Attachments for construction, landscaping, and farming machines are common. The attachments come in many forms and allow a single power machine to perform different tasks by changing the attachment connected to it. Example machines that are designed to have removable attachments connected thereto include loaders of various forms such as a skid steer, tracked loader, and tractor mounted loaders. These machines include a coupling mechanism that allows different attachments to be connected and disconnected from the machine. In turn, different attachments include their own coupling mechanism designed to mate with the machine's coupling mechanism so that the attachment can be connected to and disconnected from the machine. Different attachments are designed to perform different tasks for the machine enabling a single machine to perform different tasks by switching which attachment is connected to it.
Many different types of attachments exist including buckets, grapples, earth augers, backhoes, hydraulic powered brooms, grading blades, fertilizer spreaders, hydraulic breakers, landscape seeders, log splitters, mowers, mulchers, packers, pallet forks, asphalt planers, post drivers, rakes, rotary tillers, shears, skid plates, soil conditioners, snow blowers, snow plows, snow pushers, stump grinders, sweepers, teeth bars, tree pullers, tree spades, and trenchers.
Attachments can be powered or unpowered. Powered attachments include one or more components that can move via power provided from the machine to the attachment. Example powered attachments include a brush—in which a cylindrical brush rotates with power from the machine, a grapple—in which a top and/or bottom fingers move to close and open the grapple with power from the machine, and a mower—in which one or more blades rotate with power from the machine. The power from the machine is typically provided via hydraulic pressure. That is, hydraulic hoses are connected between the attachment and the machine and a hydraulic pump on the machine provides force to move the components of the powered attachment via hydraulic fluid flowing therebetween. Unpowered attachments are attachments without any component that moves via power from the machine. Example unpowered attachments can include a bucket, forks, and a bale spear.
The coupling mechanism to couple an attachment to a machine can be designed to enable efficient, yet secure, connection and disconnection of an attachment to the machine. One type of coupling mechanism includes a mounting plate disposed on a pair of hydraulically movable arms of the machine. The mounting plate is a flat surface that provides a rigid contact area for a mating plate of the attachment to bear against during connection with the machine. Thus, the attachment has its own mounting plate (also referred to herein as a “mating plate”) which is another flat rigid surface configured to bear against the mounting plate of the machine during connection therewith. The mating plate on the attachment can also define one or more flanges proximate a top of the mating plate. The flanges can be configured to hook onto the top edge of the mounting plate and enable the arms of the machine to pick up the attachment by engaging the top edge of the mounting plate with the flange and bringing the flat surface of the mating plate into contact with the flat surface of the mounting plate. These coupling mechanisms typically include one or more pins on the mounting plate that extend through corresponding apertures defined near the mating plate to secure the attachment to the machine.
Embodiments for a belt-driven attachment system are provided. The attachment system includes a mobile power unit includes a plurality of wheels or tracks, a drive pulley, and a power source coupled to the plurality of wheels or tracks to provide motive power for the mobile power unit. The power source is coupled to the drive pulley to rotate the drive pulley. The attachment system also includes a power unit interface and an attachment for the mobile power unit. The attachment includes an attachment interface configured to removably secure the attachment to the mobile power unit by fastening to the power unit interface of the mobile power unit. The attachment also includes at least one driven pulley defining at least one groove for a belt and a first belt guide opposing a portion of the at least one groove of the at least one driven pulley. The first belt guide is configured to maintain the belt aligned with the at least one groove of the at least one driven pulley when tension on the belt is released. The attachment also includes an idler pulley defining at least one groove for the belt, a tensioner coupled to the idler pulley to provide tension on the belt, and an idler position assembly coupled to the idler pulley. The idler position assembly provides a first position setting for the idler pulley in which tension on the belt is maintained and a second position setting for the idler pulley in which tension on the belt is released. The attachment also includes a second belt guide opposing a portion of the at least one groove of the idler pulley, the second belt guide configured to maintain the belt aligned with the at least one groove of the idler pulley when tension on the belt is released.
