Tubing assembly for a work vehicle

A tubing assembly for a work vehicle includes a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to fluidly couple to a fluid source. The tubing assembly also includes a fitting positioned at the second end of the tube. The fitting includes a first radially-expanded portion configured to engage a first side of a plate that is configured to form part of a chassis of the work vehicle, a threaded portion configured to extend through an opening in the plate, and a second radially-expanded portion configured to engage a second side of the plate to trap the plate between the first radially-expanded portion and the second radially-expanded portion, thereby coupling the tube to the plate.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a tubing assembly for a work vehicle, particularly for a skid steer and similar work vehicles.

Work vehicles, such as skid steers and similar work vehicles, are increasingly being used at worksites (e.g., construction sites, agricultural fields). For example, skid steers are typically used as general utility machines due to their versatility and ability to operate at worksites having limited surface area. Some work vehicles may include a hydraulic system that is used to control various attached implements, such as a blade or bucket. However, certain components of the hydraulic system may interfere with and/or crowd other components of the work vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the present disclosure are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the system and/or methods disclosed herein. Indeed, the systems and/or methods may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

A first embodiment includes a tubing assembly for a work vehicle. The tubing assembly includes a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to fluidly couple to a fluid source. The tubing assembly also includes a fitting positioned at the second end of the tube. The fitting includes a first radially-expanded portion configured to engage a first side of a plate that is configured to form part of a chassis of the work vehicle, a threaded portion configured to extend through an opening in the plate, and a second radially-expanded portion configured to engage a second side of the plate to trap the plate between the first radially-expanded portion and the second radially-expanded portion, thereby coupling the tube to the plate.

A second embodiment includes a work vehicle having a tubing assembly configured to provide a fluid from a fluid source to an actuator. The tubing assembly includes a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to fluidly couple to the fluid source. The tubing assembly also includes a fitting positioned at the second end of the tube, wherein the fitting comprises a first radially-expanded portion in engagement with a first side of a plate of a chassis of the work vehicle, a threaded portion extending through an opening in the plate, and a second radially-expanded portion in engagement with a second side of the plate, such that the plate is trapped between the first radially-expanded portion and the second radially-expanded portion to couple the tube to the plate.

A third embodiment includes a work vehicle having a chassis with a tower portion, an arm configured to couple to an implement, and a tubing assembly configured to provide a fluid from a fluid source to an actuator to adjust a position of the arm, the implement, or both. The tubing assembly includes a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to fluidly couple to the fluid source. The tubing assembly also includes a fitting positioned at the second end of the tube, and the fitting is in engagement with a rearwardly-facing plate of the tower portion of the chassis to block movement of the tube relative to the rearwardly-facing plate of the tower portion of the chassis. The fitting includes comprises a threaded portion that extends through an opening in the rearwardly-facing plate to facilitate fluidly coupling the tube to a hose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Work vehicles, such as skid steers and similar work vehicles (e.g., front loaders), may move about and carry out operations at a worksite (e.g., construction site, agricultural field). For example, work vehicles may move about a construction site to dig trenches, level ground, move objects, or the like. Some work vehicles may include a hydraulic system that is used to control various attached implements, such as a blade or bucket. However, components (e.g., tubing) of the hydraulic system may interfere with and/or crowd other components of the work vehicle. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments relate to a tubing assembly that may be used as part of a hydraulic system of a work vehicle. The tubing assembly disclosed herein may be arranged within the work vehicle in a manner that avoids other components (e.g., motor, electrical system, cooling system) of the work vehicle, provides more space for these other components of the work vehicle, and/or reduces wear on components (e.g., tubing, hoses) of the tubing assembly, for example.

To facilitate clarity, the present disclosure is described primarily in relation to skid steers. However, it should be appreciated the tubing assembly and other elements described in the present disclosure are not limited to use with skids steers. In fact, the tubing assembly may be implemented in any of a variety of other work vehicles (e.g., front loaders, bull dozers, tractors) that include a hydraulic system and hydraulically-operated implements.

