# US 9,518,372 B2 · Adjustment mechanism for adjusting jaws of shear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,372 B2 - Document ID: US9518372B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/870,416 - Filed: 2013-04-25 - Published: 2014-10-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-25 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: John Kevin Clemons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518372B2 ## CPC - E02F 3/965: {of metal-cutting or concrete-crushing implements (shearing devices B23D17/00; wrecking of buildings, e.g. tools therefor, E04G23/08)} - B23D 17/00: Shearing machines or shearing devices cutting by blades pivoted on a single axis (on an axis parallel to the blade B23D15/10; hand-held devices B23D29/00) - B23D 35/005: {Adjusting the position of the cutting members} - E02F 9/006: {Pivot joint assemblies (in general F16C11/04)} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - B23D: PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (making toothed gears or the like B23F; cutting metal by applying heat locally B23K; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## Abstract A hydraulic shear including a first jaw, a second jaw, a pivot pin, and an adjustment mechanism is provided. The first jaw includes a first and second sidewall defining a first and second opening therethrough. The second jaw is disposed between the first and second sidewalls and includes a third opening. The pivot pin extends through the first, second, and third openings to pivotally connect the first and second jaws. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the first jaw, the second jaw, and the pivot pin. The adjustment mechanism slidably adjusts a position of the second jaw on the pivot pin with respect to first and second sidewalls of the first jaw. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic shear comprising: a first jaw including a first sidewall with a first opening therethrough and a second sidewall with a second opening therethrough; a second jaw disposed between the first and second sidewalls, the second jaw including a third opening; a pivot pin including a head portion and a rod portion, the pivot pin extending through the first, second, and third openings to pivotally connect the first and second jaws; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the first jaw, the second jaw, and the pivot pin, the adjustment mechanism configured to slidably adjust a position of the second jaw on the pivot pin with respect to the first and second sidewalls, the adjustment mechanism including: the head portion of the pivot pin being in the first opening, and the rod portion of the pivot pin extending from the head portion and including a threaded end adjacent the second opening; a nut adjustably engaged with the threaded end the nut being releasably secured to the second sidewall and rotatable to move the head portion relative to the second jaw to slidably adjust the position of the second jaw on the pivot pin with respect to the first and second sidewalls; and at least one shim and at least one low-friction plate disposed on the pivot pin, and located between the first and second jaws. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydraulic shear of claim 1, wherein the at least one shim and at least one low-friction plate includes a plurality of shims and low-friction plates, and wherein the adjustment mechanism is further configured to slidably stack the shims, the low-friction plates, and the second jaw substantially proximal to one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the first jaw. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hydraulic shear of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall includes a slotted groove adjacent to the first opening therein, the slotted groove transversely disposed to the pivot pin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydraulic shear of claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a locking element connected to the head portion of the pivot pin and disposed in the slotted groove, the locking element configured to restrict a rotational movement of the pivot pin with respect to the first and second jaws. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hydraulic shear of claim 4, wherein a thickness of the locking element is less than a depth of the slotted groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The hydraulic shear of claim 4, wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes: a bushing slidably mounted on the rod portion of the pivot pin and disposed between the first sidewall and the second jaw. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hydraulic shear of claim 6, wherein the bushing includes: a collar portion disposed in abutting relation with the head portion of the pivot pin; and a flange portion disposed in abutting relation with the second jaw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hydraulic shear of claim 7, wherein the flange portion and the first sidewall further include a pair of co-axial holes, the holes configured to slidably receive one or more locking pins therein to rotationally lock a position of the bushing with respect to the first jaw. ### Claim 9 A shear comprising: a fixed jaw; a pivoting jaw; a pivot pin including a head portion and a rod portion, the pivot pin extending through openings on the fixed and pivoting jaws; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the fixed jaw, the pivoting jaw, and the pivot pin, the adjustment mechanism configured to slidably adjust a position of the pivoting jaw longitudinally of the pivot pin towards a side of the fixed jaw, the adjustment mechanism including: the head portion of the pivot pin being in a first opening in the fixed jaw, and the rod portion of the pivot pin extending from the head portion and including a threaded end adjacent the second opening in the fixed jaw; a nut adjustably engaged with the threaded end the nut being releasably secured to a sidewall of the fixed jaw and rotatable to move the head portion relative to the pivoting jaw to slidably adjust the position of the pivoting jaw on the pivot pin with respect to the fixed jaw; and at least one shim and at least one low-friction plate disposed on the pivot pin, and located between the fixed and pivoting jaws. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hydraulic shear of claim 9, wherein the at least one shim and at least one low-friction plate includes a plurality of shims and low-friction plates, and wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to slidably stack the shims, the low-friction plates, and the pivoting jaw substantially proximal to the sidewall of the fixed jaw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hydraulic shear of claim 9, wherein the fixed jaw includes first and second sidewalls with first and second openings therein, wherein the pivoting jaw includes a third opening therein. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hydraulic shear of claim 11, wherein the first sidewall includes a slotted groove adjacent to the first opening therein, the slotted groove transversely disposed to the pivot pin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hydraulic shear of claim 12, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a locking element connected to the head portion of the pivot pin and disposed in the slotted groove, the locking element configured to restrict a rotational movement of the pivot pin with respect to the fixed and pivoting jaws. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The shear of claim 13, wherein a thickness of the locking element is less than a depth of the slotted groove. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The shear of claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes: a bushing slidably mounted on the rod portion of the pivot pin and disposed between the first sidewall and the pivoting jaw. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The shear of claim 15, wherein the bushing includes: a collar portion disposed in abutting relation with the head portion of the pivot pin; and a flange portion disposed in abutting relation with the pivoting jaw. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hydraulic shear of claim 16, wherein the flange portion and the first sidewall further include a pair of co-axial holes, the holes configured to slidably receive one or more locking pins therein to rotationally lock a position of the bushing with respect to the fixed jaw.