Actuation system for hood of a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855976-B2
Application number	US-201514601725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 21, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A mounting member for an actuator of a machine is disclosed. The actuator has a cylinder defining a longitudinal direction and a motor disposed adjacent to a mounting end of the cylinder. The actuator has a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation about the longitudinal direction with respect to the mounting member. The motor is disposed proximal to the mounting member in the first angular orientation and disposed distal to the mounting member in the second angular orientation. The mounting member includes a base portion to couple to a frame of the machine and a bracket portion extending from the base portion. The bracket portion is coupled to the mounting end of the cylinder. The mounting member further includes a guide portion extending from the base portion to prevent coupling of the actuator to the bracket portion in the first angular orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting member for an actuator of a machine, the actuator having a cylinder defining a longitudinal direction and a motor disposed adjacent to a mounting end of the cylinder, the actuator having a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation about the longitudinal direction with respect to the mounting member, the motor disposed proximal to the mounting member in the first angular orientation and disposed distal to the mounting member in the second angular orientation, the mounting member comprising:
a base portion configured to be coupled to a frame of the machine, the base portion having a first end and a second end;
a bracket portion extending from the first end of the base portion, the bracket portion configured to be detachably coupled to the mounting end of the cylinder; and
a guide portion extending from the second end of the base portion, the guide portion configured to prevent coupling of the actuator to the bracket portion in the first angular orientation.

2. The mounting member of claim 1 , the bracket portion comprising:
a first bracket portion extending from the first end of the base portion and defining a first aperture therethrough; and
a second bracket portion extending from the first end of the base portion and spaced apart from the first bracket portion, the second bracket portion defining a second aperture therethrough, wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are configured to be detachably coupled to the mounting end of the cylinder via a fastening member.

3. The mounting member of claim 2 , wherein the fastening member is at least partly received in the first aperture of the first bracket portion, the second aperture of the second bracket portion and a bore defined in the mounting end of the cylinder.

4. The mounting member of claim 3 , wherein the fastening member extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the fastening member comprises a head portion adjacent to the first end thereof, the head portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of one of the first aperture and the second aperture.

5. The mounting member of claim 4 , wherein the fastening member comprises a hole adjacent to the second end thereof, the hole configured to receive a retaining pin therethrough.

6. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the guiding portion is integrally formed with the base portion.

7. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the guiding portion defines a thickness with respect to the base portion to prevent coupling of the actuator to the bracket portion in the first angular orientation.

8. The mounting member of claim 1 , wherein the base portion defines a plurality of mounting apertures therethrough configured to receive fasteners to couple the base portion to the frame of the machine.

9. An actuation system for a hood of a machine, the actuation system being configured to move the hood relative to a frame of the machine between an opened position and a closed position, the actuation system comprising:
an actuator configured to selectively move the hood between the opened position and the closed position, the actuator having a cylinder defining a longitudinal direction and a motor disposed adjacent to a mounting end of the cylinder; and
a mounting member configured to pivotally couple the mounting end of the cylinder with the frame, wherein the actuator has a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation about the longitudinal direction with respect to the mounting member, the motor disposed proximal to the mounting member in the first angular orientation and disposed distal to the mounting member in the second angular orientation, the mounting member comprising:
a base portion configured to be coupled to the frame of the machine, the base portion having a first end and a second end;
a bracket portion extending from the first end of the base portion, the bracket portion configured to be detachably coupled to the mounting end of the cylinder; and
a guide portion extending from the second end of the base portion, the guide portion configured to prevent coupling of the actuator to the bracket portion in the first angular orientation.

10. The actuation system of claim 9 , the bracket portion comprising:
a first bracket portion extending from the first end of the base portion and defining a first aperture therethrough; and
a second bracket portion extending from the first end of the base portion and spaced apart from the first bracket portion, the second bracket portion defining a second aperture therethrough, wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are configured to be detachably coupled to the mounting end of the cylinder via a fastening member.

11. The actuation system of claim 10 , wherein the fastening member is at least partly received in the first aperture of the first bracket portion, the second aperture of the second bracket portion and a bore defined in the mounting end of the cylinder.

12. The actuation system of claim 11 , wherein the fastening member extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the fastening member comprises a head portion adjacent to the first end thereof, the head portion having a diameter greater than a diameter of one of the first aperture and the second aperture.

13. The actuation system of claim 12 , wherein the fastening member comprises a hole adjacent to the second end thereof, the hole configured to receive a retaining pin therethrough.

14. The actuation system of claim 9 , wherein the guiding portion is integrally formed with the base portion.

15. The actuation system of claim 9 , wherein the guiding portion defines a thickness with respect to the base portion to prevent coupling of the actuator to the bracket portion in the first angular orientation.

16. The actuation system of claim 9 , wherein the base portion defines a plurality of mounting apertures therethrough configured to receive fasteners to couple the base portion to the frame of the machine.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Hartz Phillip A
• Desanto Matthew M
• Hatfield Daniel A

Classifications

• E05Y2900/536

  Hoods · CPC title

• E05Y2900/518

  for working vehicles · CPC title

• B62D25/12 Primary

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title

• E02F9/0833

  Improving access, e.g. for maintenance, steps for improving driver's access, handrails · CPC title

• E05Y2600/626

  Plates or brackets · CPC title