US3161309A

US3161309A - Grapple construction

Info

Publication number: US3161309A
Application number: US30947A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Baudhuin; Arnold C Petersen
Original assignee: DROTT Manufacturing CORP
Current assignee: DROTT Manufacturing CORP
Priority date: 1960-05-23
Filing date: 1960-05-23
Publication date: 1964-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-15

Description

Filed May 23. 1960 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1964 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL 3,161,309

GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 23, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 15, 1964 Filed May 23. 1960 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1964 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL 3,161,309

GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 23, 1960 Dec. 1964 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL 3,16

GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi;ed May 23, 1960 s 0 n: me. 3. m: oaN ENM r A H W 7 W W NoN W 3: E 3 a: S.

3,161,39 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 fitiee 3,161,309 GRAPPI CNSTRUCTON George J. Bandhnin and Arnoid C. Petersen, Stnrgeon Bay, Wis., assignors, by inesne assignments, to Drott Manufacturing Corporation, Miiwanaee, Wis., a corporation cf Wisconsin Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No. 30,947 11 aims. (Cl. 2l4-392) This invention relates to load handling apparatus and particularly to an improved grapple mechanism for use on a mobile lift for bandling large articles.

An important object of this invention is .to provide a lift apparatus of the type which is adapted to lift and transfer large units such as truck trailers, trailer bodies and the like between a railroad car and a loading station, and which has an improved grapple which enables handling of such large bodies without necessitating special fittings on the bodies.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grapple for handling large units such as truck bodies and the like, and Which does not require a high overhead clearance when moving the grapple laterally into and out of position over the body or unit.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a grapple for large objects and which has depending arms for engaging and supporting the body and in which the arms are foldable to a generally horizontal position to facilitate movement of the grapple into and out et position over the body.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a grapple for handling large objects, in which the grapple can pick up and transfer the object even when there is some misalignment between the object and the grapple.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a grapple having depending load engaging arms for supporting the object and in Which the arms are supported to enable limited movement in a direction longitudinally and crosswise of the lift apparatus to thereby accommodate miner shifting of the load due to inertia when moving the same without overstressing of the grapple mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a grapple construction having opposed pairs of load sup porting arms which are movable toward and away from each other into and out of a load supporting position and in Which the arms are also swingable to a generally horizontal retracted position, and which grapple has a novel arrangement for manipulating the arms to effect movement of the same into and out of their article supporting position.

A still further object is to provide a load handling apparatus in which the load is supported on carriages movable on horizontal beams Which are vertically movable in upright frames and which are guided by the trames securely to support the load.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention Will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when takcn in connection With the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mobile lift device having a load supporting grapple apparatus mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the grapple apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the grapple apparatus illustrating the manner in which it is supported on the mobile lift;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the left side of the pp FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on the plane 55 of FIG. 3 illustrating on a larger scale the monnting of the grapple arms on the frame;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the plane 65 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane 77 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the hydraulic circuit for the mobile lift and grapple.

The load handling apparatus of the present invention is generally adapted for use in handling relatively large objects such as truck trailers, demountable trailer bodies, and the like, to lift the same and move the bodies laterally and/or longitudinally for loading and unloading the same from a loading station, railroad car or the like, or, alternatively, to transport the bodies from one location to another. The load handling apparatus includes a grapple apparatus 10 for engaging and supporting the bodies, and which grapple apparatus is generally adapted for use with a mobile lift of the type which has mechanism for lifting the grapple and for moving the grapple laterally into and out of position over the body to be transported. One suitable mobile lift is shown in FIG. 1 and is of the type generally disclosed in the patent to George J. Baudhuin No. 2,909,298, and in the copending application of George J. Baudhuin and Arnold C. Petersen, Serial No. 854,921, filed November 23, 1959, now abandoned, for Mobile Lift Device. In general, the mobile lift includes first and second gantrytype frames designated 11 and 12, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the front and rear frames, it being understood that this designation is for convenience in describing the invention and that the mobile lift can be propelled in either direction. The front frame 11 includes

spaced legs

13 and 14, herein shown formed With a box-type cross-section, and a connecting bridge 15 having a generally Hshaped cross-section. Spaced side members 17 and 18 are attached to the

