Abstract: To service an engine (10), it is frequently determined that a cylinder liner (12) and piston (18) must be replaced. It is difficult and time consuming to first install the liner (12) and then the piston (18) with the rings (20) and connecting rod (22). A pre-assembled unit (36) including the liner (12) and piston (18) may be installed on the engine according to a disclosed method. The unitary assembly simplifies steps at the service facility and, if desired, permits assembly of the unit (36) prior to shipment to the service facility to reduce shipping space and cost.

Abstract: A load carrying structure (10) is, for example, the stick (12) of an excavator or another work element having at least three load input locations (70,72,74). In operating the excavator, for example, failure of the stick can occur owing to side, torsional, bending and columnar loading through bucket (16), boom (14), and control element connections (18,20,76) at associated load input locations. A method for making the structure (10) includes connecting top and bottom plates (22,24) and side plates (30,32) which extend outwardly to define respective load input locations (70,74). Other load input locations (72,74,144) are on a box structure (82) formed with the side and top and bottom plates (30,32; 22,24). The structure (10) has a more uniform construction, particularly without weld discontinuities, and resists input forces more effectively owing to the relationship of the load input locations to substantially overcome failures associated with such structures.

Abstract: During operation of a welding torch (10), electrode wire (17) travels through a contact tip assembly (14) directly into a weld area. The torch (10) is exposed to elevated temperatures which can cause damage from weld spatter and increased deterioration of the assembly (14). In the welding torch (10), a liquid is delivered onto an expansion element (44) and gasifies owing primarily to the elevated welding temperatures at the expansion element (44). The result is to cool the assembly (14) and substantially overcome the problems of temperature. In a nozzle (18) equipped torch (10), the nozzle (18) directs a portion of the gasified liquid to the welding area for shielding the welding operation.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for lifting or moving loads require high operator visibility and simplicity of construction. For example, in a mast assembly (10) such as can be used on a fork lift truck or other cargo handler it is desirable to maximize visibility through spaced-apart uprights (16,18,24,26). Also, free lift of a carriage (14) which engages the load will maximize visibility in that the movable uprights (16,18) will not be elevated above the fixed uprights (24,26) when raising the carriage (14) to move the load. In the apparatus (10), first and second lifting elements (32,34) or jacks (36,38) are mounted adjacent the uprights (16,24;18,26) for visibility. The lifting elements (32,34) are interconnected by a load sharing member (48) for free lift and to distribute the forces encountered in raising the load more equally between the lifting elements (32,34) and the chains (52', 52").

Abstract: A drive assembly (20) has a planetary gear assembly (27), driven member (22), and first housing element (28). The assembly (20) is, for example, part of a final drive (12) of a work vehicle (10) or pulley drive for a material handling system. A first bearing element (30) supports the driven member (22) in rotatable relationship relative to the housing element (28). A second bearing element (32) supports the housing element (28) in rotatable relationship relative to the gear assembly (27). On the vehicle (10), gear reduction taken inside of a tandem housing (14) has heretofore resulted in an overturning reaction force on the housing (14) which creates unequal wheel loads.

Abstract: High pressure fluid systems, such as fuel injection systems for an engine or hydraulic controls, often experience high pressure fluctuations which can cause cavitation in the system components plus secondary fuel injection in the fuel systems. Apparatus (10) is provided for dampening the pressures in such systems, as well as filtering the fluid. The apparatus (10) has a filtering element (36) which does not substantially restrict fluid flow but is movable in response to pressure waves in the fluid which are directed onto the filtering element (36). The filtering element (36) thereby filters the fluid and tends to dampen the effects of the pressure waves, which create the pressure fluctuations, by resisting their movement through the fluid system.

