Back to results
US 11,686,072 B2Granted
Work implement assembly using adapters, adapter covers, and a notched base edge
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsEric T. Sinn, Douglas C. Serrurier, Rammagy Yoeu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adapter includes a first leg, a second leg, and a throat portion at least partially define a slot that defines a projection at the closed end of the slot that includes a flat middle portion straddled laterally by a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, defining a lateral middle portion width. A projection protruding distance is measured along the direction of assembly from the closed end of the slot to the flat middle portion. The projection protruding distance ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 multiplied by the lateral middle portion width.
Claims20
An adapter for attaching a tool to a work implement using a mounting mechanism, the adapter comprising:
- a body that defines a vertical direction and a horizontal direction and that includes:
- a nose portion that is configured to facilitate the attachment of a tool;
- a first bifurcated leg that includes a pair of first leg side surfaces, the first bifurcated leg defining a vertical slot splitting the first bifurcated leg into a first fork portion and a second fork portion;
- a second leg that includes a pair of second leg side surfaces;
- a throat portion that connects the legs and nose portion together;
- and
- at least one of the first fork portion and the second fork portion defines an aperture that is configured to receive a mounting mechanism;
- and
- wherein the first and the second legs and the throat portion define a horizontal slot that includes a closed end and an open end, the horizontal slot defining a direction of assembly onto a work implement, and the first bifurcated leg includes a first sloped portion disposed in the vertical slot, the first sloped portion forming a first acute angle with the direction of assembly ranging from 20 degrees to 40 degrees, and the first bifurcated leg defines a key receiving slot that is disposed forward of the aperture along the horizontal direction, the key receiving slot being disposed on at least one of the pair of the first leg side surfaces, and defining an open end facing along the horizontal direction toward the nose portion.
6 more elements
An adapter for attaching a tool to a work implement using a mounting mechanism, the adapter comprising:
- a body that includes:
- a nose portion that is configured to facilitate the attachment of a tool;
- a first leg;
- a second leg;
- a throat portion that connects the legs and nose portion together;
- and
- at least one of the first leg and the second leg defines an aperture that is configured to receive a mounting mechanism;
- and
- wherein the first and the second legs and the throat portion include an upper surface and a lower surface that at least partially define a slot that includes a closed end and an open end, the slot defining a direction of assembly onto a work implement, a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the direction of assembly, and a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the direction of assembly and the lateral direction, and the slot defines a projection at the closed end of the slot that includes a flat middle portion straddled laterally by a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, defining a lateral middle portion width, and a projection protruding distance measured along the direction of assembly from the closed end of the slot to the flat middle portion, and the projection protruding distance ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 multiplied by the lateral middle portion width.
6 more elements
An adapter for attaching a tool to a work implement using a mounting mechanism, the adapter comprising:
- a body that defines a vertical direction and a horizontal direction and that includes:
- a nose portion that is configured to facilitate the attachment of a tool;
- a first bifurcated leg that includes a pair of first leg side surfaces, the first bifurcated leg defining a vertical slot splitting the first bifurcated leg into a first fork portion and a second fork portion;
- a second leg that includes a pair of second leg side surfaces;
- a throat portion that connects the legs and nose portion together;
- and
- at least one of the first fork portion and the second fork portion defines an aperture that is configured to receive a mounting mechanism;
- wherein the first and the second legs and the throat portion define a horizontal slot that includes a closed end and an open end, the horizontal slot defining a direction of assembly onto a work implement, and the first bifurcated leg includes a first sloped portion disposed in the vertical slot, the first sloped portion forming a first acute angle with the direction of assembly ranging from 20 degrees to 40 degrees,
- the horizontal slot defines a projection at the closed end of the horizontal slot that includes a flat middle portion straddled laterally by a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, defining a lateral middle portion width, and a projection protruding distance measured along the direction of assembly from an extremity of the closed end of the slot to the flat middle portion, and the projection protruding distance ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 multiplied by the lateral middle portion width;
- the horizontal slot defines a strap gap vertical height, and the flat middle portion defines a middle portion vertical height, and the middle portion vertical height ranges from 0.7 to 0.75 multiplied by the strap gap vertical height;
- the horizontal slot defines a top clearance portion, and a minimum thickness of throat portion measured between the top clearance portion and an outer throat surface ranges from 1.6 to 1.9 multiplied by the strap gap vertical height;
- and
- the horizontal slot defines a bottom clearance portion defining a bottom clearance portion vertical height, and the bottom clearance portion vertical height ranges from 0.1 to 0.15 multiplied by the middle portion vertical height.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.