Tool mount for a self-propelled vehicle

Abstract

A method of manipulating a tool mounted on a self-propelled vehicle includes removably mounting a tool in a pivotal relationship relative to a mounting plate of a hydraulic loader assembly of a self-propelled vehicle. The tool is moved via selectively controlled rotational movement of the mounting plate between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the tool remains in releasable contact against the mounting plate and in the second position, the tool is freely pivotally movable relative to the mounting plate.

1 . A tool mount for attachment to an end plate of a loader assembly of a self-propelled vehicle, the tool mount comprising: 
 a base configured for securing onto an end plate of a loader assembly of a self-propelled vehicle; and    a receiver pivotally connected to the base and including a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, the second portion configured to removably receive a tool,    wherein the receiver is pivotally movable between: (1) a first position in which the first portion of the receiver arm is in pressing contact against the base of the tool mount; and (2) a second position in which the first portion of the receiver arm is spaced apart from, and is freely pivotally movable relative to, the base of the tool mount.    
   
   
       2 . The tool mount of  claim 1  wherein the receiver includes a pivot member pivotally mounted to the base and an arm extending generally parallel to and spaced apart from the pivot member, wherein the arm includes the first portion and the second portion of the receiver.  
   
   
       3 . The tool mount of  claim 2  wherein in the first position, the arm of the receiver is prevented from pivotal movement in a first rotational direction, and in the second position, the arm of the receiver is generally pivotally moveable in both the first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.  
   
   
       4 . The tool mount of  claim 3  wherein the base extends between a pair of wings laterally spaced apart from each other and the receiver comprises a transverse support extending laterally between a pair of wings, wherein each respective wing of the base is pivotally connected, via a pivot mechanism, to each respective wing of the receiver to arrange the transverse support to be pivotal movably relative to the base.  
   
   
       5 . The tool mount of  claim 4  wherein the arm of the receiver extends downwardly from the transverse support of the receiver and is connected to the transverse support via at least one flange that extends generally upward from the arm of the receiver and generally surrounds the transverse support.  
   
   
       6 . The tool mount of  claim 1  and further comprising a vibration-absorbing link configured to be interposed between the end plate of the loader assembly of the vehicle and the receiver.  
   
   
       7 . The tool mount of  claim 1  wherein the tool comprises a shovel including a mounting arm and a spade extending outwardly from the mounting arm, the mounting arm being removably securable relative to the second portion of the receiver to position the spade to extend away from the base of the receiver.  
   
   
       8 . The tool mount of  claim 1  wherein the tool comprises: 
 a scoop including an open back end and an open front end opposite the open back end, the scoop including a two opposite sidewalls and a bottom portion interposed and extending laterally between the opposite sidewalls.    
   
   
       9 . The tool mount of  claim 8  wherein the scoop comprises: 
 a bracket extending laterally between the two opposite sidewalls and positioned at the open back end of the scoop; and    at least one of a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm with both of the respective first and second mounting arms extending outwardly from the bracket away from the open back end and each respective first and second mounting arm slidably insertable into the second portion of the receiver,    wherein the first mounting arm extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the scoop and wherein the second mounting arm extends at an acute angle relative to the first mounting arm.    
   
   
       10 . The tool mount of  claim 1  wherein the tool comprises a rake including: 
 a center mast including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end comprising a mounting arm removably securable relative to the second portion of the receiver of the tool mount; and    an array of transverse members extending generally perpendicular to the center mast in a spaced apart relationship, with each transverse member supporting an array of teeth configured to engage soil.    
   
   
       11 . The tool mount of  claim 10  wherein the array of teeth of each respective transverse member of the rake comprises: 
 a first array of teeth oriented in a first direction and forming an acute angle relative to the respective transverse member; and    a second array of teeth oriented in a second direction and forming an acute angle relative to the respective transverse member, the second direction being generally perpendicular to, and opposite from, the first direction,    wherein the first array of teeth are generally parallel to the second array of teeth in a spaced apart relationship.    
   
