Boom Lock

Abstract

A work vehicle comprises a frame. At least one ground engaging device is coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame and configured to move from a lowered position to a raised position. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler. A boom lock is coupled to at least one of the frame and the boom assembly. The boom lock is configured to move from an unlocked position where the boom assembly is movable to a locked position where the boom assembly is locked to the frame in the lowered position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A work vehicle comprising:
 a frame;   at least one ground engaging device coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface;   a boom assembly coupled to the frame and configured to move from a lowered position to a raised position;   an attachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly;   at least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler; and   a boom lock coupled to at least one of the frame and the boom assembly, the boom lock configured to move from an unlocked position where the boom assembly is movable to a locked position where the boom assembly is locked to the frame in the lowered position.   
     
     
         2 . The work vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the boom lock comprises a receiving device coupled to at least one of the boom assembly and the frame, the receiving device configured to receive a movable shaft coupled to at least one of the other of the boom assembly and the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The work vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising an operator's station coupled to the frame, an operator interface positioned in the operator's station, and a controller configured to receive an operator signal from the operator interface, transmit a boom lower signal to a hydraulic system configured to lower the boom assembly to the frame, and transmit a boom lock signal to an actuator of the boom lock to move the boom lock to the locked position after the boom assembly is lowered to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The work vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment coupled to the attachment coupler, the tilt cylinder configured to tilt the attachment in the unlocked position and the locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The work vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment is a dozer blade and a load path does not pass through a lower link of the boom assembly with the boom lock in the locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The work vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment is a dozer blade and a load path passes through the boom assembly, the boom lock, and the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The work vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment is a bucket. 
     
     
         8 . The work vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment is a fork. 
     
     
         9 . The work vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein in the locked position, the tilt cylinder raises the attachment off of the surface. 
     
     
         10 . A boom lock for a work vehicle comprising a frame, a boom assembly coupled to the frame and configured to move from a lowered position to a raised position, an attachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly, and at least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler, the boom lock comprising:
 a movable shaft coupled to at least one of the boom assembly and the frame; and   a receiving device coupled to at least one of the other of the boom assembly and the frame, the receiving device configured to receive the movable shaft,   the boom lock configured to move from an unlocked position where the boom assembly is movable to a locked position where the boom is locked to the frame in the lowered position.   
     
     
         11 . The boom lock of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller configured to receive an operator signal from an operator interface, transmit a boom lower signal to a hydraulic system configured to lower the boom assembly to the frame, and transmit a boom lock signal to an actuator of the boom lock to move the boom lock to the locked position after the boom assembly is lowered to the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The boom lock of  claim 10 , further comprising a dozer blade coupled to the attachment coupler and a load path passes through the dozer blade, the boom assembly, the boom lock, and the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The boom lock of  claim 10 , wherein in the locked position, the tilt cylinder raises an attachment coupled to the attachment coupler off of a surface. 
     
     
         14 . The boom lock of  claim 13 , wherein attachment is a dozer blade and a load path does not pass through a lower link of the boom assembly with the boom lock in the locked position. 
     
     
         15 . A method for locking a boom assembly of a work vehicle to a frame of the work vehicle, the boom assembly coupled to an attachment coupler that is coupled to an attachment, the method comprising:
 providing a movable shaft coupled to at least one of the boom assembly and the frame;   providing a receiving device coupled to at least one of the other of the boom assembly and the frame;   moving the movable shaft from an unlocked position to a locked position where the receiving device receives the movable shaft; and   creating a load path that passes through the attachment, the attachment coupler, the boom assembly, the movable shaft, the receiving device, and the frame.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a controller to receive an operator signal from an operator interface positioned in a cab coupled to the frame, transmitting a boom lower signal to a hydraulic system configured to lower the boom assembly to the frame, and transmitting a boom lock signal to an actuator to cause the receiving device to receive the movable shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment is a dozer blade and the load path passes through the dozer blade, the attachment coupler, the boom assembly, the movable shaft, the receiving device, and the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising tilting the attachment with at least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler to raise the attachment from a surface without changing the load path. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment is a bucket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment is a trencher.