Turning now to the figures,FIG.1is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a work vehicle100. In the illustrated embodiment, the work vehicle100is a skid steer. However, as noted above, it should be appreciated that the work vehicle100disclosed herein may be any type of work vehicle, such as but not limited to front loaders, bull dozers, tractors, or the like. To facilitate discussion, the work vehicle100and its components may be described with reference to a forward direction of travel101, a longitudinal axis or direction102, a vertical axis or direction103, and a lateral axis or direction104.

In the illustrated embodiment, the work vehicle100includes a cab110and a chassis120(e.g., frame). The cab110and the chassis120are supported on wheels130, although it should be appreciated that the work vehicle100may include tracks instead of or in addition to the wheels130. Additionally, the work vehicle100includes an attachment tool140(e.g., implement), which is coupled to and supported by arms150(e.g., the illustrated left-side loader arm and a right-side loader arm, which are mounted on opposite lateral sides of the work vehicle100). The chassis120of the work vehicle100includes a tower portion121positioned rearward of the cab110relative to the direction of travel101and positioned between the arms150along the lateral axis104. Thus, each of the arms150is positioned laterally-outward of the tower portion121and extends forward of the tower portion121relative to the direction of travel101to couple to the attachment tool140. The arms150may be rotatably supported on the tower portion121and/or on a respective laterally-outer plate122(e.g., via one or more hinges, such as hinge123). The arms150may include or be coupled to actuators151(e.g., hydraulic cylinders), which may be part of a hydraulic system200and which may be adjusted via a flow of fluid (e.g., hydraulic fluid) to drive movement of the attachment tool140. Various other actuators151may be provided to drive different movements of the arms150and/or the attachment tool140. While the illustrated attachment tool140is a blade, it should be appreciated that the work vehicle100may be coupled to various other attachment tools140, such as a bucket, a ripper assembly, a tilling assembly, or a gripper assembly, among other attachments.

The cab110is configured to house an operator of the work vehicle100. Accordingly, the work vehicle100may include an operator interface111(e.g., having a display, speaker, and/or inputs, such as buttons or switches) positioned within the cab110to provide information to the operator and/or to facilitate operator control of the work vehicle100. In some embodiments, various other inputs, such as the illustrated joystick112, may be positioned within the cab110to facilitate operator control of the work vehicle100. For example, the inputs may enable the operator to control rotational speed of the wheels130, thereby facilitating adjustment of the speed and/or direction of the work vehicle100. As shown, in some embodiments, a front windshield113may move between an open position and closed position. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the work vehicle100may be an autonomous vehicle and may be fully or partially controlled by a control system and/or an operator located remotely from the work vehicle100.

In certain embodiments, the chassis120(e.g., the tower portion121of the chassis120) is configured to house or support at least some components of the hydraulic system200, which may include at least a tubing assembly, a pump, a valve or other flow control element, and a tank. The chassis120(e.g., the tower portion121of the chassis120) may also house or support a motor (e.g., diesel engine, etc.) and other components (e.g., an electrical system, a cooling system) that facilitate operation of the work vehicle100. As discussed in more detail below, the tubing assembly of the hydraulic system200may include features that provide various advantages. For example, the tubing assembly may be arranged within the work vehicle100in a manner that avoids other components (e.g., the motor, the electrical system, the cooling system) of the work vehicle100, provides more space for these other components of the work vehicle100, and/or reduces wear on components (e.g., tubing, hoses) of the tubing assembly.

