Abstract: A decklid hinge is provided for a rear compartment of a vehicle. The decklid hinge includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The decklid hinge also includes a decklid side strap adapted to be connected to a decklid for closing a recess of the rear compartment. The decklid hinge includes a first link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for allowing rotation therebetween. The decklid hinge further includes a second link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for guiding pivoting action of the hinge along a predefined path. The decklid hinge includes a primary spring interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap to counterbalance a weight of the decklid when opening. The decklid hinge further includes a free-rise mechanism to allow the decklid to free-rise from a partial open position to a full open position.

Abstract: A decklid hinge is provided for a rear compartment of a vehicle. The decklid hinge includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The decklid hinge also includes a decklid side strap adapted to be connected to a decklid for closing a recess of the rear compartment. The decklid hinge includes a first link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for allowing rotation therebetween. The decklid hinge also includes a second link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for guiding pivoting action of the hinge along a predefined path. The decklid hinge further includes a counterbalance spring interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap to counterbalance a weight of the decklid in an open position.

Abstract: A decklid hinge is provided for a rear compartment of a vehicle. The decklid hinge includes a body side strap adapted to be connected to a vehicle body of the vehicle. The decklid hinge also includes a decklid side strap adapted to be connected to a decklid for closing a recess of the rear compartment. The decklid hinge includes a first link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for allowing rotation therebetween. The decklid hinge also includes a second link interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap for guiding pivoting action of the hinge along a predefined path. The decklid hinge further includes a counterbalance spring interconnecting the body side strap and the decklid strap to counterbalance a weight of the decklid in an open position.

Abstract: In the operation of a wheel loader the linkage arrangement that mounts the bucket to the machine often utilizes multiple lift arms and tilting components to accommodate the loading encountered in the various excavation operations. In many instances this hampers visibility to the bucket and also greatly increases the overall weight of the linkage arrangement. The present invention provides a linkage arrangement that utilizes a single boom-type lift arm and a tilting arrangement that is substantially centered along a vertical plane in which the linkage arrangement is moved. In addition, the individual components of the linkage are specifically contoured to provide a sufficient amount of mass in critical areas of loading and reduced areas of mass in non-critical areas. The result is a linkage arrangement that provides excellent visibility to the bucket with greatly reduced overall weight.

Abstract: In the operation of heavy equipment such as wheel loaders the amount of force subjected to the linkage arrangement that connects the work implement to the loader is normally quite large. In order to accommodate such loading, it has been common practice to increase the size of the various components within the linkage arrangements. The increase in size has greatly increased the weight of the linkage arrangement thus reducing the performance capabilities of the machine. The present invention utilizes a linkage arrangement (10) wherein the specific points of greatest loading have been grouped together son the various components of the linkage. In doing so, only these areas will require areas of significant increases in mass to accommodate the more severe loading. Also the particular positioning between the various components is specifically designed to simplify their construction. These combined factors substantially reduce the overall weight of the linkage arrangement.