The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 2026
Filed:
Nov. 10, 2022
Applicant:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Inventors:
Kurt L. Winckler, Tucson, AZ (US);
Igor Strashny, Tucson, AZ (US);
Assignee:
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 5/38 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 5/38 (2013.01); B60L 2200/40 (2013.01);
Abstract
A power rail connector for an electric power system in an electric machine includes a linkage having a lower link and an upper link, and a rail contactor coupled to the lower link and including electrical contacts positioned to electrically connect to a power rail. The linkage includes a fold joint, a lift joint, and a pivot, and is adjustable from an extended, current-collecting configuration to a collapsed configuration via rotation of the lower link relative to the upper link and rotation of the upper link relative to the pivot. Related machinery and methodology is also disclosed.