# US 2023/0054301 A1 · Liner plate for work machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054301 A1 - Document ID: US20230054301A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/405,106 - Filed: 2021-08-18 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-18 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Brian Ulrich; Amit Kashyap; David Lee Childers; Mitchell Antonio Hershey Munar; Travis Charles Parker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054301A1 ## CPC - B60B 35/166: {characterised by reinforcements, e.g. reinforcement ribs} - B60B 2310/302: by welding - B60B 2900/212: Damage - B60Y 2200/413: Compactors - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A liner plate for a work machine has a frame with a frame surface and an axle opening, and a guard member at least partially disposed above the axle opening. The guard member has a lower face, a region of the frame surface and a region of the lower face define a volume. The liner plate includes a body portion defining an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface. The body portion defines a first side surface and a second side surface. The body portion is adapted to be coupled to the frame surface proximate the first side surface. The body portion is adapted to be coupled to the guard member proximate the second side surface. Further, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the body portion prevents at least some debris from entering the volume. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liner plate for a work machine having a frame with a frame surface and an axle opening, and a guard member at least partially disposed above the axle opening and at least partially projecting from the frame surface both outward and toward the axle opening, the guard member having a lower face, a region of the frame surface and a region of the lower face defining a volume, the liner plate comprising: a body portion defining: an upper surface; a lower surface opposite to the upper surface; a first side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the body portion is adapted to be coupled to the frame surface proximate the first side surface; and a second side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the body portion is adapted to be coupled to the guard member proximate the second side surface, wherein, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the body portion prevents at least some debris from entering the volume. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liner plate of claim 1, wherein the guard member defines a first end, such that the guard member is coupled to the frame surface proximate the first end, and wherein, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the first side surface of the body portion is located between the first end of the guard member and the axle opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The liner plate of claim 2, wherein, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the body portion, the frame surface, and the guard member together define a cavity, such that the lower surface of the body portion prevents all debris from entering the cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liner plate of claim 1, wherein a first angle is defined between the frame surface and a region of the body portion, and the first angle lies approximately between 10 degrees and 90 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liner plate of claim 1, wherein the first and second side surfaces of the body portion are coupled to the frame surface and the guard member, respectively, by welding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The liner plate of claim 5, wherein the first and second side surfaces of the body portion are coupled to the frame surface and the guard member, respectively, by bevel joints. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liner plate of claim 1, wherein the body portion is made of a metal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liner plate of claim 1, wherein the body portion defines a first maximum length and a first maximum width, the first maximum length of the liner plate being greater than the first maximum width of the liner plate by a factor of at least 3. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The liner plate of claim 8, wherein the guard member defines a second maximum length, the second maximum length of the guard member being greater than the first maximum length of the liner plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The liner plate of claim 8, wherein the guard member defines a second maximum width, the second maximum width of the guard member being greater than the first maximum width of the liner plate. ### Claim 11 A work machine comprising: a frame with a frame surface and an axle opening; and a guard assembly coupled to the frame surface, the guard assembly including: a guard member defining a first end, wherein the guard member is coupled to the frame surface proximate the first end, the guard member at least partially disposed above the axle opening and at least partially projecting from the frame surface both outward and toward the axle opening, the guard member having a lower face, a region of the frame surface and a region of the lower face defining a volume; and a liner plate coupled to the frame surface and the guard member, the liner plate including: a body portion defining: an upper surface; a lower surface disposed opposite to the upper surface; a first side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the body portion is coupled to the frame surface proximate the first side surface; and a second side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the body portion is coupled to the guard member proximate the second side surface, wherein, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the body portion prevents at least some debris from entering the volume. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The work machine of claim 11, wherein, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the first side surface of the body portion is located between the first end of the guard member and the axle opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The work machine of claim 11, wherein, upon coupling of the body portion to the frame surface and the guard member, the body portion, the frame surface, and the guard member together define a cavity, such that the lower surface of the body portion prevents all debris from entering the cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The work machine of claim 11, wherein the first and second side surfaces of the body portion are coupled to the frame surface and the guard member, respectively, by welding. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The work machine of claim 11, wherein the body portion is made of a metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The work machine of claim 11, wherein the body portion defines a first maximum length and the guard member defines a second maximum length, the second maximum length being greater than the first maximum length. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The work machine of claim 11, wherein the body portion defines a first maximum width and the guard member defines a second maximum width, the second maximum width being greater than the first maximum width. ### Claim 18 A method of deflecting debris away from a work machine having a frame with a frame surface and an axle opening, and a guard member at least partially disposed above the axle opening and at least partially projecting from the frame surface both outward and toward the axle opening, the guard member having a lower face, a region of the frame surface and a region of the lower face defining a volume, the method comprising: coupling the guard member to the frame surface, wherein the guard member defines a first end, such that the guard member is coupled to the frame surface proximate the first end; coupling a liner plate to the frame surface, the liner plate defining an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, wherein the liner plate is coupled to the frame surface proximate the first side surface of the liner plate; and coupling the liner plate to the guard member proximate the second side surface of the liner plate, wherein, upon coupling of the liner plate to the frame surface and the guard member, the lower surface of the liner plate substantially limits access to the volume and prevents at least some debris from entering the volume. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising coupling the liner plate and the guard member to the frame surface such that the first side surface of the liner plate is located between the first end of the guard member and the axle opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising coupling the first and second side surfaces of the liner plate to the frame surface and the guard member, respectively, by welding.