US 12,442,153 B2
Dipper handle assembly
Cristian Zaharia, Marana, AZ (US); Michael W. Haws, Wind Point, WI (US); Aruna Kinjarapu, Oro Valley, AZ (US); Vladimir A. Korchagin, Tucson, AZ (US); and James G. Jamilosa, Waipahu, HI (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Tucson, AZ (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/558,987.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193584 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. E02F 3/36 (2006.01); E02F 3/30 (2006.01); E02F 3/38 (2006.01); E02F 3/58 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 3/3677 (2013.01) [E02F 3/303 (2013.01); E02F 3/38 (2013.01); E02F 3/58 (2013.01); E02F 3/308 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dipper handle assembly, comprising:
a tube; and
a yoke coupled to the tube, the yoke comprising:
a collar extending along a collar axis, wherein a crowd pin aperture extends through the collar along a crowd pin aperture axis normal to the collar axis;
a transition portion coupled to the collar, the transition portion extends outwardly from the collar at an oblique angle to distribute operational load stresses;
a first arm comprising a first arm proximal end coupled to the transition portion and a first arm distal end spaced from the first arm proximal end;
a first dipper pin lug disposed adjacent the first arm distal end and defining a first dipper pin lug aperture;
a first pitch brace lug located intermediate the first arm proximal end and the first arm distal end and defining a first pitch brace lug aperture; and
a second arm comprising a second arm proximal end coupled to the transition portion and a second arm distal end spaced from the second arm proximal end, wherein the second arm is spaced from the first arm;
a second dipper pin lug disposed adjacent the second arm distal end and defining a second dipper pin lug aperture, wherein the first dipper pin lug aperture and the second dipper pin lug aperture are aligned along a dipper pin aperture axis extending parallel to the crowd pin aperture axis; and
a second pitch brace lug located intermediate the second arm proximal end and the second arm distal end and defining a second pitch brace lug aperture, wherein the first pitch brace lug aperture and the second pitch brace lug aperture are disposed along a pitch brace aperture axis extending parallel to the crowd pin aperture axis; and
wherein:
a first virtual reference line extends between the crowd pin aperture axis and the dipper pin aperture axis;
a second virtual reference line extends between the crowd pin aperture axis and the pitch brace aperture axis; and
an included angle α between the first virtual reference line and the second virtual reference line is between approximately 25 to approximately 51 degrees.