Systems and methods for coupling an implement to a work vehicle
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorDaniel Owen Seacat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system configured to couple an implement to a work vehicle includes a first lock assembly coupled to an arm of the work vehicle, and the first lock assembly includes a first lock, a second lock, and a first actuator configured to drive the first lock and the second lock laterally outwardly to engage respective first openings formed in the implement. The system also includes a second lock assembly coupled to a frame of the work vehicle, and the second lock assembly includes a third lock, a fourth lock, and a second actuator configured to drive the third lock and the fourth lock laterally outwardly to engage respective second openings formed in the implement.
Claims19
A system configured to couple an implement to a work vehicle, comprising:
- a first lock assembly coupled to an arm of the work vehicle, wherein the first lock assembly comprises a first lock, a second lock, and a first actuator configured to drive the first lock and the second lock laterally outwardly to engage respective first openings formed in the implement, and wherein the first actuator comprises a double rod cylinder comprising at least one chamber that is configured to receive a fluid, a first piston rod coupled to or integrally formed with the first lock, and a second piston rod coupled to or integrally formed with the second lock
- a second lock assembly coupled to a frame of the work vehicle, wherein the second lock assembly comprises a third lock, a fourth lock, and a second actuator configured to drive the third lock and the fourth lock laterally outwardly to engage respective second openings formed in the implement;
- and
- a third lock assembly coupled to the arm of the work vehicle, wherein the third lock assembly is configured to engage a corresponding mounting portion of another implement via a tipping motion.
A system, comprising:
- an implement comprising:
- a pair of arms;
- and
- a pair of first openings and a pair of second openings, wherein the pair of first openings is located along the pair of arms between a connector positioned at forward end portions of the pair of arms and the pair of second openings positioned proximate to rearward end portions of the pair of arms, wherein the connector is configured to couple to a working component of the implement;
- a work vehicle comprising:
- a first lock assembly coupled to an arm of the work vehicle, wherein the first lock assembly comprises a first lock, a second lock, and a first actuator configured to drive the first lock and the second lock laterally to engage the pair of first openings of the implement to form a first connection between the implement and the arm of the work vehicle;
- and
- a second lock assembly coupled to a frame of the work vehicle, wherein the second lock assembly comprises a third lock, a fourth lock, and a second actuator configured to drive the third lock and the fourth lock laterally to engage the pair of second openings formed in the implement to form a second connection between the implement and the frame of the work vehicle.
A method, comprising:
- aligning a first lock and a second lock of a first lock assembly that is coupled to an arm of a work vehicle with respective first openings of an implement;
- while aligning the first lock and the second lock with the respective first openings, actuating a first actuator of the first lock assembly to drive the first lock and the second lock laterally outwardly to engage the respective first openings of the implement to form a first connection between the implement and the arm of the work vehicle;
- subsequently aligning a third lock and a fourth lock of a second lock assembly that is coupled to a frame of the work vehicle with respective second openings of the implement;
- and
- while aligning the third lock and the fourth lock with the respective second openings, actuating a second actuator to drive the third lock and the fourth lock laterally outwardly to engage the respective second openings of the implement to form a second connection between the implement and the frame of the work vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.