Single point lifting structure for a work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11753794-B2
Application number	US-202016780376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2020
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclose, a lift apparatus for a work machine is provided. The lift apparatus may have a horizontally disposed lift frame that has a mount on its top surface. The lift apparatus may further include a first elongated member having a first end and a second end. The first elongated member is vertically disposed and attached to a first side of the lift frame at the first end, and the second end includes a first attachment point for attaching to the work machine. The lift apparatus further includes a second elongated member that has a first end and a second end, the second elongated member is vertically disposed and attached to a second side of the lift frame at the first end, and the second end includes a second attachment point for attaching to the work machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lift apparatus for a work machine, comprising:
a horizontally disposed lift frame including a mount on its top surface;
a first elongated member including:
a first end of the first elongated member, and
a second end of the first elongated member,
the first elongated member being vertically disposed and attached to a first side of the horizontally disposed lift frame at the first end of the first elongated member, and
the second end of the first elongated member including a first attachment point; and

a second elongated member including:
a first end of the second elongated member, and
a second end of the second elongated member,
the second elongated member being vertically disposed and attached to a second side of the horizontally disposed lift frame at the first end of the second elongated member,
the second end of the second elongated member including a second attachment point,
the second end of the first elongated member curving towards a front side of the horizontally disposed lift frame,
the second end of the second elongated member curving towards the front side of the horizontally disposed lift frame,
the first attachment point being configured to attach to a first portion, of a machine frame of the work machine, that is on a first side of the machine frame and below a cab of the work machine, and
the second attachment point being configured to attach to a second portion, of the machine frame, that is on a second side of the machine frame and below the cab of the work machine.

2. The lift apparatus of claim 1 , in which the mount is configured to provide a location to lift the work machine.

3. The lift apparatus of claim 2 , in which the mount is configured to be bolted to a lifting attachment.

4. The lift apparatus of claim 2 , in which the mount includes a six hole bolt pattern.

5. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , in which the lifting attachment is configured to be attached to a hook of a crane or a hoist.

6. The lift apparatus of claim 1 , in which the mount forms a single point attachment for a lifting attachment,
the single point attachment including at least one bolt hole.

7. The lift apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first side support coupled to the first side of the lift apparatus, and a second side support coupled to the second side of the lift apparatus.

8. The lift apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first elongated member is configured to avoid contact of the lift apparatus and the cab via the second end of the first elongated member curving towards the front side of the horizontally disposed lift frame.

9. The lift apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first elongated member and the first end of the second elongated member are configured to provide a range of 1 to 2 feet of clearance between the cab and the horizontally disposed lift frame.

10. A work machine, comprising:
a machine frame;
at least one wheel;
a cab including a door and a window, the window located on a front side of the cab; and
a lift apparatus including,
a lift frame including a mount on its top surface,
a first elongated member including:
a first end of the first elongated member, and
a second end of the first elongated member, the second end of the first elongated member being curved in a manner that extends the second end of the first elongated member away from the door,
the first elongated member being vertically disposed and attached to a first side of the lift frame at the first end of the first elongated member, and
the second end of the first elongated member including a first attachment point that is attached to a first portion, of the machine frame, that is on a first side of the machine frame and below the cab; and

a second elongated member including:
a first end of the second elongated member, and
a second end of the second elongated member,
the second elongated member being vertically disposed and attached to a second side of the lift frame at the first end of the second elongated member, and
the second end including a second attachment point, that is attached to a second portion, of the machine frame, that is on a second side of the machine frame and below the cab.

11. The work machine of claim 10 , in which the first attachment point is attached to the first portion of the machine frame by directly coupling to an attachment plate that is welded to the first side of the machine frame.

12. The work machine of claim 10 , in which the work machine is configured to be lifted at the mount.

13. The work machine of claim 10 , in which the mount is aligned with a center of mass of the work machine.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Stuart Hadley
• Lancaster Brad
• Kalus Matthew
• Fuerst Gerald

Classifications

• E02F9/003 Primary

  Devices for transporting the soil-shifting machines or excavators, e.g. by pushing them or by hitching them to a tractor · CPC title

• E02F9/0808

  Improving mounting or assembling, e.g. frame elements, disposition of all the components on the superstructures (for disposition of specific components, E02F9/0858) · CPC title

• E02F9/16

  Cabins, platforms, or the like, for drivers ({for motor vehicles in general B62D33/06}, for cranes B66C13/54) · CPC title

• B66C1/28

  Duplicate, e.g. pivoted, members engaging the loads from two sides · CPC title

• B66C1/66

  for engaging holes, recesses, or abutments on articles specially provided for facilitating handling thereof · CPC title