Attachment frame with pivoting loader arm
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsTodd J. Streck, Mark W. Kiner, Michael D. Buck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulating work vehicle with a radially-pivoting lift arm, attached to a radially-pivoting base. The vehicle has a wheeled back section, on which an operator may stand, and a front, tool-carrying section, connected to the back section by an articulation joint. The front section has a system of actuators. These actuators cause a base tower to pivot relative to a frame, and a loader arm to pivot relative to the base tower. A tool, carried by the loader arm, may be self-levelling, and a bell crank allows the loader arm actuator's reaction point to float relative to the base tower.
Claims17
A lift arm assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a base, pivotally attached to the frame about a substantially horizontal axis;
- a first actuator directly attached at a first end to the base and at a second end to the frame;
- a loader arm pivotally attached to the base about a substantially horizontal axis;
- a second actuator attached at a first end to the loader arm, configured to pivot the loader arm relative to the base;
- and
- a bell crank attached at a center position to the base, and at a distal position to the second actuator at a second end of the second actuator.
A work vehicle, comprising:
- a mainframe, configured for standing operation and having at least one ground-engaging wheel;
- an articulation joint attached to the mainframe;
- a front assembly pivotally attached to the mainframe by the articulation joint and comprising:
- a frame having a plurality of ground-contacting drive members;
- a base, pivotally attached to the frame about a first axis, wherein the first axis is substantially horizontal;
- and
- a loader arm, pivotally attached to the base about a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially horizontal;
- and
- a bell crank having a first end, a second end, and a center attachment point, and wherein:
- the bell crank is attached to the base at the center attachment point;
- and
- the bell crank is attached to the second actuator at the first end.
An articulated work vehicle comprising:
- a main frame;
- a first frame pivotally connected to the main frame about a substantially vertical axis;
- a base section pivotally connected to the first frame about a first substantially horizontal axis;
- a loader arm pivotally connected to the base section about a second substantially horizontal axis;
- a bucket pivotally connected to the loader arm about a third substantially horizontal axis;
- a first actuator directly attached to the first frame and configured to rotate the base section about the first substantially horizontal axis;
- a second actuator attached to the base section and configured to rotate the loader arm about the second substantially horizontal axis;
- a bell crank, having a first connection point, a second connection point, and a third connection point, wherein the second connection point is disposed between the first connection point and the third connection point;
- wherein:
- the second connection point is directly attached to the base section;
- and
- the third connection point is coaxial with an end of the second actuator;
- and
- a third actuator configured to rotate the bucket about the third substantially horizontal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.