US-20260125872-A1 - LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH

US20260125872A1US 20260125872 A1US20260125872 A1US 20260125872A1US-20260125872-A1

Abstract

A compact utility loader compact utility loader comprising a frame, a first track and a second track positioned on either side of the frame, and a pair of loader arms. The loader arms are configured to couple with an attachment via a hitch plate and a hitch pin. The compact utility loader is configured such that as the loader arms are raised and lowered, the hitch pin follows a path approximately defined by a curve ƒ(x)=4.641e 0.34x . The value “x” represents a horizontal direction and the function ƒ(x) represents a vertical direction.

Inventors

Jason Carlson
John M. Relph
Matthew Shobe
Jeff Welsh

Assignees

GREAT PLAINS MANUFACTURING, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230

Claims (20)

1 . A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising: a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a pair of control links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of rear links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each associated with one of the loader arms and configured to shift the loader arms between the lowered and raised positions; and a cover panel on each side of the CUL that covers a lower portion of one of the rear links and a lower portion of one of hydraulic cylinders, so as to cover connections between the rear link and the hydraulic cylinder to the frame; a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position; and a control interface including a graphic display configured to present operational information to a user; wherein the graphic display is configured to present a login screen prompting the user for a passcode; and the engine is prevented from being started until a valid passcode is entered via the control interface.
2 . The CUL of claim 1 , wherein the passcode is entered via a plurality of user input buttons arranged adjacently to each other and below the graphic display.
3 . The CUL of claim 1 , wherein the graphic display is configured to display a temperature gauge that presents information indicative of a temperature of the engine and a fuel gauge that presents information indicative of a fuel level of the CUL.
4 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising a keyless start mechanism configured to start the engine without requiring a physical key.
5 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of user input buttons associated with the graphic display; wherein the graphic display is configured to present a plurality of menu screens; and the plurality of user input buttons are configured to permit the operator to control operation of the CUL and perform various administrative functions for the CUL and display various CUL-related information.
6 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising: a pair of drive sprockets positioned on each side of the frame; wherein a pivot pin connection rotatably securing one of the control links to the frame is located above the tracks and is positioned closer to the drive sprockets than to a front end of the tracks.
7 . The CUL of claim 1 , wherein a pin connection coupled between one of the hydraulic cylinders and the frame and/or the cover panel is located rearward of a rear end of the tracks.
8 . The CUL of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of hydraulic cylinders includes a barrel and a rod, and the barrel is attached to the frame between the frame and the rod; and the cover panel covers at least a lower portion of the barrel that is more than half of a length of the barrel.
9 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising: a hydraulic pump that provides hydraulic fluid to flow to one of the various attachments; and a hydraulic line connected to the hydraulic pump and configured to be connected to one of the various attachments and extend along one of the pairs of loader arms; wherein a lower portion of the hydraulic line extending from the frame to along a rear portion of at least one of the pair of loader arms is covered by the cover panel.
10 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising: a pair of drive sprockets positioned on each side of the frame; wherein a pivot pin connection rotatably securing one of the control links to the frame is located above the tracks and is positioned closer to the drive sprockets than to a front end of the tracks; and a pin connection coupled between one of the hydraulic cylinders and the frame and/or the cover panel is located rearward of a rear end of the tracks. a platform support provided between the platform and the frame; wherein the platform support is arranged to absorb a downward force from a shift in the operator's weight caused by bouncing or shaking of the CUL.
11 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising: a pair of drive sprockets, each attached to one of the drive motors, wherein each of the drive sprockets comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially outward and configured to engage and drive one track from the pair of tracks; wherein each of the drive sprockets includes (i) a circular base with a plurality of teeth extending radially outward therefrom and configured to be engaged with the one track from the pair of tracks, and (ii) a hub positioned radially inward from the base and configured to be coupled with one of the drive motors, wherein the hub is positioned laterally outward with respect to the base.
12 . The CUL of claim 1 , further comprising: an engine; and a fuel tank located forward of the engine.
13 . A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising: a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a pair of control links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of rear links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each associated with one of the loader arms and configured to shift the loader arms between the lowered and raised positions; a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position; a cover panel on each side of the CUL that covers a lower portion of one of the rear links and a lower portion of one of hydraulic cylinders, so as to cover connections between the rear link and the hydraulic cylinder to the frame; and a pair of drive sprockets positioned on each side of the frame; wherein a pivot pin connection rotatably securing one of the control links to the frame is located above the tracks and is positioned closer to the drive sprockets than to a front end of the tracks.
14 . The CUL of claim 13 , further comprising: a pin connection coupled between one of the hydraulic cylinders and the frame and/or the cover panel is located rearward of a rear end of the tracks.
15 . The CUL of claim 13 , wherein each of the pair of hydraulic cylinders includes a barrel and a rod, and the barrel is attached to the frame between the frame and the rod; and the cover panel covers at least a lower portion of the barrel that is more than half of a length of the barrel.
16 . The CUL of claim 13 , further comprising: a hydraulic pump that provides hydraulic fluid to flow to one of the various attachments; and a hydraulic line connected to the hydraulic pump and configured to be connected to one of the various attachments and extend along one of the pairs of loader arms; wherein a lower portion of the hydraulic line extending from the frame to along a rear portion of at least one of the pair of loader arms is covered by the cover panel.
