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US 11,898,588 B2Granted
Compactor tip with heated retention bolt
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorDouglas C. Serrurier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tip assembly includes a tip including a body having a narrow tip portion, a broad attachment portion that defines a concave surface, an interior disposed between the broad attachment portion and the narrow tip portion, and a cavity that leads from the concave surface toward the interior. A retention bolt that is heated includes a tapered region, and a shaft extending from the tapered region, terminating at an externally threaded end. The cavity of the tip is at least partially complimentarily shaped to the tapered region of the retention bolt.
Claims22
A compactor wheel assembly comprising:
- a wheel including an aperture extending radially through an outside surface of the wheel;
- a tip including a cavity that is aligned with the aperture of the wheel, the cavity including:
- a first interior portion, and
- a second interior portion that has a width that is less than a width of the first interior portion of the cavity;
- and
- a retention bolt disposed in the cavity of the tip and extending from the cavity of the tip through the aperture of the wheel to attach the tip to the wheel, the retention bolt including:
- an end portion that is disposed in the first interior portion of the cavity, and
- a shaft portion that has a width that is less than a width of the end portion of the retention bolt,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt is disposed in the second interior portion of the cavity, and
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt and the second interior portion of the cavity are shaped to prevent rotation of the shaft portion of the retention bolt relative to the second interior portion of the cavity.
7 more elements
A tip assembly comprising:
- a tip including:
- an upper portion,
- a lower attachment portion that has a width that is larger than a width of the upper portion of the tip, and
- a cavity that leads from the lower attachment portion of the tip toward the upper portion of the tip, the cavity including:
- a first interior portion, and
- a second interior portion,
- wherein the second interior portion of the cavity has a width that is less than a width of the first interior portion of the cavity;
- and
- a retention bolt including:
- an end portion that is configured to be disposed in the first interior portion of the cavity, and
- a shaft portion,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt has a width that is less than a width of the end portion of the retention bolt,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt is disposed in the second interior portion of the cavity,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt and the second interior portion of the cavity are shaped to prevent rotation of the shaft portion of the retention bolt relative to the second interior portion of the cavity,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt extends from the end portion of the retention bolt, and
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt terminates at an externally threaded end.
13 more elements
A method for attaching a tip to a wheel comprising:
- attaching a retention fastener to a cavity of a tip,
- wherein the cavity of the tip includes:
- a first interior portion, and
- a second interior portion that has a width that is less than a width of the first interior portion of the cavity, and
- wherein the retention fastener includes:
- an end portion that is disposed in the first interior portion of the cavity, and
- a shaft portion that has a width that is less than a width of the end portion of the retention fastener,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention fastener is disposed in the second interior portion of the cavity, and
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt and the second interior portion of the cavity are shaped to prevent rotation of the shaft portion of the retention bolt relative to the second interior portion of the cavity;
- inserting the retention fastener through an aperture in the wheel;
- and
- heating or cooling the retention fastener.
9 more elements
A retention bolt assembly comprising:
- a retention bolt including:
- an end portion;
- and
- a shaft portion extending from the end portion of the retention bolt,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt has a width that is less than a width of the end portion of the retention bolt,
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt is configured to be received within a cavity of a tip and is shaped to be prevented from rotating relative to the cavity of the tip, and
- wherein the shaft portion of the retention bolt terminates at an externally threaded end;
- and
- a heat transfer element contacting the externally threaded end of the retention bolt,
- wherein the heat transfer element is configured to at least one of:
- heat the retention bolt to cause the retention bolt to lengthen, or
- cool the retention bolt to cause the retention bolt to contract.
9 more elements
A tip for connection to a wheel of a compactor wheel assembly, the tip comprising:
- a body including,
- an upper portion;
- a lower attachment portion that defines a concave surface;
- and
- a cavity that leads from the concave surface of the lower attachment portion toward the upper portion, the cavity including:
- a first interior portion, and
- a second interior portion that has a width that is less than a width of the first interior portion of the cavity,
- wherein the second interior portion of the cavity is configured to receive a retention bolt and is shaped to prevent rotation of the retention bolt relative to the second interior portion of the cavity.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.