Abstract: A system for connecting a boom to a tool of the type in which brackets secured to the tool define a pair of coaxial, axially-spaced bores, and the boom defines a pair of cylindrical coaxial bosses. In such a system, the invention features a stop associated with each of the bores and providing an alignment surface, typically defined by a cylinder coaxially with the bore and of radius not less than that of a boss. The stop surfaces face generally towards the center of gravity of the tool, each stop surface subtends an arc in the range of 120.degree. to 180.degree., and each stop is open on the side of the associated bore opposite the stop surface thereof.

Abstract: A backhoe mounting assembly for a skid steer loader. A backhoe mounting assembly is provided for securing a backhoe to the front end of a skid steer loader at a forward end portion of the boom lift arms of the loader. A latch attachment provided on the frame of the loader engages an upper part of the mounting assembly and an implement carrying attachment on the loader lift arms engages the lower part of the assembly. Provision is made in the mounting assembly for disabling both the boom lift arms and a tilt cylinder associated with the implement carrying attachment when the backhoe mounting assembly is secured in place.

Abstract: A quick coupler for attaching and detaching an implement to a vehicle equipped with a lift arm and a tilt link includes a hitch having a lower supporting assembly pivotally connected to the lift arm, an upper supporting assembly pivotally connected to the tilt link, and an actuator pivotally connected between the supporting assemblies and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the lower and upper supporting assemblies being positioned between a substantially aligned first condition and an angularly collapsed second condition at the extended and retracted positions of the actuator, and a hook arrangement having a lower hook portion and an upper hook portion secured to the implement and respectively receiving the lower and upper supporting assemblies.

Abstract: Tool bars carrying plows are removably attached to a farm tractor by two or more rearwardly extending support arms. The support arms are attached to a frame connected to the standard three point power lift attachment of the farm tractor. The tool bars slide into C-shaped receiving portions of the support arm and are held in place by a lock member contacting the front of the tool bar.

Abstract: An improved material handling apparatus includes an adapter assembly which is disposed on the outer end portion of a boom. The adapter assembly is connected with a material handling tool by an improved connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a wedge member having a pair of sloping side surfaces which cooperate with a wedge surface on the material handling tool and a wedge surface on the adapter assembly to interconnect the adapter assembly and the material handling tool. The wedge member cooperates with the wedge surfaces on the material handling tool and the adapter assembly in such a manner as to positively seat a support bar on the material handling tool in a recess on the adapter assembly. In addition, the interaction between the wedge member and the two wedge surfaces is such as to compensate for wear between the wedge member and the wedge surfaces and to compensate for slight misalignments between the adapter assembly and the material handling tool.

Abstract: An earth working apparatus is disclosed including means for removably coupling a compacting roller into operative engagement with a hydraulically manipulated boom while simultaneously maintaining the excavating bucket of the apparatus in its operative association with the boom. The coupling means includes a specially designed link which connects the hydraulic means of the boom to the bucket and which is adapted to receive and engage the compacting roller upon upward movement of the boom.

Abstract: A mounting structure for detachably connecting a backhoe to the rear of a tractor comprising a unitary frame forming a vertical pivot for the backhoe and having attaching members located at the underside of the tractor to receive connecting elements all of which are disposed in a common horizontal plane and form the sole connection between the vehicle and backhoe.

Abstract: A quick-connector mechanism for attaching a material handling implement, such as a bucket or a blade, to the control arms of a backhoe or the like. The mechanism includes a socket, formed by spaced bars at the rear of the implement, which receives a plate that is provided on a hitch pivotally mounted on the control arms. A transverse pin locks the implement to the hitch when the plate is engaged in the socket.

Abstract: A tractor-implement arrangement for establishing a frictional connection between the power take-off shaft of a tractor and a Cardan shaft for the drive of a movable implement by an automatic coupling of members respectivaly connected to the power take-off shaft and the Cardan shaft. The implement is connected to the tractor by means of automatically interengaging coupling members or elements while one and/or the other coupling element of the power take-off or Cardan shaft is axially displaceable while being spring urged. The Cardan shaft is supported by suitable holding means and is liftable by a lifting device. The Cardan shaft is moved first by guiding the same along an inclined plane toward the take-off shaft and is frictionally coupled thereto whereupon the implement is mounted on the tractor by interengagement of additional coupling members.

