Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A POWER-PIVOTING _INKAGE FOR ATTACHMENTS ON A LOADER
Conventional end loaders such as tractor loaders
ordinarily have a materials handling attachment such as a
bucket pivotally mounted on the forward ends of a pair of booms.
The bucket is nor~ally pivoted with respect to the boom arms by
means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders pivotally connected to
the upper forward ends of the boom arms and the upper rearward
portion of the bucket. The pivotal arrangement just described
limits the degree to which the bucket may be dumped or tipped
back. Further, severe strain is placed on the hydraulic
cylinders when the bucket is moved to its dumped position and
the bucket is used to scrape or "break loose" materials such as
dirt, silage, etc.
A further limitation on the conventional tractor tractor
loaders is that the cylinders controlling the pivotal movement
of the attachments or buckets normally control the load in the
bucket during the retraction stroke. The retraction stroke in
cylinders in less powerful than the extension or push stroke due
to loss of area of the cylinder ram.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide`an improved means for pivoting a loader bucket or the
like.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a
hydraulic cylinder linkage for pivoting a loader bucket wherein
the hydraulic cylinders are completely retracted when the
bucket is in its extreme most dumped position thereby reducing
strain on the cylinders.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
hydraulic cylinder linkage for pivotally connecting a loader
bucket to an end loader which permits the bucket to be moved
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through a greater range of movement relative to the boom arms.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a
means for hydraulically pivoting a loader bucket which is
durable in use and refined in appearance.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a
means for hydraulically pivoting a loader bucket wherein the
push stroke of the hydraulic cylinders is used to control the
load in the bucket.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled
in the art.
This invention consists in the construction, arrangements
and combination or the various parts of the device, whereby the
objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set
forth, specifically point`ed out in the claims, and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a tractor having the loader
mounted thereon:
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the
various positions to which the loader and bucket may be moved:
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the loader bucketO
Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the loader bucket:
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bucket:
Figure 6 is a partial rear perspective view of the loader
bucket and the quick attach means.
Figure 7 is a side view illustrating the loader being
mounted on the tractor with portions thereof cut away to fully
illustrated the invention:
Figure 8 is a side elevational view illustrating the
locking mechanism in its locl~ed position:
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Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 except that the
loader has been mounted on the tractor:
Figure lO is a perspective view of the supporting frame
for the loader which is mounted on the tractor.
A means for hydraulically moving the hydraulic bucket on an
end loader is described wherein the forward end of the boom arms
of the loader are pivotally connected to the lower rearward side
of the bucket. A pair of hydraulic linkage assemblies are
provided on each of the boom arms. Each of the linkage
assemblies comprises a first linkage pivotally connected at its
lower end to the boom arm and extending upwardly therefrom. A
second linkage is pivotally connected to the upper end of the
first linkage and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom to
a pivotal connection with the ~loader bucket. A hydraulic
cylinder is pivotally connected to the boom arm, at its base
end, forwardly of the first linkage and has its rod pivotally
connected to the pivotal connection between the irst and second
linkages. when the hydraulic cylinder is in its completely
retracted position, the bucket is in its extreme most dumped
0 position and the majority of the forces on the hydraulic
cylinder are "straight-line" forces parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the hydraulic cylinder. Advantage is also taken of the
power stroke of the bucket cylinders to control the loaded
bucket.
The numeral 10 refers to a four-wheel tractor of the
articulated type comprising a front articulated section 12 and a
rear articulated section 14. Tractor lO is provided with a pair
of rear wheels 16 and a pair of front wheels 18.
Figure 10 illustra-tes a supporting frame and which is
referred to by the reference numeral 20. Supporting frame 20
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forms a portion of the loader 22 and is designed to support the
loader 22 on the tractor.
Supporting frame 20 comprises a center frame portion 24
which is bolted to the underside and sides of the front
articulated portion 12. Side supporting frames 26 and 26' are
bolted to opposite sides of the tractor and are mirror images of
each other. Inasmuch as side supporting frames 26 and 26' are
identical, only side supporting frame 26 will be described in
detail.
The numeral 28 refers to a connector element or pocket
which is secured to the exterior surface of the rearward end o
the frame 26. Pocket 28 includes an upper wall 30, outer 32,
and lower wall 34. As seen in the drawings, the forward and
rearward ends of the pocket 2~ are open and that the rearward
end of bottom wall 34 is spaced forwardly of the rearward end of
top wall 30~ Frame 24 is secur~d to frames 26 and 26' by
brackets 36 and 36' respectively.
A rectangular block 3B is secured to the for~ard end of
frame 26 by welding or the like and extends outwardly therefrom
as illustrated in Figure 10. For purposes of description, block
38 will be described as having a forward end 40, rearward end
42, top portion 44 and bottom portion 460 As seen in Figure 10,
bracket 48 extends laterally ou~wardly from the lower end of
frame 26 below block 38.
Loader 22 includes a substantially U-shaped :~rame means
50 which is adapted to be removably secured to the supporting
frame 20 on the tractor 10. Frame means 50 includes a front
frame 52 having a pair of side frames 54 and 56 (not shown)
extending upwardly and rearwardly from the opposite lower sides
- thereof. Side frame 56 is identical to side frame 54. Frame
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member is secured to and extends downwardly from the rearward
end of side frame 54 and includes a rearwardly extending portion
60 as best illustra~ed in Figure 9. Finger 62 extends
downwardly from the lower rearward end of rearwardly extending
portion 60. Frame member 64 is secured to and extends between
frame members 54 and 58 as seen in Figure 9 for strengthening
purposes.