Embodiments for an attachment for a mobile power unit are also provided. The attachment includes an interface configured to removably attach to the mobile power unit, at least one driven pulley defining at least one groove for a belt, and a first belt guide opposing the at least one groove of the at least one driven pulley to maintain the belt aligned with the at least one groove of the at least one driven pulley when operating tension on the belt is released. The attachment also includes an idler pulley defining at least one groove for the belt, a tensioner coupled to the idler pulley, and an idler position assembly coupled to the idler pulley. The idler position assembly is configured to move the idler pulley between a first position and a second position, the first position maintaining operating tension on the belt and the second position having operating tension released. The attachment also includes a second belt guide opposing the at least one groove of the idler pulley to maintain the belt aligned with the idler pulley when operating tension on the belt is released.
Embodiments for a walk-behind power unit are also provided. The walk-behind power unit includes a frame, a single axle for a plurality of wheels mounted on the frame, and an operator interface at a rear of the walk-behind power unit. The operator interface includes a plurality of handle bars rigidly coupled to the frame for non-assisted maneuvering of the power unit by an operator walking behind. The power unit also includes a drive pulley mounted on the frame for providing belt-driven power to a powered attachment and a power source mounted on the frame. The power source is coupled to the plurality of wheels to provide motive power for the power unit. The power source is also coupled to the drive pulley to rotate the drive pulley. The power unit also includes a mounting plate at a front of the walk-behind power unit. The mounting plate is configured to have the powered attachment removably mounted thereto, the mounting plate defining a vertically oriented contact surface for contacting a corresponding surface of the powered attachment and an edge for engaging a flange of the powered attachment.
Understanding that the drawings depict only exemplary embodiments and are not therefore to be considered limiting in scope, the exemplary embodiments will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
The example mobile power unit 102 shown in
In other examples, the mobile power unit 102 can have other forms, such as providing a seat or platform for the operator to sit or stand on and can include or exclude a corresponding cage or cab for the operator. The mobile power unit 102 can have any suitable size and horsepower.
The mobile power unit 102 also includes a power unit interface 108. The power unit interface 108 is a physical structure to which an attachment 110 is physically connected and disconnected, allowing the attachment 110 to be removably connected to the mobile power unit 102.
In an example, the power unit interface 108 is disposed at a front 111 of the power unit 102. The front 111 of the power unit 102 is the end facing the same direction as the primary direction of travel for the power unit 102. The rear 107 is the end reverse of the front 111. The power unit 102 can also be disposed such that the attachment 110 while attached to the power unit 102 is disposed in front of the operator while the operator is operating the power unit 102. Thus, the operator can easily view the attachment 110 connected to the power unit 102 during operation.
To easily and securely connect to the mobile power unit 102, each attachment 110 for the mobile power unit 102 includes an attachment interface 112 for removable connection with the power unit interface 108 of the mobile power unit 102. The attachment interface 112 is a physical structure with a configuration that corresponds to the power unit interface 108 such that the attachment interface 112 can connect with and be physically secured to the power unit interface 108. In an example, the power unit interface 108 can be pivoted about a vertical access into multiple different horizontal angle positions relative to the power unit 102 to change the angle of the attachment 110 while the attachment 110 is connected to the power unit 102. In an alternative example, the power unit interface 108 is non-pivotable with respect to the power unit 102.