Abstract: An engine (10) has a journal (18), a connecting rod (14) and a bearing (16) positioned between the journal (18) and rod (14). A lubrication system (36) for the engine (10) has a first passage (38) in the journal (18) and second and third passages (40,42) disposed between the journal (18) and bearing (16). The first passage (38) is positionable in fluid communication with the second and third passages (40,42) in response to rotation of the journal (18) for supplying lubricant therethrough to the bearing (16), journal (18) and piston areas. The first passage (38) is in continuous fluid communication with at least one of the second and third passages (40,42) to supply an uninterrupted flow of lubricant for maximum lubrication and cooling of the bearing (16), journal (18) and piston areas of the engine (10). The second and third passages (40,42) are positioned at preselected angles (A.sub.4, A.sub. 7 ; A.sub.5, A.sub.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit (32), for example, remotely controls a work element (14) and contains first apparatus (34), such as a master cylinder (42), which passes a fluid pressure signal through a fluid pathway (38, 40) in response to an input signal. Second apparatus (36), such as a slave cylinder (44), correspondingly delivers an output signal for controlling the work element (14). Temperature variation can cause fluid volume changes which disrupt synchronized operation of the master and slave cylinders (42, 44). Third apparatus (74) positions the fluid pathways (38, 40) in fluid communication with a tank (28) in the absence of the fluid signal. If the signal passes through one pathway (38, 40), that pathway (38, 40) is automatically blocked from communication with the tank (28). Thus, when the fluid signal is absent from the fluid pathways (38, 40), volume compensation occurs because of dilution of the fluid in the circuit (32) with the tank fluid.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit (10) has a fluid supply source (12) to a work element, such as a control valve (14) for a work implement, connected by a first fluid pathway (18). A second work element (16), such as a master cylinder reservoir of a brake system, has a fluid level (36) which is desirably maintained against leakage in the system to prevent problems in using the brake system. The master cylinder reservoir (16) is associated with the hydraulic circuit (10) by apparatus (38,42) which initiate pressure conditions in fluid pathways (22,24) positioned in fluid communication with the master cylinder reservoir (16) to maintain the desired fluid level. The pressure conditions create a pressure differential which initiates or induces a fluid flow from the hydraulic circuit (10) to the master cylinder reservoir (16) to maintain the reservoir fluid level and substantially prevent undesirable braking characteristics which can result from an improper fluid level.

Abstract: An arm assembly (10) having first and second arms (20,22), a first apparatus (26) and an adjusting element (24) is used to adjustably hold open a door (18), window, or the like on a work vehicle (12), for example. In the harsh environment of the work vehicle (12), the door (18) must be securely held open. The first apparatus (26) pivotally connects the first and second arms (20,22). The second arm (22) has an opening (46) alignable with an opening (44) of the first arm (20) in response to moving one of the arms (20,22). A member (48) has a first end portion (50) and is connected to the first apparatus (26). The member (48) is movable between a first position (54) at which the first end portion (50) is positioned in the openings (44,46) of the first and second arms (20,22) for maintaining the door (18) in an open position and a second position (56) at which said first end portion (50) is spaced from the second arm opening (46) for changing the door position.

Abstract: A drive mechanism (10) has a frame (16), a driven member (14) and a first element (20) rotatable relative to the frame (18). A driving element (24) is mounted on and rotatable with the first element (20). Apparatus (34), such as a hydraulic motor (40) and pinion gear (38), engages and rotates the driving element (24). Apparatus (36), such as a brake (42) and pinion gear (44) engages and controllably blocks the driving element (24) from rotation. Final drive apparatus (66) transfers rotational motion from the first element (20) to the driven member (14), which can be, for example, a drum (14) of a compactor inside of which the drive mechanism (10) is located. The orientation of the elements of the drive mechanism (10) reduces its width which frees more area inside the space limited drum (14) and eliminates the need to mount components exteriorly to the drum (14) where they can be damaged.

Abstract: For work vehicles, for example, cold weather can be a problem. Disengaging the vehicle clutch (26) aids starting by reducing engine loads during starting. Where the clutch (26) is hydraulically actuated, it can be disengaged by keeping fluid pressures below required engagement pressure when supplying other elements common to the clutch hydraulic circuit. Apparatus is provided which during starting directs fluid to, for example, pump drive bearings (20) at less than clutch engagement pressure. An input signal to the apparatus from the vehicle operator after engine start-up then builds pressure to activate the clutch (26) while continuing to supply the pump drive bearings (20) for lubrication. Upon a preselected fluid flow to the apparatus, such as at engine shutdown, the apparatus automatically returns to the condition at which available pressure levels are less than required for clutch engagement.

Abstract: A shear blade assembly (10) on, for example, a tree harvester (12) has first and second blade portions (14,16)which are urged into opposite portions of a tree circumference to cut the tree. A desirable shape of the blade assembly (10) is a concave configuration which minimizes tree damage and efficiently distributes loads through the shear blade assembly (10). An improved method for making the concave shear blade assembly (10) includes cutting blade surfaces (42,44) on a blank (30) and leaving a web (50) between the surfaces (42,44), then depressing the blank (30) to form the desired shape and dividing the blank (30) along the web (50) to form the first and second blade portions (14,16). Making the surfaces (42,44) before shaping and dividing the blade portions (14,16) overcomes problems stemming from distortion of blades which are cut along a curvature following the step of obtaining the desired shape in the blade assembly (10).

