Patent Publication Number: US-7588092-B2

Title: External endplate gusseting for material pushing attachment

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Power machines, such as skid steer loaders, mini-excavators, wheel loaders, and the like, often have utility attachments coupled to them to perform certain tasks. For example, a power machine may be equipped with a bucket, a post-hole auger, a grader, a planer, or any one of a variety of other different types of attachments. One other particular type of attachment is a material pushing attachment. Such attachments can push material such as snow for the purpose of removing the material from a particular area. For example, a power machine equipped with a material pushing attachment can be used to clear a parking lot covered in snow after a snowfall. Other materials besides snow, of course, can be pushed by such an attachment to move it out of a particular area. 
     Attachments of this type typically have a blade or moldboard that engages the material to push it to a desired location. The moldboard typically has a concave surface to encourage material that might ride up onto the moldboard to roll forward in front of the attachment instead of over the top of the attachment. In addition, these types of attachments may have end plates attached to the moldboard to provide a defined width of material that is pushed by the attachment on one given pass over the area to be cleared by the power machine and to provide structural support for the moldboard. To prevent deformation or fatigue related damage to the moldboard, it is desirable to provide reinforcement for the moldboard. 
     SUMMARY 
     One illustrative embodiment is directed toward an attachment that is configured to be attached to a power machine. The attachment includes a blade having opposing first and second major surfaces and first and second edges. The attachment further includes first and second end plates. Each of the first and second end plates have opposing inner and outer surfaces fixedly attached to the first and second edges of the blade. The inner surfaces of the first and second end plates are positioned adjacent to and extend from the first major surface of the blade. The attachment also includes a support structure coupled to the blade and including a first support member fixedly attached to and extending from the second major surface of the blade and the outer surface of the first end plate. 
     Another illustrative is directed toward an attachment configured to push material. The attachment includes a moldboard having opposing first and second major surfaces and first and second ends. The attachment further includes a plate that is attached to the moldboard and extends distally from the moldboard. A coupling structure extends proximally from the second major surface of the moldboard. A bracket is fixedly coupled to the second major surface of the moldboard and a portion of the plate that is positioned distally from the first major surface of the moldboard. 
     Still another embodiment is directed toward a loader having a frame and lift arms pivotally mounted to the frame. The lift arms have an interface member pivotally coupled to the thereto and are configured to accept an attachment thereon. The attachment includes a horizontally extending member with first and second ends. An endplate is attached to the first end of the horizontally extending surface. The endplate has an inner surface adjacent the horizontally extending member and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A bracket is attached to the horizontally extending member and the outer surface of the end plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a power machine of the type suitable for use with an attachment of the typed discussed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a material pushing attachment having a moldboard with attached endplates and a reinforcement member attached to each shown along a first major surface the moldboard according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the attachment of  FIG. 2  viewed along a second major surface of the moldboard. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the attachment of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     The concepts presented herein will be further explained with reference to the attached figures, wherein like structure or system elements can be referred to by like reference numerals throughout the several views. 
     While the above-identified figures set forth one or more illustrative embodiments, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted herein. In all cases, concepts presented herein describe the embodiments by way of representation and not by limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of the discussion herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a power machine  10  of the type that is useful for employing an attachment of the current disclosure. Power machine  10  includes a frame  12  that is supported by wheels  14 . Power machine  10  has an engine (not shown), which supplies power to the wheels  14  causing the power machine to move under the control of an operator. Frame  12  supports a cab  16 , which defines an operating compartment. An operator can sit inside the cab  16  and control the power machine  10 . 
     Power machine  10  further includes a lift arm  18 , which is coupled to the frame  12  at pivot point  26 . Actuator  20  is coupled to the frame  12  at first pivot point  22  and the lift arm  18  at second pivot point  24 . In one illustrative embodiment, actuator  20  is a hydraulic cylinder. A single lift arm  18  is shown in  FIG. 1 , but it is to be understood that a similar lift arm and corresponding actuator may be positioned on the opposite side of the cab and similarly attached to the frame  12 . 
     By extending or retracting the actuator  20 , the lift arm  18  can be raised or lowered in the general direction shown by arrow  36 . The actual path of motion of the lift arm  18  may vary. For example, the path of motion can be a generally radial path as shown as by arrow  36 . Alternative lift arms and geometrical relationships between the lift arm actuator, and frame can result in other paths of motion for the lift arm. For example, the lift arm  18  can raise and lower in a generally vertical path. 
