Implement Has Ground Support Patents (Class 172/274)
  • Patent number: 11236483
    Abstract: A readily attaching-detaching structure of a front loader that can make the attaching and detaching work to a vehicle body easier, a front loader, and a work vehicle. The attaching-detaching structure of a front loader is provided with a first retained member that is on either a main frame on a vehicle body or a sub-frame that supports a boom; a second retained member on the other of the main frame or the sub-frame; a first retaining member that retains the first retained member and is on the side opposite of the first retained member; a second retaining member that retains the second retained member and is on the side opposite to the second retained member; a first guiding member that guides the first retained member to the first retaining member when the sub-frame is mounted on the main frame; and a second guiding member that guides the second retained member to the second retaining member when the sub-frame is mounted on the main frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Torii, Yuta Ozeki
  • Patent number: 10959369
    Abstract: Openers for a seeder, configured to be adjustably engaged with a soil surface when in use; each opener having compliance to vertical and lateral excessive forces independently applied to soil-engaging parts: a fertiliser tine, a seed tine, a press wheel, a coulter, and a support wheel. The openers share a hydraulic circuit, linked to each internal frame-lifting ram so that localised rise and fall effects arising from soil surface irregularities are shared, maintaining a mean height. The seed tine of each opener is mechanically coupled to the preceding fertilizer tine and is lifted when the fertilizer tine is displaced. The openers do not require external weight support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ROTACON ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventor: Nicolaas Laurisse Sieling
  • Patent number: 10743464
    Abstract: An equipment skid is aligned on the frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, by utilizing an alignment system having a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid. The frame and skid mounting surfaces are adapted for mating connection with one another to substantially align the skid with the frame along a substantially vertical mounting plane. A pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features are defined by the frame mounting surface, and a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface is adapted for insertion between and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on the vertical mounting plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: William A. Roach, Rex L. Ruppert
  • Patent number: 10519623
    Abstract: A stand of a front loader includes: a main body that is disposed on a boom and swings between a supporting position in which the main body supports a front loader and a storage position in which the main body is stored; a grounding-member swing shaft that is disposed on the main body and engages with the boom to hold the main body in the storage position; a swinging member swingably disposed on the boom; and an engagement lever disposed on the swinging member, wherein the main body has a guiding hole that guides the engagement lever to regulate a swinging range of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Nadaoka, Yuta Ozeki, Koshiro Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 10422104
    Abstract: A stand 18 is maintained under a stored posture when the stand 18 is pivoted toward the stored posture side in association with a dumping actin of a bucket 13 and a lock mechanism 25 is switched to a locking state. The stand is switched to an in-use posture when the lock mechanism 25 is switched to a releasing state while the stand 18 is maintained under the stored posture by the lock mechanism 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Mori, Masataka Takagi, Takahiro Yonekura, Masaki Abe
  • Patent number: 9764778
    Abstract: A coupling part of a vehicle coupling system has a positioning device for guiding a counter-coupling part into a fixing position during a coupling operation, and a fixing device is arranged moveably between a release position and a fixing setting, wherein, in the fixing setting, the fixing device can fix a counter-coupling part in the fixing position in a positionally secure manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventors: Josef Scharmüller, Josef Scharmüller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8998256
    Abstract: A front loader (10) for a tractor with a parking stand unit (28) including a parking support (30) pivotably mounted on the front loader arm (12). A locking brace (32) is pivotably seated at one end on the parking support (30) and is movably guided at the other end by a guidance means (50) formed on the locking brace (32) and at least one guide groove (48, 49) formed in the parking support (30). The guidance means (50) can be brought by pivoting the parking support (30) into the parking position (P3) into a locking position in which it comes to rest at a stop (66) formed in the guide groove (48, 49). The guidance means (50) can be pressed against the stop (66) and fixed in the locking position by a support force of the front loader arm (12) acting in the parking position (P3) on the locking brace (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Damien Faivre
  • Patent number: 8544885
    Abstract: A parking stand arrangement for a tractor-mounted front loader includes a parking stand mounted to each of a pair of arm sections which are inclined downwardly and forwardly to a carried implement resting on the ground. Each parking stand includes a support leg and a brace, the latter being about half the length of the former and having a rear end pivotally mounted to a location approximately halfway between opposite ends of the support leg and an forward end pivotally mounted to a lower region of an associated loader arm section. The support leg and brace may be stored on the loader arm section by folding them together with a catch carried by the brace becoming releasably engaged with the support leg. The folded support leg and brace are then pivoted against the loader arm section and secured to it by a releasable latch which secures the top of the support leg to the arm section to establish a stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Albert Lanting, Radu Traian Guja, Scott Robert Jamieson, Henry Friesen
  • Patent number: 8322969
    Abstract: The front end loader and method of the present invention provides front end loader lift arms that may be removed from an implement, such as a bucket, and secured to the bucket in a cantilevered position for storage of the lift arms. Connections on the implement and lift arms allow the lift arms to be securely interconnected with connections on the bucket without the use of tools or pins so that the center of gravity of the lift arms is above the bucket. The lift arms may then be removed from a utility vehicle. In this storage position, the lift arms are stored and maintained in a secure position so that they may later be easily and quickly reattached to the utility vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Westendorf Manufacturing, Co.