legs

13 and 14 and extend rearwardly therefrom. The rear frame 12 is similarly constructed and includes spaced legs 21 and 22 and a connecting bridge 23. The rear trame is advantageously mounted for adjustment toward and away from the front trame and for this purpose is attached to elongated bearing members or sleeves 27 which are slidable along the side members 17 and 18 and arranged to be locked in adjusted position, as by screws 28. Front and rear wheel mounting brackets or forks 32 and 33 are provided for supporting the lift device on

wheels

34 and 35, respectively. At least one set of wheels is mounted for steering movement and as herein shown the front wheel forks 32 are mounted for turning movement about an axis aligned With the

legs

12 and 13 of the front frame li). Turning of the front Wheels is eifected by

hydraulic steering cylinders

38L and 38R on the left and right sides of the vehicle respectively. As best shown in FIG. 8, the steering cylinders are pivotally connected at 39 to a respective one of the side members 17 and 18 and a piston rod 41 on each cylinder is pivotally attached to a respective one of the front wheel forks 32 at a point spaced radially outwardly of the pivot axis of the forks. Fluid is supplied to the cylinders under the control of a 4Way valve 45 which is rotatable about an upright axis 4541 and is connected through a linkage diagrammatically indicated at 46 to one of the front wheel forks for turning movement there- With. The valve has a pressure inlet 47, a return outlet 48 and service outlets 49 and Si). The valve also includes an operating lever 51 which is pivotal relative to the valve 4% about an upright axis and is operative when moved in one direction from its neutral position to supply fluid pressure from the inlet port 47 to the line 53 leading to the left cylinder 38L and to simultaneously exhaust fluid from the' right cylinder 38R through conduit 54 and return port 48. The ends of the cylinders at the other side of the pistons therein arehydraulicaly interconnected by a line 56 so that fluid d1splced from one cylinder will be forced into the other cylinder to efiect simultaneous substantially equal movement of the pistons in :relatively opposite directions. Drivmg 'of the mobile lift apparatus .may be efiected in anv'desxred manner and, as -herein shown,

hydraulic motors

59R and 59L are mounted on brackets 61 attached to the respective front wheel forks 32 for turning movement are driven by

hydraulic motors

74F and 74R respectively. The cables 71 and 72 extend over idlerpulleys 75 at the upper right corner of the respective frames, and over sheaves 76 and 77cm the bridges andcross beams respectively, to faise and lower the cross beam in response to operation of the winches. In order to minimize movement of the cross beams in a directron longitudinally of the winch, the ends of the cross beams have guide brackets 78 theron which are guidably supported on vertical rails 79 attached to the upright .posts 213 and 14 of the frames. Caniages 81 are mounted by rollers 82 on each of the cross beams 65 and 66 4 channel shaped cross mernber 116 is secured to the outer end of the plates 113 andend plates 1'18 are a'flixcd to the outer ends of the cross member. Ishaped crosspieces 119 extend between the respective end plates 118 and the longitudinal members 108, in parallel spaced relation to the cross member 116. Bearings l2l are provided in the end plates 118 and are aligned with the bearings 115 in the'plates 113. A pair of aligned shaft sections 122 are rot-atabl supported in the beauings 115 and 121 for turning about an axis extending crosswise of the frame.- A grappler arm drive plate 123 is non-rotatably attached to a sleeve 124 secured to the outer end of each of the shaft sections 122 and a key 125 extends into a peripheral slot 126 in the for movement therealong and the giapple 10 is mounted 7 :on the carriages for inovement therewith crosswse of the mobile lift. The carriages are power operated by means of front and

rear traverse winches

83F and 83R mounted on each of the cross beams 65 and 66, and the front and rear traverse winches include .drums 84F and 84R which are driven by an

hydraulic motor

85F and 85R respectively through a suitablesspeed reducrng mechanism. A cable 86 is -terminally attached to each of the carriages :81 and entrained overpulleys 87 and 88 at each end of the respective cross beams, 1the 1ntermediate portion of the cable being Wound around the drums 84F and 84R so that'rottttion of the drurns will reversibly move the carriages along the Cross beam.

The mobile lift app-aratuS is specfically designed for use in transferring truck trailers,and demountable trailer the stub shafts in the respective shaft section.

sleeve tohold the shft sections againgt axial .sliding movement while peflrmitting,free rotation thereof. A grappler arm mouhting bracket, including a plate 128 and a tubular stub' shaftl29, is supported at the outer ends of each of the shaft sections 122 for Iimited rotation relative thereto. A key 131 extends into a slot 132 in the stub shaftsto non-slidably and rotatably support As is apparentfrom FIG. 6, the plate 128 overlies the drive plate 123 and a pin 133is1 mounted on the drive plate and extends through an arcuately elongated slot 134 (see FIG. 5) in the bracket plate to provide a lostmotion type drive betwtcn the

plates

123 and 128.

