WORK VEHICLE

• US 20020037211A1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terrator Corporation
• Original Assignee: Terrator Corporation
• Inventors: BELOHOUBEK, LIBOR, KORYCAN, GEORGE
• Granted Patent: US 6,409,457 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/501
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/167 three side tipping movement
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/186 for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0617 for tractors or off-the-road vehicles protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors B60R21/131
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/06 with digging screws earth drilling E21; for digging trenches or ditches E02F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/18 with digging wheels turning round an axis , e.g. bucket-type wheels for digging trenches E02F5/08; for laying cables underwater E02F5/109; cutting machines E21C25/00; methods or apparatus for making tunnels or galleries E21D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/188 with the axis being horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/301 with more than two arms (boom included), e.g. two-part boom with additional dipper-arm
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/308 working outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/32 working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/384 the boom being pivotable relative to the frame about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0808 Improving mounting or assembling, e.g. frame elements, disposition of all the components on the superstructures for disposition of specific components, E02F9/0858
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/163 Structures to protect drivers, e.g. cabins, doors for cabins; Falling object protection structure [FOPS]; Roll over protection structure [ROPS] for handrails mounted on cabins E02F9/0833 takes precedence; for vehicles in general B60R21/11, B60R21/13, for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2275 Hoses and supports therefor and protection therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/125 Combined or convertible implements

Abstract

The invented vehicle includes a chassis, a cabin mounted on a first side of the chassis on a forward portion thereof, and a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis to movably support the chassis. The vehicle also includes a boom unit, a tool coupled to an end of the boom unit, and turntable unit mounted to the chassis at a central portion thereof, the turntable unit coupled to and supporting the boom unit for rotation relative to the chassis. The turntable unit is capable of moving the boom unit and the tool over a second side of the chassis opposite the first side between a first position at which the tool is positioned forward of the chassis to pick up the load and a second position at which the tool is positioned over the dump body to dump the load into the dump body. The vehicle also includes a dump body mounted to a rear portion of the chassis. The dump body can be tilted to the rear or either side of the vehicle. The tool attached to the boom unit can be a dipper bucket, a loader bucket, a mower, thresher or auger, for example. An accessory tool such as a mower can also be attached to the rear of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a cabin mounted on a first side of the chassis on a forward portion thereof;

a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis, to movably support the chassis;

a boom unit;

a tool coupled to an end of the boom unit;

a turntable unit mounted to the chassis at a central portion thereof, the turntable unit coupled to and supporting the boom unit for rotation; and

a dump body mounted to a rear portion of the chassis,

the turntable capable of moving the boom unit over a second side of the chassis opposite the first side between a first position at which the tool is positioned forward of the chassis and a second position at which the tool is positioned over the dump body.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is a load bucket.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is a dipper bucket.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is an auger unit.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one hanger member mounted to the chassis; and

an accessory tool coupled to the hanger member.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the accessory tool includes a mower.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabin includes a first seat for an operator of the vehicle and a second seat mounted reversely relative to the first seat for a co-operator of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dump body has a floor portion surrounded by front, rear, and side faces, the front and rear faces foldable to respective lowered positions to provide clearance for at least one elongated load object resting across the floor portion of the dump body.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dump body can be tilted to discharge the load from the dump body.

10. A vehicle controlled by an operator, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a cabin mounted on a first side of the chassis on a forward portion thereof, the operator positioned in the cabin if operating the vehicle;

a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis to movably support the chassis;

a boom unit;

a tool coupled to an end of the boom unit;

a turntable unit mounted to the chassis adjacent the cabin, the turntable unit coupled to and supporting the boom unit for rotation;

a dump body mounted to a rear portion of the chassis;

a power plant mounted in the chassis; and

at least one control unit coupled to supply motive power generated by the power plant to at least the turntable unit based on the operator'"'"'s control action, the turntable unit rotating the boom unit to move over a second side of the chassis opposite the first side under control of the boom control unit so that the boom unit and coupled tool can be moved between a first position in which the tool is positioned forward of the chassis and a second position in which the tool is positioned over the dump body.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tool is a loader bucket controlled by the control unit to lift, move and dump a load into the dump body via the turntable unit and the boom unit.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tool is a dipper bucket controlled by the control unit to lift, move and dump a load into the dump body via the turntable unit and the boom unit.

13. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tool includes an auger unit.

14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

at least one hanger member mounted to the chassis; and

an accessory tool coupled to the hanger member.

15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a shaft extending from the chassis and coupled between the power plant and the accessory, for supplying motive force from the power plant to the accessory.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the power plant generates a pressurized supply of hydraulic fluid, the apparatus further comprising:

at least one hydraulic coupler mounted to the chassis;

at least one actuator coupled between the hanger member and the accessory and coupled to the hydraulic coupler,

the control unit selectively supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator to raise or lower the accessory tool.

17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the accessory tool is a mower.

18. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cabin includes a first seat for an operator of the vehicle positioned so that the operator can observe an area in front of the vehicle to assist in driving and positioning the tool coupled to the boom unit if moved to the position in front of the chassis, and a second seat for a co-operator positioned behind the first seat and facing toward the rear end of the chassis so that the co-operator can observe the tool coupled to the boom unit if moved to the position overlying the dump body.

19. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the dump body has a floor portion surrounded by front, rear, and side faces, the front and rear faces tiltable to respective positions level with or lower than the floor portion of the dump body to hold elongated load objects.

20. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a dump body actuator coupled between the dump body and the chassis, and

the control unit operable by the operator to extend the dump body actuator to tilt the dump body to dump any load therein.

21. A vehicle controlled by an operator, the vehicle capable of moving and carrying a load, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a cabin mounted on a first side of the chassis on a forward portion thereof, the operator positioned in the cabin if operating the vehicle;

a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis to movably support the chassis;

a steering unit having a wheel positioned in the cabin and coupled to at least two wheels, the steering unit operable by the operator to control the direction of movement of the vehicle;

a boom unit;

a tool coupled to an end of the boom unit;

a turntable unit mounted to the chassis adjacent the cabin and coupled to the boom unit, the turntable unit supporting the boom unit for rotation;

a dump body mounted to a rear portion of the chassis;

a power plant mounted in the chassis;

hydraulic fluid;

a hydraulic pump coupled to the power plant and generating a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid;

a valve control block unit coupled between the hydraulic pump and the turntable and boom units, the valve control block unit receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump; and

a control unit generating at least one control signal based on control action of the operator, the control unit coupled to supply the control signal to the valve control block unit, the valve control block unit controlling at least one flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the turntable unit and the boom unit, based on the control signal, the control unit capable of controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the turntable unit to cause the boom unit and coupled tool to move over a second side of the chassis opposite the first side so that the tool can be moved between a first position in which the tool is positioned forward of the chassis to pick up a load and a second position in which the tool is positioned over the dump body to dump the load into the dump body.

22. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the turntable unit includes:

a first part fixedly mounted on the chassis;

a second part rotatably coupled on the first part and coupled to support the boom unit;

a crank member coupled to the second part;

at least one hydraulic actuator coupled between the chassis and the crank member, to rotate the second part relative to the chassis, based on first flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve control block unit, and

wherein the boom unit includes

a first arm pivotally coupled to the turntable unit;

at least one second arm pivotally coupled to the first arm; and

at least one boom hydraulic actuator coupled between the first and second boom arms, the boom hydraulic actuator coupled to the valve control block unit, the boom hydraulic actuator moving the second arm relative to the first arm, based on a second flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve control block unit.

23. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the control unit includes

a boom control element mounted in the cabin, the boom control element operable by the operator to generate a signal;

and

a controller coupled to receive the signal generated by the boom control element, and generating at least one control signal supplied to the valve control block unit, based on the signal from the boom control element.

24. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a first axle pivotally mounted to the front portion of the chassis;

first and second hydraulic motors pivotally coupled to opposite ends of the first axle and coupled to the control block unit, the first and second of the wheels coupled to respective first and second hydraulic motors;

a second axle pivotally mounted to the rear portion the chassis;

third and fourth hydraulic motors pivotally coupled to opposite ends of the second axle and coupled to the control block unit, the third and fourth of the wheels coupled to respective third and fourth hydraulic motors, and

a throttle mounted in the cabin and operable by the operator to generate a throttle signal,

a direction control element mounted in the cabin and operable by the operator to generate a direction control signal,