Abstract: A coupling device for mounting a material handling machine, such as a backhoe, on a civil engineering vehicle includes a first bracket assembly secured to the vehicle and a second bracket assembly secured to the machine. The first bracket assembly on the vehicle has a pair of coupling plate members, each of which has upper and lower pin-receiving concave seats that are open upwards. Either of the upper and lower pin-receiving concave seats are formed with locking slots, i.e., throat portions having a reduced width. A pair of upper and lower pins are adapted to be inserted into pin-attaching holes provided in the second bracket assembly secured to the material handling machine. The upper pins having width-reducing portions of a width slightly smaller than the width of the locking slots or throat portions continuous with either of the upper and lower pin-receiving concave seats.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for releasably mounting attachments on a vehicle body, the apparatus comprising a bracket for securing to the vehicle body and a connecting member for securing to an attachment for the vehicle, the bracket comprising two vertically spaced projections each having an upwardly facing notch, and the connecting member having a respective pin for engaging with the notch of each projection to support the connecting member on the bracket and a locking member movable transversely of the upper projection and engageable with a contact surface formed on an underside of the upper projection to lock the respective pin in the upper projection.

Abstract: A tractor includes a quick attach and dismount front end loader. The tractor is provided with rearwardly positioned side-mounting brackets which are adapted to lockingly engage the lower ends of uprights on the loader. A transversely extending mounting bracket is provided across the front end of the tractor for engagement with a cross frame member on the loader. A stand engages the cross frame member for supporting the loader independently of the tractor. Hydraulic cylinders on the loader for raising and lowering the boom are operated for mounting and dismounting the loader. When the front mounting bracket engages the cross frame member on the loader contraction of the power cylinder causes the loader to pivot clockwise about an axis through the cross frame thereby bringing the uprights on the loader into engagement with the side mounting brackets on the tractor. Extension of the power cylinders causes the loader to pivot counterclockwise for dismounting the loader.

Abstract: A bracket is provided to be mounted on the forward end of the loader arms and to connect the loader arms to the bucket or the like in a readily detachable manner. The bracket is provided with securing means which operate sequentially to first lock the bracket to the loader arms and secondly lock the bucket to the bracket. The geometric relationship between the bucket and the loader arms is thus unaffected.

Abstract: A tractor implement attaching hitch mechanism of the three-point type that utilizes a hydraulic actuator for readily adjusting the attaching mechanism out of a vertical plane, whereby the remotely controlled latches may be activated for attaching the implement to the tractor.The hitch mechanism comprises a frame including a pair of depending legs interconnected by a horizontal support member. The support member and one of the legs include brackets which are connected to two draft links of the tractor, and the other leg is connected to the other draft link by a link member which is pivotally connected to the leg and the draft link. The hydraulic actuator is carried by the support member and connected to the link member for pivoting the link member so as to vertically move the leg to vary the plane of the hitch mechanism relative to the tractor.

Abstract: A system for detachably coupling an attachment to a prime mover provided with a mounting means and an actuating means generally comprising a female device mountable on the attachment and a collapsible male assembly mountable on the mounting means of the prime mover, cooperatively engageable with the female device, the male assembly being operatively connectible to the actuating means and movable thereby between a collapsed, inoperative condition and an extended, operative condition operatively engageable with the female device in coupling relation therewith when the male assembly is positioned adjacent the female device in registry therewith, and means mounted on the male assembly for selectively locking the male assembly in the extended, operative condition.

Abstract: A loading arm mounting bracket includes an upwardly open upper slot and a forwardly open lower slot respectively adapted to receive corresponding upper and lower pins of an implement bracket. A spring loaded lock plate is selectively received between the lower pin and slot-adjacent retaining plates, thereby removably securing the lower pin in the lower slot and trapping the upper pin in the upper slot. Manual release is obtained by pulling on a handle attached to the locking plate.

Abstract: A coupling between a snow plow and the front of a truck including a housing assembly adapted to be mounted on the truck and a loop and frame member adapted to be mounted on the snow plow. The housing has a convex front surface and a recess in said surface defined by rearwardly converging walls. A hook means is mounted in said recess and is adapted to pivot about an axis between open and closed positions. Means are provided for locking the hook member in its closed position. A frame member is adapted to abut the convex surface on the forward face of the housing member and the loop projects rearwardly from the frame member into the recess where it is held in place by the hook means.

Abstract: A front end loader attachment utilizing front and rear supports connected to the front and intermediate parts of a tractor to which a loader frame is detachably connected. The rear support is reinforced by a longitudinally extending truss structure connected to the drawbar mounting point beneath the rear of the tractor. A grill guard is pivotable from an upright position to a downwardly extending, inverted position in which it is capable of supporting the loader and loader frame when removed from the tractor. The loader frame has longitudinally extending braces which cooperatively engage a pair of coupling parts on the front support whereby the tractor and attachment are guidingly coupled as the tractor is driven forwardly into the loader frame as it rests on the inverted grill guard.

Abstract: An earthworking vehicle, such as a wheel loader, comprises a pair of lift arms mounted on a forward end thereof. A tilt linkage is interconnected between each lift arm and a loader bucket for selectively moving the loader bucket relative to the lift arms. The tilt linkage comprises mounting means, including an over-center toggle mechanism, releasably attached to the loader bucket whereby various work implements may be substituted in lieu thereof.