Interface plate for mounting a light duty attachment to a lift arm assembly
View Patent ↗An attachment arm assembly includes an attachment arm that is pivotal about an arm pivot axis using a hydraulic lift cylinder. The attachment arm assembly also includes an interface plate pivotal about an interface plate pivot axis and configured to mount a tool. The interface plate has a main body and includes a first side edge having a first end and a second end. The interface plate includes a second side edge having a first end and a second end. The interface plate also includes a top edge that couples the second end of the first side edge to the second end of the second side edge. The first ends of the first and second side edge are spaced apart from each other a distance greater than a distance between the second ends of the first and second side edges.
1. A work vehicle comprising:
a tool having an interface receiving member comprising:
a planar surface;
first and second side flanges coupled to the planar surface and having first and second ends, each of the first and second side flanges including an aperture which are in alignment with each other;
a top flange coupled to the planar surface and extending between the second end of the first side flange and the second end of the second side flange, wherein the first ends of the first and second side flanges are spaced apart from each other a distance greater than a distance between the second ends of the first and second side flanges;
an interface plate coupled to a lift arm of the work vehicle, the interface plate configured to be received by the interface receiving member, the interface plate comprising:
a first side edge having a first end and a second end, the first side edge configured to contact the first side flange of the interface receiving member;
a second side edge having a first end and a second end, the second side edge configured to contact the second side flange of the interface receiving member;
a top edge coupling the second end of the first side edge to the second end of the second side edge and configured to contact the top flange of the interface receiving member, wherein the first ends of the first and second side edge are spaced apart from each other a distance greater than a distance between the second ends of the first and second side edges;
a first outer flange coupled to and extending along at least a portion of the first side edge, the first outer flange including an aperture for allowing a first pin to actuably extend and retract there through;
a second outer flange coupled to and extending along at least a portion of the second side edge, the second outer flange including an aperture for allowing a second pin to actuably extend and retract there through;
wherein the first side edge, the second side edge and the top edge form an integral cylindrical bar that surrounds the interface plate and are configured to engage with and contact the flanges on the interface receiving member; and
wherein the interface plate includes a first pin and a second pin, the first pin configured to protrude into the aperture of the first side flange and the second pin configured to protrude into the aperture of the second side flange when the interface plate is locked to the interface receiving member.
2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first ends of the first and second side edges is approximately between 2.5 and three times greater than the distance between the second ends of the first and second side edges.
3. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the interface receiving member comprises a pocket formed underneath the top flange, the pocket formed by the top flange, the second end of the first side flange, the second end of the second side flange and the planar surface, wherein the pocket is configured to receive the top edge of the cylindrical bar of the interface plate.
4. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the interface plate comprises;
a first inner flange positioned between the first outer flange and the second outer flange and in closer proximity to the first outer flange than to the second outer flange; and
a second inner flange positioned between the first inner flange and the second outer flange and in closer proximity to the second outer flange than the first outer flange.
5. The work vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the interface plate comprises a locking mechanism positioned between the first inner flange and the second inner flange, the locking mechanism configured to actuate the first pin and the second pin into the protruding position for locking the interface plate to the interface receiving member and configured to actuate the first pin and the second pin into a recessed position for unlocking the interface plate from the interface receiving member.
6. The work vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a lever and a spring.
7. The work vehicle of claim 6 , wherein upon actuation of the lever, the spring operates to actuate the first pin through the aperture in the first side flange of the interface receiving member and operates to actuate the second pin through the aperture in the second side flange of the interface receiving member.
8. The work vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the interface plate comprises a guide plate located between the first inner flange and the second inner flange and having a slot, the slot configured to surround at least a portion of the lever and comprise a first catch feature located at one end of the slot and a second catch feature located at an opposite end of the slot, wherein the first catch feature is configured to retain the lever in an unlocked position and the second catch feature is configured to retain the lever in a locked position.
9. An attachment arm assembly comprising:
a pair of arms having first and second ends, the arms coupled to an arm support and pivotal about an arm pivot axis at the first ends;
an interface plate pivotally coupled to the pair of arms about an interface plate pivot axis at the second ends and configured to mount a tool, the interface plate comprising:
a main body;
a first side edge having a first end and a second end;
a second side edge having a first end and a second end; and
a top edge coupling the second end of the first side edge to the second end of the second side edge, wherein the first ends of the first and second side edge are spaced apart from each other a distance greater than a distance between the second ends of the first and second side edges;
a first outer flange coupled to and extending along at least a portion of the first side edge, the first outer flange including an aperture for allowing a first pin to actuably extend and retract there through;
a second outer flange coupled to and extending along at least a portion of the second side edge, the second outer flange including an aperture for allowing a second pin to actuably extend and retract there through;
wherein the first side edge, the second side edge and the top edge form an integral cylindrical bar that surrounds the main body of the interface plate and are configured to engage with and contact receiving flanges on an interface receiving member coupled to a tool.
10. The attachment arm assembly of claim 9 , wherein the distance between the first ends of the first and second side edges is approximately 13.5 inches and the distance between the second ends of the first and second side edges is approximately 4.75 inches.
11. The attachment arm assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a first inner flange positioned between the first outer flange and the second outer flange and in closer proximity to the first outer flange than to the second outer flange and a second inner flange positioned between the first inner flange and the second outer flange and in closer proximity to the second outer flange than the first outer flange.
12. The attachment arm assembly of claim 11 , wherein the interface plate comprises a locking mechanism positioned between the first inner flange and the second inner flange, the locking mechanism configured to control the first pin that extends outwardly from the first outer flange to mate with a first aperture in a tool and a second pin that extends outwardly from the second outer flange to mate with a second aperture in the tool.