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

Abstract

A work machine including a mainframe, an operator cab coupled to the mainframe and a boom assembly. The mainframe extends in a fore-aft direction. The operator cab may be coupled to the mainframe. The boom assembly is movably coupled to the mainframe at a boom assembly pivot wherein the boom assembly may move 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. In another embodiment, the boom assembly pivot interchangeably accommodates 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, the boom assembly pivot interchangeably accommodating a vertical lift boom assembly and a radial lift boom assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical boom assembly comprises:
 a pair of boom arms extending in a fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe,   each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion;   a pair of first vertical lift links positioned on each side, each first vertical link coupled to the rear portion of boom arm on one end and the boom assembly pivot on the other end;   a pair of second vertical lift links positioned on each side, each second vertical lift link coupled to the rear portion of the boom arm on one end and an upward portion of the main frame and below a line of sight of an operator seated in the operator cab on the other end; and   a pair of actuators positioned one each side of the mainframe coupled to the boom arm and the main frame, wherein the extension of the actuator lifts the fore portion of the boom arm.   
     
     
         3 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein coupling of the actuator, boom arm, and second vertical lift link creates a visibility window. 
     
     
         4 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertical lift link, the second vertical lift link, and the actuator are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted state and the extended state. 
     
     
         5 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the boom assembly pivot comprises a double shear joint. 
     
     
         6 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the radial lift boom assembly comprises:
 a pair of upward extending supports positioned on each side of the mainframe and aft of the operator cab, each upward extending support fixedly coupled to the mainframe at the boom assembly pivot wherein the upper portion of each support terminates below a line of sight of an operator seated 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 pivotably coupled to the upper portion of the support, and 
 the fore portion for coupling to an attachment, the fore portion following a radial lift path when the boom assembly moves between a retracted position and an extended position; and 
   a pair of actuators extending in the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe, each actuator coupled to a lower portion of the support and the fore portion of the boom arm wherein extension of the actuator lifts the fore portion of the boom arm.   
     
     
         7 . The work machine of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of actuators and the upward extending supports are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The work machine of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of actuators and the upward extending supports are positioned fore of an air intake access when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The work machine of  claim 6 , 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. 
     
     
         10 . A vertical lift boom assembly for a work machine, the work machine having a mainframe, the vertical lift boom assembly comprising:
 a pair of boom arms extending in a fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the mainframe,   each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion, the fore portion for coupling to an attachment;   a pair of first vertical lift links positioned on each side, each first vertical link coupled to the rear portion of boom arm on one end and the boom assembly pivot on the other end, wherein the boom assembly is located aft of the operator cab;   a pair of second vertical lift links positioned on each side, each second vertical lift link coupled to the rear portion of the boom arm on one end and an upward portion of the main frame and below a line of sight of an operator seated in the operator cab on the other end; and   a pair of actuators positioned one each side of the mainframe coupled to the boom arm and the main frame, wherein extension of the actuator lifts the fore portion of the boom arm.   
     
     
         11 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 10 , wherein coupling of the actuator, boom arm, and second vertical lift link creates a visibility window. 
     
     
         12 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first vertical lift link, the second vertical lift link, and the actuator are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted state and the extended state. 
     
     
         13 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the boom assembly pivot comprises a double shear joint. 
     
     
         14 . The vertical lift boom assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the boom assembly pivot is commonly positioned with a radial lift boom assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A radial lift boom assembly for a work machine, the radial lift boom assembly comprising:
 a pair of upward extending supports positioned on each side of the main frame and aft of the operator cab, each upward extending support fixedly coupled to the mainframe at the boom assembly pivot wherein the upper portion of each support terminates below a line of sight of an operator seated in the operator cab;   a pair of boom arms extending the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the main frame, each boom arm including a fore portion and a rear portion,
 the rear portion coupled pivotably to the upper portion of the upward extending support, and 
 the fore portion for coupling to an attachment, the fore portion following a radial lift path when the boom assembly moves between a retracted position and an extended position; and 
   a pair of actuators extending in the fore-aft direction positioned on each side of the main frame, each actuator coupled to a lower portion of the support and the fore portion of the boom arm wherein extension of the actuator lift the fore portion of the boom arm.   
     
     
         16 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of actuators and the upward extending supports are positioned below the boom arm when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of actuators and the upward extending supports are positioned fore of an air intake access when moving between the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The radial lift boom assembly of  claim 15 , 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.