IP Library Granted Patent US 7,007,416
Granted Patent B2
US 7,007,416 · App. 10/514,141 · Granted Mar 7, 2006

Flexible hose covers for a work machine

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,007,416
App. No.
10/514,141
Granted
Mar 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plurality of flexible hoses for supplying hydraulic oil from a main body to a traveling motor of a traveling device and discharging hydraulic oil from the traveling motor to the main body. The hoses between the main body and each traveling device are inserted through a flexible tubular hose cover so as to be contained therein. The plurality of hoses can be bundled and protected merely by being inserted through the hose cover. Even in the bundled state, the hoses are permitted to move inside the hose cover together with a width changing movement of the traveling device. The hose cover including a flexible first material member and a second material member having greater shape retention properities than the first material member.

Claims (35)

1. A work machine comprising:

traveling devices, each of which is disposed at each widthwise side of a main body and provided with at least one fluid pressure-operated device,

a plurality of flexible hoses consisting of a plurality of hoses communicatively extending from the main body to said fluid pressure-operated device of each traveling device via an outside of the main body and the traveling device so that hydraulic fluid is supplied to and discharged from the fluid pressure-operated device through said plurality of hoses, and

flexible tubular hose covers, each of which is disposed between the main body and each respective traveling device and houses the plurality of hoses connected to said traveling device,

wherein each hose cover has at least a double construction comprising:

a flexible first material member; and

a second material member having a greater ability to retain shape than the first material member, and wherein the hoses are inserted through the hose cover.

2. A work machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the first material member of each hose cover has a tubular shape; and

the second material member is in the shape of a spiral formed around a cylindrical outer surface of the first material member.

3. A work machine as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

main body-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the main body formed in the main body;

traveling device-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the traveling devices are respectively formed in the traveling devices; and

protectors attached respectively to the edges of the main body-side outlets and the traveling device-side outlets.

4. A work machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

main body-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the main body formed in the main body;

traveling device-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the traveling devices are respectively formed in the traveling devices; and

protectors attached respectively to the edges of the main body-side outlets and the traveling device-side outlets.

5. A work machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the work machine is provided with a width changing device for changing the distance between the traveling devices in the direction of the width of the main body.

6. A work machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

main body-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the main body formed in the main body;

traveling device-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the traveling devices are respectively formed in the traveling devices; and

protectors attached respectively to the edges of the main body-side outlets and the traveling device-side outlets.

7. A flexible hose cover including a main body having traveling devices, each of which is disposed at each widthwise side of a main body and provided with at least one fluid pressure-operated device and a plurality of flexible hoses consisting of a plurality of hoses communicatively extending from the main body to said fluid pressure-operated device of each traveling device via an outside of the main body and the traveling device so that hydraulic fluid is supplied to and discharged from the fluid pressure-operated device through said plurality of hoses, comprising:

a flexible first material member forming an interior volume; and

a second material member have greater shape retention properties than the first material member and formed over an outer surface of the first material member;

wherein the hoses are disposed within the interior volume.

8. A work machine as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the first material member of each hose cover has a tubular shape, and

the second material member is a spiral formed around a cylindrical outer surface of the first material member.

9. A work machine as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:

main body-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the main body formed in the main body;

traveling device-side outlets for drawing the hoses out of the traveling devices are respectively formed in the traveling devices; and

protectors attached respectively to the edges of the main body-side outlets and the traveling device-side outlets.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2010
From: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 024233/0895 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY RECORDED U.S. PATENT NO. 7097416 TO 7007416 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 021531 FRAME 0563. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jan 23, 2009
From: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
Reel/Frame 022137/0627 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 17, 2008
From: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
Reel/Frame 021531/0563 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2005
From: YONETAKE, NOBUKATA; YANAGIDO, KOSUKE; OBINATA, SHIGERU
To: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
Reel/Frame 016264/0902 →