Self-propelled loader

Claim 1

A self-propelled loader comprising a frame, conveyor belt means mounted on said frame having a forward end and a rearward discharge end, loading means forwardly of the forward end of said belt means for loading earth materials onto said belt means, a pair of elongate arms swingably mounted on said frame adjacent the forward end and to opposite sides of said belt means, each said arm extending generally horizontally from said frame and having an inner end pivotally mounted to the frame on a substantially upright axis and an outer end spaced a substantial distance from said inner end and defining bearing means having a substantially upright axis, a pair of reversibly operable ground engaging vehicle drive means each having support means turnably mounted in said bearing means at the outer end of a respective one of said arms, turning means for controllably turning each said drive means about the axis of the respective bearing means relative to the respective one of said arms, and arm swinging means for controllably swinging each said arm about its pivot axis on said frame through an arc of movement in excess of 90* whereby each arm may be disposed adjacent said frame in a position substantially parallel to said belt means, at an obtuse angle projecting outwardly and forwardly from said belt means, and at intermediate angles relative to said belt means, said drive means being controllably turnable relative to said arms by said turning means to accommodate loader movement in directions generally parallel to said belt means when said arms are in positions parallel to and within predetermined arcs of movement of parallelism with said belt means and in directions generally normal to said belt means when said arms are in positions normal to said belt means and within predetermined arcs of movement to opposite sides of such normal position.