Compact actuated shear pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12449000-B2
Application number	US-202117531493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2021
Priority date	Nov 19, 2021
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

An actuated shear pin includes an actuator and pin body coupled to the actuator. The actuator selectively configures the pin body in a locking configuration or a stowed configuration. In the locking configuration, the pin body is placed in a travel path of two components configured to move relative to each other, to inhibit such relative movement. In the stowed configuration, the pin body is out of the travel path, thereby allowing the two components to move relative to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine comprising:
a frame;
a lift arm coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame; and
an actuated pin assembly actuatable between a stowed configuration and a locking configuration, the actuated pin assembly comprising:
a stationary member;
a movable member coupled to and movable relative to the stationary member; and
a pin body coupled to the movable member and movable with the movable member relative to the stationary member, the pin body including (i) an interior surface at least partially defining an axial bore that, with the actuated pin assembly in the stowed configuration, surrounds at least a portion of the stationary member and (ii) an exterior surface that, with the actuated pin assembly in the locking configuration, contacts at least one of the lift arm or the frame to inhibit movement of the lift arm relative to the frame.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the movable member is movable relative to the stationary member between a retracted position, corresponding to the stowed configuration of the actuated pin assembly, and an extended position, corresponding to the locking configuration of the actuated pin assembly.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the actuated pin assembly further comprises a resilient member disposed proximate a distal end of the movable member, the resilient member at least partially disposed in the axial bore to contact the interior surface of the pin body.

4. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the resilient member is disposed at a position along an axial length of the movable member such that, with the actuated pin assembly in the locking configuration, at least a portion of the resilient member is aligned between a first radial force applied by the frame to the exterior surface of the pin body and a second radial force applied by the lift arm to the exterior surface of the pin body.

5. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the resilient member comprises a first radial protrusion and a second radial protrusion spaced from the first radial protrusion along an axial length of the movable member.

6. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the pin body comprises an annular protrusion extending from the interior surface, at least a portion of the annular protrusion being disposed, in an axial direction, between the first radial protrusion of the resilient member and the second radial protrusion of the elastomeric member.

7. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the actuated pin assembly further includes:
a retaining fastener; and
a disc disposed between the retaining fastener and the resilient member, wherein the retaining fastener biases the disc in the axial direction, to selectively compress the resilient member.

8. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the disc comprises a first anti-rotation feature that cooperates with a second anti-rotation feature on the movable member to prevent a rotation of the disc relative to the movable member.

9. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the retaining fastener comprises a threaded nut and the disc further comprises one or more tool interfaces configured to cooperate with a tool to prevent rotation of the disc during tightening of the threaded nut on the movable member.

10. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the disc, the retaining fastener, and the movable member are radially spaced from the interior surface of the pin body, such that only the resilient member contacts the interior surface of the pin body.

11. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors positioned to detect at least one of a presence of the actuated pin assembly in the stowed configuration or a presence of the actuated pin assembly in the locking configuration.

12. An actuated pin assembly comprising:
an actuator comprising a movable member and a fixed member, the movable member being movable relative to the fixed member between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a pin body coupled to the movable member to move with the movable member relative to the fixed member, the pin body including an interior surface at least partially defining an axial bore that, with the actuator in the retracted position, at least partially surrounds the fixed member of the actuator.

13. The actuated pin assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a resilient member coupled to the movable member and contacting the interior surface of the pin body.

14. The actuated pin assembly of claim 13 , wherein the resilient member comprises at least one of a polymeric member or a spring.

15. The actuated pin assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the resilient member comprises a first radial protrusion and a second radial protrusion spaced from the first radial protrusion along an axial length of the movable member;
the pin body comprises an annular protrusion extending from the interior surface, and
at least a portion of the annular protrusion is disposed, in an axial direction, between the first radial protrusion of the resilient member and the second radial protrusion of the resilient member.

16. The actuated pin assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a retaining fastener; and
a disc disposed between the retaining fastener and the resilient member, the retaining fastener selectively biasing the disc in the axial direction to compress the resilient member in the axial direction.

17. The actuated pin assembly of claim 16 , wherein the disc comprises a first anti-rotation feature that cooperates with a second anti-rotation feature on the movable member to prevent a rotation of the disc relative to the movable member.

18. An actuated pin assembly comprising:
an actuator comprising a movable member and a fixed member, the movable member being movable relative to the fixed member between a retracted position and an extended position;
a pin body coupled to the movable member to move with the movable member relative to the fixed member, the pin body including an interior surface at least partially defining an axial bore; and
a resilient member coupled to the movable member and contacting the interior surface of the pin body.

19. The actuated pin assembly of claim 18 , wherein:
the resilient member comprises a first radial protrusion and a second radial protrusion spaced from the first radial protrusion along an axial length of the movable member;
the pin body comprises an annular protrusion extending from the interior surface; and
at least a portion of the annular protrusion being disposed, in an axial direction, between the first radial protrusion of the resilient member and the second radial protrusion.

20. The actuated pin assembly of claim 18 , wherein, with the actuator in the retracted position, the fixed member is disposed at least partially in the axial bore of the pin body.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Albers Riley A
• Worth David M

Classifications

• E02F9/006

  Pivot joint assemblies (in general F16C11/04) · CPC title

• E02F3/388

  Mechanical locking means for booms or arms against rotation, e.g. during transport of the machine (transporting-cranes B66C23/344) · CPC title

• F16C2350/26

  Excavators · CPC title

• F16C11/10 Primary

  Arrangements for locking · CPC title

• E02F9/205 Primary

  Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence) · CPC title