Six-way blade on a power machine

Abstract

A power machine includes a frame having an undercarriage and a house rotatably coupled to the undercarriage. First and second tractive elements are coupled to the undercarriage. A lower lift arm structure is pivotally coupled to the undercarriage at a lower lift arm pivot connection. A tilt frame is pivotally coupled to the lower lift arm structure at an angle pivot connection. An implement is pivotally coupled to the tilt frame at a tilt pivot connection and has an implement front face. A tilt actuator is coupled to the tilt frame at a first tilt pivot and is pivotally coupled to the implement at a second tilt pivot. The angle pivot connection is located between the tilt actuator and the implement front face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power machine comprising:
 a frame including an undercarriage and a house rotatably coupled to the undercarriage;   first and second tractive elements coupled to left and right sides of the undercarriage;   a lower lift arm structure pivotally coupled to the undercarriage at a lower lift arm pivot connection and configured to move in first and second lift directions;   a tilt frame pivotally coupled to the lower lift arm structure at an angle pivot connection and configured to move in first and second angle directions;   an implement pivotally coupled to the tilt frame at a tilt pivot connection and having an implement front face; and   a tilt actuator coupled to the tilt frame at a first tilt pivot and pivotally coupled to the implement at a second tilt pivot, wherein the tilt actuator is configured to move the implement in first and second tilt directions; and   wherein the angle pivot connection is located between the tilt actuator and the implement front face.   
     
     
         2 . The power machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of first and second guide plates mounted to the back face of the implement and spaced apart from each other to provide a channel therebetween, the guide plates being configured to slidably move along opposing free ends of the tilt frame. 
     
     
         3 . The power machine of  claim 2 , wherein each surface of each guide plate that faces one of the free ends of the tilt frame is curved to correspond with curved surfaces of the opposing free ends of the tilt frame. 
     
     
         4 . The power machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a pair of first and second wear pads mounted to the back face of the implement and to which the each of the first and second guides plates are mounted to. 
     
     
         5 . The power machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a first set of wear pads mounted to the front face of the tilt frame and a second set of wear pads mounted to the back face of the implement such that the first set of wear pads on the front face of the tilt frame contact the second set of wear pads on the back face of the implement. 
     
     
         6 . The power machine of  claim 5 , wherein the tilt frame further comprises a first and second grease zerk, wherein each grease zerk is configured to feed grease to a groove formed in each wear pad mounted to the tilt frame. 
     
     
         7 . The power machine of  claim 6 , wherein each groove is machined directly into one of the wear pads mounted to the front face of the tilt frame. 
     
     
         8 . The power machine of  claim 1 , wherein the house is rotatably coupled to the undercarriage about a swivel axis and wherein the angle pivot connection has an angle pivot axis that is substantially parallel with the swivel axis, wherein the tilt actuator is located between the angle pivot axis and the swivel axis and more proximal to the angle pivot axis than the swivel axis. 
     
     
         9 . A power machine comprising:
 a frame including an undercarriage and a house rotatably coupled to the undercarriage about a swivel axis;   first and second tractive elements coupled to left and right sides of the undercarriage;   a lower lift arm structure pivotally coupled to the undercarriage at a lower lift arm pivot connection;   at least one lift cylinder coupled to the undercarriage at a first lift pivot and pivotally coupled to the lower lift arm structure at a second lift pivot, wherein the at least one lift cylinder is configured to raise and lower the lower lift arm structure;   a tilt frame pivotally coupled to the lower lift arm structure at an angle pivot connection, wherein the angle pivot connection has an angle pivot axis that is substantially parallel with the swivel axis;   an angle cylinder coupled to the lower lift arm structure at a first angle pivot and pivotally coupled to the tilt frame at a second angle pivot, wherein the angle cylinder is configured to rotate the tilt frame about the angle pivot axis;   an implement pivotally coupled to the tilt frame by a tilt pivot connection, wherein the tilt pivot connection has a tilt pivot axis that intersects with the angle pivot axis; and   a tilt cylinder coupled to the tilt frame at a first tilt pivot and pivotally coupled to the implement at a second tilt pivot, wherein the tilt cylinder is configured to rotate the implement about the tilt pivot axis; and   wherein the tilt cylinder is located between the angle pivot axis of the angle pivot connection and the swivel axis of the house and is more proximal to the angle pivot axis than the swivel axis.   
     
     
         10 . The power machine of  claim 9 , further comprising a pair of first and second guide plates mounted to the back face of the implement and spaced apart from each other to provide a channel therebetween, the guide plates being configured to slidably move along opposing free ends of the tilt frame. 
     
     
         11 . The power machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a pair of first and second wear pads mounted to the back face of the implement and to which the each of the first and second guides plates are mounted to. 
     
     
         12 . The power machine of  claim 9 , further comprising a first set of wear pads mounted to the front face of the tilt frame and a second set of wear pads mounted to the back face of the implement such that the first set of wear pads on the front face of the tilt frame contact the second set of wear pads on the back face of the implement. 
     
     
         13 . The power machine of  claim 12 , wherein the tilt frame further comprises a first and second grease zerk, wherein each grease zerk is configured to feed grease to a groove formed in each wear pad mounted to the tilt frame. 
     
     
         14 . The power machine of  claim 13 , wherein each groove is machined directly into one of the wear pads mounted to the front face of the tilt frame. 
     
     
         15 . A power machine lift arm assembly comprising:
 a lower lift arm structure configured to be pivotally coupled to an undercarriage of a power machine at a lower lift arm pivot connection;   at least one lift actuator configured to rotate the lower lift arm structure about the lower lift arm pivot connection;   a tilt frame pivotally coupled to the lower lift arm structure at an angle pivot connection;   an angle actuator configured to rotate the tilt frame about the angle pivot connection;   an implement pivotally coupled to the tilt frame at a tilt pivot connection; and   a tilt actuator configured to rotate the implement about the tilt pivot connection; and   wherein the tilt actuator is positioned behind the angle pivot connection.   
     
     
         16 . The power machine lift arm assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising first and second guide plates mounted to the back face of the implement and spaced apart from each other to provide a channel therebetween, the guide plates being configured to slidably move along opposing free ends of the tilt frame. 
     
     
         17 . The power machine lift arm assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second guide plates comprise a grease zerk that feeds lubricant to a grease groove formed in the each guide plate. 
     
     
         18 . The power machine lift arm assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a first set of wear pads mounted to the front face of the tilt frame and a second set of wear pads mounted to the back face of the implement such that the first set of wear pads on the front face of the tilt frame contact the second set of wear pads on the back face of the implement. 
     
     
         19 . The power machine lift arm assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the tilt frame further comprises a first and second grease zerk, wherein each grease zerk is configured to feed grease to a groove formed in each wear pad mounted to the tilt frame. 
     
     
         20 . The power machine lift arm assembly of  claim 19 , wherein each groove is machined directly into one of the wear pads mounted to the front face of the tilt frame.