Loader attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10358789-B2
Application number	US-201615054646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A loader attachment system is configured so as to detachably attach a loader to a vehicle by detachably attaching a mast of the loader to a loader mount fixed on the vehicle. The loader attachment system includes a support device, a location device, and an engagement device. The support device is configured to support the mast on the loader mount so that the mast is rotatable relative to the loader mount. The location device is configured to locate the mast supported on the loader mount by the support device at an attachment position. The engagement device is configured to engage the mast at the attachment position with the loader mount so as to prevent the mast from rotating in a direction to detach the mast from the loader mount. The support device, the location device and the engagement device are configured independent of one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loader attachment system comprising:
a loader mount configured to be fixed on a vehicle;
a mast configured to be coupled to a loader and detachably attached to the loader mount;
a support device configured to support the mast on the loader mount such that the mast is rotatable relative to the loader mount;
a location device configured to position the mast and the loader mount at an attachment position; and
an engagement device comprising:
a tooth provided on the loader mount;
a pawl coupled to the mast, the pawl configured to rotate about a pivot shaft;
an overcenter torsion spring interposed between the pawl and the mast, the overcenter torsion spring coupled to the mast at a location of the mast and coupled to the pawl at a location of the pawl; and
a release handle coupled to the pawl such that the pawl and the release handle are rotatably centered on a common axis of the pivot shaft;

wherein:
the release handle is rotatable from a lock position to engage the pawl with the tooth;
the overcenter torsion spring is configured to bias the pawl in a first direction to engage the pawl with the tooth when the pawl is engaged with the tooth; and
based on rotation of the release handle from the lock position:
the pawl rotates about the common axis; and
the overcenter torsion spring changes a direction of its force to bias the pawl in a second direction to rotate the pawl away from the tooth.

2. The loader attachment system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the support device comprises:
a pivot serving as a fulcrum of the rotation of the mast relative to the loader mount; and
a receptacle receiving the pivot,
wherein one of the loader mount and the mast includes the pivot, and the other of the loader mount and the mast includes the receptacle, and

the location device comprises:
a projection; and
a groove extended along a locus of the projection during the rotation of the mast relative to the loader mount,
wherein:
one of the loader mount and the mast includes the projection, and the other of the loader mount and the mast includes the groove,
the rotation of the mast about the pivot relative to the loader mount moves the projection into the groove, and
the location device is configured to position the mast and the loader mount to an attachment position where the projection abuts a bottom of the groove.

3. The loader attachment system according to claim 1 , wherein, when the mast is attached to the loader mount, the release handle is disposed outside of the mast.

4. The loader attachment system according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a loader attached to the mast; and
wherein, when the mast is attached to the loader mount, the loader is disposed forward or rearward from the vehicle, and the lock position is forward or rearward close to the loader so that the rotation direction of the release handle from the lock position is forward or rearward away from the loader.

5. A loader attachment system comprising:
a loader mount configured to be coupled to a vehicle, the loader mount comprising:
a mount body defining a receptacle;
a guide pin that projects from the mount body; and
a locking tooth member coupled to the mount body; and

a mast configured to be removably coupled to a loader, the mast comprising:
a mast body having a guide groove that defines a recess in the mast, the guide groove configured to receive the guide pin;
a first pivot shaft that projects from the mast body and is configured to engage the receptacle of the loader mount such that the first pivot shaft acts as a fulcrum between the mast and the loader mount;
a pawl coupled to the mast body, the pawl configured to rotate about a second pivot shaft;
an overcenter torsion spring coupled to the pawl; and
a release handle coupled to the pawl and configured to connectively rotate with the pawl about a common axis of the second pivot shaft, the release handle rotatable to a lock position to engage the pawl with the locking tooth member.

6. The loader attachment system of claim 5 , wherein:
the mast body comprises:
a left mast plate; and
a right mast plate.

7. The loader attachment system of claim 6 , wherein the first pivot shaft extends from the left mast plate to the right mast plate.

8. The loader attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the pawl and the overcenter torsion spring disposed between the left mast plate and the right mast plate.

9. The loader attachment system of claim 6 , wherein:
the mast body comprises a lower intermediate plate portion disposed between the left mast plate and the right mast plate;
the release handle is rotatable to an unlock position to engage the pawl with the lower intermediate plate portion of the mast body; and
when the pawl engages with the lower intermediate plate portion, the overcenter torsion spring biases the pawl in a direction to engage the pawl with the lower intermediate plate portion.

10. The loader attachment system of claim 5 , wherein the locking tooth member comprises a tooth.

11. The loader attachment system of claim 10 , wherein, when the pawl engages with the tooth, the overcenter torsion spring biases the pawl in a direction to engage the pawl with the tooth so as to prevent the mast from rotating in a direction to detach the mast from the loader mount.

12. The loader attachment system of claim 10 , wherein, when the release handle is rotated from the lock position to an unlock position, the pawl rotates around the second pivot shaft, past an overcenter position where the overcenter torsion spring changes a direction of its force so as to bias the pawl in another direction to rotate the pawl apart from the tooth, thereby keeping the pawl disengaged from the tooth.

13. The loader attachment system of claim 10 , wherein:
the locking tooth member comprises a stopper portion; and
the pawl comprises a pawl tip.

14. The loader attachment system of claim 13 , wherein, when the pawl engages with the tooth, the pawl tip contacts a top portion of the tooth and the stopper portion contacts a bottom portion of the pawl tip to prevent the pawl from rotating toward a bottom portion of the tooth.

15. The loader attachment system of claim 5 , wherein:
an overcenter position where the overcenter torsion spring changes a direction of its bias force can be set to a first position and a second position; and
the release handle is required to rotate further to reach the overcenter position when the overcenter position is at the first position than when the overcenter position is at the second position.

16. The loader attachment system of claim 5 , wherein the overcenter torsion spring is coupled to the pawl at a location on the pawl and is coupled to the mast at a location on the mast.

17. The loader attachment system of claim 16 , wherein, when the release handle is in a lock position, the location on the pawl is positioned between a portion of the pawl configured to engage the locking tooth member and the axis of the second pivot shaft.

18. A loader attachment comprising:
a mast configured to be removably coupled to a loader, the mast comprising:
a mast body having a guide groove that defines a recess in the mast, the guide groove configured to receive a guide pin that projects from a mount body of a loader mount that is configured to be coupled to a vehicle;
a first pivot shaft that projects from the mast body and is configured to engage a receptacle defined in the mount body of the loader mount such that the first pivot shaft acts as a fulcrum between the mas

Assignees

• Yanmar Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hyder Jarrod

Classifications

• E02F3/6273 Primary

  using legs to support the beams or arms on the ground during the connecting process · CPC title

• E02F3/3668

  where engagement is effected by a mechanical lever or handle · CPC title

• E02F3/3672

  where disengagement is effected by a mechanical lever or handle · CPC title

• E02F3/968

  Storing, handling or otherwise manipulating tools when detached from the machine (E02F3/6273 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02F3/3645

  with auto-engagement means for automatic snap-on of the tool coupler part · CPC title