Swivelable adapter device for a skid steer loader

Abstract

A swivelable adapter device for use with skid steer loaders consists of a mounting plate and a swiveling work tool plate for holding, rotating, and positioning various skid steer attachments. Rotation about a longitudinal axis of skid steer arms is accomplished using a barrel within a barrel assembly allowing work tool plate to be positioned from angles between horizontal and vertical. A mounting plate is attached to skid steer arms and is rigidly affixed to an inner barrel. An outer barrel with a notch plate and a work tool plate slides over a greased inner barrel. Swivel operation of the work tool plate is accomplished by hand eliminating the need for hydraulic systems. Once positioned, the work tool plate is locked to a notch plate using a locking latch. The swivelable adapter device is reinforced with metal plates to handle torsion forces created by heavy loads such as trees.

Claims

1. A swivelable adapter device for a skid steer loader comprising: a mounting plate; a forward reinforcing mounting plate; an aft reinforcing mounting plate affixed to an inner barrel, the aft reinforcing plate contacting the mounting plate, the forward reinforcing mounting plate contacting the mounting plate, the mounting plate being positioned between the forward reinforcing mounting plate and the aft reinforcing mounting plate; a work tool plate affixed to an outer barrel; and a notch plate contacting the forward reinforcing plate and coupled to the outer barrel, the notch plate engaging a locking latch, wherein an outer barrel inside dimension is greater than an inner barrel outside dimension to allow clearance for said outer barrel to slide over said inner barrel, wherein said work tool plate is affixed to said outer barrel, said outer barrel is slid over said inner barrel during assembly, wherein the swivelable adapter device is held together with a holding ring permanently affixed near a forward end of said inner barrel once said outer barrel is slid onto said inner barrel, and when once permanently assembled, said outer barrel is rotatable around said inner barrel, causing rotation of said work tool plate, the notch plate and locking latch holding said work tool plate in various positions after said work tool plate is rotated.

2. The swivelable adapter device of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate is machined to accept the inner barrel outside diameter and wherein said mounting plate is rigidly affixed near an end of said inner barrel.

3. The swivelable adapter device of claim 1, wherein said work tool plate is machined to allow passage of said inner pipe through said work tool plate so as to establish a clearance between said inner barrel and said work tool plate.

4. The swivelable adapter of claim 1, wherein a reinforcing work tool plate is machined to accept an outer barrel outside diameter and wherein said reinforcing work tool plate is permanently affixed to said outer barrel near a forward end of said outer barrel and wherein said reinforcing work tool plate is permanently affixed to said work tool plate on an aft side of said work tool plate.

5. The swivelable adapter device of claim 1, wherein said outer barrel is permanently joined to said work tool plate at a forward end of said outer barrel and at an aft side of said work tool plate.

6. The swivelable adapter device of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate that is permanently affixed to said inner barrel near an aft end of said inner barrel, acts as a mount surface for skid steer loader arms of the skid steer loader.

7. The swivelable adapter device of claim 1, wherein said work tool plate is permanently affixed to said outer barrel and therein functions to accept a variety of commercial skid steer attachment work tools.

8. The swivelable adapter device of claim 1, wherein when said swivelable adapter device is mounted on a skid steer loader using said mounting plate, such that said mounting plate is fixed in position with skid steer loader lifting arms.

9. A swiveable adapter device for a skid steer loader comprising: a mounting plate; a forward reinforcing mounting plate; an aft reinforcing mounting plate affixed to an inner barrel, the aft reinforcing plate contacting the mounting plate, the forward reinforcing mounting plate contacting the mounting plate, the mounting plate being positioned between the forward reinforcing mounting plate and the aft reinforcing mounting plate; a work tool plate affixed to an outer barrel; and a notch plate contacting the forward reinforcing plate and coupled to the outer barrel, the notch plate engaging a locking latch, wherein an outer barrel inside dimension is greater than an inner barrel outside dimension to allow clearance for the outer barrel to slide over the inner barrel, wherein said work tool plate is affixed to the outer barrel, the outer barrel is slid over the inner barrel during assembly, and wherein when once permanently assembled, the outer barrel is rotatable around the inner barrel, causing rotation of the work tool plate, the notch plate and locking latch holding the work tool plate in various positions after the work tool plate is rotated.

