US3113684A - Pintle hook - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1963 F. A. NOVOTNEY 3,113,684

PINTLE HOOK Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl6.i

FIZJANK' A. Nova-may INVEN TOR. v

b M Mam; flow l A gMEy Dec. 10, 1963 F. A. NOVOTNEY 3,113,684

PINTLE HOOK Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK A- NOVOTN EV by 16 W zzww 'f ATTOQNE'yg United States Patent 3,113,684 PIN'ILE H0611 Frank A. Novotuey, Toniea, Ill, assignor to Anthony Qompany, Streator, Iii, a corporation of lliinois Fiied Apr. 25, 1952, der. No. 190,099 9 Claims. (1. 214-77) This invention relates to lift gate mechanisms for trucks and the like and more particularly relates to a pintle hook attachment for lift gate mechanisms transferring the loads of towing from the lift gate mechanism to the frame of the truck.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved form of pintle hook attachment for lift gate mechanisms so constructed and arranged as to transfer the loads of towing to the frame of the truck when the left gate is in an upright closed position.

Another object of the invention is to improve upon towing attachments for trucks and the like having lift gate mechanisms at the rear end of the truck body by so arranging the pintle hook attachment to come into abutting engagement with the abutment members carried by the truck frame, as the lift gate platform is moved into an upright elevating position, and to transfer the towing loads from the lift gate mechanism to the truck frame.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pintle hook attachment for lift gate mechanisms including a cross member movably connected to the elevating mechanism for the lift gate platform and carrying a pintle hook intermediate its ends, and having interengagement with the truck frame at its ends when the lift gate platform is in an elevated vertical closed position, in which the cross member carrying the pintle hook may move the pintle hook into position to clear the ground as the elevating mechanism for the lift gate platform is moved downwardly to position the lift gate on the ground in position to pick up a load.

Those and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary generally diagrammatic view of the rear end portion of the frame of a truck having a lift gate platform and elevating mechanism therefor mounted at the rear end of the truck body and showing a pintle hook attachment constructed in accordance with the invention carried by the lift gate mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one end of the pintle hook attachment in abutting interengagement with the truck frame;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the cross member supporting the pintle hook and showing the pintle hook in side elevation;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the pintle hook in a retracted position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, FIGURE 1 generally shows a lift gate platform 19 mounted at the back of a truck frame 11, with the lift gate platform in an upright closed position.

The lift gate platform is raised and lowered and supported in elevated and lowered positions with respect to the truck frame by outer arm members 12 and inner arm members 13. The arm members 13 may be telescopic to accommodate the lift gate platform to be moved to the closed upright position shown in FIGURE 1 when the truck carrying the lift gate platform has been loaded or unloaded and is in conduition to travel to a new location.

A hydraulic cylinder and piston indicated at 15 is pivotally connected between a support structure 16 for the arm members 12 and 13 and supports and vertically moves the lift gate platform in a conventional manner.

The arm members 12 and 13 form in effect a parallelogram linkage arrangement for raising and lowering the lift gate plaform 10 in a plurality of parallel planes. The outer arm members 12 are pivotally connected to the lift gate platform between brackets 18 on pivot pins 19. The inner arm members 13 are pivotally connected to the lift gate platform between bracket members 20 on pivot pins 22.

The forward or inner ends of the arm members 12 are transversely pivotally mounted on the support frame structure 17 between spaced brackets 23. The arm members 13 likewise are transversely pivotally mounted at their inner or forward ends between spaced brackets 24.

The hydraulic cylinder and piston 15 is pivotally connected at one end to the support frame structure 17 in a conventional manner and is connected at its opposite ends to a cross head 25 trunnioned on parallel spaced arms 26 spaced inwardly of the arm members 13 and connected at their forward or inner ends to a cross member 27 conmeeting the arm members 13 together, and at their rear or outer ends to a cross member 28, connecting the outer or rear end portions of the arm members 13 together.

