Dual actuator assembly
AssigneeOshkosh Corporation
InventorsLex A. Mellott, Eric T. Welsh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A boom assembly includes a lower boom, an upper boom, and an actuator assembly. The lower boom has an upper end and a base end. The base end is configured to be pivotally coupled to a lift device. The upper boom has a lower end pivotally coupled to the upper end of the lower boom. The actuator assembly has (i) a first end coupled to at least one of the upper end of the lower boom and the lower end of the upper boom, and (ii) an opposing second end coupled to the upper boom. The actuator assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The second actuator is rigidly joined to the first actuator at the first end of the actuator assembly and flexibly joined to the first actuator at the opposing second end of the actuator assembly.
Claims16
A boom assembly, comprising:
- a lower boom having an upper end and a base end, wherein the base end is configured to be pivotally coupled to a lift device such that the lower boom is configured to be raised and lowered relative to the lift device;
- an upper boom having a lower end pivotally coupled to the upper end of the lower boom;
- and
- an actuator assembly having (i) a first end coupled to at least one of the upper end of the lower boom and the lower end of the upper boom, and (ii) an opposing second end coupled to the upper boom, the actuator assembly including:
- a first actuator extending along a first axis;
- a second actuator extending along a second axis, wherein the second actuator is flexibly joined to the first actuator at the opposing second end of the actuator assembly such that the first axis is movable relative to the second axis, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to move relative to one another in response to various loading conditions such that the actuator assembly is not subject to high, non-longitudinal stresses induced from movement and/or deflection of surrounding structures, and
- a rigid coupler directly fixedly coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator at the first end of the actuator assembly, thereby fixedly coupling the first actuator and the second actuator at the first end of the actuator assembly, wherein the rigid coupler is configured to pivotally couple the first end of the actuator assembly to at least one of the lower boom and the upper boom.
A lift device, comprising:
- a base;
- a boom assembly including:
- a first boom portion pivotally coupled to the base such that the first boom portion is configured to be raised and lowered relative to the base;
- and
- a second boom portion pivotally coupled to the first boom portion;
- and
- an actuator assembly having (i) a first end coupled to the first boom portion and (ii) an opposing second end coupled to the second boom portion, the actuator assembly including:
- a first actuator extending along a first axis;
- a second actuator extending along a second axis, wherein the second actuator is arranged in parallel with the first actuator, and wherein the second actuator is flexibly joined to the first actuator at the opposing second end of the actuator assembly such that the first axis is movable relative to the second axis, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to move relative to one another in response to various loading conditions such that the actuator assembly is not subject to high, non-longitudinal stresses induced from movement and/or deflection of surrounding structures;
- and
- a first coupler directly fixedly coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator at the first end of the actuator assembly, thereby fixedly coupling the first actuator and the second actuator at the first end of the actuator assembly, wherein the first coupler is configured to pivotally couple the first end of the actuator assembly to the boom assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.