Abstract:
The invention relates to affixing adapter plates to the back of commercially available forklift implements to enable the rapid connection of a forklift to the end of the hydraulic booms of backhoes. The attachment is accomplished either by substituting the bucket of the backhoe with the modified forklift or by engaging the modified forklift with a modified bucket connector which allows the forklift implement to be connected without removing the bucket.

Description:
BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to methods for adapting and attaching a forklift implement to a backhoe supplied with a bucket. More particularly, the invention relates to adapter plates which can be attached to a forklift implement in order to quickly attach the forklift to a backhoe boom and to modifications to the bucket attachment of a backhoe to quickly attach the forklift implement without the need to remove the bucket.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    There exist in the art many devices for operating forklifts or other implements attached to a backhoe, or for substituting implements on the booms of loaders. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,184 issued to Friedland discloses a method of attaching a forklift implement to the blade of a loader bucket by means, of attachment pads. The pads attached to the forklift implement can be raised or lowered by means of screws having a swivel surface which allows proper adaptation of the forklift implement to the blade of the bucket.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,926 issued to Knapp describes an adjustable fork tractor system. The objective of the invention is to disclose an adjustable fork that allows the lifting of loads of substantially different sizes.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,338 issued to Lawrence discloses an implement mounting apparatus for use with utility tractors, lawn and garden tractors, and riding mowers. The mounting apparatus allows the removable mounting and use of numerous attachments for performing multiple grounds maintenance, such as yard and lawn care, or the lifting of objects.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,237 issued to Oka discloses a leveling mechanism for maintaining the desired angle between the implement and the horizon of either a forklift or a front loader bucket. The device is to be utilized in a dual boom frontal loader mounted on a tractor.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,947 issued to Frost, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,282, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,243 issued to Carter disclose different methods of attaching a forklift to the bucket of a dual boom front loader.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,798 issued to Guest discloses yet another method for attaching a forklift to the bucket of a front-end loader.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,952 issued to Jennings discloses yet another method of converting the bucket of a front-end loader into a quasi forklift implement.  
           [0011]    As shown by the prior art, many approaches and devices have been utilized to adopt certain categories of earth moving equipment to the utilization of a forklift. Most of the patents relate to the modification of dual boom front-end loaders for utilization or attachment of a forklift.  
           [0012]    The present invention is aimed at achieving the rapid change, in a single boom backhoe, from a bucket to a forklift. The objective can be achieved by attaching two adapter plates to the back plate of a forklift implement. Said adapter plates are designed to engage directly to the typical receiver member of a single boom backhoe. Another way of achieving the objective is to affix a pair of adapter plates to both sides of the receiver member. The adapter plates attached to the receiver member are designed to engage directly with a rod affixed to the back of the forklift implement. This last approach allows the forklift implement to be attached to the backhoe without removing the bucket. Both approaches allow the modification of a backhoe from a bucket to a forklift rapidly by a single individual. Both embodiments represent a substantial improvement over equipment commercially available at the present time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a rapid method of substituting the bucket of a single boom backhoe with a forklift implement.  
           [0014]    It is another object of the present invention to modify a standard and commercially available forklift implement for easy attachment to the boom of a backhoe.  
           [0015]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide adapter plates that can be attached to commercially available forklift implement for easy attachment to the receiver member of the backhoe boom.  
           [0016]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment method for a forklift implement to a backhoe boom without the need to remove the bucket.  
           [0017]    It is a further objective of the present invention to attach the forklift implement to the backhoe boom and bucket without the need to utilize any tools.  
           [0018]    Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a secure and stable attachment of the forklift implement to the backhoe boom and bucket without utilizing any fastening devices. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commercially available forklift implement, including back plates and carriage.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the forklift implement and the adapter plates to be affixed to the forklift implement.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the forklift implement with the adapter plates attached.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a tractor with front loader and backhoe implements.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the tractor of FIG. 4 with the boom ready to be joined with the forklift implement.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5( a ) shows the receiver member of the backhoe ready to be coupled with the adapter plates of the forklift.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5( b ) shows the backhoe boom attached to the forklift implement.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the backhoe boom and the forklift with a load in an elevated position.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a lateral view of the boom with the forklift in a lower position.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 shows a lateral view of an adapter holder for a rod.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows a lateral view of the adapter plates to be attached to the receiver member of the backhoe.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows the adapter rod attached to the forklift with its relative position to the adapter plates on the receiver member.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows the backhoe and bucket ready to engage with the forklift.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 shows the bucket forklift combination in a low position.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 shows the same combination in an elevated position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 shows a commercially available forklift implement or attachment. The forklift implement comprises a set of tines  1  and  1 ′ which is generally designed to fit underneath a load or a pallet. A back frame  2  supports a pair of upper and lower back plates  3  and  4  respectively. The back plates are fastened to the back frame by means of bolts or welded to said back frame. The tines are fastened to the back plates by means of upper and lower connection hooks  5  and  5 ′ and  6  and  6 ′ respectively. In a typical utilization, forklift back plates  3  and  4  are normally attached to the lifting portion of a forklift vehicle. In the present invention, the forklift implement is modified to accept a pair of adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ of FIG. 2. The frontal portion of the adapter plates has plate enlargements  8  and  8 ′ which are designed to be connected to back plates  3  and  4 . Adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ are fabricated from steel or other suitable metal and have sufficient thickness to support the weight of the forklift and the load. Enlargements  8  and  8 ′ increase the thickness of the plates in the areas where they are to be attached to the upper and lower back plates. The increase in thickness reinforces the plates in the attachment area and improves the stability of the adapter plates in the horizontal plane.  
