WO1990014472A1

WO1990014472A1 - Independent drive controls for skid steer loader

Info

Publication number: WO1990014472A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Howard Blanch
Original assignee: M & H Blanch Pty Limited
Priority date: 1989-05-17
Filing date: 1990-05-17
Publication date: 1990-11-29

Abstract

A skid steer loader having a first set of drive means (19) on a first side and a second set of drive means (22) on a second side, first control means (20) for controlling the direction of rotation of the first drive means (19), second control means (23) for controlling the direction of rotation of the second drive means (22) the first and second control means (20, 23) being independent of each other.

Description

INDEPENDENT DRIVE CONTROLS FOR SKID STEER LOADER

The present invention relates to a mobile automatic skid steer loader, suitable for removal of compact non-monolithic or granular materials.

It is often necessary to remove materials from environments which are hazardous to humans, for example, removal of dross and debris from beneath .smelter potlines and in similar industrial applications, and also in areas of space restrictions.

The present invention provides a skid steer loader which is able to be worked in such environments.

In one broad form the present invention provides a remote controlled steer loader comprising separate controls for each side set of drive means which are hydraulically operated, a lifting arm or arms hydraulically controlled, and a low pivot point for the lifting arm or arms.

In another form the invention comprises a loader having a first set of drive means on a first side and a second set of drive means and second side, generally parallel to said first side, said first and second sets of drive means driven by first and second sets of at least one hydraulic motor respectively, first control means for controlling the direction of said first set of at least one hydraulic motor; second control means for controlling the second set of at least one hydraulic motor, the first and second control means being independent of each other.

Preferably each of the control means are operated by solenoid valves, and in another embodiment all of the control means are radio controlled solenoid valves.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG.l is a perspective rear view of a loader according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.2 illustrates a side view of the above loader, illustrated in Figure 1;

FIG.3 illustrates a front view of the loader showing

the bucket in its raised position;

FIG. illustrates a schematic hydraulic circuit for one embodiment of the loader; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the wire loom schematic of one embodiment of the present invention.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. As seen in Figure 1 the loader is less than two metres long by 980mm wide by 750mm high. The loader is powered by a diesel motor 2, which operates a hydraulic motor to drive the loader.

Because of the restricted space in which it is normally used the lift arms 3 are pivoted relatively low at the rear of the loader and so shaped so as to allow for effec ive movement of the bucket 4 and lift arms 3 to carry material in the bucket 4. Further this allows for effective movement of the lift arms 3, such that the bucket 4, whilst being able to be articulated in confined spaces, (Figures 3 and 2) can be lifted, as shown in Figure 3 to a sufficient height to dump material into a five foot high bin. A single ram 7 is used to operate the bucket 4.

The loader is driven via a hydraulic circuit; an embodiment of which is shown in Figure 4. The diesel motor 2 drives a Lamborghini tandem pump 8, which comprises high speed side 9 and a low speed side 10. A check valve 11 is connected between the high and low speed lines, with appropriate relief and dump valves 12, 13 and 14.

The lift rams 5 and 6 are connected to the hydraulic motor by means of a solenoid operated valve 15, which is usually biased into its neutral position, whereby operation of the rams are controlled by the position of the valve 15.

Similarly the bucket ram 16 is operated by the solenoid operated valve 17.

The left side pair of wheels (18) are each mounted on separate hydraulic motors 19 which are operated in tandem, whereby the direction of rotation is determined by the operation of the solenoid valve 20. Similarly the right hand side pair of wheels 21 are operated independently of the left hand side pair of wheels by the separate hydraulic motors 22 in tandem, by the operation of the solenoid valve 23.

The solenoid valves and high and low speed operation are controlled as shown through the wiring loom schematic shown in Figure 5, and are controlled by a radio transmitter.

In other embodiments the loader can be controlled by cable or fibre optics, and the valves could be on/off valves or proportional valves, with separate wheel drives. The loader could operate off a 12 or 24 volt battery.

Whereas other loading equipment and "Bobcats" use lever controls on their hydraulic systems (to steer and operate), the loader uses solenoid activated electric valves to provide equal or greater manoeuvrability.

The loader can also feature digital proportional hydraulics, improving manoeuvrability through more precise control.

The highest level of safety is ensured through automatic shutdown of the loader in the event of a loss of (or interference with) radio contact.

Attachments can be fitted to the present invention in place of the standard bucket, including sweeping mechanisms, four-in-one bucket, jack-hammer attachments, and boring equipment.

A window can be placed at the rear of the loader to allow an operator to view control lights which indicate the operational status of the components of the system.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modifications and alterations can be made to the loader as described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS:

1. A remote controlled steer loader comprising separate controls for each side set of drive means which are hydraulically operated, a lifting arm or arms hydraulically controlled, and a low pivot point for the lifting arm or arms.

2. A remote controlled skid steer loader according to claim 1 wherein a deisel motor operates an hydraulic pump to supply hydraulics to hydraulic motors for each of the drive means, which motors are operated by appropriate valves controlled by a remote control system.

3. A remote controlled skid steer loader according to claim 2, wherein said loader is radio controlled.

4. A remote controlled skid steer loader according to claim 2 wherein said loader is wire controlled.

5. A loader having a first set of drive means on a first side and a second set of drive means on a second side, generally parallel to said first side, said first and second sets of drive means driven by first and second sets of at least one hydraulic motor respectively, first control means for controlling the direction of said first set of at least one hydraulic motor; second control means for controlling the second set of at least one hydraulic motor, the first and second control means being independent of each other.

6. The loader of claim 5 wherein said first and second control means are controlled from a remote location.

7. The loader of claim 6 wherein the first and second means are controlled from a remote location by radio waves.

8. The loader of claim 6 wherein the first and second means are controlled from a remote location via wires.

9. The loader of any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the loader includes a lift arm having a bucket pivotably attached thereon, the lift arm position controllable from a remote location.

10. The loader of claim 9 wherein the bucket is controllable from a remote location.

11. The loader of claim 10 wherein the lift arm and bucket are controllable by radio waves.

12. A loader substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.