Space frame front lower frame connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235806-B2
Application number	US-201916664104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A front lower frame connection can comprise a center boss, outer and inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, outer and inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses, a rearward horizontal beam, and a forward horizontal beam. The rearward horizontal beam can have an outer rearward horizontal beam member, and an inner rearward horizontal beam member. The forward horizontal beam can have an outer forward horizontal beam member, and an inner forward horizontal beam member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A front lower frame connection casting for a space frame of a haul truck comprising:
a solid center boss;
an outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
an inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss;
a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss;
a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss;
an outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
an inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss;
a rearward horizontal beam having:
an outer rearward horizontal beam member connecting the outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, and
an inner rearward horizontal beam member connecting the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, wherein the outer rearward horizontal beam member and the inner rearward horizontal beam member are integrally joined at the solid center boss and are orientated at a first acute angle with respect to each other; and

a forward horizontal beam having:
an outer forward horizontal beam member connecting the outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, and
an inner forward horizontal beam member connecting the inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss to the solid center boss, wherein the outer forward horizontal beam member and the inner forward horizontal beam member are integrally joined at the solid center boss and are orientated at a second acute angle with respect to each other.

2. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second acute angles are the same.

3. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein each of the tube connection bosses tapers from thick to thin toward respective casting interfaces.

4. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 ,
wherein respective casting interfaces are provided between the solid center boss and each of the rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, the vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, and the forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss,
wherein respective casting interfaces are provided between the outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the outer rearward horizontal beam member and between the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the inner rearward horizontal beam member, and
wherein respective casting interfaces are provided between the outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the outer forward horizontal beam member and between the inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the inner forward horizontal beam member.

5. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein in a side view of the front lower frame connection casting:
the rearward horizontal beam extends rearward in a first direction, the first direction being horizontal,
the forward horizontal beam extends forward in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second direction being horizontal,
the rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss extends rearward and upward in a third direction,
the vertical front lower frame tube connection boss extends upward in a fourth direction, and
the forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss extends forward and upward in a fifth direction.

6. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein the front lower frame connection casting is flat on a bottom surface thereof from the rearward horizontal beam to the forward horizontal beam inclusive of the rearward and forward horizontal beams.

7. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein a web is provided between each of the rearward horizontal beam and the rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, the rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss and the vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, and the forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss and the forward horizontal beam.

8. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein the vertical front lower frame tube connection boss and the forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss are provided at a first height, the rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss is provided at a second height below the first height, and the outer and inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses and the outer and inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection bosses are at a third height below the second height.

9. The front lower frame connection casting according to claim 1 , wherein each of the tube connection bosses is adapted to be weldably attached to respective frame tubes of the space frame.

10. A space frame for an off-highway rear haul truck comprising:
a first front lower frame connection casting; and
a second front lower frame connection casting spaced from the first front lower frame connection casting in a width direction of the space frame,
wherein each of the first and second front lower frame connection castings include:
a center boss,
an outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending rearward from the center boss,
an inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending rearward from the center boss,
a rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss extending rearward and upward from the center boss,
a vertical front lower frame tube connection boss extending upward from the center boss,
a forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss extending forward and upward from the center boss,
an outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending forward from the center boss,
an inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss extending forward from the center boss,
a rearward horizontal beam having:
an outer rearward horizontal beam member between the rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, and
an inner rearward horizontal beam member between the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, wherein the outer rearward horizontal beam member and the inner rearward horizontal beam member are orientated at a first acute angle with respect to each other, and

a forward horizontal beam having:
an outer forward horizontal beam member between the outer forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, and
an inner forward horizontal beam member between the inner forward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the center boss, wherein the outer forward horizontal beam member and the inner forward horizontal beam member are at a second acute angle with respect to each other.

11. The space frame according to claim 10 ,
wherein respective casting interfaces are provided between the center boss and each of the rearward angular front lower frame tube connection boss, the vertical front lower frame tube connection boss, and the forward angular front lower frame tube connection boss,
wherein respective casting interfaces are provided between the outer rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the outer rearward horizontal beam member and between the inner rearward horizontal front lower frame tube connection boss and the inner rearward horizontal beam member, and
where

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Miller Tad W
• Zalanka David O
• Harman Timothy D

Classifications

• B62D65/02

  Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• B62D33/02 Primary

  Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)} · CPC title

• B62D27/023 Primary

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D23/005

  with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title