         [0035]    Enlargements  8  and  8 ′ comprise a plurality of bores,  9  and  9 ′ which are perpendicular to the frontal face of plate enlargements  8 and  8 ′. The set of bores  9  and  9 ′, in plate enlargements  8  and  8 ′ are tapped to receive a corresponding pluralities of bolts  11  and  11 ′. A plurality of holes  10  and  10 ′ are drilled in the upper back plate  3  and the lower back plate  4 . The holes are vertically aligned and drilled to correspond and align with bores  9  and  9 ′ in the plate enlargements  8  and  8 ′. As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter plates can thus be attached to the back of the forklift by connecting the adapter plates to the back plates of the forklift with bolts  11  and  11 ′. The adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ have two sets of corresponding holes  12  and  12 ′ and  13  and  13 ′ to correspond with the holes in receiver member  39  of FIGS. 4 and 5. Receiver member  39 , as shown in FIG. 4, has a pair of pivot points  27  and  28 . The distance and location of said pivot points might vary from model to model of the backhoe being utilized. As shown in FIG. 2, two sets of tubular receptacles  14  and  14 ′ and  15  and  15 ′ are welded respectively to holes  12  and  12 ′ and  13  and  13 ′ of the adapter plates. The function of the tubular receptacles is to strengthen the areas where the adapter plates are to be connected to the receiver member and to improve the stability and stiffness of the connection of the forklift implement to the receiver member. The spacing between holes  12  and  13  and  12 ′ and  13 ′ is determined by the model and type of the receiver member. As shown in FIG. 3, with respect to the horizontal plane defined by tines  1  and  1 ′, plate holes  13  and  13 ′ are in a higher position than holes  12  and  12 ′. The vertical location and spacing of holes  12  and  13  and  12 ′ and  13 ′ are determined by the design of the receiver member since the distance between holes  12  and  13  and  12 ′ and  13 ′ must match the distance of pivot points  27  and  28 . Said locations are also aimed at achieving a desired asset of the forklift with respect to the horizontal plane when attached to the backhoe. It should be noted that adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ are mirror images of each other with the obvious exception of the threads of bores  9  and  9 ′.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 shows the forklift implement with the attached adapter plates on the ground ready to be attached to the backhoe boom.  
         [0037]    The following is a general description of a backhoe boom which would be commercially available. Numerous variations of this single boom arrangement are known and would be equally suitable for use with the present invention. The backhoe design consists of a single boom that comprises a first arm  20  and a second arm  21 . First arm  20  is attached to the vehicle via a pivot point  30  around the base of boom carrier  31 . First arm  20  is functionally designed to be raised or lowered as part of the operation of the backhoe. The vertical movement is achieved by the connection of pivot point  42 , located on first arm protrusion  48  which is offset from the axis connecting pivot points  23  and  30 , to pivot point  29  on the boom carrier  31  via hydraulic piston  32 . As piston  32  is retracted, pivot point  42  moves closer to pivot point  29  raising arm  20 . The opposite effect occurs when piston  32  is lengthened by the operator via the boom control panel. Second arm  21  is connected to the first arm  20  at pivot point  23 . The second arm is designed to rotate around pivot point  23  with the rotation being achieved by a second hydraulic piston  33  whose ends are connected to pivot points  42  and  22  respectively. The retraction or elongation of hydraulic piston  33  causes second arm  21  to rotate around pivot point  23 . The coordinated operation of pistons  32  and  33  allows the end portion of arm  21  to move either in a vertical or horizontal direction depending on the input of the operator.  
         [0038]    The end of second arm  21  opposite to pivot point  22  includes an arm extension member  49  which, depending on the model and manufacturer, is either solidly affixed to arm  21  generally along its main axis, or can be extended to increase the reach of the boom. The function of the arm extension member is to be connected to an implement such as bucket  41  and further provide the support and connection to the other components which allow the movement of the implement. The structure which allows the rotation of the connected implement on a generally vertical plane comprises a dual set of first tilt linkage member  37  and  37 ′. Member  37  is shown in detail in FIGS.  5 ( a ) and  5 ( b ). The corresponding member  37 ′ on the opposite side of extension member  49  is hidden by member  37  in the lateral view of FIGS.  5 ( a ) and  5 ( b ). One end of said first tilt linkage members  37  and  37 ′ is connected with arm extension member  49  at pivot point  25  with the other end connected to one end of second tilt linkage member  38  at pivot point  26 . The opposite end of second tilt linkage member  38  is connected to receiver member  39  at pivot point  28 .  
