US3685128A

US3685128A - Machine and method for removing engines from vehicles

Info

Publication number: US3685128A
Application number: US77847A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen B Sharp; Richard A Hull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-05
Filing date: 1970-10-05
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22

Abstract

The disclosed machines and method are utilized to expeditiously remove the engines, and the transmissions connected thereto, from junked vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks, and the like and are particularly adapted to remove engines-transmissions that are mounted in engine compartments, in which one end of the enginestransmissions extends beyond one end of the engine compartments. The machines include a pair of hydraulically actuated tongs which are adapted to grip the sides of the engine to be removed while the engine is mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle. The tongs are constructed so as to permit limited, relative pivotal movement between the engine and tongs. The tongs are pivotally mounted on one end of a vertically movable boom structure which, in turn, is mounted on a portable frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle while the engine is being pulled from the engine compartment. The machines also include hold-down members which are used to restrain vertical movement of the vehicle while the engine is being removed and control means for permitting one person to control the entire operation of the machines. During the operation of the improved machines in accordance with the improved method, the engine to be removed is gripped by the tongs and is moved vertically so that the other end of the engine is pulled from its engine mounts. The engine is then pulled, at an angle with respect to the vertical, so that the one end of the engine, and the transmission, are removed from the engine compartment along a substantially straight path. In one of the disclosed machines, the one end of the boom structure is extendable, with respect to the rest of the boom structure, and a pair of forks are mounted on the extendible end of the boom structure adjacent to the tongs so that the machine may also be utilized as a fork lift. In this machine, the tongs and hold-down members are both movable to positions where they do not interfere with the operation of the machine as a fork lift. In the other disclosed machine, the frame may be permanently mounted on a chassis or may be selectively carried by a fork lift truck or the like.

Description

United States Patent Sharp et al.

[54] MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING ENGINES FROM VEHICLES [72] Inventors: Allen B. Sharp, 1511' N. Jefferson St., PO. Box 592; Richard A. Hull, R. R. 4, both of Ottumwa, lowa 52501 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 77,847

52 us. (:1 ..29/403, 29/200 1), 29/427 51 1m. (:1. ....B23q 17/00, B23p 19/04, B23p 19/02 581 Field of Search ..29/200 1), 200 P, 200 J, 427,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,239,076 3/1966 Huff et al. ..29/200 J x 3,289,282 12/1966 Shaffer ..29/200 D Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Att0meyMolinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff 5 7 ABSTRACT to be removed while the engine is mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle. The tongs are constructed so as to permit limited, relative pivotal movement between the engine and tongs. The tongs are pivotally mounted on one end of a vertically movable boom structure which, in turn, is mounted on a portable frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle while the engine is being pulled from the engine compartment. The machines also include hold-down members which are used to restrain vertical movement of the vehicle while the engine is being removed'and control means for permitting one person to control the entire operation of the machines.

During the operation of the improved machines in accordance with the improved method, the engine to be removed is gripped by the tongs and is moved vertically so that the other end ofthe engine is pulled from its engine mounts. The engine is then pulled, at an angle with respect to the vertical, so that the one end of the engine, and the transmission, are removed from the engine compartment along a s'ubstantially Straight path.

In one of the disclosed machines, the one end of the boom structure is extendable, with respect to the rest of the boom structure, and a pair of forks are mounted on the extendible end of the boom structure adjacent to the tongs so that the machine may also be'utilized as a fork lift. in this machine, the tongs and hold-down members are both movable to positions where they do not interfere with the operation of the machine as a fork lift.

1n the other disclosed machine, the frame may be permanently mounted on a chassis or may be selectively carried by a fork lift truck or the like.

25 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1822 um sum 1 BF 7 mm Q mm w MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING ENGINES FROM VEHICLES BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved machine and method for expeditiously removing engines from vehicles and more particularly, for expeditiously removing the engines and the transmissions from vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks and the like, which are to be scrapped.

In recent years, the price paid by scrap dealers and processors for junked vehicles has oftentimes not been enough to justify automobile junk dealers going to the expense of stripping the junked vehicles and hauling them to the scrap dealers and processor. Consequently, an increasing number of junked vehicles have not been scrapped but have simply been stored in junk yards and the like. Aside from being an inefficient use of land, the accumulation of junked vehicles in junk yards presents ecological and scenic problems.

The advent of the car crusher, as described in.U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,413, issued to Allen B. Sharp and Richard A. Hull, and assigned to the assignor herein, has increased the potential profit available in selling junked vehicles for scrap since its use permits a greater number of vehicles to be hauled, per truck load, and

thus has reduced the price of hauling junked vehicles to scrap dealers and processors.

However, the junk dealer must still go to the expense of stripping the junked vehicles, i.e. removing non-steel parts, such as the engine, transmission, seat cushions, radiator and tires, because in most instances, the scrap dealers and processors still demand that the vehicles which they purchase be stripped. Moreover, even if a scrap dealer or processor does not insist that the vehicles be stripped, stripped vehicles generally bring a higher price and in addition, there is a separate market for engines and transmissions which have been removed from the vehicles.

In the past, the expense of stripping junked vehicles has been a significant factor in determining the profit potential in the sale of junked vehicles to scrap dealers or processors, largely because of the amount of manual labor required. In this connection, one of the most time consuming, and thus expensive, tasks in stripping a vehicle has been the removal of the engine and transmission.

Previously, various different ways have been used to remove engines from vehicles. For instance, a fork lift truck has been used to roll the vehicle over so that the engine mounts could be cut by an acetylene torch or alternatively, so that the engine mounts could be unbolted. After the engine has been freed from its mountings, the engine is then pried out of the engine compartment by use of the forks on the fork lift truck (using the vehicle axle as a fixed pivot point for the forks). In other instances, hoists have been used to lift the engine from the vehicle. Usually, however, the engine mounts have been either cut or unbolted prior to the removal of the engine by the hoist, although vehicles have been chained down and a hoist used to tear the engines from the vehicles. Also in the past hoists have been mounted on the upper part of the fork lift truck and the forks were used to restrain the vehicle from moving vertically while the engine was being removed from the vehicle.

The problem with regard to using a fork lift and/or hoist to remove the engine is that generally manual labor is required to free the engine from the engine mountings. Also with respect to the use of a hoist, a person must manually wrap a cable or chain about the engine and connect it to the hoist, and this is generally dirty and difficult work. Even when a hoist has been utilized to tear the engine from the vehicle, manual labor is required to tie down the vehicle. Furthermore, when a fork lift or hoist is used to remove engines from automobiles and most trucks, the engine is forced or lifted vertically'out of the engine compartment, and this vertical movement causes the transmission to bump into or contact the firewall under which the rear end of the transmission extends. Frequently this bumping or contact results in the transmission housing and transmission being broken off and separated from'the engine so that as a result, either the transmission is not removed from the vehicle or it has to be subsequently removed separately.