The example attachment 110 is a powered attachment (mower) which is driven by one or more belts 113 from the power unit 102. That is, the belt(s) 113 are coupled between the power unit 102 and the attachment 110 to transfer power from the power source 104 of the power unit 102 to the drive component(s) (e.g., blade(s)) of the attachment 110. The attachment 110 and power unit 102 include suitable pulleys to enable the power transfer from the power unit 102 to the attachment 110 via the belt(s) 113. The belt(s) 113 can be disconnected from the power unit 102 and remain with the attachment 110 during disconnection of the attachment 110 from the power unit 102 (as shown in
In an example, the attachment 110 includes one or more safety guards 114 covering one or more of the pulleys on the attachment 110 and/or portions of the belt(s) 113. The safety guards 114 can protect items and individuals from inadvertent contact with the fast-moving pulleys and belt(s) 113 during operation. In the example shown in
The mating plate 304 and mounting plate 302 also include structures to hold their two contact surfaces 306, 308 together. These structures can include a flange 312 defined on the mating plate 304 that hooks onto an edge 310 defined in the mounting plate 302. The flange 312 is a structure that projects from and generally normal to the contact surface 308 of the mating plate 304. The corresponding edge 310 defined in the mounting plate 302 can be a surface that faces generally perpendicular to or angled downward away from the contact surface 306 of the mounting plate 302. In an example, the flange 312 is disposed proximate a top of the contact surface 308 of the mating plate 304 and is configured to hook onto the edge 310, which is disposed proximate a top of the contact surface 306 of the mounting plate 302. The flange 312 can be rounded downward as it extends from the contact surface 308 or include a structure that angles downward at its outward edge to enable the flange 312 to hook onto the edge 310 defined by the mounting plate 302.
To connect the mating plate 304 to the mounting plate 302, the contact surface 306 of the mounting plate 302 can be positioned facing and aligned with the contact surface 308 of the mating plate 304, with the edge 310 defined in the mounting plate 302 lower than the flange 312 of the mating plate 304. The top portion of the contact surface 306 of the mounting plate 302 can then be brought into contact with the contact surface 308 of the mating plate 304. Then the mounting plate 302 can be slid up to engage the edge 310 defined in the mounting plate 302 with the flange 312 of the mating plate 304. Once the flange 312 is hooked onto the edge 312 of the mounting plate 302, the mounting plate 302 can be raised to bring the contact surfaces 306, 308 of the mounting plate 302 and the mating plate 304 into full contact.
In an example, the mounting plate 302 is disposed such that the contact surface 306 is oriented generally vertical during normal operation of the power unit 102. The contact surface 306 can also be oriented generally normal to the forward direction of travel for the power unit 102. In examples where the mounting plate 302 pivots about a vertical access to change the angle of the attachment 110 relative to the power unit 102, the mounting plate 302 can include a position setting in which the contact surface 306 is generally normal to the forward direction of travel.
The mating plate 304 is disposed such that its contact surface 308 is also oriented generally vertical while the attachment 110 is resting, disconnected, on the ground, such that the edge 310 of the mounting plate 302 can be engaged with the flange 312 of the mating plate 304 and the contact surfaces 306, 308 can be brought into contact by moving the power unit 102 towards the resting attachment 110. In an example, the contact surfaces 306, 308 are oriented sufficiently vertical such that the top edge (310) of the mounting plate 302 can engage the flange 312 sufficiently to lift at least a portion of the attachment 110 as the mounting plate 302 is raised.
In the example shown in
The mating plate 304 on the attachment 110 can include angled side flanges 316 that correspond to the angled side edges 314 of the mounting plate 302. The angled side flanges 316 are structures that extend generally perpendicular to and proximate opposite sides of the contact surface of the mating plate 304. The angled side flanges 316 are disposed at an angle to vertical, such that as they progress upwards (towards a top of the mating plate 304) they are closer together. The angled side flanges 316 are spaced apart from one another a distance that corresponds to (e.g., is slightly larger than) the distance between the angled side edges 314 of the mounting plate 302. The angled side flanges 316 can also be disposed at a common angle with the angled side edges 314. Similar to the mounting plate 302, the contact surface 308 can take the shape of a trapezoid, wherein the top lateral dimension of the trapezoid is smaller than the bottom lateral dimension. In use, the angled side edges 314 and angled side flanges 316 work together to align the contact surfaces 306, 308 of the mating plate 304 and the mounting plate 302 during connection. As the mounting plate 302 is raised prior to engagement of the edge 310 with the flange 312, the angled side edges 314 can contact the angled side flanges 316 to adjust the relative lateral position of the mounting plate 302 and the mating plate 304 such that they are better in alignment.
