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US 9,321,386 B1Granted
Low profile compact tool carriers
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsBrad Thomas, Louis Hartke, Greg Langenfeld, Matt Hutchinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compact tool carriers having a loader mounted to a low-profile mainframe are disclosed. In some embodiments, the pivot points of the mainframe about which the loader is pivoted are low relative to the mainframe to reduce the mainframe size and to lower the center of gravity to improve the stability of the compact tool carrier during use.
Claims20
A compact tool carrier configured for standing or walk-behind operator control and having a longitudinal axis and a mass of less than about 1500 kg, the compact tool carrier comprising:
- a loader having an arm, the loader being adapted to carry a tool;
- a mainframe for supporting the loader, the mainframe having a first side and a second side, and having a front end and a rear end relative to the longitudinal axis, the mainframe comprising an engine bracket that extends from the first side toward the second side for mounting an engine to the mainframe, the engine bracket being spaced from the rear end of the mainframe, the loader arm not being directly attached to the mainframe;
- a linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the mainframe and pivotally attached to the loader arm;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the first side of the mainframe and pivotally attached to the loader arm;
- and
- a control station having operator controls for propelling the compact tool carrier forward and for raising and lowering the loader, the control station being mounted toward the rear of the compact tool carrier and adapted to allow for standing or walk-behind operation.
3 more elements
A compact tool carrier comprising:
- a loader adapted to carry a tool;
- a mainframe for supporting the loader, the mainframe having a first side and a second side, and having a front end and a rear end relative to the longitudinal axis, the mainframe comprising an engine bracket that extends from the first side toward the second side for mounting an engine to the mainframe, the engine bracket being spaced from the rear end of the mainframe, each side having a top and a bottom, the first side of the mainframe having at least two pivot points relative to the loader, the loader not being directly attached to the mainframe;
- a linkage pivotally attached to the first side of the mainframe at a pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader;
- an actuator pivotally attached to the first side of the mainframe at a pivot point and pivotally attached to the loader;
- a drive mechanism comprising tracks or wheels for propelling the compact tool carrier over a supporting surface, the drive mechanism being attached to the mainframe about a rotational axis, the compact tool carrier having a bottom at which the drive mechanism contacts the supporting surface, the rotational axis and bottom of the compact tool carrier being separated by a vertical distance D1, the rotational axis and each pivot point being separated by a vertical distance, each vertical distance between the rotational axis and a pivot point being less than 1.5 times D1;
- and
- a control station having operator controls for propelling the compact tool carrier forward and for raising and/or lowering the loader, the control station being mounted toward the rear of the compact tool carrier and adapted to allow for standing or walk-behind operation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.