Also in the past, relatively large clam bucket machines have been utilized to remove engines from vehicles by using the bucket to pry or tear the engine out of the engine compartment. However, the use of these machines has been limited because they are quire expensive to purchase and maintain and because they have the added disadvantage that they have a tendency to tear or rip the body of the vehicle apart, particularly the portion thereof adjacent to the engine compartment. When the body of the vehicle is torn, the body is difficult to handle and of course, parts of the vehicle are oftentimes separated from the vehicle.

In contrast, the improved machine and method of the present invention may be utilized to remove engines, and normally the transmissions connected thereto, from vehicles expeditiously. During the entire engine removal operation, the operator of the machine remains at the controls of the machine, and no manual labor is required on the part of the operator or any other person to assist in either the engine removal operation or in connection with one of the preferred embodiments of the improved machine, in the subsequent loading of the stripped vehicle onto a car crusher or truck bed. In addition to removing engines and transmission, the improved machine may also be utilized to strip other parts, such as, for example, the radiator, and the seats, from the vehicle if desired. The use of the improved machine and method of the present invention thus significantly reduces the time and amount of manual labor required to remove an engine and transmission from a junked vehicle and thereby reduces the cost of stripping junked vehicles so as to substantially increase the profit potential in the sale of junked vehicles to scrap dealers and processors. Moreover, the use of the engine removing machine of the present invention, together with a car crusher, provides a real economic incentive to strip and haul the junked vehicles that have been accumulating in junk yards.

More specifically, the improved machine of the present invention includes a pair of hydraulically actuated tongs which are adapted to selectively grip the sides of the engine to be removed from a vehicle. The

tongs are constructed so that they may be inserted into the engine compartment between the sides of the engine and the sides of the compartment to grip the engine while the engine is still mounted in the vehicle. The tongs have unique pointed ends which permit limited relative pivotal movement between the engine and the tongs as the engine is being pulled from the vehicle. The tongs are mounted for pivotal movement on a backing plate member which, in turn, is mounted on and is carried by one end of a boom. The boom is mounted at its other end on a portable frame which permits the machine to be moved adjacent to the vehi- I cle from which the engine is to be removed.

The boom is constructed so that the engine can be lifted vertically high enough by the machine so that the engine can be placed on a truck bed or in a motor breaker after the engine has been removed from a vehicle.

During the engine removal operation, the machine is positioned near the front end of the vehicle and adjacent to the front end of the engine compartment. The engine is gripped by tongs and is initially lifted so that the front end of the engine is first broken free from its engine mounts and is moved vertically, with respect to the rear end of the engine, in the engine compartment. When the bottom of the front end of the engine is above the top of the radiator, the engine is then pulled, at an angle with respect to the vertical, so that the engine and the transmissionare pulled out of the engine compartment up over the front end of the vehicle. By pulling the engine out in this manner, the transmission may be easily removed from the vehicle with minimal danger that the transmission will break away from the engine since there is no contact between the transmission and any structural portion, such as the firewall, of the vehicle during the removal operation.

In one embodiment of the machine of the present invention, the end of the boom, which supports the backing plate member, is extendible with respect to the rest of the boom. A pair of forks are mounted on the backing plate member so that the forks project from the backing plate member in a plan which is perpendicular to the plane in which the tongs are positioned and move. This machine is designed so that it can also function as a fork lift truck as well as an engine puller. This is a particularly advantageous feature to a person who handles a limited volume of junked vehicles. In this machine, the hold-down members and the tongs are constructed so that they can be moved to a position where they will not interfere with the functioning of the machine as a fork lift.

Another embodiment of the machine of the present invention is portable and may be mounted either on a chassis or on the forks of a fork lift truck. This permits this machine to be used by a smaller yard or by a person who does not need or who does not want to invest in a full-time engine puller. In this machine, the hold-down members are fixed and the boom is not extendible.

Another advantage of the machine of the present invention is that it may be ruggedly constructed and that it and its components are relatively simple in design so that the machine may be operated for long periods of time and under adverse conditions found in junk yards with only minimal maintenance. Also as noted above, only one person is required to operate the machine,

and thus to effect the removal of an engine from a vehicle, and the operator of the vehicle does not have to dismount from the machine during the engine removal operation.

Accordingly, it is one of the primary objects of the present inventionto provide an improved machine and method for removing engines from vehicles, and more particularly, to provide an improved machine and method for expeditiously removing engines, and the transmissions connected thereto, from the engine compartments of vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks and the like.

Another object of the preset invention is to provide an improved engine removing machine of the type described wherein the engine to be removed is gripped on its sides by a pair of tongs which are adapted to grip the engine while it is still mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved engine removing machine of the type described wherein the tongs are mounted on one end of a boom so as to permit relative pivotal movement of the tongs with respect to the end of the boom; wherein the other end of the boom is, in turn, mounted on a portable frame for relative pivotal movement with respect to the frame; and wherein the vehicle from which the engine is to be removed is restrained from vertical movement by novel hold-down members which are carried by the machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved engine removing machine of the type described wherein the tongs are mounted on an extendible end of the boom; and wherein the extendible end of the boom also has a pair of forks mounted thereon so that the forks are disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the tongs are mounted and moved. A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine of the type described wherein the tongs and the holddown means are selectively movable to positions wherein they do not interfere with the operation of the machine as a fork lift.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved engine removing machine of the type described wherein the frame is mounted on a chassis; that is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle during the engine removal operation wherein the hold-down means are mounted adjacent to one end of the chassis; and wherein the other end of the boom is mounted on the frame at points located between the center line of the chassis and the other end thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of removing engines from vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks and the like, wherein the engine is mounted in an engine compartment with one end of the engine and the transmission therefor extending out of one end of the engine compartment; wherein the engine is gripped securely and is moved vertically so that the other end of the engine is broken free from its mountings; and wherein the engine and transmission are then pulled along a second path, disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical, so that the engine and transmission are moved out of the engine compartment, over the other end of the engine compartment.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the FIGURES in which:

FIG. 1 is a side, plan view of an engine removing machine embodying the principles of the present invention, with the extended boom and tongs also being shown, in phantom line, in an engine pulling position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side plan view of the frame, the hold-down assembly, the boom and tongs utilized in the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top, plan view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial, vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3; v

FIG. 6 is a plan, end view of the machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic circuit used to control the operation of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of another machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an end plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8 shown mounted on a chassis;

" FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8 shown mounted on the forks of a fork lift truck; and

FIGS. 13-15 are partial cross-section views showing the steps utilized in removing an engine from an automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, an improved machine embodying the principles of the present invention is shown generally at 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, the machine 21 includes a chassis or carriage 22 having a main frame 23 and a front and rear set of

wheels

24 and 25, respectively. A conventional internal combustion engine 26 is mounted on the chassis 22 between the mid-point of the chassis and the rear end 27 thereof. Counterweiglits 28 are mounted on the rear end 27 of the chassis 22 in a conventional manner. The hydraulic system 29 (including a five spool control valve 30, a hydraulic pump 31, a tank 32, a relief valve 33 and a filter 34, as shown in FIG. 7) utilized to control the operation of the machine 21 is mounted on the chassis 23 under a cover 35, with the control valve 30 being positioned adjacent to the steering wheel 36 so that it may be actuated by the operator of the machine 21 while he is seated on the seat 37. The chassis 22, as described above, except for the hydraulic system 29, may be of conventional manufacture, and for example, a chassis which may preferably be used is the chassis, Econmobile Model No. 620B", manufactured by the American Road Equipment Company of Omaha, Neb.

