Abstract: An engine compartment at the rear of a skid steer loader is enclosed by a rear door fabricated of sheet material and having a generally horizontally extending channel formed near its lower edge. Left and right corner bumper members molded from elastomer material have recesses formed in their back sides and are fastened to the door by bolts. Each bumper member includes a rear section which fits within and extends outwardly from the channel, and a side section which extends outwardly from the side of the door.

Abstract: The assembly of a skid steer loader includes the fabrication of a lower frame assembly which has a transmission case with side walls and front and back end walls, and an engine mount platform which is welded to and extends from the back end wall. A hydraulic motor is mounted to each side wall of the transmission case. An engine and hydraulic pump are fastened to an engine/pump mounting bracket and coupled by a belt linkage to form an engine and hydraulic pump assembly. The engine and hydraulic pump assembly is then mounted to the engine mount platform at the back end of the lower frame assembly. Hydraulic fluid hoses which couple the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motors can then be added. A main frame assembly having a pair of laterally spaced side members adapted to be mounted to the lower frame assembly and form side walls of an engine compartment is also fabricated. A hydraulic control valve and its associated hydraulic fluid hoses can be mounted to the main frame assembly.

Abstract: The assembly of a skid steer loader includes the fabrication of a lower frame assembly which has a transmission case with side walls and front and back end walls, and an engine mount platform which is welded to and extends from the back end wall. A hydraulic motor is mounted to each side wall of the transmission case. An engine and hydraulic pump are fastened to an engine/pump mounting bracket and coupled by a belt linkage to form an engine and hydraulic pump assembly. The engine and hydraulic pump assembly is then mounted to the engine mount platform at the back end of the lower frame assembly. Hydraulic fluid hoses which couple the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motors can then be added. A main frame assembly having a pair of laterally spaced side members adapted to be mounted to the lower frame assembly and form side walls of an engine compartment is also fabricated. A hydraulic control valve and its associated hydraulic fluid hoses can be mounted to the main frame assembly.

Abstract: A skid steer loader includes an engine compartment and a heat exchanger compartment located behind the operator's compartment. A fan shroud mounted between the heat exchanger compartment and the engine compartment has a first air intake aperture opening into the heat exchanger compartment, a second air intake aperture opening into the engine compartment, and an exhaust port. A double-bladed radial fan is mounted for rotation within the fan shroud between the first and second air intake apertures. A fan drive mechanism coupled to the engine rotates the fan. The fan simultaneously induces a heat exchanger airflow of ambient air through the heat exchanger compartment and into the fan shroud through the first air intake aperture, and an engine compartment evacuation airflow from within the engine compartment into the fan shroud through the second air intake aperture. The heat exchanger airflow and engine compartment evacuation airflows are mixed and jointly discharged from the loader through the exhaust port.

Abstract: A hydrostatic drive vehicle and a subassembly for such vehicle wherein the subassembly includes an engine and a pump mechanism arranged in a manner such that when the subassembly is assembled into the vehicle the axes of the engine and the pump mechanism are transverse of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Other parts such as an alternator, coolant pump, air cooling fan and fan shroud also may be included in the subassembly.

Abstract: The Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) or cab enclosure of a skid-steer loader has been modified and a latch mechanism has been added to the loader to facilitate servicing of the loader. The Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS) or cab enclosure is now positively biased at its rear pivot point away from the frame by means of a torsion spring mounted between the cab and the roll over protective structure. In addition a latch mechanism for the cab enclosure is provided, the latch mechanism comprising a cam member fixedly mounted on the frame and a latch member fixedly mounted on the cab enclosure. The latch member is positively biased toward the cam surface of the cam member and slides along the cam member as the cab enclosure is rotated away from the frame. At the end of its travel the latch bar slides into a notch provided on the cam member that positively retains the cab enclosure in a full tilt-back position while the loader is being serviced.

Abstract: A front end loader in the form of a skid-steer loader which includes a power operated working implement and control apparatus that has a plurality of operative positions for supplying power to the working implement and at least one neutral position where power cannot be supplied to the working implement. The control apparatus is capable of being manipulated by the operator of the loader to place the control apparatus in any one of the selected operative positions or the neutral position. An operator restraint member is mounted on the skid-steer loader and has an engaged position for securing the operator to the operator position during operation of the loader and a disengaged position to permit the operator to enter or leave the loader. A locking member is engaged with the control apparatus when the restraint member is in its disengaged position and is disengaged from the control apparatus when the restraint member is in its engaged position.

