Structural member of a work machine

Abstract

Structural members of work machines experience heavy forces and the structural member must be able to endure such heavy forces, but must also be sufficiently light to prevent the work machine from using most of its available power to manipulate the structural member. The present apparatus facilitates the heavy-duty construction along with a reduced weight by comprising top and bottom portions, a middle portion attached between and substantially perpendicular with the top and bottom portions, and a primary coupling formed at a first-end portion of the structural member and extending from at least one of the top, bottom, and middle portions to define a substantially I-shaped structural member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structural member of a work machine, the structural member having first and second-end portions, comprising: 
 a body having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a middle portion, the top and bottom portions having longitudinal centerlines, the middle portion positioned between and substantially perpendicular with the top and bottom portions and positioned substantially at the longitudinal centerline of at least one of the top and bottom portions; and    a primary coupling formed with the body at the first-end portion and extending from at least one of the top, bottom, and middle portions.    
     
     
         2 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a substantial I-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         3 . The structural member of  claim 2 , wherein the top, bottom, and middle portions consist of respective top, bottom, and middle plates.  
     
     
         4 . The structural member of  claim 3 , further including a secondary coupling formed with the body at the second-end portion and extending from at least one of the top, bottom, and middle plates.  
     
     
         5 . The structural member of  claim 4 , wherein the primary and secondary couplings extend from each of the top, bottom, and middle plates.  
     
     
         6 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a curvilinear portion positioned a predetermined distance from the first-end portion and a predetermined distance from the second-end portion, the predetermined distance from the second-end portion being greater than the predetermined distance from the first-end portion.  
     
     
         7 . The structural member of  claim 1 , wherein the structural member has a midpoint defined between the first and second-end portions and further includes top and bottom mounts wherein the top mount is positioned between the midpoint and the second-end portion and the bottom mount is positioned substantially at the midpoint.  
     
     
         8 . A work machine, comprising: 
 a frame;    a first member having first and second end portions, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a middle portion, the top and bottom portions having longitudinal centerlines, the middle portion positioned between and substantially perpendicular with the top and bottom portions and positioned substantially at the longitudinal centerline of at least one of the top and bottom portions;    a second member;    a primary coupling defined at the first-end portion of the first member for pivotable attachment with the frame; and    a secondary coupling defined at the second-end portion of the first member for pivotable attachment with the second member.    
     
     
         9 . The work machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first member has a substantial I-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         10 . The work machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first member is one of a structural member and a stick and the second member is one of a structural member, a stick, and an implement.  
     
     
         11 . The work machine of  claim 8 , wherein the primary coupling and secondary coupling are formed as an integral part of the first member.  
     
     
         12 . The work machine of  claim 8 , wherein the top, bottom, and middle portions of the first member consist of respective top, bottom, and middle plates.  
     
     
         13 . The work machine of  claim 12 , wherein the top and bottom plates include bifurcated legs at the second-end portion, the primary coupling includes a first boss adjacent the middle plate and attached between the top and bottom plates, and the secondary coupling includes an intermediate plate attached between the top and bottom plates, and including a second boss adjacent the intermediate plate and attached between one of the bifurcated legs of the top and bottom plates and a third boss adjacent the intermediate plate and attached between one of the other bifurcated legs of the top and bottom plates.