A pair of vertical standards or supports 38 and 39 are mounted at their lower ends at opposite sides of the frame 23 at points spaced slightly to the rear of the mid-point of the frame. The upper ends 41 of the stanto the

standards

38 and 39, about an axis coaxial with the aligned, longitudinal axes of the

pins

46 and 47. The upper ends 48 of the

beams

43 and 44 are attached, as by welding, with the rear end 49 of a boom assembly 51.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the assembly 51 consists of a pair of longitudinally disposed

beams

52 and 53 which are interconnected at their front ends 54 by a pair of upper and lower transverse, elongated plate members 55 and 56 and at their rear ends 49 by a transverse beam 57, so that as a result, the assembly is rigid.

A longitudinal beam 58, having a generally rectangular cross-section, is centrally mounted on the assembly 51 with its rear end being attached to the transverse beam 57. The plates 55 and 56 are secured to and used to support the beam 58 adjacent to its front end 59. A conventional, double acting hydraulic cylinder 61 is mounted within the beam 58 and is secured at its rear end 62, by a pin 63, to flanges 64 secured to the transverse beam 57 so that the cylinder 61 may pivot with respect to the beam 57 within the beam 58.

A second longitudinal beam 65, having a slightly smaller rectangular cross-section than the cross-section of beam 58, has its rear end telescopically received within the open, front end 59 of the beam 58 so that it may be extended or retracted with respect to the beam 58. The piston rod 66 of the cylinder 61 is secured to beam adjacent its front end 67 and the cylinder 61 is utilized to effect the extension or retraction of the beam 65 within the beam 58.

As noted above, the

beams

43 and 44 and assembly 51 are rigidly secured together adjacent to the rear end of the assembly 51. To provide additional support for the

beams

43 and 45 and the assembly 51, a pair of

struts

68 and 69 are secured between the

beams

43 and 44 and the assembly 51, respectively, as shown in- FIGS. 1 and 2. Additional struts 71 are secured between each of the

struts

68 and 69 and the assembly 51, adjacent to its rear end 49.

Conventional double acting,

hydraulic cylinders

72 and 73 are utilized to move the

beams

43 and 44 and the assembly 51 vertically about the transverse axis through the

pins

46 and 47.

Flange subassemblies

74 and 75 are secured to the outer sides of

beams

52 and 53, respectively, adjacent to the rear ends 49 of the beams.

Piston rods

76 and 77 of the

cylinders

72 and 73, respectively, are pivotally connected to the

flange subassemblies

74 and 75, respectively, by means of

pins

78 and 79.

Flanges

81 and 82 are mounted on the upper surface 42 of the frame 23 and the lower ends of the

cylinders

72 and 73, respectively, are connected to these flanges by means of pins 83 so that the cylinders may pivotally move with respect to the flanges 81 and A backing plate memeber support assembly 84 is mounted on and is carried by the forward end 67 of the telescoping beam 65. The assembly 84 includes two generally J-shaped members 85 and 86 which are disposed in generally parallel planes and which are mounted on the front ends 67 so that the rear portions 87 and 88 extend rearwardly, back over and spaced above, the front end 67 of the beam 65.

A backing plate assembly 89, including a backing or support plate 91, is pivotally connected to and carried by the members 85 and 86 adjacent to their front ends. More specifically, rearwardly projecting flanges 92 and 93 are attached to the rear surface of the plate 91, and these flanges are pivotally connected, by a pin 94, with the front ends of the members 85 and 86 so that the plate 91 may pivotally move with respect to the members 85 and 86, and thus the front end 67 of the beam 65, about a transverse axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the pin 94.

A conventional double acting hydraulic cylinder 95 is carried by the assembly 84 and is mounted between members 85 and 86. The rear end 96 of the cylinder 95 is pivotally connected, by a pin 97, to the rearwardly extending portions 87 and 88 of the members 85 and 86. The piston rod 98 of the cylinder 95 is pivotally connected, by a pin 99, to flanges 101 which project rearwardly from and are attached to the rear surface of the backing plate 91. Actuation of the cylinder 95 causes the plate 91, and thus the entire assembly 89, to be pivotally moved about a transverse axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the pin 94. Therefore, as a result of actuation of the

cylinders

61 and 95, the plate 91 may be selectively moved longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the subassembly 51 and/or pivoted about a horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembly 51.

A pair of

identical tongs

102 and 103 are pivotally mounted on the plate assembly 89 adjacent to the lower edge of the plate 91 so that the tongs are disposed and pivotally move in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the plate 91. More specifically, the upper ends 106 and 107 of the

tongs

102 and 103 are pivotally mounted, by

pins

104 and 105, on the rear surface of the plate 91 so as to permit the

tongs

102 and 103 to pivot about spaced parallel axes which are coaxial with the axes of the

pins

104 and 105, respectively. The other ends 108 and 109 of the

tongs

102 and 103, respectively, are generally pointed so that there is substantial point contact between these ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine gripped by the tongs so as to permit limited, relative pivotal movement between the engine and the tongs such as shown in FIG. 1. Conventional double acting,

hydraulic cylinders

111 and 112 are mounted on the rear surface of the plate 91 with their upper ends being pivotally mounted on the upper end of the plate by pins 113 and 114. The

piston rods

115 and 116 of the

cylinders

111 and 112 are pivotally connected by

pins

117 and 118 to the

tongs

102 and 103 at points spaced between the ends of the tongs. Longitudinal axes of the

pins

117 and 118 are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pins 104 and 105and the distance between the

pins

104 and 117 and between the

pins

105 and 118, is less than the distance between the

pins

117 and 118 and the other ends 108 and 109 of the tongs. As seen from FIG. 6, the

tongs

102 and 103 are curved so that the ends 108 and 109 can be brought into contact even though the pins 104 and are spaced apart from each other. This arrangement permits the

tongs

102 and 103 to be able to grasp various different engines including both six cylinder and eight cylinder engines.

