Carrier frame and latch mechanism

Abstract

A carrier with a latch mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position through operation of a single actuator. The actuator provides a locking force to maintain the latch mechanism in the locked position. A visible locking indicator is coupled to the latch mechanism to signal a locking status to an operator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier for coupling an implement to a work vehicle, comprising:
 a pair of brackets, each bracket defining a receptacle and having a latch receptacle; and   a latch mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the latch mechanism including:
 a first latch plate coupled to an actuator; 
 a first lock pin coupled to the first latch plate at a first end of the first latch plate; 
 a second latch plate coupled to the first latch plate at a second end of the first latch plate; and 
 a second lock pin coupled to the second latch plate at an end of the second latch plate opposed from the first latch plate, 
   wherein, in the locked position, the first lock pin and the second lock pin are engaged with respective latch receptacles of respective brackets of the pair of brackets, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the first lock pin and the second lock pin are at least partially withdrawn from the respective latch receptacles.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder, and wherein the latch mechanism further includes a check valve. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator provides a force to maintain the latch mechanism in the locked position. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shield plate extending between the pair of brackets, the shield plate having features indicative of a first indicator position and a second indicator position,   wherein the latch mechanism further includes an indicator that aligns with the first indicator position when in the unlocked position and aligns with the second indicator position when in the locked position.   
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the first latch plate couples to the actuator at a mount point, the first latch plate including a first projection and a second projection respectively extending from the mount point, the first projection couples to the indicator and the second projection couples to the first lock pin. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first lock pin couples to the first latch plate and extends along an axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the first latch plate. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the second lock pin couples to the second latch plate and extends along an axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the second latch plate. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein each bracket of the pair of brackets includes a pair of plates, the pair of plates being spaced apart to define the receptacle, the receptacle configured to receive a receiving flange of the implement. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 8 , wherein a first bracket of the pair of brackets includes a latch bar slot on each plate of the respective pair of plates, the latch bar slot receiving the second latch plate. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 8 , wherein each plate includes a latch bore, wherein latch bores of respective plates of respective brackets are coaxially aligned and configured to receive one of the first lock pin or the second lock pin. 
     
     
         11 . A latch mechanism for a carrier, comprising:
 a first latch plate having a first end and a second end separated by a center point;   a second latch plate coupled to the first latch plate at the first end;   a locking state indicator coupled to the first latch plate at the second end;   a first lock pin coupled to the first latch plate at the second end;   a second lock pin coupled to the second latch plate; and   an actuator coupled to the first latch plate at the center point, the actuator configured to transition the latch mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position.   
     
     
         12 . The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The latch mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein a locking force for the latch mechanism, when in the locked position, is provided by the hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The latch mechanism of  claim 13 , further comprising a check valve to prevent unlocking due to leaking. 
     
     
         15 . The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the second end of the first latch plate includes a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first and second arms extend from center point along respective axes offset from a longitudinal axis of the first latch plate, and wherein the actuator is positioned between the first and second arms. 
     
     
         16 . The latch mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the locking state indicator is coupled to the first arm of the first latch plate and the first lock pin is coupled to the second arm of the first latch plate. 
     
     
         17 . The latch mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the first lock pin and the second lock pin extend along respective axes offset from a longitudinal axis of the first latch plate or second latch plate. 
     
     
         18 . A carrier for coupling an implement to a work vehicle, comprising:
 a pair of vehicle brackets configured to couple to a pair of loader arms of the work vehicle;   a pair of implement brackets, each implement bracket defining a space to receive a mounting feature of the implement and having a latch bore;   an upper cross rod;   a lower cross rod, wherein the upper cross rod and the lower cross rod separate the vehicle brackets of the pair of vehicles brackets and the implement brackets of the pair of implement brackets;   a latch mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the latch mechanism including:
 a latch plate extending transversely to the carrier; 
 an actuator coupled to the latch patch and configured to transition the latch mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position; 
 a first lock pin coupled to a first end of the latch plate; and 
 a second lock pin coupled to a second end of the latch plate, 
   wherein, in the locked position, the first lock pin and the second lock pin are received within respective latch bores of respective implement brackets, and wherein, in the unlocked position, the first lock pin and the second lock pin are at least partially withdrawn from the respective latch bores.   
     
     
         19 . The carrier of  claim 18 , further comprising a shield plate extending transversely to the carrier and positioned between the latch mechanism and an implement engaging side of the carrier, the shield plate having a first indicator feature and a second indicator feature,
 wherein the latch mechanism further includes an indicator movable with the latch mechanism, the indicator aligning with the first indicator feature in the locked position and aligning with the second indicator feature in the unlocked position.   
     
     
         20 . The carrier of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder providing a locking force to maintain the latch mechanisms in the locked position and including a check valve to prevent unlocking due to leaking.