10. The swivelable adapter device of claim 9, wherein the swivelable adapter device is held together with a holding ring permanently affixed near a forward end of the inner barrel once the outer barrel is slid onto the inner barrel.

11. The swivelable adapter device of claim 9, wherein the work tool plate functions to accept a variety of commercial skid steer attachment work tools.

12. The swivelable adapter device of claim 9, wherein the locking latch is coupled to the mounting plate.

13. The swivelable adapter device of claim 9, wherein the notch plate comprises a plurality of notches that engage with the locking latch.

14. The swivelable adapter device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of notches extend along an outer periphery of the notch plate over a distance comprising about one-half of a circumference of the notch plate.

15. A swiveable adapter device for a skid steer loader comprising: a mounting plate; a forward reinforcing mounting plate; an aft reinforcing mounting plate affixed to an inner barrel, the aft reinforcing plate contacting the mounting plate, the forward reinforcing mounting plate contacting the mounting plate, the mounting plate being positioned between the forward reinforcing mounting plate and the aft reinforcing mounting plate; a work tool plate affixed to an outer barrel; and means for holding the work tool plate in various positions, the means for holding contacting the forward reinforcing plate and coupled to the outer barrel, wherein an outer barrel inside dimension is greater than an inner barrel outside dimension to allow clearance for the outer barrel to slide over the inner barrel, wherein said work tool plate is affixed to the outer barrel, the outer barrel is slid over the inner barrel during assembly, and wherein when once permanently assembled, the outer barrel is rotatable around the inner barrel, causing rotation of the work tool plate, the means for holding secures the work tool plate in a second position after the work tool plate is rotated from the first position to the second position.

16. The swivelable adapter device of claim 15, wherein the means for holding comprises a notch plate engaging a locking latch.

17. The swivelable adapter device of claim 16, wherein the locking latch is coupled to the mounting plate.

18. The swivelable adapter device of claim 16, wherein the notch plate comprises a plurality of notches that engage with the locking latch.

19. The swivelable adapter device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of notches extend along an outer periphery of the notch plate over a distance comprising about one-half of a circumference of the notch plate.

20. The swivelable adapter device of claim 15, wherein the work tool plate functions to accept a variety of commercial skid steer attachment work tools.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the swivelable adapter device will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting plate with a locking latch support affixed on a lipped edge of a mounting plate. Further forward from the mounting plate, the locking latch sits in a notch in a notch plate. Further forward still, is a work tool plate and its associated latching handle system.

(3) FIG. 2 top view shows the device mounted on a skid steer loader with the mounting plate positioned at a 45-degree angle with respect to horizontal fixed mounting plate.

(4) FIG. 2 bottom view shows the swivel adapter device at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the rigidly fixed mounting plate.

(5) FIG. 3 illustrates the adaptive capability of the swivel adapter device. The swivel adapter device first mounts onto the skid steer. Once the mounting plate is mated to a skid steer loader, the work tool mounts to the work tool plate and is latched using a latching system.

(6) FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing alignment and connectivity of the swivel adapter device subparts.

(7) FIG. 5 is a cutaway drawing of the swivel adapter device on a vertical plane along a centerline of the inner barrel.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 DRAWINGS - Reference Numerals 10 Swivelable adapter device 20 Work tool plate 21 Work tool plate lip 22 Work tool plate alignment pin 23 Work. tool plate alignment latch 30 Mounting plate arm 31 Mounting plate lip 40 Notch plate 41 Locking latch notch 42 Locking latch 43 Locking latch support mount 50 Barrel within a barrel assembly 51 Outer barrel 52 Inner barrel 53 Grease fitting 60 Aft reinforcing mounting plate 70 Forward reinforcing mounting 80 Holding ring plate 90 Reinforcing work tool plate

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the swivelable adapter 10 is intended for use with various industry skid steer loaders to allow adapting work tools to a skid steer loader, and then to allow the work tool to be swiveled to a desired work angle between horizontal and vertical. The present device is an adapter that swivels. The adapter mounts on a skid steer loader, and a work tool then mounts to the adapter.

(10) The swivelable adapter is a series of parallel metal plates rigidly affixed on a set of metal barrels. One set of metal plates is fixed to an inner barrel 52. A second set of plates is affixed to an outer barrel 51. The inner dimension of the outer barrel 51 is greater than the outside dimension of the inner barrel 52 to allow the outer barrel 51 clearance to slide over the inner barrel 52.