    Inventors: Neal W. Westendorf, Joseph W. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 8287226
    Abstract: A hand-operable connection assembly is described for quickly connecting and disconnecting a vehicle from a boom assembly. The connection assembly includes a tower and a bracket, the tower is rotatably secured to both an actuator and a boom arm while the bracket is secured to a vehicle or construction device. The tower and bracket interconnect via pins that seat in pockets, and the tower is secured or locked to the bracket via a hand-operable locking clevis that rotates about one of the pins and wraps around the curved exterior of one of the pockets. The center point of the exterior curvature is offset from the center point of the clevis rotation such that rotation of the clevis tightens the clevis against the pocket. The pins may be located at the two hinges connecting the boom arm and actuator to the tower, or the pins may be separated from the hinges. The exterior of the pocket may include a grind sheet designed to scrape against and secure a grind bar of the locking clevis in a locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Westendorf Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neal W. Westendorf, Joseph W. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 8240970
    Abstract: A loader coupling system includes an arm coupler and a link coupler each adapted to mate with an associated attachment. The arm coupler includes a body adapted to be connected to and extend between first and second spaced-apart arms of an associated loader machine. First and second plunger pins are located respectfully at opposite first and second ends of the body. At least one plunger actuator is operatively connected to the first and second plunger pins, and the at least one plunger actuator is selectively operative to move the first and second plunger pins between a retracted position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Paladin Brands Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bricker, Anthony Seda, Robert Sikorski
  • Publication number: 20120006572
    Abstract: The stadium groomer includes a hitch adapted to be pulled by a vehicle. An adjustable hitching mechanism is disposed on one side of the hitch. The hitch includes a base having wheels disposed at the bottom of the base. A grooming frame is pivotally mounted to the opposite side of the base. The grooming frame includes a tank that can be selectively filled with water to increase the weight of the grooming frame. A plurality of plow blades are disposed on opposite sides of the tank in a relatively staggered pattern, and the penetration depth of each of the blades Is adjustable. An adjustable base leveling bar and a pivotal smoothing bar are mounted to the tank on the trailing side thereof. The leveling bar levels the plowed soil beneath the penetration depth of the plow blades while the smoothing bar smoothes the disturbed surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: ROZANNE E. ADAMS, Alan Dale
  • Publication number: 20110297406
    Abstract: A frame for mounting an implement to a vehicle having wheels includes elongated frame members for supporting the implement and drive members that are mounted on the elongated frame members. The drive members contact the wheels of the vehicle and receive a driving force from the wheels. The frame is mounted to the vehicle only on the vehicle wheels, and is able to pivot to follow the steering motion of the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lhota, Danny T. Miller
  • Patent number: 7797859
    Abstract: A snowplow and mount assembly comprising a mount frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle, and a snowplow frame. One of the mount frame and the snowplow frame has first and second arms and the other of the mount frame and snowplow frame has first and second receivers, the first and second receivers receiving the first and second arms, respectively. Respective ones of first and second latch pins removably secure the first and second arms in the first and second receivers. A latch lever is operably associated with the first and second latch pins and simultaneously actuates the latch pins to latched and unlatched positions. The snowplow frame includes a jack stand movable to and between an extended ground contacting and snowplow frame supporting position and a retracted ground noncontacting and snowplow frame nonsupporting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andre Valmont LeBlond, James Calvin Pieper, Mark Lawrence Stultz, Steven Lohry Klug, John Wallace Field, David Bloxdorf
  • Patent number: 7681334
    Abstract: A snowplow and mount assembly comprising a mount frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle, and a snowplow frame. One of the mount frame and the snowplow frame has first and second arms and the other of the mount frame and snowplow frame has first and second receivers, the first and second receivers receiving the first and second arms, respectively. Respective ones of first and second latch pins removably secure the first and second arms in the first and second receivers. A latch lever is operably associated with the first and second latch pins and simultaneously actuates the latch pins to latched and unlatched positions. The snowplow frame includes a jack stand movable to and between an extended ground contacting and snowplow frame supporting position and a retracted ground noncontacting and snowplow frame nonsupporting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Valmont LeBlond, James Calvin Pieper, Mark Lawrence Stultz, Steven Lohry Klug, John Wallace Field, David Bloxdorf
