Curved Boom Swing Link for Front Loader Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Front loaders experience reduced visibility and operability in low position operating states due to the upward projection of swing link members, which obstruct the operator's field of view, making it difficult to perform low position operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
The boom is designed with a curved shape where the longitudinal central side is above the center-to-center straight line connecting the first and second pivots, and the posture maintaining mechanism includes a swing link member with free-end parts disposed at the boom's center, one inner and one outer from the upper surface, with the third pivot located on the second pivot side, allowing the free-end boom part to hang downwardly, reducing the upward projection of the swing link member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the swing link member is configured with the third pivot located on the first pivot side from the boom peak, then the posture maintaining mechanism can effectively maintain implement posture, but the swing link member greatly projects upwardly from the upper surface of the boom, significantly interrupting the operator's field of view and reducing visibility in low position operating state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional location of the third pivot by positioning it on the second pivot side from the boom peak instead of the first pivot side. This inversion causes the swing link member to project downwardly from the upper surface of the boom rather than upwardly, eliminating the field of view obstruction while preserving the posture maintaining function through the altered geometric configuration of the linkage mechanism
2Strength
If the boom is formed in a sharply-curved shape with the longitudinal central part upwardly convex, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the swing link member configuration necessarily projects upwardly from the upper surface, creating visibility obstruction in low position operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the sharply-curved shape of the boom for structural strength but applies local quality differentiation by positioning the swing link member and third pivot on the second pivot side from the boom peak. This creates a localized configuration where the swing link member projects downwardly in the region of the boom's curvature, allowing the boom to retain its strength-providing curved shape while eliminating the upward projection that obstructs the operator's view
Data Source
AI summary
A front loader includes a mechanical posture maintaining mechanism for maintaining the posture of an implement, regardless of swing displacement of a boom. The boom is formed in a curved shape in which a longitudinal central side thereof is located above. The posture maintaining mechanism includes a swing link member having an inner free-end part and an outer free-end part and disposed at a longitudinal center location of the boom so as to be swingable about a third horizontal pivot as a fulcrum. A base-end link member extends between a fixed bracket and the inner free-end part and a free-end link member links the outer free-end part to the implement.