US20170030051A1

US20170030051A1 - Frame assembly of wheel loader

Info

Publication number: US20170030051A1
Application number: US15/290,906
Authority: US
Inventors: Shaun R. Melchiori; David L. Childers; Adam M. Plecker
Original assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 2016-10-11
Filing date: 2016-10-11
Publication date: 2017-02-02

Abstract

The disclosure provides a frame assembly of a wheel loader. The frame assembly includes a front frame and a rear frame. The rear frame includes a side member and is pivotally attached to the front frame. The side member includes a first end portion, a second end portion, a central portion, and a bracket. The first end portion is proximal to the front frame. The second end portion is distal from the front frame. The central portion extends between the first end portion and the second end portion. The central portion defines a mount attachment section. The bracket fixedly attaches to the mount attachment section. The bracket mounts a steeling cylinder of the wheel loader.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a frame assembly of a wheel loader. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to structure of a rear frame of the frame assembly of the wheel loader.

BACKGROUND

Machines, such as wheel loaders, commonly includes a frame assembly. For example, a wheel loader generally employs the frame assembly to support various other components of the wheel loader. The frame assembly includes a front frame and a rear frame. The front frame is pivotally attached to the rear frame of the wheel loader. Additionally, the wheel loader employs two steering cylinders (one on each side of the wheel loader), to facilitate steering of the front frame relative to the rear frame. More specifically, one end of each steering cylinder is mounted on the front frame and the other end of each steering cylinder is mounted on the rear frame, in order to facilitate steering of the front frame relative to the rear frame.
Conventionally, the rear frame includes two side members. Each side member includes a vertical post at a front end portion of the side member. The vertical post supports a mounting bracket to mount the steering cylinder on the rear frame. Additionally, a transmission assembly of the wheel loader is supported on the rear frame, proximal to the front end portion of the side member. With such arrangement, the transmission assembly may interfere with the steering cylinders during steering operation. This may lead to improper steering and wear of various components of the wheel loader.
The present disclosure is directed towards one or more above-mentioned limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various aspects of the present disclosure provide a frame assembly of a wheel loader. The frame assembly includes a front frame and a rear frame. The rear frame is pivotally attached to the front frame. The rear frame includes a side member. The side member includes a first end portion, a second end portion, a central portion, and a bracket. The first end portion is positioned proximal to the front frame. The second end portion is positioned distal from the front frame. The central portion extends between the first end portion and the second end portion. The central portion defines a mount attachment section. The bracket is fixedly attached to the mount attachment section of the central portion. The bracket mounts a steering cylinder of the wheel loader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wheel loader, illustrating a frame assembly, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rear frame of the frame assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the rear frame of FIG. 2, illustrating a bracket of a side member the rear frame, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary construction machine 10 is shown. The construction machine 10 is a wheel loader 10. For ease in reference and understanding, the construction machine 10 will be referred to as the wheel loader 10, hereinafter. The wheel loader 10 is employed to perform loading operations. The wheel loader 10 includes a frame assembly 12, a pair of steering cylinders 14 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1), a pair of rear wheels 16 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1), a pair of front wheels 18 (one of which is shown in FIG. 1), a cab 20, a power unit 22, and a work implement 24.
The frame assembly 12 supports various components of the wheel loader 10. The frame assembly 12 includes a rear frame 26 and a front frame 28. The rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12 is supported on the rear wheels 16 and is positioned at a rear end 30 of the wheel loader 10. The rear frame 26 supports the cab 20 and the power unit 22 of the wheel loader 10. The front frame 28 of the frame assembly 12 is supported on the front wheels 18 and is positioned at a front end 32 of the wheel loader 10. The front frame 28 supports the work implement 24, which performs loading operation. Moreover, the front frame 28 is pivotally attached to the rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12. In order to steer the wheel loader 10, the front frame 28 is steered relative to the rear frame 26 of the wheel loader 10.
The steering cylinders 14 are engaged to steer the front frame 28 relative to the rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12. Each steering cylinder 14 is installed on each side of the wheel loader 10. Specifically, one end of each steering cylinder 14 is attached to the rear frame 26 and other end of each steering cylinder 14 is attached to the front frame 28 of the frame assembly 12. Further, each steering cylinder 14 is extended and retracted, in order to steer the front frame 28 relative to the rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12. Structure and arrangement of the rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12, will now be explained in details.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12. The rear frame 26 includes a first side member 34, a second side member 36, and a number of lateral members 38, 40, disposed between the first side member 34 and the second side member 36.
The first side member 34 is positioned on a first side 42, extending along a length of the wheel loader 10. The first side member 34 is a substantially Y-shaped fabricated steel plate assembly that includes a first arm 46, a second arm 48, a third arm 50, and a bracket 52. More specifically, the first arm 46 and the second arm 48 extends from the third arm 50, to form the substantially Y-shaped fabricated steel plate assembly. The first arm 46 and the second arm 48 defines a first end portion 54 of the first side member 34. The first end portion 54 is positioned proximal to the front frame 28 of the frame assembly 12. The third arm 50 defines a second end portion 56 of the first side member 34. The second end portion 56 is positioned distal from the front frame 28 of the frame assembly 12. An interface of the first arm 46 and the second arm 48 with the third arm 50 defines a central portion 58 of the first side member 34. The central portion 58 is disposed between the first end portion 54 and the second end portion 56 of the first side member 34. The central portion 58 further defines a mount attachment portion 60. The bracket 52 is installed on the mount attachment portion 60 of the central portion 58.