(11) The outer barrel 51, with its affixed set of plates, slides over the inner barrel 52 during assembly. The metal plates are a notch plate 40 and a reinforcing work plate 90. The set of metal plates affixed to the inner barrel 52 are an aft reinforcing mounting plate 60 and a forward reinforcing mounting plate 70. The entire swivelable adapter assembly is held together with a holding ring 80 permanently affixed to a forward end of the inner barrel 52 once the outer barrel 51 is slid onto the inner barrel 52 during the assembly process. Once permanently assembled, the outer barrel 51 rotates around the inner barrel 52.

(12) The inner barrel 52 is fitted to a commercial quick attach mount plate machined to precisely accept the outside diameter of the inner barrel 52. The quick attach mounting plate 30 is rigidly affixed to the aft end of the inner barrel 52. Aft is a position closer to the skid steer. The outer barrel 51 is fitted to a commercial quick attach conversion adapter tool work plate that has been modified to provide a reinforcing steel plate with a machined area to allow penetration of the outer barrel 51. Additionally, the outer barrel 51 has a notch plate 40 affixed at an aft end of the outer barrel 51.

(13) The notch plate 40 is a round metal plate with a machined area to allow the outer barrel 51 to penetrate in the center of the notch plate 40. The notch plate 40 is permanently affixed to the aft end of the outer barrel 51.

(14) The quick attach mounting plate 30 that is permanently affixed to the inner barrel 52 at the aft end of the inner barrel 52, act as a mounting surface for skid steer loader arms. The quick attach conversion adapter tool work plate 20, permanently affixed to the outer barrel 51, functions to accept a variety of commercial skid steer attachment work tools, such as grapples. A notch plate 40 is permanently affixed to the outer barrel 51 at an end opposite the tool work plate 20.

(15) A notch plate 40 provides control over rotation of the outer barrel 51 around the inner barrel 52. The notch plate 40 has notches 41 at positions around the circumferential edge of the notch plate 40. The notches 41 are all cut to a depth the same distance from an axis running along a centerline of the inner barrel 52. The notches 41 are machined to a width to accept a locking latch 42.

(16) The swivelable adapter device 10 is fabricated such that the outer barrel 51 rotates around the inner barrel 52 while sliding on a film of grease existing between the outer wall of the inner barrel 52 and the inner wall of the outer barrel 51. A grease fitting 53 is provided for application of grease between the inner barrel 52 and the outer barrel 51.

(17) Both the mounting plate 30 and the tool work plate 20 have industry-standard lipped holding edges for attachment purposes. The mounting plate lip 31 is formed on the upper edge of the mounting plate 30. This mounting plate lip 31 accepts the arms of a skid steer loader. The work plate lip 21 is formed on the upper edge of the tool work plate 20. The tool work plate lip 21 accepts various work tool attachments.

(18) The tool work plate 20 is fitted with work plate alignment pins 22 to fit an attached work tool snugly to the tool work plate 20. A work plate alignment latch arm 23 is provided to position the work plate alignment pin 22 into the alignment area of an attached work tool.

(19) The mounting plate 30 is snuggly attached to the skid steer lifting arms using alignment pins and latching arms provided on the skid steer loader. The swivelable adapter device 10 mounting plate 30 includes alignment areas to receive the skid steer loader alignment pins. With the swivelable adapter device 10 mounted on a skid steer loader using the mount plate 30, the mounting plate 30 is fixed in position with the skid steer loader lifting arms.

(20) Reinforcing plates are provided to account for forces imparted by the swivelable adapter carrying heavy loads, such as a large, fallen tree. The mounting plate 30 has two reinforcing plates permanently affixed to the mounting plate 30. A forward reinforcing mounting plate 70 and an aft reinforcing mounting plate 60 prevent deformation of the mounting plate 30 during operation and use of the swivelable adapter device 10.

(21) Reinforcing work plate 90 prevents deformation of the tool work plate 20 during operation and use of the swivelable adapter device 10. The barrel within a barrel assembly 50, utilizing close tolerances, provides structural strength to lift large loads without deformation of the swivelable adapter device.

