Attachment for skid steer loader or other similar work vehicle having local fluid power system

Abstract

A local fluid power system is provided on a attachment for a skid steer loader or other commercial work vehicle. The local fluid power system can supplement the existing hydraulic power system provided by the commercial work vehicle or skid steer loader. The local fluid power system may comprise a hydraulic reservoir and a hydraulic pump fluidically connected to the hydraulic reservoir for providing a hydraulic power source. The local fluid power system may drive a first hydraulic actuator that acts upon the work attachment tool. The attachment may include a second actuator that is not driven by the local fluid power system, but instead by the existing hydraulic system provided by the commercial work vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A power machine, comprising, in combination: 
 a skid steer loader vehicle having a pair of lift arms and a first hydraulic system, the lift arms being actuated by hydraulic lift arm cylinders, the first hydraulic system powering the hydraulic lift arm cylinders; and    an attachment having a work tool, the attachment being removably mounted to the lift arms, the attachment further including a local hydraulic system comprised of: 
 a hydraulic reservoir;  
 a hydraulic pump fluidically connected to the hydraulic reservoir, the hydraulic pump adapted to provide a hydraulic power source; and  
 a first hydraulic actuator acting upon the work tool, the first hydraulic actuator adapted to be driven by said hydraulic power source.  
   
     
     
         2 . The power machine of  claim 1  wherein the skid steer loader vehicle further includes an electrical power system, wherein the local hydraulic system further includes an electrical motor driving the hydraulic pump, further comprising an electrical wire connecting the electrical motor to the electrical power system of the skid steer loader, wherein the hydraulic pump is powered by the electrical power system of the skid steer loader vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The power machine of  claim 2  wherein the electrical wire includes a first wire segment connected to the electrical power system, a second wire segment connected to the electrical motor, and disconnectable electrical coupling between the first and second wire segments.  
     
     
         4 . The power machine of  claim 1  wherein the local hydraulic system comprises a plurality of said first hydraulic actuators, the local hydraulic system further including an electrical control valve block distributing the hydraulic power source to the first hydraulic actuators.  
     
     
         5 . The power machine of  claim 4  wherein the first hydraulic actuators are linearly reciprocating cylinders adapted to position the work tool relative to the skid steer loader vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . The power machine of  claim 4  further comprising an electrical remote control having a manual operator input, the electrical remote control being mounted in an operator cab of the skid steer loader vehicle in electrical communication with the electrical control valve block, the electrical remote control operating the electrical control valve block to distribute the hydraulic power source to the first hydraulic actuators.  
     
     
         7 . The power machine of  claim 1  wherein the first hydraulic system of the skid steer loader vehicle includes a hydraulic output, wherein the attachment further includes a second actuator acting upon the work tool and hydraulic hoses fluidically connecting the second actuator to the hydraulic output.  
     
     
         8 . The power machine of  claim 7  wherein the first hydraulic system of the skid steer loader vehicle includes a control valve controlling hydraulic flow through the hydraulic output.  
     
     
         9 . The power machine of  claim 7  wherein the second actuator is a rotary hydraulic motor adapted to rotate the tool and wherein the first hydraulic actuator is a linear hydraulic cylinder adapted to position the tool, wherein the local hydraulic power system prevents draws of hydraulic power from the hydraulic power output to maintain a substantially constant supply of hydraulic power to the rotary hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         10 . The power machine of  claim 9  wherein the attachment is a cold planner adapted to grind pavement surfaces.  
     
     
         11 . A power machine, comprising, in combination: 
 a work vehicle having a first hydraulic system; and    an attachment having a work tool, the attachment being removably mounted to the work vehicle, the attachment further including a local hydraulic system comprised of: 
 a hydraulic reservoir;  
 a hydraulic pump fluidically connected to the hydraulic reservoir, the hydraulic pump adapted to provide a hydraulic power source; and  
 a first hydraulic actuator acting upon the work tool, the first hydraulic actuator adapted to be driven by said hydraulic power source.  
   
     
     
         12 . The power machine of  claim 11  wherein the work vehicle further includes an electrical power system, wherein the local hydraulic system further includes an electrical motor driving the hydraulic pump, further comprising an electrical wire connecting the electrical motor to the electrical power system of the skid steer loader, wherein the hydraulic pump is powered by the electrical power system of the work vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The power machine of  claim 12  wherein the electrical wire includes a first wire segment connected to the electrical power system, a second wire segment connected to the electrical motor, and disconnectable electrical coupling between the first and second wire segments.  
     
     
         14 . The power machine of  claim 11  wherein the local hydraulic system comprises a plurality of said first hydraulic actuators, the local hydraulic system further including an electrical control valve block distributing the hydraulic power source to the first hydraulic actuators.  
     