In an example the mounting plate 302 can include one or more movable pins 318 that are configured to extend into one or more corresponding apertures 320 defined in a mating plate 304. The pin(s) 318 and aperture(s) 320 are used to secure the mating plate 304 to the mounting plate 302, so that the attachment 110 cannot easily disconnect unintendedly. In use, bringing the contact surfaces 306, 308 of the mounting plate 302 and mating plate 304 are into contact during connection, with the flange 312 engaged with the edge 310, will also bring the pin(s) 318 into alignment with the aperture(s) 320 of the mating plate 304. Then, the pin(s) 318 can be extend into the aperture(s) 320 to secure the mating plate 304 to the mounting plate 302. The pin(s) 318 can extend (move) in a direction generally parallel with the contact surfaces 306, 308. While the pin(s) 318 is/are engaged in the aperture(s) 320, the pin(s) 318 can restrict movement of the mating plate 304 away from the mounting plate 302 thereby securing the two together during use.
To disconnect the attachment 110, the pin(s) 318 (if present) can be retracted, withdrawing them from their corresponding aperture 320. The mounting plate 302 can then be lowered with the attachment 110 resting on the ground until the edge 310 of the mounting plate 302 disengages from the flange 312 of the mating plate 304. The power unit 102 can then be moved backward, away from the attachment 110. The power unit 102 is now disconnected from the attachment 110 and can be moved independently of the attachment 110.
In other examples, other power unit interfaces 108 and mating attachment interfaces 112 can be used including a quick coupler—commonly used for excavator buckets, a bolt-on style coupler, or another connection mechanism currently existing or to-be-developed.
The handle 504 can cause the pin(s) 318 to move between extended and retracted positions in any appropriate manner including by hydraulic force, electric signal and actuator, cable, or mechanical linkage. In the example shown in
The attachment 110 includes one or more driven pulleys 604. The driven pulley(s) 604 can be disposed on the attachment 110 in any suitable manner such that the belt(s) 113 that engage the drive pulley 602 also engage the driven pulley(s) 604. The driven pulley(s) 604 can be coupled to a driven component of the attachment 110, such as a mower blade, powered brush, snow blower auger, or tiller blades, such that rotating the driven pulley(s) 604 also rotates the coupled driven component. The driven pulley(s) 604 can define one or more grooves for engaging the one or more belts 113.
The attachment 110 can also include one or more idler pulleys 606. The one or more idler pulleys 606 can each define at least one groove for the belt(s) 113. As is common for idler pulleys, the groove(s) in the idler pulley(s) 606 can have a different cross-section than the groove(s) in the drive and driven pulleys 602, 604. For example, the grooves in the drive and driven pulleys 602, 604 can have a cross-section that matches the cross-section of the belt(s) 113, enabling the belt(s) 113 to grip the drive and driven pulleys 602, 604 sufficiently to transfer power therebetween. Since the idler pulley(s) 606 only guide the position of the belt(s) 113, no power transfer is needed, so the groove(s) in the idler pulley(s) 606 can be much shallower and broader than the grooves in the drive and driven pulleys 602, 604. In an example, the groove in the idler pulley 606 can be composed of a flat bottom with small flanges on either side to maintain the belt(s) 113 therebetween. In an example, the groove in the idler pulley 606 is configured to contact the flat (wider) back side of the V-type belt(s).
At least a first of the idler pulleys 606 can have a tensioner 607 coupled thereto to provide tension to the belt(s) 113 engaged between a driven pulley(s) 604 and the drive pulley 602. Any suitable tensioner can be used including a spring. The attachment 110 can also include an idler position assembly 608 coupled to the first idler pulley 606. The idler position assembly 608 is a mechanical structure coupled to the first idler pulley 606 that enables the first idler pulley 606 to be set into two different positions. A first (engaged) position is where the first idler pulley 606 is fully engaged with the belt(s) 113 such that the tensioner 607 is providing tension to the belt(s) 113 via the first idler pulley 606. The engaged position enables the belt(s) 113 to remain engaged with the drive and driven pulleys 602, 604 while looping at full operational speed. A second (disengaged) position is where the first idler pulley 606 is retracted from its fully engaged position such that the tension on the belt 113 is released allowing the belt 113 to be removed from the drive pulley 602. The disengaged position is not suitable for looping at full operational speed due to the lack of sufficient tension on the belt(s) 113.
