# US 11,991,959 B2 · Work implement, work vehicle and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,991,959 B2 - Document ID: US11991959B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/005,437 - Filed: 2020-08-28 - Published: 2021-04-01 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-27 - Assignees: Komatsu America Corp. - Applicants: Komatsu America Corp. - Inventors: William Schierschmidt; Miteshkumar Patel; Andre Lacoursiere - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11991959B2 ## CPC - A01G 23/091: Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees (A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence) - A01G 23/081: Feller-bunchers, i.e. with bunching by felling head (A01G23/083 takes precedence) - E02F 3/369: {Devices to connect parts of a boom or an arm (devices to connect booms or arms to tractors E02F3/627)} - E02F 3/963: {Arrangements on backhoes for alternate use of different tools (backhoes per se E02F3/30; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627)} - E02F 9/003: {Devices for transporting the soil-shifting machines or excavators, e.g. by pushing them or by hitching them to a tractor} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A work implement for a work vehicle includes a boom having a chassis attachment end and an arm attachment end, an arm including a boom attachment end and a tool attachment end, and a work tool coupled to the tool attachment end of the arm. The boom attachment end is pivotally coupled to the arm attachment end of the boom. At least one of the boom and the arm includes a first portion and a second portion movably coupled to the first portion between a first orientation with respect to the first portion and a second orientation with respect to the first portion. At least one fastener is coupled between the first and second portions to selectively secure the second portion in the first orientation and the second orientation with respect to the first portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A work implement comprising: a boom including a chassis attachment end and an arm attachment end; an arm including a boom attachment end and a tool attachment end, the boom attachment end being pivotally coupled to the arm attachment end of the boom; and a work tool coupled to the tool attachment end of the arm, the arm including a first portion and a second portion movably coupled to the first portion between a first orientation with respect to the first portion and a second orientation with respect to the first portion, the first portion is a first arm portion having the boom attachment end and the second portion is a second arm portion having the tool attachment end, and at least one fastener being coupled between the first and second portions to selectively secure the second portion in the first orientation and the second orientation with respect to the first portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second orientations is a retracted orientation, and another of the first and second orientations is an extended orientation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is pivotally attached to the first portion such that the second portion pivots relative to the first portion about a pivot point between the first and second orientations. ### Claim 4 The work implement according to 1, wherein one of the first and second portions includes a first stop having a first stop surface, and another of the first and second portions includes a first abutment arranged to contact the first stop surface in the first orientation, and one of the first and second portions includes a second stop having a second stop surface, and another of the first and second portions includes a second abutment arranged to contact the second stop surface in the second orientation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The work implement according to claim 4, wherein the first stop surface is adjustably arranged relative to the first abutment in the first orientation, and the second stop surface is adjustably arranged relative to the second abutment in the second orientation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The work implement according to claim 5, wherein the first stop includes a first cam having the first stop surface, the first stop surface being movably arranged between at least two different positions, and the second stop includes a second cam having the second stop surface, the second stop surface being movably arranged between at least two different positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The work implement according to claim 6, wherein the first cam is pivotally mounted on a first pivot pin, the first cam is non-rotatably mountable in the different positions using a first lock pin, and the first stop surface is spaced different distances from the first pivot pin in each of the different positions, and the second cam is pivotally mounted on a second pivot pin, the second cam is non-rotatably mountable in the different positions using a second lock pin, and the second stop surface is spaced different distances from the second pivot pin in each of the different positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The work implement according to claim 7, wherein one of the first cam and the one of the first and second portions that includes the first stop has a number of first mounting holes corresponding to the number of positions of the first stop surface, and one of the second cam and the one of the first and second portions that includes the second stop has a number of second mounting holes corresponding to the number of positions of the second stop surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second portions includes first and second fastener openings, another of the first and second portions includes a common fastener opening, the fastener is received in the first fastener opening and the common fastener opening when the second portion is in the first orientation with respect to the first portion, and the fastener is received in the second fastener opening and the common fastener opening when the second portion is in the second orientation with respect to the first portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The work implement according to claim 9, wherein first portion includes the first and second fastener openings, and the second portion includes the common fastener opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The work implement according to claim 9, wherein at least one cover is arranged to cover the first fastener opening when the second portion is in the second orientation with respect to the first portion, and the second fastener opening when the second portion is in the first orientation with respect to the first portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein the first arm portion has a first length and the second arm portion has a second length shorter than the first length. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The work implement according to claim 12, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is substantially collinear with the first portion in one of the first and second orientations, and the second portion is angled about 90 degrees relative to the first portion in another of the first and second orientations. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein the boom has a length of at least four meters, and the arm has a length of at least four meters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The work implement according to claim 1, wherein the work tool includes a harvester head. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A work vehicle including the work implement according to claim 1, the work vehicle further comprising: a ground propulsion apparatus; a chassis supported by the ground propulsion apparatus; and a vehicle body supported by the chassis, the chassis attachment end of the boom being attached to at least one of the chassis and vehicle body. ### Claim 18 A method of moving a portion of a work implement of a work vehicle, the work implement including a boom, an arm and a work tool, the method comprising: releasing at least one fastener holding a second portion of the arm in a first orientation with respect to a first portion of the arm, the first portion being a first arm portion having a boom attachment end and the second portion being a second arm portion having a tool attachment end; moving the second portion from the first orientation to a second orientation different from the first orientation; attaching the fastener to hold the second portion of the arm in the second orientation with respect to the first portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the first arm portion has a first length and the second arm portion has a second length shorter than the first length. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length. ### Claim 21 A work implement comprising: a boom including a chassis attachment end and an arm attachment end; an arm including a boom attachment end and a tool attachment end, the boom attachment end being pivotally coupled to the arm attachment end of the boom; and a work tool coupled to the tool attachment end of the arm, at least one of the boom and the arm including a first portion and a second portion movably coupled to the first portion between a first orientation with respect to the first portion and a second orientation with respect to the first portion, and at least one fastener being coupled between the first and second portions to selectively secure the second portion in the first orientation and the second orientation with respect to the first portion, one of the first and second portions including a first stop having a first stop surface, and another of the first and second portions including a first abutment arranged to contact the first stop surface in the first orientation, and one of the first and second portions including a second stop having a second stop surface, and another of the first and second portions including a second abutment arranged to contact the second stop surface in the second orientation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The work implement according to claim 21, wherein the first stop surface is adjustably arranged relative to the first abutment in the first orientation, and the second stop surface is adjustably arranged relative to the second abutment in the second orientation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The work implement according to claim 22, wherein the first stop includes a first cam having the first stop surface, the first stop surface being movably arranged between at least two different positions, and the second stop includes a second cam having the second stop surface, the second stop surface being movably arranged between at least two different positions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The work implement according to claim 23, wherein the first cam is pivotally mounted on a first pivot pin, the first cam is non-rotatably mountable in the different positions using a first lock pin, and the first stop surface is spaced different distances from the first pivot pin in each of the different positions, and the second cam is pivotally mounted on a second pivot pin, the second cam is non-rotatably mountable in the different positions using a second lock pin, and the second stop surface is spaced different distances from the second pivot pin in each of the different positions. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The work implement according to claim 24, wherein one of the first cam and the one of the first and second portions that includes the first stop has a number of first mounting holes corresponding to the number of positions of the first stop surface, and one of the second cam and the one of the first and second portions that includes the second stop has a number of second mounting holes corresponding to the number of positions of the second stop surface.