The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 1993
Filed:
Apr. 20, 1992
Lynn A Sutton, Kewanee, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a linkage connectable between a frame and an attachment. The linkage is characterized as self-leveling, meaning that once an attitude or orientation of the attachment with respect to the ground is achieved, the linkage will maintain that attitude as the attachment is raised or lowered without additional operator input. A preferred linkage connectable between the frame of a loader vehicle and a loader bucket includes an arm pivotally connectable between the frame and bucket, a hydraulic lift cylinder pivotally connectable between the frame and arm for raising and lowering the arm and resultantly the bucket, an equalizer link pivotally connectable to the arm at the same location as the lift cylinder, a hydraulic tilt cylinder pivotally connectable between the bucket and one end portion of the equalizer link, and an equalizer bar pivotally connectable between the frame and the other end portion of the equalizer link. If the tilt cylinder is held stiff as the bucket is raised or lowered, the parallelogram action of the frame, lift arm, equalizer link and equalizer bar will be imparted to the parallelogram of the tilt cylinder, bucket, lift arm and equalizer link and will thereby automatically adjust the tilt of the bucket as it is raised or lowered to thereby maintain its original attitude with the ground. A common pivotal location of the lift cylinder and equalizer link eliminates unnecessary parts and fabrication.