Attachment system for a work vehicle implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508408-B2
Application number	US-201715437161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2017
Priority date	Feb 20, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

An attachment system for a work vehicle implement includes an implement attachment assembly. The implement attachment assembly includes a support structure coupled to a receiver assembly. The support structure includes a first mounting feature configured to engage a first corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from a bottom surface of a work vehicle, and a second mounting feature configured to engage a second corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the work vehicle. The first and second mounting features of the support structure are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis relative to a direction of travel of the work vehicle, and the first and second mounting features of the support structure are configured to substantially block horizontal and vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle via engagement with the first and second corresponding mounting features of the work vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An attachment system for a work vehicle implement, comprising:
an implement attachment assembly, comprising:
a receiver assembly configured to couple to a connector assembly of an arm of a work vehicle; and
a support structure coupled to the receiver assembly, wherein the support structure comprises a first mounting feature configured to engage a first corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the work vehicle, and a second mounting feature configured to engage a second corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the work vehicle;
wherein the first and second mounting features of the support structure are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis relative to a direction of travel of the work vehicle, and the first and second mounting features of the support structure are configured to substantially block horizontal and vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle via engagement with the first and second corresponding mounting features of the work vehicle.

2. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting feature of the support structure comprises a recess, the first corresponding mounting feature of the work vehicle comprises a pin configured to engage the recess, and the recess is configured to substantially block horizontal movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle via engagement with the pin.

3. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the second mounting feature of the support structure comprises a pin, the second corresponding mounting feature of the work vehicle comprises a hook, and the pin is configured to substantially block vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle via engagement with the hook.

4. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a substantially flat plate.

5. The attachment system of claim 4 , wherein the first mounting feature of the support structure comprises a recess formed in the substantially flat plate.

6. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the implement attachment assembly comprises a linkage coupled to the receiver assembly and to the support structure, wherein the linkage is configured to move the work vehicle implement along a vertical axis in response to rotation of the receiver assembly relative to the support structure.

7. The attachment system of claim 6 , wherein the linkage comprises a first link rotatably coupled to the support structure at a first pivot joint, a second link rotatably coupled to the first link at a second pivot joint, and a third link rotatably coupled to the second link at a third pivot joint and rotatably coupled to the receiver assembly at a fourth pivot joint; and
wherein the third link is non-rotatably coupled to the work vehicle implement.

8. The attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the receiver assembly is rotatably coupled to the support structure at a fifth pivot joint, and the first and fifth pivot joints are substantially coaxial.

9. An attachment system for a work vehicle implement, comprising:
a work vehicle attachment assembly, comprising:
a connector assembly pivotally coupled to an arm of a work vehicle, wherein the connector assembly is configured to couple to a receiver assembly of an implement attachment assembly; and
at least one mounting feature configured to extend downwardly from a bottom surface of the work vehicle, wherein the at least one mounting feature is configured to move along a vertical axis of the work vehicle to selectively engage at least one corresponding mounting feature of a support structure of the implement attachment assembly to substantially block horizontal and vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle.

10. The attachment system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one mounting feature comprises a pin configured to engage a recess within the support structure to substantially block horizontal movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle.

11. The attachment system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one mounting feature comprises a hook configured to engage a pin of the support structure to substantially block vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle.

12. The attachment system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one mounting feature comprises a first pin configured to engage a recess within the support structure to substantially block horizontal movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle, and the at least one mounting feature comprises a hook configured to engage a second pin of the support structure to substantially block vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle.

13. The attachment system of claim 12 , wherein the work vehicle attachment assembly comprises an actuator configured to move the hook between a lowered position to engage the second pin and a raised position to couple the support structure to the work vehicle.

14. The attachment system of claim 13 , wherein the work vehicle attachment assembly comprises a linkage extending between the hook and the first pin, wherein the linkage is configured to move the first pin from a retracted position to an extended position in response to upward movement of the hook.

15. The attachment system of claim 9 , comprising the implement attachment assembly, wherein the implement attachment assembly comprises the receiver assembly, the support structure, and the at least one corresponding mounting feature, and wherein the support structure is coupled to the receiver assembly.

16. The attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the implement attachment assembly comprises a linkage coupled to the receiver assembly and to the support structure, wherein the linkage is configured to move the work vehicle implement along the vertical axis in response to rotation of the receiver assembly relative to the support structure.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Waters Eric Michael

Classifications

• E02F3/627

  Devices to connect beams or arms to tractors or similar self-propelled machines, {e.g. drives therefor (connection of beams or booms or arms to the frame per se E02F3/382; connection of scraper bowls to the vehicle main body E02F3/653; connecting devices for agriculture tractors A01B59/06)} · CPC title

• E02F3/3618 Primary

  with two separating hooks · CPC title

• E02F3/7622

  Scraper equipment with the scraper blade mounted on a frame to be hitched to the tractor by bars, arms, chains or the like, the frame having no ground supporting means of its own, e.g. drag scrapers · CPC title

• E02F3/3414

  the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader · CPC title