A pair of generally L-shaped

forks

119 and 121 are mounted on and carried by the backing plate 91 so that at the one ends 122 and 123 of the

forks

119 and 121 normally project from the backing plate 91 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing plate 91. The other ends 124 and 125 of the forks are normally disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the backing plate 91. A pair of

channels

126 and 127 are mounted on the front surface of the plate 91 so that the channels are vertically disposed and face forwardly. The upper portions of the

ends

124 and 125 of the forksare positioned within the

channels

126 and 127 and are pivotally connected to the upper portion of the

channels

126 and 127 by pins128 and 129, respectively. The sides of the

channels

126 and 127 provide support for the

forks

119 and 121 against lateral movement. The forks 1 19 and 121 may be pivoted upwardly,

in a clockwise direction, about the

pins

128 and 129 if j the forks, andmore specifically if the ends l22 and 123 thereof, contact the upper portion of, for example, the body of the automobile 131 shown in phantom line, in F10. 1 when the engine 132 is being pulled from the engine compartment 133 thereof. When the

forks

119 and 121 are used to lift materials, i.e. when the machine 21 is being used as a fork lift, the

ends

122 and 123, of course, remain substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the

tongs

102 and 103 are disposed and move.

A hold-down assembly 135 is used to prevent the vehicle from which an engine is to be removed from moving vertically during the time the engine is being pulled from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The hold-down assembly 135 includes two hold-down

beams

136 and 137 which are connected, at their rearward ends 138, to the forward end of

cranks

139 and 141, respectively. A tubular structural member 142 interconnects, and is secured at its ends, to the

cranks

139 and 141. A pair of flanges 143 and 144 are at tached to the member 142, adjacent to its ends, and are adapted to be positioned adjacent to flanges 145 and 146 which are mounted on the front end 147 of the chassis frame 23. A pair of

pins

148 and 149 extend between the flanges 143 and 145 and between the

flanges

144 and 146, respectively, and pivotally mount the hold-down assembly 135 on the front 147 of the chassis frame 23.

Conventional double acting

hydraulic cylinders

151 and 152 are utilized to move the assembly 135 between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. More specifically,

the rear ends of the

cylinders

151 and 152 are pivotally connected, by

pins

153 and 154, to

flanges

155 and 156 which are attached to the sides of the chassis frame 23 at points adjacent to, but spaced forwardly of, the

flanges

81 and 82. The rods 157 and 158 of the

cylinders

151 and 152 are pivotably connected, by pins 159 and 161, to the

cranks

139 and 141 at points spaced from the member 142 so that actuation of the

cylinders

151 and 152 causes the hold-down

beams

136 and 137 to be pivoted about an axis which is coaxial to the aligned axes of the

pins

148 and 149. When the holddown assembly 135 is positioned so that the

beams

136 and 137 are substantially horizontal, as shown in FIG. 1, and are in contact with the upper surface of the fenders of the automobile 131' from which the engine 132 is to be pulled, movement of the automobile is restricted and restrained in the direction in whichthe engine 132 is being pulled by the machine 21. When the assembly 135 is moved to a position such as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the

beams

136 and 137 are substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 42 of the chassis frame 23, the

beams

136 and 137 do not interfere with the operation of the machine 21 as a fork lift.

. The hydraulic system 29 utilized to control the operation of the boom telescope cylinder 61, the

boom lift cylinders

72 and 73, the support plate cylinder 95, the

tong cylinders

111 and 112 and the hold-down

cylinders

151 and 152 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7. The actuation of these double-acting cylinders is controlled by a conventional, manually operated, five spool control valve 30 which is the type which permits each of the cylinders or pairsof cylinders to be actuated separately by connecting one end of the cylinder or cylinders with the outlet of the pump 31 and while connecting the other end with the tank 32. The valve 30 also has a neutral position which blocks flow to and from a cylinder or cylinders so as to retain the cylinder or cylinders in a selected position. As noted above, the valve 30 is mounted adjacent to the operator of the machine 21 and permits him to control selectively or simultaneously the operation of the cylinders, and thus enables him to remove an engine from a vehicle, without leaving his seat 37 on the chassis 22.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inlet of a conventional pump 31 is connected with the fluid supply tank 32 by means of a hydraulic line 162 while the outlet of the pump 31 is connected with the valve 30 by a hydraulic line 163. The conventional relief valve 32 is disposed in the line 163 between the pump 31 and the valve 30 and is connected with the tank 32 by a hydraulic line 164. The relief valve 32 is the type wherein when the pressure in the line 163 exceeds a preset value, the valve opens and connects the outletof the pump 31 directly to the tank 32 through line 164. The valve 30 is connected by a line 165 with the tank 32, which line is utilized to return hydraulic fluid from the spool valve 30 to the tank 32. The conventional filter 33 is positioned in the line 165.

A plurality of hydraulic lines or hoses interconnect the cylinders and the valve 30. More specifically,

lines

166 and 167 connect the opposite ends of the cylinder 61 to the valve 30; lines 168 and 169 connect opposite ends of the

cylinders

72 and 73 with the valve 30;

lines

171 and 172 connect the opposite ends of the cylinder 95 with the valve 30;

lines

173 and 174 connect opposite ends of the

cylinders

111 and 112 with the valve 30, and

lines

175 and 176 connect opposite of the

cylinders

151 and 152 with the valve 30. The lines 166-176 have not been shown on the other figures herein for the purpose of clarity.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, another machine embodying principles of the present invention is shown generally at 181. The machine 181 includes a lower frame assembly 182 comprising a pair of

longitudinal beams

183 and 184 which are parallel to but spaced from each other. A transverse beam 185 extends between, and is secured at its opposite ends to, the rear ends 186 and. 187 of the

beams

183 and 184, respectively. A second transverse beam 188 extends between the

beams

183 and 184 and is secured to the lower surfaces 189 of the beams at points between the ends of the beams. The forward ends 191 and 192 of the

beams

183 and 184 function as the hold-down members or beams for the machine 181. In other words, the lower surfaces 189 of the

ends

191 and 192 of the beams are adapted to contact the vehicle from which engine is to be removed adjacent to the engine compartment and to prevent movement of the vehicle in the direction in which the engine is being pulled during the engine removal operation. The'hold-down

members

191 and 192 used in machine 181 differ from the hold-down

beams

136 and 137 used with machine 21 in that the former are fixed and cannot be moved with respect to the frame assembly from their generally horizontal position.

A pair of parallel, spaced

beams

193 and 194 are pivotally mounted on the transverse beam 185. More specifically,

flanges

195 and 196 are attached to the lower ends 197 and 198 of the

beams

193 and 194, respectively, and are positioned adjacent to vertically projecting

flanges

199 and 201 attached to the beam 185. A pin 202 extends between the

flanges

195 and 199 and the

flanges

196 and 201 so as to mount the

beams

193 and 194 on the transverse beam 185 and so as to permit the

beams

193 and 194 to pivot about a transverse axis coaxial with the axis of the pin 202. Two

transverse braces

203 and 204 extend between the

beams

193 and 194 to hold the beams rigid.

