Patent Publication Number: US-2002009358-A1

Title: Removable skid steer loader crane

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This patent application is claiming the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application having an application number of No. 60/210,835, filed Jun. 12, 2001, in the name of John Fisher, and entitled “REMOVABLE SKID STEER LOADER CRANE AND METHOD THEREFOR”. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] This invention relates to construction equipment, and more specifically, to a crane attachment that can be coupled to a skid steer loader thereby enabling the skid steer loader to gain the functionality of an extendable boom crane.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0005] Skid steer loaders are prized because of their ability to perform a large number of tasks in a variety of locations having limited access. In order to accomplish these different tasks, skid steer loaders are designed to have a variety of removable and replaceable attachments coupled to their front ends. These attachments allow the skid steer loader to perform these variety of different functions. Some examples of attachments that may be coupled to the skid steer loader include, but is not limited to, front loader buckets, jack hammers, pallet forks, and drum clamps. However, a major deficiency with the skid steer loader has been the lack of a crane attachment. Presently, skid steer loaders do not have the ability to serve as a small movable crane. Present skid steer loaders do not have any attachments which allow it to serve the functions of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
       [0006] Therefore a need existed to provide a mechanism to allow a skid steer loader to function as a small movable crane. The mechanism must allow a skid steer loader to serve the functions of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism to allow a skid steer loader to function as a small movable crane.  
       [0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism that allows a skid steer loader to serve the functions of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0009] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a device for allowing a skid steer loader to function as a small movable crane is disclosed. The device has a boom member having a first end removably coupled to the skid steer loader. A load attachment mechanism is coupled to a second end of the boom member. The load attachment mechanism is used for attaching objects to the boom member to be lifted by the skid steer loader.  
       [0010] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention a device for allowing a skid steer loader to function as a small movable crane is disclosed. The device has a support plate removably coupled to the skid steer loader. An extendable boom member is coupled to a hydraulic system of the skid steer loader and has a first end coupled to the support plate. A load attachment mechanism is coupled to a second end of the boom member and is used for attaching objects to the boom member for the skid steer loader to lift.  
       [0011] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements.  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a top view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane with the boom section extended.  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a side view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane with the boom section retracted.  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is an elevated rear perspective view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
     [0018]FIG. 6 is a front view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane with an extendable boom.  
     [0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane installed on a skid steer loader.  
     [0020]FIG. 8 is a side view of the removable attachment for allowing a skid steer loader to serve the function of a small moveable crane installed on a skid steer loader with a boom section extended and lifting a boulder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0021] Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 8 , a removable attachment device  10  (hereinafter device  10 ) is shown. The device  10  is coupled to a front end of a skid steer loader  12 . The device  10  is used for allowing the skid steer loader  12  to serve the function of a small moveable crane. The device  10  of the present invention facilitates the reach and placement of heavy objects that can be attached to the skid steer loader  12  without obstructing the view of the operator of the skid steer loader  12 . The present invention also allows access to confined or limited access areas due to the combination of the skid steer loader  12  and the relatively small boom area protruding out from the front of the skid steer loader  12  having a combined footprint that is relatively small.  
     [0022] The present invention is designed to maximize the lift potential of the skid steer loader  12  as well as to make the task of lifting heavy objects safer and more efficient. The device  10  couples to a skid steer loader  12  in place of some other removable attachment. The device  10  couples into the skid steer loader&#39;s hydraulic system  14 .  
     [0023] The device  10  has an extendable boom section  16 . The extendable boom section  16  on the skid steer loader  12  gives the operator an unobstructed view of a load that is being lifted. The extendable boom section  16  can be extended for greater reach capabilities.  
     [0024] The extendable boom section  16  has one or more independent booms that are designed to completely retract co-axially within the extendable boom section  16 . The extendable boom section  16  has a main housing  18 . The housing  18  is used for supporting and housing the extendable boom section  16  in a fully retracted position. A first extendable boom  20  is attached to a hydraulic ram  22  which can be connected to the skid steer loader&#39;s hydraulic system  14  that gives hydraulic control to the operator allowing them to extend and retract the first extendable boom  20 .  
     [0025] A second extendable boom  24  is designed to completely retract inside the first extendable boom  20 . The distal end of the second extendable boom  24  is typically where loads are attached when lifting. At the distal end of the second extendable boom  24  is a steel loop  26 , or other suitable load attachment point, where attachments to a load is made by using cables, straps, chains, or like elements.  
     [0026] The second extendable boom  24  is also manually extendible. The second extendable boom  24  may be manually extended by pulling out a main pin  28 , which is used to hold the second extendable boom  24  in place inside the first extendable boom  20 , out of a first positioning hole. The second extendable boom  24  is then pulled out of the first extendable boom  20  to a desired length. The main pin  28  is then reset in another positioning hole. The positioning holes are drilled in even steps to allow partial or full reach potential. This gives the operator more control over the weight distribution of the load and makes the adjustment of the extendable boom section  16  safe and efficient.  
     [0027] It should be noted that even though an embodiment of the present invention describes three co-axially nested booms, the number of booms may be more or less, and the method of extension may be any combination of hydraulics and/or manual extension means.  
     [0028] The extendable boom section  16  is coupled to the skid steer loader  12 . The extendable boom section  16  may be coupled to the skid steer loader  12  by a variety of different methods. In the embodiment depicted in the Figures, the extendable boom section  16  is coupled to a support plate  30 . The extendable boom section  16  is generally welded to a lower central section of the support plate. The support plate  30  is used to support and couple the device  10  to the skid steer loader  12 . One or more support arms  31  may be used to provide additional support and for securing the extendable boom section  16  to the support plate  30 . Each support arm  31  has a first end which is coupled to the support plate  30  and a second end coupled to the extendable boom section  16 .  
     [0029] The support plate  30  is coupled to a pair of lifting arms  32  of the skid steer loader  12 . The support plate  30  is generally coupled to the pair of lifting arms  32  by a pair of coupling bolts  34 . However, this should not be seen as to limit the scope of the present invention. Other coupling devices may be used to attach the support plate  30  to the pair of lifting arms  32 .  
     [0030] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.