     
         15 . The power machine of  claim 14  wherein the first hydraulic actuators are linearly reciprocating cylinders adapted to position the work tool relative to the work vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . The power machine of  claim 14  further comprising an electrical remote control having a manual operator input, the electrical remote control being mounted in an operator cab of the work vehicle in electrical communication with the electrical control valve block, the electrical remote control operating the electrical control valve block to distribute the hydraulic power source to the first hydraulic actuators.  
     
     
         17 . The power machine of  claim 11  wherein the first hydraulic system of the work vehicle includes a hydraulic output, wherein the attachment further includes a second actuator acting upon the work tool and hydraulic hoses fluidically connecting the second actuator to the hydraulic output.  
     
     
         18 . The power machine of  claim 17  wherein the first hydraulic system of the work vehicle includes a control valve controlling hydraulic flow through the hydraulic output.  
     
     
         19 . The power machine of  claim 17  wherein the second actuator is a rotary hydraulic motor adapted to rotate the tool and wherein the first hydraulic actuator is a linear hydraulic cylinder adapted to position the tool, wherein the local hydraulic power system prevents draws of hydraulic power from the hydraulic power output to maintain a substantially constant supply of hydraulic power to the rotary hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         20 . The power machine of  claim 19  wherein the attachment is a cold planner adapted to grind pavement surfaces.  
     
     
         21 . A work attachment for a work vehicle, the work vehicle comprising a hydraulic system, a pair of lift arms and an electrical power system, the lift arms being actuated by hydraulic lift arm cylinders, the hydraulic system powering the hydraulic lift arm cylinders, the work attachment, comprising: 
 a work tool;    an attach mechanism adapted to be removably mounted to the lift arms, the attach mechanism carrying the work tool;    a local fluid power system adapted to provide a local fluid power source; and    a fluid driven actuator acting upon the work tool and powered by the local fluid power source.    
     
     
         22 . The work attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the local fluid power system includes an electrical motor, a fluid reservoir adapted to hold fluid for use by the fluid driven actuator, and a fluid pump, the electrical motor driving the fluid pump to provide the local fluid power source.  
     
     
         23 . The work attachment of  claim 22 , further comprising an electrical wire connected to the electrical motor and adapted to be connected to the electrical power system of the work vehicle, wherein the hydraulic pump is adapted to be powered by the electrical power system of the work vehicle.  
     
     
         24 . The work attachment of  claim 22 , wherein the electrical motor and the fluid pump are mounted on the quick attach plate.  
     
     
         25 . The work attachment of  claim 22 , wherein the local fluid power system utilizes hydraulic fluid stored in the fluid reservoir.  
     
     
         26 . The work attachment of  claim 21  further comprising a plurality of said fluid driven actuators, wherein the local fluid power system comprises a plurality of said fluid driven actuators, the local fluid power system further including means for distributing the local fluid power source to the fluid driven actuators.  
     
     
         27 . The work attachment of  claim 26  wherein the fluid driven actuators are linearly reciprocating cylinders adapted to position the work tool relative to the work loader vehicle.  
     
     
         28 . The work attachment of  claim 26  further comprising an electrical remote control having a manual operator input, the electrical remote control being mounted in an operator cab of the work vehicle in electrical communication with the electrical distributing means, the electrical remote control operating the distributing means to distribute the fluid power source to the fluid driven actuators.  
     
     
         29 . The work attachment of  claim 21  wherein the hydraulic system of the work vehicle includes a hydraulic output, wherein the attachment further includes a hydraulic actuator acting upon the work tool and hydraulic hoses adapted to connect the hydraulic actuator to the hydraulic output, the hydraulic actuator being powered independent of the local fluid power system.  
     
     
         30 . The work attachment of  claim 29  wherein the hydraulic actuator is a rotary hydraulic motor adapted to rotate the work tool and wherein the fluid driven actuator is a linear cylinder adapted to position the work tool, wherein the local fluid power system prevents draws of hydraulic power from the hydraulic power output to maintain a substantially constant supply of hydraulic power to the rotary hydraulic motor.  
     
     
         31 . The power machine of  claim 21  wherein the work attachment is a cold planner adapted to grind pavement surfaces.  
     
     
         32 . The power machine of  claim 21  wherein the work vehicle has an hydraulic output adapted to be used by work attachments, and wherein the local fluid power system provides a hydraulic power supply of greater magnitude than the hydraulic output of the work vehicle.  
     
     
         33 . The power machine of  claim 21  wherein the work vehicle has an hydraulic output connecting to the work attachment to drive the fluid driven actuator of the attachment, wherein the local fluid power system includes a hydraulic pump in series with the hydraulic output to boost the power of the hydraulic output and thereby provide said local fluid power source.