The second side member 36 is positioned on a second side 44, extending along the length of the wheel loader 10. Similar to the first side member 34, the second side member 36 includes a first arm 62, a second arm 64, and a third arm 66, to form the substantially Y-shaped fabricated steel plate assembly. Additionally, similar to the first side member 34, the second side member 36 includes a bracket 68, a first end portion 70, a second end portion 72, and a central portion 74. The first side member 34 and the second side member 36 are suitably shaped and sized to support the lateral members 38, 40 of the rear frame 26.
The lateral members 38, 40 extend laterally between the first side member 34 and the second side member 36. A first lateral member 38 extends between the first arm 46 of the first side member 34 and the first arm 62 of the second side member 36. The first lateral member 38 includes a first pivot attachment portion 76. A second lateral member 40 extend between the second arm 48 of the first side member 34 and the second arm 64 of the second side member 36. The second lateral member 40 includes a second pivot attachment portion 78. Additionally, a vertical support member 80 is disposed between the first lateral member 38 and the second lateral member 40. Notably, the front frame 28 is pivotally supported on the first pivot attachment portion 76 of the first lateral member 38 and the second pivot attachment portion 78 of the second lateral member 40. For ease in reference and understanding, structure and arrangement of the bracket 52 of the first side member 34, will be described in details hereinafter. Similar structure and arrangement of the bracket 68 of the second side member 36 may also be contemplated.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown the bracket 52 of the first side member 34. The bracket 52 is fixedly attached to the mount attachment portion 60 of the central portion 58. The bracket 52 provides a mounting base for one of the steering cylinders 14 of the wheel loader 10. The bracket 52 includes a base portion 82, a first flange portion 84, and a second flange portion 86. The base portion 82 is a U-shaped structure fixedly attached to the mount attachment portion 60 of the central portion 58 of the first side member 34. An attachment means between the base portion 82 and the mount attachment portion 60 includes, but is not limited to, a weld attachment, an adhesive attachment, a nut and bolt attachment, and a rivet attachment. Although, the base portion 82 is described to include the U-shaped structure, any shape, structure and arrangement of the base portion 82 may be contemplated. For example, an L-shaped structure of the base portion 82 is within the scope of the present disclosure. The first flange portion 84 and the second flange portion 86 are attached to the base portion 82. Further, the first flange portion 84 and the second flange portion 86 extends from the base portion 82, towards the front frame 28. More specifically, the first flange portion 84 and the second flange portion 86 extends perpendicularly from the base portion 82 of the bracket 52. Notably, the steering cylinder 14 is supported on the first flange portion 84 and the second flange portion 86 of the bracket 52.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In operation, the frame assembly 12 is provided to support various components of the wheel loader 10. The front frame 28 of the frame assembly 12 is pivotally supported on the rear frame 26, at the first pivot attachment portion 76 of the first lateral member 38 and the second pivot attachment portion 78 of the second lateral member 40. Further, the steering cylinders 14 are installed on the frame assembly 12, to steer the front frame 28 relative to the rear frame 26. One steering cylinder 14 is installed between the front frame 28 and the first side member 34 of the rear frame 26. Another steering cylinder 14 is installed between the front frame 28 and the second side member 36 of the rear frame 26. For ease in reference and understanding, concepts of the present disclosure will be described as applied to the steering cylinder 14 and the first side member 34 of the rear frame 26, hereinafter. However, applicability of the concepts of the present disclosure to the other steering cylinder 14 and the second side member 36 of the rear frame 26, may also be contemplated.
Furthermore, the first side member 34 of the rear frame 26 includes the first end portion 54, the second end portion 56, the central portion 58, and the bracket 52. The bracket 52 is attached to the mount attachment portion 60 of the central portion 58 of the first side member 34. In order to install the steering cylinder 14, one end the steering cylinder 14 is attached to the front frame 28 and other end of the steering cylinder 14 is attached to the bracket 52 of the first side member 34 of the rear frame 26. The steering cylinder 14 is extended and retracted, in order to steer the front frame 28 relative to the rear frame 26 of the frame assembly 12. Similar arrangement of the other steering cylinder 14 with the second side member 36 may also be contemplated.
Moreover, as the steering cylinders 14 are installed on the brackets 52, 68 at the central portions 58, 74 of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36, a need for a vertical post is eliminated. Therefore, a relatively greater space is available at the first end portions 54, 70 of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36, respectively. Therefore, a transmission assembly (not shown) is relatively easily accommodated and positioned, at the first end portions 54, 70 of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36 of the rear frame 26. This avoids interference between the transmission assembly (not shown) and the steering cylinders 14 of the wheel loader 10, resulting in relatively accurate steering and relatively lesser wear of various components of the wheel loader 10. Additionally, such structure and arrangement of the brackets 52, 68 as described in the aforementioned disclosure, reduces internal complexity, cost, and weight of the first side member 34 and the second side member 36.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claim(s) and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1.. A frame assembly of a wheel loader the frame assembly comprising:

a front frame; and

a rear frame pivotally attached to the front frame, the rear frame including:

a side member, including:

a first end portion positioned proximal to the front frame;

a second end portion positioned distal from the front frame;

a central portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, the central portion defining a mount attachment section; and

a bracket fixedly attached to the mount attachment section of the central portion, wherein the bracket mounts a steering cylinder of the wheel loader.