  • Patent number: 7549832
    Abstract: A device for couplng a loader to a tractor, wherein the hitching frame (1) of the loader is provided with two coupling projections (11, 12) or sockets (21, 22) and a latch (14) biased by a spring (15), the coupling head (2) of the tractor is provided with two complementary coupling members and locking means (25, 25?), and said latch (14) engages said locking means (25, 25?) to lock the load onto the tractor. Said device is characterised in that the coupling head (2) includes pre-locking means (24, 24?) engageable by said latch (14) in a pre-locking position in which said projections (11, 12) and sockets (21, 22) are not fully coupled, and the spring (15) continually urges said latch (14) into the locking or pre-locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Mailleux
    Inventor: Loic Mailleux
  • Publication number: 20090031592
    Abstract: A snowplow and mount assembly comprising a mount frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle, and a snowplow frame. One of the mount frame and the snowplow frame has first and second arms and the other of the mount frame and snowplow frame has first and second receivers, the first and second receivers receiving the first and second arms, respectively. Respective ones of first and second latch pins removably secure the first and second arms in the first and second receivers. A latch lever is operably associated with the first and second latch pins and simultaneously actuates the latch pins to latched and unlatched positions. The snowplow frame includes a jack stand movable to and between an extended ground contacting and snowplow frame supporting position and a retracted ground noncontacting and snowplow frame nonsupporting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: DOUGLAS DYNAMICS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andre Valmont LeBlond, James Calvin Pieper, Mark Lawrence Stultz, Steven Lohry Klug, John Wallace Field, David Bloxdorf
  • Patent number: 7430821
    Abstract: A snowplow and mount assembly comprising a mount frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle, and a snowplow frame. One of the mount frame and the snowplow frame has first and second arms and the other of the mount frame and snowplow frame has first and second receivers, the first and second receivers receiving the first and second arms, respectively. Respective ones of first and second latch pins removably secure the first and second arms in the first and second receivers. A latch lever is operably associated with the first and second latch pins and simultaneously actuates the latch pins to latched and unlatched positions. The snowplow frame includes a jack stand movable to and between an extended ground contacting and snowplow frame supporting position and a retracted ground noncontacting and snowplow frame nonsupporting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andre Valmont LeBlond, James Calvin Pieper, Mark Lawrence Stultz, Steven Lohry Klug, John Wallace Field, David Bloxdorf
  • Patent number: 7431553
    Abstract: A loader work machine including a vehicle body, and a working implement having booms and boom cylinders and mounting frame units for attaching the working implement to a front portion of the vehicle body. Each of the mounting frame units includes a mounting plate fixed to the vehicle body, a support base projecting laterally outward from the mounting plate, a main frame erected on the support base, and a side frame for pivotally supporting proximal ends of one of the booms and one of the boom cylinders. The side frame includes right and left side plates and a connecting element for interconnecting the right and left side plates. The side frame is detachably attached to the main frame by engaging an engaging member disposed in a lower portion of the side frame with an engageable member of the main frame, and connecting a connecting member formed on the side frame to a connectable member formed on the main frame. The main frame is formed as a one-piece plate insertable between the right and left side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nishi, Shusaku Yamaguchi, Arinobu Ishida, Kosuke Oyama
  • Patent number: 7354238
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a pair of, right and left booms detachably attached to a vehicle body, an implement attached to leading ends of the booms and a stand for supporting the booms with the implement being placed on a ground surface when the booms are detached from the vehicle body. The stand includes a pair of, right and left stand members provided in correspondence with the right and left booms and a stand connecting member for interconnecting the stand members. Each stand member is attached to the boom corresponding thereto in such a manner that the stand is movable between a use position in which each stand member projects downwardly from the boom for supporting the boom and a non-use position in which each stand member extends along the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Fukudome, Tadashi Nakao, Shuichi Takeshita
