Linkage Assembly for Implement System of Machine
First Claim
1. A load-bearing member for a linkage assembly of an implement system, the load-bearing member comprising:
- a body, the body including a pair of sidewalls, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the pair of sidewalls in lateral spaced relationship to each other, the pair of sidewalls each including an inner surface in confronting relationship with each other and an outer surface in respective opposing relationship to the inner surface, the top portion extending between the pair of sidewalls and connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the bottom portion extending between the pair of sidewalls and connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the pair of sidewalls, the top portion, and the bottom portion defining an interior cavity, and each of the pair of sidewalls defining therein a pivot opening; and
a joint assembly, the joint assembly including a cylindrical tube and a reinforcement plate, the cylindrical tube extending between and connected to the pair of sidewalls, the cylindrical tube disposed within the pivot opening of both of the pair of sidewalls, and the reinforcement plate connected to the outer surface of one of the pair of sidewalls, the reinforcement plate including a central portion defining a tube opening, the central portion in circumscribing relationship with the cylindrical tube such that the cylindrical tube is disposed within the tube opening;
wherein the body is substantially free of structural weldments disposed within the interior cavity of the body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load-bearing member for a linkage assembly of an implement system includes a body and a joint assembly. The body includes a pair of sidewalls, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The top and bottom portions extend between the sidewalls and are connected to an inner surface of each of the sidewalls. The body is substantially free of structural weldments disposed within an interior cavity of the body. The joint assembly includes a cylindrical tube and a reinforcement plate. The cylindrical tube extends between and is connected to the sidewalls. The reinforcement plate is connected to an outer surface of one of the sidewalls. The reinforcement plate includes a central portion defining a tube opening and is in circumscribing relationship with the cylindrical tube such that it is disposed within the tube opening.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A load-bearing member for a linkage assembly of an implement system, the load-bearing member comprising:
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a body, the body including a pair of sidewalls, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the pair of sidewalls in lateral spaced relationship to each other, the pair of sidewalls each including an inner surface in confronting relationship with each other and an outer surface in respective opposing relationship to the inner surface, the top portion extending between the pair of sidewalls and connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the bottom portion extending between the pair of sidewalls and connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the pair of sidewalls, the top portion, and the bottom portion defining an interior cavity, and each of the pair of sidewalls defining therein a pivot opening; and a joint assembly, the joint assembly including a cylindrical tube and a reinforcement plate, the cylindrical tube extending between and connected to the pair of sidewalls, the cylindrical tube disposed within the pivot opening of both of the pair of sidewalls, and the reinforcement plate connected to the outer surface of one of the pair of sidewalls, the reinforcement plate including a central portion defining a tube opening, the central portion in circumscribing relationship with the cylindrical tube such that the cylindrical tube is disposed within the tube opening; wherein the body is substantially free of structural weldments disposed within the interior cavity of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A machine comprising:
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a frame, the frame including a power system configured to supply power to the machine and an operator station configured to selectively operate the machine; and an implement system pivotally connected to the frame, the implement system in operable arrangement with the power system and the operator station such that the implement system is selectively movable by the operator station from power supplied by the power system, the implement system including a boom pivotally coupled to the frame, a stick pivotally coupled to the boom, and an implement pivotally coupled to the stick; wherein at least one of the boom and the stick includes a body and a joint assembly; the body including a pair of sidewalls, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the pair of sidewalls in lateral spaced relationship to each other, the pair of sidewalls each including an inner surface in confronting relationship with each other and an outer surface in respective opposing relationship to the inner surface, the top portion extending between the pair of sidewalls and connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the bottom portion extending between the pair of sidewalls and connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the pair of sidewalls, the top portion, and the bottom portion defining an interior cavity, and each of the pair of sidewalls defining therein a pivot opening, and the joint assembly including a cylindrical tube and a reinforcement plate, the cylindrical tube extending between and connected to the pair of sidewalls, the cylindrical tube disposed within the pivot opening of both of the pair of sidewalls, and the reinforcement plate connected to the outer surface of one of the pair of sidewalls, the reinforcement plate including a central portion defining a tube opening, the central portion in circumscribing relationship with the cylindrical tube such that the cylindrical tube is disposed within the tube opening, wherein the body is substantially free of structural weldments disposed within the interior cavity of the body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of making a load-bearing member for a linkage assembly of an implement system, the method comprising:
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fabricating a body, the body including a pair of sidewalls, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the pair of sidewalls each including an inner surface and an outer surface in respective opposing relationship to the inner surface, the body fabricated such that;
the pair of sidewalls are in lateral spaced relationship to each other, each inner surface of the pair of sidewalls is in confronting relationship with the other inner surface, the top portion extends between the pair of sidewalls and is connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the bottom portion extends between the pair of sidewalls and is connected to the inner surface of each of the pair of sidewalls, the pair of sidewalls, the top portion, and the bottom portion define an interior cavity, and each of the pair of sidewalls define therein a pivot opening; andconnecting a joint assembly to the body, the joint assembly including a cylindrical tube and a reinforcement plate, the reinforcement plate including a central portion defining a tube opening, the joint assembly connected to the body such that;
the cylindrical tube extends between and is connected to the pair of sidewalls, the cylindrical tube is disposed within the pivot opening of both of the pair of sidewalls, and the reinforcement plate is connected to the outer surface of one of the pair of sidewalls, and the central portion is in circumscribing relationship with the cylindrical tube such that the cylindrical tube is disposed within the tube opening;wherein the body is fabricated and the joint assembly is connected to the body by welding such that the body is substantially free of structural weldments disposed within the interior cavity of the body. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification