Abstract: A work tool for a machine is provided including a laminated member having a plurality of layers of plates. Each plate is arranged in parallel to the other plates and has a face in contacting relation with an opposing face of an adjacent plate. Adjacent plates are secured together by welds along only a portion of an exterior surface of the laminated member. A plurality of pins hold together the plurality of layers of plates. Each pin is received in a respective opening that extends through each plate in the plurality of layers between opposing first and second surfaces of the laminated member.

Abstract: A work tool for a machine is provided including a laminated member having a plurality of layers of plates. Each plate is arranged in parallel to the other plates and has a face in contacting relation with an opposing face of an adjacent plate. Adjacent plates are secured together by welds along only a portion of an exterior surface of the laminated member. A plurality of pins hold together the plurality of layers of plates. Each pin is received in a respective opening that extends through each plate in the plurality of layers between opposing first and second surfaces of the laminated member.

Abstract: A fork assembly for a lifting machine is provided. The fork assembly includes a fork base and a tine member. A first end of the fork base is attachable to the movable frame portion. A second end of the fork base extends outwardly from the first end. The fork base defines a lift surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface. The tine member defines a top portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of the tine member defines a recess with a first engagement wall, a second engagement wall, and a third engagement wall. The tine member attains an interlocked position with the fork base, when the fork base is disposed within the recess of the tine member.

Abstract: A bucket thumb assembly mountable to a lifting arm of a machine (e.g., an excavator or a backhoe loader) includes a mounting lug and a thumb member pivotably coupled to the mounting lug. The bucket thumb assembly also includes a link member extending from the thumb member. The link member has a first aperture at a first end of the link member. The link member has an indicator block extending from the link member. The bucket thumb assembly further includes a mounting plate having a second aperture and a catch. The mounting plate is configured to selectively couple with the link member using a pin inserted through the first and second apertures when the indicator block is resting on the catch such that a face surface on the indicator block and a face surface of the catch are substantially co-planar.

Abstract: A coupler includes a mounting structure having a mounting hole and a locking mechanism. The mounting hole is configured to receive a mounting pin disposed on the implement. The locking mechanism includes an actuation system rigidly coupled to the mounting structure. The locking mechanism includes a catch plate operatively connected to the actuation system and configured to selectively lock the mounting pin received in the mounting hole. The coupler further includes a coupling indication assembly that includes a flag member pivotally coupled to the catch plate of the locking mechanism. A resilient member is attached to the flag member to bias the flag member to a first position. The coupling indication assembly includes a probe member attached to the flag member and configured to interact with the mounting pin of the implement to move the flag member to a second position.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coupler for attaching an implement to a machine. The coupler includes a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a frame and an attachment part rigidly attached to the frame. The attachment part is configured to attach the coupler with the machine. The mounting structure includes a mounting hole disposed on the frame. The mounting hole is configured to receive a mounting pin disposed on the implement. The coupler further includes a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes an actuation system rigidly coupled to the mounting structure. The locking mechanism includes a catch plate operatively connected to the actuation system and configured to selectively lock the mounting pin received in the mounting hole.

Abstract: A machine including an implement system pivotably mounted on the machine, a thumb member mounted on an arm of the implement system for free dampened back and forth pivotable movement, the thumb member being controllably pivotable into selectable pivot positions via controlled pivoting of one or the other or both of the arm and a bucket member, a dampener being interconnected between the thumb member and the arm in an arrangement where the dampener dampens free pivoting movement of the thumb member.

Abstract: A thumb assembly mountable to a lifting arm of an excavator includes a base member mountable to the lifting arm, the base member having a link mounting aperture, a thumb member pivotally connected to the base member, a link member having a base mounting aperture in a first end for coupling to the base member and a thumb mounting aperture in a second end for coupling to the thumb member, a removable pin receivable through the link mounting aperture and the base mounting aperture to connect the link member to the base member, and a connection-assist system disposed on at least one of the link member and base member, the connection-assist system configured to provide a visual indication that the thumb member and the link member are in a position such that the removable pin can be received through both the link mounting aperture and the base mounting aperture.

Abstract: A thumb assembly mountable to a stick of an excavator is provided. The thumb assembly comprises a base member having at least a first joint location, a thumb member pivotally connected to the base member, and first and second linkage members pivotally connected at their first ends to the thumb member and the joint location respectively. The linkage members are connected by a knee joint at their second ends such that they are foldable relative to each other between a working position and a storage position in which the thumb member extends close to the base member. The knee joint permits both relative rotation and relative sliding of the first and second linkage members so that the thumb assembly can be moved between the working position and the storage position without disconnecting the linkage members from the thumb member and the joint location on the base member.