  • Patent number: 7300241
    Abstract: An attachment construction for attaching a front loader having booms to a front of a tractor vehicle body is disclosed. The construction includes a pair of support tables projecting from the front portion of the tractor body to the right and left outer sides thereof, an engine constituting the vehicle body being disposed forwardly of the support tables, a front axle frame being secured to right and left sides of the engine, a pair of main frames disposed erect on the respective support tables for supporting the booms, and a pair of attaching brackets secured to right/left inner ends of the respective support tables for attaching the support tables to the vehicle body. Each attaching bracket includes a front attaching portion secured to the front axle frame and a rear attaching portion projecting rearwardly of the support table associated therewith and secured to a fore-and-aft intermediate portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Fukudome, Koichi Kawaguchi, Kiyokazu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7172384
    Abstract: A loader/attachment assembly is provided. The loader/attachment assembly can be referred to as a loader/bucket assembly when the attachment is a bucket. The loader/attachment assembly can include a bucket and a loader assembly. The bucket includes a bucket attachment region and a bucket face opening. The loader assembly includes a left boom and a right boom. The left boom includes a left first boom end constructed for attachment to a left bracket assembly on a motor vehicle, a left second boom end attached to the bucket attachment region, a left lift cylinder, and a left attachment cylinder. The right boom includes a right first boom end constructed for attachment to a right bracket assembly on a motor vehicle, a right second boom end attached to the bucket attachment region, a right lift cylinder, and a right attachment cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Westendorf Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neal W. Westendorf, Joseph W. Lagenfeld
  • Patent number: 7168907
    Abstract: The masts of a front-end loader are releasably attached to vertical plates of a loader mounting frame located at the opposite sides of a tractor by latch hooks pivotally mounted to the masts and engaged with latching elements carried by the vertical plates. An over center biasing arrangement acts on each latch hook and acts to bias the latch hook to a closed position, but moves over center when the latch is manually opened so as to bias the latch to its open position. The pins pivotally coupling the latches to the masts also serve to couple the piston rods of a pair of loader boom lift cylinders to the masts. Extension of the cylinders during detaching the masts from the vertical plates causes the opened latch hooks to be pivoted to the extent that the biasing elements move over center and reset the latches to their closed positions, which positions are conducive for automatically reattaching the mast to the vertical plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Russell George Lyons, Radu Traian Guja
  • Patent number: 7059422
    Abstract: A mechanism for retaining a pre-selected orientation of a front-end loader bucket at all points throughout the working range of the lift arm assembly includes a linkage system designed to allow rotation of the bucket from a tilted back position to a fully dumped position throughout the range of the lift arm assembly without limiting the range of the lift arm assembly and to provide strength and mechanical integrity to its components at any orientation of the lift arm assembly or the bucket. At extreme raised position the bucket is able to be rotated from a full tilted back orientation to a dumping orientation that allows the floor of the dumped bucket to approach or achieve a position perpendicular to the plane upon which the loader vehicle is standing or assuming the vehicle is on a level plane the orientation of the bucket would be considered as straight down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Inventor: Bobby Gene Burgin
  • Patent number: 6986634
    Abstract: A loader/attachment assembly is provided. The loader/attachment assembly can be referred to as a loader/bucket assembly when the attachment is a bucket. The loader/attachment assembly can include a bucket and a loader assembly. The bucket includes a bucket attachment region and a bucket face opening. The loader assembly includes a left boom and a right boom. The left boom includes a left first boom end constructed for attachment to a left bracket assembly on a motor vehicle, a left second boom end attached to the bucket attachment region, a left lift cylinder, and a left attachment cylinder. The right boom includes a right first boom end constructed for attachment to a right bracket assembly on a motor vehicle, a right second boom end attached to the bucket attachment region, a right lift cylinder, and a right attachment cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Westendorf Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neal W. Westendorf, Joseph W. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 6979167