A vertically disposed beam 205 is pivotally connected to the upper ends 206 of the

beams

193 and 194 for relative pivotal movement between the beam 205 and the

beams

193 and 194. The beam 205 has a pair of

flanges

207 and 208 attached to its rear surface and these flanges are positioned adjacent to flanges 209 and 211 which are attached to the upper ends 206 of the

beams

193 and 194.

Pins

212 and 213 extend between the flanges 207 and 209 and the

flanges

208 and 211, respectively, so as to pivotally connect upper ends 206 of the

beams

193 and 194 to the beam 205 between its ends. A transverse brace number 214 extends between the

flanges

207 and 208 to hold them rigid.

A pair of vertically projecting

parallel flanges

215 and 216 are attached to the upper surfaces of the

beams

193 and 194, respectively. A conventional, double-acting hydraulic cylinder 217 has its rearward end pivotally connected to the

beams

193 and 194 midway between the ends of the beams by a pin 218 which cooperates with the

flanges

215 and 216. The piston rod 219 in the cylinder 217 is pivotally connected, by a pin 221, with the

flanges

207 and 208 adjacent to the upper end of the beam 205. Actuation of the cylinder 217 causes the beam 205 to be pivotally moved in a vertical plane about an axis which is coaxial with the transverse member 188 by a pin 223 which extends through vertically projecting flanges 224 attached to the beam 188. The piston rod 225 of the cylinder 222 is pivotally connected to the

beams

193 and 194 by a pin 226 which extends between the beams. Actuation of the cylinder 222 results in pivotal movement of the

beams

193 and 194 in a vertical plane about an axis coaxial with the axis of the pin 202.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the beam 205 has two pairs of laterally extending,

parallel flanges

227 and 228 which are attached to the opposite sides of the beam 205 between the ends thereof. Two other pairs of laterally extending,

parallel flanges

229 and 231 are attached to the opposite sides of the beams 205 adjacent to the lower end 232 of the beam 205. A pair of

tongs

233 and 234 are pivotally connected, at their upper ends, to the

flanges

229 and 231 by a pair of

pins

235 and 236 which are parallel to, but spaced from each other.

The

tongs

233 and 234 are structurally identical to the

tongs

102 and 103 utilized with the machine 21 and, like

tongs

102 and 103, have pointed

lower ends

237 and 238 so as to permit point contact between the tongs and the sides of the engine to be removed.

A pair of conventional, double-acting

hydraulic cylinders

239 and 241 are used to move the

tongs

233 and 234 about axes which are coaxial with the axes of the

pins

235 and 236 and which are arranged so that the tongs move in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the beam 205. The upper ends of the

cylinders

239 and 241 are pivotally connected to the

flanges

227 and 228, respectively, by means of

pins

242 and 243. The

piston rods

244 and 245 of the

cylinders

239 and 241, respectively, are pivotally connected to the tongs 233 I and 234, respectively, by

pins

246 and 247. Like in machine 21, the

rods

244 and 245 are connected to the

tongs

233 and 234 at points closer to the upper ends of the tongs than the lower ends 237 and 238. Also while the upper ends of the

tongs

233 and 234 are spaced from each other, the tongs are shaped so that the ends 237 and 238 may be brought into contact. The hydraulic system used to actuate the

cylinders

217, 222, 239 and 241 is substantially identical to the system 29 shown in FIG. 7, except that the valve 30 need only have three spools instead of five. The system permits the

cylinders

217 and 222 to be actuated individually or simultaneously.

The machine 181 is adapted to be mounted semi-permanently on a chassis of a vehicle or it can be temporarily mounted on another implement. In FIG. 11, the machine 181 is shown semi-permanently mounted on a chassis 248. The chassis 248, as shown, is articulated, i.e. the front portion 249 is pivotally connected at 251 to the rear portion 252, and the machine 181 is mounted on the front portion 249. The chassis 248 includes two sets of

wheels

253 and 254, a conventional internal combustion engine 255, an operators seat 256 and a steering wheel 257. The hydraulic controls used to control the operation of the

cylinders

217, 222, 239 and 241 are positioned adjacent to the wheel 257 so that they may be actuated by the operator without leaving the seat 256. The chassis 248 may be of the type manufactured by the Vermeer Manufacturing Company of Pella, Iowa, and designated by Model No. M-50.

When the machine 181 is mounted on a chassis, such as the chassis 248, the frame assembly 182 is positioned so that the ends 191 and 192 of the

beams

193 and 194 extend beyond the front end of the chassis. While the

ends

191 and 192 of the

beams

193 and 194 are disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, they are, as shown in FIG. 11, slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal so as to permit the chassis 248 to be positioned adjacent to the front of the vehicle 131 from which the engine 132 is to be removed. In other words. the slight angular disposition of the

ends

191 and 192 permits the beams to be slid up over the fenders of the vehicle 131.

The machine 181 may also be mounted on an implement such as a fork lift truck, as shown at 258 in FIG. 12. More particularly, the machine 181 is mounted on and carried by the forks 259 of the truck 258 by means of brackets, or other conventional fastening means,

261 extending between the beam and the forks. In FIG. 12, the forward ends of the forks are also disposed in apertures, not shown, formed in transverse beam 188, and this, together with the brackets 261, assures that the machine 181 does not move with respect to the forks 259 during the engine removal operation.

OPERATION The

machines

21 and 181 both operate to effect the removal of an engine from a vehicle to be scrapped in basically the same manner. Initially the machine is moved so that it is adjacent to the end, usually the front end, of the vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment, i.e. adjacent to the engine to be removed. In

other words, and in the case of an automobile or most trucks, the machine is positioned adjacent to the front end of the automobile or truck. The hold-down beams are positioned so that they are disposed above the portion of the vehicle, usually the fenders, adjacent to the sides of the engine compartment.

The tongs may be first used to remove the hood or engine cover from the vehicle. The tongs are then spread apart so that they can be inserted within the engine compartment between the sides of the engine and the sides of the compartment. In some cars and trucks, there may not initially be sufficient space to permit the insertion of the tongs, and in such instances, the tongs can be partially inserted and then moved to force the fender walls outwardly so as to provide additional space for the further insertion of the tongs. After the tongs have been placed adjacent to the sides of the engine, they are moved together so that the lower pointed ends thereof contact securely the sides of the engine with a substantially point contact between the ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine.

