# US 12,000,107 B1 · Loader with improved arm path > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,107 B1 - Document ID: US12000107B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/425,616 - Filed: 2024-01-29 - Published: 2024-05-23 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-29 - Assignees: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. - Applicants: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. - Inventors: Jason Carlson; John M. Relph; Matthew Shobe; Jeff Welsh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000107B1 ## CPC - E02F 3/382: {Connections to the frame; Supports for booms or arms (devices to connect booms or arms to tractors or similar machines E02F3/627; pivot joint assemblies in particular E02F9/006)} - B60K 5/12: Arrangement of engine supports - B62D 51/02: the driver standing in the vehicle - B62D 55/06: with tracks without ground wheels - B62D 55/10: Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - B62D 55/125: Final drives - B62D 55/18: Tracks (self-cleaning track links B62D55/088) - E02F 3/34: with bucket-arms {, i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms (with a single arm E02F3/283)} directly pivoted on the frames of tractors or self-propelled machines - E02F 3/3405: {and comprising an additional linkage mechanism} - E02F 3/3414: {the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader} - E02F 3/3417: {Buckets emptying by tilting (E02F3/342, E02F3/345 take precedence)} - E02F 3/342: Buckets emptying overhead (E02F3/348 - E02F3/358 take precedence) - E02F 3/422: {Drive systems for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like} - E02F 9/02: Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears ({drives therefor E02F9/20}; for motor vehicles B60B, B60G; undercarriages for locomotives or railroad cars B61F; track-laying vehicles B62D; for cranes B66C23/18) - E02F 9/08: Superstructures; Supports for superstructures {(arrangements for travelling gear, e.g. undercarriages for wheels, crawlers, caterpillars E02F9/02; for motor vehicles B62D25/00, B62D33/00)} - E02F 9/0808: {Improving mounting or assembling, e.g. frame elements, disposition of all the components on the superstructures (for disposition of specific components, E02F9/0858)} - E02F 9/0866: {Engine compartment, e.g. heat exchangers, exhaust filters, cooling devices, silencers, mufflers, position of hydraulic pumps in the engine compartment} - E02F 9/0891: {Lids or bonnets or doors or details thereof (doors for cabins E02F9/163 takes precedence; for motor vehicles B62D25/10)} - E02F 9/2004: {Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers (control levers per se G05G)} - E02F 9/2037: {Coordinating the movements of the implement and of the frame} - E02F 9/22: Hydraulic or pneumatic drives {(for dipper or bucket arm position control E02F3/43, for blade position control for graders E02F3/844; for turntables E02F9/121; for fork-lift trucks B66F9/22)} - E02F 9/2221: {Control of flow rate; Load sensing arrangements (E02F9/2203 take precedence over E02F9/2221)} - E02F 9/2267: {Valves or distributors (position of valves arrangements on upper-structures E02F9/0875)} - E02F 9/26: Indicating devices {(E02F5/145 takes precedence)} - F16D 63/006: {Positive locking brakes} - E02F 9/2264: {Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A compact utility loader compact utility loader comprising a frame, a first track and a second track positioned on either side of the frame, and a pair of loader arms. The loader arms are configured to couple with an attachment via a hitch plate and a hitch pin. The compact utility loader is configured such that as the loader arms are raised and lowered, the hitch pin follows a path approximately defined by a curve ƒ(x)=4.641e0.34x. The value “x” represents a horizontal direction and the function f(x) represents a vertical direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stand-on compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety attachments, the CUL comprising: a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a user while operating the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a pair of front and rear links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each associated with one of the loader arms and configured to shift the loader arms between the lowered and raised positions; a pair of pivot pins each associated with one of the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins are configured to connect the attachments to the front of the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position; a pair of drive motors fixed to opposite sides of the frame; and a pair of drive sprockets, each directly attached to one of the drive motors, wherein each of the drive sprockets comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially outward and configured to engage and drive one track from the pair of tracks. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stand-on CUL of claim 1, wherein the curved travel path has an inflection point at an intermediate height between the base position and the maximum height position, wherein, at the inflection point, the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally away from the base position as the loader arms are raised toward the intermediate height to moving horizontally closer to the base position as the loader arms are raised above the intermediate height. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The stand-on CUL of claim 2, wherein the maximum horizontal reach of the pivot pins is at the intermediate height. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stand-on CUL of claim 1, wherein each of the drive motors comprises a main motor body fixed to the frame and a rotating drive component extending from the main motor body and rotatable relative to the main motor body, wherein each of the drive sprockets is directly attached to the rotating drive component of one of the drive motors via at least one nut. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stand-on CUL of claim 4, wherein the rotating drive component of each drive motor comprises a shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The stand-on CUL of claim 4, wherein a portion of the rotating drive component that extends from the main motor body of each drive motor is monolithic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The stand-on CUL of claim 6, wherein each of the drive sprockets is monolithic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The stand-on CUL of claim 7, wherein each of the drive sprockets is directly attached to one of the rotating drive components by a single nut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stand-on CUL of claim 1, wherein each of the drive sprockets comprises (i) a circular base with a plurality of teeth extending radially outward therefrom and configured to be engaged with the one track from the pair of tracks, and (ii) a hub positioned radially inward from the base and configured to be coupled with one of the drive motors, wherein the hub is positioned laterally outward with respect to the base. