Latching arrangement for coupling a front loader to a work vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10570581-B2
Application number	US-201815996278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Jun 1, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A front loader includes a mast, and a mounting bracket that defines a channel configured to receive a mounting frame of a work vehicle. The front loader includes a latch disposed within the channel and pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, and the latch is pivotable between a first, latched position configured to couple the mast to the mounting frame, and a second, unlatched position. The front loader includes a latching lever disposed within the channel and coupled to the latch. The latching lever is configured to move the latch between the first, latched position and the second, unlatched position based on a position of the mounting frame. The front loader includes an indicator lever coupled to the latch. The indicator lever is movable by the latch to indicate whether the latch is in the first, latched position or the second, unlatched position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A front loader comprising:
a mast;
a mounting bracket that defines a channel configured to receive a mounting frame of a work vehicle;
a latch disposed within the channel and pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, the latch pivotable between an unlatched position and a latched position configured to couple the mast to the mounting frame;
a latch positioning lever disposed within the channel and coupled to the latch, the latch positioning lever configured to move the latch between the latched position and the unlatched position;
an indicator lever coupled to and movable by the latch;
an unlatch lever configured to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position; and
a first gauge and a second gauge each at a different side of the mast;
wherein the first gauge is configured to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position based on a position of the indicator lever; and
wherein the second gauge is configured to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position based on a position of the unlatch lever.

2. The front loader of claim 1 , wherein the latch includes a shaft that extends through the latch and the indicator lever is coupled to the shaft to move with the shaft.

3. The front loader of claim 2 , wherein the unlatch lever is coupled to a first end of the shaft, and the indicator lever is coupled to a second end of the shaft.

4. The front loader of claim 3 , wherein the latch includes a cam coupled to the shaft, and a movement of the unlatch lever to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position causes a portion of the latch to move within the cam to pivot the latch into the second, unlatched position.

5. The front loader of claim 3 , wherein the mast includes a pair of linkages and the mounting bracket further comprises a second mounting bracket that forms a pair of mounting brackets configured to couple the pair of linkages to the mounting frame; and
wherein the first gauge is coupled to one mounting bracket of the pair of mounting brackets and the second gauge is coupled to the other mounting bracket of the pair of mounting brackets.

6. The front loader of claim 5 , further comprising a reinforcing plate coupled between the pair of mounting brackets within the channel and a first biasing member that is coupled to the latch positioning lever and to the reinforcing plate, wherein the first biasing member biases the latch positioning lever toward the reinforcing plate.

7. The front loader of claim 1 , wherein the unlatch lever is coupled to an indicator arrow that cooperates with the second gauge to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position.

8. The front loader of claim 1 , wherein the latch further comprises a latch body having a latch surface that engages the mounting frame in the latched position and the latch positioning lever includes a tab that contacts a surface of the latch body to couple the latch positioning lever to the latch body.

9. A work vehicle having a mounting frame for coupling to a mast of a front loader, the mast comprising:
a pair of mounting brackets that cooperate to define a channel configured to receive the mounting frame;
a first gauge and a second gauge each mounted to one mounting bracket of the pair of mounting brackets;
a latch disposed within the channel and pivotally coupled to the pair of mounting brackets, the latch pivotable between an unlatched position and a latched position configured to couple the mast to the mounting frame;
a latch positioning lever disposed within the channel and coupled to the latch, the latch positioning lever configured to move the latch between the latched position and the unlatched position;
an indicator lever coupled to and movable by the latch; and
an unlatch lever coupled to an indicator arrow and configured to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position; and
wherein the first gauge cooperates with the indicator lever to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position; and
wherein the second gauge cooperates with the indicator arrow to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position.

10. The work vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the latch includes a shaft that extends through the latch and the indicator lever is coupled to the shaft to move with the shaft.

11. The work vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the unlatch lever is coupled to a first end of the shaft, and the indicator lever is coupled to a second end of the shaft.

12. The work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the latch includes a cam coupled to the shaft, and a movement of the unlatch lever to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position causes a portion of the latch to move within the cam to pivot the latch into the unlatched position.

13. The work vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a reinforcing plate coupled between the pair of mounting brackets within the channel and a first biasing member that is coupled to the latch positioning lever and to the reinforcing plate, wherein the first biasing member biases the latch positioning lever toward the reinforcing plate.

14. The work vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the latch further comprises a latch body having a latch surface that engages the mounting frame in the latched position and the latch positioning lever includes a tab that contacts a surface of the latch body to couple the latch positioning lever to the latch body.

15. A work vehicle, comprising:
a mounting frame having a connection point;
a removable front loader having a mast; and
a latching arrangement, including:
a pair of mounting brackets that cooperate to define a channel configured to receive the mounting frame;
a mast connection member coupled between the pair of mounting brackets that is configured to couple to the connection point;
a latch disposed within the channel and pivotally coupled to the pair of mounting brackets, the latch pivotable between an unlatched position and a latched position configured to couple the mast to the mounting frame;
a latch positioning lever disposed within the channel and coupled to the latch, the latch positioning lever configured to move the latch between the latched position and the unlatched position; and
an indicator lever coupled to and movable by the latch;
an unlatch lever coupled to an indicator arrow and configured to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position; and
a first gauge and a second gauge each mounted to one mounting bracket of the pair of mounting brackets;
wherein the first gauge cooperates with the indicator lever to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position; and
wherein the second gauge cooperates with the indicator arrow to indicate whether the latch is in the latched position or the unlatched position.

16. The work vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the latch includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, and the unlatch lever is coupled to the first end of the shaft to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position, the shaft extends through the latch and the indicator lever is coupled to the second end of the shaft to move with the shaft.

17. The work vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the latch includes a cam coupled to the shaft, and a movement of the unlatch lever to move the latch from the latched position to the unlatched position causes a portion of the latch to move within the cam to pivot the latc

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Faivre Damien
• Villarreal Diego

Classifications

• E02F9/26

  Indicating devices {(E02F5/145 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E02F3/3695 Primary

  Arrangements for connecting dipper-arms to loaders or graders · CPC title

• A01B59/064

  for connection to the front of the tractor · CPC title

• E02F3/627 Primary

  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

• E02F3/6273

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