Abstract: A wheel drive assembly (10) for a vehicle has a spindle (14) with a bore (24). A shaft (30) is positioned within the bore (24) and defines a cavity (44) between the shaft (30) and spindle (14). A brake (46) is positioned within the cavity (34). A planetary gear assembly (74) is positioned about the shaft (30) and contained within the spindle bore (24). With the brake (36) and planetary gear assembly (40) positioned within the spindle (14), the spindle (14) constitutes a reaction ring gear. Bearings (94,96) riding on the spindle (14) can be spaced apart substantially the entire length of the spindle (14) to reduce disproportionate or excessive loading on the bearings (94,96). Serviceability of the drive assembly (10) is simplified owing to the arrangement of its components and the overall width of the vehicle is not increased while accommodating the widely spaced bearings and spindle support for the planetary gear assembly ( 74).

Abstract: A slide rail assembly (18) and slide plate (20) are used, for example, to position an implement (14) of a work vehicle (10), such as a bulldozer (14), at various angles. The bulldozer connected slide plate (20) moves along a vehicle connected rail (22) of the rail assembly (18) to a desired position of the bulldozer (14). A pin (50) is positioned through openings (48,52) in the rail (22) and slide plate (20) to maintain the position. The pin (50) or rail (22) can sometimes fail owing to working loads exerted on the bulldozer (14). Support members (54) each having pin receiving openings (56) in register with respective rail openings (48) are connected to the rail assembly (18) to increase bearing support area of the pin (50) and to strengthen the rail assembly (18). The support members (54) also each have openings (58) aligned with openings (44,46) in the rail assembly (18) for relief of material packed into the rail (22) and into the pin receiving openings (48,56).

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with pivotally mounted, angularly disposed, cooling modules or cores so as to increase the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger and, at the same time, to have a self-cleaning capability for the modules or cores. The angular disposition of the modules or cores results in a larger effective frontal area to the heat exchanger thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger. The angular orientation of adjacent modules or cores slightly compresses the oncoming air which provides an increased level of cooling for the cores. Each module or core can be pivoted about an axis a sufficient amount such that the opposite surface of each module or core is swept by the oncoming air which passes around and through the modules or cores in a direction opposite to an initial pass of said air whereby the modules or cores are cleaned by the reverse flow of air.

Abstract: An impact rock breaker includes detachable mounting means and latching means operative to mount the rock breaker on the stick of a backhoe or excavator adjacent the bucket such that the rock breaker can be pivoted between a non-operative position out of the way of the bucket to permit normal operation of the bucket and an operative position latched to the bucket for movement with the bucket for normal operation of the rock breaker.

Abstract: A seal (16) has a body (38), a leg (40) and first and second sealing areas (42,44). The seal (16) is used in a seal assembly (10) having first and second members (12,14), such as, for example, a frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27) of a work vehicle. Apparatus (28) such as bearing (30) supports the knuckle (27) in rotation relative to a king pin (24) of the frame portion (20). Foreign matter can enter between the frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27) and interfere with vehicle steering. In the assembly (10), the sealing surfaces (42,44) contact substantially perpendicular surfaces (32,34) of the frame portion (20) to block passage of foreign matter to the bearing (30). A second end portion (54) of the seal leg (40) can be controllably deflectable in order to permit overfill of lubricant to pass from the bearing cavity between the frame portion (20) and steering knuckle (27).

Abstract: A seal (16) is positioned to prevent entry of foreign matter through an annular opening (26) between first and second members (12,14). The first and second members (12,14) are, for example, a stationary backing plate (20) and a rotatable hub (22) of a brake assembly (24) or a rotatable shaft and associated housing element. Foreign matter passing between the backing plate (20) and the hub (22), for example, can enter an associated brake drum (30) and interfere with effectiveness of the brake assembly (24). Apparatus (72) connects the seal (16) to the backing plate (20). The seal (16) has first and second legs (38,40) each having a sealing surface (58,60). The sealing .[.surface.]. .Iadd.surfaces (58,60) .Iaddend.contact a face (68) and outer surface (66) of the hub (22), respectively, to substantially block passage of foreign matter to the brake drum (30).