    Abstract: An assembly for detachably connecting an implement having a pair of mounting pins to a machine provided with a dipper stick having a pair of side walls and a mounting pin and a pair of tilt links each having a mounting pin, generally consisting of a first component including a first pair of elongated members each mountable on a side wall of the dipper stick and having an opening for receiving therethrough an end portion of the mounting pin of the dipper stick, means for detachably securing a portion thereof to the dipper stick, means for detachably securing one of the mounting pins of the implement thereto, and means interconnecting such elongated members; and a second component including a second pair of elongated members, each mountable on a side of one of the tilt links, and having an opening for receiving therethrough an end portion of the mounting pin of such one tilt link, means for detachably securing a portion thereof to such one tilt link, means for detachably securing the other of the mounting pins
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Rockland, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Geraghty
  • Patent number: 6962210
    Abstract: An agricultural implement connection assembly. The assembly has a plurality of hooked tongues secured to a four bar parallel linkage associated with an agricultural implement. The tongues are designed to fit into mating engagement with a similar plurality of grooves defined by a frame coupled to an agricultural vehicle. Hydraulic lines from the agricultural vehicle are coupled to the agricultural implement to lift the agricultural implement into mating engagement with the grooves and then lowered until the hooks engage cleats provided at the tops of the grooves. A locking pin assembly is provided through the groove frames and tongues to secure the tongues within the grooves. The locking mechanism has a spring actuated bias system which maintains the locking pins out of engagement with the tongues for attachment and detachment, and also biases the locking pins into engagement with the tongue during transport, storage and use of the agricultural implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hagie Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Mitchell Redenius
  • Publication number: 20030121675
    Abstract: The self-engaging, solenoid-releasable with manual override, latch is designed for use in a variety of applications. As such, the latch accepts the striker peg of the load when misaligned, and the latch accommodates bouncing, sideways laoding, etc of the load, without springing open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Newton Roy Gingerich
  • Patent number: 6582177
    Abstract: A front end loader is provided according to the invention. The front end loader has a tower, a tower subframe, a knee, a loader arm, a front arm, a lift cylinder, and an attachment cylinder. The tower has a first tower end and a second tower end. The second tower end includes a shoe area for covering and attaching to a shoe-receiving region provided on a first bracket assembly attached to tractor. The tower subframe has a first tower subframe end and a second tower subframe end. The first tower subframe end is attached to the tower, and the second tower subframe end is constructed for attachment to a second bracket assembly attached to a tractor. The knee has a first knee rotation axis and a second knee rotation axis. The loader arm has a first loader arm end and a second loader arm end. The first loader arm end is rotatably attached to the first tower end of the tower. The second loader arm end is attached to the knee. The front arm has a first front arm end and a second front arm end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Westendorf Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Neal W. Westendorf, Joseph W. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 6530741
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle with a loader comprises a vehicle body extending in a fore and aft direction of the vehicle; support bases extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the vehicle body; main frames erected on the support bases, respectively, each main frame being in form of a box opening forward and upward and including right and left side walls and a rear wall, the box containing an engageable element; side frames each mounted in the box, each side frame having an engaging element disposed in a lower region thereof for rotatably fitting from above on the engageable element; booms pivotably connected to upper end regions of the side frames, respectively; boom cylinders for swinging the booms relative to the side frames, respectively; and reinforcing members each disposed between the right and left side walls of one of the main frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Kourogi, Masami Hirooka, Koichi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6508616