FIG.2Ais a side-view of a portion of the work vehicle100and the hydraulic system200,FIG.2Bis a rear perspective view of the portion of the work vehicle100and the hydraulic system200, andFIG.2Cis a rear view of the portion of the work vehicle100and the hydraulic system200. The illustrated portion includes certain components of the hydraulic system200located on a right-side of the work vehicle100, and it should be appreciated that similar components may be located on a left-side of the work vehicle100. As shown, the hydraulic system200includes a fluid source201, which may include a tank and/or a flow control element (e.g., valve) positioned within the tower portion121of the chassis120. The hydraulic system200also includes a tubing assembly210that is configured to deliver fluid from the fluid source201to the actuators151shown inFIG.1to adjust the arms150and/or to operate the attachment tool140shown inFIG.1. The fluid source201is illustrated schematically to simplify the drawings.

The tubing assembly210may include multiple tubes211(e.g., inflexible, rigid tubes) that extend (e.g., vertically) from the fluid source201along a laterally-inner side124of a laterally-inner plate125(e.g., structural plate) of the tower portion121of the chassis120of the work vehicle100. The multiple tubes211may be bent (e.g., curved) to extend laterally-outwardly to enable the multiple tubes211to pass through an opening126defined in the laterally-inner plate125. Thus, each of the multiple tubes211includes a portion that is positioned in a space128(e.g., lateral gap) defined between the laterally-inner plate125and a laterally-outer plate127(e.g., structural plate) of the tower portion121of the chassis120. The multiple tubes211may exit from the space128via openings defined in a rearward-facing plate129of the tower portion121of the chassis120to enable the multiple tubes211to couple to hoses212(e.g., flexible hoses) that bend to couple to arm-mounted tubes213(e.g., inflexible, rigid tubes) that extend along the arm150to deliver the fluid to the actuators151shown inFIG.1. While the illustrated tubes211,213are inflexible, rigid tubes, it should be appreciated that the tubes211and/or the tubes213may be flexible. Additionally, the terms “tube” and “hose” may be used interchangeably herein to refer to inflexible or flexible annular conduits. Furthermore, at least the laterally-inner plate125, the opening126, the laterally-outer plate127, the space128, the rearward-facing plate129, and/or the arm150may be configured in a particular manner to accommodate the tubes211, the hoses212, and the arm-mounted tubes213. Thus, for the purposes of the present disclosure, at least the laterally-inner plate125, the opening126, the laterally-outer plate127, the space128, the rearward-facing plate129, and/or the arm150may also be considered part of the tubing assembly210.

The illustrated arrangement of the multiple tubes211may block the multiple tubes211from interfering with other components (e.g., the motor, the electrical system, the cooling system) that are housed within the tower portion121of the chassis120. Furthermore, this arrangement may provide more space for these other components within the tower portion121and/or may reduce wear on the tubes211and/or the hoses212(e.g., because the hoses212bend in a wide u-shape to extend from the tubes211to the arm-mounted tubes213), for example. It should be appreciated that while four tubes211, four hoses212, and four arm-mounted tubes213are illustrated, the tubing assembly210may include any suitable number (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more) of these components.

FIG.3Ais a side view of a portion of the work vehicle100with the laterally-inner plate125(shown inFIGS.2A-2C) of the tower portion121of the chassis120removed to illustrate various elements of the tubing assembly210. Similarly,FIG.3Bis a rear-perspective view of the portion of the work vehicle100with the laterally-inner plate125of the tower portion121of the chassis120removed to illustrate various elements of the tubing assembly210.

With the laterally-inner plate125of the tower portion121removed, portions214of the tubes211positioned within the space128are visible. As shown, each tube211includes an end215(e.g., end portion) that is coupled to a fitting216(e.g., bulkhead fitting or coupler). For example, the fitting216may be brazed (e.g., soldered) or otherwise fixed to the end215of the respective tube211. The fitting216may include a first radially-expanded portion217, a second radially-expanded portion218, and a threaded portion219. One or both of the radially-expanded portions217,218may be a nut (e.g., threaded nut) that is threadably coupled to the threaded portion219of the fitting216. The fitting216couples the tube211to the tower portion121of the chassis120and also couples the tube211to a respective hose212. For example, the rearward-facing plate129of the tower portion121of the chassis120may be trapped between the radially-expanded portions217,218to couple the tube211to the tower portion121of the chassis120, and the threaded portion219of the fitting216extends rearward of the rearward-facing plate129relative to the direction of travel101to couple (e.g., threadably couple) to a coupler220(e.g., threaded coupler) positioned on an end221(e.g., end portion) of the respective hose212.

