Front end loader and method of mounting same on tractor

Claim 2

Method of mounting a front end loader on a tractor, said loader having a U-shaped frame with opposite side frame members extending rearwardly from a cross frame member, uprights connected to the rear ends of said side frame members and a boom having its rear end connected to the upper end of said uprights, power cylinders extending between the boom and the uprights; support brackets on opposite sides of said tractor for engagement with the lower ends of said uprights, a vertically disposed guide member on the front end of said tractor for engagement with the back side of said cross frame member, a downwardly extending support stand on the forward end of said U-shaped frame rigid therewith in that position, and locking means for detachably securing said cross frame member to said guide member, and said uprights to said support to said support brackets wherein said method includes the steps of, driving said tractor forward into said U-shaped frame on said rigid stand until said guide member engages said cross frame member, connecting the power cylinders to the power system on the tractor, operating said power cylinders such that they are contracted thereby causing said stand to pivot about an axis through the interface between said guide member and said cross frame member forwardly at its bottom end along the ground while said cross frame member remains horizontally stationary, and said uprights move into engagement with said support brackets, operating said power cylinders further to pivot said cross frame member upwardly about an axis through the interface between said uprights and said support brackets, and actuating said lock means for securing said cross frame member to said guide member and said uprights to said support brackets.

Claim 3

A tractor having a quick mount and dismount front end loader comprising, a front end loader having a U-shaped frame with opposite side frame members extending rearwardly from a forwardly positioned cross frame member having front and back sides, uprights connected to the rear ends of said side frame members and a boom having its rear end connected to the upper end of said uprights, power cylinders extending between the boom and the uprights, a tractor having side support brackets on opposite sides thereof for engagement with the lower ends of said uprights, a vertically disposed guide support bracket across the front end of said tractor for engagement with the back side of said cross frame member, said guide support bracket being U-shaped and open downwardly, a stand rigidly connected to the forward end of said U-shaped frame for pivotal movement therewith during the mounting and dismounting operations, locking means for detachably securing said cross frame member to said forward guide support bracket and said uprights to said side support brackets, said locking means including a pin carried on the U-shaped bracket for engagement with an opening in said cross frame, and the rear leg of said U-shaped bracket tapering downwardly and rearwardly for guiding said cross frame into and out of said U-shaped bracket, and said power cylinders upon being extended causing said loader to pivot counterclockwise about a pivotal axis through said cross frame member thereby disengaging said uprights from said support brackets when said associated lock means has been opened, and upon said power cylinders being contracted with said cross frame member engaging said guide member and said U-shaped frame extending rearwardly and upwardly said U-shaped frame will pivot clockwise downwardly about a transverse axis through said cross frame member whereby said uprights move into engagement with said support brackets.

Claim 4

A tractor having a quick mount and dismount front end loader comprising, a front end loader having a U-shaped frame with opposite side frame members extending rearwardly from a forwardly positioned cross frame member having front and back sides, uprights connected to the rear ends of said side frame members and a boom having its rear end connected to the upper end of said uprights, power cylinders extending between the boom and the uprights, a tractor having side support brackets on opposite sides thereof for engagement with the lower ends of said uprights, a vertically disposed guide support bracket across the front end of said tractor for engagement with the back side of said cross frame member, said guide support bracket being U-shaped and open downwardly, a stand rigidly connected to the forward end of said U-shaped frame for pivotal movement therewith during the mounting and dismounting operations, locking means for detachably securing said cross frame member to said forward guide support bracket and said uprights to said side support brackets, said locking means including a pin carried on the U-shaped bracket for engagement with an opening in said cross frame, and the rear leg of said U-shaped bracket tapering downwardly and rearwardly for guiding said cross frame into and out of said U-shaped bracket, and said power cylinders upon being extended causing said loader to pivot counterclockwise about a pivotal axis through said cross frame member thereby disengaging said uprights from said support brackets when said associated lock means has been opened, and upon said power cylinders being contracted with said cross frame member engaging said guide member and said U-shaped frame extending rearwardly and upwardly said U-shaped frame will pivot clockwise downwardly about a transverse axis through said cross frame member whereby said uprights move into engagement with said support brackets.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 2 wherein said rear side support brackets each include upwardly extending spaced apart guide plates between which the lower ends of said uprights are received.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3 wherein said guide plates are further defined as being laterally spaced apart to limit lateral movement of said uprights.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3 wherein said guide plates each include a V-shaped notch which is adapted to receive V-shaped mating element on said associated upright.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 4 wherein each pair of said guide plates includes an upstanding stop guide plate at the rear thereof extending therebetween and having a rearwardly flared upper end for guiding said upright between said guide plates when said loader is pivoted onto said tractor.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 3 wherein said locking means includes on said uprights and said guide plates aligned openings when said uprights are in engagement with said support brackets and bolt means extend through said aligned openings.

