Abstract: A quick coupling and release mechanism for attaching a material handling bucket to the free end of a scoop arm extending from a loader or backhoe. The quick coupler has three spaced apart ends including a first end connected to a push-pull link by a releasable pin, a second end pivotally mounted between bifurcated ends on the loader arm, and a third end which is slotted for selective engagement with a mounting pin on the bucket. The push-pull link may be connected at a first location to the quick coupler when it is desired to permit more angular displacement of the quick coupler or to a second location on the quick coupler when it is desired to permit less angular displacement of the quick coupler. Further, the quick coupler and bucket are pivotally connected to the loader arm by a single releasable pin for pivotal movement about a common pivot axis. A single operator can easily handle the entire coupling or uncoupling operation without special tools.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for mounting a hydraulic actuator used to raise and lower a material handling element relative to a base member using a minimum of pivotal connections and using the inherent strength and force producing capabilities of a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator includes a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder and a piston rod connected to the piston such that hydraulic actuators extended when the material handling element is in its upright or raised position. A pair of articulated connecting links join the piston rod to the material handling element and the base member. The cylinder end of the hydraulic actuator is pivotally connected to the common pivotal connection between the base member and the material handling element. Two specific embodiments are described in detail, one for the bucket mounted at the end of the lift arms of a loader and one in connection with the boom portion of a backhoe mechanism.

Abstract: A lock for holding a boom in a storage position on a boom support is disclosed herein. The lock consists of a first member or vertical pin that is carried by the boom support, a second member or locking ring that is pivoted on the boom about a horizontal axis and that has an opening for receiving the first member, and a deformable biasing element or spring interconnecting the first and second members. The second member is biased to a first position by the spring and engages the vertical pin when the boom is moved to its storage position. When the opening in the locking ring and the vertical pin are axially aligned, the spring returns the second member to the first position latching the first and second members together.

Abstract: A tool adapted to be removably joined to the bucket or dipper stick of a backbone or excavator is described. The tool is used to dig a footing at the base of a trench. The tool includes two major components: a frame and a tooth-shaped member. The frame carries a tooth-shaped member and the frame is removably joined to the bucket. The tooth-shaped member engages and uplifts the material at the base of the trench while the frame guides the tooth-shaped member and funnels the material uplifted from the base of the trench into the interior of the bucket. The tooth-shaped member can be formed together in one solid piece or from several flat plates that have been welded together. A bolting means can be used to join the tooth-shaped member and frame to the bucket.

Abstract: A linkage system for automatically maintaining the orientation of a bucket of a loader while the lift arms are moved between raised and lowered positions is disclosed. A pair of articulated links are added to the linkage producing the self-leveling function to increase or decrease the amount of tilt applied to the rolled back bucket relative to the tilt applied to the bucket by the cross link alone. The articulated links are also used to maximize the force applied to the bucket to rotate it from the dig position to the rolled back position. The combination of a self-leveling feature together with a loader applying the maximum available force to roll back the bucket results in a loader arrangement which optimizes the efficiency of the loader and the productivity of the operator.

Abstract: An improved, highly utilitarian bucket is described. The bucket incorporates two traversely spaced side walls connected by a backwall plate so as to form a generally scoop-shaped enclosure. The leading edge of the backwall is provided with a one-piece cutting-edge plate disposed between the side walls and formed with a plurality of tangs along its leading edge. The tangs are adapted to removably carry a plurality of generally flat tooth-plates. Each tooth-plate defines two oppositely disposed beveled edges. Because of the symmetric nature of the tooth-plates, they may be reversed to extend, if not double their useful life. Several embodiments of the tooth-plates are described. In addition, the bucket is particularly adaptable to serve as a mount for a easily connected back-fill blade.

Abstract: A backhoe arrangement is described wherein overcenter forward movement of the boom and boom cylinder provides a transport configuration for the backhoe, and the backhoe operator's view of the bucket is enhanced. A swing tower is attached to the rear of the machine and serves as a support that embraces an asymmetrically mounted or offset boom assembly wherein the longitudinal axis of the boom and the longitudinal axis of the hydraulic actuator operating the boom are offset from the vertical axis of rotation of the swing tower. The boom hydraulic actuator flanks the boom in a clearance relationship that permits the boom to assume a substantially vertically directed neutral intermediate position. An offset boom and actuator improves the center of gravity of the backhoe and allows the boom actuator to be protected by the boom.

Abstract: A linkage system for automatically maintaining the orientation of a bucket of a tractor loader while the lift arms are moved between raised and lowered positions is disclosed herein. Several specific embodiments are illustrated and described in detail. Each embodiment incorporates one or more links joined to the lift arms in such a manner that a portion of that linkage is maintained generally parallel to the bucket end of the lift arm. By maintaining this parallel relationship throughout the rotation of the lift arm, the bucket positioning mechanism is displaced in such a manner as to counteract the rotation of the bucket induced by the motion of the lift arms alone. The automatic self-leveling feature improves the overall productivity of the tractor loader.

Abstract: A linkage system is described for increasing the moment arm of the hydraulic actuator or motor used to raise the lift arm of a material handling machine as the lift arm is rotated between its lowered and its raised position. The linkage includes a generally vertically disposed connecting link and a generally V-shaped lever arm. The connecting link translates the rotation of the lift arm into a vertical displacement. The lever arm converts the vertical displacement of the connecting link to rotate the lower end of the lift arm actuator forwardly and downwardly so that its position relative to the pivot point of the left arm increases as the lift arm is rotated to its raised position. Thus, a generally greater moment arm is produced to raise the lift arm in contradistinction to the lifting linkages of the prior art where the lifting moment arm generally decreased as the lift arm was rotated upwardly.

Abstract: A material handling element or bucket is formed from two sidewalls and a backwall. The backwall has one or more apertures postioned in such a manner that the operator manipulating the bucket can see a portion of the leading edge of the bucket. In one embodiment, the apertures are positioned in such a manner that the leading edge can be viewed directly or in combination with one or more mirrors. In another embodiment, the apertures are positioned in such a manner so that the operator can sight one or more of the sidewalls of the bucket using those sidewalls as a guide for positioning the leading edge of the bucket.

Abstract: A unique and improved loader design is disclosed incorporating straight lift arms and channeled front wheels. The front wheels define a channel or groove through which the lift arms are allowed to intercept unobstructed. The lift arms pivotally join a bucket positioned at the front of the loader with a pair of uprights positioned at the rear end of the loader. The channeled front wheels may be formed from two ordinary tires joined in tandem and separated by a spacer or by using molded, grooved, elastomeric tires. The design eliminates the highly stressed joint found in ordinary two-piece lift arm loaders. Fabrication is simplified and manufacturing costs are reduced.

Abstract: A stabilizer attachment for the front end of a material handling vehicle is disclosed herein. The stabilizer attachment consists of a frame that is directly attached to the front end of the vehicle chassis and has stabilizer feet which are moved into ground engaging positions by two separately controlled fluid rams.

Abstract: A stabilizer for a vehicle is disclosed herein. The stabilizer consists of a pair of telescopic members with one member being mounted on the vehicle and the other member having a ground engaging foot supported on the free end thereof for rotation about a horizontal plane. The stabilizer incorporates latch means between the telescopic member and the foot for holding the foot in any number of rotated positions with respect to the telescopic member.