Utility whisker broom
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorsMichal Slaby, Vaclav J. Jelinek, Michael L. Vought
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first work tool arm is rotatably attached to a frame or reference structure, a second work tool arm rotatably attached to the first work tool arm, and a work tool attached to an end of the second work tool arm. An actuator and a spring are each rotatably attached to the second work tool arm and configured such that separate movement of the first work tool arm relative to the frame or reference structure and movement of the second work tool arm and work tool relative to the first work tool arm are achieved with actuation of the actuator.
Claims20
A work element configured for use with an implement of a power machine, the work element comprising:
- a work element lift arm configured to be pivotally coupled to the implement of the power machine;
- a work tool arm assembly pivotally coupled to the work element lift arm, the work tool arm assembly including at least two work tool arms and a connecting member fixedly attached between the at least two work tool arms at first locations;
- a work tool attached to the work tool arm assembly;
- a work element actuator pivotally coupled to the work tool arm assembly at a second location which is separate from the first locations and configured to be pivotally coupled to the implement of the power machine;
- and
- a biasing mechanism coupled between the work element lift arm and the work tool arm assembly and configured to establish a priority of movement of the work element lift arm and the work tool arm assembly responsive to actuation of the work element actuator such that the work element actuator is configured to selectively pivotally move the work element lift arm relative to the implement of the power machine by one of retraction and extension of the work element actuator and such that the work element actuator is configured to selectively pivotally move the work tool arm assembly relative to the work element lift arm by the other of retraction and extension of the work element actuator because the biasing mechanism biases the work tool arm assembly and thereby causes the work tool arm assembly to require less force to move than the work element lift arm.
An implement configured to be mounted on a power machine lift arm, the implement comprising:
- a bucket;
- a work element lift arm pivotally coupled to the bucket;
- a work tool arm assembly pivotally coupled to the work element lift arm, the work tool arm assembly including at least two work tool arms and a connecting member fixedly attached between the at least two work tool arms;
- a work tool attached to the work tool arm assembly;
- a work element actuator pivotally coupled to the work tool arm assembly and to the bucket;
- and
- a biasing mechanism coupled between the work element lift arm and the work tool arm assembly and configured to establish a priority of movement of the work element lift arm and the work tool arm assembly responsive to actuation of the work element actuator such that when neither of the work element lift arm and the work tool arm assembly are positioned to have travel prevented by stops, one of retraction and extension of the work element actuator causes rotation of the work tool arm assembly relative to the work element lift arm, and the other of retraction and extension of the work element actuator causes rotation of the work element lift arm relative to the bucket.
A method of controlling a work element, the work element having a work element lift arm pivotally coupled to an implement, a work tool arm pivotally coupled to the work element lift arm, a work tool attached to the work tool arm, and a biasing mechanism coupled between the work tool arm and the work element lift arm, the method comprising:
- retracting and extending a work element actuator pivotally coupled to the work tool arm and to the implement;
- and
- using the biasing mechanism to establish priority of movement between the work element lift arm and the work tool arm such that:
- when neither of the work element lift arm and the work tool arm are positioned to have travel prevented by a stop mechanism, retraction of the work element actuator causes rotation of the work tool arm relative to the work element lift arm, and extension of the work element actuator causes rotation of the work element lift arm relative to the implement;
- when movement of the work element lift arm is prevented by a first stop mechanism during extension of the work element actuator, further extension of the work element actuator causes rotation of the work tool arm relative to the work element lift arm;
- and
- when movement of the work tool arm is prevented by a second stop mechanism during retraction of the work element actuator, further retraction of the work element actuator causes rotation of the work element lift arm relative to the implement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.