US 5,961,141 AGranted

Pin assembly

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorPankaj Goel

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Abstract

In the pinned connections between frame members of articulated machines, it is typical to utilize one or more pin assemblies that have one or more spaces between the various components in the pin assembly. The present invention comprehends a pin assembly 10 that utilizes a first plurality of fasteners 82 to secure a first lock plate 72 to one of a pair of frame members 12 and 18. A first shim assembly 86 is included to remove any space between components along a first path of force transfer. A second plurality of fasteners 92 is utilized to mount a second lock plate 90 to a pin member 44. A second shim assembly 94 is included to remove any space between components along a second path of force transfer. The fasteners 82 and 92 work in conjunction with one another to greatly reduce flexing, and thereby the tendency for the fasteners to loosen, that occurs in a pin assembly 10 due to the transfer of forces therethrough.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A pin assembly, comprising:

a first frame member having a bore defined therethrough;
a second frame member having first and second plates, each plate having a bore defined therethrough, said plates being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of the first frame member with the bores thereof in alignment with the bore defined in the first frame member along a common axis;
a bearing assembly positioned within the bore of the first frame member, said bearing assembly defining a bore that is positioned along said common axis;
a first lock plate having first and second surfaces and a bore defined therethrough, said first lock plate being positioned with the first surface thereof engaged with an outer surface defined by the second plate of the second frame member with the bore being aligned along the common axis;
a pin member having first and second end portions and being positioned within the aligned bores along the common axis with the first end portion engaging an outer surface defined by the first plate of the second frame member and the second end portion terminating at a location substantially flush with the second surface of the first lock plate;
a first spacer having a first end portion engaged with an inner surface of the first plate of the second frame and a second end portion engaged with the bearing assembly;
a second spacer having a first end portion engaged with the first surface of the first lock plate and a second end portion engaged with the bearing assembly;
a first fastening means for securing the first lock plate to the second plate of the second frame;
a second lock plate positioned about the common axis in contact with the second surface defined by the first lock plate in overlying relationship to and in contact with the second end portion of the pin member;
and
a second fastening means for securing the second lock plate to the second end portion of the pin member, said second fastening means working in conjunction with the first fastening means to secure the pin member between the first plate of the second frame member and the second lock plate with substantially no space therebetween.

8 more elements

A pin assembly adapted for pivotally mounting a first frame member to a second frame member, each frame member defining a bore that is positioned about a common pivot axis, comprising:

a bearing assembly positioned within the bore of one of the first and second frame members, said bearing assembly defining a bore that is positioned along said common axis;
a first lock plate having a first and second surface and a bore formed therethrough, said lock plate being positioned with the first surface thereof engaged with an outer surface of one of the frames with the bore thereof aligned along the common axis;
a spacer assembly adapted for positioning between the bearing assembly and the respective frame members;
a pin member having first and second end portions and being positioned within the aligned bores with a first end portion engaging the other of the first and second frame members and the second end portion terminating at a location substantially flush with the second surface of the first lock plate;
a second lock plate positioned about the common axis and being adapted for engagement with the second surface of the first lock plate and the second end portion of the pin member;
a first fastening means for securing the first lock plate to said other of the frame members in a manner to secure the spacer assembly and the bearing assembly between the first and second frames and the first lock plate with no space therebetween;
and
a second fastening means for securing the pin member to the second lock plate with no space between the interface between first end portion of the pin and said other of the first and second frames.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.