Mechanical drive control for loaders
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorCraig Roske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are power systems, and power machines employing the power systems, having dual in-line pumps configured to supply hydraulic fluid to respective left and right side travel motors of the power machine. In some exemplary embodiments, pump pintle arm controls and a single centering mechanism for the pintle arm controls are provided. The single centering mechanism is configured to center the pintle arms for each of the two pumps. Also in some exemplary embodiments, a mechanical control linkage configuration allows the separate pump pintle arm controls to be positioned on a side of the pump substantially one behind the other. This allows hydraulic connections to the pumps to be placed on top of the pump assembly, improving the routing of hydraulic hoses in the power machine.
Claims9
A power machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a cab pivotally mounted to the frame such that the cab can be pivoted relative to the frame;
- and
- a power conversion system, the power conversion system comprising:
- a hydraulic pump assembly coupled to the frame;
- first and second mechanical control linkages coupled to the hydraulic pump assembly;
- mechanical controls mounted in the cab and configured to pivot with the cab relative to the frame, the mechanical controls including first and second control levers;
- and
- releasable junctions between the mechanical controls mounted in the cab and the first and second mechanical control linkages, the releasable junctions configured to translate movement of the first and second control levers, respectively, to the first and second mechanical control linkages when the cab is in a lowered position relative to the frame, wherein the releasable junctions are configured to break a connection between the mechanical controls mounted in the cab and the first and second mechanical control linkages when the cab is pivoted to a position away from the lowered position;
- a first adjustment arm pivotally coupled to the first mechanical control linkage and operably coupled to a first steering bellcrank to translate motion of the first control lever to the first mechanical control linkage;
- a second adjustment arm pivotally coupled to the second mechanical control linkage and operably coupled to a second steering bellcrank to translate motion of the second control lever to the second mechanical control linkage;
- wherein the first and second adjustment arms include adjusting cross-bolts to calibrate particular positions of the first and second control levers to desired hydraulic pump assembly outputs.
A power machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a cab pivotally mounted to the frame such that the cab can be pivoted relative to the frame;
- and
- a power conversion system, the power conversion system comprising:
- a hydraulic pump assembly having a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump assembly coupled to the frame;
- first and second fixed length mechanical control linkages pivotally coupled to the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump, respectively;
- mechanical controls mounted in the cab and configured to pivot with the cab relative to the frame, the mechanical controls including first and second control levers;
- and
- releasable junctions between the mechanical controls mounted in the cab and the first and second fixed length mechanical control linkages, the releasable junctions configured to translate independent movement of the first and second control levers, respectively, to the first and second fixed length mechanical control linkages when the cab is in a lowered position relative to the frame, wherein the releasable junctions are configured to break a connection between the mechanical controls mounted in the cab and the first and second fixed length mechanical control linkages when the cab is pivoted to a position away from the lowered position;
- a first adjustment arm pivotally coupled to the first fixed length mechanical control linkage using a first torsion bushing to translate motion of the first control lever to the first fixed length mechanical control linkage;
- a second adjustment arm pivotally coupled to the second fixed length mechanical control linkage using a second torsion bushing to translate motion of the second control lever to the fixed length second mechanical control linkage;
- wherein the first and second adjustment arms include adjusting mechanisms to calibrate particular positions of the first and second control levers to desired hydraulic pump assembly outputs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.