Attachment for laterally shifting a working implement

An attachment for laterally shifting a working implement is provided. The attachment can have a primary frame having a first side and a second side, the primary frame can be connectable to the vehicle so that the primary frame extends substantially perpendicular to the vehicle. A secondary frame can have a first side and a second side and be moveably connected to the primary frame so that the secondary frame can move laterally relative to the vehicle. An extension frame can have a first side and a second side and be moveably connected to the secondary frame so that the extension frame can move laterally relative to the vehicle. A working implement, such as a mower, can be operably connectable to the extension frame so that the working implement can be shifted laterally relative to the vehicle using the attachment.

The present invention relates to an attachment mechanism for connecting a working implement to a vehicle wherein the attachment mechanism can move the working implement laterally relative to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Many different types of working implements are attachable to skid steers and other vehicles. Often these working implements are driven by a supply of hydraulic fluid from the vehicle and can include augers, snow blowers, roto-tillers, mowers, etc. Typically, these working implements are attached to the front of the vehicle and centered in front of the vehicle. If an operator wants to direct the working implement to a certain spot, he or she drives the vehicle to that spot and aims the working implement, which is centered in front of the vehicle, at the spot the operator wants to direct the working implement to.

However, in some cases it may be desirable to be able to shift the working implement laterally and extend it beyond either side of the vehicle. For example, an operator of the vehicle may want to pass the working implement under a tree or other obstacle or an operator may find it easier to slowly shift the working implement laterally while the operator continues to drive the vehicle in a forward direction. In other cases, an operator may want to pass the working implement close to an obstacle, such as a building, ditch, etc. without driving the vehicle as close to the obstacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, an attachment mechanism can be provided for shifting a working implement, such as a mower deck, laterally relative to a vehicle. The attachment mechanism can have a primary frame that is fixedly attachable to a vehicle, a secondary frame which is laterally moveable relative to the primary frame and an extension frame which is laterally moveable relative to the secondary frame. A working implement can be connected to the extension frame and the working implement extended beyond either side of the vehicle by moving the extension frame laterally relative to the secondary frame and the secondary frame laterally relative to the primary frame.

In another aspect, an attachment for laterally shifting a working implement can be provided. The attachment comprises: a primary frame having a first side and a second side, the primary frame connectable to the vehicle so that the primary frame extends substantially perpendicular to the vehicle; a secondary frame having a first side, a second side and moveably connected to the primary frame so that the secondary frame can move laterally relative to the vehicle; and an extension frame having a first side, a second side and moveably connected to the secondary frame so that the extension frame can move laterally relative to the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a vehicle10, such as a skid steer, tractor, etc. with an attachment mechanism100used to couple a working implement50to the vehicle10. The attachment mechanism100can be used to move the working implement50laterally relative to the vehicle10and allow the working implement50to be extended beyond the width of the vehicle10.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrates the attachment mechanism100in one aspect.FIG. 3illustrates the attachment mechanism100in a centered position andFIG. 4illustrates the attachment mechanism100extended laterally to one side. The attachment mechanism100can have a primary frame110, a secondary frame120and an extension frame130. The primary frame110can be fixedly attachable to a vehicle (not shown) so that when the primary frame110is attached to a vehicle, the primary frame110will not move relative to the vehicle. The extension frame130can be attachable to a working implement (not shown), so that the working implement is moved with the extension frame130. The primary frame110, secondary frame120and extension frame130can be connected to each other so that the secondary frame120and extension frame130can be moved in relation to the primary frame110and allow the extension frame130(along with a working implement attached to the extension frame130) to extend to one side of the primary frame110.

The primary frame110can have a first side112, a second side114and a width, W. In one aspect, the width, W, of the primary frame110can be substantially equally to the width of a vehicle the attachment mechanism100is attached to.

The secondary frame120can have a first side122and a second side124and can be attached to the primary frame110so that the secondary frame120can move relative to the primary frame110. The secondary frame120can move relative to the primary frame110so that part of the secondary frame120can be extended beyond one side of the primary frame110, with a portion of the secondary frame120being extendable beyond either the first side112of the primary frame110, the second side114of the primary frame110or both. In this manner, the first side122of the secondary frame120can be extended beyond the first side112of the primary frame110or the second side124of the secondary frame120can be extended beyond the second side114of the secondary frame120(as shown inFIG. 4).