The pintle hook attachment is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 as comprising a cross member 29 secured to the arms 13 and projecting laterally beyond said arms for interengagement at its ends with side frame members or beams 30, extending for substantially the length of the truck frame 11, and forming a part of said frame. The cross member 29, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 comprises a central block 31 having axially aligned tubes or bars 33 mounted therein and extending from opposite sides thereof and welded or otherwise secured to said block. The block 31 is drilled perpendicularly to the axis of the tubes 33 and longitudinally of the truck frame, to form an aperture or a hole 34 to receive a bolt portion 35 of a pintle hook 36. A nut 37 threaded on said bolt portion serves to draw a flanged or shouldered portion 359 of the pintle hook 36 into tight engagement with the rear face of the block 31.

The pintle hook 36 may be of a well known form and has a hook portion 41 extending rearwardly of the flanged portion 39 thereof and opening in an upward direction to receive a clevis or hook (not shown) on the end of a tow rope or the like. A dog 43 is provided to close the upwardly opening hook portion 41 of the pintle hook and to engage an inner recess 44 of said hook portion to retain a clevis or hook (not shown) to the pintle hook. As shown in FIGURE 3, the dog 43 is transversely pivoted to an upwardly extending boss portion 45 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the body portion of the pintle hook forming the flange 39. The dog 43 extends along opposite sides of the boss 45 and is pivotally mounted thereon on a transverse pivot pin 46 shown as being in the form of a nut and bolt. The dog 43 has a locking pin 49 slidably mounted therein and movable into position to engage beneath the boss 45 to retain the dog 43 in a closed position.

The cross member 29 is rotatably mounted on the arm members 13 and 26 on hangers 50 extending along the insides of the arms 26 and outwardly therefrom and welded or otherwise secured to said arms. The bars 33 of the cross member 29 extending from opposite sides of the block 31 pivotally extend through the hangers 50 and through generally U-shaped supports 51 welded at the ends of the legs of said supports on the arm members 13. The legs of the supports 51 are through drilled parallel to the longitudinal axes of the arms 13 in axial alignment with each other, as are the tubes 33, to accommodate a locking pin 52 to pass through said legs and the tube 33, to retain the cross member 29 and block 31 in position to support the pintle hook 36 in position to retain a clevis or hook attached thereto. The tubes 33 also have locking plates 53 extending generally radially therefrom along the insides of the supports 51, movable into position to register with locking plates 55 extending from a leg of the associated support 51. The locking plates 53 and 55 are apertured to accommodate the pins 52 to pass therethrough and lock the cross member 29 and pintle hook 36 in the retracted position shown in FIGURE 5, to clear the ground as the lift gate platform is lowered into engagement with the ground.

The abutment means mounted on beams of the truck frame 11 is shown in FIGURE 2 as comprising a keeper member 57 mounted between the web of the beam 30 and the vertical leg of a reinforcing angle 59 extending along said beam and opening downwardly to be engaged by an associated end of the cross member 29. A lower flange 60 of the beam 30 is cut away as indicated by reference character 61. The vertical leg of the reinforcing angle is also cut away to accommodate an associated end of the cross member 29 to move upwardly along the beams 30 and angles 59 into engagement with the keep member 57, as the lift gate platform is moved into a vertical closed position.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the keeper member 57 has spaced inclined legs 63 and 64 extending along the margins of the cut away portions 61 of the flange 66. The leg 63 extends at substantially the line of travel of the associated end portion of the cross member 29 to be engaged, by said end portion of said cross member and to guide said cross member to engage within a bight portion 65 of the keeper member 57, as the lift gate platform is moved to a vertical closed position, and to thereby assure that the towing loads are taken on the strike memhere 57 and the beams 30 of the truck frame and are relieved from the arm members l3, l3 and 26, 26. As the lift gate platform is moved to a horizontal position from a vertical closed position and is lowered towards the ground, the cross member 29 will move along the legs 63 of the keeper members 57 free from the beams 36] of the frame 11.

It may be seen from the foregoing that I have provided and improved form of pintle hook attachment for a vehicle having a lift gate platform permanently attached to the rear end portion thereof, for loading and unloading the vehicle, that the pintle hook attachment is mounted on the elevating mechanism for the lift gate platform, and that the loads of towing are transferred from the elevating mechanism to the truck frame, as the platform is moved to an elevated and vertical position, and that the pintle hook is always in a towing position as the lift gate platform is moved to its closed position.

