Extendable Blade Attachment for Skid Steer Loaders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Skid steer loaders often face limitations when maneuvering materials under overhangs or in sensitive ground conditions due to the height and design of conventional buckets, which restrict their ability to efficiently move materials in all scenarios.

Innovation Solution

An attachment device with a blade member that can be extended and retracted using actuators, allowing it to be positioned perpendicular to the skid steer loader's direction of travel, enabling the skid steer loader to push or pull materials without needing to move, thus accommodating overhangs and sensitive surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional bucket is used, then the skid steer loader can move materials, but it cannot efficiently move materials under overhangs or on sensitive surfaces due to height restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to move materials under overhangs and on sensitive surfacesVSAvoidheight of the attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment device incorporates a blade member that can dynamically extend and retract relative to the skid steer loader body. The actuator enables the blade to extend forward to reach materials under overhangs or on sensitive surfaces, then retract when not needed, providing adaptability without permanently increasing the loader's height profile

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment is divided into separable components: a mounting structure attached to the skid steer loader, an extendable blade member, and an actuator mechanism. This segmentation allows the blade to be independently extended and retracted, enabling the system to adapt to different working conditions while maintaining a compact form when the blade is retracted

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the skid steer loader moves forward to pick up materials, then materials can be transported, but ground disturbance occurs on sensitive surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial transport efficiencyVSAvoidground disturbance on sensitive surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The extendable blade member acts as an intermediary tool between the skid steer loader and the materials. Instead of the loader moving directly over or through sensitive ground, the blade can be extended to push or pull materials along the surface, minimizing ground disturbance while maintaining material transport capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the conventional approach of moving the loader body forward to pick up materials with a blade-based pushing/pulling mechanism. This substitution allows materials to be moved along sensitive surfaces without the loader's wheels or tracks directly contacting and disturbing the ground

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8869911B2Extendable materials blade attachment for a skid steer loader

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 ANDERSON ALAN

AI summary

An attachment device can have a distal end; a proximal end; at least one side member extending from the proximal end towards the distal end; a blade member positioned at the distal end and extending generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the skid steer loader; and at least one actuator operative to move the blade member substantially in a direction of travel of the skid steer loader. Materials can be moved by the attachment device by placing the attachment device along a ground surface so that the materials are placed in front of the blade member and, while the skid steer loader remains stationary, activating the actuator to move the blade member away from the skid steer loader to push the materials.