The bracket 128 also includes spaced fianges 136 which xtend laterally from the bracket plate 128. Elongated grappler arms 1'37 are pivotally supported by a pin 138 between the flanges 136 for movement about an axis diszposed transverse to the axisof the Shaft sections 122 and laterally offset thereabwe as is clearly"shown in FIG. 6.

Thegrappler arms each have an angulted upper end portion'139 which extends downwardlyand outwardly from the respective mounting bracket and an elongated generally straight lower endportion 140. The grapple arms have a gnerall box-type cross-section and a sheave 141 (FIG. 6) is rotatably supportedby a pin 142 inside the grapple arm adjacentthe juncture of the upper end portion 139 With the lower end portion 140. An opening 143 is formed at the inner side ofthe armsafljacent the .pulleys or sheaves 141, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. .Gencrally L-shaped support shoes 145 are mounted on the lower ends of each of the arms 137 and are preferably supported by means of 21 pin 146 for limited tumingmovemefl about an axis 'extending crosswise of bodies onto and off from railroad cars and for this purbody B to be moved laterally onto and off from the r railroad car or loading platfrm. The load handling' grapple 10 is designed to facilitate movement 'of the grapple apparatus crosswise into and out of a position over the body B, and to selectively engage or disengage the body to enable transferring or transporting of the same.

The grapple apparatus 10 includes a framehaving front and rear

frame end sections

101F and 101R which are adjustably connected to each other by a beam 102. The end frame sections are sirnilarly constructed and like numerals are used to designate corresponding' parts. The beam 102 includes inner and outer

telescopic members

105 and 106 which are attached to a respective one of the end frame sections and are telescopially interconnected. A fstening means such as a pin 107 is mounted on the outer section 106 and is adapted to be received in openings 108 (FIG. 4) in the inner section 105 to releasably secuie the sections in adjusted position. The end frame sections 101.each include spaced longitudinally extending channel members 108 which are connected to the respective beam sections by a transition piece 111. Plates 113 are attached to the outer ends ofthe longitudinalmembers 108 and, as shown in FIG. 6, havealigned bearings 115 mounted thereon. A

the longitudinal axis of the frame to enable the 'shoes to tilt in a direction fore and aft of the vehicle to align the same With the underside of the object B being lifted.

The grapple arms 137-are thus supported on the brackets for swinging movement toward and away from each othenbetWeen the load supporting position shown in 'solid lines in FIG. 3 t0 a release position shown in dotted fines.

The arms areyieldably Urge d to their rele'ase position by means of a pair of spfings 151 (FIG. 6), each of which are disposed in a housing having

telescopic sections

152 and 153 that are terminally attached to the grappler arm support bracket and the grappler arm. As best shown in FIG. 2, the springs are disposed at relatively opposite sides of each arm 137 and one housing section 152 is pivotally attached to ears 154 on the arm 137 and the other housing section 153 is attached by a 'fitting 155 to the bracket plate.128. The springs 151 yieldably urge the armsoutWrdly and a stop rod 157 'is pivotally attached by a pin 158 between the flanges 136*and extends through opening 143 and'the bpening 158 in the arm; An adjustable stop 'nut 1'61 is threaded on the outer end of the rod and is adjustable therealong to limit the outward swinging movement of each of the arms.

The grappler arms 137 are drawn together by. an apparatus which equalizes the pressure applied to the opposing pair of arms. For this purpose, a cable (FIG. 6.) is

entrained over the sheaves 141 of each opposing pair of pulleys and is terminally attached to an anchor pin 166 mounted on the flanges 136 of the mounting bracket. The cables extend through the tubular shaft sections 122 and over upper and

