US 12,480,537 B2
Actuator for machine
Sivakumar Ramanathan, Chennai (IN); Rameshkrishnan Lakshminarayanan, Chennai (IN); and Kurt Steven Goslovich, Naperville, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/658,093.
Prior Publication US 2023/0323902 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B60P 1/00 (2006.01); F15B 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC F15B 15/20 (2013.01) [B60P 1/006 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuator for a machine, the actuator comprising:
a cylinder barrel defining a cylinder end of the actuator;
a piston arrangement concentrically received within the cylinder barrel, the piston arrangement defining a piston end of the actuator;
a first cylinder concentrically received within the cylinder barrel, wherein the first cylinder defines a first cylinder end that is disposed proximate to the cylinder end of the actuator when the actuator is in a retracted position, wherein the first cylinder further defines a first piston end that is disposed proximate to the piston end of the actuator when the actuator is in the retracted position, and wherein the first cylinder end includes a first annular groove and first internal threads in communication with the first annular groove, the first annular groove including a radial surface extending radially inward from the first internal threads to an inner surface of the first cylinder;
a first member threadably coupled to the first internal threads without any retainer rings or welded piston stops therebetween, the first member abutting the radial surface of the first annular groove;
a second cylinder concentrically received within the first cylinder, wherein the second cylinder defines a second cylinder end that is disposed proximate to the first cylinder end when the actuator is in the retracted position, and wherein the second cylinder further defines a second piston end that is disposed proximate to the piston end of the actuator when the actuator is in the retracted position;
a second member coupled to the second cylinder at the second cylinder end;
a third cylinder concentrically received within the second cylinder, wherein the third cylinder receives the piston arrangement therein, wherein the third cylinder defines a third cylinder end that is disposed proximate to the second cylinder end when the actuator is in the retracted position, and wherein the third cylinder further defines a third piston end that is disposed proximate to the piston end of the actuator when the actuator is in the retracted position; and
a third member coupled to the third cylinder at the third cylinder end, wherein at least one of the first member, the second member, and the third member is threadedly coupled to the first cylinder, the second cylinder, and the third cylinder, respectively,
wherein the first member, the second member, and the third member act as an integrated stop that limits or restricts a travel of each of the first cylinder, second cylinder, and third cylinder, respectively.