IP Library Granted Patent US 12,637,841
Granted Patent B2
US 12,637,841 · App. 17/806,106 · Granted May 26, 2026

Mounting system for work machine

Inventors: Shawn Nainan Mathew (Savoy, IL); Arthur Milkowski (Oro Valley, AZ); John Michael Plouzek (Peoria, IL); Norman Keith Lay (Baden, PA); Subhani Mahaboob Shaik (Peoria, IL)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
E02F9/264F16M13/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,637,841
App. No.
17/806,106
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mounting system for a work machine includes a first member extending along a vertical axis of the mounting system, and a second member extending along the vertical axis and spaced apart from the first member along a lateral axis of the mounting system. The mounting system also includes a bracket assembly extending between the first member and the second member. The bracket assembly is disposable at a location along the vertical axis based on a removable coupling of the bracket assembly with each of the first member and the second member. The mounting system further includes an imaging device coupled with the bracket assembly. A position of the imaging device is adjustable with respect to the lateral axis of the mounting system and the vertical axis, such that a portion of a work implement of the work machine lies in a field of view of the imaging device.

Claims (52)

1 . A mounting system for a work machine, the mounting system comprising:

a first member extending along a vertical axis of the mounting system;

a second member extending along the vertical axis and spaced apart from the first member along a lateral axis of the mounting system;

a bracket assembly, extending between the first member and the second member, proximate to a first end of the mounting system, wherein the bracket assembly is removably coupled to the first member and the second member at a plurality of locations, of each of the first member and the second member, along the vertical axis, wherein each of the plurality of locations defines a different height of the bracket assembly; and

an imaging device coupled with the bracket assembly, wherein a position of the imaging device is adjustable with respect to the lateral axis and the vertical axis, such that at least one portion of a work implement of the work machine lies in a field of view of the imaging device.

2 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the bracket assembly includes:

a first bracket having a first vertical member and a second vertical member, wherein each of the first and second vertical members are spaced apart from each other along the lateral axis, wherein the first vertical member is removably coupled with the first member, and wherein the second vertical member is removably coupled with the second member;

a first mounting plate spaced apart from the first member along the lateral axis;

a second mounting plate spaced apart from the second member along the lateral axis; and

a second bracket extending between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate, wherein the imaging device is coupled with the second bracket, and wherein the second bracket is removably coupled with the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate for adjusting the position of the imaging device with respect to at least one of the lateral axis and the vertical axis.

3 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first member and the second member define a first height, and wherein the different height of the bracket assembly is a second height, wherein the first height is greater than the second height.

4 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the bracket assembly includes:

a first plate adapted to be removably coupled with the first member;

a second plate spaced apart from the first plate along the lateral axis, wherein the second plate is adapted to be removably coupled with the second member; and

a third plate extending between and coupled with each of the first plate and the second plate, wherein the imaging device is coupled with the third plate.

5 . The mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising a lateral member disposed proximate to a second end of the mounting system, the second end being opposite to the first end, wherein the lateral member is coupled with each of the first member and the second member.

6 . The mounting system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lighting device adapted to illuminate the at least one portion of the work implement.

7 . The mounting system of claim 6 , wherein a position of the at least one lighting device is adjustable relative to the bracket assembly.

8 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second members is coupled with a linkage member associated with the work implement.

9 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of locations, of each of the first member and the second member, comprises:

a plurality of first openings, of the first member, linearly spaced apart from each other along the vertical axis, and

a plurality of second openings, of the second member, linearly spaced apart from each other along the vertical axis,

wherein each first opening in the first member is in alignment with a corresponding second opening in the second member.

10 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a first opening and a first slot, wherein the second member includes a second opening and a second slot, wherein the first opening in the first member is in alignment with the second opening in the second member, and wherein the first slot in the first member is in alignment with the second slot in the second member.

11 . The mounting system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of locations defines the different height of the bracket assembly independent from a rotation of the bracket assembly.

12 . The mounting system of claim 5 , wherein the lateral member extends between sides of the first member and the second member, and wherein the lateral member is directly below the bracket assembly.

13 . A work machine comprising:

a frame;

a linkage assembly coupled with the frame, the linkage assembly including a linkage member;

a work implement movably coupled with the linkage assembly; and

a mounting system coupled with the linkage member, the mounting system including:

a first member extending along a vertical axis of the mounting system;

a second member extending along the vertical axis and spaced apart from the first member along a lateral axis of the mounting system;

a bracket assembly, extending between the first member and the second member, proximate to a first end of the mounting system and comprising a first bracket and a second bracket supported by and laterally offset from the first bracket, wherein the bracket assembly is disposable at a plurality of locations, of each of the first member and the second member, along the vertical axis, wherein each of the plurality of locations defines a different height of the bracket assembly; and

an imaging device coupled to the second bracket, wherein a position of the imaging device is adjustable with respect to at least one of the lateral axis and the vertical axis, such that at least one portion of the work implement of the work machine lies in a field of view of the imaging device.

14 . The work machine of claim 13 , wherein the bracket assembly further comprises a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate, wherein:

the first bracket has a first vertical member and a second vertical member, wherein each of the first and second vertical members are spaced apart from each other along the lateral axis, wherein the first vertical member is removably coupled with the first member, and wherein the second vertical member is removably coupled with the second member;

the first mounting plate is spaced apart from the first member along the lateral axis;

the second mounting plate is spaced apart from the second member along the lateral axis; and

the second bracket extends between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate, wherein the second bracket is removably coupled with the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate for adjusting the position of the imaging device with respect to at least one of the lateral axis and the vertical axis.

15 . The work machine of claim 13 , wherein each of the first member and the second member defines a first height, wherein the different height of the bracket assembly is a second height, and wherein the first height is greater than the second height.

16 . The work machine of claim 13 , wherein the bracket assembly includes:

a first plate adapted to be removably coupled with the first member;

a second plate spaced apart from the first plate along the lateral axis, wherein the second plate is adapted to be removably coupled with the second member; and

a third plate extending between and coupled with each of the first plate and the second plate, wherein the imaging device is coupled with the third plate.

17 . The work machine of claim 13 , further comprising a lateral member disposed proximate to a second end of the mounting system, the second end being opposite to the first end, wherein the lateral member is coupled with each of the first member and the second member.

18 . The work machine of claim 13 , further comprising at least one lighting device adapted to illuminate the at least one portion of the work implement.

19 . The work machine of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of locations, of each of the first member and the second member, comprises

a plurality of first openings, of the first member, linearly spaced apart from each other along the vertical axis, and

a plurality of second openings, of the second member, linearly spaced apart from each other along the vertical axis,

wherein each first opening in the first member is in alignment with a corresponding second opening in the second member.

20 . The work machine of claim 13 , wherein the first member includes a first opening and a first slot, wherein the second member includes a second opening and a second slot, wherein the first opening in the first member is in alignment with the second opening in the second member, and wherein the first slot in the first member is in alignment with the second slot in the second member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2022
From: MATHEW, SHAWN NAINAN; MILKOWSKI, ARTHUR; PLOUZEK, JOHN MICHAEL; LAY, NORMAN KEITH; SHAIK, SUBHANI MAHABOOB
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 060147/0309 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230399820A1 · Dec 14, 2023
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