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:
Jul. 20, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1998
Brian C Buchanan, Clayton, NC (US);
Paul J Staebler, Jr, Clayton, NC (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
Top link assemblies for a construction machine are typically used to adjust the pitch angle of a cutting edge of a blade. The present top link assembly has an elongated member and a block member connected to the blade and a frame, respectively, of the machine. The elongated member has upper and lower surfaces defined on a body portion and a pair of spaced openings therethrough. The block member has a lower surface substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the elongated member and a pair of spaced threaded openings therein substantially coaxial with the pair of openings in the elongated member. A pair of spacers having notched end portions are disposed in a stacked relationship on the upper surface of the elongated member. A pair of threaded bolts extend through the notched end portions of the spacers and the openings in the elongated member for threading into the block member, to secure the top link assembly at a first predetermined length. The desired pitch angle of the cutting edge may be adjusted by loosening the threaded bolts and repositioning any one of the spacers between the lower surfaces of the elongated and block members to secure the top link assembly at a second predetermined length. The ability to adjust the pitch angle without removing the top link assembly increases productivity and decreases costs.