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US 10,202,266 B2Granted
Low profile compact tool carriers
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsBrad Thomas, Louis Hartke, Greg Langenfeld, Matt Hutchinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compact tool carriers having a loader mounted to a low-profile mainframe are disclosed. In some embodiments, the pivot points of the mainframe about which the loader is pivoted are low relative to the mainframe to reduce the mainframe size and to lower the center of gravity to improve the stability of the compact tool carrier during use.
Claims27
A loader apparatus configured for standing operator control and comprising:
- a loader adapted to carry a tool, the loader being moveable between a down position and a vertically raised position;
- a loader support for supporting the loader, the loader support having a first side and a second side, the loader being free from direct attachment to the loader support;
- a first linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the loader support at a first linkage pivot point;
- a second linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the loader support at a second linkage pivot point;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the first side of the loader support at an actuator pivot point;
- a control station having operator controls for propelling the loader apparatus forward and for raising and lowering the loader;
- and
- an operator platform for standing operation of the operator controls of the control station, the operator platform being located toward a rear of the loader apparatus such that the first linkage pivot point, second linkage pivot point, and the actuator pivot point are disposed forward of the operator platform, the first linkage pivot point, second linkage pivot point, and the actuator pivot point being disposed below the operator controls of the control station.
5 more elements
A loader apparatus for standing or walk-behind operator control and comprising:
- a control station having operator controls toward a rear of the loader apparatus;
- a loader adapted to carry a tool, the loader being moveable between a down position and a vertically raised position;
- a rigid frame for supporting the control station and the loader, the rigid frame having a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom;
- a first linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the rigid frame at a first pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader at a second pivot point;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the first side of the rigid frame at a third pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader at a fourth pivot point;
- and
- a second linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the rigid frame at a fifth pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader at a sixth pivot point, wherein, as the loader travels from the down position to the vertically raised position, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pivot points are (1) disposed between the operator controls and the bottom of the rigid frame and/or (2) disposed forward of the control station.
4 more elements
A loader apparatus for standing or walk-behind operator control and comprising:
- a loader adapted to carry a tool;
- a loader support for supporting the loader, the loader support having a first side and a second side, the loader being free from direct attachment to the loader support;
- a linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the loader support at a first pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader at a second pivot point;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the first side of the loader support at a third pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader at a fourth pivot point;
- and
- a drive mechanism for propelling the loader apparatus over a supporting surface, the drive mechanism having a drive sprocket defining a rotational axis R, the rotational axis R and a bottom of the first side of the loader support being separated by a vertical distance D5, the loader support comprising a forward-most pivot point with the first pivot point or the third pivot point being the forward-most pivot point, a vertical distance between the rotational axis R and the forward-most pivot point being less than 0.75 D5.
3 more elements
A loader apparatus for standing or walk-behind operator control and comprising:
- a machine structure comprising a mainframe and an upper frame, the machine structure defining a barrier guard;
- a control station having operator controls toward a rear of the loader apparatus;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the mainframe;
- a front linkage pivotally attached to the mainframe;
- a rear linkage pivotally attached to the mainframe;
- and
- a loader adapted to carry a tool, the loader being moveable between a down position and a vertically raised position, the front linkage being pivotally attached to the loader at a front linkage pivot point, the rear linkage being pivotally attached to the loader at a rear linkage pivot point, wherein:
- in the down position, the front linkage pivot point is (1) disposed within the barrier guard and/or (2) disposed forward of the barrier guard;
- and
- as the loader travels from the down position to the vertically raised position, the rear linkage pivot point is (1) disposed within the barrier guard and/or (2) disposed forward of the barrier guard.
7 more elements
A loader apparatus for standing or walk-behind operator control and comprising:
- a machine structure comprising a mainframe and an upper frame, the machine structure defining a barrier guard;
- a control station having operator controls toward a rear of the loader apparatus;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the mainframe;
- a linkage pivotally attached to the mainframe;
- and
- a loader adapted to carry a tool, the loader being moveable between a down position and a vertically raised position, the linkage being pivotally attached to the loader at a linkage pivot point, wherein:
- in the down position, the linkage pivot point is disposed within the barrier guard;
- and
- as the loader travels from the down position to the vertically raised position, the linkage pivot point is (1) disposed within the barrier guard and/or (2) disposed forward of the barrier guard.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.