The fitting216may facilitate efficient installation of the tubing assembly210within the work vehicle100. For example, the tube211with the first radially-expanded portion217and the threaded portion219of the fitting216positioned at the end215of the tube211may be placed within the space128of the tower portion121of the chassis120, and the threaded portion219may be inserted through the opening in the rearward-facing plate129. The opening may be sized to enable the threaded portion219to pass through and extend rearward of the opening; however, the first radially-expanded portion217may be too large (e.g., in diameter) to pass through the opening and may engage an inner surface (e.g., forward-facing surface) of the rearward-facing plate129. Subsequently, the second radially-expanded portion218(e.g., a threaded nut) may be threaded onto the end of the threaded portion219that extends rearward of the opening, and the second radially-expanded portion218may be tightened (e.g., rotated) until the second radially-expanded portion218contacts and engages the rearward-facing plate129, thereby trapping the rearward-facing plate129between the radially-expanded portions217,218and coupling the tube211to the tower portion121of the chassis120. After coupling the tube211to the tower portion121of the chassis in this manner, the threaded portion219of the fitting216extends rearward of the rearward-facing plate129to couple to the coupler220positioned on the end221of the respective hose212. It should be appreciated that the fitting216may alternatively be brazed or otherwise fixed to the end221of the respective hose212, and that the coupler220may be positioned on the end215of the tube211.

With reference toFIG.3A, the portion of the rearward-facing plate129through which the tubes211pass may be oriented at an acute angle222(e.g., non-parallel, non-orthogonal) relative to the longitudinal axis102. The acute angle222may be any suitable angle that alleviates stress on the interface between the tubes211and the hoses212and/or that enables the hoses212to bend in a wide u-shape at least while the arm50is in a default or resting position (e.g., lowered position) to fluidly couple the tubes211to the arm-mounted tubes213. For example, the acute angle222may be between approximately 45 to 90, 50 to 85, 55 to 80, or 60 to 75 degrees. Due to this acute angle222, a common axis223(e.g., central axis) of end215of the tube211, the fitting216, the coupler220, and the end221of the hose212(e.g., when assembled and coupled to the rearward-facing plate229) may also be oriented at an obtuse angle (e.g., non-parallel, non-orthogonal) relative to the longitudinal axis102. For example, the obtuse angle224may be between approximately 135 to 180, 140 to 175, 145 to 170, or 140 to 165 degrees. Thus, the threaded portion219of the fitting216and the end221of the hose212extend rearwardly relative to the direction of travel101and also upwardly along the vertical axis103from the rearward-facing plate129. Such a configuration may enable the hose212to bend in a wide u-shape to couple to the arm-mounted tube213and/or may generally alleviate stresses on the hose212during operation of the work vehicle100. It should be appreciated that the tubing assembly210may include various other features, such as a bracket225that is coupled to the arm50and that wraps around the hoses212.

FIG.4is a side view of a portion of the tubing assembly210that may be used as part of the hydraulic system200of the work vehicle100. As shown, the tubing assembly210includes the tubes211, each having a coupler226(e.g., threaded coupler) at an end227(e.g., end portion) of the tube211to couple the tube211to the fluid source201shown inFIGS.2A-2Cand the fitting216at the end215of the tube211to couple the tube211to the rearward-facing plate129of the tower portion121of the chassis120shown inFIGS.2A-3B. Each fitting216includes the radially-expanded portions217,218and the threaded portion219, which may couple to a respective coupler220at the end221of one of the hoses212. The hoses212may bend in a wide u-shape to couple to the arm-mounted tubes213, such as via one or more couplers226(e.g., threaded couplers).