The idler position assembly 608 can include a handle 609 by which an operator can move the handle 609 to move the first idler pulley 606 between the engaged and disengaged positions. In an example, the idler position assembly 608 includes a mechanism (e.g., detent, latch) to hold the first idler pulley 606 in the disengaged position, such that the first idler pulley 606 will remain in the second position while an operator has removed their hand(s) from the handle. In an alternative example, the idler position assembly 608 can spring back to the engaged position automatically if an operator removes their hand(s) from the handle while the first idler pulley 606 is in the disengaged position. In either case, the idler position assembly 608 is configured such that once the idler pulley 606 is placed in the engage position, the idler pulley 606 remains in the engaged position without operator assistance for operation of the powered component of the attachment 110, until an operator moves the handle 609 to move the idler pulley 606 out of the engaged position and into the disengaged position.
The idler position assembly 608 can be used by the operator to easily install and remove the belt(s) 113 from the drive pulley 602 during connection and disconnection of the attachment 110 to/from the power unit 102. For example, after connection of the attachment interface 112 of the attachment 110 to the power unit interface 108 of the power unit 102, the operator can install the belt(s) 113 onto the drive pulley 602 for powering of the attachment 110. To do so, the operator can move the handle of the idler position assembly 608 to move the idler pulley 606 to the disengaged position, thereby releasing the tension on the belt(s) 113. With the tension released, the belt(s) 113 can more easily be placed on the drive pulley 606 and engaged into the groove(s) of the drive pulley 602. Once the belt(s) 113 are engaged with the drive pulley 602, the operator can move the handle of the idler position assembly 608 to place the idler pulley into the engaged position. With the idler pulley 602 in the engaged position, the powered component(s) of the attachment 110 can be operated.
The attachment 110 can also include a first belt guide 610 to maintain the belt(s) 113 aligned with their corresponding groove in the driven pulley 604 while tension on the belt(s) 113 is released. The first belt guide 610 is a structure disposed in an opposing relationship to the one or more grooves of the driven pulley 604. In particular, the first belt guide 610 is disposed close enough to the one or more grooves of the driven pulley 604 that the belt(s) 113 will not fall out from alignment with their respective groove while tension is released on the belt(s) 113. Notably, the first belt guide 610 can, but does not need to maintain the belt(s) 113 fully engaged into their groove while tension is released, only aligned with their groove such that when tension is applied to the belt(s) 113, the tension pulls the belt(s) 113 back into engagement with its groove. In an example, the first belt guide 610 can be a member that is integral with and extends (e.g., downward) from the safety guard 114.
Referring back to
The attachment 110 can also include a second belt guide 612 to maintain the belt(s) 113 aligned with their corresponding groove in the first idler pulley 606 while tension on the belt(s) 113 is released. Similar to the first belt guide 610, the second belt guide 612 is a structure disposed in an opposing relationship to the one or more grooves of the first idler pulley 606. The second belt guide 612 is disposed close enough to the one or more grooves of the idler pulley 606 that the belt(s) 113 will not fall out of alignment with its respective groove while tension is released. Similar to the first belt guide 610, the second belt guide 612 can, but does not need to maintain the belt(s) 113 fully engaged into their groove in the idler pulley 606 while tension is released, only aligned with the groove such that when tension is applied to the belt(s) 113, the tension pulls the belt(s)113 back into engagement with its groove. The second belt guide 612 can be disposed around all or a portion of the portion of the idler pulley 606 contacted by the belt(s) 113. The second belt guide 612 can be composed of a single component (e.g., post or elongated surface) of desired length or can be composed of multiple spaced apart components, each opposed to a respective portion of the idler pulley 606. In any case, the second belt guide 612 is disposed opposite enough of the idler pulley 606 to keep the belt(s) 113 aligned with their groove.
