Debris guard for a loader

1 . A debris guard apparatus for preventing debris from entering gaps around a hydraulic cylinder and around a linking arm of a loader, the hydraulic cylinder extending through a first gap and the linking arm extending through a second gap, comprising:

a first seal assembly portion for sealing a portion of the first gap around the hydraulic cylinder of the loader, including:

an elastomeric sheet;

a multi-part metal ring that includes at least one lower portion and at least one upper portion, the upper and lower portions adapted to surround the hydraulic cylinder and trap the elastomeric sheet between the upper and lower portions to prevent debris from entering the portion of the first gap around the hydraulic cylinder; and

a rigid support attached to the linking arm to provide support for a portion of the elastomeric sheet that extends up the linking arm;

the first seal assembly portion configured to prevent debris from entering the first gap around the hydraulic cylinder;

a second seal assembly portion for sealing a portion of the second gap behind the linking arm of the loader, the second seal assembly including:

a support attached to the loader in back of the linking arm, the support including a flat region;

a hinge assembly attached to the linking arm on a side opposite to the hydraulic cylinder; and

a flap attached to the hinge assembly and lying on the flat region of the support, such that when the linking arm pivots, the flap can rotate around a hinge axis and can move along the support, thereby preventing debris from entering the second gap;

wherein the debris guard apparatus permits movement of the hydraulic cylinder and the linking arm while preventing debris from entering around the hydraulic cylinder and the linking arm.

2 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 1 in which one end of the elastomeric sheet is split into an inner portion, a center portion, and an outer portion, the center portion extending up the linking arm.

3 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 2 in which the inner portion rests against secured cables and the outer portion is supported in a groove of a support attached to the loader.

4 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a bracket positioned to attach the end of the elastomeric sheet opposite the end that is split to the linking arm.

5 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 1 in which the hinge assembly is attached to the linking arm by an adhesive.

6 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 1 in which the multi-part metal ring includes two lower portions and two upper portions, each of the upper portions including a lug at each end, the two upper portions being attached to each other by bolts through the lugs.

7 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 6 in which each of the lower portions includes multiple studs, the stud positions corresponding to the positions of holes in the two upper portions.

8 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 1 in which the elastomeric sheet comprises a rubber sheet.

9 . The debris guard apparatus of claim 1 in which the elastomeric sheet includes a slit to facilitate seating the elastomeric sheet around the hydraulic cylinder.

10 . A method for preventing debris from entering gaps around a linking arm of a loader, the linking arm extending through a second gap, comprising:

providing a debris guard apparatus in accordance with claim 1 ; and

installing the debris guard apparatus onto the loader.

11 . A debris guard apparatus for preventing debris from entering gaps around a hydraulic cylinder and a linking arm of a loader, the hydraulic cylinder extending through a first gap and the linking arm extending through a second gap, comprising:

an elastomeric sheet;

a ring that attaches the elastomeric sheet to the hydraulic cylinder, the elastomeric sheet preventing debris from entering the first gap around the hydraulic cylinder, the elastomeric sheet free to move relative to the loader as the hydraulic cylinder pivots during operation; and

two overlapping seal portions behind the linking arm, a first portion moving with the linking arm and a second portion fixed to the loader, the first and second portions covering the second gap;

wherein the debris guard apparatus permits movement of the hydraulic cylinder and the linking arm while preventing debris from entering the first and second gaps around the hydraulic cylinder and around the linking arm.

12 . A method for preventing debris from entering a first gap around a hydraulic cylinder of a loader and a second gap around a linking arm of the loader, comprising:

providing a first seal assembly portion for sealing a portion of the first gap, the first seal assembly portion including:

an elastomeric sheet;

a multi-part metal ring that includes at least one lower portion and at least one upper portion, the upper and lower portions adapted to surround the hydraulic cylinder and trap the elastomeric sheet between the upper and lower portions to prevent debris from entering the first gap around the hydraulic cylinder; and

a rigid support attached to the linking arm to provide support for a portion of the elastomeric sheet that extends up the linking arm;

the first seal assembly portion configured to prevent debris from entering the first gap around the hydraulic cylinder;

providing a second seal assembly portion for sealing a portion of the second gap behind the linking arm of the loader, the second seal assembly portion including:

a support attached to the loader in back of the linking arm, the support including a flat region;

a hinge assembly attached to the linking arm on the side opposite to the hydraulic cylinder; and

a flap attached to the hinge assembly and lying on the flat region of the support, such that when the linking arm pivots, the flap can rotate around the hinge axis and can move along the support, thereby preventing debris from entering the second gap, attaching the first seal assembly portion to the loader; and

attaching the second seal assembly portion to the loader;

wherein the debris guard apparatus permits movement of the hydraulic cylinder and the linking arm while preventing debris from entering around the hydraulic cylinder and the linking arm.