WORK TOOL LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT FOR WORK MACHINE

SYSTEME D'ECLAIRAGE D'OUTIL DE TRAVAIL POUR MACHINE DE TRAVAIL

English Abstract

A work machine for use with a work tool is provided. The work machine
comprises a carrier, an articulated boom, and a light source. The articulated
boom
comprises inboard and outboard arms articulated to one another. The inboard
arm
is mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto. The outboard arm is
adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto. The light source is attached to
an
underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.

Claims

Claims

1. A work machine for use with a work tool, comprising:
a carrier,
an articulated boom comprising inboard and outboard arms articulated to one
another, the inboard arm mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto,
the
outboard arm adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto, and
a light source attached to an underside of the outboard arm for illuminating
the work tool.
2. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the light source is a directional
light source arranged to aim light under the outboard arm toward the work
tool.
3. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the outboard arm comprises
opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion is articulated
to the
inboard arm, the second end portion is adapted for mounting of the work tool
thereto,
and the light source is attached to the underside of an intermediate portion
of the
outboard arm located between the first and second end portions.
4. The work machine of claim 1, comprising a protective shroud disposed
about the light source under the outboard arm.
5. The work machine of claim 1, comprising another light source attached
to the underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.
6. The work machine of claim 5, wherein the light sources are arranged in
side-by-side relation.
7. The work machine of claim 5, comprising a protective shroud disposed
about the light sources under the outboard arm.
8. The work machine of claim 1, comprising the work tool, wherein the
work tool is mounted to an end portion of the outboard arm, and the light
source is
arranged to aim light under the outboard arm toward the work tool.
9. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the outboard arm comprises a
housing through which a hydraulic line extends, and the light source is
attached to
the housing.
10. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a
recessed portion in which the light source is mounted.
11. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the work machine is a forestry
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excavator.
12. A boom assembly for a work machine, the work machine comprising a
carrier, the boom assembly comprising:
an articulated boom comprising inboard and outboard arms articulated to one
another, the inboard arm adapted to be mounted on the carrier for movement
relative
thereto, the outboard arm adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto, and
a light source attached to an underside of the outboard arm for illuminating
the work tool.
13. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the light source is a directional
light source arranged to aim light under the outboard arm toward the work
tool.
14. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the outboard arm comprises
opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion is articulated
to the
inboard arm, the second end portion is adapted for mounting of the work tool
thereto,
and the light source is attached to the underside of an intermediate portion
of the
outboard arm located between the first and second end portions.
15. The work machine of claim 12, comprising a protective shroud
disposed about the light source under the outboard arm.
16. The work machine of claim 12, comprising another light source
attached to the underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.
17. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the light sources are arranged
in side-by-side relation.
18. The work machine of claim 16, comprising a protective shroud
disposed about the light sources under the outboard arm.

Description

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CA 02586371 2007-04-24

WORK TOOL LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT FOR WORK MACHINE
Field of the Disclosure
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a work tool lighting arrangement for
a work
machine.

Background of the Disclosure
[0002] The ability to illuminate a work tool attached to a work machine may be
quite
useful. Current methods for doing so include attaching lighting to the carrier
of the
work machine or to an inboard arm of an articulated boom of the work machine.

Summary of the Disclosure
[0003] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a work machine
for
use with a work tool. The work machine comprises a carrier, an articulated
boom,
and a light source. The articulated boom comprises inboard and outboard arms
articulated to one another. The inboard arm is mounted on the carrier for
movement
relative thereto. The outboard arm is adapted for mounting of the work tool
thereto.
The light source is attached to an underside of the outboard arm for
illuminating the
work tool. Due to such placement of the light source, the light source is able
to move
with the work tool so as to remain aimed at and illuminate the work tool
throughout
the range of motion of the articulated boom in an unimpeded manner.
[0004] The above and other features will become apparent from the following
description and the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings
[0005] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying
figures
in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work machine with a lighting
arrangement
for illuminating a work tool at the end of an articulated boom;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the articulated boom showing a
lighting
arrangement attached to an underside of an outboard arm of the articulated
boom;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view, with portions broken away,
showing a light source of the lighting arrangement.

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Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a work machine 10 with a work tool
lighting arrangement 12 for illuminating a work tool 14 throughout the range
of
motion of an articulated boom 16 in an unimpeded manner. The work machine 10
is
illustrated, for example, as a forestry excavator. As such, the work tool 14
may be a
harvester processing head. However, it is to be understood that the work
machine
may be any type of work machine (construction, forestry, etc.) which may have
an
articulated boom with a work tool attached thereto and benefit from lighting
of the
work tool.
[0010] The work machine 10 comprises a carrier 18, the articulated boom 16,
and a
light source 20 of the lighting arrangement 12. The articulated boom 16, the
lighting
arrangement 12, various hydraulic cylinders 23, and other components cooperate
to
provide a boom assembly 21. The articulated boom 16 comprises inboard and
outboard arms 22, 24 articulated to one another. The inboard arm 22 is mounted
on
the carrier 18 for movement relative thereto. The outboard arm 24 is adapted
for
mounting of the work tool 14 thereto. The light source 20 is attached to an
underside
26 of the outboard arm 24 for illuminating the work tool 14.
[0011] The lighting arrangement 12 may include multiple light sources 20. In
such
a case, each such light source 20 is attached to the underside 26 of the
outboard
arm 24. Exemplarily, there two light sources 20, arranged in side-by-side
relation to
one another. In the discussion that follows, references to "the light source
20" are
intended to apply to each light source 20 of the lighting arrangement 12,
whether the
lighting arrangement 12 has a single light source 20 or multiple light sources
20.
[0012] The light source 20 may be a directional light source. As such, it is
arranged
to aim light under the outboard arm 24 toward the work tool 14 so as to cast
light on
the work tool 14 (FIG. 2).
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source 20 may be attached to the
underside 26 of an intermediate portion 28 of the outboard arm 24 located
between
opposite first and second end portions 30, 32 of the outboard arm 24. The
first end
portion 30 is articulated to the inboard arm 22. The second end portion 32 is
adapted for mounting of the work tool 14 thereto.
[0014] The outboard arm 24 may have a main body 34 and an underlying housing
36 attached thereto. One or more hydraulic lines 38 and other circuitry may be

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CA 02586371 2007-04-24
routed through the housing 36.
[0015] The housing 36 may have a recessed portion 40 in which the light source
20
is mounted (FIG. 3). A bracket 42 may connect the light source 20 to a wall 44
of the
recessed portion 40 defining a portion of the underside 26.
[0016] A protective shroud 46 may be disposed about the light source 20. The
protective shroud 46 may be attached to the housing 36 and may have an
outwardly-
facing opening 48 (FIG. 1) for emission of light therethrough toward the work
tool 14.
[0017] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in
the
drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be
considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood
that
illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes
and
modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be
protected.
It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may
not
include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of
the
advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily
devise
their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the
present
disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as
defined by
the appended claims.

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Representative Drawing