As best shown in FIGS. 13 through 15, the tongs are then moved vertically until the front end 262 of the engine 132 is moved vertically to a position where the bottom of the front end 262 is above the top of the radiator 263. This vertical movement of the front end 262 causes the engine 132 to be pulled or broken away from the front engine mounts. Also during this vertical movement of the front end 262, the rear end 264 of the transmission 265 connected to the engine has been pivoted downwardly with respect to the gripping point between the engine and the tongs. Since in most vehicles, there are no structural members beneath the en- After the engine has been moved'to the position shown generally in FIG. 14, the engine and transmission are moved along a second path which is disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical. This movement of the engine, as shown in FIG. 15, permits the engine to be pulled directly out of the engine compartment over the radiator 263 without having the transmission drag or bump against the firewall 266 so as to minimize the chances of breaking the transmission during the time the engine is being pulled from the engine compartment. After the engine 131 has been pulled along the second path far enough so-that the rear end 2640f the transmission 264 is forward of the firewall 266, the engine may be again moved vertically. As noted above, the machine can be used to place the removed engine directly ontoa motor breaker or the bed of a truck.

When the machine 21 is utilized as a fork lift, the

tongs

102 and 103 are moved upwardly so that their

ends

108 and 109 are disposed above the lower edge of the plate 91. Likewise, the hold-down

beams

136 and 137 can be moved so as to be vertically disposed such as shown in FIG. 2. The machine 21, functioning as a fork lift, can be utilized to move junked vehicles around the yard and to load the stripped vehicles onto a car crusher and onto the bed of a truck. While the extendible boom structure is particularly useful when the machine is utilized as afork lift since it permits the

forks

122 and 123 to be placed on the ground, extension and retraction of the extendible boom can also be used to move the engine 131 along its second path, i.e. at an angle with respect to the vertical.

With regard to the machine 181, vertical movement of an engine is accomplished by actuation of the cylinder 222, while actuation of the cylinder 217 causes movement of the engine at an angle with respect to the vertical. Also of course, different angular movements of the engine may be accomplished by substantially simultaneous actuation of the

cylinders

217 and 222.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that the improved machine and method of the present invention provide a facile means for removing an engine and transmission from a vehicle to be scrapped. The use of the present invention significantly reduces the time, and thus expense, of removing enginesand as a result increases the profit potential of selling scrapped vehicles to scrap dealers and processors.

However, as noted above, in addition to being useful in pulling engines from vehicles, the machine of the present invention may also be used to remove the seats, and in most cases, the radiators and gas tanks, from the vehicles to be stripped. For example, to remove the seat cushions, the tongs are first used to tear off the roof of the vehicle so as to enable the tongs to then grip the cushions and pull them out through the top of the vehicle. In addition, the machines described herein can be used to assist in removing wheels from the vehicles although additional attachments may be needed. Thus, the improved machine of the present invention may be used to even further reduce the amount of manual labor required to strip vehicles to be scrapped.

Also it should be apparent to those skilled in this art that modifications could be made to the

machines

21 and 181 without departing from the scope of the present invention. Various different chassis could be used to support the frame structure and the boom arrangement could be constructed or be arranged differently. Furthermore, the extendible boom used in machine 21 could be omitted if it was not desired to be able to position the forks adjacent to the ground. Therefore, while the foregoing is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those skilled in this art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

lclaim:

'1. An improved machine for removing engines mounted in vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks, which are to be scrapped, comprising:

frame means;

means. for securely gripping an engine mounted in a vehicle, the gripping means including means for permitting relative, pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine 'while gripping means grips the engine; first control means for selectively causing the gripping means to grip the engine; pulling means mounted on the frame means and connected with the gripping means for pulling the engine from the vehicle, the pulling means having sufiicient power to pull the engine from its mountings in the vehicle; second control means for controlling the operation of the pulling means; and I hold-down means for restraining at least the portion of the body of the vehicle, adjacent to the engine, from moving generally in the direction in which the engine is being pulled by the pulling means while the engine is being removed from the vehicle.

2. An improved machine as described in claim 1 wherein the engine to be removed is mounted in an engine compartment in the vehicle; wherein the vehicle is initially positioned so that access to the engine in the engine compartment may be had from above the vehicle; and wherein initially, at least a portion of the gripping means extends into the engine compartment and grips the engine while the engine is still in the engine compartment.

3. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the pulling means is arranged with respect to the vehicle so as to pull the engine vertically and at an angle with respect to the vertical.

4. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the gripping means grips the sides of the engine in the engine compartment.

5. The improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the frame means is carried on wheeled carriage means for facile movement of the frame means with respect to the vehicle; and wherein during removal of engine from the vehicle, the frame means is positioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle.

6. An improved machine as described in claim 2- wherein the engine compartment is defined by a front end, a rear end, and sides; wherein the engine has a transmission connected to one end thereof and is arranged in the engine compartment so that the transmission extends beyond one end of the engine compartment; and wherein the pulling means is arranged with respect to the vehicle so as to be able to pull at least a portion of the transmission from the vehicle with the engine.

7. An improved machine as described in claim 6 wherein the engine compartment is adjacent to the front end of the vehicle; wherein the engine has a transmission connected to the rear end thereof and is arranged in the engine compartment so that the transmission extends beyond the rear end of the engine compartment; and wherein the pulling means initially moves the frontend of the engine upwardly along a first, substantially vertical path so as to pull the front end of the engine free from the engine mountings adjacent to the front end of the engine and then moves the engine along a second path, generally disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical, so as to pull the rear end of the engine free from the engine mountings adjacent to the rear end of the engine whereby the engine and at least a portion of the transmission can be removed from the engine compartment.

8. An improved machine as described inv claim 7 wherein the rear end of the engine compartment is at least in part defined by a fire wall separating the engine compartment from the rest of the vehicle; wherein at least a part of the transmission extends beneath the fire wall; wherein the frame means is positioned adjacent to the front end of the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment of the vehicle; wherein the pulling means initially moves the front end of the engine vertically along the first path until the bottom portion of the front end of the engine is above the upper edge of the front end of the engine compartment and then pulls the engine along the second path, which is substantially straight and which extends away from the rear end of the engine compartment, at least until the engine is clear of the ends and sides of the engine compartment.

9. An improved machine as described in claim 4 wherein the gripping means includes a backing member and first and second tongs, with each of the tongs having one end mounted on the backing member for pivotal movemenbrelative to the backing member, so that the tongs may be moved between a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of the tongs are positioned so as to be able to grip the engine to be pulled from the vehicle and a second position wherein the other ends of the tongs are spaced from one another.

10. An improved machine as described in claim 9 wherein means for permitting relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine includes a relatively pointed tip on the other, engine gripping ends of each of the first and second tongs, which pointed tips are arranged so as to provide substantially point-contact between the other, engine gripping ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine when the gripping means grips the engine.

