US 12,104,348 B1
Loader with improved arm path
Jason Carlson, Lindsborg, KS (US); John M. Relph, Abilene, KS (US); Matthew Shobe, Papillion, NE (US); and Jeff Welsh, Abilene, KS (US)
Assigned to Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., Salina, KS (US)
Filed by Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., Salina, KS (US)
Filed on Jun. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/732,219.
Application 18/732,219 is a continuation of application No. 18/425,616, filed on Jan. 29, 2024, granted, now 12,000,107, issued on Jun. 4, 2024.
Application 18/425,616 is a continuation of application No. 18/487,858, filed on Oct. 16, 2023, granted, now 11,885,095.
Application 18/487,858 is a continuation of application No. 16/942,441, filed on Jul. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,788,250, issued on Oct. 17, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/984,476, filed on Mar. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/879,796, filed on Jul. 29, 2019.
Int. Cl. E02F 3/38 (2006.01); B60K 5/12 (2006.01); B62D 51/02 (2006.01); B62D 55/00 (2006.01); B62D 55/06 (2006.01); B62D 55/10 (2006.01); B62D 55/12 (2006.01); B62D 55/125 (2006.01); B62D 55/18 (2006.01); E02F 3/34 (2006.01); E02F 3/342 (2006.01); E02F 3/42 (2006.01); E02F 9/02 (2006.01); E02F 9/08 (2006.01); E02F 9/20 (2006.01); E02F 9/22 (2006.01); E02F 9/26 (2006.01); F16D 63/00 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 3/382 (2013.01) [B60K 5/12 (2013.01); B62D 51/02 (2013.01); B62D 55/06 (2013.01); B62D 55/10 (2013.01); B62D 55/12 (2013.01); B62D 55/125 (2013.01); B62D 55/18 (2013.01); E02F 3/34 (2013.01); E02F 3/3414 (2013.01); E02F 3/3417 (2013.01); E02F 3/342 (2013.01); E02F 3/422 (2013.01); E02F 9/02 (2013.01); E02F 9/08 (2013.01); E02F 9/0866 (2013.01); E02F 9/0891 (2013.01); E02F 9/2004 (2013.01); E02F 9/2037 (2013.01); E02F 9/22 (2013.01); E02F 9/2221 (2013.01); E02F 9/2267 (2013.01); E02F 9/26 (2013.01); F16D 63/006 (2013.01); E02F 9/2264 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame;
a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL;
a diesel engine supported by the frame, wherein the diesel engine has a power rating of 25 horsepower or less and incorporates a turbo;
a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame;
a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; and
a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms,
wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position,
wherein the curved travel path includes a lower inflection point between the base position and the maximum height position,
wherein the curved travel path includes an upper inflection point between the lower inflection point and the maximum height position,
wherein at the lower inflection point the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally away from the base position as the pivot pins are raised toward the lower inflection point to moving horizontally closer to the base position as the pivot pins are raised above the lower inflection point,
wherein at the upper inflection point the curved travel path transitions from moving horizontally toward the base position as the pivot pins are raised toward the upper inflection point to moving horizontally away from the base position as the pivot pins are raised above the upper inflection point.
 
7. A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame;
a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL;
a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame;
a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position;
a user interface and control system (UICS) comprising a loader arm and attachment joystick for controlling movement of the loader arms and attachments, a graphic display, and a plurality of user input buttons associated with the graphic display, wherein the graphic display is configured to present a plurality of menu screens, wherein the loader arm and attachment joystick includes one or more auxiliary control elements for activating hydraulic functionality of the attachments; and
a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position.
 
16. A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame;
a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL;
a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame;
a pair of track supporting wheel sets positioned on opposite sides of the frame and each associated with one of the tracks, wherein each track supporting wheel set includes a front idler wheel, a rear idler wheel, and a plurality of intermediate wheels positioned between the front and rear idler wheels;
a pair of wheel cover structures positioned on opposite sides of the frame and each associated with one of the track supporting wheel sets, wherein each wheel cover structure extends over a plurality of the intermediate wheels, wherein each wheel cover structure presents an upper surface, wherein a majority of the upper surface of each wheel cover structure is laterally sloped;
a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; and
a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position.
 
22. A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising:
a frame;
a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL;
a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame;
a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position;
a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position;
a pair of drive motors coupled to opposite sides of the frame;
a pair of drive sprockets, each attached to one of the drive motors and configured to engage and drive one of the tracks; and
at least one threaded fastener attaching each of the drive sprockets to one of the drive motor motors,
wherein each drive sprocket includes an inner attachment section, an intermediate tapered section extending radially outward from the inner attachment section, an outer rim section positioned radially outward from the intermediate tapered section, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially outward from the outer rim section,
wherein each drive sprocket is directly attached to one of the drive motors,
wherein the inner attachment section presents a substantially planar outer surface facing laterally outward from the CUL, wherein the at least one threaded fastener engages the substantially planar outer surface to secure the drive sprocket to the drive motor,
wherein the intermediate tapered section extends laterally inward relative to the substantially planar outer surface as the intermediate tapered section extends radially outward from the substantially planar outer surface so that the entire intermediate tapered section is laterally positioned at or laterally inward of the substantially planar outer surface,
wherein the outer rim and teeth are positioned laterally inward of the substantially planar outer surface.