Implement carrier and implements
View Patent ↗Disclosed embodiments include implement carriers and power machines with implement carriers. In some embodiments, the implement carriers have a mounting structure having first and second mounting structure surfaces with first and second pluralities of mounting features located along the first mounting structure surfaces, respectively. Each of the second plurality of mounted features is aligned with one of the first plurality of mounting features. The mounting structure is configured to receive an implement in a first attitude and a second attitude different from the first attitude.
1. An implement in combination with an implement carrier:
the implement comprising:
a first implement surface having a first implement mounting feature;
a second implement surface having a second implement mounting feature; and
a positioning feature;
the implement carrier comprising:
a mounting structure configured to be pivotally mounted to a lift arm and further configured to receive and secure an implement thereto, the mounting structure having first and second mounting structure surfaces and a contoured surface;
a first plurality of mounting features located along the first mounting structure surface; and
a second plurality of mounting features located along the second mounting structure surface, each of the second plurality of mounted features being aligned with one of the first plurality of mounting features;
wherein the mounting structure is configured to receive an implement in a first attitude and in a second attitude different from the first attitude;
wherein when the implement is unattached to the implement carrier, the contoured surface is engageable by the positioning feature on the implement such that movement of the positioning feature along the contoured surface aids in aligning the first mounting feature on the implement with one of the first plurality of mounting features on the first mounting structure surface; and
wherein when the implement is attached to the implement carrier, the first implement surface is adjacent the first mounting structure surface of the mounting structure and the first implement mounting feature is engaged with one of the first plurality of mounting features of the implement carrier.
2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of mounting features includes first, second, and third mounting features arranged on the first surface of the implement carrier such that the first mounting feature is out of alignment with the second and third mounting features.
3. The combination of claim 2 , wherein the mounting structure includes an alignment surface engageable by a positioning feature on the implement and such that movement of the positioning feature along the alignment surface aids in aligning a mounting feature on the implement with one of the first, second, and third mounting features on the first mounting structure surface.
4. The combination of claim 3 , wherein the alignment surface includes a plurality of positioning stops configured to engage the positioning feature, and wherein when the positioning feature is engaged with different ones of the plurality of positioning stops, the mounting feature on the implement is alignable with different ones of the first plurality of mounting features.
5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the implement includes a first portion attached to the implement carrier and a second portion pivotally attached to the first portion.
6. The combination of claim 1 , wherein when the implement is attached to the implement carrier, the second implement surface is adjacent to one of the second plurality of mounting features.
7. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the implement is capable of being attached to the mounting structure in one of the first attitude and the second attitude and is incapable of being attached to the mounting structure in the other of the first attitude and the second attitude.
8. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the contoured surface has a first stop and a second stop, wherein when the implement is unattached to the implement carrier and the positioning feature is in engagement with the first stop, the first mounting feature on the implement is capable of being aligned with the first mounting feature on the first mounting structure surface.
9. The combination of claim 8 , and further comprising a third stop, wherein when the implement is unattached to the implement carrier and the positioning feature is in engagement with the third stop, the first mounting feature on the implement is capable of being aligned with the second mounting feature on the first mounting structure surface.
10. The combination of claim 8 , wherein when the implement is attached to the implement carrier, the implement is capable of pivoting between a first attached position where the positioning feature is in engagement with the first stop and a second attached position where the positioning feature is in engagement with the second stop.
11. The combination of claim 8 , wherein when the implement is attached to the implement carrier, the first implement mounting feature is pivotally engaged with one of the first plurality of mounting features on the first mounting structure surface and wherein the combination further includes a tension mechanism capable of resisting pivotal movement of the implement with respect to the implement carrier.
12. A power machine having a frame and a lift arm operably coupled to the frame at one end of the lift arm, comprising:
an implement attachment apparatus attached to the lift arm for accepting a primary implement on the lift arm proximal to a second end of the lift arm;
an implement carrier pivotally attached to the lift arm for accepting a second implement, the implement carrier including a mounting structure configured to receive the second implement in a first position and a second position, wherein the received second implement is oriented with a different attitude in the second position with respect to the mounting structure than in the first position;
a first actuator operably coupled to the lift arm for selectively providing power to pivot the implement attachment apparatus relative to the lift arm; and
a second actuator pivotally coupled to the implement carrier and the lift arm for selectively providing power to pivot the implement carrier with respect to the lift arm, wherein the second actuator is independently operable with respect to the first actuator; and
an actuator control system including a control valve that is configured to control the second actuator in a first control mode and a second control mode, wherein in the first control mode the control valve is actuable to selectively provide pressurized fluid to control the second actuator to selectively move the implement carrier under power in one of a first and a second direction and selectively prevent movement of the second actuator and in the second control mode, the control valve is actuable to allow the second actuator to move freely and the implement carrier to float;
wherein the control valve is moveable between first, second, third and fourth operating positions.
13. The power machine of claim 12 , wherein the actuator control system controls the second actuator to selectively move the implement carrier under power in a first direction and a second direction.
14. The power machine of claim 12 , wherein when the actuator control system operates in the first control mode, the control valve is moveable between the first, second and third operating positions and when the actuator control operates in the second control mode, the control valve is moved to the fourth operating position.
15. The power machine of claim 14 , wherein the actuator control system further includes a reservoir and a pump, wherein the second actuator is a hydraulic cylinder in communication with the control valve and wherein when the control valve is in the fourth position, each of the first and second ends of the actuator are in communication with the reservoir.
16. The power machine of claim 12 , wherein the implement attachment apparatus is pivotally attached to the arm about an axis and the implement carrier is attached to the arm about the same axis.
17. The power machine of claim 12 , wherein the implement attachment apparatus for accepting the primary implement is an implement carrier.
18. A power machine, comprising:
a frame;
a lift arm pivotally coupled to the frame;
an implement attachment apparatus attached proximal to an end of the lift arm for accepting a first implement on the lift arm; and
an implement carrier pivotally mounted on the lift arm for accepting a second implement on the lift arm, including:
a mounting structure configured to receive and secure an implement thereto in a first attitude and in a second attitude different from the first attitude, the mounting structure having first and second mounting plates each of which is configured to be coupled to an implement;
a first plurality of mounting features located along the first mounting plate;
a second plurality of mounting features located along the second mounting plate, each of the second plurality of mounted features being aligned with one of the first plurality of mounting features; and
wherein the first mounting plate has a contoured portion formed along an outer edge, separate from any of the first plurality of mounting features, configured to engage a positioning feature on the implement and having a positioning stop formed into the outer edge such that movement of the positioning feature into the positioning stop aids alignment of the implement in the first attitude.
19. An implement carrier, comprising:
a mounting structure configured to be pivotally mounted to a lift arm and further configured to receive and secure an implement thereto, the mounting structure having first and second mounting plates spaced apart by a cross member and an alignment surface extending along one of the first and second mounting plates orthogonal to a main surface thereof engageable by a positioning feature on the implement with the alignment surface having an arcuate portion;
a first plurality of mounting features located along the first mounting structure surface; and
a second plurality of mounting features located along the second mounting structure surface, each of the second plurality of mounted features being aligned with one of the first plurality of mounting features;
wherein the mounting structure is configured to receive the implement in a first attitude and in a second attitude different from the first attitude and wherein movement of the positioning feature along the alignment surface aids in aligning a mounting feature on the implement with one of the mounting features on the first mounting structure surface and wherein movement of the positioning feature includes a non-linear path of travel as it moves over the arcuate portion of the alignment surface.