Wear pad for an extendable linkage

• US 7,293,377 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Buchanan, Brian Carter, Pinther, George Carl II, Walth, Gary, Renfrow, Jay Holloman
• Primary Examiner(s): Beach; Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US10/928,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 374/43, 374/66, 172/450, 414/728, 384/42, 384/35
• US Class Current: 37/443
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/707 guiding devices for telescopic jibs
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/306 with telescopic dipper-arm or boom
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/38 Cantilever beams , i.e. booms;, e.g. manufacturing processes, forms, geometry or materials used for booms for booms with cable suspension arrangements E02F9/14 takes precedence; Dipper-arms , e.g. manufacturing processes, forms, geometry or materials used for dipper-arms; Bucket-arms E02F3/34 takes precedence

Abstract

A wear pad on a linkage of a work machine is disclosed. The linkage includes a first and a second linkage member in a telescoping relationship. The wear pad includes a first end having a first thickness and a second end having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. The wear pad also includes a flat wear face configured to slidably interface with the first linkage member. A fixed surface has a bore formed therein. The bore is configured to receive an attachment member to securely attach the wear pad to the second linkage member.

Claims

1. A mechanical linkage for a work machine, comprising:

an outer member;

an inner member slidably moveable within at least a portion of the outer member; and

a wear pad disposed between the inner and outer members, the wear pad being attached to one of the inner and outer members and having a wear face configured to slidably contact the other of the inner and outer members, the position of the wear pad being adjustable along an oblique angle relative to the wear face to alter a distance between the inner and outer members.

2. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, wherein the wear pad is at least partially disposed in a position that is one of below the inner member and above the inner member.

3. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, wherein the wear pad is wedge shaped.

4. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, including a securing plate configured to directly attach to the wear pad, the securing plate being disposed at the oblique angle, the wear pad being adjustable along the securing plate.

5. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, including:

an adjustment tool configured to urge the wear pad along the oblique angle;

an attachment member configured to selectively secure the wear pad in a fixed position; and

a securing plate having at least one slot formed therein, the attachment member extending through the at least one slot into the wear pad.

6. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, including an adjustment tool adjacent the wear pad and configured to advance the wear pad to adjust the position of the wear pad in the oblique direction.

7. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, wherein the wear pad is connected to the outer member, and is adjustable along the oblique angle from the exterior of the outer member.

8. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, wherein the wear pad is connected to the inner member, and is adjustable by an attachment member associated with the inner member.

9. The mechanical linkage of claim 8, wherein the outer member includes an access hole, the wear pad being disposed to be adjustable through the access hole.

10. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, wherein the wear pad is a first wear pad disposed adjacent a receiving end of the outer member, the mechanical linkage including a second wear pad disposed adjacent a connection end of the outer member.

11. The mechanical linkage of claim 1, including a boom member directly connected to the inner member;

and

a work implement directly connected to the outer member, wherein the inner and outer members form a telescoping e-stick.

12. A work machine comprising:

a frame;

a telescoping mechanical linkage operatively connected to the frame, including

an inner member,

an outer member configured to slidably receive the inner member,

a first wear pad disposed below the inner member and between the inner and outer members, the first wear pad being attached to the inner member and having a wear face configured to slidably contact the outer member, and

a second wear pad disposed below the inner member and between the inner and outer members, the second wear pad being attached to the outer member and having a wear face configured to slidably contact the inner member,

wherein a position of each of the first and second wear pads is adjustable along an oblique angle relative to the respective wear face to alter a distance between the inner and outer members; and

a work implement operatively connected to the mechanical linkage.

13. The work machine of claim 12, including a first and a second securing plate configured to directly attach to the first and second wear pads, respectively, the first and second securing plates being disposed at the respective oblique angles, the first and second wear pads being adjustable along the first and second securing plates.

14. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the mechanical linkage includes:

a first and second adjustment tool adjacent the first and second wear pads, respectively, and configured to advance the respective first and second wear pads to adjust the position of the first and second wear pads in the oblique direction;

first and second attachment members configured to selectively secure the first and second wear pads, respectively, in a fixed position; and

first and second securing plates having at least one slot formed therein, the first and second attachment members respectively extending through the at least one slot into the respective first and second wear pads.

15. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the outer member includes an access hole, the first wear pad being disposed to be adjustable through the access hole.