Caterpillar Inc.

Tad W Miller

Timothy D Harman

David William Holthaus

David O Zalanka

Thierry Andre Marchione

Michael Noble

Hemant Prasad Mallampalli

Rahul N Gami

Matthew Mark Robinson

Jacob Warner Bell

Edward Patrick Ormiston

Ajay Dnyandeo Yadav

Richard K Huff

Jarrod Delane Neal

Brandon C Brenner

Michael R Spengler

Thomas Alworth

Arun Lal Gain

Roopam Khare

Venkara R Dantuluri

Stan Eads

A front lower suspension connection for a space frame comprises a U-shaped base and upper suspension control arm support sections on the U-shaped base. The U-shaped base can have a cross-beam section and suspension column support beam sections positioned at opposite ends of the cross-beam section, where each suspension column support beam section may include lower suspension control arm pivot joint supports located at opposite ends of the suspension column support beam sections. Each upper suspension control arm support section can have a first support column and a second support column spaced from the first support column, where the first support column may include a first upper suspension control arm pivot joint support, and the second support column may include a second upper suspension control arm pivot joint support and a front mounting surface. A rear mounting may be provided on a rear surface of the front lower suspension connection.

Space frame front lower suspension connection

A front upper frame connection for a space frame can comprise a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface; a right-side surface; a left-side surface opposite the right-side surface; a front surface; a rear surface opposite the front surface; a pair of forward support plates provided on the front surface; a pair of forward flat mounting surfaces; and a pair of rocker attachment interfaces located on the top surface adjacent to the rear surface and respectively the right-side surface and the left-side surface. The front surface and the forward support plates can define a cutout section. Each of the forward support plates is curved and runs outward from a transverse centerline of the top surface and then forward.

Space frame front upper body support and frame connection

A center upper frame nodal connection fabrication comprising a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, two side surfaces, a front surface having a plurality of integral planes oriented at angles relative to each other, and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The top surface, the bottom surface, and the two side surfaces can be weldably attached to each other and the front and rear surfaces to form a structure of the center upper frame nodal connection fabrication. The integral planes of the front surface are configured to weldably attach to respective elongate support members of a space frame. The rear surface is configured to weldably attach to a center upper frame connection casting of the space frame.

Space frame center upper frame nodal connection

A center lower frame connection for a space frame comprising an outer lift cylinder connection boss, an inner drop tube connection boss, a center cylinder between the outer lift cylinder connection boss and the inner drop tube connection boss, a suspension connection boss, an outer rearward angular center lower frame tube connection boss, an inner rearward angular center lower frame tube connection boss, a vertical center lower frame tube connection boss, a forward angular center lower frame tube connection boss, an outer forward horizontal center lower frame tube connection boss, and an inner forward horizontal center lower frame tube connection boss. The outer lift cylinder connection boss, the inner drop tube connection boss, and the center cylinder can have a common center axis. The center lower frame connection can also have a rearward angular beam and a forward horizontal beam.

Space frame center lower frame connection

A front upper suspension connection for a space frame comprises a bottom surface fixedly attachable to a front lower suspension connection; a top rear mounting surface fixedly attachable to a front upper frame connection; a top front mounting surface fixedly attachable to a first elongate support member; a front strut attachment point located below the top rear mounting surface and the top front mounting surface to pivotably attach a front strut; and a lower rear mounting surface located below the top rear mounting surface fixedly attachable to a second elongate support member. The front strut attachment point can include a hole passing through the top rear mounting surface, a coaxial hole passing through the top front mounting surface, and a front strut attachment pin configured to pass through the top rear mounting surface, the top front mounting surface, and a top mounting hole integral to the front strut.

Space frame front upper suspension connection

A center upper frame connection for a space frame can comprise a pair of outer support beams spaced from each in a width direction, a rearward center support between the outer support beams, and support beam arch. Each outer support beam can have a rearward frame connection boss and a forward center frame nodal connection boss. The rearward center support can have a pair of rearward frame connection bosses oriented at an angle relative to each other, and a pair of side frame connection bosses provided on opposing sides of the rearward center support. The support beam arch can be provided adjacent to the outer support beams and the rearward center support. The rearward center support can be located on a longitudinal centerline of the support beam arch and can be parallel to the outer support beams.

Space frame center upper frame connection

A front lower frame connection can comprise a center boss, outer and inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, outer and inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward horizontal beam, and a forward horizontal beam. The rearward horizontal beam can have an outer rearward horizontal beam member, and an inner rearward horizontal beam member. The forward horizontal beam can have an outer forward horizontal beam member, and an inner forward horizontal beam member.

Space frame front lower frame connection

A front upper frame connection casting can comprise a vertical front upper frame connection boss oriented in a first downward direction and configured to weldably attach to a first elongate support member; a rearward angular front upper frame connection boss oriented in a second downward direction and configured to weldably attach to a second elongate support member different from the first elongate support member; and a center cast section castably attached to the vertical front upper frame connection boss and the rearward angular front upper frame connection boss. The center cast section can have a top surface configured to weldably attach to a front upper body support and frame connection fabrication of a space frame of a rear haul truck.

Space frame front upper frame connection

A center upper frame connection for a space frame can comprise a center boss; a rearward mounting surface facing rearward; a rearward angular center upper frame tube connection boss oriented downward and rearward; a vertical center upper frame tube connection boss oriented downward; a forward angular center upper frame tube connection boss oriented forward and downward; and a forward angular mounting surface facing forward and upward. The rearward mounting surface can fixedly attach a center upper horizontal frame connection, the rearward angular center upper frame tube connection boss can fixedly attach a first elongate support structure, the vertical center upper frame tube connection boss can fixedly attach a second elongate support structure, the forward angular center upper frame tube connection boss can fixedly attach to a third elongate support structure, and the forward angular mounting surface can fixedly attach a center upper frame nodal connection.

A dump body pivot pin, suspension node, and rear frame connection comprises a dump body pivot pin boss, a rear suspension connection boss, outer and inner upper rear frame tube connection bosses, outer and inner lower rear frame tube connection bosses, upper and lower beams, a beam connection web, and a support tube connection boss. The dump pivot pin boss has a pivot bore, a pin bore center axis, and inner and outer flat surfaces. The rear suspension connection boss includes a suspension connection center axis and inner and outer flat surfaces. The upper beam connects the outer and inner upper rear frame tube connection bosses to the dump body pivot pin boss. The lower beam connects the outer lower rear frame connection boss to the rear suspension connection boss and the dump body pivot pin boss and the inner lower rear frame tube connection boss to the dump body pivot pin boss.

Space frame dump body pivot, suspension node, and rear frame connection

A node is disclosed. The node may have a core. The node may also have a projection extending from the core. Further the node may have a structural member attached to the projection. The node may also have a top cover having a top recess. The top recess may be configured to receive the structural member. Additionally, the node may have a bottom cover having a bottom recess. The bottom recess may be configured to receive the structural member. In addition the node may have a fastener to connect the top cover and the bottom cover.

Node for a space frame

A node for interconnecting frame members of a frame, the node including a single piece node body. A plurality of cup-shaped node connectors are disposed on the node body. Each of the plurality of node connectors include a closed end attached to the node body and an open end opposite the closed end and extending away from the node body. A sidewall extends between and connects the closed end to the open end. A tenon is formed on the open end. The tenon is shaped and sized to fit within a frame member. A transition is formed between the sidewall and the tenon defining a peripheral, radially outwardly facing groove in cooperation with the frame member, the groove shaped and sized to receive a weld.

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Bonney Lake, WA, United States of America

Tad W Miller