Bolt retention assembly for a work tool
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorNathan R. Bjerke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bolt retention assembly defines a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The bolt retention assembly includes an adapter including a forward abutment portion and a rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion. The adapter may also define an interior aperture. The bolt retention assembly further includes a slide including a forward threaded portion configured to fit within the interior aperture of the adapter, and a rearward vertically oriented cradle portion configured to receive the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion of the adapter.
Claims18
A bolt retention assembly defining a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the bolt retention assembly comprising:
- an adapter including a forward abutment portion and a rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion that are fixed horizontally with respect to each other, the adapter also defining an interior aperture;
- and
- a slide including a forward threaded portion configured to fit within the interior aperture of the adapter, and a rearward vertically oriented cradle portion configured to receive the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion of the adapter;
- wherein the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion defines a maximum horizontal dimension of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion, and the rearward vertically oriented cradle portion defines a maximum horizontal dimension of the rearward vertically oriented cradle portion that is equal to or greater than the maximum horizontal dimension of the rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion such that the slide is free to move horizontally relative to the adapter.
A slide for use with a bolt retention assembly, the slide defining a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the slide comprising:
- a forward threaded portion, wherein the forward threaded portion includes a front horizontally oriented cradle portion and a nut configured to fit in the front horizontally oriented cradle portion to form the forward threaded portion;
- and
- a rearward vertically oriented cradle portion.
An adapter for use with a bolt retention assembly, the adapter defining a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the adapter comprising:
- a subassembly including
- a front adapter member comprising a forward abutment portion, wherein the front adapter member includes a vertically extending T-slot and the rear adapter member includes diametrically opposing hook portions configured to fit within the T-slot;
- and
- a rear adapter member comprising a rearward horizontally oriented saddle portion;
- wherein the adapter also defines an interior aperture and the front adapter member and the rear adapter member are fixed horizontally and laterally with respect to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.