In one aspect, the secondary frame120can be slidably attached to the primary frame110so that the secondary frame120can slide laterally relative to the vehicle. In one aspect, this slidable attachment can be achieved by having roller wheels116attached to the secondary frame120running along a track118from in the primary frame110.

The extension frame130can have a first side132and a second side134and can be attached to the secondary frame120so that the extension frame130can move laterally relative to the vehicle10. An attachment point150can be provided on the extension frame130so that a working implement can be attached to the attachment point150.

Referring toFIGS. 2,5and6the attachment mechanism100can be used to move the working implement50laterally relative to the vehicle10while the vehicle10is in operation. The attachment mechanism100can be used to center the working implement50substantially in front of the vehicle10, as shown inFIG. 2, or move the working implement50so that it extends past one of the sides of the vehicle10as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. For example, the attachment mechanism100can be used to move the working implement50laterally so that it extends past the right side of the vehicle10, or alternatively, the attachment mechanism100can be used to extend the working implement50laterally so that it extends past the left side of the vehicle10as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.

In some aspects, the attachment mechanism100can be configured so that the working implement50can be extended to only one side of the vehicle10. In other aspects, the attachment mechanism100can be configured so that the working implement50can be moved laterally to either side of the vehicle10.

Referring again toFIGS. 3 and 4, in one aspect actuators152,154, such as hydraulic cylinders, can be used to control the movement of the secondary frame120and the extension frame130. A first actuator152, such as a double acting hydraulic cylinder, can be connected between the primary frame110and the secondary frame120to control the movement of the secondary frame120relative to the primary frame110. A second actuator154, such as a double acting hydraulic cylinder, can be connected between the secondary frame120and the extension frame130. The second actuator154can be used to move the extension frame130relative to the secondary frame120.

By supplying hydraulic fluid to the first actuator152, the secondary frame120can be moved relative to the primary frame110using the first actuator152. By using a double acting hydraulic cylinder for the first actuator152, the secondary frame120can be extended past either side112,114of the primary frame110.

Referring toFIGS. 2,3and4, commonly, skid steers and other vehicles that the attachment mechanism100can be used with have hydraulic connections20that can be used to supply hydraulic fluid to the attachment mechanism100.

Hydraulics connections160provided on the attachment mechanism100can be used to connect to the hydraulic connections20on the vehicle10and route pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied by the vehicle10to the attachment mechanism100and thereby to the first actuator152and the second actuator154to control the motion of the secondary frame120and the extension frame130.

In one aspect, if the working implement50attached to the attachment mechanism100can use a hydraulic motor55to power the working implement50, a hydraulic splitter170can be provided. The hydraulic splitter170can be provided on the attachment mechanism100to split the hydraulics being supplied from the vehicle10between the actuators152,154and the hydraulic motor55provided on the working implement50. In this manner, the hydraulics supplied by the vehicle can be used to drive the hydraulic motor55on the working implement50and then some of the hydraulic fluid can be routed to the first actuator152and the second actuator154when the operator desires to extend or retract the working implement50attached to the attachment mechanism100.

Although the attachment mechanism100shown inFIGS. 1-6uses hydraulic cylinders for the actuators, other types of actuators could be used.FIGS. 7-9illustrate an alternate attachment mechanism200that uses actuators252,254that are chain drives. In this attachment mechanism200there is a primary frame210, a secondary frame220, an extension frame230and a carrier240. The primary frame210can include a first side212and a second side214. The second frame220can have a first side122and a second side124. The extension frame230can have a first side232and a second side234.

When the attachment mechanism200is connected to the vehicle10, the primary frame210remains positioned in front of the vehicle10. The secondary frame220is moveably attached to the primary frame210so that the secondary frame22can move laterally relative to the vehicle10. The extension frame230is moveably attached to the secondary frame220so that the extension frame230can move laterally relative to the vehicle10.

A drive unit300can be fixedly attached to the secondary frame220. The drive unit300can have a hydraulic motor310with two sprockets314,316connected to the drive shaft312of the hydraulic motor310. The hydraulic motor310can be driven by hydraulic fluid supplied from the vehicle10.

