US2604203A - Frame and supporting structure for grain elevating machines and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1952 L. B. NEIGHBOUR ET AL FRAME AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR GRAIN ELEVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 File l Nov. 19, 1948 INENTORS L B. NEIGHBOUR 0. R LANGE ATTORNE Y5 L. B. NEIGHBOUR ETAL 2,604,203 FRAME AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR GRAIN Jul 22, 1952 ELEVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1948 I N VEN TORS L. B. NE IGHBOU/i Patented July 22, 1952 FRAME AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE non GRAIN ELEvATING MACHINES AND THE Leonard B. Neighbour, Moline, Ill., and Orville P; Lance, Davenport, Iowa, assignors to Deere -& Company, Moline, 111., a corporatlonof Illinois Application November 19, 1948, Serial No. 60,902-

This invention ."relates to a material-handling device or apparatus of theportable. type used on farms, for example, for the "elevating. of grain and similar material. More particularly, the invention relates to improved frame and. supporting structure for carrying the inclined elevating element of the machine.

A typical elevator at the. type referred to ordinarily comprises a wheeled truck which provides. a base for an elongated elevator and ineludes means for elevating or. depressing the elevator for varying the inclination of the. elevator with respect to the horizontal. It. is. an important object of the present invention to improve the supporting structure so that the. elevator has proper ,stabilityand balance regardless. of its angle of inchnatiom. Another important object is to provide supporting or frame structure which is adjustable to accommodate elevators of difierent lengths. The" usual elevator supporting structure includes frame elements providing .a. transverse axle, a. derrick forf raising the" elevator and a reach connected between the. axle. and the receiving end portion of the elevator, together with mechanism for elevating the derrick to raise the elevator and for lowering the derrick to lower the elevator. It is'usual insuch construction to provide a vertical structurecommonly called a mast and to include in the raising and lowering 17 Claims. (Cl. 198 -233) arable .for elongation when, the elevator assumes a position at or: beyond a predetermined angle, thereby relie'vi'ngthe maststructure of either column or tension'loading and further lightening the. cable loads.

A further-andimportant object of the invention is to provide a relationship between. the derrick, the reach means, andithe axle means so that lengthening or shorteningof the derrick and reach means will be. accompanied by lengthening and. shortening of the axle means. whereby the tread of the wheel'sxon. the supporting truck will be varied. In other words, the transverse spacing between: the wheels is increased as the length of the derrick and reach means is increased in accordance with the use of elevators of increased lengths;

Since balanceancl stability of the elevator are important, the construction contemplated by the present invention involves further the feature of an adjustable connection between the reach means and theelevator proper so that the weight at the receiving end of the elevator may be balancedwith respectto the weight at the .discharge end of the elevator. .Ordinarily, the receiving end ofjthe elevatorxis too heavy, it is difficult tomanenver the elevator in setting the same up for use. Further, increased weight at vator so that bales or the; like will have anunobstructed passage up theelevator.

The relation of the winding mechanism to the derrick by means of the cable is ordinarily such that substantial columnloads are imposedv on the mast, at least during initial raising of the elevator. In constructions heretofore known, the column loading of the masts was relieved after the elevator assumed a predetermined angle; however, the masts were then placed in tension and the usual result was'i-ncreased cable loading. A" feature of the present-. invention is a mast structure comprising a ,pair oirelatively sep- 1 arable sections which-are related in suchmanner as to assume column loading but are septhe receiving end of the elevator imposes an ad'- ditional and undesirable load on a tractor or other vehicle used for. transporting the. elevator. In general, the invention has for its. principal object the. provision ofanjelevator having increased stability. and ,balance, portability} and features contributing; toward. the easy assembly and disassembly thereof; Further important objectsand desirable features inherent in. and encompassed. by the invention willlbecome apparent ,tothose versed in the art; as'apreferreditorm of the invention is fully disclosed in the following specification and accompanying, sheets of drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevationalview of the elevator, shownin transport position and connected toatractom. Figure 2.. is a side 'elevational view of the ele-- vatorset uptor operation; v p

Figure 3 is a detailed vievv,.on a slightly -en.-' larged scale, of the axleandmaststructures;

Figure A is afragmentary viewon. a slightly enlarged scale,.-showing..the connection of the reach means...to the. elevator: proper;

Figure 551s a fragmentary:- ieW., partly-i-n sec- Figure '7 is a plan'view similar'to' that appearing in Figure 6 but illustrating the components in.

shortened relative positions, and

Figure 3 is a perspective-.exploded..view. show.-.

in the interconnection between a portion of the mast and a transverse removable member.