lower pulleys

167 and 168 located medially between the ends of the shaft sections. The

pulleys

167 and 168 are rotatably mounted by a pin 169 on the pulley support plate 171 located between the plates 113. The pulley support plate 171 is rigidly secured as by welding to the cross member 116 and to a crosspiece 173 which extends between the plates 113, and an opening 174 is provided in the crosspiece 173 to permit the cable 165 to extend therethrough. The cable 165 extends over an equalizing sheave 176 which is supported in a yoke 177. The yoke has a rod 178 attached thereto and which extends through a sleeve 179 having lateral trunnions 181 which are supported between spaced bell cranks 182 on the respective frame end sections. The bell cranks, as shown in FIG. 7, are pivotally mounted by a pin 183 on a bracket 184. The latter bracket is attached to channeI-shaped

cross-pieces

185 and 186 which extemd between the longitudinally extending members 108. As is apparent, when the equalizing sheave 176 is drawn to the right as shown in FIG. 7, the cable 165 will draw the arms toward each other against the bias of the springs 151. Since the cable passes freely over the equalizing sheave, the pressure applied to the opposed pair of arms will be equalized and, if one arm engages the load before the other arm of that pair, as when the grapple is mot centered over the load, then one arm will be drawn a relatively greater distance inwardly to properly pick up the load. When the arms are drawm imwardly, the equalizing sheave will maintain substantially the same spaeing between the arms, but will permit limited relative parallel shifting of the arms. Consequently, the arms can swing relative to the grapple when the load is lifted t0 properly center the load with respect to the grapple frame, and to also permit inertial shiftimg of the load relative to the frame when the grapple frame is moved laterally.

The arms 137 are also adapted to be swung about the axis of the shaft sections 122 between the dependimg position shown in solid limes in FIG. 4, and the retracted position shown in dotted lines in that figure, to enable the grapple to be moved crosswise of the load such as the trailer B without requiring the grapple to be elevated the full length of the arms above the load. This is achieved by means of crank plates 191 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which are attached as by fasteners 192 to the adjacent ends of the aligned pairs of shaft sections 122. The pin 133 on the drive plate 123 and the slot 134 of the grappler arm mounting brackets permits limited angular lestmot-ion of the grappler arms in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle to accommodate inertial shifting of the load when moving the sarne in a direction longitudinally of the frame. However, when the shaft 122 is turned through a relatively greater angle than the lest-motion provided by the pin and slot construction, the arms are swung upwardly to a generally horizontal position disposed substantially in the plane of the frame. When the arms are in this position, the grapple can be moved laterally into and out of a position over the object being moved.

In order to simplify the operation of the grapple, and to also rednce the number of hydraulic lines which must be extended to the grapple frame, a common operator is provided for controlling movememt of the opposed pairs of arms toward and away from each other and for also swinging the front and rear pairs of arms upwardly to their retracted position. The common operator comprises fiuid cylinders designated 193F and 193R for the front and rear pairs of arms respectively. Each cylinder has a piston rod 195 and, as shown in FIG. 7, one end of the cylinder 193 is pivotally attached by a pin 196 between the bell cranks 182, and the rod 195 is connected by a yoke 198 to a crank pin 199 connected to the crank plates 191. A pair of adjustahle stop screws 201 are threaded in the cross member 116 and are arranged to engage stop fingers 200 formed on each of the crank plates 191 to limit downward swinging movement of the respective grappler arm. A second pair of stop screws 202 are also threaded in the cross member 116 and arranged to engage the respective one of the crank plates 191 to limit upward swinging movement of the grappler arms. A third adjustable stop screw 203 is threaded in a bracket 204 on the crosspiece 186 and is arranged to engage the bell crank 182 to limit movement of the same during extension of the fiuid operator. As previously noted, the arms are moved to their lower position and are draWn together, when the fiuid operator is retracted as shown in solid limes in FIG. 7. As fiuid is supplied to the operator to extend the same, the weight of the grappler arms 1337 will tend to inhibit upward swimging movement so that the operator will initially move the bell crank toward the dotted position shown in FIG. 7. This allows the equalizimg sheave 176 to move outwardly, that is to the left as viewed in FIG. 7, and enables the grappler arms 137 to swing ontwardly under the bias of springs 151. When the bell crank 182 engages the stop screw 203, further extension of the bell crank will rotate the shaft sections 122 and swing the arms upwardly to a generally horizontal position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. As the arms reach their retracted position, the crank plates 191 engage the stop fingers 202 to stop further movement of the drive plates 123. When the operator is thereafter retracted, the weight of the arms will initially draw the arms downwardly until the stop finger 200 on the crank plates engages the stop 201. Funther retraction of the operaxtor will swing the bell crank to the full lime position shown in FIG. 7 and draw the arms imwardly to their load supporting position shown in full lines in FIG. 3.