A first chain252can be provided extending between the end rails212,214of the primary frame210. The first sprocket314of the drive unit300can mesh with the links of the first chain252. When the drive unit300is used to rotate the first sprocket314, the drive unit300and the secondary frame220, which the drive unit300is fixedly attached to, is moved relative to the primary frame210along the first chain252and laterally relative to the vehicle10. In this manner, the drive unit300can move the secondary frame320(which the drive unit300is attached to) relative to the primary frame310by rotating the first sprocket314along the first chain252.

Idler gears (not shown) may be required to place the first chain252on the proper side of the first sprocket314and keep the first chain252positioned against the first sprocket314.

The extension frame230can also be moved relative to the secondary frame220by the drive unit300and laterally relative to the vehicle10. A second chain254can be provided extending between the end rails232,234of the extension frame230. The second sprocket316on the driveshaft312of the hydraulic motor310of the drive unit300can be mated to the second chain316. By rotating the second sprocket316with the hydraulic motor310, the extension frame230can be moved relative to the secondary frame220. Unlike the relative movement of the primary frame210and the secondary frame220, in which the drive unit300is attached to the secondary frame220and the drive unit300and secondary frame220move along the first chain252when the first sprocket314is rotated by the drive unit, the drive unit300stays in place relative to the secondary frame220and the rotation of the second sprocket316moves the second chain254and thereby the extension frame230relative to the drive unit300and the secondary frame220.

Idler gears (not shown) may be required to position the second chain254on the proper side of the second sprocket316and keep the second chain254in contact with the second sprocket316.

The carrier240can move relative to the extension frame230, thereby further laterally shifting a working implement50connected to the carrier240. The carrier240is movable attached to the extension frame230such that the carrier240can move between the end rails232,234of the extension frame230.

FIG. 10illustrates the movement of the carrier240relative to the drive unit300and the extension frame230. A first chain262is connected at a first end261to the drive unit300and then passes around an idler gear272provided proximate the first end rail232of the extension frame230before being connected at a second end263to the carrier240. In a similar matter, a second chain266is connected at a first end265to the drive unit300then passes around an idler gear274provided proximate the second end rail234of the extension frame230before being connected at a second end267to the carrier240.

The carrier240is moved relative to the extension frame230when the extension frame230is moved laterally relative to the secondary frame220by the drive unit300. When the drive unit300is used to move the extension frame230to the right relative to the secondary frame220(as shown inFIG. 5), the second side rail234of the extension frame230moves away from the drive unit300where it is connected to the secondary frame220. This causes the second chain266to pull the carrier240towards the second side234of the extension frame230. At the same time, the first side232of the extension frame230is moved towards the drive unit300, allowing the carrier240to pull the second end267of the first chain266towards the second side234of the extension frame230. When the attachment mechanism200is moved back into its initial position, the first side232of the extension frame230will move away from the drive unit300. This will cause the first chain262to pull the carrier240back towards the drive unit300.

In the same, manner the first chain262and the second chain264can move the carrier240towards the first side232of the extension frame230when the secondary frame220and the extension frame230are moved laterally to the left side of the skid steer10. When the extension frame230is moved to the left by the drive unit300, the first chain262can pull the carrier240towards the first side232of the extension frame230. The second chain266allows the carrier240to move towards the first side232of the extension frame230. When the extension frame230is moved back towards the secondary frame220, the second chain266can pull the carrier240back towards the center of the extension frame230.

Referring again toFIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment point150can be provided on the extension frame130of the attachment mechanism100. In one aspect, the attachment point150can be a floating connection between the extension frame130and the working implement50allowing the working implement50to track along a ground surface. The attachment mechanism100can be configured to attach to the vehicle10so that the primary frame110, secondary frame120and the extension frame130are positioned approximately horizontally and spaced above the ground surface.

