Excavator Thumb
First Claim
1. A thumb and linkage assembly for an excavator having a lift arm, the thumb and linkage assembly comprising:
- a bracket coupled to the lift arm;
a base link and a thumb link, the base link having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the bracket, the base link also having a distal portion pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the thumb link;
the thumb link having a distal portion pivotally coupled to at least one thumb of a plurality of thumbs, the plurality of thumbs being coupled together and pivotally coupled to the bracket;
the bracket including a first lock hole for locking the assembly in a stored position, at least one of the proximal portion of the thumb link, the distal portion of the base link or one of the thumbs including a second lock hole that is in axial alignment with the first lock hole when the assembly is in the stored position;
a removable pin that is received in the first and second lock holes for locking the assembly in the stored position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thumb and linkage assembly for covering the bucket of an excavator is shown and described. The thumb and linkage assembly includes a bracket coupled to a lift arm of an excavator or prime mover. The assembly also includes a base link and a thumb link. The base link has a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the bracket. The base link also has a distal portion pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the thumb link. The thumb link has a distal portion pivotally coupled to at least one thumb of a plurality of thumbs. The plurality of thumbs are coupled together and pivotally coupled to the bracket. The bracket includes a first lock hole for locking the assembly in a stored position. At least one of the proximal portion of the thumb link, the distal portion of the base link or one of the thumbs include a second lock hole that is in axial alignment with the first lock hole when the assembly is in the stored position. The assembly also includes a removable pin that is received in the first and second lock holes for locking the assembly in the stored position.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thumb and linkage assembly for an excavator having a lift arm, the thumb and linkage assembly comprising:
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a bracket coupled to the lift arm; a base link and a thumb link, the base link having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the bracket, the base link also having a distal portion pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the thumb link; the thumb link having a distal portion pivotally coupled to at least one thumb of a plurality of thumbs, the plurality of thumbs being coupled together and pivotally coupled to the bracket; the bracket including a first lock hole for locking the assembly in a stored position, at least one of the proximal portion of the thumb link, the distal portion of the base link or one of the thumbs including a second lock hole that is in axial alignment with the first lock hole when the assembly is in the stored position; a removable pin that is received in the first and second lock holes for locking the assembly in the stored position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An excavator comprising:
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a lift arm pivotally coupled to a bucket; a thumb and linkage assembly pivotally coupled to the lift arm, the thumb and linkage assembly including an elongated bracket having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the elongated bracket is coupled to the lift arm, the elongated bracket including an elongated base disposed between at least one pair of walls; each wall including at least one hole that is axially aligned with a hole in the other wall to provide a first pair of axially aligned holes; a pair of base links and a pair of thumb links, the base links each having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the bracket at the first pair of axially aligned holes, the base links also each having a distal portion pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of one of the thumb links; the thumb links each having a distal portion pivotally coupled to at least one thumb of a plurality of spaced-apart thumbs, the plurality of thumbs being coupled together and pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the bracket; the proximal portion of the bracket including a first lock hole for locking the assembly in a stored position, at least one of proximal portions of the thumb links, the distal portions of the base links or one of the thumbs including a second lock hole that is in axial alignment with the first lock hole when the assembly is in the stored position; a removable pin that is received in the first and second lock holes for locking the assembly in the stored position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for securing a thumb and linkage assembly in a stored position against a lift arm of an excavator, the method comprising:
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providing a thumb and linkage assembly that includes a bracket coupled to the lift arm, a base link and a thumb link, the base link having a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the bracket, the base link also having a distal portion pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the thumb link, the distal portion of the base link and the proximal portion of the thumb link including an additional hole for receiving a removable pin when the base and thumb links are in alignment with each other, the thumb link having a distal portion pivotally coupled to at least one thumb of a plurality of thumbs, the plurality of thumbs being coupled together and pivotally coupled to the bracket, the bracket including a first lock hole for locking the assembly in a stored position, at least one of the proximal portion of the thumb link, the distal portion of the base link or one of the thumbs including a second lock hole that is in axial alignment with the first lock hole when the assembly is in the stored position, the pin that is received in the first and second lock holes for locking the assembly in the stored position; removing the pin from the additional holes of the thumb and base links; fold the thumbs towards the bracket and lift arm; inserting the pin through the first and second lock holes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification