WO2006036102A1

WO2006036102A1 - A method and a device to attach a tool to a loader

Info

Publication number: WO2006036102A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/001369
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christer Byström
Original assignee: Ålö AB
Priority date: 2004-09-29
Filing date: 2005-09-20
Publication date: 2006-04-06
Also published as: SE0402367D0

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method by which a tool (A) is to be attached to a loader (B). The tool (A) comprises an attachment arrangement (A2) and the loader (B) comprises an arrangement (1) that interacts with the attachment arrangement (A2) of the tool and that makes possible the attachment of the tool (A) to the loader (B). The loader (B) is connected to a vehicle. The tool (A) is placed onto a support surface or the ground with the attachment arrangement (A2) arranged in an essentially vertical plane. The invention is characterised in that the loader is raised, that the attachment arrangement (1 ) of the loader is tilted and rotated, forwards and downwards relative to the loader (B) sufficiently far that a section (1a) of the attachment arrangement (1 ), which constitutes the upper section of the attachment arrangement when the attachment arrangement is normally seen upright and essentially arranged in a vertical plane, is placed in a direction down towards the support surface, the ground, or the tool (A) and will constitute that part of the loader (B) and the attachment arrangement (1 ) that is located at the bottom in the direction down towards the support surface, the ground, or the tool (A) whereby a driver of the vehicle form the driver's seat in or on the vehicle is given a free view of the attachment arrangement (1 , 1a) and that the attachment arrangement (1 ) of the loader is caused to interact with the attachment arrangement (A2) of the tool. The invention concerns also an arrangement that makes this method possible.

Description

A method and a device to attach a tool to a loader

The present invention concerns a method when a tool is to be attached to a loader according to the introduction to claim 1 and an arrangement that makes the method possible according to the introduction to claim 7.

Many of the loaders that are currently available are equipped with an arrangement that is specially intended to aid a driver with the attachment of a tool to the loader. This arrangement is mounted at the front of the loader while the rear of the loader is attached to a vehicle.

Some of the tools that are intended to be used together with loaders of this type have two attachment parts located in the vicinity of an upper part of the tool and a further two attachment parts located in the vicinity of the lower part of the tool and these parts are to interact with the attachment arrangement on the loader. The upper attachment parts are often in the form of hooks or fittings with a similar function. The upper attachment parts of the tool comprise open hook arrangements in many of the tool units.

An attachment arrangement of the loader comprises in turn parts that are located such that they can be caused to interact with the attachment parts of the tool. The attachment arrangement, which is mounted on the arms of the front loader, comprises an attachment rod that extends essentially perpendicular to the arms of the loader. The attachment rod is designed to interact with the hooks of the tool and in this manner offer a simple and efficient method for the attachment of tools to the front loader. The tool is hung on the attachment rod of the loader. The attachment rod may be divided into sections, such that one section, for example, is available for each hook, but the function is the same.

In order to attach a tool to a loader, the driver places the attachment arrangement of the loader such that it is positioned essentially directly against the tool, which is normally placed on the ground. The attachment arrangement of the loader and all of its parts are placed such that they are positioned directly against the tool and the attachment arrangement of the tool that interacts with the loader. The loader is lowered such that it becomes possible to introduce the upper attachment parts of the attachment arrangement into interaction with the upper attachment part of the tool. The attachment rod is introduced into the hooks from below. The driver subsequently manoeuvres the arms of the front loader, normally by raising them, such that the tool is lifted from the ground. The hooks of the tool are arranged over the attachment rod, and the tool swings as a result of its own weight around the attachment rod when the tool is no longer in contact with the ground. The lower attachment parts of the tool then move in the direction of other parts of the attachment arrangement of the front loader that are intended to interact with lower attachment parts of the tool. The lower part of the tool makes contact with a further part of the attachment arrangement of the front loader in order to adjust the attachment arrangement of the tool at a position relative to the attachment parts on the attachment arrangement of the front loader.

The attachment arrangement of the loader is placed in a position essentially directly against the tool, essentially in a vertical plane, such that the attachment arrangement of the loader and its active parts are located in the vicinity of the attachment parts of the tool, which also are located essentially in a vertical plane. The principal problem with this is that the loader and the attachment arrangement of the loader block the sight of large parts of the region in which the tool and the loader are to be attached to each other since this attachment takes place in front of the loader, in front of the attachment arrangement. The view of the working area is blocked by both the loader and the attachment arrangement. The view of the driver over the working region during previously known work of attaching a tool to a loader is approximately equivalent to that shown in Figure 3b.

It is difficult for the driver to see whether all parts are in their correct positions and that they have really achieved the correct position such that they are able to be brought into further contact with, and final locking to, each other. This involves a risk situation for people or for animals in the vicinity of the machine, since the tool risks becoming loose from the loader when the driver transports the vehicle or commences work with the tool.

