Attachment mounting structure

• US 6,206,302 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Lamb, Mark Edward, Hansen, Loren Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US09/464,040
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 239/149, 239/172, 239/289, 239/657, 239/663
• US Class Current: 239/289
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/64 the load supporting or containing element being readily removable B60P1/48 takes precedence; caravan, camping, or the like vehicles characterised by living accommodation in the form of a removable body supported by the vehicle unit B60P3/34

Abstract

An attachment mounting structure is provided for cargo bed and sprayer assembly attachments usable on a utility vehicle adapted for use in turf related applications. The structure includes pivotable supports between each attachment and the vehicle frame that permit them to be interchangeably mounted on the vehicle. The structure further includes a connection on each attachment that permits it to be secured to a hydraulic cylinder carried by the vehicle, thereby allowing the attachment to be tilted upward and rearwardly so as to provide access to the engine and/or related drive components carried beneath the attachment. The mounting structure also permits the two attachments to be quickly and easily interchanged so that the vehicle could be better utilized.

Claims

1. The method of pivotally and interchangeably mounting a sprayer assembly or a cargo box assembly with pivotal connections to a pair of fore and aft extending frame members of a vehicle supported on front and rear wheels, an operator station mounted on the frame members at the forward portion thereof, an engine carried by the frame members between the front and rear wheels and rearwardly of the operator station and an extensible and retractable power means carried by the frame members rearwardly of the operator station and above the engine, said method comprising the steps of coupling the pivotal connections to the frame members for swinging motion towards and away from the frame members and coupling the power means to the assembly to allow the power means to be actuated and swing the assembly about the pivotal connections to a raised position whereat the engine is generally exposed and the assembly is raised thereabove to permit an operator to access the engine.