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US 7,681,919 B2Granted
Diffuser plate for connecting a rigid structure to a flexible structure and machine using same
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorSteven Springer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine having a ground engaging element includes a first rigid metallic structure, a second metallic structure that is flexible with respect to the first rigid metallic structure, and a diffuser plate having a stress carrying region located between a first end and a second end. The first end has a rigid attachment to the first metallic structure, and the second end has a rigid attachment to the second metallic structure. The stress carrying region is flexible with respect to the attachments. A stress produced from a flexing of the second metallic structure relative to the first metallic structure is concentrated within the stress carrying region of the diffuser plate instead of at a weld location.
Claims19
A machine having a ground engaging element, comprising:
- a first rigid metallic structure positioned at a first vertical location relative to the ground engaging element;
- a second metallic structure that is flexible with respect to the first rigid metallic structure and positioned at a second vertical location relative to the ground engaging element;
- a diffuser plate having a first end and a second end and coupling the first rigid metallic structure with the second metallic structure, the diffuser plate having a generally vertical orientation and including a stress carrying region extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end has a rigid attachment to the first metallic structure, the second end has a rigid attachment to the second metallic structure, and the stress carrying region is flexible with respect to the attachments;
- and
- wherein a stress produced from a flexing of the second metallic structure relative to the first metallic structure is concentrated within the stress carrying region, and wherein the first rigid metallic structure is movable in a horizontal direction, via flexing of the diffuser plate, responsive to deflecting or bending of the second metallic structure.
2 more elements
A machine having a ground engaging element, comprising:
- a first rigid metallic structure;
- a second metallic structure that is flexible with respect to the first rigid metallic structure;
- a diffuser plate having a stress carrying region located between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a rigid attachment to the first metallic structure, the second end has a rigid attachment to the second metallic structure, and the stress carrying region is flexible with respect to the attachments;
- wherein a stress produced from a flexing of the second metallic structure relative to the first metallic structure is concentrated within the stress carrying region;
- wherein the first metallic structure includes a plate and the second metallic structure includes a box frame structure;
- wherein the plate is a rollover protection system support plate and the box frame structure includes an articulation joint;
- and
- wherein the rollover protection system support plate is thicker than a plate of the box frame structure, which is thicker than the diffuser plate.
5 more elements
A method of assembling a machine, comprising:
- attaching a first end of a diffuser plate to a first rigid metallic structure at a rigid attachment positioned at a first vertical location;
- attaching a second end of the diffuser plate to a low stress area of a second metallic structure at a rigid attachment positioned at a second vertical location, wherein the second metallic structure is flexible with respect to the first rigid metallic structure;
- and
- wherein the diffuser plate includes a stress carrying region that is flexible with respect to the attachments and extends from the first end to the second end for concentrating stress produced from a flexing of the second metallic structure relative to the first metallic structure;
- and
- wherein the first rigid metallic structure is movable in a horizontal direction, via flexing of the diffuser plate, responsive to deflecting or bending of the second metallic structure.
3 more elements
A frame assembly of a machine, comprising:
- a box frame structure including at least two parallel plates, the at least two parallel plates defining first and second planes;
- a support plate disposed adjacent a top portion of the parallel plates and oriented perpendicularly thereto;
- and
- at least one diffuser plate extending along a third plane parallel to the first and second planes, wherein a first end of the diffuser plate has an attachment to the support plate and a second end of the diffuser plate has an attachment to the box frame structure;
- wherein the attachment of the first end of the diffuser plate to the support plate includes a rigid attachment and the attachment of the second end of the diffuser plate to the support plate also includes a rigid attachment, each of the rigid attachments having a relatively lesser flexibility;
- and
- wherein the diffuser plate further includes a stress carrying region extending from the first end to the second end, the stress carrying region having a relatively greater flexibility.
4 more elements
A frame assembly of a machine, comprising:
- a box frame structure including at least two parallel plates;
- a support plate disposed adjacent a top portion of the parallel plates and oriented perpendicularly thereto;
- and
- at least one diffuser plate extending along a plane parallel to a plane of the two parallel plates, wherein a first end of the diffuser plate has an attachment to the support plate and a second end of the diffuser plate has an attachment to the box frame structure;
- wherein the attachment of the second end and the box frame structure includes a continuous weld;
- and
- wherein the diffuser plate includes a first cutout portion adjacent an interior portion of the continuous weld.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.