CA2586371A1 - Work tool lighting arrangement for work machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A work machine for use with a work tool is provided. The work machine comprises a carrier, an articulated boom, and a light source. The articulated boom comprises inboard and outboard arms articulated to one another. The inboard arm is mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto. The outboard arm is adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto. The light source is attached to an underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.

Description

I b WORK TOOL LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT FOR WORK MACHINE
Field of the Disclosure [0001] The present disclosure relates to a work tool lighting arrangement for a work machine.

Background of the Disclosure

[0002] The ability to illuminate a work tool attached to a work machine may be quite useful. Current methods for doing so include attaching lighting to the carrier of the work machine or to an inboard arm of an articulated boom of the work machine.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0003] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a work machine for use with a work tool. The work machine comprises a carrier, an articulated boom, and a light source. The articulated boom comprises inboard and outboard arms articulated to one another. The inboard arm is mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto. The outboard arm is adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto.
The light source is attached to an underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool. Due to such placement of the light source, the light source is able to move with the work tool so as to remain aimed at and illuminate the work tool throughout the range of motion of the articulated boom in an unimpeded manner.

[0004] The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work machine with a lighting arrangement for illuminating a work tool at the end of an articulated boom;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the articulated boom showing a lighting arrangement attached to an underside of an outboard arm of the articulated boom;

[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view, with portions broken away, showing a light source of the lighting arrangement.

la I

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a work machine 10 with a work tool lighting arrangement 12 for illuminating a work tool 14 throughout the range of motion of an articulated boom 16 in an unimpeded manner. The work machine 10 is illustrated, for example, as a forestry excavator. As such, the work tool 14 may be a harvester processing head. However, it is to be understood that the work machine may be any type of work machine (construction, forestry, etc.) which may have an articulated boom with a work tool attached thereto and benefit from lighting of the work tool.

[0010] The work machine 10 comprises a carrier 18, the articulated boom 16, and a light source 20 of the lighting arrangement 12. The articulated boom 16, the lighting arrangement 12, various hydraulic cylinders 23, and other components cooperate to provide a boom assembly 21. The articulated boom 16 comprises inboard and outboard arms 22, 24 articulated to one another. The inboard arm 22 is mounted on the carrier 18 for movement relative thereto. The outboard arm 24 is adapted for mounting of the work tool 14 thereto. The light source 20 is attached to an underside 26 of the outboard arm 24 for illuminating the work tool 14.

[0011] The lighting arrangement 12 may include multiple light sources 20. In such a case, each such light source 20 is attached to the underside 26 of the outboard arm 24. Exemplarily, there two light sources 20, arranged in side-by-side relation to one another. In the discussion that follows, references to "the light source 20" are intended to apply to each light source 20 of the lighting arrangement 12, whether the lighting arrangement 12 has a single light source 20 or multiple light sources 20.

[0012] The light source 20 may be a directional light source. As such, it is arranged to aim light under the outboard arm 24 toward the work tool 14 so as to cast light on the work tool 14 (FIG. 2).

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source 20 may be attached to the underside 26 of an intermediate portion 28 of the outboard arm 24 located between opposite first and second end portions 30, 32 of the outboard arm 24. The first end portion 30 is articulated to the inboard arm 22. The second end portion 32 is adapted for mounting of the work tool 14 thereto.

[0014] The outboard arm 24 may have a main body 34 and an underlying housing 36 attached thereto. One or more hydraulic lines 38 and other circuitry may be Y i routed through the housing 36.

[0015] The housing 36 may have a recessed portion 40 in which the light source is mounted (FIG. 3). A bracket 42 may connect the light source 20 to a wall 44 of the recessed portion 40 defining a portion of the underside 26.

[0016] A protective shroud 46 may be disposed about the light source 20. The protective shroud 46 may be attached to the housing 36 and may have an outwardly-facing opening 48 (FIG. 1) for emission of light therethrough toward the work tool 14.

[0017] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.
It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (18)

Claims

1. A work machine for use with a work tool, comprising:
a carrier, an articulated boom comprising inboard and outboard arms articulated to one another, the inboard arm mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto, the outboard arm adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto, and a light source attached to an underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.

2. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the light source is a directional light source arranged to aim light under the outboard arm toward the work tool.

3. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the outboard arm comprises opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion is articulated to the inboard arm, the second end portion is adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto, and the light source is attached to the underside of an intermediate portion of the outboard arm located between the first and second end portions.

4. The work machine of claim 1, comprising a protective shroud disposed about the light source under the outboard arm.

5. The work machine of claim 1, comprising another light source attached to the underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.

6. The work machine of claim 5, wherein the light sources are arranged in side-by-side relation.

7. The work machine of claim 5, comprising a protective shroud disposed about the light sources under the outboard arm.

8. The work machine of claim 1, comprising the work tool, wherein the work tool is mounted to an end portion of the outboard arm, and the light source is arranged to aim light under the outboard arm toward the work tool.

9. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the outboard arm comprises a housing through which a hydraulic line extends, and the light source is attached to the housing.

10. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a recessed portion in which the light source is mounted.

11. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the work machine is a forestry excavator.

12. A boom assembly for a work machine, the work machine comprising a carrier, the boom assembly comprising:
an articulated boom comprising inboard and outboard arms articulated to one another, the inboard arm adapted to be mounted on the carrier for movement relative thereto, the outboard arm adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto, and a light source attached to an underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.

13. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the light source is a directional light source arranged to aim light under the outboard arm toward the work tool.

14. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the outboard arm comprises opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion is articulated to the inboard arm, the second end portion is adapted for mounting of the work tool thereto, and the light source is attached to the underside of an intermediate portion of the outboard arm located between the first and second end portions.

15. The work machine of claim 12, comprising a protective shroud disposed about the light source under the outboard arm.

16. The work machine of claim 12, comprising another light source attached to the underside of the outboard arm for illuminating the work tool.

17. The work machine of claim 16, wherein the light sources are arranged in side-by-side relation.

18. The work machine of claim 16, comprising a protective shroud disposed about the light sources under the outboard arm.