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The stand-on CUL of claim 9, wherein each of the drive sprockets comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced spokes connecting the hub to the base, wherein the spokes extend laterally outward from the base to the hub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The stand-on CUL of claim 9, wherein each of the drive sprockets has a conical shape that tapers from the base to the hub. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The stand-on CUL of claim 1, further comprising a front idler wheel and a rear idler wheel associated with one track from the pair of tracks, wherein the drive sprocket associated with the one track is positioned forward of the rear idler wheel and elevated higher than the rear idler wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The stand-on CUL of claim 12, wherein the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel are horizontally spaced from one another by a first length, wherein a midpoint of the first length is positioned evenly between the front and rear idler wheels, wherein a center of gravity of the CUL is located rearward of the midpoint by at least 15% of the first length. ### Claim 14 A stand-on compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety attachments, the CUL comprising: a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a user while operating the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a pair of front and rear links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each associated with one of the loader arms and configured to shift the loader arms between the lowered and raised positions; a pair of pivot pins each associated with one of the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins are configured to connect the attachments to the front of the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position; a drive motor comprising a main motor body fixed to the frame and a rotating drive component extending from the main motor body and rotatable relative to the main motor body; and a toothed sprocket directly attached to the rotating drive component of the drive motor, wherein the toothed sprocket comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially outward and configured to engage and drive one track from the pair of tracks. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The stand-on CUL of claim 14, wherein the rotating drive component is monolithic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The stand-on CUL of claim 14, wherein the toothed sprocket is monolithic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The stand-on CUL of claim 14, wherein the rotating drive component comprises a shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The stand-on CUL of claim 17, wherein the shaft has an end configured for attachment with the toothed sprocket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The stand-on CUL of claim 14, wherein the toothed sprocket is directly attached to the rotating drive component by at least one nut. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The stand-on CUL of claim 19, wherein the toothed sprocket is directly attached to the rotating drive component by a single nut. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The stand-on CUL of claim 14, wherein the toothed sprocket comprises (i) a circular base with the plurality of teeth extending radially outward therefrom and configured to be engaged with the one track from the pair of tracks, and (ii) a hub positioned radially inward from the base and configured to be coupled with the rotating drive component of the drive motor, wherein the hub is positioned laterally outward with respect to the base. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The stand-on CUL of claim 21, wherein the toothed sprocket has a conical shape. ### Claim 23 A stand-on compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety attachments, the CUL comprising: a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a user while operating the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a pair of front and rear links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each associated with one of the loader arms and configured to shift the loader arms between the lowered and raised positions; a pair of pivot pins each associated with one of the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins are configured to connect the attachments to the front of the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position; a drive motor fixed to the frame; and a drive sprocket attached to the drive motor and configured to engage and drive one track from the pair of tracks, wherein the drive sprocket comprises (i) a circular base with a plurality of teeth extending radially outward therefrom and configured to be engaged with the one track from the pair of tracks, and (ii) a hub positioned radially inward from the base and configured to be coupled with the drive motor, wherein the hub is positioned laterally outward with respect to the base. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The stand-on CUL of claim 23, wherein the drive sprocket is directly connected to the drive motor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The stand-on CUL of claim 23, wherein the drive motor comprises a main motor body fixed to the frame and a rotating drive component extending from the main motor body and rotatable relative to the main motor body. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The stand-on CUL of claim 25, wherein the rotating drive component comprises a shaft. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The stand-on CUL of claim 25, wherein the drive sprocket is directly attached to the rotating drive component by at least one nut. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The stand-on CUL of claim 27, wherein the drive sprocket is directly attached to the rotating drive component by a single nut. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The stand-on CUL of claim 23, wherein the drive sprocket comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced spokes connecting the hub to the base, wherein the spokes extend laterally outward from the base to the hub. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The stand-on CUL of claim 23, wherein the drive sprocket has a conical shape.