         [0039]    The generally u-shaped receiver member  39  as shown in FIG. 10 completes the boom assembly by connection to arm extension member  49  at pivot point  27  of FIG. 4 by means of pin  36 . The central portion of the arms of the U is further connected to a second tilt linkage member  38  at pivot point  28  of FIG. 4 via pin  35  of FIG. 5( b ). Pivot point  26  is connected to one end of hydraulic piston  34  of FIG. 5( a ), while the other end of said piston  34  is connected to pivot point  24  on second arm  21 . The extension or contraction of piston  34  causes the combination of the linkage members and the receiver member to rotate on a vertical plane. This rotation allows the operator to position and rotate the implement to achieve the desired task. The assembly and construction described above is representative of a single boom backhoe. The present invention could be utilized on a variety of other backhoe structures.  
         [0040]    As shown in FIG. 4, if the backhoe boom is utilized to operate a bucket  41  of FIG. 4, the bucket is attached to receiver member  39  via bucket fasteners  50  which connect the bucket side walls  77  and  78  of FIG. 10 to the lower portions of the u-arms of the receiver member. Additionally, the bucket is connected to pivot points  28  via bucket pivot plates  71  and  72  of FIG. 10 to the corresponding holes in the upper portion of the u-arms of receiver member  39 . Pin  36  corresponding to pivot point  27  thus connects the receiver member, the bucket pivot plates  71  and  72  and the arm extension member  49  to allow the bucket to rotate around pivot point  27 .  
         [0041]    In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the bucket  41  is removed to enable the attachment of the forklift implement as shown in FIG. 5( a ) and  5 ( b ). The sets of holes  12  and  13  and  12  and  13  in the adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ are spaced and located so as to correspond to the pivot holes  27  and  28  respectively in the receiver member  39 . In the preferred embodiment the set of adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ are spaced with respect to each other to receive the u-shaped receiver member  39  in the space between said plates, as modified by the attachment of tubular receptacles  14  and  14 ′ and  15  and  15 ′. The adapter plates  7  and  7 ′ are then easily connected to the receiver member by the insertion of pins  35  and  36  and the forklift is thus securely connected to the boom and can be raised or lowered as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to lift or lower a load  47 .  
         [0042]    In another preferred embodiment the forklift implement is modified by attaching to upper back plate  3 , as shown in FIG. 11, a set of rod support adapter members  60  and  61  of FIGS. 8 and 10. The rod support adapter members have a connection surface  79  which rests against the upper back plate  3 . A connection can be achieved utilizing fasteners, welding or other connection means known in the art. The support adapter members have holes  63  and  64 , as shown in FIG. 10, designed to receive a connection rod  62 . The connection rod may be constructed by utilizing a suitable metal or other structural material and is dimensioned to withstand the loads to be carried by the forklift implement. Holes  63  and  64  are displaced from connection surface  79  sufficiently to allow adapter plates  65  and  66  of FIGS. 9 and 10 to clear the upper back plate while being engaged with connection rod  62 . Adapter plates  65  and  66  are fastened to the outer portions of the arms of the u-shaped receiver member either in a permanent or detachable manner. FIG. 10 shows the adapter plates as being permanently affixed to the receiver member  39 . The adapter plates comprise a hook throat  67 , shown in FIG. 9, having a width sufficient to engage the diameter of connection rod  62 . The hook throat comprises generally parallel walls  68  and  69  of FIG. 9 and a throat bottom  70 . Axis  73  represents the axis of the hook throat.  
         [0043]    As shown in FIG. 11, with the adapter plates affixed to the outside of the receiver member  39 , the forklift implement can be connected to the boom by engaging the connection rod with the hook throats of the adapter plates. A significant advantage of this embodiment is that the fork implement can be engaged without removing the bucket and without the need for any additional manual connection. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the adapter plates are affixed to the receiver member in such a manner so as to have the outside of the bucket bottom  80  contacting the upper or lower back plate to provide, in conjunction with the adapter plates, a three point support for the forklift implement. It should be noted, as shown in FIG. 13, that axis  73  of the hook throat is forming an acute angle  81  with the horizon when the forklift is in its normal operating position with its tines generally parallel to the ground. The direction of axis  73  assures that the forklift cannot detach itself from the boom while being operated by accidentally having the connection rod exiting the hook throats. Further, the contact of the outside of the bucket bottom  80  with the back plates results in complete stability of the forklift implement during operation.  
         [0044]    The preferred embodiments have been described in detail, but variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.