A LOADER VEHICLE

Abstract

A loader vehicle includes a front unit and a rear unit pivotally connected to each other by an articulated joint arrangement allowing mutual rotation of the front unit and the rear unit. The loader vehicle includes a loading unit assembly and a control valve arrangement arranged to hydraulically control the loading unit assembly, wherein the control valve arrangement is arranged at a rear portion of the front unit in the vicinity of the articulated joint arrangement.

Claims

1. A loader vehicle comprising a front unit and a rear unit pivotally connected to each other by an articulated joint arrangement allowing mutual rotation of the front unit and the rear unit, the loader vehicle comprising a loading unit assembly and a control valve arrangement arranged to hydraulically control the loading unit assembly, wherein the control valve arrangement is arranged at a rear portion of the front unit in the vicinity of the articulated joint arrangement, wherein the articulated joint arrangement comprises an upper (116) and a lower attachment point at the rear portion of the front unit, wherein the attachment points are constituted by respective upper and lower structural flanges of the front unit, wherein the control valve arrangement is arranged between the upper (116) and lower attachment points, as seen in a vertical direction of the loader vehicle, and in that the control valve arrangement is partly housed within a frame section of the front unit by means of the upper and lower structural flanges as well as part of a vertical frame section of the front unit, such that a rear portion of the control valve arrangement is not housed within the frame section of the front unit.

2. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the loading unit assembly is connected to the front unit by means of at least one lift arm joint arrangement, wherein at least a portion of the control valve arrangement is arranged behind the at least one lift arm joint arrangement as seen in the forward driving direction of the loader vehicle.

3. A loader vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the complete control valve arrangement is arranged behind the at least one lift arm joint arrangement as seen in the forward driving direction of the loader vehicle.

4. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the articulated joint arrangement constitutes a substantially vertical geometric axis for allowing mutual rotation of the front unit and the rear unit.

5. A loader vehicle according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the control valve arrangement is arranged between the at least one lift arm joint arrangement and the substantially vertical geometric axis as seen in the longitudinal direction of the loader vehicle.

6. A loader vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the complete control valve arrangement is arranged between the at least one lift arm joint arrangement and the substantially vertical geometric axis as seen in the longitudinal direction of the loader vehicle.

7. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the loading unit assembly is arranged at a front portion of the front unit.

8. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the loading unit assembly comprises a single boom lift arm.

9. A loader vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the single boom lift arm is arranged at a substantially central position of the front unit as seen in the transversal direction of the loader vehicle.

10. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the loading unit assembly comprises at least one lift cylinder and at least one tilt cylinder (106) for controlling motions of an implement of the loading unit assembly.

11. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the loader vehicle comprises a power source for propelling the loader vehicle, wherein the power source is arranged on the rear unit of the loader vehicle.

12. A loader vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front unit comprises a pair of ground engaging members, the ground engaging members each comprising an individually controlled propulsion motor.

13. A loader vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the individually controlled propulsion motors are electric propulsion motors.

14. A loader vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the individually controlled propulsion motors are individual wheel hub motors.

15-16. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a lateral side view illustrating a loader vehicle in the form of an articulated wheel loader according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a side view of an example embodiment of a front unit of the loader vehicle depicted in FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the front unit depicted in FIG. 2; and

[0038] FIG. 4 is schematic view illustrating the control valve arrangement according to an example embodiment.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a lateral side view illustrating an example embodiment of a working machine in the form of a loader vehicle 101 having an implement 102 for loading operations. The loader vehicle 101 depicted in FIG. 1 is in the form of an articulated wheel loader. The term implement is intended to comprise any kind of hydraulically operated tool, such as a bucket, a fork or a gripping tool arranged on the loader vehicle 101. The implement 102 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a bucket 103 which is arranged on a loading unit assembly 104 for lifting and lowering the bucket 103. The bucket 103 can also be tilted or pivoted relative to the loading unit assembly 104. The loading unit assembly 104 comprises, as depicted in further detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, a single boom lift arm. The loader vehicle 101 is provided with a hydraulic system comprising at least one hydraulic machine (not shown), such as e.g. a hydraulic pump. The loader vehicle 101 further comprises a hydraulic lift cylinder 105, for lifting operation of the loading unit assembly 104 and a hydraulic tilt cylinder 106 for tilting the bucket 103 relative to the loading unit assembly 104. Furthermore, the hydraulic system comprises steering cylinders 107a, 107b for turning the loader vehicle 101 by means of relative movement of a front unit 108 and a rear unit 109 around a substantially vertical geometric axis 110 of an articulated joint arrangement 112. The front unit 108 and the rear unit 109 comprise a respective pair of ground engaging members 120, 122. The ground engaging members 120, 122 are in the example embodiment a respective pair of wheels. In other words, the loader vehicle 101 is frame-steered by means of the steering cylinders 107a, 107b. Furthermore, the loader vehicle 101 comprises a control valve arrangement 114 arranged at a rear portion of the front unit 108 in the vicinity of the articulated joint arrangement 112. Now, reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate the control valve arrangement 114 in further detail. As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control valve arrangement 114 is arranged at the rear portion of the front unit 108 in the vicinity of the articulated joint arrangement 112. In detail, the articulated joint arrangement 112 comprises an upper 116 and a lower 118 attachment point on the rear portion of the front unit 108. The attachment points 116, 118 are constituted by respective upper 216 and lower 218 structural flanges of the front unit 108 according to the example embodiment depicted in the figures. Likewise, although not depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear unit 109 also comprises attachment flanges such that the attachment flanges of the front 108 and rear 109 units are connected to each other to form the articulated joint arrangement 112. The control valve arrangement 114 is arranged between the upper 116 and lower 118 attachment points as seen in the vertical direction of the loader vehicle 101. Furthermore, and as depicted in FIG. 3, the control valve arrangement 114 is also arranged at a substantially center position of the loader vehicle 101 as seen in the transversal direction thereof. In detail, the control valve arrangement 114 is arranged at a transversal position between the wheels of the loader vehicle 101 such that portions of the control valve arrangement 114 is arranged on respective transversal sides of a geometric plane extending in the vertical and longitudinal direction of the loader vehicle 101 and located at a center position of the loader vehicle 101. As also depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control valve arrangement 114 is at least partially housed within the front unit 108. More particularly, the control valve arrangement 114 is at least partly housed in the frame section of the front unit 108 by means of the upper 216 and lower 218 attachment flanges as well as part of a vertical frame section of the front unit 108. The rear portion of the control valve arrangement 114 is however not housed within the frame section of the front unit 108 in order to improve the accessibility thereof. Hereby, the control valve arrangement 114 can be protected from external damage. For example, a structure of the upper 116 and lower 118 attachment points can protect the control valve arrangement 114 from damage that may accidentally occur from being hit from above or below the loader vehicle 101. The frame section of the rear portion of the front unit 108 can protect the control valve arrangement 114 from damage caused by hits from the side of the loader vehicle 101. Hence, the control valve arrangement 114 is protected from e.g. stones flying up from the road, etc.

