Modular tilt rotate system

Abstract

A modular tilt rotate system includes a mounting formation hole arrangement permitting attachments used with earth and material working equipment to be easily attached to the tilt rotate system. The system has a tilt coupler assembly providing side-to-side movement of the attachment at the end of a boom arm, and a pivot assembly providing 360 degree rotation of the attachment at the end of the boom arm. A hydraulic cylinder actuates the tilt coupler assembly, and a hydraulically actuated rotator gear assembly provides rotation. Providing a common mounting formation hole arrangement connecting the attachment to the modular tilt rotate system provides modularity with various forms of attachments used with the system.

Having described the disclosed subject matter, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with a boom arm of a motorized vehicle, comprising:
 a tilt coupler assembly; and   a pivot assembly operably connected to the tilt coupler assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the tilt coupler assembly further comprises:
 a top plate forming a first mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes; 
 a base plate forming a second mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes; 
 wherein the base plate is attached to the top plate by a pivot connection; and 
 an actuator operably connected to the top plate and the base plate. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first side plate depending from the top plate;   a second side plate depending from the top plate;   a transverse opening extending through the first side plate and second side plate;   a third side plate extending from the base plate, wherein the third side plate forms a first aperture;   a fourth side plate extending from the base plate, wherein the fourth side plate forms a second aperture; and   wherein the first aperture, transverse opening, and second aperture form the pivot connection.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein the pivot assembly forms a third mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes; and   wherein the second mounting formation hole arrangement plurality of holes align with the third mounting formation hole arrangement plurality of holes.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting assembly for providing an operable connection to the boom arm; and   wherein the tilt coupler assembly is operably connected to the mounting assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the pivot assembly provides rotation relative to the tilt coupler assembly; and   an attachment operably connected to the pivot assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 wherein the attachment forms an upper component; and   wherein the upper component is operably connected to the pivot assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 wherein the attachment is a bucket.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tilt coupler assembly, comprising:
 a top plate; and 
 a base plate attached to the top plate by a pivot connection; 
   a pivot assembly, comprising:
 a spacer plate; 
 a rotator gear assembly disposed between the base plate and the spacer plate; and 
 wherein the spacer plate rotates relative to the tilt coupler assembly. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an attachment operably connected to the spacer plate.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 wherein the spacer plate forms first mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes;   wherein the attachment forms a second mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes; and   wherein the first mounting formation hole arrangement plurality of holes align with the second mounting formation hole arrangement plurality of holes.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 wherein the attachment is a bucket.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a mounting assembly, comprising:
 a mounting plate operably connected to the tilt coupler assembly top plate; 
 a first side plate extending from the mounting plate; 
 a second side plate extending from the mounting plate; 
 a first pin extending between the first and second side plates; and 
 a second pin extending between the first and second side plates. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a motorized vehicle;   an arm extending from the motorized vehicle; and   wherein the mounting assembly is operably connected to the arm.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 wherein tilt coupler assembly further comprises:
 an upper coupler, comprising: 
 a first side plate depending from the top plate, the first side plate comprising: 
 a first opening at a lower end; 
 a first arm forming first aperture; and 
 a second arm forming a second aperture; 
 a second side plate depending from the top plate, the second side plate comprising: 
 a second opening at a lower end; 
 a first arm forming a third aperture; and 
 a second arm forming a fourth aperture; 
 a lower coupler, comprising: 
 a first side plate extending from the base plate, comprising: 
 a body forming a first opening, a first foot depending from the body forming a first aperture, a second foot depending from the body forming a second aperture; 
 a second side plate extending from the base plate, comprising: 
 a body forming a second opening, a first foot depending from the body forming a third aperture, a second foot depending from the body forming a fourth aperture; 
   a first hydraulic cylinder extending from a first end to a second end;   wherein the first hydraulic cylinder first end is operably connected to the upper coupler first aperture and third aperture;   wherein the first hydraulic cylinder second end is operably connected to the lower coupler first aperture and third aperture;   a second hydraulic cylinder extending from a first end to a second end;   wherein the second hydraulic cylinder first end is operably connected to the upper coupler second aperture and fourth aperture;   wherein the first hydraulic cylinder second end is operably connected to the lower coupler second aperture and fourth aperture; and   wherein the upper coupler first and second openings and the lower coupler first and second openings from the pivot connection.   
     
     
         16 . A modular tilt rotate system for use with a boom arm of a motorized vehicle, comprising:
 a tilt coupler assembly operably connected to the boom arm;   a pivot assembly operably connected to the tilt coupler assembly, comprising:
 a first mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes; 
   an attachment operably connected to the pivot assembly, comprising:
 a second mounting formation hole arrangement comprising a plurality of holes; and 
   wherein the first mounting formation hole arrangement plurality of holes align with the second mounting formation hole arrangement plurality of holes.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 wherein tilt coupler assembly further comprises:
 an upper coupler, comprising: 
 a first side plate depending from the top plate, the first side plate comprising a first opening at a lower end; 
 a second side plate depending from the top plate, the second side plate comprising a second opening at a lower end; 
 a lower coupler, comprising: 
 a first side plate extending from the base plate, comprising: 
 a body forming a first opening; 
 a second side plate extending from the base plate, comprising: 
 a body forming a second opening; and 
   wherein the upper coupler first and second openings and the lower coupler first and second openings from the pivot connection.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 wherein the upper coupler first side plate further comprises:
 a first arm forming first aperture; and 
 a second arm forming a second aperture; 
   wherein the upper coupler second side plate further comprises:
 a first arm forming a third aperture; and 
 a second arm forming a fourth aperture; 
   wherein the lower coupler first side plate further comprises:
 a first foot depending from the body forming a first aperture; and 
 a second foot depending from the body forming a second aperture; 
   wherein the lower coupler second side plate further comprises:
 a first foot depending from the body forming a third aperture; and 
 a second foot depending from the body forming a fourth aperture; 
   a first hydraulic cylinder extending from a first end to a second end;   wherein the first hydraulic cylinder first end is operably connected to the upper coupler first aperture and third aperture;   wherein the first hydraulic cylinder second end is operably connected to the lower coupler first aperture and third aperture;   a second hydraulic cylinder extending from a first end to a second end;   wherein the second hydraulic cylinder first end is operably connected to the upper coupler second aperture and fourth aperture; and   wherein the first hydraulic cylinder second end is operably connected to the lower coupler second aperture and fourth aperture.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 wherein the attachment forms an upper component; and   wherein the second mounting formation hole arrangement is formed by the upper component.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 wherein the attachment is a bucket.