US 12,263,774 B2
Tailgate chain linkage
Mark Robinson, Durham (GB)
Assigned to Caterpillar SARL, Geneva (CH)
Appl. No. 17/909,629
Filed by Caterpillar SARL, Geneva (CH)
PCT Filed Feb. 22, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/025074
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 6, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/175489, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0104629 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B60P 1/267 (2006.01); B62D 33/027 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 1/267 (2013.01) [B62D 33/027 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A chain connector for use with a tailgate chain linkage of a machine, the chain connector comprising:
a first flange, a second flange and a web extending between the first flange and the second flange;
the first flange and the second flange each having a first end and a second end;
the first flange and the second flange comprising pairs of apertures, wherein each pair of apertures comprises a first aperture in the first flange and a second aperture in the second flange with the first aperture and second aperture of each pair of apertures being aligned with each other;
the pairs of apertures comprising a first pair of apertures disposed in the first ends of the first flange and the second flange for coupling the chain connector to an attachment plate of the machine, and a plurality of second pairs of apertures disposed in the second ends of the first flange and the second flange for coupling the chain connector to a chain of the chain linkage;
wherein the plurality of second pairs of apertures are disposed at a plurality of distances from the first pair of apertures whereby an effective length of the tailgate chain linkage may be adjusted by coupling the chain of the chain linkage with a selected second pair of apertures of the plurality of second pairs of apertures.