Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Ronald H Garman

Stephen C Garnett

Steven L Groth

Raymond M Vanderburg

Gerald H Welker

Jack R Kaveney

Malcolm H Kingsinger

Calvin C Camp

In construction machines it quite common to utilize a plurality of control levers to manipulate a multitude of implements. It has often been a problem to quickly and accurately establish a connection between the control lever and the implement since the control lever is often quite some distance away from the mechanism that controls the implement. In many instances multiple personnel are required to properly assemble the various components. This leads to added expense and complexity of the assembly process. The present invention includes a restraint mechanism for a control lever that positively holds the control lever at a preselected location with respect to an established operational pattern. With the control lever locked in the preselected location, the connection of the control lever with the remaining components may be done in an extremely efficient and cost effective manner

Restraint mechanism for a control lever

A restraint mechanism for a control lever 10 of a construction machine maintains a control lever's position in a neutral condition with respect to a control valve. A first plate 34 is pivotally mounted to a base plate 20 on the console of the machine and is movable to a first position to engage the control lever 10 and establish a neutral position. A second plate 48 is utilized to selectively secure the position of the first plate with respect to the control lever while the proper connections and adjustments are made to the linkage arrangements connecting the control lever 10 and the control valve to synchronize their respective neutral positions.

The connecting linkage between a control lever and a control valve that controls the operation or the manipulation of an implement of a construction machine is often complex and difficult to properly adjust. The present invention provides a restraint mechanism for the control lever 10 to maintain its position in a neutral condition with respect to the control valve. A first plate 42 is pivotally mounted to a base plate 22 on the console of the machine and is movable to a first position to engage the control lever 10 and establish a neutral position. A second plate 58 is utilized to selectively secure the position of the first plate with respect to the control lever while the proper connections and adjustments are made to the linkage arrangements connecting the control lever 10 and the control valve to synchronize their respective neutral positions.

A window assembly comprises, a first base member and a second base member, both being of general T-shaped configuration, and having a middle portion and two transversely extending arms. The arms have a longitudinal channel and a plurality of longitudinal slots therein. The middle portion of the second base member is slidably insertable in the longitudinal channel of the first base member. A window assembly further comprises first and second window panes being removably inserted in the longitudinal slots formed in the arms of the first and second base members. A plurality of seals are positioned in the slots and serve to sealingly support the first and second window panes in the respective sots. A seal is also positioned between the second base member middle support and the first base member longitudinal channel and is in sealing engagement therewith. A plurality of plastic blocks are positioned between the first and second base members and are in sliding engagement therewith.

Window assembly

A door dampening assembly for dampening the swinging motion of a vehicle door includes a timing plate, a mounting bracket, and an expandable and contractible link connected to and between the timing plate and the mounting bracket. Operator access doors on construction vehicles can cause damage to the door hinge, the door frame, or the door itself, if left unrestrained during swinging movement of the doors from an open position to a closed position. The subject dampening assembly allows the vehicle door to swing freely from a fully open position to a partially open position. The timing plate and the expandable and retractable link decelerate the door to a partially open positon, thereby preventing any damage to the door or other vehicle components.

Door dampening assembly

A governor control linkage having a first manually operated actuator and a second manually operated actuator provides for setting of an engine governor control arm at a particular operating position by means of the first manually operated actuator, a coupling and an extensible link interconnected with the governor control arm. The coupling operatively locks the first manually operated actuator relative the setting of the governor control arm while allowing the second actuator to temporarily reposition the governor control arm at an intermediate setting. The extensible link in the first manually operated actuator returns the governor control arm and the second manually controlled actuator to the prepositioned setting upon release of the second actuator.

Governor and decelerator control linkage

A window assembly (10,110,210,310,410,510) wherein a frame (16,116,216,316,416,516) carrying a window pane (15,115,215,315,415,515) is resiliently mounted to a wall portion (14,114,214,314,414,514) by a seal (20,120,220,320,420,520). A retainer (21,121,221,321,421,521) is secured to the wall portion and defines a retaining portion (24,124,224,324,424,524) disposed adjacent the frame so as to limit movement of the frame relative to the wall portion. The retainer retaining portion may be juxtaposed to one or more stop shoulders of the frame which may be defined by the side surfaces of a recess (26,126,226,326,426,526). The retainer may be alternatively mounted outwardly or inwardly of the wall portion. The retainer may be removably secured to the wall portion by threaded securing elements (23,123,223,323,423,523).

Growing community of inventors

Pekin, IL, United States of America

Ronald H Garman