A pair of locking or connector 66 and 66' (not shown) are
secured to the inside surfaces of front frame 52 at opposite
sides thereof. Pipe or 'shaft 86 extends hori20ntally between
the opposite sides of front frame 52 at the lower end thereof
and is designed to engage the underside of the brackets 48 and
48' as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
Each of the locking elements 66 comprises a rectangular
channel member 70 having a locking lever 7~ pivotally mounted
thereon at 74. A spring-loaded pin 76 is vertically moveably
received in the rearward end of the channel 70 and has a hollow
channel member 78 mounted at the upper end thereof. As seen in
Figure 8 of the drawings, the rearward end of lever 72 is
received within the forward end of the channel member 78 and is
designed to raise the pln or plunger 76 at times so that the
lower end thereof does not protude below the lower end of
channel 70. A small lip 80 is provided in the upper interior of
channel member 78 which is adapted to yieldably engage the
rearward end of lever 72 to provide a means for maintaining the
pin 76 in the unlocked position of Figure 7. When the forward
end of lever 7,2 is moved upwardly, the plunger or pin 76 moves
downwardly from the lower end of channel member 70.
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A pair o~ boom arms 82 and 82' are pivotally connected at
their upper rearward ends to the frame members 54 and 56
respectively. A hydraulic cylinder 84 is secured at its base end
to the outer end of pipe 86 and extends upwardly therefrom.
Likewise, a cylinder 84' (not shown) extends between frame
member 56 and boom arm 82'. The rod 88 oE cylinder 84 is
connected to the boom arm 82 at 90. As seen in Figure 6, quick-
attach assemblies 92 and 92' are pivotally secured to the
forward ends of boom arms 82 and 82' respectively. Inasmuch as
assemblies 92 and 92' are identical, only assembly 92 will be
described in detail.
Assembly 92 comprises an arcuate bracket 94 pivotally
connected to the forward end of boom arm 82 by means of pin 96.
An enlongated pipe 98 is secured to the upper end of bra~ket 94
and an elongated pipe 100 is secured to the lower end of bracket
94. Plates 102 and 104 are pivotally connected to opposite
sides of bracket 94 for engagement with the lugs 106 and 108
respectively as will be described hereinafter.
As seen in Figure 6, a pair of arms or links 110 and 112
are pivotally connected to bracket 94 by pin 114 and e~tend
rearwardly therefrom. Arms or links 116 and 118 are pivotally
connected to the rearward ends of arms 110 and 112 by means of
pin 120. The lower ends of arms 116 and 118 are pivotally
connected to the boom arm 82 by pin 122. ~ydraulic cylinder 124
is pivotally connected at its base end to the boom arm 82 by pin
126 and has its rod end connected to the pin 120.
The numeral 128 refers to a materials-handling bucket
including a bottom wall 130, back wall 132, and opposite side
walls 134 and 136. If desired, bottom wall 130 and back wall
-- 132 may be integrally formed. ~s seen in the drawings, back
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wall 132 includes a lower end portion 138 which extends upwardly
and rearwardly from the rearward end of bottom wall 130 and an
upper end portion 140 which extends upwardly and forwardly from
the upper end of lower end portion 138. Rub bars 1~2 are
secured to the underside of bottom wall 130 as seen in Figure 6.
A hollow tube 144 is secured to the upper end of back wall 132
and extends between the side walls 134 and 136. The strength of
the bucket is achieved by means of the curved tubular ribs or
members 146 which are welded to the rearward side of back wall
132. The upper ends of the tubular members 146 are welded to
the underside of tube 144. The lower ends of the tubes 146 are
also welded to an angle member 148. As seen in the drawings,
the lugs 106 and 108 are secured to the tubes 146 rearwardly o~
the exterior surface of back wall 132. As best seen in Fi~ure
6, bars 150 are secured to and extend between adjacent pairs of
the tubes 1~6.
In operation, the bucket 128 is raised and lowered
relative to the ground by means of the boom arms 82 and 82'.
The bucket 128 is pivotally moved with respect to the boom arms
82 and 82' by means of the hydraulic cylinders 124. Extension
of the rods and cylinders 124 causes the bucket to be tipped
back while retraction of the rods and the cylinders 124 causes
the bucket to be moved to its dumped position. when the bucket
is in its extreme dumped position as illustrated in Figure 2, it
can be seen that substantially "straight-line" forces- are posed
on the cylinder thereby reducing the strain which is normally
placed on the cylinders and rods of the hydraulic cylinders
normally used to pivot the buckets. ~Ihen the bucket i5 in the
extreme dumped position, the bucket may be used to scrape or
- "break out" materials without fear that the hydraulic cylinders
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124 will be damaged. A further advantage in the pivotal and
linkage arrangement disclosed herein is that the bucket may be
dumped and tipped-back to greater degrees than is possible with
conventional pivotal arrangements.
It can also be seen that the tilting back of the bucket is
controlled by the cylinders 124 as the rods are being extended
therefrom. The extension or push stroke of the cylinder is the
most powerful stroke and that stroke is used to control the load
in the bucket. Advantage is therefore taken o the power stroke
of the bucket to control the loaded bucket.
Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at
least all of its stated objectives.