The end frarne sections are supported on the carriages 81 by spaced sets of links 211 which extend between the cross-pieces 119 and the respective carriage 81. The links permit limited angular shifting of the frame relative to the respective carriage, to facilitate alignment of the grapple frame with the object to be lifted. An hydraulic lime support arm 221 is pivotally mounted by a pin 222 on the support trame intermediate the ends of the latter, for horizontal swinging movement relative to the frame. The hose suppont arm extends to a point adjacent one end of the grapple frame and the hydraulic supply and return

lines

274 and 275 extend from a point intermediate the ends of the cross beams 65 through a slack loop onto the support arm. The other ends 274F, 275F and 274R and 275R of the hydraulic lines are connected to the fiuid operators at the front and rear ends of the grapple trame.

Reference is now made more specifically to the hydraulic control circuit shown in FIG. 8. Fluid is supplied to the several hydraulic motors and operators from three pumps designated 231, 232 and 233, each having their imlets connected to a reservoir 234 and their outlets respectively connected to supply

limes

235, 236 and 237. The left and

right drive motors

59L and 59R are connected through

conduits

241 and 242 to flow reversing valves 243L and 243R. The valve 243R is connected throngh a conduit 244 to the supply lime 237 and the valve 243L is connected through a conduit 245 to the supply line 236. The valves are each otherwise connected through conduits 247 to the return line 248. The front and rear hoist

motors

74F and 74R are connected through

conduits

251 and 252 to flow reversing valves 253R and 253F. The valve 253F is connected through conduit 254 to the sup ply line 237 and the valve 253R is connected through conduit 255 to the supply line 236. The valves 253 each have a conduit 257 connected to the return line 248. Similarly, the front and rear traverse winch motors F and 85R are connected through

conduits

261 and 262 to reversing Valves 263R and 263F. Fluid is supplied t0 valve 263F from stipply line :237 and 'to Valve 263R from supply line 236, and return lines 265 connect each of these valves .to the return line 243. The other pump 231 has its supply line 235 connected to the inlet po i-t 47 or the steering valve 45, and the return port 48 of the steering valve is connected 'through conduit 268 back to the reservoir'234. The purnp 231 also is advntageously used to supply fluid to the frontand rear

grapple'operatirg r cylinders

193F and 193R respectively. As 'shown, the supply line 235 is connected 'through a conduit 271 to a flow reversing valve 272, and a return lime 273connects the valve 272 back to (the teservoir 234. The controlled outlet ports et the valve 272 are connected through a conduit 274 and

branch limes

274R and 274F =to both of the grapple 'cyfinders 193, atone side of the piston therein. The other controlled line 275 is connected through

branches

275F and 275R to both of the grapple cylinders at the other side of the pistons therein, and adjustable flow control valves 278 are .provided in each 'of the branches to enable independent adjustment of the rate of flow to each of the ends of the cylinders.

Gross relief valves

279 and 280 are connected between the controlled

limes

274 and 275 to limit the maximum pressure supplied to the grapple cylinders. A t 7 From the foregoing itis thought that theoperafion of the load handling apparatus Will bercadfly understod.

of the load.

swing said arms to said second position to release and clear the load t0 enabl the frame to be moved crosswise 2. A load handling apparatus comprisinga frame, shaft meansextending crosswise of the longitudinal axis of said frame and rotatably supported thereon, a pair of elongated load carrying arms, arm mounting brackets mounted adjacent opposite ends of said shaft means for turning moveresponse to turning of said shaft means, means mounting Sld arms adjacent one end thereof on said mounting r braclzets for .swinging movement about an axistransverse The mobile lift can be steered and propelled under the 7 control of valves 45 and243L and 243R to locate the lift 7 in a position straddlinga railroad car ora l'oading station; The grapple apparatus 10 is then o}aeratedflder the control cf valve 272 to swing the arms 140 doWnwardly to a 'position along opposite sides of the article'to be .picked up and the opposed pairs of arms thereafier draWn inwardly to the Solid line position shown in FIG. 3 to enr gage and support the article. The article is then=levated by the hoists under the control of valves 253F and 253R,

and the article is moved latrlly by the traverse Winch under the control of valves 263F and 263R. :By reason of the limited lest motionbetween thearm mounting plate 128 and the drive plate 123, and the equlizing action of the equalizer sheave 176, the arms can shift somewhat relative to the grapple frame due to inertia of the load.