In general design, the elevatorillustrated here-,

in follows conventional construction,- inso far a its appearance is concerned; ;It will be ap-- preciated, of course, that the various details illustrated and about to be described may be modified according to individual desires, without depart- '1',

ing from the spirit andvscope of the invention. The elevator comprising the. material handling; device. chosenifor thepur'poses of illustra- .'tion an description may be. said to include, generally andflbrie'fly, 'a base" orfsuppo'rt'ing. structure 19 on which is 'carriedan'elevator element H. The elevator is carriedon the base element 19 byfm'eans providing 'ffor. elevation or depression ofthegelevator'through various angles of inclination to the horizontal. The lower or forward endof the elevator. comprises a receiving or boot end; l2, shown here. asjhaving associated therewith'a wagon-unloading hopper 13. The opposite' orrearf upper e'ndofthe elevator element comprises afdischarge end portion I4, with which is ordinarily associated a discharge hopper 'or chute, not shown here since it forms no part of the present invention and representative types of, s.uch are familiar to those'versed-in the art. The'bfoote'nd'of theitelevatorimay have a spitable hitch I5 by means of which the elevator may be connected 'to-a tractor-I6 for transportation thereof. I V I The frame st'ructureor base element Hlcomprises a transverse member providing axle means jlfhereshown as being tubular and of substantial-ext'ent in a direction transverse'to the length of-the elongated elevator-element The axle means-includes a 'plurauty of elements or members, the .cientralone of which is comprised by themember IT and two outerones of which are each"'in"the forni'of a short axle member or spindle. l8.v Each spindle hasjournaled thereon a .whefel" |,9,1which-. provides means for carrying the. framegoribas'ej element [0 'on the ground.

} Each spindle 18 is telescopically receivediby the proximate end of the tubular'axle means I1, and the latter has a plurality of axiallyfspace'd aper tures' 20. 'for selectively receiving a securing means inthe form of a bolt jor. pini2l'. The spindles are provided respectively with apertures or bores for selective alignment'with any of the apertures or openings in the axle means I 1, whereby the transverse spacing between, or tread of,-.the wheels. l9 may be varied or adjusted. The relationship of the components 20 and 2| are the apertures in the. spindles |8Iis .such as to provide disconnectible or releasable securing means for securing the spindles IS in selected positions of adjustment.

.TheaXIe means I1 .is provided intermediate the wheels |9 with upright supporting or mast structure designated generally by'the numeral 22. The mast comprises a. pair of upright, later ally spaced apart side elements 23, each of which includes a lowersectio'n-"Mand an upper-section 25. 'The tlowersectibhs"are preferably tubular and receive the upper sections 25 telescopically therein. Each lower section has a plurality of openings or apertures 26, any one of which may receive a securing means in the form of a pin or bolt 21. The construction is such .(Figure 5) .that the lower end of an upper section 25 rests on or is sustained by the pin'21. 'For purposes that will be hereinafter explained, the number of apertures 26 in each of the lower sections24 is equal to the number of apertures in each end porspect to the lower section. In other words, the

pin- 21 provides a limit or abutment means. Therefore, the mast isfcapable of column loading but cannot ,be placed in tension, inasmuch as the'upper sections may pull out of the lower sections. The importance of this'feature will appear below.'

The axle means is connectedtothe receiving end portion |2 of the elevator element H by reach means designated generally by the numeral 28. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the reach means comprises a pair of relatively'adjustable sections,one being a forward section 29 and the other a rearward section'30. The forward section includes a pair of forwardly converging, tu-