11. An improved machine as described in claim 10 wherein the axes about which the tongs pivot are parallel; wherein the tongs are disposed in and move in a common plane; wherein the tongs have a relatively narrow cross-section so that the other ends of the tongs may be fit down between the sides of the engine compartment and the sides of the engine so as to enable the tongs to be inserted between the sides of the engine and the sides of the engine compartment while the engine is mounted in the engine compartment; wherein hydraulic cylinder means are connected between the backing member and the tongs and are arranged to move the tongs between their first and second positions upon actuation of the hydraulic cylinder means; and wherein the control means controls the operation of the hydraulic cylinder means.

12. An improved machine as described in claim 9 wherein the pulling means includes at least one boom pivotally mounted at one end on the frame means and pivotally connected at its other end with the gripping means; wherein a first hydraulic cylinder means is positioned between the frame means and the boom so as to pivotally move the boom vertically about its one end; wherein the gripping means is carried by the boom; and wherein a second hydraulic cylinder means is connected with and carried by the boom and arranged so as to move the gripping means with respect to the boom.

13. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the other end of the boom is telescopically received on the central portion of the boom; wherein a third hydraulic cylinder means is positioned on the boom between the central portion thereof and the other end and is arranged to move the other end of the boom between retracted and extended positions.

14. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the frame means is mounted on a wheeled, motor-driven carriage for facile movement of the frame means, and wherein the control means is mounted on the carriage and controls the operation of the first and second hydraulic cylinder means.

15. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the boom is arranged so that the gripping means is positioned generally adjacent to one end of the frame means; wherein the point of pivotal connection between one end of the boom and the frame means is spaced generally between the midpoint of the frame means and the other end thereof and above the horizontal plane of the engine to be removed; and wherein the other end of the boom has a pair of fork members attached thereto.

16. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the hold-down means includes at least one beam mounted so as to extend over the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment and thereby prevent the vehicle from moving vertically.

17. An improved machine as described in claim 16 wherein the hold-down means are selectively movable from a first substantially horizontal position wherein the beam is adapted to extend over the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment to a second, substantially .vertical position; and wherein hydraulic cylinder means are positioned between the frame and the hold-down means to move the holddown means between its first and second positions.

18. An improved machine as described in claim 8 wherein the gripping means includes a backing member and first and second tongs; wherein each of the first and second tongs is mounted, adjacent to one end, on the backing member for pivotal movement, relative to the backing member, between a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of the tongs are positioned adjacent to each other so as to be able to grip the sides of the engine to be pulled from the vehicle and a second position wherein the other ends of the tongs are spaced from one another; wherein the pulling means includes at least one boom pivotally mounted, at one end, on the frame means and pivotally connected at its other end to the backing member; wherein a first hydraulic cylinder means is positioned between the frame means and the boom so as to pivotally move the boom vertically about its one end; and wherein a second hydraulic cylinder means is positioned between the boom and the backing member and arranged so as to move the backing member with respect to the other end of the boom about a substantially horizontal axis. I

19. An improved machineas described in claim 18 wherein the axes about which the tongs pivot-are parallel; wherein the tongs are disposed in and move in a common plane; wherein the tongs are constructed so that the tongs can fit about the engine; wherein the tongs have a relatively narrow cross-section so that the other ends of the tongs may be fit down between the sides of the engine compartment and the sides of the engine so as to enable the tongs to be inserted between the sides of the engine and the sides of the .engine compartment while the engine is mounted in the engine compartment; and wherein the hold-down means includes a pair of beams which are mounted at one end adjacent to one end of the frame means and which are adapted to have their other ends extend over the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the sides of the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment so as to prevent the vehicle from moving vertically with respect to the frame means. I

20. An improved machine as described in claim 18 wherein means for permitting relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine includes a relatively pointed tip on the other ends of each of the first and second tongs, which pointed tips are arranged so as to provide substantially point-contact between the other ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine when the gripping means grips the engine.

21. An improved machine as described in claim 19 wherein the second hydraulic cylinder means pivotally moves the backing member about a substantially horizontal axis wherein means for permitting relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine includes a relatively pointed tip on the other ends of each of the first and second tongs, which pointed tips are arranged so as to provide substantially point-contact between the other ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine when the gripping means grips the engine; wherein the boom is arranged so that the backing member is positioned adjacent to one end of the frame means; wherein the one end of the boom is pivotally connected to the frame means at a point spaced from the one end of the frame means; and wherein the point of pivotal connection between one end of the boom and the frame means is spaced between the mid-point of the frame means and the other end thereof and above the horizontal plane of the engine to be removed.

22. An improved machine as described by claim 21 wherein the frame means is carried on wheeled carriage means for facile movement of the frame means with respect to the vehicle; and wherein during removal of engine from the vehicle, the frame means is positioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle; wherein the control means is carried by the carriage and controls the operation of the hydraulic cylinder means.

23. An improved machine as described in claim 22 wherein the backing member has a pair of fork members attached thereto, which fork members project from the backing member in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the tongs are disposed; wherein each of the fork members is generally L- shaped and includes a first portion which projects from the backing member and which is disposed in a plan substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member and adjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portion which is disposed ad-' jacent to the backing member and which is attached, at its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit each of the fork members to pivotally move upwardly with respect to the backing member; and wherein when the tongs are in their second position, the other ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which the fork members are disposed.

24. An improved machine as described in claim 23 wherein each of the fork members is generally L- shaped and includes a first portion which projects from the backing member and which is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member and adjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portion which is disposed adjacent to the backing member and which is attached at its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit each of the fork members to pivotally move with respect to the backing member; wherein when the tongs are in their second position, the other ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which the fork members are disposed; wherein the other end of the boom is telescopically received on the central portion of the boom; wherein a third hydraulic cylinder means is positioned on the boom between the central portion thereof and the other 'end and is arranged to move the other end of the boom between retracted and extended positions; wherein fourth hydraulic cylinder means are positioned between the frame and the hold-down means to move the hold-down means between its first and second positions; and wherein the one end of the engine compartment is at least in part defined by a fire wall separating the engine compartment from the rest of the vehicle; wherein at least a part of the transmission extends beneath the fire wall; and wherein the frame means is positioned adjacent to the other end of the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment of the vehicle.

