Machine and Method of Retrofitting To Automatically Connect Hydraulics

Abstract

The invention solves this problem by retrofitting the machine and implement with mating hydraulic connector blocks, which automatically make the hydraulic connections when the retrofitted machine attaches to the retrofitted implement. In addition, the retrofitted machine is still compatible with non-hydraulic implements. Both a method and a kit are described and claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of retrofitting a machine with a quick attach which required manually hooking up hydraulics to an implement to an improved quick attach which automatically couples the hydraulic connections of the skid loader to the hydraulic connections of the implement, comprising the steps of:
 removing the original quick attach from the machine by removing the hydraulic hoses and the pivot pins on the machine hydraulic loader arms and hydraulic cylinders;   attaching an improved quick attach by attaching the connecting the pivot pins on the machine hydraulic loader arms and the hydraulic cylinders to the improved quick attach and attaching the hydraulic hoses;   connecting auxiliary hydraulic hoses by teeing into the auxiliary connectors on the machine;   the improved quick attach having a hydraulic coupling block on it top side;   attaching the machine hydraulic hoses to the hydraulic coupling block;   connect implement hydraulics, which are positioned to mate with the hydraulic connections of the improved quick attach,   whereby the machine can quick attach an implement and automatically make hydraulic connections without manually connecting the hydraulics.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the improved quick attach is compatible with non-hydraulic implements with a universal attach plate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further including the step of connecting a dust cover to cover the hydraulic connections on the machine when the improved quick attach is used with a non-hydraulic implement. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of removing the original mounting plate and installing a compatible mounting plate on implements which do not have a universal or incompatible mounting plate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of cutting out the center brace of a universal mounting plate on an implement to provide a space for the machine quick attach hydraulic coupling block. 
     
     
         6 . A kit for retrofitting an existing machine and implement so hydraulic connections no longer have to be manually connected, comprising:
 an improved machine quick attach which is connected to the machine in place of the original quick attach and which has a hydraulic connector block connected to the hydraulics of the existing machine;   an improved implement quick attach which is connected to the implement and which has a mating hydraulic connector block connected to the hydraulics of the existing implement and which is designed to automatically mate with the machine quick attach hydraulic connector block when the machine is attached to the implement.   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein any electrical connections are also automatically connected when the machine is attached to the implement. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein a retrofitted machine can still be attached to a non-hydraulic implement. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8  further including a dust cover to cover the hydraulic connector block of the machine when connected to a non-hydraulic implement, whereby dirt and material is kept out of the hydraulics of the machine.