bular side members 3| rigidly cross connected adjacent their rear ends by a transverse member 32, The rear section 39 comprises a pair of forwardly converging side members 33, which are respectively telescopically received by the tubular members 3|. The rear. end portions of the 'side members 33..are pivotally connected to the axles at 34. The forward ends of the side members 3| of the front reach section 29 carry a transverse shaft 35 which has at each of its outer ends a sheave 35. The transverse shaft 35 provides-means for pivotally connecting the forward end of the front reach section 29 to a pair of transversely spaced brackets 31 (only one of which appears in Figures 1, 2 and 4) by means of which the reach is connected to the forward or boot end portion |2 of the elevator element II. This por-. tion'ofthe elevator element has at each side a pluralityof openings 38 spaced lengthwise of the elevator and selectively adapted to receive securing means inthe formof bolts 39 for securing the brackets 37 to the elevator inselected positions of longitudinal"adjustment; This feature contributes to the means for selectively balancing the elevator according to the length thereof or the height at which the same is operated. The front and rear reach sections-29 and 30 are relatively extensible or contractible so that the over-all length of the reach may be increased or shortened. For this purpose, each of the members 3| of the front reachsection has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 49, here shown asb'eingnine in number'to correspond with the nine openings 20 and 23 in thefaxle and mast components respectively. The forward end of each member 33 of the rear r'each section 30 has an aperture to receive securing means in the form of-a 'bolt' or pin 4| which may be selectively passed'through any of the apertures 40.

Inasmuch as the' angle of convergence of the members 3| is fixed by the rigid cross connection thereof by the transverse member 32, the angle of convergence of the members 33 will likewise be fixed. The-entire reach structure is in the form of a triangular/construction having a truncated apex. Accordingly, when themembers 33 are adjusted inwardly or outwardly with respect to the members 3|, the transverse spacing between the rear ends 34 of the members33 will vary. It is for this reason that thecadjustability has been providedin the axle means at Zfl-Zl. In other words, when it isdesired to vary the length of the reach 28,, the bolt or pin'ZI must be removed from the axlemeans ll--l8. As the reach is shortened, the end portions 34 move in-. wardly, thus narrowing the tread of the wheels l9. Conversely, if the reach is lengthened, the end portions 34 move laterally. farther apart, thus increasing the tread of the wheels l9.

The connection of the bolts 4| respectively between the members 3! and 33 is such asto interconnect the members for both tension and com-. pression loading. It will be noted, from thedescription that follows, that the reach 28 is placed in compression when the elevator element H is raised or lowered.

A further component of the frame or base element Hi comprises a derrick indicated generally by the reference numeral 42. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the derrick includes a loweror forward section 43 and a rear or upper section .44. The rear section comprises a pair of tubular'side members 45 that converge rearwardly and that are rigidly cross-connected by a pair of transverse members 46. The rear end portions of the members 45 carry-a transverseshaftfil atv each of the outer ends-of which is a roller or track guide 48. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, these rollers engage the under portionof 'the elevator element l l and sustain. the latter on the derrick 42. The-front derrick section 43 comprises apair of rearwardly converging members 49 which are pivotally connected at 50 to the spindles l8 of the axle means IL The members 49am respectively telescopically received by the tubular members'45 and the latter have a plurality of longitu: dinally spaced apertures or openings A-il g, each set of openings being nine in number to, cor-respond with the sets of openings-previously described in connection with the axle, mast, and reach; mem-. bers. The rear ends of the members49 are ap ittured for' the respective reception of securing meansin the form of bolts. or pinsjtforinterconnecting the reach sections 43 and 4,4,inany selected position of relative. longitudinal adjust ment. I

The] derrick, like the reach, is of. triangular construction having a' truncated apex. Inasmuch asv the angle of convergence of the. side members 415 is fixed by" the rigid cross connections. it, the angle of convergence of the members 4.9 is likewise fixed. Therefore, as the members 49 telescope inwardly and outwardly with respect to the. members 4'5,the transverse'spacing, between the end portions 50 willfvary- However, the adjustability of the axle? accommodates the variations in spacing between the portions 50, just as the adjustability of the'axle accommodates the. variations in spacing of the end portions 34 of the sidemembers 33 of the rear reach section 3.0.

For the purposeof elevating and depressing.

operates a worm gear 54 on a transverse shaft 55} carried by the front reach section 3| "and includ-- ingla pair of winding drums: 56.. -.A cable 51: at each side of; the structure constitutes extensible and. contractible means for moving the derrick 42' about its pivotal connection 50 with the axle means- H-JS; Each cable is wound partly on the proximate winding drum 56,. extends forwardly and-is trained about the proximate, sheave Stat: the. forward end-of the reach 28 and then extends rearwardly to the upper portion of the mast, at which point it is preferably secured at 5'3. Th'ecable extends rearwardly for connec-- tion to the rear end portion of the derrick 42. The connection of the cable 51 to the rear end portion of the derrick may be made in any suitable manner. In a preferred construction, the transverse shaft 41 may be hollow and the cable may extend therethrough (Figures 6Iand 7) so thata single length of cable may be used for both sides of the machine. 1