Abstract: A skid steer loader having an improved hydrostatic drive means. A skid steer loader comprises a main frame having a center compartment partially defined by a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced side beams. The engine for the vehicle is mounted at the rear of the center compartment. An elongated transmission case is provided at a forward end of the center compartment and encloses the chain and sprocket drives for the vehicle. Side walls of the transmission case are displaced from the side walls of the main frame, with the drive means for the vehicle mounted on the outside of the case at a mid-portion thereof. The present improvement in the skid steer loader redesigns a drive system used with vehicles of substantially greater load capacity to provide a pair of independent hydrostatic drive means, each incorporating a hydrostatic transmission and having a gear reduction unit mounted on the outside of an elongated transmission case.

Abstract: A skid steer loader comprising an improved loader main frame and including an operator's compartment designed to present a low profile vehicle particularly suitable for low clearance applications. The loader main frame includes a center compartment partially defined by a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced side beams. The engine for the vehicle is mounted at the rear of the center compartment and is acoustically enclosed by structural elements of the frame. A seat pan mounted on the side beams overlies the engine and transmission and separates the operator compartment from the center compartment. At a forward end of the center compartment an elongated transmission case forms a partial bottom wall and also encloses the chain and sprocket drive system of the vehicle. The side walls of the transmission case are displaced from the side walls of the frame, enabling the operator to straddle the case, thus reducing height requirements for both the operator compartment and the overall vehicle.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly mountable on the chain sprocket drive of a skid steer vehicle. Independent hydrostatic transmissions for a skid steer vehicle have a driving motor for each set of wheels of the vehicle. Drive shafts for each motor extend into the transmission case and carry at their inner ends rotatable brake discs splined thereon and fastened in place so as to be integrally rotatable with the output shafts of the hydraulic motors. Brake members carried on a brake assembly mounted on the transmission case engage the brake discs to limit the output of the drive motors and stop the vehicle.

Abstract: A skid-steered tractor vehicle is driven by right and left hydrostatic transmissions having separate steering levers, one for each transmission. A centering device acting directly on the transmission controls is longitudinally shiftable against the force of a spring in response to pivotal movement of either steering lever from a neutral or idle position for returning the steering lever upon release.Also, there is a second pivotal mounting for one or both steering levers in a plane at right angles to the pivot axis of the levers for controlling auxiliary functions without interfering with the steering movements of the levers.

Abstract: A skid steer loader comprising an improved loader main frame and including an operator's compartment designed to present a low profile vehicle particularly suitable for low clearance applications. The loader main frame includes a center compartment partially defined by a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced side beams. The engine for the vehicle is mounted at the rear of the center compartment and is acoustically enclosed by structural elements of the frame. A seat pan mounted on the side beams overlies the engine and transmission and separates the operator compartment from the center compartment. At a forward end of the center compartment an elongated transmission case forms a partial bottom wall and also encloses the chain and sprocket drive system of the vehicle. The side walls of the transmission case are displaced from the side walls of the frame, enabling the operator to straddle the case, thus reducing height requirements for both the operator compartment and the overall vehicle.

Abstract: A skid-steered tractor vehicle is driven by right and left hydrostatic transmissions having separate steering levers, one for each transmission. A centering device acting directly on the transmission controls is longitudinally shiftable against the force of a spring in response to pivotal movement of either steering lever from a neutral or idle position for returning the steering lever upon release. Also, there is a second pivotal mounting for one or both steering levers in a plane at right angles to the pivot axis of the levers for controlling auxiliary functions without interfering with the steering movements of the levers.

Abstract: A boom stop having a elongated tubular body portion is mounted on the rod end of one of the hydraulic lift cylinders of a skid steer loader. When the boom of the skid steer loader is lifted, the boom stop is carried outwardly with the rod end of the cylinder, the opposite end of the boom stop dropping into a plane adjacent the rod end of the cylinder when the hydraulic cylinder is almost fully extended. Thus the boom stop is interposed between the outer end of the cylinder body and the rod end of the cylinder to retain such lift cylinder in an extended position under loading conditions.