Further, the front and rear pairs of grapple arms can be can be moved laterally onto or off from .the loadiflg station or railrOad car, or, alternatively, the lift:canbe operated to transport the load t0 a dierent location. Sinoe the grapple arms can be folded to a generally horizontal position, they do not ir1terfere with'the movement of the grapple frame into andout of a postion above the object to be moved. 'Preferably, the stops 202 which control the upper positions of the grapple arms are adjusted so'' 'that the arms at the front and rear of the frame are Ofiset ing generallylongitudinally ofsaid frame. 30 V -to the axis of said shaft means toward and away from each other'into and outof =aload supporting portion, means connected to said arms for moving said arms toward and, awavfrom each other, and means connected to said shft means for turning said shaft means to swing said arms. between a load carrying position extending transverseto said frame and a retracted position extend- 3. A load handlingapparatus comprising a frame, shaft means extending crosswise of the longitudinal axis of said trame and rotatably supported thereon, a pair of elongated load carrying arms, airmmounting brackets mounted adjacent opposite ends of saidshaft means for turning movement about the axisof-saidshaftmeans, meansconnecting said shaft means tosaid bracketstfor turning the latter in response toturningof said shaft means, means mounting said arms adjacent one end thereof on said mounting brackets for swinging,movement about an axis transverse to the axis of said shaft means toward and away from each other into and out-ofa load supporting position, and

a common power operated means connected to saidshaft and to said arms'tor swingingsaid arms toward each other and for turning said shaft to swing the arms between a load carr'yingposition extending transverse to said frame and a r'etracted position extending.gebnerally longitudinally of saidframe.

4. A load handling apparatus comprising a frame, a

pair of axially spaced 'tubular shatt sections rotatably ing about the axis of the shaft sections, means'cohnecting the shaft sections to said bracketsto turn the latter in response to turning offthe"shaft, a pair of elongated load "carrying arms; means 'mounting one end portion of said .arrnson arespective one of saidbrackets for swinging from each other when the arms are raised, as showriin dotted limes in FIG. 4, so that the arms do not interfere With each other when the

frame members

105 and 106 are adjusted to a position in whiCh the grapple arms wou l d overlap.

Wc daim: v 1. A load handling apparafus comprising a frame, at least one pair of opposed load :spporting arms laterally spaced apart and defining a plane, means mounting said a load therebetween and a second pbsitionextending generally longitudinally of the frame to clear the load and enable the frame to bemoved into and out et position over the load, said arm mounting means including means for .=su}pport ing said arms torlimited relative :movement tomovement about an*axis olset frbm the axis ofsaid shatt sections and extending transvrsethereto, means attachcd to said arms*and extending through s"aid shatt sections for 'm'oving said arms toward each other into a load supporting position, and meansconnected to the adjacent ends Sof said shaft Sectionstorturningthe same to etect movement et the arms between a first position extending transverse tO'the longitudinal axis of the frame and'a second position extending generally':longitudinally of the*frame.

5. A load handling apparatus conprising, an elongated frame, a first pair of arm.mounting bracketsmounted at opposite sides of the frame adjacent one end thereof, a v

second pair of ar'm mounting brackets mounted at opposite sides of the frame adjacent the other ehd thereof,

arms on said first pair of braclcets and the arms on said second pair of brackets are movable toward and away from each other into and ont et a load supporting position, means yieldably urging the arms on each pair of brackets outwardly relative to each other to a load release position, and common means connected to tire arms on each pair of brackets for moving the arms toward each other to said load supporting position, said common means including an extensible and retractible fluid operator, et cable connected to the arms of each pair, and means including a pulley connecting said fluid operator to said cable intermediate the ends et the latter.

6. The combination with a lift apparatus including front and rear beams, means for elevating and lowering said beams, a carriage mounted on each of said beams tor movement therealong, et a grapple trame attached to said carriages tor movement therewith along the beams, front and rear pairs et opposed grapple arms, means mounting said arms at one end on said trame for swinging movement about axes at the tront and rear ends of the trame in planes extending generaliy longitudinally et said trame between positions extending downwardly from saicl trame and positions extending generally horizontally substantially in the plane et the trame, and means to move the arm of said pairs toward and away from each oti2er tor supporting a load therebetween.