Another feature of "the invention isthe means forv sustaining the load of theelevator on the mast 22 during transportation thereof. This means preferably comprises a transverse tubular supporting member 59 which is removably supported between the lower mast sections 24 (Figures 3 and 5). Each mast section 24 has secured thereto, preferably by welding, 2. lug 60 having an aperture 6! therein. The lug is preferably in the form of an ordinary'blanl; nut having an aperture. (Figure 8). Oppositeend portions of the transverse member 59, being hollow and somewhat larger than the lugs, provide recesses for loosely receiving the lugs 60. These end portions are apertured for alignment respectively with the lug apertures BI, and the aligned apertures may receive securing means in the form of pins cr bolts 62 for securing the transverse membar in place. i The transverse member is disposed at a sufficient height'above the bottom portions of the mast sections 24 so that, after the pins 62 are removed, the mastsections may be sprung laterallyapart to withdraw the. lugs and release the transverse member. The member may then,

be'removed so that the elevator element -ll may be lowered completely to the axle means [7. This construction is an important aid in assembling or disassembling the elevator. For example, in the assembly, the truck or base section can be set up with the elevator element H resting on the transverse axle means I! between the elements of the mast 22. The remainder of the structure may then be assembled and the elevator element raised to a point. sufficient to allow installation of the transverse member 59. In other words, if the member 59 were permanently connected between the opposite elements of the mast, it would benecessary to setup the elevator with the elevator. element at a substantial angle, which would not be only difficult but hazardous.

The operation of the elevator and the importance of the frame or supporting structure thereto may be best understood by first comparing Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, the elevator element is in its transport position, preferably sustained by the transverse element or member 59 between the mast elements. When it is desired to set up the elevator for operation, the

boot end is disconnected from the tractor and is allowed to rest on the ground, as shown in Figure 2. The winding'mechanism is operated to'swing the derrick means forwardlyand upwardly, thus resulting in elevating the elevator element H. Inasmuch as the stop pins orbolts 21 limitdo'wnward movement of the upper mast sections 25, the mast is capable cit-taking column loading'and incrasing'th'e leverage or mechanical advantage for initially elevating the'elevator'element. This result will be obvious from an examination of Figure 1.1 In other words, the sheave 36, connecting' point 58, and connecting point provided by the transverse shaft 41, provide three connecting points respectively at the apices of an imaginary triangle. As the cable 51 is tightened, the three points approach a'straight line, so that when the position of Figure 2'is reached, the cable 51 is exerting a straight line pull between the points 36 and 41." i a It will be noted that in Figure l the upper portionof theupper mast section 25 is a substantial distance-above the upper level of the elevator element 1 I, whereas, in'Figure 2, the upper portion' of the mastis' below the upper level of the elevator. The automaticremoval of the upper portions of the mast elementsfrom positions in which they project upwardly beyond the upper level of the elevator eliminates-these portions as obstacles to the passage up the elevator of bulky objects, such as bales of'hay-or straw. Although such result (non-obstruction) is obtainable in some priorconstructionsthe arrangement of the mast is such that the mast is placed in tension after the elevator passes a predetermined angle. In other words, three points comparable to 36, 58 and 4'! not only'approach a straight line but pass to the other sid'eiof such straight line so that the imaginary triangle of which these three points are apices is inverted. 'Such result not only places tension loading on the mast but undesirably increases cable loads. According to the present-invention, the telescopic relationship of the upper portion of the mast to the lower portion provides that the upper portion may pull out of the lowcr'portion, being, of course, still guided by the lower portion so that complete separation is impossible. 'Hence, after the maximum angle has been passed, the cable will exert a straight pull between'the points 36 and 41, which is entirely in accord with the ability of the lifting structure, since the initial mechanical advantage achieved-by the relationship of the parts shown in Figure 1 is no longer needed.

As previously stated, an important feature of the invention is the adjustability of the reach and derrick means whereby increase in length of these means automatically requires an increase in the transverse spacing betweenthe wheels I9, all of which means that the frame structure has increasedstabi'lityas the length of the elevator is increased. .In this respect, it will be understood that'the elevator element I l is made up of a plurality of detachable sections which may be increased or decreased in number to vary the length of the elevator. Normally, the elevator will be increased in increments of two feet and provision is made in thepresent case for the variation of length within nine increments. Therefore, there are provided the sets of nine openings at 20, 26, M! and 50. t

It will be found that the addition of sections to increase the length; of the elevator will ordinarily be made at the rear or discharge end. Consequently, the addition of sections will .tend to light GIIlQhG bOOt BIldQ Undesirable over-balance in this respectmaybe obviated by changing the position' ofthe connection ofthe reach 28 to the forward portion" of the elevator by means of the adjustable securing means 3'l3839.

