Attachment mounting for end loader

For a tractor vehicle having lift arms pivoted on the vehicle, an attachment mounting comprising a mounting frame pivoted on the lift arms, a carrier provided on an attachment of the type where the lift arms are idle with the attachment in a work position, the carrier adapted to be connected to the mounting frame, the lift arms and the mounting frame supporting the majority of the weight of the attachment in the work position, and a stabilizing element enabling the attachment to be transferred to a work position by manipulating the lift arms and mounting frame including a structure extending rearwardly from the attachment and bridging between the attachment and vehicle above the mounting frame when the attachment is in a work position, said structure comprising a pair of rearwardly extending rail members spaced laterally a distance apart less than the spacing between said lift arms, said lift arms being pivotally mounted adjacent the rear of the vehicle and extending forwardly along side the operator's compartment and then sharply downwardly at the front of the vehicle, a latching means operable between each rail member and said vehicle to lock the attachment to the vehicle and locate the lift arms and mounting frame and attachment carried thereby in fixed relation to the vehicle when the attachment is in the work position comprising a hook means engageable with a lug means by downward movement of the structure and a closure pivotally associated with each hook and lug means operable for locking said means in the work position, the latching means permitting the attachment to be readily attached to the vehicle.

The method of mounting an attachment on a tractor vehicle where said vehicle comprises a compact body having an engine at the rear, an operator's compartment in the middle, and a space for the operator's legs at the front, a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted at the rear extending forwardly along side the operator's compartment and abruptly downward at the front of the vehicle in the lowered position, a mounting frame pivoted on the lift arms, lift and tilt cylinders for raising and lowering the lift arms and tilting the mounting frame controlled by foot pedals in the space forward of the operator, an attachment of the type where the lift arms and mounting frame are idle and support the majority of the weight of the attachment when the attachment is in the work position, a carrier provided on the attachment and adapted to be connected to the mounting frame, a rigid structure enabling the attachment to be transferred and located in a work position on the vehicle by manipulating the lift arms and mounting frame under the control of the operator's foot pedals, the method comprising the steps of positioning the rigid structure between the lift arms so as to bridge the distance between the attachment and the vehicle at a level above the mounting frame and a pair of spaced locating devices on the vehicle, lowering the rigid structure into engagement with said locating devices and engaging a latching means to lock said structure and locating devices in ready attachment to the vehicle without requiring the dismounting of the operator from the operator's compartment.