Quick change attachment

In a loader boom assembly comprising extending adjustable arms each terminating at a forward portion having an aperture, implement operating links having apertured termination points, mounting pin means for attaching implements to said arms and said links through said apertures, and a detachable work implement having apertures for receiving locking pins and also having second top and bottom mounting pins installed therein, the improvement comprising an implement carrier frame for attaching and carrying said work implement on said loader boom assembly, said implement carrier frame having a left and a right carrier each carrier comprising:

• a carrier having inboard and outboard sidewalls said sidewalls deformed vertically such that said outboard wall is deflected inward toward said inboard wall and said inboard wall is deflected toward said outboard wall while both walls remain parallel and equidistant from each other at their respective forward and rear sections as defined by said vertical deformation;
• and
• said carrier having first top and bottom apertures on said rear section of said inboard and outboard walls for mounting said boom assembly using said first top and bottom mounting pins;
• and
• formed in the forward upper section of said carrier, a connected upper recess defining a saddle for receiving said second top mounting pin of said work implement;
• and
• formed in the lower forward section of said carrier, a connected lower recess defining a slot for aligning with said second bottom mounting pin of said work implement;
• an automatic locking mechanism fixedly attached to said rear section of said outboard wall of said carrier with the front portion of said automatic locking mechanism offset outwardly from the forward section of said outboard wall of said carrier;
• and
• a kickoff means mounted on said loader boom assembly for initiating locking action through interaction with said automatic locking mechanism when said carrier is rolled back past the vertical using the implement operating links.

In a loader boom assembly comprising extending adjustable arms each terminating at a forward portion having an aperture, implement operating links having apertured termination points, first mounting pin means for attaching implements to said arms and said links through said apertures, and a detachable work implement having apertures for receiving locking pins and also having second top and bottom mounting pins installed therein, the improvement comprising an implement carrier frame for attaching and carrying said work implement on said loader boom assembly, said implement carrier frame comprising:

• a pair of carriers having inboard and outboard sidewalls said sidewalls deformed vertically such that said outboard walls are deflected inward toward said inboard walls and said inboard walls are deflected toward said outboard walls while both walls remain parallel and equidistant from each other at their respective forward and rear sections as defined by said vertical deformation;
• and
• said carriers having first top and bottom apertures on said rear section of said inboard and outboard walls for mounting said boom assembly using said first top and bottom mounting pins;
• and
• formed in the forward upper section of each said carriers, connected upper recesses defining a saddle for receiving said second top mounting pins of said work implement;
• and
• formed in the lower forward section of each carrier, connected lower recesses defining slots for aligning with said second bottom mounting pins of said work implement;
• a transverse stabilizer fixedly connecting said inboard plates of each of said pair of carriers;
• an automatic locking mechanism fixedly attached to said rear section of said outboard walls of each of said carriers with the front portion of said automatic locking mechanism offset outwardly from the forward section of said outboard walls of said carriers;
• and
• a kickoff means mounted on said loader boom assembly for initiating locking action through interaction with said automatic locking mechanism.

In an automatic locking mechanism for use on an implement carrier frame carried on the forward portion of a pair of boom arms said automatic locking mechanism comprises:

• a mounting bracket having a locking pin aperture in the forward portion thereof;
• a cylindrical container attached to said mounting bracket in alignment with said locking pin aperture being opened at the inboard and outboard ends;
• a locking pin rotatably carried inside said container capable of sliding through said locking pin aperture having a large diameter leading portion and a smaller diameter aft section;
• a biasing means inside said container carried on said locking pin between said leading portion of said locking pin and said outboard end of said cylindrical container to urge said locking pin into said locking pin aperture and said work implement locking pin aperture;
• a handle fixedly attached to said aft section of said locking pin to assist in retracting said pin against said biasing means, said handle comprising an extension to afford retention of the pin when retracted;
• a lockout stop mounted on said cylindrical container positioned to receive said extension of said handle when said handle is rotated such that said lockout stop and said handle extension are in contact;
• kickoff means attached to said boom arms having a projecting rod that upon contact with said handle will disengage said lockout stop and said handle extension and allow said biasing means to urge said locking pin through said cylinder until said handle limits the travel of said locking pin by coming to rest on said outboard portion of said cylinder.

A quick change attachment means to be attached to the boom assembly of a work vehicle for permitting connection of a variety of implements to the boom assembly comprising:

• an implement carrier frame having carriers capable of supporting an implement;
• an automatic locking mechanism carried by said implement carrier frame and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• biasing means for urging said automatic locking mechanism toward its locked position;
• lockout stop means for retaining said automatic locking mechanism in said unlocked position;
• and
• kickoff means mounted on the boom assembly for disengaging said automatic locking mechanism from its retained position with said lockout stop means whereby said biasing means will urge said automatic locking means into a locked position in response to contact between said kickoff means and said automatic locking mechanism.