It may further be seen that the location of the pintle hook attachment with respect to the arms 13 is such that the angle of the block 31 and pintle hook 36 varies very little during raising and lowering of the lift gate platform making it possible to utilize the pintle hook attachment for varying heights of truck floors. It may still further be seen that the pintle hook attachment may readily be rotated and locked in an inoperative position, to clear the ground, when the lift gate is lowered to ground position.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the invention may be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variations and modifications in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof, as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pintle hook attachment for lift gates and in combination with a vehicle frame having parallel spaced side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

elevating means for raising and lowering said lift gate platform in a plurality of parallel planes and for f4 1 moving said platform into an upright closed position including at least two laterally spaced angularly movable arms,

a cross member carried by at least one of said arms and projecting laterally from said arms,

abutment means carried by said side frame members comprising downwardly opening keeper members generally conforming to the projecting end portions of said cross member and engaged thereby upon movement of said lift gate platform into an upright closed position and transferring the loads of towing from said arms to said side frame members of said truck.

2. In a pintle hook attachment for lift gates and in combination with a vehicle frame having parallel spaced side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

elevating means for said platform comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotally connected to the vehicle frame and having pivotal supporting connection with the lift gate platform,

for vertically moving the lift gate platform in a plurality of parallel planes and into an upright closed position,

a cross member intermediate the ends of said arms,

means pivotally mounting said cross member on the inner arms of said pairs of parallel arms,

a pintle hook carried by said cross member,

abutment means on said side frame members engaged by said cross member as said arms move said lift gate platform into an upright closed position,

and means connected between said cross member and at least one of said arms for holding said pintle hook attachment in an upright towing position and locking said pintle hook attachment in a retracted position free from the ground, when said lift gate platform is lowered into engagement with the ground.

3. In a pintle hook attachment for lift gate platforms and in combination with a vehicle frame having parallel side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

a plurality of pairs of arm members pivotally connected to the truck frame and having pivotal supporting connection with the lift gate platform,

and operable to move said lift gate platform vertically in a plurality of parallel planes and into an upright closed position,

a cross member intermediate the ends of said arms and projecting beyond the inner of said arms,

means pivotally mounting said cross member on the inner of said arms,

a pintle hook carried by said cross member, means for locking said cross member into position to hold said pintle hook in a towing position and into a retracted position with respect to said arms free from the ground upon lowering movement of said lift gate platform into engagement with the ground,

abutment means on said side frame members comprising downwardly opening keeper members having a bight portion adapted to be engaged by the ends of said cross frame member upon movement of said arms to position said lift gate platform into an upright closed position.

4. In a truck,

a frame having a pair of parallel spaced side frame members,

a lift gate platform at the rear of said frame,

a plurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotally connected to said truck frame and having supporting elevating connection with said lift gate platform for moving said lift gate platform vertically,

the improvements comprising towing means carried by said arms and movable into abutting engagement with said side frame members, said side frame members having abutment means comprising downwardly opening keeper members generally conforming to projecting end portions of said towing means and engaged thereby upon movement of said lift gate platform into an upright closed position and transferring the loads of towing from said towing means to said side frame members of said frame.

7. In a truck,

a frame having a pair of parallel side frame members,

a lift gate platform,

elevating mechanism for said platform comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotally connected to said truck frame and having pivotal supporting connection with said lift gate platform for 5. In a truck,

a frame having a pair of parallel side frame members,

a lift gate platform, 10

elevating mechanism for said platform comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotally connected to said truck frame and having pivotal supengagement with said side frame members upon porting connection with said lift gate platform for movement of said lift gate platform into an upraising and lowering said lift gate platform in a right closed position, plurality of parallel planes and for moving said a cross member carried by the inner of said arms for platform into an upright closed position, pivotal movement with respect thereto about an the improvements comprising towing means for said axis extending transversely of said arms and protruck carried by said arms and movable into interjecting laterally beyond said arms, engagement with said side frame members upon a pintle hook carried by said cross member, movement of said lift gate platform into an upabutment means on said side frame member in registry right closed position including a cross member carwith the ends of said cross member and engaged ried by the inner of said arms and projecting laterby said cross member and taking the loads of towing, ally beyond said arms, upon movement of said lift gate platform into an a pintle hook carried by said cross member, upright closed position,

