Load transporting apparatus and methods of using same
AssigneeHydraulic Systems, Inc.
InventorCarl Flynt Higginbotham, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A load transporting apparatus may be steered while transporting a load across a base surface, and the load transporting apparatus may be operated hydraulically, electrically, or by use of an encoder. In particular, the load transporting apparatus may include a track configured to a saddle housing (a support movement for a movement assembly), and a foot that may be connected to the track. During load transport, the pad saver may be maintained in a substantially similar position relative to a frame structure supporting the load, even when the transport movement is not in a parallel direction to the orientation of the pad saver.
Claims17
A stabilizer frame apparatus for a load transporting apparatus having a load lifting cylinder and a lifting shoe, the stabilizer frame apparatus comprising:
- a first stabilizer bar configured to couple to the lifting shoe;
- wherein the first stabilizer bar comprises a first end and a second end;
- wherein the first end is configured to slidably engage a first sidewall;
- and
- wherein the second end is configured to slidably engage a second sidewall;
- a second stabilizer bar configured to couple to the lifting shoe;
- wherein the second stabilizer bar comprises a first end and a second end;
- wherein the first end is configured to slidably engage the first sidewall;
- and
- wherein the second end is configured to slidably engage the second sidewall;
- and
- wherein the first and second stabilizer bars are configured to moveably couple transversely to the lifting shoe to maintain an orientation of the shoe relative to the first and second side walls.
A stabilizer system for a load transporting apparatus operable to lift and transport a load with a lifting shoe, the stabilizer system comprising:
- at least one lifting shoe stabilizer coupled to the lifting shoe so that the lifting shoe moves along the at least one lifting shoe stabilizer during a load transporting operation and the at least one lifting shoe stabilizer having first and second ends configured to slidably contact first and second sidewalls, respectively, and the at least one lifting shoe stabilizer configured to maintain a predetermined orientation of the lifting shoe relative to the sidewalls during the load transporting operation by allowing the lifting shoe to move relative to the at least one lifting shoe stabilizer.
A shoe stabilizer system for a load transporting apparatus operable to lift and transport a load, the stabilizer system comprising:
- a lifting shoe having a first surface adapted to engage a base surface during a lifting operation, the lifting shoe disposed between first and second sidewalls in a predetermined orientation and configured to rotatably couple on a second surface opposite the first surface with a lifting foot so that the foot can rotate relative to the shoe about a vertical axis to establish a direction of travel of the load;
- first and second shoe stabilizers coupled to the lifting shoe adjacent first and second ends of the lifting shoe, the shoe stabilizers having first and second ends configured to slidably contact the first and second sidewalls, respectively, and configured to maintain the predetermined orientation of the lifting shoe during load lifting and transporting operations;
- the lifting shoe configured to move along the first and second stabilizers;
- and
- wherein the system allows the load to move relative to the lifting shoe during lifting and transporting operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.