Loader

Abstract

A loader comprises an articulating frame arrangement for providing an articulating steering. The loader comprises a lifting arrangement mounted to a front frame portion of the frame arrangement. The lifting arrangement comprises an equipment connector at a distal end of the lifting arrangement, a main actuation system for moving the equipment connector between a lowered position and a lifted position, and an auxiliary actuation system for storing energy during lowering. The auxiliary actuation system uses the stored energy to support the main actuation system in raising of the equipment connecter. The auxiliary actuation system comprises an auxiliary actuator connected at one end to the front frame portion of the frame arrangement and connected at another end to the lifting arrangement at a transversal side of the lifting arrangement.

1 . A loader including a frame arrangement, the frame arrangement comprising a front frame portion and a rear frame portion articulatingly interconnected for providing an articulating steering, the loader comprising:
 a lifting arrangement mounted to the frame arrangement and comprising an equipment connector at a distal end of the lifting arrangement;   a main actuation system for pivoting the equipment connector relative to the frame arrangement such that the equipment connector is movable between a lowered position and a lifted position; and   an auxiliary actuation system for storing energy during lowering of the equipment connecter and for using the stored energy to support the main actuation system in raising of the equipment connecter;   wherein the auxiliary actuation system comprises an auxiliary actuator connected at it a proximal end to the frame arrangement and connected at a distal end to the lifting arrangement at a transversal side of the lifting arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the auxiliary actuator is arranged below an operator's cab of the loader and/or a front window of the operator's cab when the equipment connector is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         3 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary actuation system is a fluid-operated actuation system comprising an accumulator for storing energy. 
     
     
         4 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary actuation system is provided separately from the main actuation system and is configured to store energy and to support raising of the equipment connector completely autonomously without interaction with the main actuation system. 
     
     
         5 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the main actuation system is an electrical system with an electrical power storage unit and an electrical drive configured to actuate movement of the equipment connector between the lowered position and the lifted position, and wherein the main actuation system is configured to actuate articulation of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion with respect to each other and/or to actuate driving of the loader. 
     
     
         6 . The loader according  claim 5 , wherein the main actuation system comprises a main hydraulic system configured to actuate movement of the equipment connector between the lowered position and the lifted position, and wherein the main hydraulic system is configured to be powered by the electrical drive. 
     
     
         7 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the auxiliary actuator is mounted to the front frame portion coaxially with or below a connection of the lifting arrangement to the front frame portion. 
     
     
         8 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the main actuation system comprises a main actuator connected to the lifting arrangement coaxially with or distal to a connection of the auxiliary actuator to the lifting arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary actuator is a cylinder connected at a rod end to the lifting arrangement and at a cylinder end to the front frame portion. 
     
     
         10 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lifting arrangement comprises a main arm with a pivot connector at a proximate end and the equipment connector at a distal end;   the main actuation system is configured to pivot the main arm about the pivot connector such that the equipment connector is moved between the lowered position and the lifted position; and   the lifting arrangement further comprises:
 a main arm support means for pivotably supporting the pivot connector of the main arm, wherein the main arm support means is movable in a direction which includes at least a component in a front-rear direction with respect to the frame arrangement; and 
 a guiding means engaged to the main arm at a guided portion of the main arm positioned between the pivot connector and the equipment connector, wherein upon moving the equipment connector with the main actuation system from the lowered position to the lifted position, the guided portion is guided by the guiding means along a curved path such that the equipment connector follows a substantially vertical path. 
   
     
     
         11 . The loader according to  claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary actuator is connected to the main arm at a position distal to the pivot connector and proximal to the guided portion. 
     
     
         12 . The loader according to  claim 10 , wherein the main actuation system comprises a main actuator connected to the main arm at a position distal to the pivot connector and proximal to the guided portion, and wherein the position is distal to a connection of the auxiliary actuator to the main arm. 
     
     
         13 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein a bucket or a lifting fork is tiltably mounted to the equipment connector. 
     
     
         14 . The loader according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the auxiliary actuator is connected to the front frame portion below an operator's cab and/or a front window of the operator's cab.