a controller coupled to receive the throttle signal from the throttle and the direction control signal from the direction control element, the control unit generating at least one control signal supplied to the valve control block unit to control flows of hydraulic fluid to respective first, second, third and fourth hydraulic motors, based on the throttle signal and the direction control signal,

the first, second, third and fourth hydraulic motors rotating respective wheels to drive the vehicle to move, based on respective flows of hydraulic fluid from the control block unit.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

an additional hydraulic pump coupled to the power plant and pressurizing hydraulic fluid based on power received from the plant;

a steering wheel positioned in the cabin and operable by the operator;

a steering fluid control unit coupled to the steering wheel and coupled to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from the additional hydraulic pump;

a steering hydraulic actuator coupled between the first axle and the first hydraulic motor and coupled to receive a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the steering fluid control unit, the steering hydraulic actuator controlling the position of the first hydraulic motor with respect to the first axle; and

a tie rod coupling the first and second hydraulic motors to turn in tandem based on the position of the steering hydraulic actuator.

26. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a steering unit coupled to at least two of the wheels, for controlling the direction of movement of the vehicle based on control action of the operator.

27. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cabin includes a first seat for an operator of the vehicle positioned so that the operator can observe an area in front of the vehicle to assist in driving and positioning the tool coupled to the boom unit if moved to the position in front of the chassis, and a second seat for a co-operator positioned behind the first seat and facing toward the rear end of the chassis so that the co-operator can observe the tool coupled to the boom unit if moved to the position overlying the dump body.

28. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dump body has a floor portion surrounded by front, rear, and side faces, the front and rear faces tiltable to respective position at least level with or lower than the floor portion to provide clearance to hold elongated load objects.

29. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dump body has a floor portion surrounded by front, rear and side faces, and wherein the tool is a load bucket having a width less than the distance between side faces of the dump body.

30. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tool includes a dipper bucket.

31. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tool includes a loader bucket.

32. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the chassis is substantially rigid.

33. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the power plant is a combustion engine.

34. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

at least one hanger member mounted to the chassis; and

an accessory tool coupled to the hanger member.

35. A vehicle as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

a power take-off (PTO) coupled to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from the valve control block unit, the hydraulic motor having a drive shaft extending from the chassis and coupled to the accessory tool, for supplying motive force from the power plant to the accessory tool; and

the control unit having a control element generating an accessory activation signal, based on control action of the operator, the control element coupled to supply the accessory activation signal to a controller of the control unit, the controller generating a control signal supplied to the valve control block unit, based on the accessory activation signal, the control signal causing the valve control block unit to supply a flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor to drive the accessory tool.

36. A vehicle as claimed in claim 35, wherein the accessory tool is a mower.

37. A vehicle as claimed in claim 35, further comprising:

at least one hydraulic coupler mounted to the chassis and coupled to receive a flow of hydraulic fluid from the valve control block unit;

at least one hydraulic actuator coupled between the hanger member and the accessory and coupled to receive the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic coupler; and

an accessory elevation control element mounted in the cabin and generating a signal, based on a control action of the operator, the accessory elevation control element coupled to supply the signal generated by the accessory element control element to the controller, the controller generating an accessory elevation control signal, based on the signal from the accessory elevation control element, the controller coupled to supply the accessory elevation control signal to the valve block control unit, the valve block control unit supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the coupler, based on the accessory elevation control signal.

38. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cabin includes a first seat for an operator of the vehicle positioned so that the operator can observe an area in front of the vehicle to assist in driving and positioning the tool coupled to the boom unit if moved to the position in front of the chassis, and a second seat for a co-operator positioned behind the first seat and facing toward the rear end of the chassis so that the co-operator can observe the tool coupled to the boom unit if moved to the position overlying the dump body.

39. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dump body has a floor portion surrounded by front, rear, and side faces, opposing portions of the front and rear faces tiltable to respective positions approximately level with or lower than the floor portion to hold elongated load objects.

40. A vehicle as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a dump body actuator coupled between the dump body and the chassis, and coupled to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from the valve control block unit; and

a dump body control element mounted in the cabin and operable by the operator to generate a dump signal, the dump body control element coupled to supply the dump signal to the controller, the controller generating a dump control signal based on the dump signal, the controller coupled to supply the dump control signal to the valve control block unit, the valve control block unit supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the dump body actuator to extend the dump body actuator to tilt the dump body to dump the load.