Payload carrying machine and dump body linkage
AssigneeCaterpillar Global Mining LLC
InventorsChristopher C. Cusack, Kris E. Seitz, Daniel R. Hettinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are illustrative payload carrying machines and dump body linkage. An example vehicle can include a frame and a dump body movable relative to the frame. In the example vehicle, an articulation mechanism can be connected to both the dump body and the frame. The articulation mechanism can be a four-link system including a first pair of links can be coupled to the frame and dump body and a second pair of links can be coupled to the frame and dump body. The second pair of links can be longer than the first pair of links.
Claims18
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a dump body movable relative to the frame;
- a linear actuator connected at one end to the frame and at another end to the dump body;
- and
- an articulation mechanism spaced apart from the linear actuator and connected to the dump body and the frame, the articulation mechanism comprising:
- a first link pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot point and pivotally connected to the dump body at a second pivot point;
- and
- a second link pivotally connected to the frame at a third pivot point and pivotally connected to the dump body at a fourth pivot point, the first link rotatable about the first and second pivot points and the second link rotatable about the third and fourth pivot points.
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame having a front and a rear;
- a dump body having a front and a rear, the dump body being movably connected to the frame;
- a lift actuator coupled to the dump body and to the frame, the lift actuator configured to move the front of the dump body between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the frame;
- a first link pivotally connected to and configured to rotate relative to the dump body and the frame, the first link is pivotally connected to the frame at a first location;
- and
- a second link pivotally connected to and configured to rotate relative to the dump body and the frame, the second link is pivotally connected to the frame at a second location, the first position is disposed rearward of the second position relative to the rear of the frame, and the first link having a length, L1, which is less than a second length, L2, of the second link.
A dump body assembly comprising:
- a dump body;
- first and second pair of mounting brackets located on a bottom of the dump body;
- a first pair of links each having a mounting point coupled to one of the first pair of mounting brackets, the first pair of links each have a length of distance L1;
- and
- a second pair of links each having a mounting point coupled to one of the second pair of mounting brackets, the second pair of links each have a length of distance L2, where distance L1 is less than distance L2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.