(22) A locking latch 42 is the means to lock the swivelable adapter device 10 at various chosen pivotal attitudes. The locking latch 42 is affixed on the upper surface mounting plate lip 31 in a position that is above a centerline that runs through the inner barrel 52. The locking latch 42 is supported to allow positioning of the locking latch 42 in a locking latch notch 41 in the notch plate 40 when manual movement accomplishes rotation of the tool work plate 20 to a desired angle. A locking latch support mount 43 is permanently affixed to the top edge of the mounting plate lip 31 and in the center of the mounting plate 30 so the locking latch 42 is inline with the centerline of an axis running longitudinally with the inner barrel 52. The locking latch support mount 43 holds the locking latch 42 and allows the locking latch 42 to pivot up or down. The locking latch 42 is pivoted up to release from the notch plate 40 so the notch plate 40 is free to turn by hand. Lowering the locking latch 42 allows the locking latch 42 to occupy a locking latch notch 41 for a locking latch 42 thereby creating a lock to preventing movement of the tool work plate 20 affixed to the forward end of the outer barrel 51. When the locking latch 42 is swung into a notched position, the tool work plate 20 is fixed in position with respect to the skid steer mounting plate 30 thereby affixing the mounting plate 30 in position with regard to the skid steer. The tool work plate 20 may now rotate in a range from horizontal to vertical, either in a direction to the left or to the right, to orient a work tool implement.

(23) The tool work plate 20 can be rotated or swiveled about an axis that is the longitudinal centerline of the inner barrel 52. Rotating the outer barrel 51 about the inner barrel 52 permits swiveling of the attached work tool because the tool work plate 20 moves with the outer barrel 51. A grease film between the inner barrel 52 and the outer barrel 51 provides a low coefficient of friction. When the swivelable adapter device 10 is mounted to a skid steer loader and loaded with a work tool on the tool work plate 20, the outer barrel 51 can be rotated using hand force. Hand rotation capability precludes the need for hydraulic systems to cause rotation of the work tool plate 20.

(24) The position of a work tool can be easily changed by unlatching the locking latch 42, rotating the forward work tool plate 20, and re-latching the locking latch 42 in a different locking latch notch 41 position. The position locking capability provides for a whole set of different angles, from horizontal to vertical, with which to position the work tool plate 20, and therefore different angles to position a work tool implement.

(25) A skid steer loader operator can now attach a work tool implement, set an angle from horizontal to vertical, as desired, and utilize a work tool implement at that positioned angle. This angle changing capability allows, for example, the use of a skid steer loader to extricate a tree leaning at a severe angle. Such a situation occurs frequently following windstorms, like hurricanes, that blow trees down. Some trees are not blown down flat and may rest precariously at angles between horizontal and vertical. Often such trees rest against structures, carrying potential energy. The removal of a leaning tree against a structure is easily and safely accomplished utilizing the swivelable adapter device 10.

(26) The work tool plate 20 can be swiveled manually by hand. No hydraulic actuation force is needed to cause rotation. This fact is significant because there are a wide variety of different skid steer loader manufacturers in the commercial market. Each manufacturer may have a unique hydraulic hose and control connection setup. The swivelable adapter device 10 is fabricated to rotate easily by hand. Because the swivelable adapter device 10 does not need hydraulics, the device can be utilized on a variety of skid steer loader, regardless of the type of hydraulic system setup.

(27) Work tool plate alignment latch arms 23 to operate the work tool plate alignment pins 22 are also provided on the work tool plate 20. These work tool plate alignment pins 22 and work tool plate alignment latch arm 23 are common to the field of art.

(28) The notch plate 40 is a circular mass of plate metal machined to assist in balancing loads during rotation of the work tool plate 20 that is permanently affixed to the outer barrel 51.

ADVANTAGES

(29) The advantage of a skid steer loader swivelable adapter that rotates is to allow a skid steer loader to be a multi-use tool for small business owners. A tree removal job that would normally takes hours can be accomplished in minutes with fewer people on the work crew. The swivelable adapter device fits on multiple skid steer loaders. The tool does not need hydraulics so it is not limited to skid steer loaders with manufacturer specific hydraulic hookup features. The swivelable adapter device rotates from horizontal to vertical and locks to orient a work tool implement to a work load.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

(30) Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred version contained therein. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents, which are filed concurrently with this specification and are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents, are incorporated herein by reference. All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.