Utility loader with high lift loader arms and unifying hand grip for dual traction control levers

Abstract

A compact utility loader is operated by a standing operator at the rear of a frame. A loader arm assembly comprises a scissors linkage on either side of the frame nesting around the prime mover. Each scissors linkage has an upper loader arm that is pivoted at its rear end to rears ends of a pair of lower loader arms such that the pivot connections to the upper loader arm move upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during elevation of the loader arm assembly to provide a high lift capability. The frame is self-propelled by a differential drive and steering system that is operated by dual levers. A hand grip extends between and unifies the operation of the levers to permit the operator to more easily move the levers in the ways that are needed to provide either straight motion of the frame or turns of the frame.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A compact utility loader, which comprises:
 a) a frame carrying a prime mover;   b) a powered, ground engaging traction drive system carried by the frame to self-propel the frame;   c) a control console at a rear end of the frame carrying controls that are manipulated to operate the loader;   d) a loader arm having a front end configured to carry an outdoor work operation tool;   e) an actuator for lifting and lowering the loader arm relative to the frame; and   f) a first pivotal connecting arm and a second pivotal connecting arm for supporting the loader arm for movement between a lowered position and a raised position, the connecting arms extending in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the frame and being configured to produce at least some motion of the loader arm in the fore-and-aft direction as the loader arm moves between the lowered and raised positions thereof, the first and second connecting arms being substantially parallel to one another, over fore-and-aft lengths of the first and second connecting arms, throughout their entire range of motion.   
     
     
         19 . The loader of  claim 18 , wherein a forward pivot axis of the first connecting arm is located higher and further rearward relative to the frame than a forward pivot axis of the second connecting arm. 
     
     
         20 . The loader of  claim 18 , wherein a rearward pivot axis of the first connecting arm is located higher and further forward relative to the loader arm than a rearward pivot axis of the second connecting arm when the loader arm is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         21 . The loader of  claim 18 , wherein the drive system includes an endless track having a lower ground engaging track run, wherein the forward and rearward pivot axes of the connecting arms are positioned over the lower ground engaging track run in the lowered position of the loader arm, remain over the lower ground engaging track run as the loader arm moves between the lowered and raised positions thereof, and remain over the lower ground engaging track run in the raised position of the loader arm. 
     
     
         22 . The loader of  claim 21 , wherein the actuator has a first end that pivots about a first pivot axis that is fixed relative to the frame and a second end that pivots about a second pivot axis that is fixed relative to the loader arm but is movable relative to the frame, the actuator being extendable and collapsible so that the distance between the first and second pivot axes changes as the actuator lifts and lowers the loader arm, and wherein the first and second pivot axes of the actuator are also positioned over the lower ground engaging track run in the lowered position of the loader arm, remain over the lower ground engaging track run as the loader arm moves between the lowered and raised positions thereof, and remain over the lower ground engaging track run in the raised position of the loader arm. 
     
     
         23 . The loader of  claim 18 , further including a rear foot platform carried on a rear end of the frame for permitting the controls to be accessible from behind by an operator who stands on the rear foot platform. 
     
     
         24 . The loader of  claim 18 , wherein the loader arm, the actuator, and the first and second pivotal connecting arms are provided in duplicate, laterally spaced sets, each set of loader arms, actuators, and first and second pivotal connecting arms being located along opposite sides of the frame with the outdoor work operation tool being conjointly carried on front ends of the loader arms. 
     
     
         25 . The loader of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a) the outdoor work operation tool carried on the front end of the upper loader arms ahead of a front end of the frame.   
     
     
         26 . The loader of  claim 18 , wherein the traction drive system includes a front drive system axis and a rear drive system axis, wherein forward and rearward pivot axes associated with the first and second pivotal connecting arms are longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully lowered position, remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes as the loader arm moves between the fully lowered position and the fully raised positions thereof, and remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully raised position. 
     
     
         27 . The compact utility loader of  claim 26 , wherein the actuator has a first end that pivots about a first pivot axis that is fixed relative to the frame and a second end that pivots about a second pivot axis that is fixed relative to the loader arm but is movable relative to the frame, the actuator being extendable and collapsible so that the distance between the first and second pivot axes changes as the actuator lifts and lowers the loader arm, and wherein the first and second pivot axes of the actuator are also positioned longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully lowered position, remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes as the loader arm moves between the fully lowered position and the fully raised positions thereof, and remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully raised position. 
     
     
         28 . A compact utility loader, which comprises:
 a) a frame carrying a prime mover;   b) a powered, ground engaging traction drive system carried by the frame to self-propel the frame;   c) a control console at a rear end of the frame carrying controls that are manipulated to operate the loader;   d) a loader arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end being configured to carry an outdoor work operation tool, the loader arm being movable between a fully lowered position and a fully raised position;   e) an actuator for lifting and lowering the loader arm relative to the frame; and   f) a linkage arrangement connecting the loader arm to the frame, the linkage arrangement being configured such that when the loader arm is in the fully raised position, the rear end of the loader arm is raised and forward in comparison to when in the fully lowered position.   
     
     
         29 . The compact utility loader of  claim 28 , wherein the rear end of the loader arm is forward of at least a portion of the control station in both the fully lowered position and the fully raised position. 
     
     
         30 . The compact utility loader of  claim 28 , wherein the rear end of the loader arm is vertically below a height of at least a portion of the control station in both the fully lowered position and the fully raised position. 
     
     
         31 . The compact utility loader of  claim 28 , wherein the linkage arrangement includes a first connecting arm and a second connecting arm. 
     
     
         32 . The compact utility loader of  claim 31 , wherein each of the first and second connecting arms is pivotally connected to the loader arm and is pivotally connected to the frame. 
     
     
         33 . The compact utility loader of  claim 32 , wherein the first connecting arm is pivotally connected to the loader arm at a first pivot location, wherein the second connecting arm is connected to the loader arm at a second pivot location, and wherein the actuator is connected to the loader arm at a third pivot location. 
     
     
         34 . The compact utility loader of  claim 33 , wherein the first and second pivot locations are separated from each other by a distance that is less than a distance between the first and third pivot locations and that is less than a distance between the second and third pivot locations. 
     
     
         35 . The compact utility loader of  claim 33 , The compact utility loader of  claim 33 , wherein the traction drive system includes a front drive system axis and a rear drive system axis, wherein forward and rearward pivot axes of the linkage arrangement are longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully lowered position, remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes as the loader arm moves between the fully lowered position and the fully raised positions thereof, and remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully raised position. 
     
     
         36 . The compact utility loader of  claim 35 , wherein the actuator has a first end that pivots about a first pivot axis that is fixed relative to the frame and a second end that pivots about a second pivot axis that is fixed relative to the loader arm but is movable relative to the frame, the actuator being extendable and collapsible so that the distance between the first and second pivot axes changes as the actuator lifts and lowers the loader arm, and wherein the first and second pivot axes of the actuator are also positioned longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully lowered position, remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes as the loader arm moves between the fully lowered position and the fully raised positions thereof, and remain longitudinally positioned between the front and rear drive system axes in the fully raised position.