Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02581972 2009-06-18
WO 2006/036104 PCT/SE2005/001371
1
Loader comprising arm sections that have a space
that runs along the arm in which tubes or cables
are arranged
The present invention concerns a loader comprising two extended arms arranged
parallel
to each other, one end of which can be connected to a vehicle and the other
end of which
can be connected to a tool.
Vehicles, usually tractors used for various types of work, for example lifting
work, are
previously known. The vehicles are normally provided with a construction, for
example, a
base, fastening irons, brackets, or similar, on which an arm construction,
usually known as a
"loader" is mounted.
The loader is an extended construction, an arm construction, that connects a
vehicle with a
tool, and that makes possible movement of the tool relative to the vehicle.
The loader
comprises two arms arranged parallel to each other, which in turn comprise
extended arm
sections, parallel struts, linkage systems and joints. The loader has at one
of its ends, the
end that is facing towards the vehicle, two parts, arranged parallel to each
other and
terminating the arms, to which cylinders and other arm parts are attached.
These are known
as "bearing boxes". Each bearing box is mounted onto, connects with, the
vehicle.
The loader has at its second end, the foremost end, the end that faces away
from the
vehicle, towards the working area, an attachment arrangement that makes it
possible to
attach equipment at the outermost end of the loader. A short distance up on or
into the
loader, above the tool, there is a transverse constructional part, a
transverse strut or a
transverse tube, arranged between the two arms of the loader. The transverse
strut provides
stability for the arm construction and it also offers an attachment region for
a valve housing
that makes it possible to connect control and regulatory units for the
operation of the
equipment.
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2
Tubes and cables that attach to equipment, a tool, that is arranged at the
attachment
arrangement at the outer end of the loader, for control and regulatory units
on the tractor lie
on the outer surface of the arms of the loader and follow these surfaces. Also
connections
between valve housings and tubes or cables are located outside of the loader,
in the working
region of the loader. The tubes, cables and connections risk becoming trapped
within parts of
the loader and the vehicle, and becoming trapped in objects within the working
space of the
loader. The tubes, cables and connections tend to become covered with snow and
dirt, which
creates unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, increases wear and places
limitations on the
movements of the loader. The tubes, cables and connections also obstruct the
view of the
driver.
One aim of the present invention is to offer a loader with a design that is
such that the
Problems described above are solved.
According to the present invention there is provided a loader comprising two
extended
arms arranged parallel to each other, one end of which can be connected to a
vehicle and
the other end of which can be connected to a tool, where at least one of said
arms
comprises a space that runs along the arm in which tubes or cables are
arranged that
make it possible to convey at least one of electricity, hydraulic and
pneumatic fluid, from
the vehicle to the loader or the tool and from the loader or the tool to the
vehicle. The at
least one arm comprises a first arm section offering a first part of the space
in which the
tubes or cables are arranged and the first part of the space is formed by the
first arm
section and a beam element attached to each other.
The invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the
drawings.
Figure 1 shows a loader according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a first arm section and, partially, a second arm section on a
loader according
to the invention.
Figure 3 shows a second arm section and a transversely placed constructional
part on a
loader according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows a transversely placed constructional part on a loader according
to the
invention.
CA 02581972 2010-08-18
2a
Figure 1 shows a loader 1 according to the present invention. The loader 1 is
constituted by
an extended construction, an arm construction, comprising two arms 2a and 2b
arranged
parallel to each other. Each arm 2a and 2b comprises an extended arm section.
3. The
extended arm section 3 comprises a first and a second extended arm section 3.1
and 3.2,
which are connected to each other or that constitute one single unit. The
first arm section 3.1
is directed towards or is turned towards a vehicle, not shown in the drawing,
and the second
arm section 3.2 is directed towards the free end of the loader. The two arm
sections 3.1 and
3.2, their longitudinal axes L1 and L2, are placed at an angle a, which is
less than 1800,
relative to each other, the angle being measured in a vertical plane in the
longitudinal
direction of the loader.
The loader 1, the arms 2a and 2b, comprise control and regulatory units 4, for
example
cylinder arrangements, and connectors 5, for example joints. The parts that
are present at
several locations of the loader, on both arms, and that have the same design
have been
given the same reference numerals.
The loader has on one of its sides A, the rear end that faces the vehicle, two
parallel parts 6,
arranged parallel and next to each other and terminating the relevant arm 2a
and 2b, to
which the control units 4 and the first arm section 3.1 are attached. These
parts 6 are known
as "bearing boxes". Each bearing box 6 is mounted on, connects with, the
vehicle.
