Linkage assembly
First Claim
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1. A linkage assembly for connecting an implement to a frame of a machine, the linkage assembly comprising:
- a lift arm including a machine end adapted to be pivotably coupled to the frame and an implement end adapted to be pivotably coupled to the implement, the lift arm including a pair of side plates, the side plates being separate and generally spaced apart in a parallel relationship, the side plates each having a bore therethrough,a lever disposed intermediate the side plates, the lever having opposite ends adapted to be pivotably coupled to the frame and to the implement, the lever further having a bore therethrough, the bore being disposed intermediate the opposite ends of the lever,a pivot pin cartridge defining an axis, the pivot pin cartridge including a pin disposed along said axis and having opposite ends,at least one bushing pivotably disposed about at least a portion of said pin, andat least two sleeve bearings disposed about said pin and within at least a portion of said bushing,first and second collars disposed about opposite ends of the pin,the pivot pin cartridge extending through the bore of the lever and through the bores of said plates, said lift arm and said lever being relatively pivotable about said axis, the lever being coupled to the bushing for rotation therewith about the pin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linkage assembly that includes a pivot pin cartridge disposed to connect pivotably a lift arm and a lever of the linkage assembly along an axis including the cartridge. The pivot pin cartridge includes a pin, at least one bushing pivotably disposed about at least a portion of the pin, and a pair of sleeve bearing inserts free-floatingly positioned about the pin and within at least a portion of the bushing. The rear tilt lever is coupled to the bushing for rotation about the pin, while at least one of a pair of side plates of the lift arm is coupled to the pivot pin.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A linkage assembly for connecting an implement to a frame of a machine, the linkage assembly comprising:
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a lift arm including a machine end adapted to be pivotably coupled to the frame and an implement end adapted to be pivotably coupled to the implement, the lift arm including a pair of side plates, the side plates being separate and generally spaced apart in a parallel relationship, the side plates each having a bore therethrough, a lever disposed intermediate the side plates, the lever having opposite ends adapted to be pivotably coupled to the frame and to the implement, the lever further having a bore therethrough, the bore being disposed intermediate the opposite ends of the lever, a pivot pin cartridge defining an axis, the pivot pin cartridge including a pin disposed along said axis and having opposite ends, at least one bushing pivotably disposed about at least a portion of said pin, and at least two sleeve bearings disposed about said pin and within at least a portion of said bushing, first and second collars disposed about opposite ends of the pin, the pivot pin cartridge extending through the bore of the lever and through the bores of said plates, said lift arm and said lever being relatively pivotable about said axis, the lever being coupled to the bushing for rotation therewith about the pin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of coupling an implement to a frame of a machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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pivotably coupling machine ends of respective side plates of a lift arm to the frame, the side plates being separate and spaced apart in a substantially parallel relationship, pivotably coupling implement ends of the respective side plates of the lift arm to the implement, disposing a rear tilt lever intermediate the side plates, pivotably coupling a tilt actuator end of a rear tilt lever to the implement, pivotably coupling a link end of the rear tilt lever to the frame, coupling the rear tilt lever to the side plates for relative pivotable movement along an axis, the rear tilt lever being relatively pivotably coupled at a bore located intermediate said tilt actuator and lever ends, and the side plates being relatively pivotably coupled at bores intermediate said machine and implement ends, the step of pivotably coupling the rear tilt lever to the side plates including the steps of providing a pivot pin, rotatably disposing a bushing on said pivot pin, disposing at least two sleeve bearings about said pivot pin and within at least a portion of said bushing to form a pivot pin cartridge, securing the bores of the side plates to opposite ends of the pivot pin, securing the bores of the rear tilt lever to said at least one bushing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A machine to which an implement may be connected comprising:
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a frame, a linkage assembly including a lift arm including a machine end pivotably coupled to the frame and an implement end adapted to be pivotably coupled to the implement, the lift arm including a pair of side plates, said side plates being separate and spaced apart in a substantially parallel relationship, the side plates each having a bore therethrough, a rear tilt lever having opposite ends adapted to be pivotably coupled to the frame and the implement, respectively, the rear tilt lever further including a bore therethrough intermediate the opposite ends, a pivot pin cartridge defining an axis, the pivot pin cartridge including a pin disposed along said axis and having opposite ends, at least one bushing pivotably disposed about at least a portion of said pin, and at least two sleeve bearings disposed about said pin and within at least a portion of said bushing, first and second collars disposed about opposite ends of the pin, the pivot pin cartridge extending through the bore of the lever and through the bores of said plates, said lift arm and said rear tilt lever being relatively pivotable about said axis, the rear tilt lever assembly being coupled to the bushing for rotation therewith about the pin. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification