Method and apparatus for attaching a loader to a tractor

A device for detachably mounting a fore-and-aft extending implement such as a loader to the frame of a tractor, said mechanism comprising:

• a bracket having an elongated slot with first and second slot portions, said second slot portion being offset at an angle to the first slot portion;
• means for connecting the bracket to the tractor frame;
• pin means connected to the implement for slidable receipt by the elongated slot;
• and
• means for automatically capturing the pin means as the pin means slides from the first slot portion toward the second slot portion, said means for capturing including spring biased spring wedge means for automatically reducing play between the pin means and the bracket.

A device for detachably mounting a fore-and-aft extending implement such as a loader to the frame of a tractor, said mechanism comprising:

• a bracket having an elongated slot with first and second slot portions;
• means for connecting the bracket to the tractor frame;
• pin means connected to the implement for slidable receipt by the elongated slot;
• and
• means for automatically capturing the pin means as the pin means slides from the first slot portion toward the second slot portion, said means for capturing including wedge means for reducing play between the pin means and the bracket wherein the first slot portion is substantially horizontal, the second slot portion is offset at an angle from the first slot portion, and the means for capturing includes means for biasing the wedge means toward the first slot portion to maintain the pin means in the second slot portion.

A device for detachably mounting a fore-and-aft extending implement such as a loader to the frame of a tractor, said mechanism comprising:

• a bracket having an elongated slot with first and second slot portions;
• means for connecting the bracket to the tractor frame;
• pin means connected to the implement for slidable receipt by the elongated slot;
• and
• means for automatically capturing the pin means as the pin means slides from the first slot portion toward the second slot portion, said means for capturing including wedge means for reducing play between the pin means and the bracket and spring means yieldingly biasing the wedge means against the pin means when the latter is in the second slot portion for maintaining a relatively tight fit between the pin means and second slot portion and to automatically compensate for wear in the bracket, pin means and wedge means.

In a loader adapted for mounting on and dismounting from a tractor having a fore-and-aft extending tractor frame, the loader including a mast having transversely spaced fore-and-aft extending mast beams, upright beams fixed to the aft ends of the respective mast beams, and a forward frame member connecting the forward ends of the mast beams, a boom pivotally connected to the upright beams and extending forwardly therefrom to a ground-engaging tool such as a loader bucket, and cylinder means for pivoting the boom with respect to the upright beams, attaching structure for connecting the loader to the tractor, comprising:

• a pair of brackets connected to the sides of the tractor frame, the brackets each including an elongated slot with a pocket located at one end of the slot, said upright beams including pin means adapted for receipt by the respective slots for pivotally connecting the mast to the tractor frame, said pin means movable along the slots and into said pockets, said brackets further comprising wedge means for automatically securing the pin means in the respective brackets as the pin means move into the pockets, and means for securing the forward end of the mast to the tractor frame to thereby restrict rocking of the mast with respect to the tractor frame, wherein the means securing the forward end includes front mounting structure connected to the forward end of the tractor and to the forward end of the mast for securing the forward end of the mast to the tractor as the pin means move into the pockets of the brackets, wherein the bracket slots are horizontally disposed and the front mounting structure includes horizontally slotted portions and mating pin structure, so that upon relative fore-and-aft movement between the mast and the tractor frame, the mating pin structure moves along the slotted portions and the pin means move along the bracket slots.

In a loader adapted for mounting on and dismounting from a tractor having a fore-and-aft extending tractor frame, the loader including a mast having transversely spaced fore-and-aft extending mast beams, upright beams fixed to the aft ends of the respective mast beams, and a forward frame member connecting the forward ends of the mast beams, a boom pivotally connected to the upright beams and extending forwardly therefrom to a ground-engaging tool such as a loader bucket, and cylinder means including a cylinder connected between the upright beams and the boom for pivoting the boom with respect to the upright beams, attaching structure for operably connecting the loader to the tractor, comprising:

• at least one hydraulic base having an output end, means connecting the output end to the cylinder forwardly of the pivotal connection of the boom with the upright beams, said hose also including a bent portion curving downwardly and forwardly adjacent said pivotal connection of the boom to a central portion extending forwardly adjacent one of the mast beams and an input end adapted for connection to connecting structure located at the forward end of the tractor for communication of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the cylinder, a bracket connected to the hose generally between the bent and central portions of the hose;
• and
• means pivotally connecting the bracket to the mast adjacent the aft end of said one of the mast beams for supporting the hose and permitting the hose to flex with pivoting of the boom and with fore-and-aft movement of the tractor with respect to the mast during mounting and dismounting of the loader.

In a loader adapted for mounting on and dismounting from a tractor having a fore-and-aft extending tractor frame, the loader including a mast having transversely spaced fore-an-aft extending mast beams, upright beams fixed to the aft ends of the respective mast beams, and a forward frame member connecting the forward ends of the mast beams a boom pivotally connected to the upright beams and extending forwardly therefrom to a ground-engaging tool such as a loader bucket, and cylinder means including a cylinder connected between the upright beams and the boom for pivoting the boom with respect to the upright beams, attaching structure for operably connecting the loader to the tractor, comprising:

• at least one hydraulic hose having an output end, means connecting the output end to the cylinder forwardly of the pivotal connection of the boom with upright beam, said hose also including a bent portion curving downwardly and forwardly adjacent said pivotal connection of the boom to a central portion extending forwardly adjacent one of the mast beams, and an input end adapted for connection to connecting structure located at the forward end of the tractor for communication of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the cylinder, a bracket connected to the hose generally between the bent and central portions of the hose and a pivot rockably connecting the bracket to the mast for movement between a first position wherein the central portion extends forwardly from the pivot and a second position wherein the central portion extends rearwardly from the pivot;
• and
• wherein the connecting structure on the tractor includes a forwardly projecting hose connector and the input end of the hose, when the loader is mounted on the tractor, extends forwardly of the connecting structure and the hose includes a bend location between the input end and the central portion so that upon movement of the tractor rearwardly from the loader, the bracket rocks toward the second position and the bend location straightens to increase the distance the tractor may be backed away from the loader with the input end still connected.