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US 12,716,190 B2Granted
Loader with improved arm path
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsJason Carlson, John M. Relph, Matthew Shobe, Jeff Welsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims30
A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
- a frame;
- an engine;
- a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of 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 control links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame;
- a pair of 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;
- and
- a cover panel on each side of the CUL that covers a lower portion of one of the rear links and a lower portion of one of hydraulic cylinders, so as to cover connections between the rear link and the hydraulic cylinder to the frame;
- a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to 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;
- and
- a control interface including a graphic display configured to present operational information to a user;
- wherein
- the graphic display is configured to present a login screen prompting the user for a passcode;
- and
- the engine is prevented from being started until a valid passcode is entered via the control interface.
14 more elements
A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
- a frame;
- a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of 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 control links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame;
- a pair of 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 associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to 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 cover panel on each side of the CUL that covers a lower portion of one of the rear links and a lower portion of one of hydraulic cylinders, so as to cover connections between the rear link and the hydraulic cylinder to the frame;
- and
- a pair of drive sprockets positioned on each side of the frame;
- wherein
- a pivot pin connection rotatably securing one of the control links to the frame is located above the tracks and is positioned closer to the drive sprockets than to a front end of the tracks.
10 more elements
A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
- a frame;
- a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of 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 control links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame;
- a pair of 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 associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to 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;
- and
- a cover panel on each side of the CUL that covers a lower portion of one of the rear links and a lower portion of one of hydraulic cylinders, so as to cover connections between the rear link and the hydraulic cylinder to the frame;
- wherein
- a pin connection coupled between one of the hydraulic cylinders and the frame and/or the cover panel is located rearward of a rear end of the tracks.
9 more elements
A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
- a frame;
- a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of 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 pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to 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;
- an engine;
- and
- a fuel tank located forward of the engine.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.