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3
Each first arm section 3.1 extends essentially between the bearing box 6 and a
connector 5
at each arm 2a and 2b.
Each second arm section 3.2 extends between the connector 5 and a second end
B, the free
end, the forwards end, of the loader that faces away from the loader with
equipment or a tool
7 attached to the loader 1. An attachment arrangement 8 that makes it possible
to attach the
equipment 7 to the loader 1 is arranged at the forwards end B of the loader 1.
The loader 1 comprises also tubes and cables 9 that make possible the
transport of at least
one of electricity, hydraulic driving agent, pneumatic driving agent and other
control and
driving agents from and to the vehicle I to and from the various parts of the
loaders and the
arms and to and from the equipment at the outer end B of the loader. The tubes
9 are
arranged within a space X1, X2 along one or both of the two arms 2a and 2b.
The tubes 9 are located within one of the arm sections 3, inside both the
first arm section 3.1
and the second arm section 3.2, as shown in Figure 2. The tubes 9 in this way
lie completely
protected and there is no risk that they become trapped in any type of object
that is in the
vicinity of the loader 1 during its work. Furthermore, there is now no longer
space, or any
surfaces, on which dirt or snow can become attached, nor can it fall between
the tubes 9 and
the arms 2a and 2b, the arm section 3.
The tubes 9 are arranged within the arm section 3 that, for an observer
standing at the tool 7
and facing the loader 1 or the vehicle, is located on the left. The tubes 9
can, as an
alternative, be located in the arm section on the right, or in both arm
sections. The tubes are
present solely in the left arm section 3 for remainder of this description.
The first arm section 3.1 is so constructed that it offers a space X1 that
constitutes a first part
of the complete space, inside the arm section, in which the tubes 9 are
located and where
they are completely protected. The space X1 is created in that a beam element
3.1a,
appropriately a "U" beam in order not to provide the loader 1 with unnecessary
weight, is
welded attached to the normal arm section 3.1, at its lower side 3.1b. An
opening C is
located at the end A of the arm section that faces the vehicle, through which
tubes 9 enter
the space XI, when seen in the direction facing out from the vehicle. The
opening C in the
arm section is provided with a lining 3.1c of a material that is softer than
the material of the
arm section in order to protect the tubes 9 when making contact with the edge
of the
opening. See Figure 2.
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The second arm section 3.2 is also designed such that it offers an open space
X2, a second
part of the total space, within it, in which the tubes 9 are arranged such
that they are located
fully protected within the arm construction also at the second arm section
3.2, inside the
space X2 that is surrounded by and protected by the outer parts of the arm
construction. It is
appropriate that the second arm section 3.2 is constituted by a beam element
with a closed
cross-section. See Figure 2.
Above the tool attachment 8 there is located an extended constructional part
10, which is
located transverse relative to the longitudinal axes L2 of the second arm
sections, a cross-
strut or a cross-tube, arranged principally between the two arms 2a and 2b of
the loader 1,
as shown in Figure 1. The constructional part 10 connects the two arms 2a and
2b with each
other and provides stability to the loader 1. The constructional part 10 is
attached at its ends
10a and 10b to the relevant arm 2a and 2b, between the second arm parts 3.2,
through
welding or through another suitable attachment method.
The constructional part 10 offers an attachment region for a valve housing 11
to which the
tubes 9 are connected. The valve housing 11 makes it possible to connect
control and
regulator units 4, for the operation of the tool 7 attached to the tool
attachment 8 or other
parts of the loader 1.
The tubes 9 pass through the inner spaces X1 and X2 of the arm section and out
from the
arm section 3, the second arm section 3.2, through an opening 0 in the inner
wall 3a of the
arm section, see Fig. 3. The opening D in the arm is arranged above the
constructional part
10 in a direction towards the vehicle, towards the end A of the loader, while
being located at
a limited distance from the constructional part 10. The opening D in the arm
is directed
towards the space behind the constructional part 10. The tubes 9 follow
subsequently the
rear side 106 of the constructional part, that side of the constructional part
10 that faces the
vehicle, up to the valve housing 11. The opening D in the arm is provided with
a lining D. 1
suitably of a material that is softer that the material of the arm, that
covers the hard edges of
the hole such that the tubes 9 are not worn when lying in contact with the
edges of the
opening D in the arm.
The arm section 3 is normally manufactured from a metal material, a steel
material, and it is
appropriate that the linings 3.1c and D.1 are manufactured from, for example,
a plastic
material.
