Linkage For An Earth-moving Machine

Abstract

An assembly for controlling the angle of an implement on an earth-moving machine. The assembly includes an upper control arm, a lower control configured to mechanically interface with an implement; a rocker arm configured to pivotably couple the lower control arm to the upper control arm.

1 . A linkage for an earth-moving machine comprising:
 a boom arm pivotably connected to a machine frame at a first pivot,   an implement pivotably connected to the boom arm at a second pivot,   an angle control assembly connected to the machine and connected to the implement,   wherein the angle control assembly prevents the implement from tilting beyond a threshold when the boom arm is raised,   wherein the angle control assembly comprises:   an upper control arm pivotably operably connected to a lower control arm, and a rocker arm pivotally connected to the upper control arm and to the lower control arm.   
     
     
         2 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the lower control arm is in the range of about 1.2 to 2.5 times the movement of the upper control arm as the linkage is raised. 
     
     
         3 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the lower control arm is in the range of about 1.3 to 2.0 times the movement of the upper control arm as the linkage is raised. 
     
     
         4 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein rocker arm is operably connected to the boom arm. 
     
     
         5 . The linkage of  claim 4 , wherein the rocker arm is pivotably connected to the boom arm at substantially one end of the rocker arm. 
     
     
         6 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the rocker arm is connected to the lower control arm at substantially one end of the rocker arm. 
     
     
         7 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the rocker arm and the lower control arm is above the connection between the rocker arm and upper control arm. 
     
     
         8 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the rocker arm and boom arm is below the connection between the rocker arm and lower control arm. 
     
     
         9 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the upper control arm is connected to the rocker arm substantially between the first and second ends of the rocker arm. 
     
     
         10 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the rocker arm is substantially triangular in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The linkage of  claim 1 , wherein the implement is a bucket. 
     
     
         12 . The linkage of  claim 1 , further including a hydraulic cylinder operable connected to the angle control assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The linkage of  claim 12 , further including an armature pivotably connected to the implement at a fourth pivot and pivotably connected to the hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The linkage of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of boom arms. 
     
     
         15 . The linkage of  claim 14 , including a crossbar connected the plurality of boom arms. 
     
     
         16 . The linkage of  claim 15 , wherein the rocker arm is operably connected to the crossbar. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly for controlling the angle of an implement on an earth-moving machine comprising:
 an upper control arm,   a lower control configured to mechanically interface with the implement;   a rocker arm configured to pivotably couple the lower control arm to the upper control arm.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the rocker arm is substantially triangular in shape. 
     
     
         19 . A loader comprising:
 a machine frame;   a ground engaging element;   a boom arm pivotably connected to a machine frame at a first pivot,   a hydraulic cylinder connected to the machine frame and configured to raise or lower the boom arm,   a bucket pivotably connected to the boom arm at a second pivot,   an angle control assembly connected to the machine and connected to the bucket,   wherein the angle control assembly arm prevents the angle at second pivot from exceeding a threshold when the boom arm is raised,   wherein the angle control assembly comprises:
 an upper control arm pivotably connected at the first pivot; 
 a lower control arm pivotably connected to the bucket; 
 a rocker arm pivotally connected to the upper control arm and to lower control arm.