Compact tool carrier with articulation joint

• US 8,485,287 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Inventors: Sewell, Cody L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Tashiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/610,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,407 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.64, 180/9.22, 180/9.23, 373/52
• US Class Current: 180/9.22
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 51/026 of the automotive vehicle type, e.g. including driver accommodation A01B51/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 12/00 Steering specially adapted for vehicles operating in tandem or having pivotally connected frames steering endless tracks or the like B62D11/00; steering specially adapted for trailers B62D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/008 characterised by the vehicle being formed by articulated or separable units road trains B62D53/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/02 comprising a uniaxle tractor unit and a uniaxle trailer unit see B60B11/00 - B60B11/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/0655 Articulated endless track vehicles steering specially adapted for trailers B62D13/00; articulated buses B62D47/025; tractor-trailer combinations or road trains comprising a uni-axle unit and a uni-axle trailer B62D53/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/283 with a single arm pivoted directly on the chassis linkage mechanism for it E02F3/3405
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/384 the boom being pivotable relative to the frame about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/961 with several digging elements or tools mounted on one machine for backhoes E02F3/964 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/06 with digging elements mounted on an endless chain E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging elements mounted on an endless chain per se E02F3/08
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/08 with digging wheels turning round an axis E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging wheels per se E02F3/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/02 Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears drives therefor E02F9/20; for motor vehicles B60B, B60G; undercarriages for locomotives or railroad cars B61F; track-laying vehicles B62D; for cranes B66C23/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0841 Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G

Abstract

A stand-up, ride-on work vehicle adapted for multiple applications. The vehicle comprises a base unit, an articulating joint, and one of a plurality of interchangeable equipment chassis. The base unit has at least one ground supporting member, and provides power and mobility to the work vehicle. The articulation joint is supported on a front end of the base unit. An operator station extends from a back end of the base unit. Each of the plurality of chassis comprises at least one ground support member and is pivotally connected to the base unit by the articulation joint. Each of the plurality of chassis may be a dedicated equipment chassis or a universal equipment chassis. Each dedicated chassis comprises a dedicated work tool. Each universal chassis comprises an attachment surface for connection to one of a plurality of work tools. The ground supporting members may be any combination of drive wheels, trail wheels, tracks, or work tools.

Claims

1. An articulated work vehicle, comprising:

a base unit, having a front end and a back end, the base unit comprising a power unit adapted to power the work vehicle, and at least one ground drive member powered by the power unit and adapted to provide mobility to the work vehicle;

an operator station, extending from the back end of the base unit, the operator station adapted to allow operation of the vehicle while walking behind or standing on the vehicle;

an articulation joint comprising a work attachment plate and a pivot attachment, the pivot attachment operatively connected to the front end of the base unit such that the articulation joint is pivotally connected to the base unit about a substantially vertical axis to the base unit; and

an equipment chassis, removably attachable to the work attachment plate of the articulation joint comprising at least one ground support member, adapted to provide mobility and support to the equipment chassis and the base unit.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the ground drive members are wheels.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the attachment plate is adapted for quick attachment to the equipment chassis.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the equipment chassis comprises a vibratory plow.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the equipment chassis comprises a trencher.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the equipment chassis comprises an excavator.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a work tool attachable to the equipment chassis.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the work tool comprises a trencher assembly.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of drive motors, wherein each of the ground drive members of the base unit are powered by one of the motors.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ground support members of the equipment chassis is drivably coupled to the power unit.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the chassis is powered by the base unit and controlled at the operator station.

12. A base unit adapted for connection to an equipment chassis, wherein the equipment chassis comprises at least one ground support member adapted to provide mobility and support to the base unit and the equipment chassis, the base unit comprising:

a stand-on operating platform, extending from a first end of the base unit,

at least one ground drive member, adapted to provide support and mobility to the base unit;

an articulation joint, comprising a work attachment plate and a pivot attachment, the pivot attachment operatively connected to a second end of the base unit such that the articulation joint is pivotally connected about a substantially vertical axis to the base unit, the work attachment plate adapted for attachment to the equipment chassis.