One aim of the present invention is to offer a method when using a loader that ensures that the task of attaching a tool to the loader is simple, efficient, safe, and that this task is correctly carried out, and an arrangement that makes it possible to work in this way.

This aim is achieved with a method having the technical features that are specified in the characterising part of claim 1 and an arrangement with the technical features that are specified in the characterising part of claim 7.

Figure 1 shows obliquely from the rear a loader and a tool when contact has been initiated for mounting of the tool onto the loader. Figure 1a also shows obliquely from the rear a loader and a tool when contact has been initiated for mounting of the tool onto the loader. Figure 1b shows a loader and a tool when contact has been initiated for mounting of the tool onto the loader, as seen from the vehicle.

Figure 2a shows obliquely from the rear a loader and a tool when the attachment arrangement of the loader has started its initial interaction with the attachment arrangement of the tool.

Figure 2b shows a loader and a tool when the attachment arrangement of the loader has started its initial interaction with the attachment arrangement of the tool, as seen from the vehicle.

Figure 3a shows obliquely from the rear a loader and a tool when the attachment arrangement of the loader has reached its halfway position towards complete interaction with the attachment arrangement of the tool.

Figure 3b shows a loader and a tool when the attachment arrangement of the loader has reached its halfway position towards complete interaction with the attachment arrangement of the tool, as seen from the vehicle.

Figure 4 shows a loader and a tool when the mounting has been completed, as seen from the vehicle. Figure 4a shows a loader and a tool when the mounting has been completed, as seen obliquely from the rear.

Figure 4b shows a loader and a tool when the mounting has been completed, as seen from the vehicle.

Figure 5a shows a loader and a tool when the mounting has been locked, as seen obliquely from the rear.

Figure 5b shows a loader and a tool when the mounting has been locked, as seen from the vehicle.

As a general rule, terms such as "downwards" and "lower " will be used in the description to describe displacement towards or location at or in the vicinity of the ground under the loader or tool; while "upwards" and "upper " will be used to describe displacement towards or location at the opposite direction or side. These descriptions are valid when the loader and the tool and the various parts of these are located in a neutral position with the tool standing on the ground or on another support surface. The description is based on this position unless otherwise specified. "Forwards" and "forward" and similar descriptions refer to the loader and the front of the loader in its normal direction of travel, and "backwards" and "rear" denote the reverse direction relative to the front and rear of the loader.

Figures 5a and 5b show an arrangement 1 that is mounted onto a loader B and locked in position. The arrangement 1 makes it possible to attach a tool A to the loader B and lock it in place.

The fundamental principle of the invention is that when a tool A is to be connected to a loader B, the loader B and its attachment arrangement 1 are to be arranged, at least during the initial phase, such that the view for the driver is free up to and including the area in which the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader comes into contact with the tool A. The attachment arrangement of the loader must be modified in order to make this possible.

The tool A may be of any type: a bucket, a gripper, an edged tool, lifting gear, baling equipment, etc. That side of the tool A that is turned towards and faces the loader B, the rear A1 of the tool, comprises an attachment arrangement A2 that interacts with the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader such that the tool A can be attached to the loader B, at the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader. The attachment arrangement A2 is located principally in a vertical plane. The attachment arrangement A2 comprises two first identical attachment parts A3, which in turn comprise open hooked fittings A3a, denoted in the remainder of the description by "hooks". These hooks are located in the vicinity of an upper part A1a of the rear A1 of the tool. The first attachment parts A3 are located next to each other, at a distance from each other, in a horizontal plane, when the tool A is seen standing on the ground. See Figure 1.

Two other identical attachment parts A4 are located in the vicinity of the lower part A1 b of the rear. Also these other attachment parts A4 are placed next to each other, at a distance from each other, in a horizontal plane, when the tool A is located standing on the ground. Each attachment part A4 comprises at least one through hole A5, or an opening or similar, that extends essentially perpendicularly to the normal direction of travel of the loader, shown by the arrow X in Figure 1.

The tool A comprises also a control and support part A6 that interacts with a part of the attachment arrangement 1 of the tool at the point of contact between the tool and the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader in order to determine the position of the tool A with respect to the attachment arrangement 1. The attachment arrangement 1 of the loader interacts with the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool, its attachment parts A3 and A4, and makes it possible to attach the tool A to the loader B, at the arrangement 1 of the loader.

The attachment arrangement 1 is mounted onto the loader B at mounting points B1 and B2 at the forward parts of the loader B, at each one of the loading arms Ba and Bb. The tool A can be rotated around the mounting points B1 and B2 with the aid of control devices C, normally cylinder devices, and this makes it possible for a driver of the loader B to manoeuvre, control and change the position of the motion of a mounted tool during different tasks carried out by the loader B. See Figure 1.