    Abstract: A bucket fastener for a hydraulic shovel is assembled between an arm of the hydraulic shovel and a dipper bucket. The bucket fastener has a body pivotally mounted with the arm and a vertical link. A fixed hook is formed at a front end of the body. A movable seat is provided in the body and has a movable hook formed thereon. By the fixed hook attaching a first axle, and the movable hook attaching a second axle, the dipper bucket is securely fastened on the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Bing-Wen Hung
  • Patent number: 6386821
    Abstract: A mounting system is provided by which front end loaders of the mid-mount type are rapidly attached and detached from a tractor or other piece of motive equipment. A procedure for latching and unlatching is also provided, as well as mid-mount front end loaders having a quick attach and quick detach mounting system. A universal mounting bracket assembly is included which can be used on either the right side or the left side and can be used with a variety of front end loader models. A clamp secures together a support, a pedestal pin of the support, and the universal mounting bracket assembly in order to achieve the quick connect of the mid-mount loader onto the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Bush Hog, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David Schneider
  • Patent number: 6276075
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for mounting a snowplow blade onto a vehicle-mounted supporting frame. The mounting apparatus includes an I-beam support member pivotally attached to the blade and removably mountable on the vehicle-mounted supporting frame. Connections are provided on the support member for controlling the angle of the support member with regard to the supporting frame, and for installing springs between the support member and the blade for dampening the impact of obstructions encountered by the blade. A caster or skid system is provided, having cost effective, low maintenance vertical adjustment using reconfigurable spacers to support a snowplow blade a certain vertical distance above the road surface, and easy adjustment of the vertical distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: The Louis Berkman Company
    Inventors: James A. Kost, Robert L. Potak
  • Patent number: 6247888
    Abstract: A loader 10 includes a loader boom having opposite sides defined by arms to each of which is pivotally mounted a portion of a parking stand assembly including a support leg and a strut with the pivot axis for the leg being spaced between the implement at the end of the boom and the pivot axis for the strut. The support leg includes a pair of sides connected together by a web so as to be generally H-shaped in cross section over a major portion of its length. The web contains an opening through which the strut extends with the strut being in the channel defined below the support leg web and both the support leg and strut extending along the underside of the loader arm when the parking stand is in its stored position. The channel defined above the web receives the lower portion of the loader arm. A releasable fastener couples the strut to the arm, the strut in turn holding the support leg in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Lionel Guiet
  • Patent number: 6240659
    Abstract: Control system for a jack for raising and lowering a lift assembly for hydraulically driven snow blades or other utilitarian accessories. Actuation of the jack allows for proper vertical alignment of the lift assembly for engagement to a vehicle chassis. Once engaged, the jack can be actuated into an inoperative position until the lift assembly is to be removed from the chassis. The control system includes several safety features that prevent the jack from being deployed when the snow blade is raised, and that automatically retract the jack when the snow blade is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Curtis International, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc D. Curtis, Gary Harris
  • Patent number: 6231295
    Abstract: A detachable front-loader comprising a loader assembly consisting of two arms (1) joined by one or more transverse members (2,3) as shown in FIG. 1. Each arm (1) is provided with a supporting device comprising a pivotable support foot (9) and a telescopic strut (10). Each support device is movable between a non-operational position wherein the support foot (9) rests against a respective arm (1), and an operational position. The foot (9) is retained in the operational position by locking the telescopic strut (10) in an extended state. Opposing ends (15,16) of the strut are provided with screw threads (15a,16a) which are connected to threaded members (13,14) pivotally located on the foot (9) and the arm (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH & Co
    Inventors: Erich Girstenbrei, Horst-Martin Weident, Peter Reiterer
  • Patent number: 6220365
