All components of the ExtendaLoader are built with commonplace materials such as carbon steel.
Essentially, the ExtendaLoader is a modification to the basic two-legged boom of a conventional front-end loader. Although the impact of the modification is significant, providing up to 4 feet of additional reach to the tractor operator, the modification itself is hardly cumbersome.
Essentially, the modification consists of separating the distal end boom legs from the proximal end boom legs at the point of the angle or “knee” of the boom assembly. This point of separation is in front of the point where the lift cylinder is attached to the bottom side of the forward end of the proximal leg. As indicated in the patent figure on the left, a simple female telescoping section is fabricated into the forward end of the proximal boom legs and a simple male telescoping section is fabricated and attached to the rear of the distal boom section.
Essentially, the ExtendaLoader is a modification to the basic two-legged boom of a conventional front-end loader. Although the impact of the modification is significant, providing up to 4 feet of additional reach to the tractor operator, the modification itself is hardly cumbersome.
Essentially, the modification consists of separating the distal end boom legs from the proximal end boom legs at the point of the angle or “knee” of the boom assembly. This point of separation is in front of the point where the lift cylinder is attached to the bottom side of the forward end of the proximal leg. As indicated in the patent figure on the left, a simple female telescoping section is fabricated into the forward end of the proximal boom legs and a simple male telescoping section is fabricated and attached to the rear of the distal boom section.
In order to make the modification more durable and resilient, wear pads (mae of industry-standard wear pads) are placed on all four sides of the inside of the female section in the proximal leg.
As for the telescoping action of the ExtendaLoader, it is powered by the well-proven mechanisms of hydraulic cylinders that can be mounted externally or internally. External cylinders can be mounted on either side of the proximal legs and internal cylinders can be mounted inside the male section that is attached to the distal legs.
As for the telescoping action of the ExtendaLoader, it is powered by the well-proven mechanisms of hydraulic cylinders that can be mounted externally or internally. External cylinders can be mounted on either side of the proximal legs and internal cylinders can be mounted inside the male section that is attached to the distal legs.
As is commonly known, hydraulic architecture is accomplished through a tractor powered hydraulic pump supplying constant hydraulic pressure to a 4 section rotary gear flow divider supplying even metering of hydraulic fluid to all cylinders. This will allow a set of cylinders, one on the left side and one on the right side, to push and pull the distal section of boom in or out at the same rate to maintain correct orientation of the boom while it is in telescoping motion. The control of this telescoping action is accomplished by the operator using standard hydraulic controls built into the tractor during its manufacture.
The design and length of the hydraulic cylinders used to extend and retract the boom will keep the boom from extending beyond its safe limits. In its fully retracted position, the ExtendaLoader does not affect the normal performance of a conventional front-end loader in any way. Its only purpose is to extend the working end of the loader to a greater length away from the tractor and then retract it back to its normal home position.
Clearly, the ExtendaLoader is built upon a proven set of principles and does not require particularly expensive materials or methods to implement. Yet, although its manufacture and implementation is far from onerous, the IMPACT of the ExtendaLoader adjustment in terms of time savings, fuel savings and overall productivity, is enormous.