Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Shovel or fork type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-12-25
Underwood, Donald W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Shovel or fork type
C037S468000, C403S330000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to attachment apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for attaching implements to a work vehicle such as a skid steer loader.
2. Description of Related Art
Working vehicles such as skid-steer loaders frequently have tool carriers supported at the ends of their lift arms. These carriers are adapted to be attached to a variety of tools, such as a bucket. To simplify and expedite the mounting and removal of various tools, the carriers are typically equipped with quick-attach devices. These devices typically include positioning structures to position one part of the carrier relative to the tool as well as a latching structure to secure the tool to the carrier. The structures used to position the carrier with respect to the tool often take the form of a pair of spaced apart mounting supports on the upper portion of the tool designed to receive a compatibly spaced apart pair of carrier wedges on the tool carriers which are configured to be received by the mounting supports. Commonly, the mounting support includes an outwardly extending lip beneath which the carrier wedges are received. Generally the supports and wedges are widely spaced on the tool and carrier to provide a stable mounting connection. To lock the tool to the carrier, movable latch pins are provided below the positioning structure, and usually on the carrier, for being received in openings provided on the tool. The latch pins are typically inserted into and removed from the tool openings by swinging movement of a handle coupled with axial movement of the pin.
One known latching device has a handle-actuated latching pin structure with a detent to retain the pin in its latched or unlatched positions to prevent inadvertent unlatching which could result in the tool and carrier coming apart during operation.
These conventional latching devices typically use a pin sliding through some type of guide to secure the tool to the carrier. After operation in dirt or mud, which is the design of these machines, this pin becomes very difficult to move so that a different attachment may be connected to the machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, a latch is provided having a rotating pawl which is used to latch a tool to a carrier mounted on a working vehicle. The pawl is forgiving to debris and trash and thus provides easier and more reliable operation in dirty or otherwise contaminated conditions as compared to conventional latching devices.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a latching device is provided which includes a handle-actuated pawl which swings about a pin on a carrier frame main mounting plate. A connector link from a handle provides the rotating motion. There are two links on the mechanism which both have springs to allow for over-center travel in the linkage. One over-center spring is used to lock the pawl in the down position to insure that attachments do not come loose from the base machine. The other is used to hold the handle in the up position making it possible to change attachments with only one person. The pawl pivots laterally (about a pivot axis extending generally parallel to the major axis of the vehicle), so that the entire mechanism and thus the entire attachment weight can be held closer to the front wheels, resulting in a more stable vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, two spaced-apart latching devices are provided at spaced apart positions on the carrier to ensure a stable attachment of the tool to the carrier.
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Bobcat (Melroe), page from Model 753 Loader Parta Manual, p. B5, Publication date—unknown, Publishing in USA.
Copies of Photos by Deere & Co. employees, Copies of ten (10) photos of quick attach device on Bobcat (Melroe) Model 753 loader, Copies of ten (10) Photos on five (5) Pages, Publication date—1997, Published in USA.
Copy of Photo by Deere & Co. employees, Copy of one (1) photo of Gehl Quick Attach Device from Model 5635SXT, Publication date—1997, Published in USA.
Doering David Arthur
Flatau Donald Rodney
Deere & Company
Underwood Donald W.
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