Increase in length of the reach means and derrick 'meansLaccOmpanied by increase in the treadof the wheels .l9,' is not automatically fol- 8 lowed by increase in leng-thof the'mast; how! ever, the length of the mast should be increased in the same increments used in increasing the length of the axle, reach, or derrick.

Another-important advantage of theconstruction provided by the adjustable reach, derrick, and axle is the use of tubular'members. Not only are such members inherently stronger than the ordinary angle members used in prior constructions, but the fact that the axle is adjustable to accommodate adjustment in length in the reach and derrick means enables the rigid cross bracing of one sectionof each of the reach and derrick means, all'of which results in a frame'better able to resist twisting strains." V V 7 Other features of the invention not specifically enumerated or pointed out above will undoubtedly occur to thoseversed in the art, as will many modifications and alterations in the preferred form of the invention illustrated and described, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

'1. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like having an elongated elevator, comprising: axle means disposed transversely as respects the length of the elevator and including a pair 'of relatively extensible and retractible parts for respectively carrying wheels so that the tread of such wheels is adjustable according to relative extension or retraction of said parts; a supporting frame extending generally normal to the axle means and including a pair of elongated frame elements having a pair of ends adjacent the axle means and converging to a pair of ends remote from the axle means, each element comprising first and secondrelatively extensible and retractible members; means connecting the first or axle-adjacent members respectively to the axle parts; means rigidly crossconnecting the second members to maintain the angle of convergence of the second members; means guiding the first members on the second members to m'aintainthe angle of convergence of the first members; and releasable means normallyholding the laxle parts against extension or retraction but releasable to provide for such extension orr'etra'ction to accommodate wheel tread variation as'the members of the frame elements are extended or retracted. a j -2. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like having an elongated elevator, comprising: supporting means disposed transversely, as respects the'length of the elevator and including a pair, of relatively extensible and retractible parts for carrying ground-engaging means respectively thereon so that the'spacing between suchground-engaging means is there'- fore adjustable according to relative extension or retraction of said parts; a supporting frame, extending generally normal to the supporting means and including a pair of elongated frame elements having a pair of ends adjacent the supporting means, and another pair of ends remote from the supporting means, said elements converging from one pair of ends to the other, each element comprising first and second relatively extensible and retractible members; means connecting the first or supporting-means-adjacent members respectively to the supporting means parts;:means rigidly cross-connecting the second members to maintain the angle of convergence of the second members; means guiding the first members on the second members to maintain the anglg qf qonlli enceof the first members; and

comprising: a tubular axle disposed itransversely' as, respects, the length Qi'the eleva r; a Wh spindle tde oni ally carr ed y a h. nd. o t

axle tor ex ensi n or retracti n. xi ll of e:

axle. so that thetread. ofwheels carr e new tivelybvte. nindlesis var able as the nin es are adjusted with respect; to the axle; a fram of substantially triangular constructio hav n t axle. and spindles as; its, base. and including s d elements. converging; to a. truncated apex.- rem te from the axle, each side element.- inclnding. a pair f telescop cally rranged, extensible and re r tible members .for lengtheningor; shortening the frame. as respects the altitude of the trian ularconstruction; mean fixin the, I axle-adjacent members. respectively tov the;splnd1es;-.means ig idlt GIQSSE-COIII QQfiiHE'JthB; axle-remote. members to. maintain the angle: therehetween; regardless of adjustment thereof as respects the axle-adjacent-members;- andi means-lockable. to. hold the sp ndles. against extensionor retraction but releasable. to. accommodate such movement as the.

side; element. memlo'ers are. extended or retracted.-

4. Frame. structurefor material-handling ap paratusor the like having an elongatedxelevater; comprising base. means; including interconnected sections arranged for relative extension and .re-

tract-ion in. a. direction. generally transverse to.

