Interface for coupling work tool to machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsKarl S. Kuriger, Paul E. Pottschmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interface for coupling a work tool to a stick of a machine includes a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face. The engaging face of the plate is connected to the work tool. The interface also includes a first bracket and a second bracket positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket extend from the coupling face of the plate and include at least one first hole and at least one second hole, respectively. The interface also includes a first pin received through the at least one first hole and the at least one second hole, and connected to a coupling member. The coupling member is connected to the stick of the machine and is configured to couple the work tool to the stick of the machine.
Claims12
An interface for coupling a work tool to a stick of a machine, the interface comprising:
- a coupling member;
- a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face opposite to the engaging face, the engaging face connected to the work tool;
- a first bracket extending from the coupling face of the plate and comprising at least a first set of first holes;
- a second bracket extending from the coupling face of the plate and comprising at least a second set of second holes respectively aligned with the first set of first holes, the second bracket being positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket;
- and
- a first pin received through one first hole of the first set of first holes and the aligned one second hole of the second set of second holes, the first pin connected to the coupling member via engagement to a first engaging portion of the coupling member,
- wherein the coupling member is connected to the stick of the machine via at least a set of apertures, the set of apertures being different and offset from the first set of first holes, the second set of second holes, and the first engaging portion in a height direction of the coupling member that is perpendicular to a length-wise direction of the first pin,
- wherein the coupling member is configured to couple the work tool to the stick of the machine via the set of apertures,
- wherein the first holes of the first set of first holes, the second holes of the second set of second holes, and the apertures have respective axes that are parallel to each other,
- wherein, in a side view of the interface, a portion of the coupling member is above the first bracket and the second bracket when the coupling member is received within the predefined distance defined between the first bracket and the second bracket and
- wherein the portion of the coupling member, when the coupling member is received within the predefined distance defined between the first bracket and the second bracket, is centered and symmetrical about a vertical plane, which runs through a center of the interface, that is perpendicular to the respective axes of the apertures that are parallel to each other.
A machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a stick having a first end and a second end, the first end of the stick pivotally coupled to the frame;
- an interface configured to couple a work tool to the stick, the interface comprising:
- a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face opposite to the engaging face, the engaging face connected to the work tool;
- a first bracket extending from the coupling face of the plate and comprising at least a first set of first holes;
- a second bracket extending from the coupling face of the plate and comprising at least a second set of second holes respectively aligned with the first set of first holes, the second bracket being positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket;
- and
- a first pin received through one first hole of the first set of first holes and the aligned one second hole of the second set of second holes;
- and
- a coupling member including a first engaging portion configured to engage with the first pin of the interface,
- wherein the engagement of the first pin and the first engaging portion allows coupling of the interface with the stick of the machine,
- wherein the coupling member is connected to the stick of the machine via at least a set of apertures, the set of apertures being different and offset from the first set of first holes, the second set of second holes, and the first engaging portion in a height direction of the coupling member that is perpendicular to a length-wise direction of the first pin,
- wherein the coupling member is configured to couple the work tool to the stick of the machine via the set of apertures,
- wherein the first holes of the first set of first holes, the second holes of the second set of second holes, and the apertures have respective axes that are parallel to each other,
- wherein, in a side view of the interface, a portion of the coupling member is above the first bracket and the second bracket when the coupling member is received within the predefined distance defined between the first bracket and the second bracket and
- wherein the portion of the coupling member, when the coupling member is received within the predefined distance defined between the first bracket and the second bracket, is centered and symmetrical about a vertical plane, which runs through a center of the interface, that is perpendicular to the respective axes of the apertures that are parallel to each other.
An interface assembly for coupling a work tool to a stick of a machine, the interface assembly comprising:
- an interface including:
- a plate having an engaging face and a coupling face opposite to the engaging face, the engaging face connected to the work tool;
- a first bracket extending from the coupling face of the plate and comprising at least a first set of first holes;
- a second bracket extending from the coupling face of the plate and comprising at least a second set of second holes respectively aligned with the first set of first holes, the second bracket being positioned at a predefined distance from the first bracket;
- and
- a first pin received through one first hole of the first set of first holes and the aligned one second hole of the second set of second holes;
- and
- a coupling member including a first engaging portion configured to engage with the first pin of the interface,
- wherein the engagement of the first pin and the first engaging portion allows coupling of the interface with the stick of the machine,
- wherein the coupling member is connected to the stick of the machine via at least a set of apertures, the set of apertures being different and offset from the first set of first holes, the second set of second holes, and the first engaging portion in a height direction of the coupling member that is perpendicular to a length-wise direction of the first pin,
- wherein the coupling member is configured to couple the work tool to the stick of the machine via the set of apertures,
- wherein the first holes of the first set of first holes, the second holes of the second set of second holes, and the apertures have respective axes that are parallel to each other,
- wherein, in a side view of the interface, a portion of the coupling member is above the first bracket and the second bracket and
- wherein the portion of the coupling member, when the coupling member is received within the predefined distance defined between the first bracket and the second bracket, is centered and symmetrical about a vertical plane, which runs through a center of the interface, that is perpendicular to the respective axes of the apertures that are parallel to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.