In an example, the second belt guide 612 is disposed to maintain the belt(s) 113 aligned with the first idler pulley 606, which applies tension to the belt(s) 113 with the tensioner 607. In such an example, the second belt guide 612 can be integrated with the physical support structure for the first idler pulley 606, such that the second belt guide 612 moves with the first idler pulley 606 when the first idler pulleys 606 moves between the engaged and the disengaged positions. By moving with the first idler pulley 606, the second belt guide 612 can maintain its opposing position and distance from the first idler pulley 606 to ensure the belt(s) 113 stay aligned with their groove of the idler pulley 606 while the first idler pulley 606 moves between the engaged and disengaged position and while the first idler pulley 606 is in the disengaged position. In the example shown in
The first and second belt guides 610, 612 keep the belt(s) 113 aligned with their respective pulleys 604, 606 while tension is released on the belt(s) 113. This allows an operator to quickly re-connect to an attachment 110. For example, after an attachment 110 is used, the operator will remove the belt(s) 113 for that attachment 110 from the drive pulley 602 of the power unit 102 and disconnect the attachment 110 from the power unit interface 108. During and after this disconnection process, the first and second belt guides 610, 612 will keep the belt(s) 113 aligned with the driven pulley 604 and the idler pulley 606. Thus, when the operator is reconnecting the attachment 110 to the power unit 102 for its next use, the belt(s) 113 will already be aligned with the driven pulley 604 and the idler pulley 606. The operator, therefore, does not need to place the belt(s) 113 onto the driven pulley 604 or the idler pulley 606. The operator simply connects the attachment 110 to the power unit interface 108, places the belt(s) 113 onto the drive pulley 602, and moves the first idler pulley 606 in the engaged position. This can decrease the time required for connecting to the attachment 110 and improve the operator satisfaction. Additionally, by holding the belt(s) 113 onto its pulleys 604, 606 of the attachment 110, the belt(s) 113 is less likely to be lost during periods of disconnection (e.g., transport) of the attachment. This can save the operator time by eliminating the requirement to locate and/or otherwise obtain a belt(s) 113 to power the attachment 110. Additionally, by not having to place the belt(s) 113 on the driven pulley 604 and the first idler pulley 606, the operator can hook-up the belt(s) 113 without having to remove a safety guard 114 for the pulleys 604, 606 or belt 113. This also increases safety by lessening the temptation to take the safety guard 114 off permanently to avoid having to remove and replace it each time the attachment 110 is connected/disconnected. In an example, the attachment 110 and its guards and pulley arrangement are configured such that the portion of the belt(s) 113 that would attach to the drive pulley 602 are accessible outside of the guard(s) 114 when the attachment 110 is disconnected. This enables the operator to connect the belt(s) 113 to the drive pulley 604 without having the locate it under the guard(s) 114.
Although only a single driven pulley 604 and a single idler pulley 606 are shown in the example of
The attachment 820 can also include belt guides 810, 811, 812. Similar to belt guides 610 and 612, belt guides 810, 811, 812 are surfaces and/or members that are disposed opposing a portion of the groove of their corresponding pulley 804, 805, 806 to maintain the belt 813 aligned with the corresponding groove while tension on the belt 813 is released. In the example shown in
Other types of attachments can also include their portion of the belt-driven attachment system described herein, such as a snow blower, tiller, power rake/soil conditioner, plow blade, stump grinder, tiller, edger/trencher, wood chipper, pressure washer, log splitter, rotatable drum, cutting wheel, pump, flywheel, or lawn aerator attachment.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/878,855, filed on Jul. 26, 2019, entitled “BELT-DRIVEN ATTACHMENT SYSTEM”, the contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62878855 | Jul 2019 | US |