The attachment point150can comprise two members52extending downwards from the extension frame130. Each member52can have an elongated slot54passing through the member52. An attachment point150on the working implement50can be provided with a shaft56that passes through the elongated slot54of the member52. The shaft56can be connected to a secondary member58that is fixedly attachable to the working implement50. In this manner, the working implement50which is connected to the attachment point150can move vertically relative to the extension frame130with the shafts56on each member52passing through the elongated slots54in the members52. In this manner, the attachment mechanism100can remain at substantially one vertical position while the vehicle10and working implement50are in use. While the attachment mechanism100remains at one vertical position, the working implement50that is travelling along the ground surface can move vertically relative to the attachment mechanism100or “float” relative to the attachment mechanism100.

A quick attach connection can also be used to allow the operator to quickly attach and detach a working implement50from the extension mechanism200without requiring the operator to leave cab of the vehicle10.FIG. 7illustrates the carrier240having a quick attach connection450for connecting the extension mechanism200to the working implement50.

Referring toFIG. 11A, the quick attach connection450can have a first connection460provided on the carrier240. The first connection460can have a flat surface462with an front463and a back464. A recess466can be provided at the back464of the flat surface462. Hydraulically powered pins468can be provided proximate the front463of the surface462.

Referring toFIG. 11B, a second connection470of the quick attach connection450can be provided on the working implement50to connect to the first connection460on the carrier240. The working implement50can have a frame475that allows the working implement50to be connected to the attachment mechanism200. The second connection470can be provided on the top of the frame475and able to connect to the first connection460to connect the working implement50to the attachment mechanism200.

Referring toFIGS. 11A and 11B, the second connection470can have a mounting surface480that mates with the flat surface462of the first connection460on the carrier254. The mounting surface480can have a front482and a back484. A ridge492can be provided at the back484of the mounting surface480and be mateable with the recess466on the first connection460. Two apertures494can be positioned at the front482of the mounting surface480that align with the pins468on the first connection460when the flange492is positioned in the recess466.

In operation, an operator of the vehicle10could relatively quickly and easily attach and detach a working implement50from the attachment mechanism200. To attach the working implement50, the operator could maneuver the vehicle10until the first connection260and the second connection270are aligned, with the flat surface462of the first connection460positioned against the mounting surface480of the second connection470. The operator can then move the attachment mechanism200forward until the ridge492is inserted in the recess466on the first connection460. With the ridge492in place in the recess466, the operator can route hydraulic fluid to the pins468to cause the pins468to be inserted in the apertures494on the second connection470thereby connecting the working implement50to the attachment mechanism200. To detach the working implement50from the attachment mechanism200, the operator can simply route hydraulic fluid to the pins468so that the pins468are retracted from the apertures494and back up the vehicle10to cause the ridge492to retract from the recess466and thereby causing the working implement50to detach from the attachment mechanism200.

In one aspect, the working implement50can be a mower deck. An operator can mow grass, etc. by driving the vehicle10with the attachment mechanism100in the centered position as shown inFIG. 2. When the operator wants to extend the mower deck past either side of the vehicle10, such as when the operator wants to mow under a tree or obstacle or does not want to drive the vehicle10too close to an object, the operator can use the attachment mechanism100to extend the mower deck to either side of the vehicle10.

Referring toFIG. 12in one aspect, the attachment mechanism100can be attached to the vehicle10so that the attachment mechanism100can be pivoted relative to the vehicle10, allowing an operator to tilt the attachment mechanism100and thereby a working implement50attached to the attachment mechanism100. An attachment plate410can be provided for connecting the attachment mechanism100to the vehicle10. The attachment plate410can be pivotally connected to the attachment mechanism100by a pivotal connection420. In one aspect, the attachment plate410can be pivotally attached to the primary frame110of the attachment mechanism100.

Hydraulic cylinders432,434can be connected between the attachment mechanism100and the attachment plate410. If the attachment plate410is pivotally connected to the primary frame110of the attachment mechanism100, the hydraulic rams432,434can be connected between the attachment plate410and the primary frame110.

By directing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders432,434, the hydraulic cylinders432,434can pivot the attachment mechanism100relative to attachment plate410. In this manner, when the attachment mechanism100is in use, the vehicle operator can use the hydraulic cylinders432,434to pivot the attachment mechanism100relative to the vehicle. This can be useful in a number of situations, including allowing the operator of the vehicle to use an implement attached to the attachment mechanism100on a slope while the vehicle remains on relatively level ground (e.g. allowing an operator to the sides of a ditch while the vehicle stays our of the ditch).