Vertical Lift Loader

Abstract

The present invention relates to a loader with a frame arrangement and a lifting arrangement. The lifting arrangement is mounted to the frame arrangement and comprises a main arm. The main arm is provided with a pivot connector at a proximate end thereof and an equipment connector at a distal end thereof. The main arm is provided with a main arm actuating element for moving the main arm between a lowered position and a lifted position. The lifting arrangement is configured to move the equipment connector between the lowered position and the lifted position along a substantially J-shaped path to move the equipment connector forward in a front-rear direction of the loader upon lifting the equipment connector.

1 . A loader including a frame arrangement and a lifting arrangement, wherein the lifting arrangement is mounted to the frame arrangement and comprises:
 a main arm is provided with a pivot connector at a proximate end thereof and an equipment connector at a distal end thereof; and   a main arm actuating element for moving the main arm between a lowered position and a lifted position;   wherein the lifting arrangement is configured to move the equipment connector between the lowered position and the lifted position along a substantially J-shaped path to move the equipment connector forward in a front-rear direction of the loader upon lifting the equipment connector.   
     
     
         2 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame arrangement comprises a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, wherein the front frame portion and the rear frame portion are articulatingly interconnected for providing an articulating steering, and wherein the lifting arrangement is supported by the front frame portion. 
     
     
         3 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the lifting arrangement further comprises a main arm support means having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is pivotably mounted to a first support portion of the frame arrangement, wherein the distal end is pivotably supporting the pivot connector of the main arm, and wherein the main arm support means is movable in a direction which includes at least a component in the front-rear direction of the loader. 
     
     
         4 . The loader according to  claim 3 , wherein an extension direction of the main arm support means from the proximal end to the distal end, in the lowered position, is oriented upwards in a height direction and backwards in the front-rear direction of the loader, and wherein the extension direction of the main arm support means from the proximal end to the distal end, in the lifted position, is oriented upwards in the height direction and forward in the front-rear direction of the loader. 
     
     
         5 . The loader according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the lifting arrangement further comprises a guiding means having a proximal end and a distal end;   the proximal end is pivotably mounted to a second support portion of the frame arrangement;   the distal end is engaged to the main arm at a guided portion of the main arm positioned between the pivot connector and the equipment connector;   the lifting arrangement is configured such that the guiding means guides the main arm between the lowered position and the lifted position such that the equipment connector of the main arm follows the J-shaped path.   
     
     
         6 . The loader according to  claim 5 , wherein the second support portion of the frame arrangement is provided above a ground engaging element of the loader, wherein the guiding means is provided above the ground engaging element of the loader in all operating conditions of the lifting arrangement, and wherein the ground engagement element is a wheel. 
     
     
         7 . The loader according to  claim 6 , wherein the front frame portion comprises a protruding portion extending upward in the height direction and forward in the front-rear direction of the loader, wherein the second support portion is formed at a distal end of the protruding portion, and wherein the second support portion is a highest portion of the front frame portion in the height direction and/or the most forward portion of the front frame portion in the front-rear direction of the loader. 
     
     
         8 . The loader according to  claim 5 , wherein, in the lowered position of the lifting arrangement, an extension direction of the guiding means from the proximal end to the distal end exhibits an angle with respect to the front-rear direction of the loader, and wherein the angle is smaller than 5°. 
     
     
         9 . The loader according to  claim 8 , wherein, in the lowered position of the lifting arrangement, the extension direction of the guiding means from the proximal end to the distal end is oriented backwards in the front-rear direction of the loader and downwards in the height direction of the loader. 
     
     
         10 . The loader according to  claim 3 , wherein the lifting arrangement further comprises:
 an auxiliary actuating element engaged to the main arm and the main arm support means for adjusting an angle therebetween; and   a control means configured to control an operation of the main arm actuating element and the auxiliary actuating element such that the equipment connector follows the J-shaped path.   
     
     
         11 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the main arm of the lifting arrangement comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a distance between the pivot connector and the equipment connector, and wherein the lifting arrangement further comprises:
 an auxiliary actuating element for actuating the adjustment mechanism; and   a control means configured to control an operation of the main arm actuating element and the auxiliary actuating element such that the equipment connector follows the J-shaped path.   
     
     
         12 . The loader according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tiling arrangement for tiling an equipment mounted to the equipment connector,   wherein the tiling arrangement is configured to rotate the equipment backwards upon moving the lifting arrangement from the lowered position to the lifted position such that a centroid of the equipment is not moved forwards in the front-rear direction of the loader as much as the equipment connector, and   wherein the equipment is a bucket.   
     
     
         13 . The loader according to  claim 12 , wherein the tilting arrangement comprises a tilting actuation element for tilting the equipment and a control means, and wherein the control means is configured to tilt the equipment via the tilting actuation element backwards upon moving the lifting arrangement from the lowered position to the lifted position. 
     
     
         14 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the loader is a wheel loader. 
     
     
         15 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein an equipment is pivotably mounted to the equipment connector, and wherein the equipment is a bucket.