and abutment means on said side frame members in and selectively operable locking means connected beregistry with the ends of said arms and engaged tween said cross member and at least one of said thereby upon movement of said lift gate platform arms for locking said cross member and pintle hook into an upright closed position, said abutment means in an operative towing position and in an inoperacomprising downwardly opening keeper members tive retracted position. generally conforming with the ends of said arms, 8. A pintle hook attachment for lift gate platforms thereby transferring the loads of towing from said for trucks and the like having elevating mechanism for arms to the said side members of said frame. raising and lowering the lift gate platform in a plurality 6. In a truck, of parallel planes,

a frame having a pair of parallel side frame members, comprising a cross member adapted to be mounted a lift gate platform, on the elevating mechanism for the lift gate platelevating mechanism for said platform comprising a form,

raising and lowering said lift gate platform in a plurality of parallel planes and for moving said platform into an upright closed position,

the improvements comprising towing means for said truck carried by said arms and movable into interplurality of pairs of parallel arms pivotally connected to said truck frame and having pivotal supengagement with said side frame members upon movement of said lift gate platform into an upright closed position,

a cross member carried by the inner of said arms for the ends of said cross member.

abutment members on the truck frame comprising downwardly opening keeper members generally conporting connection with said lift gate platform for forming to the end portions of said cross member raising and lowering said lift gate platform in a pluand adapted to be engaged by said cross member rality of parallel planes and for moving said platupon vertical movement thereof as the lift gate form into an upright closed position, platform is moved into an upright closed position, the improvements comprising towing means for said and a pintle hook mounted on said cross member.

truck carried by said arms and movable into inter- 9. A pintle hook attachment for lift gate platforms for trucks and the like having elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the lift gate platform in a plurality of parallel planes,

comprising a cross member,

pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis a pintle hook carried by said cross member, extending transversely of said arms and projecting hangers pivotally supporting said cross member and laterally beyond said arms, adapted to be secured to the lift gate elevating a pintle hook carried by said cross member, mechanism, abutment means on said side frame member in registry keeper members adapted to be mounted on a truck with the ends of said cross member and engaged frame to be engaged by the ends of said cross by said cross member and taking the loads of towmember, ing, upon movement of said lift gate platform into and means connected between said cross member and an upright closed position, said abutment means on said lift gate elevating mechanism and selectively said side frame members comprising downwardly operable to lock said cross member and pintle hook opening keeper members generally conforming to into an operative towing position and in a retracted inactive position.

No references cited.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 113,684 December 10, 1963 Frank A, Novotney It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

column 1, line 17, for "left" read tail lines 8, l0, 11, 15, 19, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 36, 44, 47, 59, 60, 62, 67 and 69, column 2, lines 2, 5, 6 and 8, column 3, lines 10, 23, 32, 37, 44, 47, 51, 56, 61, 70, 73 and 74, column 4, lines l0, 14, 17, 21, 22, 30, 36, 39, 42, 45, 46, 57, 63, 68, 71 and 72, column 5, lines 4, 10, 14, 15, 21, 28, 36, 40, 41, 47 and 57, and column 6, lines 3, 7, 8, 14, 24, 31, 33, 36, 42, 45, 47, 52 and 58, for "lift", each occurrence, read tail Signed and sealed this 23rd day of June 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. IN A PINTLE HOOK ATTACHMENT FOR LIFT GATES AND IN COMBINATION WITH A VEHICLE FRAME HAVING PARALLEL SPACED SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A LIFT GATE PLATFORM, ELEVATING MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID LIFT GATE PLATFORM IN A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL PLANES AND FOR MOVING SAID PLATFORM INTO AN UPRIGHT CLOSED POSITION INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO LATERALLY SPACED ANGULARLY MOVABLE ARMS, A CROSS MEMBER CARRIED BY AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ARMS AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID ARMS, ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS COMPRISING DOWNWARDLY OPENING KEEPER MEMBERS GENERALLY CONFORMING TO THE PROJECTING END PORTIONS OF SAID CROSS MEMBER AND ENGAGED THEREBY UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID LIFT GATE PLATFORM INTO AN UPRIGHT CLOSED POSITION AND TRANSFERRING THE LOADS OF TOWING FROM SAID ARMS TO SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS OF SAID TRUCK.

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