US 11,970,375 B2
Pipelayer machine with forward towing winch configuration
Curtis John Caldwell, Metamora, IL (US); Donald L Vance, East Peoria, IL (US); and Benjamin Barbier, Grenoble (FR)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/449,899.
Prior Publication US 2023/0109258 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B66C 23/44 (2006.01); B66C 23/76 (2006.01); F16L 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B66C 23/44 (2013.01) [B66C 23/76 (2013.01); F16L 1/065 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipelayer machine, comprising:
a machine chassis;
a towing winch assembly coupled to the machine chassis;
an operator cabin, supported by the machine chassis, comprising:
a seat assembly of the operator cabin, and
an opening of the operator cabin;
an engine supported by the machine chassis;
a boom coupled to the machine chassis; and
a winch tower associated with the boom,
wherein the pipelayer machine comprises:
a front portion defined in a direction of forward travel of the machine chassis, and
a rear portion defined in a direction of reverse travel of the machine chassis,
wherein the towing winch assembly is provided in the front portion of the pipelayer machine,
wherein the operator cabin is provided between the towing winch assembly and the engine,
wherein the towing winch assembly is entirely in front of the operator cabin,
wherein the winch tower is provided between the towing winch assembly and the seat assembly of the operator cabin,
wherein the boom is provided adjacent to a lateral surface that is on same side as the opening of the operator cabin,
wherein the opening of the operator cabin is adjacent to a rear side of the operator cabin,
wherein a section of the boom includes any portion of the boom that is above a bottom of the opening of the operator cabin, and
wherein an entirety of the section of the boom is entirely in front of an entirety of the opening of the operator cabin.