally mounted in the bearing assembly, a lever arm connected to the shaft member, a material ripping element connected to the bottom of the shaft member, and a fluid operated linear actuator connected to the support member and to the lever arm for rotating the ripping element between a retracted position and a transversely disposed working position. The ripping apparatus is particularly adapted to shatter a compacted railroad bed underneath the rail and supporting ties.

Growing community of inventors

Chillicothe, IL, United States of America

Robert N Stedman