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US 11,235,806 B2Granted
Space frame front lower frame connection
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsTad W. Miller, David O Zalanka, Timothy D Harman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A front lower frame connection can comprise a center boss, outer and inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, outer and inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward horizontal beam, and a forward horizontal beam. The rearward horizontal beam can have an outer rearward horizontal beam member, and an inner rearward horizontal beam member. The forward horizontal beam can have an outer forward horizontal beam member, and an inner forward horizontal beam member.
Claims20
A front lower frame connection casting for a space frame of a haul truck comprising:
- a solid center boss;
- an outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
- an inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
- a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss;
- a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss;
- a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss;
- an outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
- an inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
- a rearward horizontal beam having:
- an outer rearward horizontal beam member connecting the outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, and
- an inner rearward horizontal beam member connecting the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, wherein the outer rearward horizontal beam member and the inner rearward horizontal beam member are integrally joined at the solid center boss and are orientated at a first acute angle with respect to each other;
- and
- a forward horizontal beam having:
- an outer forward horizontal beam member connecting the outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, and
- an inner forward horizontal beam member connecting the inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, wherein the outer forward horizontal beam member and the inner forward horizontal beam member are integrally joined at the solid center boss and are orientated at a second acute angle with respect to each other.
12 more elements
A space frame for an off-highway rear haul truck comprising:
- a first front lower frame connection casting;
- and
- a second front lower frame connection casting spaced from the first front lower frame connection casting in a width direction of the space frame,
- wherein each of the first and second front lower frame connection castings include:
- a center boss,
- an outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending rearward from the center boss,
- an inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending rearward from the center boss,
- a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss extending rearward and upward from the center boss,
- a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss extending upward from the center boss,
- a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss extending forward and upward from the center boss,
- an outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending forward from the center boss,
- an inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending forward from the center boss,
- a rearward horizontal beam having:
- an outer rearward horizontal beam member between the rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, and
- an inner rearward horizontal beam member between the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, wherein the outer rearward horizontal beam member and the inner rearward horizontal beam member are orientated at a first acute angle with respect to each other, and
- a forward horizontal beam having:
- an outer forward horizontal beam member between the outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, and
- an inner forward horizontal beam member between the inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, wherein the outer forward horizontal beam member and the inner forward horizontal beam member are at a second acute angle with respect to each other.
15 more elements
A method regarding a front lower frame connection comprising:
- providing a center boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing an outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing an inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing an outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing an inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss of the front lower frame connection;
- providing a rearward horizontal beam of the front lower frame connection having:
- an outer rearward horizontal beam member connecting the outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the center boss, and
- an inner rearward horizontal beam member connecting the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the center boss, wherein the outer rearward horizontal beam member and the inner rearward horizontal beam member are integrally joined at the solid center boss and are orientated at a first acute angle with respect to each other;
- and
- providing a forward horizontal beam of the front lower frame connection having:
- an outer forward horizontal beam member connecting the outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the center boss, and
- an inner forward horizontal beam member connecting the inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the center boss, wherein the outer forward horizontal beam member and the inner forward horizontal beam member are integrally joined at the solid center boss and are orientated at a second acute angle with respect to each other.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.