This invention relates to a stabilizer arrangement for an implement-carrying vehicle, such as a loader, back-hoe or mobile hoist.

Conventionally, such vehicles have vertically- arranged jacks at each corner, sometimes deployable outwardly of the vehicle for use, which lower and then elevate the vehicle on ground-engaging pads. In addition to providing improved stability, the stabilizer arrangement relieves the tyres, suspension and transmission of the vehicle of loadings encountered by .he vehicle during implement use and provides a stable platform for use of implement.

The rams which are used for these stabilizers are necessarily heavy-duty and therefore expensive, and their mounting on the vehicle involves robustly- engineered (and therefore, again, expensive, but also heavy and bulky) bolted-on or welded attachments to the vehicle chassis, as well as hydraulic pipework, valving and controls.

The present invention provides a stabilizer arrangement which is less expensive, more compact and which has other advantages over the conventional arrangements.

The invention comprises a stabilizer arrangement of an implement-carrying vehicle, adapted for deployment to stablize the vehicle during implement use, comprising an elongated, ground-engaging member extending widthwise either side of the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle at least when deployed, and deployable between a stowing position and an operative, ground-engaging position by a ram arrangement arranged to act on the ground- engaging member intermediate its ends.

The ground-engaging member may be symmetrically disposed with respect to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle, and the ram arrangement, too, may be so symmetrically disposed.

The ground-engaging member may comprise a bar, and may be on a frame which is pivoted on an axis extending transversely of the vehicle. The ground- engaging member may be adapted as an implement bar, for the attachment for example of a grader or other towed implement, when not in use as a stabilizer.

The ground engaging member may be so arranged that during deployment between the stowing and operative positions, it is always within the plan-outline of the vehicle. The stabilizer arrangement may be disposed between an end of the vehicle and the set of wheels next adjacent said end.

Such a stabilizer arrangement may be fitted to both ends of a vehicle, or to only one end, the other end if desired having conventional stabilizers.

One embodiment of a stabilizer arrangement of an implement-carrying vehicle according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle showing the stabilizing arrangement in its stowing and deployed positions;

Figure 2 is an end view of a first stabilizer arrangement;

and Figure 3 is an end view of a second stabilizer arrangement.

The drawings illustrate a stabilizing arrangement 11 of an implement-carrying vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 in this instance is a skid-steer loader having a shovel 13 on a frame 14 pivoted at the back of the vehicle on a support 15 and operable by rams 16,17.

The stabilizer arrangement 11 is adapted for deployment to stablize the vehicle 12 during use of an

attachment such as an excavator end 13 and comprises an elongate, ground-engaging member 18 extending widthwise of the vehicle 12 either side of the fore-and-aft axis 19 of the vehicle. The arrangement 11 is deployable between a stowing position shown in Figure 1 in broken line and shown in Figure 2, and an operative, ground-engaging position shown in Figure 1 in solid line. Deployment is effected by a single ram arrangement 21 arranged to act on the member 18 intermediate its ends, which, if desired, may comprise two rams 21A,21B as shown in Figure 3.

The member 18 is symmetrically disposed with respect to the fore-and-aft axis 19, as is the ram arrangement 21. The member 18 comprises a bar and is on a frame 22 which is pivoted on an axis 23 extending transversely of the vehicle 12. The bar is shown as being formed by two angle sections 18a,18b so shaped as to fit into a recess 24 in the end of the vehicle 12 and lie flush with the surrounding surfaces in its stowing position. The transverse pivot axis 23 for the frame 22 is formed by bearings 23a on a transverse beam 25 bolted to a transverse plate 26 of the vehicle chassis.

The ram arrangement 21 is also pivoted to the transverse beam 25 slightly off the axis 23 so that when the ram is extended the frame 22 is pivoted to its

operative position (solid line, Figure 1) where the member 18 engages the ground and lifts the rear wheels

27 of the vehicle 12. The weight of the vehicle's rear end is now taken by the frame 22 together with the ram arrangement 21.

The arrangement engages the ground sufficiently to allow levelling of the vehicle on slopes to provide a horizontal platform from which to operate attachments.

The member 11 is adapted as an implement bar simply by virtue of the fact that implements can be attached to it or hooked on to it. If it is not sufficiently accessible in its stowing position it may be lowered to a position intermediate its stowing and operative positions, and indeed it may initially be lowered to the ground for an implement to be pushed over it, or for the vehicle to be backed under engagement hooks of an implement and the member 11 then raised so as to engage the implement. Thus heavy graders and other ground-preparing implements, or trailers or agricultural implements such as mowers, spreaders and so on may be attached. If any such implement requires power, a conduit can be run from the hydraulic power pack (not shown) of the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that the member 11, during deployment between the stowing and operative positions, is always within the plan-outline of the vehicle 12 and that the stabilizer arrangement 11 is disposed between the rear of the vehicle 12 and the adjacent set of wheels 27. It will also be appreciated that the arrangement when stowed falls within the vehicle silhouette thus allowing unhindered use of the machine. The arrangement is found to be easy to deploy and very effective as a stabilizer.

The arrangement may be fitted to a wide variety of vehicles and may be fitted at both ends, or at either end with conventional stabilizers at the other.