Front end loader vehicle

Claim 1

A front-end loader comprising; a body, a pair of ground engaging wheels on each side of said body, a pair of elongate arms pivotally mounted on said body at the rear thereof and projecting forwardly therefrom for vertical swinging movement relative to the body about a substantially horizontal transverse axis, a loading scoop pivotally mounted on the forward end of the arms for vertical swinging movement relative thereto about a substantially horizontal transverse axis, first hydraulic power means on said body and connected with said arms for vertically swinging said arms, second hydraulic power means on said arms and connected with said scoop for swinging said scoop about its pivotal axis, a pair of reversable hydrostatic drive units, one of which is drivingly connected with the ground engaging wheels on one side of the body and the other drive unit being drivingly connected with the ground engaging wheels on the opposite side of the body, each drive unit being operable to selectively drive the associated pair of ground engaging wheels in a forward or rearward direction, a hydraulic pump on said body and connected to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a valve assembly connected in communicating relation with the pump and being connected in flow controlling relation with said first and second hydraulic power means, an elongate upright scoop control shaft pivotally mounted on said body adjacent the front end thereof and being rotatable relative to said body about the longitudinal axis of said scoop control shaft and being swingable relative to said body in a forward and rearward direction about a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an elongate upright steering control shaft pivotally mounted on said vehicle adjacent the front end thereof and being disposed in closely spaced proximal relation with said scoop control shaft to permit an operator to grip and manipulate both of said control shafts, said steering control shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said body and being swingable in a forward or rearward direction relative to said body about a substantially horizontal transverse axis, a first pair of elongate links each being connected at one of its ends with said scoop control shaft and each link being connected at its other end with said valve assembly, one of said links being operable in response to rotation of said scoop control shaft to operate said valve assembly and control actuation of said second hydraulic power means for swinging said scoop about its pivotal axis, said other link being operable in response to forward and rearward swinging movement of the scoop control shaft to operate said valve assembly and thereby control actuation of said first hydraulic power means for swinging said arms, a second pair of elongate links each being connected at one of its ends with said steering control shaft and each being connected at its other end with one of said reversible drive units, said second pair of links being operable to actuate the drive units to propel the vehicle forwardly when said steering control shaft is swung forwardly, being operable to actuate said drive units to propel the vehicle rearwardly when said steering control shaft is swung rearwardly, said steerIng control shaft when rotated about its longitudinal axis causing one of said drive units to drive forwardly and thereby permit turning of the vehicle.