7. In a load handling apparatus, a grapple comprising a horizontally elongated trame section, a pair et grapple arms lying generally parallel to each otner in a common plane, means pivotally monnting one end et each grapple arm at an opposite end et the trame section on axes transverse to the trame section and to said plane for pivotal movement of the grapple arms in said common plane toward and away from each other to engage and release a load, horizontal shart means extending longitudinally et the frame section on which the pivotal mounting means are mounted and supprting the arms for movement from a vertical position depending from the trame section to a horizontal position substantially at the level of the trame section, a lest motion connection .oetween the pivotal mounting means and the shatt means, and power means to turn the shatt means thereby to swing the arms from their vertical to their horizontal positions.

8. A load handling apparatus comprising a horizontally elongated trame, transverse trame sections at opposite ends of the trame, shatts journalled on the trame sections and extending transverse to the trame length, a grapple arm pivoted at each end et each shatt on axis transverse to the shart, the grapple arms pivoted to each shaft forming a pair movable toward and away from each other in a common plane to engage and release a load, and motor means to turn the shatts t0 swing the grapple arms from vertical positions depending from the shatts to li horizontal positions substantially in the plane of the trame and trame sections.

9. The load handling apparatus of claim 8 in which the grapple trame includes longitudinally extending telescopically interfitting members which are slidable relative to each other to adjust the length of the trame.

10. in a load handling apparatus, a straddle type vehicle having a pair of spaced parallel gantry trames ot inverted U-shape, wheels supporting the trames for movement over the ground, a horizontally elongated grapple trame, means supporting the grapple trame on the gantry trames for vertical movement relative thereto, two pairs et grapple arms mounted respectively adjacent to opposite ends et the grapple trame, the arms ot each pair lying in a plane transverse to the grapple trame length, means pivotally mounting one end of each grapple arm of each pair at an opposite side of the grapple trame on an axis parallel to the length of the grapple trame and transverse to said planes for pivotal movement of the grapple arms et each pair in one of said planes toward and away from each other to engage and release a load, means mounting the grapple arms of each pair on the grapple trame for movement about a horizontal axis transverse to the grapple trame length and parallel to said planes for movement from a vertical position depending from the pivotal mounting means to a horizontal position substantially at the level of the grapple trame for movement over a load, power means to swing the grapple arms toward and away from each other in said planes, and additional power means to swing the grapple arms from their depending position to their horizontal position.

11. The load handling apparatus ot claim 10 in which the grapple trame includes longitudinally extending telescopically interfitting members which are slidable relative to each other to adjust the length of the frame.

Reterences Citerl by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,175 9/01 Condict 212129 1,714,945 5/29 Buhl 21438.42 1,962,700 6/34 Allard 294-106 2,611,498 9/52 Broersma 214652 2,729,351 1/56 Greeley 214392 X 2,821,318 1/58 Kendall 214-658 2,909,298 10/59 Baudhuin 214-396 OTHER RFRENCES Clark Equipment Company Brochure Upender Clamp Attachment, Dec. 19, 1949.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiner.

Claims

10. IN A LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS, A STRADDLE TYPE VEHICLE HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL GANTRY FRAMES OF INVERTED U-SHAPE, WHEELS SUPPORTING THE FRAMES FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE GROUND, A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED GRAPPLE FRAME, MEANS SUPPORTING THE GRAPPLE FRAME ON THE GANTRY FRAMES FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, TWO PAIRS OF GRAPPLE ARMS MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME, THE ARMS OF EACH PAIR LYING IN A PLANE TRANSVERSE TO THE GRAPPLE FRAME LENGTH, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING ONE END OF EACH GRAPPLE ARM OF EACH PAIR AT AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE LENGTH OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME AND TRANSVERSE TO SAID PLANES FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE GRAPPLE ARMS OF EACH PAIR IN ONE OF SAID PLANES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO ENGAGE AND RELEASE A LOAD, MEANS MOUNTING THE GRAPPLE ARMS OF EACH PAIR ON THE GRAPPLE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE GRAPPLE FRAME LENGTH AND PARALLEL TO SAID PLANES FOR MOVEMENT FROM A VERTICAL POSITION DEPENDING FROM THE PIVOTAL MOUNTING MEANS TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE LEVEL OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT OVER A LOAD, POWER MEANS TO SWING THE GRAPPLE ARMS