The attachment arrangement 1 of the loader comprises parts that are caused to interact with the attachment parts A3 and A4 of the tool. These parts comprise a first, upper, attachment means 2 located in the vicinity of the upper section 1a of the attachment arrangement. It is intended that the upper attachment means 2 interact with the upper attachment part A3 of the tool. The attachment means 2 comprises an attachment rod 2a that extends essentially perpendicularly relative to the normal direction of travel of the loader, see the arrow X in Figure 1. It is intended that the attachment rod 2a interact with the hooks A3 of the tool in such a manner that the hooks A3 are located above and partially around the attachment rod 2a. The attachment rod 2a lies essentially in a horizontal plane when the tool A is in a position standing on the ground. See Figures 1 and 4.

The attachment arrangement 1 comprises two second, lower, attachment devices 3 located in the vicinity of the lower section 1 b of the attachment arrangement. It is intended that each second attachment device 3 interact with the relevant lower attachment part A4 of the tool. Each second attachment device 3 comprises a through opening 4 that extends essentially parallel to the normal direction of travel of the loader, see the arrow X in Figure 1. The openings 4 in the attachment arrangement 1 are to be centred on the holes or openings A5 in the tool A such that the centre axes of the relevant openings are essentially coaxial with those of the others. See Figure 4.

The attachment arrangement 1 comprises also a guidance arrangement 5 that centres the positions of the attachment arrangement 1 and the tool A relative to each other. The guidance arrangement 5 extends essentially parallel to the attachment rod 2a. The guidance arrangement 5 comprises a positioning rod 6 that is located in the vicinity of the lower section 1 b of the attachment arrangement 1. It is intended that the positioning rod 6 interact with the guidance and support part A6 of the tool such that they by the cooperating design are connected and placed in contact with each other and control the location of the tool A against the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader.

A first 7 and a second 8 strut support frame-forming part are arranged essentially parallel to each other between the attachment rod 2a and the positioning rod 6. The lower parts 7a and 8a of the frame-forming parts offer attachment points for, or they constitute a part of, the relevant attachment device 3. A through opening 4 is present in the lower parts 7a and 8a of each frame-forming part.

A lock arrangement 9 is arranged at the attachment arrangement 1 , principally between the frame-forming parts 7 and 8. The lock arrangement 9 comprises actively locking parts 10 that can be displaced between an open position and a locked position, where they interact in the locked position with the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader and the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool, and connect these to each other. There are at least two locking parts 10, and each locking part 10 has an extended shape. Each locking part 10 is located, when the tool is locked to the loader, through the relevant opening 4 in the attachment arrangement of the loader, and onwards into or through the holes or openings A5 in the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool. See Figure 5b. The locking arrangement has dimensions and a location that ensure that it is located in all of its positions below what is normally denoted the upper limiting surface 1a1 of the attachment arrangement.

The locking arrangement 9 comprises a control device 11 with which the actively locking parts 10 can be manually displaced into and out from their locked position. The control device 11 is located such that the displacement of the attachment arrangement can take place without hindrance. The control device 11 is a lever that is displaced by rotation around an axis 11a in a vertical plane, essentially parallel to the vertical plane of the attachment arrangement. The lever 11 has a length L that entails the free end 11 b of the lever being located at a level below the upper limiting surface 1a1 of the attachment arrangement for all positions of the lever, principally below the upper attachment part 2, below the attachment rod 2a.

The initial position when a tool A is to be attached to a loader B is that the tool A comprises an attachment arrangement A2 and the loader B comprises an attachment arrangement 1 that interacts with the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool. The loader B is connected to a vehicle. The tool A is placed onto a support surface or the ground with the attachment arrangement A2 arranged in an essentially vertical plane. The method for the attachment of the tool A to the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader is thus the following:

The loader B is raised.

The attachment arrangement 1 of the loader is tilted, rotated, turned, around the mounting points B1 and B2 relative to the loader B with the aid of the control device C in a direction downwards towards the ground or the supporting surface. The upper section 1a of the attachment arrangement will then be displaced forwards and downwards, and this entails that what is normally denoted the first, upper, attachment means 2 of the attachment arrangement, the attachment rod 2a, becomes placed and arranged in a direction downwards towards the ground. The positioning rod 6, which is normally located at the lower section 1 b of the attachment arrangement, will now be placed upwards. The driver can now see the upper section 1a, the upper attachment part 2, the attachment rod 2a, under the loader B. When the loader B is lowered down towards and is displaced forwards towards the tool A, there will still be a free view for the driver since the attachment rod 2a is located such that it constitutes the lower part of the attachment arrangement, in the current forwards and downwards position of the attachment arrangement. See Figures 1 , 1a and 1b.

The upper attachment means 2, the attachment rod 2a, is brought into interaction with and caused to enter into grip with, the upper attachment part A3, with the hooks A3a, of the tool. The attachment rod 2a is placed into the hooks A3. See Figures 2a and 2b.