     Power machine  10  further includes an attachment interface  28 , which is rotatably coupled to the lift arm  18  about attachment point  30 . One or more tilt actuators (not shown) are coupled to the attachment interface  28  to cause the attachment interface to rotate about attachment point  30  in a direction shown by arrow  38 . Attachment interface  28  further includes an edge  34 , which is configured to engage a mount on an attachment. In addition, the attachment interface  28  includes one or more retractable pins  32  (shown in an extended position in  FIG. 1 ). The pins  32  can be extended or retracted so that when the mount of an attachment is engaged with the edge  34  the pins  32  can extend into apertures in the attachment to secure the attachment to the power machine  10 . Details of the attachment features that engage both the edge  34  and the pins  32  will be described in more detail below. 
     The power machine  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is a skid steer loader. However, it should be appreciated that the attachments discussed below are capable of interfacing with a number of different types of power machines. For example, the power machine  10  can be a mini excavator, wheeled or tracked loader, utility vehicle, all-wheel steer loader, or a walk behind loader, to name a few. 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate an attachment  100  configured to be attached to power machine  10  according to one illustrative embodiment. Attachment  100  includes a blade or moldboard  102  that extends transversely from a first end  104  to a second end  106  with respect to power machine  10  when attached thereto. Moldboard  102  has a generally concave first major surface  108  and an opposing generally convex second major surface  110 . Moldboard  102  is configured so that the first major surface  108  is positioned to engage material and push it. For example, attachment  100  can be used to push snow, debris, or any number of different types of material that is desirably repositioned. 
     A cutting edge  114  is positioned along and attached to a lateral edge  112  of the moldboard  102 . The cutting edge  114  is shown as being attached to the moldboard  102  with a plurality of fasteners  116 . Thus, the cutting edge  114  is replaceable with respect to the moldboard  102 . Alternatively, the cutting edge  114  can be permanently attached to the moldboard  102  such as by being welded along the lateral edge  112  of the moldboard  102 . Alternatively still, attachment  100  can have a moldboard  102  that does not have a cutting edge  114  attached to it. 
     Attachment  100  further includes a pair of end plates  118 . The end plates  118  are attached to the first end  104  and the second end  106  of the moldboard  102  at a proximal end  120  of each of the respective end plates  118 . Thus, the end plates  118  extend distally from the first major surface  108  of the moldboard  102  toward a distal end  122  of the end plates  118 . Each of the end plates  118  has an inner surface  124  that is positioned to be facing the moldboard  102  when the end plates  118  are attached to the moldboard  102 . In addition, each end plate  118  has an outer surface  126  that opposes the inner surface  124 . 
     A pair of skid plates  130  are attached to each of the end plates  118 . Each of the skid plates  130  has a base  132  that is positioned generally in a normal attitude with respect to the end plates  118 . The base  132  provides an engagement surface for the attachment  100 . Thus, for example, as attachment  100  is moved by power machine  10  over a terrain, the skid plate  130  is configured to engage the terrain when the attachment is in a lowered position. Skid plates  130  are, in one illustrative embodiment, fastened to the end plates  118  with a plurality of fasteners  128 . Thus, the skid plates  130  can be removable. This allows a user to replace the skid plates  130  when they become worn and thereby prevent other portions of the attachment  100  from wearing because of engagement with any surface that the attachment  100  may contact. 
     Attachment  100  includes a support structure  136 . Support structure  136  is coupled to the moldboard  102 . In the illustrative embodiment, the support structure  136  includes a base  138 , which is attached to the moldboard  102  and projects proximally from the moldboard  102 . A pair of vertical support members  140  extend vertically from the base  138  and are similarly attached to the second major surface  110  of moldboard  102 . The support structure  136  also includes a cross member  142 , which extends along a substantial, if not the entire, transverse length of the second major surface  110  of the moldboard  102 . The cross member  142  is attached to the moldboard  102 , such as by welding, and is also attached to the vertical support members  140 . In addition, the cross member  142  is attached to each of the end plates  118 . 
