Loader with improved arm path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024318401-A1
Application number	US-202418732219-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2024
Priority date	Jul 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 26, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A compact utility loader compact utility loader comprising a frame, a first track and a second track positioned on either side of the frame, and a pair of loader arms. The loader arms are configured to couple with an attachment via a hitch plate and a hitch pin. The compact utility loader is configured such that as the loader arms are raised and lowered, the hitch pin follows a path approximately defined by a curve ƒ(x)=4.641e 0.34x The value “x” represents a horizontal direction and the function ƒ(x) represents a vertical direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL; a diesel engine supported by the frame, wherein the diesel engine has a power rating of about 25 horsepower or less and incorporates a turbo; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; and a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the curved travel path includes a lower inflection point between the base position and the maximum height position, wherein the curved travel path includes an upper inflection point between the lower inflection point and the maximum height position, wherein at the lower inflection point the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally away from the base position as the pivot pins are raised toward the lower inflection point to moving horizontally closer to the base position as the pivot pins are raised above the lower inflection point, wherein at the upper inflection point the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally toward the base position as the pivot pins are raised toward the upper inflection point to moving horizontally away from the base position as the pivot pins are raised above the upper inflection point.

2 . The CUL of claim 1 , wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position by at least 6 inches.

3 . The CUL of claim 2 , wherein the diesel engine has a power rating of less than 25 horsepower, wherein the CUL has a weight of less than about 3,400 pounds, wherein the overall width of the CUL is not more than 40 inches, wherein the pivot pin has a height of at least 80 inches above the ground when the pivot pin is at the maximum height position.

4 . The CUL of claim 3 , wherein each of the tracks has a width of at least 9 inches, wherein the CUL exerts a ground pressure of not more than 4.1 psi.

5 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising front and rear idler wheels on each side of the CUL, wherein the CUL has a center of gravity located horizontally between the front and rear idler wheels, wherein the ratio of the horizontal distance between the front idler wheel and the center of gravity and the horizontal distance between the rear idler wheel and the center of gravity is at least 60:40.

6 . The CUL of claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the horizontal distance between the front idler wheel and the center of gravity and the horizontal distance between the rear idler wheel and the center of gravity is 65:35 or more.

7 . A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a user interface and control system (UICS) comprising a loader arm and attachment joystick for controlling movement of the loader arms and attachments, a graphic display, and a plurality of user input buttons associated with the graphic display, wherein the graphic display is configured to present a plurality of menu screens, wherein the loader arm and attachment joystick includes one or more auxiliary control elements for activating hydraulic functionality of the attachments; and a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position.

8 . The CUL of claim 7 , wherein the curved travel path includes a lower inflection point between the base position and the maximum height position, wherein the curved travel path includes an upper inflection point between the lower inflection point and the maximum height position, wherein at the lower inflection point the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally away from the base position as the pivot pins are raised toward the lower inflection point to moving horizontally closer to the base position as the pivot pins are raised above the lower inflection point, wherein at the upper inflection point the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally toward the base position as the pivot pins are raised toward the upper inflection point to moving horizontally away from the base position as the pivot pins are raised above the upper inflection point, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position by at least 6 inches.

9 . The CUL of claim 7 , wherein the UICS is configured to require a pass code to unlock certain functions of the CUL.

10 . The CUL of claim 9 , wherein the pass code is a four digit numeric code prompted by the graphic display and entered via the user input buttons.

11 . The CUL of claim 7 , wherein the auxiliary control elements are buttons or switches that enable the user to select between forward and reverse hydraulic flow to the attachment.

12 . The CUL of claim 11 , wherein the UICS includes a continuous mode input mechanism configured to allow the user to lock in the forward or reverse hydraulic flow to the attachment so the auxiliary control elements do not need to be continuously depressed by the user.

13 . The CUL of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of menu screens includes at least one of a settings screen, a service reminder screen, a safety alert screen, and a CUL specification screen.

14 . The CUL of claim 7 , wherein the UICS is configured to selectively display the machine serial number, software version, and language.

15 . The CUL of claim 7 , further comprising a diesel engine for powering the CUL, wherein the diesel engine has a power rating of less than 25 horsepower and incorporates a turbo, wherein the CUL has a weight of less than about 3,400 pounds, wherein the overall width of the CUL is not more than 40 inches, wherein the pivot pin has a height of at least 80 inches above the ground when the pivot pin is at the maximum height position.

16 . A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of track supporting wheel sets positioned on opposite sides of the frame and each associated with one of the tracks, wherein each track supporting wheel set includes a front idler wheel, a rear idler wheel, and a plurality of intermediate wheels positioned between the front and rear idler wheels; a pair of wheel cover structures positioned on opposite sides of the frame and each associated with one of the track supporting wheel

Assignees

• Great Plains Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Carlson Jason
• Relph John M
• Shobe Matthew
• Welsh Jeff

Classifications

• E02F9/2267

  Valves or distributors (position of valves arrangements on upper-structures E02F9/0875) · CPC title

• B62D55/12

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets · CPC title

• B62D51/02

  the driver standing in the vehicle · CPC title

• E02F9/2264

  Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives · CPC title

• E02F9/2037

  Coordinating the movements of the implement and of the frame · CPC title