The attachment arrangement 1 of the loader is subsequently tilted back in the direction forwards and upwards, see Figures 3a and 3b, possibly at the same time as the forward section of the loader is lowered, such that the attachment arrangement 1 takes up its original position and such that other parts of the attachment arrangement 1 will come into contact with the other interacting parts of the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool A. See Figures 4, 4a and 4b.

When all parts of the attachment arrangement 1 of the loader and the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool are in their correct positions relative to each other, the locking arrangement 9 is activated and the locking parts 10 enter into interaction with the through openings 4 in the attachment arrangement of the loader and onwards through or into the holes or openings A5 in the attachment arrangement A2 of the tool. See Figures 5a and 5b. The fact that the attachment does not take place in front of the loader B and the attachment arrangement 1 , which is previously known, but takes place at the lower surface of the loader B and the attachment arrangement 1 , ensures that the important first attachment of the attachment rod 2a to the hooks A3 will take place in a region where the view is not obstructed by any part of the loader B or the attachment arrangement 1. The task of inserting the attachment rod 2a into the hooks A3 now takes place in full view when the loader B and the attachment arrangement are located principally above the tool A. This ensures also that it will be possible to complete the further mounting of the tool A to the attachment arrangement 1 completely as planned. The driver can make a visual check from the driver's place in the cabin and the driver can be fully sure that the attachment is correct.

It should be understood that this description of the invention constitutes only an example and that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited to the special fittings that have been described. Several variations and modifications can be made within the innovative concept.

Claims

1. A method by which a tool (A) is to be attached to a loader (B) where the tool (A) comprises an attachment arrangement (A2) and the loader (B) comprises an arrangement (1) that interacts with the attachment arrangement (A2) of the tool and that makes possible the attachment of the tool (A) to the loader (B) and where the loader (B) is connected to a vehicle and the tool (A) is placed onto a support surface or the ground with the attachment arrangement (A2) arranged in an essentially vertical plane c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the loader is raised, that the attachment arrangement (1) of the loader is tilted and rotated forwards and downwards relative to the loader (B) sufficiently far that a section (1a) of the attachment arrangement (1), which constitutes the upper section of the attachment arrangement when the attachment arrangement is normally seen upright and essentially arranged in a vertical plane, is placed in a direction down towards the support surface, the ground, or the tool (A) and will constitute that part of the loader (B) and the attachment arrangement (1) that is located at the bottom in the direction down towards the support surface, the ground, or the tool (A) whereby a driver of the vehicle from the driver's seat in or on the vehicle is given a free view of the attachment arrangement (1 , 1a) and that the attachment arrangement (1 ) of the loader is caused to interact with the attachment arrangement (A2) of the tool.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the attachment arrangement (1) of the loader comprises upper attachment means (2) arranged at the upper section (1a) and that are caused to interact with an upper attachment part (A3) of the tool (A).

3. The method according to claim 2, in which the upper attachment means (2) is introduced into the upper attachment part (A3) of the tool.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, in which the upper attachment means (2) comprises an attachment rod (2a) that is introduced into arrangements (A3a) that have the form of hooks and that are comprised by the upper attachment part (A3) of the tool.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, in which the attachment arrangement (1) of the loader is rotated backwards in the forwards and backwards direction such that other parts of the attachment arrangement (1 ) are brought into contact with the other interacting parts of the tool (A).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, in which the attachment arrangement (1) comprises a locking arrangement (9) that is activated and brought into its locked position whereby the tool (A) is locked to the loader (B).

7. An arrangement (1 ) that makes the method according to claim 1 possible c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it can be turned and tilted relative to the loader (B) and brought towards the tool (A) and brought into interaction with the attachment arrangement (A2) of the tool with its upper section (1a) turned downwards towards the tool (A).

8. The arrangement (1) according to claim 7, comprising a locking arrangement (9) that can be displaced between an open position and a locked position, that in its locked position interacts with the attachment arrangement (1 ) and the tool (A), that is arranged on that side of the attachment arrangement (1) that faces towards the loader (B) and that has dimensions that ensure that the locking arrangement (9) is located below what is normally named the upper limiting surface (1a1) of the attachment arrangement in all of its positions.

9. The arrangement (1) according to claim 8, in which the locking arrangement (9) comprises a control means (11 ) for the manual control of the same between an open position and a locking position, and that has a length (L) that has been selected such that the free end (11b) of the control means is located below what is normally named the upper limiting surface (1a1) of the attachment arrangement in all of its positions.

10. The arrangement (1) according to claim 8 or 9, in which the normally named upper limiting surface (1a1 ) of the attachment arrangement is constituted by an upper attachment means (2).

11. The arrangement (1 ) according to claim 10, in which the upper attachment means (2) comprises an attachment rod (2a).