Claim 10

In combination, an implement mountable on a tractor, comprising, an implement having a boom with a ground-engaging tool on the outer end and pivotally mounted to upright standards at its inner end carried on a U-shaped frame and power means interconnects said U-shaped frame and boom for relative pivotal movement therebetween, said U-shaped frame having a transversely extending member and a stand connected to said frame for cooperation with said tool for supporting said implement independently of said tractor, a tractor having oppositely disposed rear side support brackets for engagement with said standards, a vertically disposed guide-support bracket on said tractor forwardly of said side support brackets for engagement with said transversely extending member, and locking means for detachably securing said transversely extending member to said guide-support bracket and said uprights to said rear side support brackets whereby upon said transversely extending member engaging said guide support bracket and said power means being operated to pivot said U-shaped frame and boom towards each other said U-shaped frame pivots about an axis through said guide-support bracket until said standards engage said support brackets and then pivotal action occurs about an axis through said side support brackets to pivot said transversely extending member upwardly to a position for said locking means to lock said transversely extending member to said guide support bracket.

Claim 11

In combination, an implement mountable on a tractor, comprising, an implement having a boom with a ground-engaging tool on the outer end and pivotally mounted to upright standards at its inner end carried on a U-shaped frame and power means interconnects said U-shaped frame and boom for relative pivotal movement therebetween, said U-shaped frame having a transversely extending member and a stand connected to said frame for cooperation with said tool for supporting said implement independently of said tractor, a tractor having oppositely disposed rear side support brackets for engagement with said standards, a vertically disposed guide-support bracket on said tractor forwardly of said side support brackets for engagement with said transversely extending member, and locking means for detachably securing said transversely extending member to said guide-support bracket and said uprights to said rear side support brackets whereby upon said transversely extending member engaging said guide support bracket and said power means being operated to pivot said U-shaped frame and boom towards each other said U-shaped frame pivots about an axis through said guide-support bracket until said standards engage said support brackets and then pivotal action occurs about an axis through said side support brackets to pivot said transversely extending member upwardly to a position for said locking means to lock said transversely extending member to said guide support bracket.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 8 wherein said guide-support bracket includes a vertically disposed portion positioned to engage the back side of said transversely extending member to limit rearward movement of said transversely extending member relative to said tractor during the pivoting of said U-shaped frame about said axis through said guide-support bracket.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 9 wherein said guide-support bracket is positioned across the front end of said tractor.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 9 wherein said guide-support bracket is U-shaped with front and rear legs and opens downwardly with said vertically disposed portion being said rear leg, and said locking means includes a pin carried on the U-shaped bracket for engagement with an opening in said cross frame, and the rear leg of said U-shaped bracket tapers downwardly and rearwardly for guiding said cross frame into and out of said U-shaped bracket.

Claim 15

The structure of claim 8 wherein said rear side support brackets each include upwardly extending spaced apart guide plates between which the lower ends of said uprights are received.

Claim 16

The structure of claim 12 wherein said guide plates are further defined as being laterally spaced apart to limit lateral movement of said uprights.

Claim 17

The structure of claim 12 wherein said guide plates each include a V-shaped notch which is adapted to receive V-shaped mating element on said associated upright.

Claim 18

The structure of claim 13 wherein each pair of said guide plates includes an upstanding stop guide plate at the rear thereof extending therebetween and having a rearwardly flared upper end for guiding said upright between said guide plates when said loader is pivoted onto said tractor.

Claim 19

The structure of claim 12 wherein said locking means includes on said uprights and said guide plates aligned openings when said uprights are in engagement with said support brackets and bolt means extend through said aligned openings.

Claim 20

The structure of claim 8 wherein said forward guide-support bracket is U-shaped and open downwardly and said locking means includes a pin carried on the U-shaped bracket for engagement with an opening in said cross frame, and the rear leg of said U-shaped bracket tapers downwardly and rearwardly for guiding said cross frame into and out of said U-shaped bracket.