Work machine having a radial and vertical lift path with a common boom assembly pivot

Abstract

A work machine comprising a mainframe, an operator cab, and boom assembly. The mainframe extends in a fore-aft direction. The operator cab is coupled to the mainframe. The boom assembly is movably coupled to the mainframe at a boom assembly pivot. The boom assembly is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The boom assembly pivot is located aft of the operator cab and is commonly positioned for both a vertical lift boom assembly and a radial lift boom assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A work machine comprising:
 a mainframe extending in a fore-aft direction;   an operator cab coupled to the mainframe;   a boom assembly movably coupled to the mainframe at a boom assembly pivot, the boom assembly movable between a retracted position and an extended position;   wherein the boom assembly pivot is located aft of the operator cab and is commonly positioned for both a vertical lift boom assembly and a radial lift boom assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the mainframe includes a pair of supports supporting the boom assembly, the pair of supports positioned on each side of the mainframe and aft of the operator cab, the pair of supports extending upwardly from and terminating at an upper end located substantially above a support surface of the mainframe and below a line of sight of an operator seated in the operator cab,
 the boom assembly pivot positioned on an upper portion of the support.   
     
     
         3 . The work machine of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of supports are located fore of an air intake access, the air intake access positioned on each side of the mainframe. 
     
     
         4 . The work machine of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical lift boom assembly comprises:
 a pair of boom arms positioned on each side of the mainframe,
 each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion,
 the rear portion including a prong with a first portion and a second portion, the fore portion for coupling to an attachment, 
 
   a pair of first links positioned on each side of the mainframe, the first link coupled to the first portion of the prong and the mainframe;   a pair of second links extending in an upright direction on each side of the mainframe, the second link coupled to the second portion of the prong and the boom assembly; and   a pair of actuators positioned on each side of the mainframe coupled to the boom arm at or near the prong of the boom arm and the mainframe, wherein the extension of the actuator lifts the fore portion of the boom arm, the fore portion following a vertical lift path when the actuators move between a retracted position and an extended position.   
     
     
         5 . The work machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first link is below the boom arm when moving between the retracted state and the extended state. 
     
     
         6 . The work machine of  claim 4 , wherein the prong and the second link coupling create a visibility window. 
     
     
         7 . The work machine of  claim 2 , wherein the radial lift boom assembly comprises:
 a pair of boom arms extending in the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe,   each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion,
 the rear portion coupled to the mainframe at the boom assembly pivot, and 
 the fore portion for coupling an attachment, the fore portion following a radial lift path when the boom assembly moves between a retracted position and an extended position; 
   a pair of actuators extending in the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe, the actuator coupled to the support and the fore portion of the boom arm wherein extension of the actuator lifts the fore portion of the boom arm.   
     
     
         8 . The work machine of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of actuators are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the boom assembly pivot comprises a double shear joint. 
     
     
         10 . The work machine of  claim 2 , wherein the boom assembly is absent a row bar, the row bar coupling the boom arms in a direction perpendicular to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
         11 . A vertical lift boom assembly for a work machine, the work machine having a mainframe, the vertical lift boom assembly comprising:
 a pair of supports fixedly coupled to each side of the mainframe and aft of the operator cab, the pair of supports extending upwardly from and terminating at an upper end located below a line of sight of an operator seat in the operator cab;   a pair of boom arms extending in a fore-aft direction on each of the mainframe,
 each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion,
 the rear portion including a prong with a first portion and a second portion, and 
 
   a pair of first links positioned on each side of the mainframe, the first link coupled to the first portion of the prong and the mainframe;   a pair of second links extending in an upright direction on each side of the mainframe, the second link coupled to the second portion of the prong, and a boom assembly pivot located proximal to the upper end of the support,   the fore portion for coupling to an attachment,   a pair of actuators positioned on each side of the mainframe, each actuator coupled to each boom arm at or near the prong of the boom arm, and the mainframe wherein the extension of the actuator lifts the fore portion of the boom arm, the fore portion following a vertical lift path when the actuators move between a retracted position and an extended position.   
     
     
         12 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first link is below the boom arm when moving between the retracted state and the extended state. 
     
     
         13 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the prong of the boom arm and the second link coupling create a visibility window. 
     
     
         14 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of actuators are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         15 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the boom assembly pivot is commonly positioned with a radial lift boom assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A radial lift boom assembly for a work machine, the work machine having a mainframe, the radial lift boom assembly comprising:
 a pair of supports fixedly coupled to each side of the mainframe and aft of the operator cab, the pair of supports extending upwardly from and terminating at an upper end located below a line of sight of an operator seat in the operator cab;   a pair of boom arms extending in the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe, each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion,
 the rear portion coupled to the support at a boom assembly pivot, the fore portion for coupling to an attachment; and 
   a pair of actuators extending in the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe, each actuator coupled to the support and the fore portion of the boom arm, the fore portion following a radial lift path when the actuators move between a retracted position and an extended position.   
     
     
         17 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of actuators are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the boom assembly is absent a row bar, the row bar coupling the boom arms in a direction perpendicular to the fore-aft direction. 
     
     
         19 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the boom assembly pivot is commonly positioned with a vertical lift boom assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of supports are located fore of the air intake access, the air intake access positioned on each side of the mainframe.