Lift boom assembly

• US 20060269386A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffrey M., Layko, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/685
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/342 Buckets emptying overhead E02F3/348 - E02F3/358 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/13 Handlers utilizing parallel links

Abstract

A boom assembly for a work machine including a boom extending from a forward portion of the work machine toward a rear portion of the work machine, a rear link member connected between a frame of the work machine and the boom by a first frame pivot connection and a first boom pivot connection, and a forward link member connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a second frame pivot connection and a second boom pivot connection. The boom assembly also includes an actuator connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a third frame pivot connection and a third boom pivot connection. The second frame pivot connection is located vertically below the first frame pivot connection and above the second boom pivot connection when the boom assembly is in a lowered position.

Claims

1. A boom assembly for a work machine, comprising:

a boom extending from a forward portion of the work machine toward a rear portion of the work machine;

a rear link member connected between a frame of the work machine and the boom by a first frame pivot connection and a first boom pivot connection;

a forward link member connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a second frame pivot connection and a second boom pivot connection; and

an actuator connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a third frame pivot connection and a third boom pivot connection,

the second frame pivot connection being located vertically below the first frame pivot connection and above the second boom pivot connection when the boom assembly is in a lowered position.

2. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the second frame pivot connection and the third boom pivot connection are located forward of an axle of a rear traction member of the work machine.

3. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross member is coupled to an end portion of the rear link member and extends across the work machine.

4. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the second boom pivot connection is located horizontally between first frame pivot connection and the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

5. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the third frame pivot connection is located horizontally between the first frame pivot connection and the second boom pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

6. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the third boom pivot connection is located forward of the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

7. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the third frame pivot connection is located forward of an axle of a rear traction member of the work machine and the actuator extends rearwardly from the third frame pivot connection to the third boom pivot connection when the boom assembly is in a lowered position.

8. The boom assembly of claim 1, wherein the third boom pivot connection is located above the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in a lowered position.

9. A work machine, comprising:

a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;

a front traction assembly located at the front portion of the frame, and a rear traction assembly located at a rear portion of the frame, the rear traction assembly having an axle;

a boom assembly coupled to the frame to allow for movement between a raised and lowered position, the boom assembly including;

a boom extending from the front portion of the frame toward the rear portion of the frame;

a rear link member connected between the rear portion of the frame and the boom by a first frame pivot connection and a first boom pivot connection;

a forward link member connected between the rear portion of the frame and the boom by a second frame pivot connection and a second boom pivot connection; and

an actuator connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a third frame pivot connection and a third boom pivot connection,

the second frame pivot connection being located below the first frame pivot connection and being located forward of the axle of the rear traction assembly; and

a work implement coupled to a front portion of the boom.

10. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the third boom pivot connection is located forward of the axle of the rear traction member.

11. The work machine of claim 9, wherein a cross member is coupled to an end portion of the rear link member and extends across the work machine.

12. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the second boom pivot connection is located horizontally between the first frame pivot connection and the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

13. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the third frame pivot connection is located horizontally between the first frame pivot connection and the second boom pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

14. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the third boom pivot connection is located forward of the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

15. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the third frame pivot connection is located forward of an axle of a rear traction member of the work machine and the actuator extends rearwardly from the third frame pivot connection to the third boom pivot connection with the boom assembly is in a lowered position.

16. The boom assembly of claim 9, wherein the third boom pivot connection is located above the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in a lowered position.

17. A boom assembly for a work machine, comprising:

a boom extending from a forward portion of the work machine toward a rear portion of the work machine;

a rear link member connected between a frame of the work machine and the boom by a first frame pivot connection and a first boom pivot connection;

a forward link member connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a second frame pivot connection and a second boom pivot connection, the forward link member being located completely above the rear link member when the boom assembly is in a lowered position; and

an actuator connected between the frame of the work machine and the boom by a third frame pivot connection and a third boom pivot connection.

18. The boom assembly of claim 17, wherein the first boom pivot connection is located below the first frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

19. The boom assembly of claim 17, wherein the first boom pivot connection is located rearwardly of the first frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

20. The boom assembly of claim 17, wherein the second boom pivot connection is located below the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

21. The boom assembly of claim 17, wherein the second boom pivot connection is located rewardly of the second frame pivot connection when the boom assembly is in the lowered position.

22. The boom assembly of claim 17, wherein the third frame pivot connection is located rearwardly of an axle of a rear traction assembly of the work machine, and the third boom pivot connection is located forwardly of the axle.