Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd.

Steven D Springer

David William Holthaus

Riley A Albers

Ryan Patrick Morge

Nirmal Goldwin

Rowan T Franks

Jason Musheno

David R Evans

Shankar Shanmugam

A front suspension for a front axle of a tractor of an articulated vehicle may include an upper suspension link having an axle center mounting arm pivotally connected proximate a top side of the front axle at the axial center of the front axle, and first and second frame mounting arms extending rearward and pivotally connected to a tractor frame of the tractor. The frame mounting arms may be positioned symmetrically with respect to the axial center of the front axle. The front suspension may further include first and second lower support links pivotally connected proximate a bottom side of the front axle, extending rearward from the front axle, and pivotally connected to the tractor frame. The lower support links may be positioned symmetrically with respect to the axial center of the front axle.

Multi-link front suspension for an underground articulated dump truck

An internal support structure for fuel cells within a work machine having a rear end frame with an exterior frame wall in which the fuel cells are stored is disclosed. The internal support structure may include a radiator support housing, a first pedestal and a second pedestal mounted to and extending upward from the bottom wall. The radiator support housing may be disposed proximate a radiator opening of the exterior frame wall, and the pedestals may be disposed forward of the radiator support housing. A first rail may be mounted to the radiator support housing and the first pedestal, and a second rail may be mounted to the radiator support housing and the second pedestal. The internal support structure and the exterior frame wall may define fuel cell cavities for the fuel cell, and a component cavity from components of the electrical power system of the work machine.

Internal support structure for underground battery machines

A storage assembly for switches couplable to batteries of an electric machine to energize the batteries. The storage assembly includes a container defining a cavity to store the switches, a lid movable between a closed state and an open state with respect to the container to respectively close and open the cavity, and a lock out tag out (LOTO) device. The container is configured to be grasped between a pair of arms of a handrail that swings with respect to a walkway platform of a power compartment of the electric machine. The LOTO device is interchangeable with the switches to selectively be received in the cavity in place of the switches when the switches are coupled to the batteries, and be coupled to the batteries in place of the switches to lock out and keep the batteries from energizing when the switches are received in the cavity.

Storage assembly for battery energizing switches of electric machines

A cover assembly for a charging port of an electric machine includes a head plate, a non-metallic base plate, and a flexible membrane. The head plate extends across an opening of an outer panel assembly of the machine to define an aperture. The non-metallic base plate is movable with respect to the head plate to selectively open and close the aperture. The flexible membrane is fixedly coupled to the head plate and slidably engaged to the non-metallic base plate to enable the non-metallic base plate to slide with respect to the head plate and move between a folded state and an unfolded state with respect to the head plate. In the unfolded state, the non-metallic base plate closes the aperture, and, in the folded state, the non-metallic base plate opens the aperture to allow access to the charging port from an outside through the aperture.

Cover assembly for charging port of electric machines

A lift arm for a loader can comprise a pivot end section extending along a first axis and including a first pin hole defining an origin at the intersection of x- and y-axes, a bucket end section extending along a second axis and including a second pin hole located a first distance away from the origin on the y-axis, and a hump section connecting the pivot and bucket end sections comprising a lifting cylinder coupler section including a third pin hole located a second distance away from the y-axis and a torque tube coupling section.

Cross-members and pin couplers for lift arms

A mining machine frame having a primary tow plate is disclosed, as well as a tow retrieval system for mounting to the primary tow plate of a mining machine frame. The tow retrieval system may include a brake release mounting plate configured for attachment to the primary tow plate of the mining machine frame. The tow retrieval system may also include a towing attachment also configured for attachment to the primary tow plate of the mining machine frame. The towing attachment may be further configured to receive a retrieval instrument during a towing operation.

Tow retrieval system for mining machine

A reinforcement device for a load bearing structure is disclosed. The reinforcement device may include a tubular wall including a first end, a second end, a throat disposed between the first end and the second end, and a curved portion disposed between the throat and each of the first end and the second end. The tubular wall may also include a first dimension at the throat and a second dimension at each of the first and second ends, the first dimension being smaller than the second dimension.

Apparatus and method for reinforcement of a load bearing structure

A compaction apparatus includes a removable plate configured to at least partially cover an outermost arcuate surface of a wheel of a compactor vehicle. The plate defines a plurality of ports, each port being configured to receive at least a portion of a base of a compactor wheel projection.

Compaction apparatus and associated compactor vehicle

A machine having a ground engaging element includes a first rigid metallic structure, a second metallic structure that is flexible with respect to the first rigid metallic structure, and a diffuser plate having a stress carrying region located between a first end and a second end. The first end has a rigid attachment to the first metallic structure, and the second end has a rigid attachment to the second metallic structure. The stress carrying region is flexible with respect to the attachments. A stress produced from a flexing of the second metallic structure relative to the first metallic structure is concentrated within the stress carrying region of the diffuser plate instead of at a weld location.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Steven D Springer