Abstract: A machine including an implement system pivotably mounted on the machine, a thumb member mounted on an arm of the implement system for free dampened back and forth pivotable movement, the thumb member being controllably pivotable into selectable pivot positions via controlled pivoting of one or the other or both of the arm and a bucket member, a dampener being interconnected between the thumb member and the arm in an arrangement where the dampener dampens free pivoting movement of the thumb member.

Abstract: A bucket thumb assembly mountable to a lifting arm of a machine (e.g., an excavator or a backhoe loader) includes a mounting lug and a thumb member pivotably coupled to the mounting lug. The bucket thumb assembly also includes a link member extending from the thumb member. The link member has a first aperture at a first end of the link member. The link member has an indicator block extending from the link member. The bucket thumb assembly further includes a mounting plate having a second aperture and a catch. The mounting plate is configured to selectively couple with the link member using a pin inserted through the first and second apertures when the indicator block is resting on the catch such that a face surface on the indicator block and a face surface of the catch are substantially co-planar.

Abstract: A thumb assembly mountable to a lifting arm of an excavator includes a base member mountable to the lifting arm, the base member having a link mounting aperture, a thumb member pivotally connected to the base member, a link member having a base mounting aperture in a first end for coupling to the base member and a thumb mounting aperture in a second end for coupling to the thumb member, a removable pin receivable through the link mounting aperture and the base mounting aperture to connect the link member to the base member, and a connection-assist system disposed on at least one of the link member and base member, the connection-assist system configured to provide a visual indication that the thumb member and the link member are in a position such that the removable pin can be received through both the link mounting aperture and the base mounting aperture.

Abstract: A thumb and linkage assembly for covering the bucket of an excavator is shown and described. The thumb and linkage assembly includes a bracket coupled to a lift arm of an excavator or prime mover. The assembly also includes a base link and a thumb link. The base link has a proximal portion pivotally coupled to the bracket. The base link also has a distal portion pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the thumb link. The thumb link has a distal portion pivotally coupled to at least one thumb of a plurality of thumbs. The plurality of thumbs are coupled together and pivotally coupled to the bracket. The bracket includes a first lock hole for locking the assembly in a stored position. At least one of the proximal portion of the thumb link, the distal portion of the base link or one of the thumbs include a second lock hole that is in axial alignment with the first lock hole when the assembly is in the stored position.

Abstract: A thumb assembly mountable to a stick of an excavator is provided. The thumb assembly comprises a base member having at least a first joint location, a thumb member pivotally connected to the base member, and first and second linkage members pivotally connected at their first ends to the thumb member and the joint location respectively. The linkage members are connected by a knee joint at their second ends such that they are foldable relative to each other between a working position and a storage position in which the thumb member extends close to the base member. The knee joint permits both relative rotation and relative sliding of the first and second linkage members so that the thumb assembly can be moved between the working position and the storage position without disconnecting the linkage members from the thumb member and the joint location on the base member.

Abstract: A latch is capable of automatically latching and unlatching an implement, such as a thumb used on the stick of a hydraulic excavator. The thumb may be moved to a stored, inactive position by the operator and automatically latched, or locked, in that position by the latch. To automatically engage the latch, and latch the thumb in its stored position, the operator moves the thumb to its stored position under the force of the thumb actuator. To automatically disengage the latch, and unlatch the thumb, the operator moves the thumb out of its stored position. The force of the thumb on the latch will overcome the latch's unlatching force. But unintentional drifting of the thumb will not cause a force great enough on the latch to overcome the unlatching force and disengage the latch. Also, the latch can be easily manually disengaged by a technician.

Abstract: In the operation of a work machine of the type having an attachment having more than one implement, it is oftentimes desirable or necessary to operate one implement to the exclusion of the other requiring the operator to manually chain, bolt, or otherwise secure the non-used implement to the work machine.

Abstract: A retainer mechanism for an axial piston machine embodies a shoe plate having a plurality of openings defined in a circumferential outer portion thereof to receive a plurality of shoes and a biasing mechanism operative during assembly to apply a force to an inner portion of the shoe plate to hold the plurality of shoes against a swashplate disposed in the axial piston machine. Prior to assembly the shoe plate has a force transferring surface that is generally frusto-conical in shape. During assembly, the biasing mechanism applies a force to the inner portion of the shoe plate to generally flatten the frusto-conical shaped force transferring surface and urge it against a flat bearing surface of the respective shoes.