25. An improved method of removing an engine from the engine compartment of a vehicle, such as an automobile or truck, which is to be scrapped and which has the engine compartment located adjacent to the front end of the vehicle, wherein the engine compartment is defined by a front end, a rear end and side walls and is arranged so as to permit access to the engine from above the vehicle, wherein the engine has a transmission attached to the rear end of the engine and extends beyond the rear end of the engine compartment and wherein the means used to grip the engine permits relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine while gripping means is gripping the engine, comprising the steps of:

gripping the sides of the engine securely between the ends thereof; pulling the engine so as to move the front end of the engine upwardly along a first substantially vertical path so that the bottom of the engine, adjacent to the front end, is moved above the front end of the

Claims

1. An improved machine for removing engines mounted in vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks, which are to be scrapped, comprising: frame means; means for securely gripping an engine mounted in a vehicle, the gripping means including means for permitting relative, pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine while the gripping means grips the engine; first control means for selectively causing the gripping means to grip the engine; pulling means mounted on the frame means and connected with the gripping means for pulling the engine from the vehicle, the pulling means having sufficient power to pull the engine from its mountings in the vehicle; second control means for controlling the operation of the pulling means; and hold-down means for restraining at least the portion of the body of the vehicle, adjacent to the engine, from moving generally in the direction in which the engine is being pulled by the pulling means while the engine is being removed from the vehicle.

6. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the engine compartment is defined by a front end, a rear end, and sides; wherein the engine has a transmission connected to one end thereof and is arranged in the engine compartment so that the transmission extends beyond one end of the engine compartment; and wherein the pulling means is arranged with respect to the vehicle so as to be able to pull at least a portion of the transmission from the vehicle with the engine.

7. An improved machine as described in claim 6 wherein the engine compartment is adjacent to the front end of the vehicle; wherein the engine has a transmission connected to the rear end thereof and is arranged in the engine compartment so that the transmission extends beyond the rear end of the engine compartment; and wherein the pulling means initially moves the front end of the engine upwardly along a first, substantially vertical path so as to pull the front end of the engine free from the engine mountings adjacent to the front end of the engine and then moves the engine along a second path, generally disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical, so as to pull the rear end of the engine free from the engine mountings adjacent to the rear end of the engine whereby the engine and at least a portion of the transmission can be removed from the engine compartment.

8. An improved machine as described in claim 7 wherein the rear end of the engine compartment is at least in part defined by a fire wall separating the engine compartment from the rest of the vehicle; wherein at least a part of the transmission extends beneath the fire wall; wherein the frame means is positioned adjacent to the front end of the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment of the vehicle; wherein the pulling means initially moves the front end of the engine vertically along the first path until the bottom portion of the front end of the engine is above the upper edge of the front end of the engine compartment and then pulls the engine along the second path, which is substantially straight and which extends away from the rear end of the engine compartment, at least until the engine is clear of the ends and sides of the engine compartment.

9. An improved machine as described in claim 4 wherein the gripping means includes a backing member and first and second tongs, with each of the tongs having one end mounted on the backing member for pivotal movement relative to the backing member, so that the tongs may be moved between a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of the tongs are positioned so as to be able to grip the engine to be pulled from the vehicle and a second position wherein the other ends of the tongs are spaced from one another.

17. An improved machine as described in claim 16 wherein the hold-down means are selectively movable from a first substantially horizontal position wherein the beam is adapted to extend over the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment to a second, substantially vertical position; and wherein hydraulic cylinder means are positioned between the frame and the hold-down means to move the hold-down means between its first and second positions.

18. An improved machine as described in claim 8 wherein the gripping means includes a backing member and first and second tongs; wherein each of the first and second tongs is mounted, adjacent to one end, on the backing member for pivotal movement, relative to the backing member, between a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of the tongs are positioned adjacent to each other so as to be able to grip the sides of the engine to be pulled from the vehicle and a second position wherein the other ends of the tongs are spaced from one another; wherein the pulling means includes at least one boom pivotally mounted, at one end, on the frame means and pivotally connected at its other end to the backing member; wherein a first hydraulic cylinder meAns is positioned between the frame means and the boom so as to pivotally move the boom vertically about its one end; and wherein a second hydraulic cylinder means is positioned between the boom and the backing member and arranged so as to move the backing member with respect to the other end of the boom about a substantially horizontal axis.

19. An improved machine as described in claim 18 wherein the axes about which the tongs pivot are parallel; wherein the tongs are disposed in and move in a common plane; wherein the tongs are constructed so that the tongs can fit about the engine; wherein the tongs have a relatively narrow cross-section so that the other ends of the tongs may be fit down between the sides of the engine compartment and the sides of the engine so as to enable the tongs to be inserted between the sides of the engine and the sides of the engine compartment while the engine is mounted in the engine compartment; and wherein the hold-down means includes a pair of beams which are mounted at one end adjacent to one end of the frame means and which are adapted to have their other ends extend over the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the sides of the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment so as to prevent the vehicle from moving vertically with respect to the frame means.

23. An improved machine as described in claim 22 wherein the backing member has a pair of fork members attached thereto, which fork members project from the backing member in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the tongs are disposed; wherein each of the fork members is generally L-shaped and includes a first portion which projects from the backing member and which is disposed in a plan substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member and adjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portion which is disposed adjacent to the backing member and which is attached, at its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit each of the fork members to pivotally move upwardly with respect to the backing member; and wherein when the tongs are in their second position, the otheR ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which the fork members are disposed.

24. An improved machine as described in claim 23 wherein each of the fork members is generally L-shaped and includes a first portion which projects from the backing member and which is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member and adjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portion which is disposed adjacent to the backing member and which is attached at its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit each of the fork members to pivotally move with respect to the backing member; wherein when the tongs are in their second position, the other ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which the fork members are disposed; wherein the other end of the boom is telescopically received on the central portion of the boom; wherein a third hydraulic cylinder means is positioned on the boom between the central portion thereof and the other end and is arranged to move the other end of the boom between retracted and extended positions; wherein fourth hydraulic cylinder means are positioned between the frame and the hold-down means to move the hold-down means between its first and second positions; and wherein the one end of the engine compartment is at least in part defined by a fire wall separating the engine compartment from the rest of the vehicle; wherein at least a part of the transmission extends beneath the fire wall; and wherein the frame means is positioned adjacent to the other end of the engine compartment while the engine is being removed from the engine compartment of the vehicle.

25. An improved method of removing an engine from the engine compartment of a vehicle, such as an automobile or truck, which is to be scrapped and which has the engine compartment located adjacent to the front end of the vehicle, wherein the engine compartment is defined by a front end, a rear end and side walls and is arranged so as to permit access to the engine from above the vehicle, wherein the engine has a transmission attached to the rear end of the engine and extends beyond the rear end of the engine compartment and wherein the means used to grip the engine permits relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine while gripping means is gripping the engine, comprising the steps of: gripping the sides of the engine securely between the ends thereof; pulling the engine so as to move the front end of the engine upwardly along a first substantially vertical path so that the bottom of the engine, adjacent to the front end, is moved above the front end of the engine compartment; and so that the front end of the engine becomes broken free from its mountings; and then pulling the engine and at least a portion of the transmission out of engine compartment along a second path, disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical so that the engine and at least a portion of the transmission is moved out over the front end of the engine compartment until the engine is removed from the engine compartment.