Suspension assembly for a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10544846-B2
Application number	US-201916288616-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2019
Priority date	Mar 23, 2017
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

A suspension assembly for a machine is provided. The suspension assembly includes a first suspension structure and a second suspension structure. The first suspension structure includes a first suspension pad and a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad. The first support plate has a first interlock component formed therein. The second suspension structure includes a second suspension pad and a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad. The second support plate has a second interlock component formed therein. The second interlock component is complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension assembly for a machine, the suspension assembly comprising:
a first suspension structure including:
a first suspension pad; and
a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad, the first support plate having a first interlock component formed therein; and

a second suspension structure including:
a second suspension pad; and
a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad, the second support plate having a second interlock component formed therein, the second interlock component being complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component; wherein the first interlock component is a double bent tab and the second interlock component is a slot configured to receive the double bent tab therein.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first suspension structure and the second suspension structure are arranged in a stacked arrangement.

3. A machine comprising:
a main frame including a laterally-extending saddle member;
an under carriage supporting the main frame; and
a suspension assembly comprising:
an equalizer bar having a central portion and a pair of distal end portions, the central portion pivotally coupled to the saddle member, and each of the pair of distal end portions coupled to the under carriage;
a first suspension structure including:
a first suspension pad; and
a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad, the first support plate having a first interlock component formed therein; and
a second support structure including:
a second suspension pad; and
a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad, the second support plate having a second interlock component formed therein, the second interlock component being complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component; wherein the first interlock component is a double bent tab and the second interlock component is a slot configured to receive the double bent tab therein.

4. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the first suspension structure and the second suspension structure are arranged in a stacked arrangement.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Laban Christopher Scott
• Thomas Jeffrey Lee
• Roberts Dennis Earl

Classifications

• B62D55/1086 Primary

  Rubber springs · CPC title

• F16F1/403

  characterised by the shape of the non-elastic interengaging parts between the elements · CPC title

• F16F1/36 Primary

  made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, {e.g. thermoplastic elastomers (spring units consisting of several springs F16F3/08)} · CPC title