17 . The CUL of claim 13 , further comprising: a pair of drive sprockets, each attached to one of the drive motors, wherein each of the drive sprockets comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially outward and configured to engage and drive one track from the pair of tracks; wherein each of the drive sprockets includes (i) a circular base with a plurality of teeth extending radially outward therefrom and configured to be engaged with the one track from the pair of tracks, and (ii) a hub positioned radially inward from the base and configured to be coupled with one of the drive motors, wherein the hub is positioned laterally outward with respect to the base.
18 . The CUL of claim 13 , further comprising: an engine; and a fuel tank located forward of the engine.
19 . A compact utility loader (CUL) configured for connection to and operation of a variety of attachments, the CUL comprising: a frame; a platform coupled to the frame near a bottom rear of the frame and configured to support a standing user of the CUL; a pair of tracks positioned on opposite sides of the frame; a pair of loader arms coupled to opposite sides of the frame and shiftable relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position; a pair of control links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of rear links associated with each loader arm and coupling the loader arms to opposite sides of the frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinders each associated with one of the loader arms and configured to shift the loader arms between the lowered and raised positions; a pair of pivot pins associated with the loader arms and configured to couple attachments to the loader arms, wherein the pivot pins follow a curved travel path from a base position to a maximum height position when the loader arms are shifted from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the maximum height position is horizontally forward of the base position; and a cover panel on each side of the CUL that covers a lower portion of one of the rear links and a lower portion of one of hydraulic cylinders, so as to cover connections between the rear link and the hydraulic cylinder to the frame; wherein a pin connection coupled between one of the hydraulic cylinders and the frame and/or the cover panel is located rearward of a rear end of the tracks.
20 . The CUL of claim 19 , wherein each of the pair of hydraulic cylinders includes a barrel and a rod, and the barrel is attached to the frame between the frame and the rod; and the cover panel covers at least a lower portion of the barrel that is more than half of a length of the barrel.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/983,956, filed on Dec. 17, 2024, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/885,152, filed on Sep. 13, 2024, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/758,401, filed on Jun. 28, 2024, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/732,219, filed on Jun. 3, 2024, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/425,616, filed on Jan. 29, 2024, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/487,858, filed on Oct. 16, 2023, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/942,441, filed on Jul. 29, 2020, and entitled “LOADER WITH IMPROVED ARM PATH”, which claims priority benefit to prior-filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/879,796, filed on Jul. 29, 2019, and entitled “COMPACT UTILITY LOADER”; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/984,476, filed on Mar. 3, 2020, and entitled “COMPACT UTILITY LOADER.” The entirety of all of the above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present continuation patent application. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to utility loaders. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to compact utility loaders that can carry and operate a wide range of attachments while maintaining a reduced operating footprint. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many utility loaders on the market today. Such utility loaders are generally used as hydraulic tool carriers configured to operate a variety of hydraulically-driven tools or attachments. Common attachments include augers, trenchers, grapples, etc. Other non-hydraulic attachments may also be carried by utility loaders, such as buckets, rakes, etc. Unfortunately, currently-available utility loaders are commonly manufactured in large sizes (e.g., having large widths and lengths), which can make the loaders difficult to maneuver and operate. There are some versions of compact utility loaders that are formed with reduced widths and/or lengths; however, such compact utility loaders are generally manufactured with narrow tracks, which reduces maneuverability and can be problematic for load distribution onto the ground. For instance, the use of narrow tracks on utility loaders can cause ruts to be formed in soft ground. As such, there is a need for a compact utility loader having a small, reduced width but that includes large, oversized tracks, so as to provide for improved maneuverability and load distribution. It would also be beneficial to provide compact utility loaders that include improved loader arm configurations and enhanced operator functionalities to improve the operational capabilities of the loader. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a compact utility loader comprising a frame including a lower portion and an upper portion. A width of the lower portion is smaller than a width of the upper portion. The compact utility loader additionally comprises a first track and a second track, with each track being positioned on a side of the frame. Each of the tracks has a width of at least “7.5” inches, and the compact utility loader has an overall width of no more than “36” inches. Additional embodiments of the present invention include a compact utility loader comprising a frame, an engine, a pair of loader arms, and an attachment secured to ends of the loader arms. The compact utility loader additionally includes a first track or wheel and a second track or wheel positioned on either side of the frame. The compact utility loader additionally comprises a control interface including a graphic display configured to present operational information to an operator. The graphic display is configured to present a login screen prompting the operator for a passcode. The engine is prevented from being started until a valid passcode is entered via the control interface. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention include a compact utility loader comprising a frame, a first track and a second track positioned on either side of the frame, and a pair of loader arms. The loader arms are configured to couple with an attachment via a hitch plate and a hitch pin. The compact utility loader is configured such that as the loader arms are raised and lowered, the hitch pin follows a path approximately defined by a curve ƒ(x)=4.641e0.34x. The value “x” represents a horizontal direction and the function ƒ(x) represents a vertical directio