# US 5,707,202 A · Material handling machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,202 A - Document ID: US5707202A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/553,599 - Filed: 1995-12-06 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-05-16 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: David J. B. Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707202A ## CPC - E02F 9/0866: {Engine compartment, e.g. heat exchangers, exhaust filters, cooling devices, silencers, mufflers, position of hydraulic pumps in the engine compartment} - B60K 5/00: Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B60K 5/02: with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, substantially in or parallel to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle - B60K 17/00: Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles - B66F 9/0655: {with a telescopic boom} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) ## Abstract The machine has a chassis comprising a rigid longitudinal frame (1) whose width is less than 25% of the overall width of the machine, excluding the wheels. A boom is pivotally mounted on the chassis. A drive arrangement (7) comprises a mechanically driven transmission (37, 39, 41) kinematically connected to an engine (34). Shafts (43, 44) kinematically connect a power output (42) mid-way along the drive arrangement (7) to final drive units on the front and rear axles. The drive arrangement is mounted at one side of the longitudinal frame (1) between the axles. The rotary axis (51) of the engine shaft lies in a vertical plane which is inclined relative to the vertical longitudinal median plane (2) of the frame (1) so that its output end is nearer to the frame (1). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A material handling machine comprising: (a) a chassis including a rigid longitudinal frame (1); (b) an operator's cab (8) mounted on the chassis; (c) material handling means (21) mounted on the chassis; (d) a front axle and a rear axle mounted on the chassis; (e) wheels (13, 14) mounted on the axles; (f) a drive arrangement (7) mounted on the chassis, at one side of the longitudinal frame (1), between the front and rear axles, the drive arrangement (7) including an engine (34) having an engine shaft, and a mechanically driven transmission (37, 39, 41) kinematically connected to the engine shaft and having a power output (42) which is substantially mid-way along the length of the drive arrangement and which is displaced towards a vertical longitudinal median plane (2) of the longitudinal frame (1); (g) final drive units (18, 19) on the respective front and rear axles, for driving the wheels (13, 14); (h) drive shafts kinematically connecting the power output (42) to the final drive units (18, 19); and (i) the rotary axis of the engine shaft positioned in a vertical plane which is inclined relative to the vertical longitudinal median plane (2) of the longitudinal frame (1) with the end of the engine shaft which is connected to the transmission being nearer to the longitudinal frame (1) than is the other end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the power output (42) of the drive arrangement (7) is directly below the longitudinal frame (1). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the power output (42) is substantially mid-way between the front and rear axles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the width of the longitudinal frame 1 is less than 25% of the overall width of the machine, excluding the wheels (13, 14). ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A machine as claimed in claim 3, in which the cab (8) is mounted at the opposite side of the longitudinal frame (1) with respect to the drive arrangement (7). ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A machine as claimed in claim 3, in which the material handling means (21) includes a boom (21) extending forwards above the longitudinal frame (1) from a pivotal mounting (22) on the chassis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the transmission (37, 39, 41) includes a gearbox (37) and a transfer box (41), said gearbox (37) having an input in line with the engine shaft and having an output (42) which is at a lower level and which is kinematically connected to the transfer box (41) substantially mid-way along the length of the drive arrangement (7), the transfer box (41) having the said power output (42). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A machine as claimed in claim 7, in which the output (42) of the transfer box (41) is displaced with respect to the engine shaft axis vertical plane towards the vertical longitudinal median plane 1). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8, in which the angle between the engine shaft axis vertical plane and the vertical longitudinal median plane (2) is at least 5.degree.. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A machine as claimed in claim 9, in which the said angle is not more than 15.degree.. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A machine as claimed in claim 9, in which the said angle is not more than 10.degree.. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A machine as claimed in claim 9, in which the said angle is about 7.degree.. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A machine as claimed in claim 8, in which the drive shafts are at an angle of less than 5.degree. to the axis of the power output (42) of the transmission. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A machine as claimed in claim 1, including two batteries (56, 57) arranged one above the other on the outboard side of the transmission.