the length. of'sncheleiz ator for Varying the width ot the. base. means; supporting means extending from the base. means generallynormal to said transverse direction and'including interconnected sections 'arranged'for relativei extension and retraction to varyrthe 'length of the supporting means; anclmmeansr interconnecting the base means and vthe supportingmeans *for extending. l

and retracting thesections. cfone means intresponse to extension-orretraction of the sectionsoftheothermeansi Y 5. Frame structure for material-handling-ap paratus ortha like having an elongatedelevator,

comprising: a. truck'having a'pair of sections resnectively: including wheelacarrying means'and interconnected for relative extension-"and ire-trac tion in a direction=generallyfitransverse t'othe length ofsuch elevator-for varying the tread of wheels en'lthej. Wheelecarr-ying "means; a supportextending from the: truck in a direction generally normal thereto and includinga pair of sections i-ntereonneotedzfor relative extension and retraction to. vary the length of the support; and means interconnecting the support and the truck for exgending and retracting the wheel-carrying meansand'thus vary-maths tread of wheels car rie th reby in; response to varying of the-length QI'fih $L1DpQiIt'-. 1 r

6. In a material-handling apparatus ofwthe yne having an, ,eloneatedelevator inclim'hg'upward v from a receiving: end. adjacent to. ground to an elevated; discharge end: supportingstrucure, he or, omprisin a truck disposed below the; l or and-i te medi te the ends thereof nd havin a pair. of w te rcar yne meansad j ustable toward and away frzom each. other along 1111sa l a 9 h -lensth of the elevator; reach mean extend etween. 11211. "tru k.

" means .iorfiadiustine th le gt type. having an elongated elevator i-njclining wardly from a. receiving; end adjacent to, gm

7 10... the. iv n d. t e-e e a and: nau a adjustable sections for varying; the leng-thfof, the, reach means; means interconnectingth reach? carrying means simultaneous1vwit'h adjustment of the reach means; derrick means e xtending end (at-the;

wheel-carrying means, 7 we means simultaneouslywith vadju 7. In a material-handling.appa tuso to an elevated discharge ends supportinglstruc -j turetherefor comprising a truck disposed belowthe elevator and intermediate th en s theme? and having axle, narts adapted,tocarrywheels. and arranged for adjustment tosvarv thetr ad of-such wheels; reach-means-ot generall angular 3 construction havin .-,tl1 e; that base-and extending; to: a generally tr ap x. adjacent itherreceivin nd- 0 t a E m n i l t l m 3 mar e d i 7 r te. en -Q e en to vary h l asth; .qsieaah 11s; means. interconnecting e of. the reach sections and the axle; parts-into. provide-tor variation 'in wheel tread simultaneonsly with; variatio length t e r s ntm nt; de tie 0f e r y. r gular epn tm ealh v r k a t bas --end ex nd siee ea truncatedape adjacentthe-d l va and me ee- 2a a :p t connected for relative extension and to vary e-len th lithe-d? means interconnecting one of the derrick simultaneously withvarying Wheel treadL g- I 4 8.,Materia1 hand-ling apparatus, co n-pr an l n ed vato ha n e i-Y. n a .d.. r nd. P 9 5? 7 K? ben ath. the. vator'andintermediate the..- e cree -f are h means extending lengthwise betwee and -hav ing opposite end portions articulatelylconnected to the truckand-to the. receiving end portion. or? the elevator; derrickmeans extending .from the truck toward the delivery end,of the elevator and ha ving one, end pivoted; tothetrnck onsa transverse axis and; its other; end sustaining. the delivery end portion of ,the elevator from. below; and movable tore eand aft along the e levato to,

- raise and 7 low-er the-elevator to. effect variations in the angle thereof to the horizontalas t-hederrick means swings about. its axis onthe tru clg. mast means extending upwardly from, the truck and havinga lower section pivoted tothe trucl: on a. transverse axis and an nnper section tele,-. scopically arranged qn the lower.fseetion; ;m eans sustaining the. upper seetion ini a; limited downward position ontthe lowe section but providing oru wardmovementc thennper-s ct ntmeans awoa -sunpor ina onnection between; the unhermastfseotionkand the derrick-so. that:

. swinging. ofthe mast is. accompanied-byswing;

' loading point.