   
       12 . The tool mount of  claim 1  and further comprising a self-propelled vehicle comprising: 
 a vehicle frame including a loader assembly including: 
 a hydraulic loader arm pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle frame;  
 a hydraulic lift cylinder mounted relative to vehicle frame; and  
 an end plate pivotally mounted relative to both the loader arm and the lift cylinder,  
 wherein the lift cylinder is configured to extend and retract for controlling selective rotational movement of the end plate.  
   
   
   
       13 . The tool mount of  claim 12  wherein the hydraulic loader arm is pivotally movable relative to the vehicle frame to provide a first degree of motion, the hydraulic lift cylinder is extendable and retractable to control pivoting of the end plate relative to the vehicle frame as a second degree of motion, and the receiver of the tool mount is pivotable relative to the end plate of the loader assembly to provide a third degree of motion for the tool.  
   
   
       14 . A method of manipulating a tool mounted on a self-propelled vehicle, the method comprising: 
 removably mounting a tool in a pivotal relationship relative to a mounting plate of a hydraulic loader assembly of a self-propelled vehicle; and    moving the tool, via selectively controlled rotational movement of the mounting plate, between a first position in which the tool is releasably fixed relative to the mounting plate and a second position in which the tool is freely pivotally movable relative to the mounting plate.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein removably mounting a tool comprises: 
 providing the tool as a shovel and moving the tool comprises wiggling the shovel back and forth in a soil portion via pivotal movement of the tool, relative to the mounting plate of the loader assembly of the vehicle, between the first position and the second position.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein removably mounting a tool comprises: 
 providing the tool as a scoop that includes an open front end and an open back end, and wherein moving the tool comprises forming a trench via:    forcing an angled entry of the open front end of the scoop in the first position of the scoop relative to the mounting plate;    advancing the scoop through the soil with the scoop in the second position.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein moving the tool comprises: 
 emptying soil from the scoop via raising the mounting plate of the loader assembly to orient the scoop in the first position and positioning, via rotation of the mounting plate, the open back end of the scoop generally downward to empty the soil from open back end of the scoop.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein moving the tool comprises: 
 positioning the scoop adjacent a front end of the vehicle between a pair of oppositely positioned locomotion elements of the vehicle; and    riding on a platform of the vehicle at a back end of the vehicle as the vehicle moves over the trench formed via the scoop with the platform passing over the trench.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein removably mounting the tool comprises providing the tool as a rake and moving the tool comprises 
 forcing the rake, with the receiver in the first portion, generally parallel to a generally horizontal surface of a soil portion to engage an array of teeth of the rake into and through the soil; and    permitting the rake to move into the second portion during forcing of the rake through a generally sloped surface of the soil portion.    
   
   
       20 . A self-propelled vehicle comprising: 
 means for raising and lowering a mounting plate relative to a vehicle frame of the vehicle;    means for pivoting the mounting plate relative to the means for raising and lowering; and    means for removably securing a tool relative to the mounting plate including: 
 means for pivoting the tool in a first rotational direction toward the vehicle frame and in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction away from the vehicle frame; and  
 means for limiting pivoting of the tool in the first rotational direction via contact against the mounting plate.  
   
   
   
       21 . The self-propelled vehicle of  claim 20  wherein the means for raising and lowering a mounting plate includes a hydraulically controlled loader arm pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame and pivotally mounted relative to the mounting plate, and 
 wherein the means for pivoting the mounting plate includes a lift cylinder positioned on the vehicle frame and pivotally mounted relative to the mounting plate.    
   
   
       22 . The self-propelled vehicle of  claim 21  wherein the means for removably securing comprises a tool mount interposed between the mounting plate and the tool, the tool mount including a base positioned on the mounting plate and a receiver adapted to removably receive the tool, and wherein the means for pivoting comprises a pivot mechanism pivotally connecting the receiver relative to the base, and wherein the means for limiting comprises an arm of the receiver sized and shaped to contact the mounting plate upon pivotal movement of the receiver in the first rotational direction.