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for transporting farm implement sideways, on narrow passageways. The apparatus comprising a hitch assembly, carrier assembly, trailer assembly, and a turret assembly. The farm implement is attached to the turret assembly, which allows the implement to be rotated ninety degrees via the turret. To move the farm implement the trailer assembly is extended downward lifting the implement up from the ground, the implement is then rotated so that it aligns parallel to the carrier assembly. The turret assembly is then locked in position for transport. In the field the turret assembly is unlocked and rotated ninety degrees, the trailer assembly is raised, which lowers the implement to the ground. The apparatus is connected to a farm tractor's three point hitch, hydraulic system and power takeoff. The three point hitch raises the apparatus hitch and tongue during transport and lowers the hitch and tongue during field work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry R. Birchmier
  • Patent number: 6102131
    Abstract: A quick connect dozer frame assembly is disclosed. The frame has a plurality of attaching points which interconnect with complementary latching members on an associated tractor for quickly connecting the dozer frame thereto. For conventional framed, rear wheel drive tractors, the dozer frame extends beneath the tractor to engage a rearwardly located tractor frame member. Where the tractor is an articulated frame vehicle, the dozer frame engages latching members on side plates mounted on the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Leon-Ram Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Leon Ambrose Malinowski
  • Patent number: 6035941
    Abstract: A tractor for use with a front loader connected thereto has a pair of mast mounts for detachably attaching right and left masts of the front loader, a pair of braces for coupling the mast mounts to the tractor, and a weight mount for carrying a plurality of weights. The braces have distal ends thereof connected to the weight mount. A spacing L1 between the distal ends of the braces is smaller than a spacing L2 between proximal ends thereof. Consequently, the braces are arranged to avoid their interference with front wheel steering. With the weight mount acting also as a brace support, the weight mount has an increased supporting strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Hirooka, Isao Kourogi
  • Patent number: 5868207
    Abstract: An agricultural implement is towed behind a tractor or other propelling vehicle and is mounted on a lifting mechanism at the rear of such vehicle so that the forward part of the implement is supported by such mechanism. In one embodiment the agricultural implement includes a seed drill that introduces seeds into the ground at a substantially constant depth below ground level, despite possible undulation in the surface profile of the field which is being seeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Kverneland Klepp AS
    Inventors: Hans P. Langbakk, Torstein Salte
  • Patent number: 5806214
    Abstract: A snowplow (20) adapted for being attached or detached from a vehicle (22) having a frame (24). The snowplow includes a mount frame (26) for connection to the vehicle frame, a support frame (32), a lift assembly (38) and a blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a blade (30), a blade cutting edge (31) and a wheel support assembly (56). The support frame includes a forward end (33) for supporting the blade and a rearward end (36) for connection to the vehicle. When detached from the vehicle as a single unit, the resultant weight on the rearward end of the support frame is supported on a ground surface (46) by a jack stand (48). The wheel support assembly is mounted adjacent to or slightly ahead of a center of gravity (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: John R. Behrens, James R. Doornek, Gerald E. Lutzke
  • Patent number: 5738176
    Abstract: A battery-powered grass mower (12) is hitched to en electric garden tractor (10). The hitching system has arms (27) pivoted (29) to the tractor, which can be raised and lowered by means of ah electric actuator strut (45). To hitch, the tractor is maneuvered until pegs (30) pivoted on the arms are poised above sockets (20) on the mower; then, using the electric actuator, the arms are lowered, driving the pegs into the sockets. Once firmly engaged, a latch (36) engages and retains the pegs into the sockets. The latch is releasable electrically. All aspects of hitching and unhitching are under remote control from the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Newton Roy Gingerich
  • Patent number: 5562166
    Abstract: The invention is the combination of a motor powered garden tiller connected to a separate motor driven chassis which includes a seat for an operator to control the tiller. The speed of the tiller is controlled by and through the articulated coupler between the tiller and the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: Billy G. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5540289
    Abstract: A stand apparatus for a front loader having masts attachable to mast mounts of a tractor through pivotal supports and mast fixing members, booms connected to the masts, boom cylinders and braces. The stand apparatus includes stand members each defining a slot for receiving a pivotal support disposed in a lower position on each mast, and a stand locking bore formed adjacent thereto. Each stand member is pivotable between an operative position in which a ground engaging end thereof contacts the ground to stand the front loader, and a contained position in which the ground engaging end is supported by the front loader. The pivotal support of each mast is movable in the slot to limit an amount of upward projection of the stand member in the confined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Hirooka, Kazuhiko Ikeuchi, Toshihiko Waka
