GB2197847A

GB2197847A - Agricultural material handling assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2197847A
Application number: GB08727418A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Eady Robinson; William Henry Robert Angell
Original assignee: INTERMEC PROD Ltd
Current assignee: INTERMEC PROD Ltd
Priority date: 1986-11-25
Filing date: 1987-11-23
Publication date: 1988-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-23
Also published as: GB8628107D0; GB2197847B; GB8727418D0

Abstract

An arm assembly 12, e.g. carrying an excavator bucket 14 at its outer end, is mounted at its inner end to the carriage 24 of a hoist 10, e.g. a fork lift mast. Thus an arm of normal length can perform operations at greater height, which would otherwise require a long arm which would reduce the load that could be safely borne by the arm assembly. The arm has an inner support frame which hooks over an upper portion of the carriage 24. The arm is readily removable so that the fork-lift truck can be used independently. <IMAGE>

Description

AGRICULTURAL MATERIAL HANDLING ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a material handling assembly, particularly for agricultural material. In a preferred form it relates to an assembly for attachment to a multi-purpose vehicle such as an agricultural tractor to enhance its material handling capabilities. In another aspect the invention relates to a vehicle including such an assembly.

It is known to provide a tractor with an assembly that provides an articulated arm carrying a bucket. The arm may have two or more pivotable sections, and these and the pivotally mounted bucket are controllable by means of hydraulic rams, which can be powered by the hydraulic system of a tractor to which the arm is mounted, possibly releasably. An example of such an assembly is the Watveare Starlift Loader. Such an assembly can enable a tractor to perform many functions, particularly if the bucket is replaceable by a range of different buckets and other tools for different functions. In practical terms, however, the height to which such an assembly can lift material is rather limited. Of course, the maximum height is determined by the length of the arm, and can therefore be increased at will by producing a longer arm.But if the length of the arm is increased, the maximum load that can be carried is decreased. Furthermore, a long arm would be unwieldy. When extended horizontally, there would be a considerable risk that the carrying tractor or other vehicle would overbalance.

The present invention arises from the realisation that a useful assembly can be provided by mounting an arm assembly on a hoist means, so that an arm of moderate length can be vertically displaced. The hoist means may be such as are used on fork lift trucks. Thus, an arm assembly may be provided which is mounted or mountable on the carriage of a hoist.

According to the present invention there is provided a material handling assembly comprising an articulated arm assembly mounted to a hoist assembly so as to be liftable thereby; the arm assembly being mounted to the hoist assembly adjacent one of its ends, and including a bucket or other implement or attachment means therefor adjacent its other end.

The arm assembly may be removable from the hoist assembly so that this is usable independently.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an assembly embodying the invention, seen from the side in vertical section, with the bucket shown in two different positions, and the hoist shown extended; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only the hoist, in its retracted configuration; Fig. 3 is a view from the front of the hoist as shown in Fig. 2, showing one lateral side portion; Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a simplified view of the carriage of the hoist seen from the front; Fig. 6 is a still more simplified view of the hoist carriage seen from the side, and showing the connection of the arm assembly; and Fig. 7 is a schematic side view showing a further position of the bucket and arm.

The illustrated assembly is intended for connection to a tractor or like vehicle having a controllable supply of hydraulic fluid. The assembly comprises a hoist assembly 10 and a bucket arm assembly 12 which comprises a bucket member 14 at one end of an articulated arm or boom assembly 16. Whereas the drawings show a bucket arm assembly 12 comprising an excavating bucket, the invention is not restricted to such buckets. Other types of bucket and indeed other types of implement may be used, and may be interchangeable.

The hoist assembly 10 is a two-stage forklift mast with a free lift section. A pair of vertical girders 18 have channel sections facing towards each other, to provide a double channel in which the upper section is telescopically receiveable, guided by rollers 22. The upper section 20 similarly defines a double channel in which a carriage 24 is displaceable, also guided by rollers 26. The bucket assembly 12 is mounted to the carriage 24. As shown schematically in Fig. 6, the bucket assembly 12 has an inner support frame 28 which has an upper portion 30 that is shaped to hook over the top of the carriage 24. The frame 28 extends down to the bottom of the carriage 24 and is secured to it by bracket means 32. The frame 28 has a number of pivotal connections 34 to which other components of the bucket assembly 12 (booms and hydraulic cylinders) are pivotally attached.One possible configuration of booms and hydraulic cylinders is shown most clearly in Fig.

7. Thus an approximately triangular lever member 36 is pivoted adjacent its inner lower corner 38 to the upper portion 30 of the frame 28. The distal corner 40 is pivotally connected to the bucket member 14. The third corner region 42 is pivotally connected to a hydraulic cylinder 44. An intermediate region of the triangular lever member 36 has an elongate lever 46 pivoted to it.

One arm of the lever 46 is pivotally connected to an arcuate lever 48 whose other end is pivotally connected to the bucket member 14. The other arm of the elongate lever 46 is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 50 which acts between that lever and a lower region of the support frame 28. Of course, this is just an example of an articulated arm assembly, and many other types could be used. Fig. 1 shows how the bucket member 14 can be displaced using this exemplified arm assembly 16.

The mode of use of the complete assembly should be apparent from the foregoing. The bucket assembly 12 can be used just as a conventional bucket assembly of similar type.

But when it is required to be at a different height, the hoist assembly 10 is brought into use. Generally, the hoist assembly 10 will be used to move the bucket assembly 12 to a desired vertical level, where it is locked during use of the bucket assembly 12. However, it is of course possible to use both forms of displacement at the same time, though the control will then be more complicated.

Whereas the invention has been described with reference to a two-stage forklift mast of conventional type, it will be appreciated that different forms of hoist assembly could be used.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A material handling assembly comprising an articulated arm assembly mounted to a hoist assembly so as to be liftable thereby; the arm assembly being mounted to the hoist assembly adjacent one of its ends, and including a bucket or other implement or attachment means therefor adjacent its other end.

2. A material handling assembly according to claim i wherein the hoist assembly comprises a mast assembly and a carriage displaceable along it, and the arm assembly is mounted to the carriage.

3. A material handling assembly according to claim 2 wherein the mast assembly is multistage, the carriage being mounted to an upper stage so as to be displaceable along it; the upper stage being mounted to a lower stage so as to be liftable relative to it.

4. A material handling assembly according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the arm assembly has an inner support frame which has an upper portion that hooks over an upper region of the carriage, and a lower portion that is connected to a lower region of the carriage.

5. A material handling assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the arm assembly is removable from the hoist assembly so that this is usable independently.

6. A material handling assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the arm assembly and/or the hoist assembly have hydraulic cylinders arranged to operate them.

7. A material handling assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A vehicle including a material handling assembly according to any preceding claim.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the arm and hoist assemblies have hydraulic cylinders for their operation, and the vehicle is adapted to supply pressurised hydraulic fluid to them.