[0041] The control valve arrangement 114 is arranged to hydraulically control the loading unit assembly 104 of the loader vehicle 101. The control valve arrangement 114 is thus connected to a hydraulic pump (not shown) for receiving hydraulic fluid in order to lift, lower, and tilt the implement 102 of the loading unit assembly 104. In detail, the control valve arrangement 114 is connected to the lift cylinder 105 by means of lift conduits 202, 204, and to the tilt cylinder 106 by means of tilt conduits 206, 208.

[0042] Further details regarding the connections between the control valve arrangement 114 and the lift/tilt cylinders will be given below with reference to FIG. 4. Furthermore, the loading unit assembly 104 is connected to the front frame of the front unit 108 by means of at least one lift arm joint arrangement 210. The loading unit assembly 104 is thus able to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis 310 constituted by the at least one lift arm joint arrangement 210 during lifting and lowering of the implement 102 relative to the ground. The control valve arrangement 114 is in the example embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 arranged behind the at least one lift arm joint arrangement 210 when seen in the forward driving direction of the loader vehicle 101.

[0043] Still further, the front unit 108 comprises a pair of individually controlled propulsion motors 212. Hereby, the ground engaging members 120 of the front unit 108 are individually controlled by a respective propulsion motor 212. The individual propulsion motors 212 may be wheel hub motors.

[0044] Moreover, the loading unit assembly 104 comprises a single boom lift arm 214, which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3. The single boom lift arm 214 is preferably arranged at a central position of the front unit 108 as seen in the transversal direction of the loader vehicle 101. As seen in FIG. 3, the lift cylinder 105 is arranged straight below the single boom lift arm 214 and hence also arranged at the central position of the front unit 108 as seen in the transversal direction of the loader vehicle 101.

[0045] Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which is a schematic view illustrating the control valve arrangement 114 according to an example embodiment. As illustrated, the control valve 114 is connected to the steering wheel 402, a tilt maneuver device 404 and a lift maneuver device 406. The tilt maneuver device 404 and the lift maneuver device 406 are in the embodiment of FIG. 4 illustrated as respective levers. The control valve arrangement 114 thus receives control signals from the steering wheel 402, the tilt maneuver device 404 and the lift maneuver device 406. It should be readily understood that steering of the loader vehicle 101 may also be accomplished by means of a lever instead of the depicted steering wheel.

[0046] Furthermore, the steering wheel 402 is connected to the steering cylinders 107a, 107b of the loader vehicle 101. Hence, when the operator of the loader vehicle turns the steering wheel 402, hydraulic fluid is provided through steering cylinder conduits 408, 410 such that the pistons of the steering cylinders 107a, 107b extends/retracts for turning the loader vehicle. Hereby, the front 108 and rear 109 units of the loader vehicle 101 are rotated relative to each other around the substantially vertical geometric axis 110.

[0047] Moreover, when the operator of the loader vehicle 101 controls the tilt maneuver device 404, the control valve arrangement 114 controls hydraulic fluid to be delivered to the tilt cylinder 106 for tilting the implement 102 of the loader vehicle 101. In detail, hydraulic fluid is delivered through the tilt conduits 206, 208 to either a piston side 412 or a piston rod side 414 of the tilt cylinder 106.

[0048] On the other hand, when the operator of the loader vehicle 101 controls the lift maneuver device 406, the control valve arrangement 114 controls hydraulic fluid to be delivered to the lift cylinder 105 for lifting or lowering the loading unit assembly 104. In detail, hydraulic fluid is delivered through the lift conduits 202, 204 to either a piston side 416 or a piston rod side 418 of the lift cylinder 105.

[0049] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the tilt maneuver device 404 and the lift maneuver device 406 may be one and the same maneuver device.