Power delivery system for powering power machine implements

Abstract

A power machine includes a frame, an arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a power source supported on the frame, and an implement interface having an implement carrier pivotally coupled to the arm and configured to mount an implement on the power machine. The power source can be an electric power source, and the implement interface includes a power transfer system configured to provide power from the power source to the implement mounted on the implement carrier. The power transfer system of the implement interface can include a motor which rotates a power take-off output shaft in some embodiments. The power transfer system can include a hydraulic converter having a hydraulic reservoir and a hydraulic pump and configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the implement in some embodiments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power machine comprising:
 a frame;   an arm pivotally coupled to the frame;   a power source supported on the frame; and   an implement interface including an implement carrier pivotally coupled to the arm and configured to engage with an implement carrier interface of an implement to mount the implement on the implement carrier, wherein the implement interface includes a power transfer system configured to provide power from the power source of the power machine to the implement mounted on the implement carrier, the power transfer system including a motor and a power take-off (PTO) output shaft rotatably coupled to the motor, the motor configured to receive power from the power source and to responsively rotate the PTO output shaft, the PTO output shaft configured to be coupled to a PTO receiver of the implement mounted on the implement carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The power machine of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is an electric power source and the motor is an electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The power machine of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is positioned such that the PTO output shaft extends forward of a front face of the implement carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The power machine of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is positioned such that the PTO output shaft extends to a position behind a front face of the implement carrier or in alignment with the front face of the implement carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The power machine of  claim 1 , and further comprising a power transfer system actuator coupled to the motor and configured to move the motor to position the PTO output shaft to allow coupling to the PTO receiver of the implement mounted on the implement carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The power machine of  claim 5 , wherein the motor is configured to be moved by the actuator from a first position in which the PTO output shaft is entirely behind a front face of the implement carrier to a second position in which the PTO output shaft extends forward of the front face of the implement carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The power machine of  claim 5 , wherein the power transfer system actuator is configured to pivot the motor forward to position the PTO output shaft to allow coupling to the PTO receiver of the implement mounted on the implement carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The power machine of  claim 5 , wherein the power transfer system actuator is configured to move the motor forward to position the PTO output shaft to allow coupling to the PTO receiver of the implement mounted on the implement carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The power machine of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is coupled to the arm or to the implement carrier such that the motor is capable of at least one degree of movement relative to the implement carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The power machine of  claim 9 , wherein the motor is biased such that the implement carrier moves relative to the arm independent of movement of the motor relative to the arm until the PTO output shaft is coupled to the PTO receiver of the implement mounted on the implement carrier, and then the motor moves with movement of the implement carrier. 
     
     
         11 . A power machine, comprising:
 a frame;   an arm pivotally coupled to the frame;   an electric power source supported on the frame; and   an implement interface including an implement carrier pivotally coupled to the arm, the implement interface configured to engage with an implement carrier interface of an implement to mount the implement on the power machine, wherein the implement interface includes a power transfer system configured to provide power from the electric power source of the power machine to the implement mounted on the power machine, the power transfer system forming a hydraulic converter comprising:
 a hydraulic reservoir configured to store hydraulic fluid; 
 a hydraulic pump coupled to the electric power source and configured to receive electric power from the electric power source; 
 a first hydraulic coupler coupled to an output of the hydraulic pump and configured to be coupled to a first implement hydraulic coupler on the implement when the implement is mounted on the power machine; 
 a second hydraulic coupler coupled to the hydraulic reservoir and configured to be coupled to a second implement hydraulic coupler on the implement when the implement is mounted on the power machine; and 
 wherein in response to receiving the electric power from the electric power source, the hydraulic pump is configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the implement through the first hydraulic coupler and the first implement hydraulic coupler to power a hydraulic actuator on the implement, wherein flow of hydraulic fluid from the implement is returned to the reservoir through the second implement hydraulic coupler and the second hydraulic coupler. 
   
     
     
         12 . The power machine of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic converter further comprises a hydraulic cooler coupled between the second hydraulic coupler and the hydraulic reservoir and configured to cool hydraulic fluid returned to the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The power machine of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic converter is supported by the lift arm. 
     
     
         14 . The power machine of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic converter is coupled to and moves with the implement carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The power machine of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic converter is an adapter and further comprises:
 an implement carrier interface configured to mount the hydraulic converter on the implement carrier; and   an adapter implement carrier configured to mount the implement on the hydraulic converter and thereby on the power machine.