     The base  138  of support structure  136  has a pivot mount  144 . The pivot mount  144  provides a pivotable attachment point between an interface mount  174  and the support structure  136 . Mount  174  is configured to be attached to power machine  10  at the attachment interface  28  shown in  FIG. 1 . Interface mount  174  has a major surface  176 , which is configured to be positioned against the attachment interface  28  on the power machine  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In addition, the interface mount  174  includes a lip  178  and apertures  180 . The lip  178  is configured to engage the edge  34  of the attachment interface  28 . When the edge  34  and the lip  178  are engaged, and the major surface  176  of the interface mount  174  is positioned adjacent the attachment interface  28  so that the pins  32  are aligned with the apertures  180 , pins  32  can be extended into the apertures  180  to securely hold the attachment  100 . An actuator  168  is positioned between and attached to a moldboard attachment point  170  and a mount attachment point  172 . When the actuator  168  is actuated, the support structure  136  pivots with respect to the mount  174 . 
     Support structure  136  also includes a first reinforcement member  150  and a second reinforcement member  152 . The first reinforcement member  150  extends along a portion of the second major surface  110  of the moldboard  102 . In addition, the first reinforcement member  150  extends along, and is attached to, a portion of the outer surface  126  of the end plate  118  and the first end  104  of moldboard  102 . Similarly, the second reinforcement member  152  extends along a portion of the second major surface  110  of the moldboard  102 . The second reinforcement member  152  also extends along, and is attached to, the outer surface  126  of the end plate  118  and the second end  106  of moldboard  102 . 
     Each of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  is fixedly attached or secured to the moldboard  102  and its respective end plate  118 . In addition, a portion of each of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  extends through each of the end plates  118  and a moldboard  102 . For example, slots (not shown) may be formed in each of the end plate  118  and moldboard  102  to allow the members  150  and  152  to extend through them. The portion  154  of each of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  that extends through the moldboard  102  and end plates  118  is attached to the moldboard  102  and its respective end plate  118  along the first major surface of  108  of a moldboard  102  and the inner surface  124  of the end plate  118 . This attachment can be accomplished such as by a weld at an edge  164 . Alternatively, the members  150  and  152  can be positioned so that they do not extend through either of the end plates  118  or the moldboard  102 . In that case, the members  150  and  152  would engage, and be attached to, only the outer surface  126  of one of the end plates  118  and the second major surface  110  of the moldboard  102 . 
     In one illustrative embodiment, each of the first reinforcement member  150  and the second reinforcement member  152  has a first portion  160  and a second portion  162 . The first portion  160  and the second portion  162  are shown as being integrally joined together to provide a single, unitary piece of material, although alternatively the first and second portions can be two separate pieces of material that are attached to each other. 
     The first portion  160  is a generally flat piece of material, which extends along the second major surface  110  of the moldboard  102  and is attached to the moldboard along an edge of the flat surface. The first portion  160  of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  includes, in one embodiment, the portion  154  that extends from the inner surface  124  of the end plate  118  and the first major surface  108  of the moldboard  102 . The second portion  162  of each of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  extends distally from the first portion  160  and can depart from the planarity of the first portion  160  at any angle. The second portion  162  is likewise attached to the outer surface  126  of the respective end plates  118  along an edge of the second portion, thereby creating a pair of legs  164  and  166 , attached to the end plate  118 , that are non-planar with respect to each other. 
     The first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  extend transversely that, is, in a lateral direction, away from the outer surfaces  126  of their respective end plates  118 . However, in one illustrative embodiment, the lateral extension of each of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  is limited so that it is within the lateral extension of the skid plates  130 . Thus, the attachment can be maneuvered into areas unencumbered by the lateral extension of the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152 . It should be appreciated that although the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  are shown as a unitary piece of material, alternatively they can be made of two or more pieces of material that are attached together. Alternatively still, the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  can be made of a single unitary piece of material. Alternatively still, the first and second reinforcement members  150  and  152  can include at least the first and second portions  160  and  162  that are not attached to each other. 
     The embodiments described herein provide several advantages. The support structure reduces the possibility of a structural failure of the attachment. In addition, the attachment has a generally smooth first major surface of the moldboard. This encourages material being pushed by the attachment to roll forward without significant obstruction as opposed to potentially sticking on the attachment. Further, the lateral extension of the reinforcing members are contained within the lateral extension of the skid plates, thereby allowing the attachment to maneuver in tight areas without being limited by the reinforcing members. 
     Although the discussion has been focused upon illustrative embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the discussion.