Gripper assembly for portable biochar kiln

A gripper assembly for a portable biochar kiln, comprising:

• an attachment for connecting to a loader;
• a substantially C-shaped claw having a first arm and a second arm, the C-shaped claw substantially matching an outer diameter of the biochar kiln along an entire length of the first and second arms when the first and second arms engage with the outer diameter of the biochar kiln, wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected together at the attachment such that the first and second arms can be opened and closed;
• a first substantially U-shaped channel on the mating surface of the first arm and a second substantially U-shaped channel on the mating surface of the second arm, the first and second substantially U-shaped channels each configured to engage over a corresponding edge mount on a body of the biochar kiln, with a first leg of the U-shaped channels underneath the edge mount, and a second leg of the U-shaped channels over an upper portion of the edge mount so that the first and second U-shaped channels straddle the edge mount to securely grip the body of the biochar kiln;
• and
• wherein a hydraulic rotor motor operatively associated with the first arm and the second arm operates to open and close the first and second arms in a pinch-and-release motion to grasp and release the biochar kiln, the hydraulic rotor motor further operates to rotate the first and second arms thereby tilting the biochar kiln when grasped by the first and second arms for dumping operations, the hydraulic rotor motor further operates to raise and lower the first and second arms thereby raising and lowering the biochar kiln relative to the ground when grasped by the first and second arms for moving operations.

A gripper assembly for a portable biochar kiln, comprising:

• an attachment for connecting via an interchangeable attachment interface to a loader;
• a substantially C-shaped claw having a first arm and a second arm, the C-shaped claw substantially matching an outer diameter of the biochar kiln along an entire length of the first and second arms when the first and second arms engage with the outer diameter of the biochar kiln, wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected together at the attachment such that the first and second arms can be opened and closed, the first and second arms each having a mating surface configured for engagement with the biochar kiln;
• a first substantially U-shaped channel on the mating surface of the first arm and a second substantially U-shaped channel on the mating surface of the second arm, the first and second substantially U-shaped channels each configured to engage over a corresponding edge mount on a body of the biochar kiln, with a first leg of the U-shaped channels underneath the edge mount, and a second leg of the U-shaped channels over an upper portion of the edge mount so that the first and second U-shaped channels straddle the edge mount to securely grip the body of the biochar kiln;
• and
• a hydraulic rotor motor operatively associated with the first arm and the second arm operates to open and close the first and second arms in a pinch-and-release motion to grasp and release the biochar kiln, the hydraulic rotor motor further operates to rotate the first and second arms thereby tilting the biochar kiln when grasped by the first and second arms for dumping operations, the hydraulic rotor motor further operates to raise and lower the first and second arms thereby raising and lowering the biochar kiln relative to the ground when grasped by the first and second arms for moving operations.