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:
Nov. 27, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 25, 2000
Gerald J. Duppong, Bismarck, ND (US);
Stacey A. Zander, Mandan, ND (US);
Warren M. Schatz, Bismarck, ND (US);
Jay J. Bleth, Bismarck, ND (US);
Clark Equipment Company, Woodcliff Lake, NJ (US);
Abstract
An excavator undercarriage frame is made to reduce the amount of machining necessary for supporting a swing bearing and ring gear on which an upper swing platform including the cab and operator's platform are mounted. The frame is made in two separate frame sections having top plates and formed peripheral skirts that nest together to form a planar support on which the base ring of a swing bearing and ring gear are mounted. The frame section plates are thin enough so that they will flex to conform to the base ring of the swing bearing, so it is not necessary to provide a machined surface for the swing bearing. The frame sections are welded together only around the peripheral edges and skirts, so that the distortion in the plates is substantially eliminated. The plates can be then bolted or secured directly to the bearing base ring, preferably using a clamp ring on the bottom of the frame plates and will provide an adequate support with the two plate thicknesses, and will be true and square without machining.