# US 11,299,860 B2 · Machine and actuator assembly associated with machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,860 B2 - Document ID: US11299860B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/806,401 - Filed: 2020-03-02 - Published: 2021-09-02 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-02 - Assignees: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. - Inventors: Terry Stoe; Aaron Matthew Case - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299860B2 ## CPC - E01C 19/12: for distributing granular or liquid materials ({E01C19/002, E01C19/45, E01C19/46, E01C19/48, E01C23/03, E01C23/065} , E01C23/07 take precedence; for filling joints or grooves E01C23/02, E01C23/09) - E01C 19/48: for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface {, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ (E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004)} - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) ## Abstract A machine includes a chassis and a hopper assembly. The hopper assembly includes a hopper frame, at least one hopper, and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is adapted to move the at least one hopper between a raised position and a lowered position. The actuator assembly includes an actuator. The actuator includes a cylinder and a rod member. The actuator assembly also includes a first retention assembly adapted to couple the fixed end of the cylinder with the hopper frame and encapsulate the fixed end of the cylinder within a first space defined by the first retention assembly. The actuator assembly further includes a second retention assembly adapted to couple the movable end of the rod member with the at least one hopper and encapsulate the movable end of the rod member within a second space defined by the second retention assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A machine comprising: a chassis; a hopper assembly mounted on the chassis, wherein the hopper assembly includes: a hopper frame; at least one hopper movable relative to the hopper frame between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein a material receiving space defined by the at least one hopper is sealed relative to the hopper frame; and an actuator assembly coupled with the hopper frame and the at least one hopper, wherein the actuator assembly is adapted to move the at least one hopper between the raised position and the lowered position, wherein the actuator assembly includes: an actuator including: a cylinder defining a fixed end adapted to couple with the hopper frame; and a rod member defining a movable end adapted to couple with the at least one hopper; a first retention assembly adapted to couple the fixed end of the cylinder with the hopper frame and configured to captively hold the fixed end of the cylinder within a first space defined by the first retention assembly, the first retention assembly including: a first plate coupled with the hopper frame; a first retention plate coupled with the first plate; and a first mount coupled with the hopper frame, wherein the first mount is spaced apart from the first plate to define the first space therebetween; and a second retention assembly adapted to couple the movable end of the rod member with the at least one hopper and configured to captively hold the movable end of the rod member within a second space defined by the second retention assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one hopper includes a first hopper and a second hopper. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the first retention assembly further includes: a first mechanical fastener adapted to couple the fixed end of the cylinder with the hopper frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1 further comprising a limit stop adapted to restrict a retraction of the actuator, the limit stop including: a first limiting member coupled with the hopper frame; and a second limiting member coupled with the at least one hopper, wherein the second limiting member is adapted to abut with the first limiting member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one hopper includes: a first sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the machine; a second sidewall coupled with the first sidewall, wherein the second sidewall extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a third sidewall connected with the first and second sidewalls, wherein the first, second, and third sidewalls define the material receiving space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The machine of claim 5, wherein the actuator is positioned between the hopper frame and the at least one hopper externally relative to the material receiving space defined by the at least one hopper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The machine of claim 5, wherein the actuator is spaced apart from the second sidewall along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The machine of claim 5, wherein the second retention assembly includes: a second retention plate coupled with the second sidewall; a second mount coupled with the second sidewall; a third mount coupled with the second sidewall, wherein the third mount is spaced apart from the second mount to define the second space therebetween; and a second mechanical fastener adapted to couple the movable end of the rod member with the second sidewall. ### Claim 9 A hopper assembly comprising: a hopper frame; at least one hopper movable relative to the hopper frame between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein a material receiving space defined by the at least one hopper is sealed relative to the hopper frame; and an actuator assembly coupled with the hopper frame and the at least one hopper, wherein the actuator assembly is adapted to move the at least one hopper between the raised position and the lowered position, wherein the actuator assembly includes: an actuator including: a cylinder defining a fixed end adapted to couple with the hopper frame; and a rod member defining a movable end adapted to couple with the at least one hopper; a first retention assembly adapted to couple the fixed end of the cylinder with the hopper and configured to captively hold the fixed end of the cylinder within a first space defined by the first retention assembly, the first retention assembly including: a first plate coupled with the hopper frame; a first retention plate coupled with the first plate; and a first mount coupled with the hopper frame, wherein the first mount is spaced apart from the first plate to define the first space therebetween; and a second retention assembly adapted to couple the movable end of the rod member with the at least one hopper and configured to captively hold the movable end of the rod member within a second space defined by the second retention assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one hopper includes a first hopper and a second hopper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The actuator assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one hopper includes: a first sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the machine; a second sidewall coupled with the first sidewall, wherein the second sidewall extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a third sidewall connected with the first and second sidewalls, wherein the first, second, and third sidewalls define the material receiving space. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The actuator assembly of claim 11, wherein the actuator is positioned between the hopper frame and the at least one hopper externally relative to the material receiving space defined by the at least one hopper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The actuator assembly of claim 11, wherein the actuator is spaced apart from the second sidewall of the at least one hopper along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein the first retention assembly further includes: a first mechanical fastener adapted to couple the fixed end of the cylinder with the hopper frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The actuator assembly of claim 11, wherein the second retention assembly includes: a second retention plate coupled with the second sidewall; a second mount coupled with the second sidewall; a third mount coupled with the second sidewall, wherein the third mount is spaced apart from the second mount to define the second space therebetween; and a second mechanical fastener adapted to couple the movable end of the rod member with the second sidewall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The actuator assembly of claim 9 further comprising a limit stop adapted to restrict a retraction of the actuator, the limit stop including: a first limiting member coupled with the hopper frame; and a second limiting member coupled with the at least one hopper, wherein the second limiting member is adapted to abut with the first limiting member. ### Claim 17 A method of operating at least one hopper associated with a hopper assembly of a machine, wherein the machine includes an actuator assembly adapted to move the at least one hopper, the method comprising: coupling a fixed end of an actuator of the actuator assembly with a hopper frame of the hopper assembly by a first retention assembly of the actuator assembly, wherein the first retention assembly includes a first mechanical fastener; coupling a movable end of the actuator with the at least one hopper by a second retention assembly of the actuator assembly, wherein the second retention assembly includes a second mechanical fastener; moving the at least one hopper between a raised position and a lowered position based on an operation of the actuator assembly; capturing the fixed end of the actuator within a first space defined by the first retention assembly in an event of failure of the first mechanical fastener; and capturing the movable end of the actuator within a second space defined by the second retention assembly in an event of failure of the second mechanical fastener. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising positioning the actuator between the hopper frame and the at least one hopper externally relative to a material receiving space defined by the at least one hopper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising coupling the actuator assembly with the hopper frame and the at least one hopper such that the actuator is spaced apart from a sidewall of the at least one hopper along a longitudinal axis defined by the machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising restricting a retraction of the actuator beyond a predefined limit based on abutment of a first limiting member coupled with the hopper frame with a second limiting member coupled with the at least one hopper.