telescopic arrangement of the mast sections pro- V viding for upward movement of the upper'seclowered, column-load-sustaining I position and providing a first loading point higher than the elevator element when the;elevator element is depressed below a certain angle; derrick means pivoted on the base element-and sustaining the elevator, and. arranged for raising and lowering to elevate and depress the elevator, said derrick including a'second loading point lower than the aforesaid first point when the elevator element is depressed below said predetermined angle; means on one of the elements providing a third loading point lower than the'first loading point, said three points forming generally the 'apices of a triangle with the first point the highest apex when the elevator element is depressedbelow the aforesaid predetermined angle; and tension,- load-supporting means including a first part connected between the first and second points and a second part connected between-the first and third points, at least one of said parts being cone tractible to impose column-loading on the mast for raising of the derrick so that the second point moves upwardly and the three points approach a straight line including the first and third points as the elevator element is elev ated to the aforesaid predetermined angle,- said mast section thereafter shifting upwardly as aforesaid to relieve themast of column loading and to apply tensional loading directly through the tensionload-supporting means. i

10. The invention defined in claim 9,further characterized in that: selectively adjustable means is provided in the mast forvarying the lowered, column-load-sustaining position ofthe mast and hence varying theheight of the first 11. Material-handling apparatus, comprising: a base having a first pair of interconnected sections arranged for varying the length of the base and a second pair of interconnected sections arranged to vary the width of the base; means interconnecting certain of the sections for increasingthe width of the base simultaneously with increase length thereofjan elevator fulcrumed on;one of the first sections for elevationand depression; a derrick pivoted to the other of the first sections and sustaining the elevator, and including interconnected parts arranged to vary the length of the derrick; means connecting at least one ofsaid parts with certain ofthe base sections to effect variations in derrick length in accordance with variations in length andwidth of the base; and means onthe base for elevating the derrick, including" upright supporting structure, and 'means mounting said structure on the base for vertical adjustment independently of variations in the base orderrick.

12. In a material-handling device of the type having'a base, an inclinedflelevator, and a pair of mast elements carried by and extending upwardly from the base, one at each side of the elevator: the improvement comprising a pair of lugs rigidly secured to the mast elements, one on each -element and projecting horizontally and facingeach other, each lug being relatively short in a horizontal direction and having an aperture therein; a transverse bar disposed crosswise between the mast elements'and having opposite end portions respectively receiving the lugs, said end portions being apertured respectively I for alignment with the lug apertures; and a pair of securing members, one for each lug, passed through said aligned apertures and throughthe lugapertures; ,7

13; The invention defined in claim 12, in which: the opposite end portions of the bar are recessed and the lugs are smaller than and respectively loosely received in said recessed end portions so that the bar may have limited movement relative to the mast element. 7

14. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like having an elongated elevator, comprising: a pair of relatively extensible and retractible frame sections, one of which includes a pair of converging tubular members rigidly cross-braced to fix the angle of convergence, and the second of which includes a pair of members respectively telescopically received by the tubular members and extensible and retractible relative thereto; and means for releasably securing said members "in selected positions of extension or retraction. x

15. In a material-handling device including means providing a base on which an elevator is carried for elevation and depression, the improvement comprising: upright mast structure carried by the base and including a pair of upright, spaced apart members disposed with the elevator therebetween,:said members being sufficiently resilient to provide for spreading thereof from and return to normal spacing; a transverse member of substantially sufficient length to fit between the normally spaced mast members and below the elevatorin position to limit depression of the elevator; and means releasably connecting the transverse member to the mast members for release thereof to provide for further depression of the elevator, said releasable means including, elements on the mast members respectively engaging end portions of the transverse member when the mast-members are normally spaced and respectively disengageable when the mast members are spread.

16. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like'having an elongated elevator,-comprising: base means including interconnected sections arranged for relative extension and retractionin a direction generally transverse to the length of suchelevator for varying the width of the base means; supporting means having a first end proximate to the base and extending from the base means generally normal to said transverse direction'to a second end remote from the base, and including interconnected sections arranged for relative extension and retraction to vary the distance between said first and second ends; and means adjustably mounting the first end of the supporting means on the base means and providing for varying the width of said base end.

17. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like having an elongated ele-' vator, comprising: axlermeans disposed transversely as respectsthe length of the elevator and including a pair of relatively extensible and retractible axle partsfor respectively carrying wheels, so that the tread of such wheels, is a djustable according to relative extension or retrace tion of said parts; 'a supporting frame extending 13 generally normal to the axle means and including a pair of elongated frame elements having a pair of ends adjacent the axle means and a pair of ends remote from the axle means; means adjustably connecting the axle-adjacent ends of the members to the axle means to vary the transverse spacing between said axle-adjacent ends; and means at the axle-remote ends of the members for supporting the elevator.

LEONARD B. NEIGHBOUR. ORV'ILLE P. LANCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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