Fork with rollers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8939701-B2
Application number	US-201213721151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2012
Priority date	Dec 20, 2012
Publication date	Jan 27, 2015
Grant date	Jan 27, 2015

Abstract

Machines are often used to collect and transport materials in a work environment. One of the more common methods of collecting and transporting materials is with a fork. The tines of a conventional fork may damage the materials being collected by the machine. Tines are also difficult to attach other work implements to. The disclosed apparatus facilitates collecting material with less resultant damage to the material. The disclosed apparatus also simplifies the connection of other work implements to the machine, in particular, a bucket, by not requiring that the fork first be removed from the machine to attach the bucket. The tine has a base member with a distal end; a roller rotatably coupled to the base member proximate to the distal end; and a part of the roller is elevated above the base member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tine comprising:
a base member having a distal end and a first width; and
a roller rotatably coupled to the base member, proximate to the distal end, and having a second width;
wherein the first width is greater than the second width, and
a first part of the roller is elevated above the base member,
a removable pin having a length;
wherein the pin is coupled to the base member, the roller is coupled to the pin, and
the length is less than or equ…

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Stewart Jimmy L

Classifications

• B66F9/12

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B66C1/68 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• E02F3/962 Primary

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• B66C3/04

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• Y10S414/125

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic