Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Shovel or fork type
Utility Patent
1998-10-29
2001-01-02
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Shovel or fork type
C414S912000, C414S723000, C037S468000, C037S903000, C037S405000
Utility Patent
active
06168369
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a retainer coupling system for use with work implements such as used on a backhoe, wheel loader or other such work vehicle and, more particularly, to a retainer or secondary coupling system for use in coupling a second work implement to a first work implement which has been coupled to a work vehicle by a primary coupling formed in part on the work vehicle, to enable both work implements to be conveniently and securely connected to each other to facilitate the simultaneous carrying of both of the work implements by the work vehicle, especially over rough and uneven terrain.
BACKGROUND ART
When operating a work vehicle such as a backhoe or wheel loader, it is frequently desirable to utilize auxiliary work implements or equipment with the vehicle, such as a pallet fork and a loading bucket. In the course of such operation, it is generally necessary to move the vehicle from one site to another, which requires movement of the auxiliary equipment as well as the vehicle. The present invention provides a convenient secondary retainer system for securely attaching a second work implement, such as a loading bucket, to a first work implement, such as pallet forks, which are coupled to the work vehicle by means of a primary coupling formed in part on the work vehicle, so that the two connected work implements can be readily transported by the work vehicle from site to site. This is especially beneficial when the work vehicle must move over rough surfaces or uneven terrain.
Various attempts have been made to couple work implements together, such as the pallet forks of work vehicles with a loading bucket, because of the frequency with which both of such auxiliary work equipment is used. Such attempts are illustrated in the following U.S. patents: H. S. Antolini, U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,261; M. E. Walberg, U.S. Pat. No. 3.214,041; W. E. Foster, U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,361; J. D. Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,642; J. D. Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,243; W. H. Guest, U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,819 and R. A. Frost, U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,947.
In each of these patents various structures are disclosed which combine the pallet forks of a work vehicle with a loading bucket which enables the two work implements to be transported together by the work machine. However, such structures also require that during use of one or both of the work implements, the other work implement must be carried by the work vehicle. Such structural limitations reduce the load lifting capacity of the work vehicle, and decrease working efficiency. The inclusion of a second unnecessary piece of auxiliary work equipment on the work vehicle when the work vehicle is working with a different piece of auxiliary equipment, reduces the payload of the work vehicle which would otherwise be increased if the two pieces of auxiliary equipment could be transported together, but employed separately when in use.
R. L. Anderson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,084 discloses a structure for use with a backhoe wherein a backhoe bucket can be carried in a loader bucket attached to the backhoe by means of a hook connected to the loader bucket which engages the backhoe bucket for nesting inside the loader bucket during transportation. In this manner, a second bucket can be transported with the backhoe, but the second bucket is not carried by the backhoe during work operations, that is, when the loader bucket is being utilized. This structure, however, is limited in use to nested loader buckets, and the larger or loader bucket is attached directly to the backhoe, rather than through a primary coupling.
The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In the preferred embodiments of this invention a primary coupling, a work implement to work vehicle retainer coupling, is carried in part on a first work implement, such as a pallet fork attachment, and in part on the work vehicle to permit the interchangeable attachment of various work implements to the work vehicle. A secondary work implement to work implement retainer coupling is carried on each one of the vertically extending forks carriage plates of the pallet fork attachment through which the pallet fork attachment is coupled to the front end of a work vehicle, such as a backhoe or a wheel loader. The secondary retainer couplings are securely connected to the pallet fork attachment, and are positioned to be secured to a second work implement to form a rigid connection between the pallet fork attachment and the second work implement, such as a loading bucket. In this manner, the second work implement can be readily and securely transported on the fork tines of the pallet fork attachment, and readily detached after transportation, so that only one of the work implements is carried by the work vehicle when working with either one of the implements.
In the first embodiment of the retainer coupling, a “C” or “U”-shaped bracket is welded to each one of the vertical forks carriage plates adjacent to the outside leading edge thereof. An “L”-shaped plate, having a securing aperture formed in the distal end thereof, is slidably carried within each of these brackets for movement toward and away from the outside leading edge of the vertically extending forks carriage plates. The “L”-shaped plate is slidable from a first or retracted position wherein the distal end thereof is adjacent to the outside leading edge of the forks carriage plates, to a second or extended position wherein the distal end thereof extends outwardly beyond the outside leading edge of the forks carriage plates a distance sufficient so that the apertures formed therein may be concentrically aligned with the connecting pin holes of the loading bucket carriage plates, when the loading bucket is positioned onto the fork ties of the pallet forks attachment. Locking pins are then inserted through the concentrically aligned holes formed in the “L”-shaped bracket and the connecting pin holes of the loading bucket, thereby rigidly securing the loading bucket to the pallet forks attachment for transportation therewith.
In the second embodiment of the retainer coupling, a pivotal link is secured to the outside of each one of the forks carriage plates, and may be pivoted from a first or storage position in which the links are secured to the forks carriage plates, to a second or extended position wherein the links may be secured to the connecting pin holes of the loading bucket. To this end, the distal end of each link is formed with an aperture for coaxial alignment with the connecting pin holes of the loading bucket. To enable the links to be moved toward or away from a loading bucket carried on the fork tines of the pallet forks attachment, the proximal end of each link, which is pivotally connected to the forks carriage plate, is formed with a slot to enable the link to be moved toward or away from the pivotal connection. In this manner, the aperture in the distal end of the pivotal link can be more readily concentrically aligned with the connecting pin holes of various loading buckets to rigidly connect the two work implements together for transporting the implements, but each implement can be separately utilized without the presence of the other during working operations.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3115261 (1963-12-01), Antolini
patent: 3214041 (1965-10-01), Walberg
patent: 3312361 (1967-04-01), Foster
patent: 3421642 (1969-01-01), Carter
patent: 4247243 (1981-01-01), Carter
patent: 4422819 (1983-12-01), Guest
patent: 4669947 (1987-06-01), Frost
patent: 4790084 (1988-12-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5064338 (1991-11-01), Lawrence
patent: 5779429 (1998-07-01), Poole
patent: 2301577 (1996-12-01), None
Bright Christopher Erik
Gibbons Michael R.
Caterpillar Inc.
Roehrig, Jr. August E.
Underwood Donald W.
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