US 10,718,098 B1Granted

Stand-on or walk-behind utility loader with variable length lift arm assembly

AssigneeThe Toro Company

InventorsJoseph P. Hager, Timothy J. Berg, David A. Murray, Caleb A. Olson, Scott T. Hoffman, Jeffrey R. Frank

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Abstract

A utility loader incorporating a boom of adjustable length. The boom may include either or both of a left and right lift arm assembly, with each lift arm assembly including a rear lift arm that telescopically receives a front lift arm. Each lift arm assembly also includes an extension actuator adapted to telescopically extend and retract its front lift arm relative to its rear lift arm. A detection system may be provided and adapted to limit lift arm assembly extension based at least in part upon a load applied at a tool supported by the boom and a relative telescopic location of a front lift arm relative to its associated rear lift arm.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A utility loader comprising:

a lift frame carrying a prime mover, the lift frame including left and right sides;
a track frame comprising ground engaging members, wherein the track frame is pivotally attached to the lift frame at a frame pivot axis such that the lift frame is adapted to pivot relative to the track frame about the frame pivot axis, wherein at least one of the ground engaging members is powered by the prime mover to propel the lift frame over a ground surface, and wherein the frame pivot axis extends transversely between the left and right sides of the lift frame;
a detector operatively connected to one of the lift frame and the track frame, wherein the detector is adapted to detect a threshold pivot position of the lift frame relative to the track frame;
a control console located at or near a rear end of the lift frame, the control console carrying controls adapted to be manipulated by an operator either:
standing on a platform mounted near the rear end of the lift frame;
or walking behind the lift frame;
a lift arm assembly attached to at least one of the left and right sides of the lift frame, wherein the prime mover is positioned on the lift frame at a location lateral to the lift arm assembly, and wherein the lift arm assembly comprises:
an elongate rear lift arm including a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the rear lift arm is pivotally attached to the lift frame at a transverse lift arm pivot axis;
an elongate front lift arm also including a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the front lift arm is telescopically received in the front end of the rear lift arm such that a distance between the rear end of the rear lift arm and the front end of the front lift arm is variable;
and
an extension actuator adapted to extend or retract the front lift arm relative to the rear lift arm;
and
a working tool carried on the front end of the front lift arm.

10 more elements

A utility loader comprising:

a lift frame carrying a prime mover;
a track frame comprising ground engaging members, wherein the track frame is movably attached to the lift frame, wherein at least one of the ground engaging members is powered by the prime mover to propel the lift frame over a ground surface;
a proximity sensor operatively connected to one of the lift frame and the track frame;
a target operatively connected to the other of the lift frame and the track frame;
a control console located at or near a rear end of the lift frame, the control console carrying controls adapted to be manipulated by an operator either:
standing on a platform mounted near the rear end of the lift frame;
or walking behind the lift frame;
left and right lift arm assemblies attached to left and rights sides of the lift frame, respectively, wherein the prime mover is located at a position on the lift frame that is between the left and right lift arm assemblies, and wherein each of the left and right lift arm assemblies comprises:
an elongate rear lift arm including a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the rear lift arm is pivotally attached to the respective side of the lift frame at a transverse lift arm pivot axis;
an elongate front lift arm also including a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the front lift arm is telescopically received in the front end of the rear lift arm such that a distance between the rear end of the rear lift arm and the front end of the front lift arm is variable;
and
an extension actuator adapted to extend or retract the front lift arm relative to the rear lift arm;
and
a working tool carried on the front ends of the front lift arms, wherein the proximity sensor is adapted to detect proximity to the target when a load applied at the working tool creates a moment on the lift frame relative to the track frame that exceeds a predetermined threshold moment.

11 more elements

A utility loader comprising:

a lift frame comprising a front end and a rear end, the lift frame carrying a prime mover;
a track frame comprising ground engaging members, wherein the track frame is pivotally attached to the lift frame such that the track frame pivots, relative to the lift frame, about a front pivot axis proximate the front end of the lift frame, the track frame further comprising an arm pivotally and translatably connected to the lift frame at a rear track pivot;
a detector connected with one of the lift frame and the arm, the detector located proximate the rear end of the lift frame;
a target connected with the other of the lift frame and the arm;
a platform attached to the rear end of the lift frame;
a control console located at or near the rear end of the lift frame;
left and right lift arm assemblies attached to left and rights sides of the lift frame, respectively, wherein each of the left and right lift arm assemblies comprises:
an elongate rear lift arm including a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the rear lift arm is pivotally attached to the respective side of the lift frame at a transverse lift arm pivot axis;
an elongate front lift arm also including a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the front lift arm is telescopically received in the front end of the rear lift arm such that a distance between the rear end of the rear lift arm and the front end of the front lift arm is variable;
a lift actuator connected to the lift frame and to the rear lift arm, the lift actuator adapted to pivot the rear lift arm relative to the lift frame about the transverse lift arm pivot axis;
an extension actuator connected to the rear lift arm and the front lift arm, the extension actuator adapted to extend and retract the front lift arm relative to the rear lift arm;
and
a working tool carried on the front ends of the left and right front lift arms, wherein the detector is adapted to detect the target when a force applied at the working tool creates a moment about the front pivot axis that exceeds a predetermined threshold moment.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/465,980Filed 22 Mar 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Mar 2016
Granted: 21 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

E02F 3/3414
With bucket-arms , i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms directly pivoted on the frames of…:…
B66F 9/0655
Non-masted: with a telescopic boom
B66F 9/07577
Propulsion arrangements: not supported by wheels, e.g. tracks or air cushions
B66F 17/003
Safety devices, e.g. for limiting or indicating lifting force: for fork-lift trucks