CA 02581972 2007-03-27
WO 2006/036104 PCT/SE2005/001371
The tubes 9 are bent with a large radius of curvature and gently follow the
constructional part
up to the valve housing 11. The number of free break-points on the tubes 9 is
reduced to
a minimum, and also wear of the tubes 9 is reduced.
5 Figures 3 and 4 show the region around the constructional part 10. The
constructional part
10 is bent to form a "C" or a "U" along the direction of its longitudinal
extent, and it has two
ends 10a and 10b and a central part 10c.The constructional part 10 is mounted
such that the
two ends 10a and 10b are connected each to an arm 2a and 2b. The central part
10c of the
constructional part, the front of the constructional part, the convexly bent
side or surface 10A,
10 is directed towards the tool attachment 8. The constructional part 10 is a
beam element with
a closed cross-section, with open ends and with an open inner space X3, see
Figure 4.
The valve housing 11 is principally placed behind the constructional part 10,
behind the
central part 10c of the constructional part, in the direction towards the
vehicle, at the rear
side of the constructional part, the concave side 10B. This location is safer,
less exposed.
Contacts 12 are arranged at the valve housing 11 and they make it possible to
connect the
tubes 9 to the valve housing 11. These contacts 12 make possible also the
connection of
tubes 13 that pass between the valve housing 11 and the tool 7, control and
regulatory units
4, and one or several accumulators located within the inner space X3 of the
constructional
part. (The accumulators are not shown in the drawings since these are not a
part of the
invention.) The contacts 12 are principally arranged on the upper surface 10C
of the
constructional part such that it is easy to gain access to them when making
connections,
such that they in this way facilitate simple, easy and rapid connection of,
mainly, the tool 7 to
the loader 1.
The valve housing 11, with its spread design and construction, is principally
located in line
with the arms 2a and 2b and behind the constructional part 10.
The tubes 9, which come from the vehicle, are drawn and are led through at
least one of the
arms 2a and 2b to the valve housing 11. The tubes 9 are drawn and are led in
through the
opening C in the first arm section 3.1, through the space X1 in one of, or in
both of, the arm
sections or sections 3.1, onwards through the space X2 in the second arm
section 3.2 and
finally out of the arm 2a, or the arms 2a and 2b, through the opening D in the
arm in one of
the arm sections 3, or in both of the arm sections 3, in the inner wall 3a of
the arm section.
The opening D in the arm is arranged in the direction towards the rear side
10B of the
constructional part, above the constructional part 10 in the direction towards
the vehicle, at
the end A of the loader.
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The tubes 9 follow subsequently the concave side 10B of the constructional
part, the side
that faces towards the vehicle, to the valve housing 11. The tubes 9 are bent
with a large
radius of curvature and follow gently the bent shape of the constructional
part to the valve
housing 11. The number of free break-points on the tubes 9 will in this way be
reduced and
also wear of the tubes will be reduced. Also the tubes 13 that lead onwards
away from or
towards the valve housing 11 either to or from the tool 7, or to or from the
control and
regulatory units 4, follow the concave rear surface 10B of the constructional
part as much as
is possible.
Coverings 14a-14c are arranged over the tubes 9 and the valve housing 11 and
they cover
these and parts of the constructional part 10, such that they are protected
and are not freely
accessible for the elements, see Figure 4. The covering that is shown is
divided into several
parts, where each part covers a particular region. Two coverings 14a and 14b
are arranged
at each end 10a and 10b of the constructional part, over the region at which
the tubes 9
come out from and go into the arm sections 3. A third covering 14c covers the
valve housing
11 and the cables 9 and 13 that pass to and from the valve housing 11. The
coverings
14a-14c also hold the cables 9 and 13 in place such that they do not enter the
field of view of
the driver or obstruct the view.
The coverings 14a-14c protect the cables 9 and 13 and they determine their
positions. It is
appropriate that the coverings 14a-14c have a principally plane shape and are
of a plastic
material or a sheet metal material that at least can withstand the load placed
on it by a
person who stands on the constructional part 10, together with one or more of
the'coverings.
The coverings or any one covering may also form a single cover through several
coverings
being connected to each other in a suitable manner. The covering may also be
designed as
a single piece or it may comprise further parts, further coverings.
This description is not to be seen as a limitation of the invention. It is to
be seen as a guide to
full understanding of the invention in all of its parts. It should be realised
that other designs
are also possible than those that have been described above and shown in the
drawings,
and parts are possible within the framework of the innovative concept
specified in the
attached claims.
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