  • Patent number: 5474136
    Abstract: A system for the fast road transportation of a cumbersome equipment comprises a first plate coupled with a lifting unit and connected by a hydraulic jack to the equipment. Against this plate a second plate is coupled which is provided with two parallel, horizontal and elongated curved slots cooperating with four fixed pins, three of them being placed at the apices of a horizontal base triangle, the fourth being located in the middle of the horizontal base of the triangle. The slots extend as anti-clockwise curved slots, the upper one directed downward, the lower one directed upward and having radiuses equal to the distance of the fourth pin respectively from the apex pin and from the base pin. A further anti-clockwise curved slot is provided directed downward which starts from the lower slot at a distance from its end equal to the double of the distance from the fourth pin to the base pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Ivano Ficarelli
  • Patent number: 5421417
    Abstract: A backhoe or other similar earth working apparatus has a frame that mounts on a vehicle, such as a skid steer loader or tractor. A pair of stabilizer arms mounted to the frame member and pivotable along an arcuate path between raised and lowered positions, each have a stabilizer locking device. The stabilizer locking device comprises a hook member mounted on an exterior surface of an outer end of each stabilizer arm, and a latch member mounted to the frame member for releasably engaging each hook member such that when the hook member is engaged, the stabilizer arm is retained in the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Troy D. Kraft, Henry J. Weber
  • Patent number: 5316330
    Abstract: To automatically hitch a trailer to a motor vehicle, a first hitch section is mounted on the motor vehicle and a second hitch section is mounted on the forwardly extending tongue of the trailer. The second hitch section comprises a hitch pin vertically mounted on the free end of the trailer's tongue and a guidable member formed of a ground-engaging lower portion and a pyramidal upper portion defining a vertex welded to the lower end of the hitch pin. The pyramidal upper portion is formed with a V-shaped recess that slides on a ramp of the first hitch section to guide the hitch pin toward a mechanism capable of detachably connecting the hitch pin to the first hitch section. The pyramidal configuration enables easy adjustment of the second hitch section to most of the trailer tongues. The ground-engaging portion may include two legs normally placed into a ground-engaging position but mounted on the guidable member for pivoting when they hit the ground while the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Renald Bergeron
  • Patent number: 5135347
    Abstract: A loader mounting arrangement includes a pair of mounting frames secured to the opposite sides of the tractor frame for receiving the lower ends of the loader mast posts. Each bracket includes a transversely extending pin for receiving a C-shaped forwardly opening front portion of the mast post. The rear of the mounting frame opens upwardly to guide the aft portion of the mast post end as the mast post is rocked downwardly about the axis of the rod. Projecting pin-receiving bushings in the aft portion of the mast post end are received within mating upwardly opening pockets in the mounting frame. The bushings are positively forced into the pockets by operating the boom lift cylinders with the loader attachment on the ground to assure alignment of the mast post end and the bracket. With the bushings forced downwardly into the fully seated position within the pockets, hole in the bracket are aligned with the bushing bores, and a locking pin is easily inserted to secure the mast post to the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Inventors: Edward T. Kaczmarczyk, Rory Rae, Mervin P. Kizlyk
  • Patent number: 4919212
    Abstract: The invention features a mounting frame and lift assembly for a dozer blade of a tractor. The frame and assembly is easy to install and provides quick connection to the dozer blade. The lift assembly is provided with a pivot placed forward of the front wheel of the tractor to enhance the lifting angle for the dozer blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Ronald G. McClure
  • Patent number: 4906160
    Abstract: A parking stand for an agricultural loader particularly well suited for use with tractors having mid-mounted mowers or similar tools carried beneath the tractor. The stand includes a pair of legs for each mast, the legs being adapted to fold between a stored position adjacent the mast and a supporting position extending laterally from the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Charles H. Kaufman, Daniel G. McCombs, John R. McMillan