Clamping apparatus

A support arrangement comprising:

• a first member;
• a second member supported for translation by the second member;
• and
• an adjustable bushing adjustably mounted on the first member and slidably guiding the second member.

A support arrangement comprising:

• a first tube;
• a second tube disposed inside the first tube and movable inside the first tube in a lengthwise direction of the first tube;
• a plurality of bushings each screwed into a wall of the first tube and each having an inner end comprising plastic opposing the outer surface of the second tube, each bushing being rotatable in the first tube to adjust a distance of the inner end of the bushing from the outer surface of the second tube;
• and
• a drive mechanism coupled to the second tube for translating the second tube with respect to the first tube in the lengthwise direction of the first tube.

A clamping apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of clamping arms pivotably mounted on the frame, each clamping arm including a contact portion for contacting a load to be lifted, each clamping arm defining a four-bar linkage which controls an angle of the contract portion with respect to the vertical as the clamping arm pivots with respect to the frame;
• and
• at least one drive mechanism connected to one of the clamping arms to pivot the one of the clamping arms with respect to the frame.

A clamping apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of clamping arms pivotably mounted on the frame, each clamping arm including a lever portion pivotably mounted on the frame, a contact portion for contacting a load to be lifted pivotably mounted on the lever portion, and an adjustable-length rod extending alongside the lever portion and having a lower end pivotably connected to the contact portion, a change in the length of the rod changing an angle of the contact portion with respect to the lever portion;
• and
• at least one drive mechanism connected to one of the lever portions to pivot the lever portion with respect to the frame.

A clamping apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• two opposing clamping arms pivotably mounted on the frame, each clamping arm including a contact portion for contacting a load to be lifted, and
• at least one drive mechanism connected to one of the clamping arms to pivot the one of the clamping arms with respect to the frame,
• wherein a separation between the contact portions of the clamping arms can change by at least 4 inches due to pivoting of at least one of the opposing clamping arms relative to the frame with an angle with respect to the vertical of each contact portion changing no more than 2 degrees when the contact portions are not contacting a load.

A clamping arrangement comprising:

• a lift truck;
• a support member supported by the lift truck and extending away from the lift truck in a widthwise direction of the lift truck;
• and
• a clamping apparatus supported by the support member and having a pair of opposing clamping arms capable of relative movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release an object, the clamping apparatus being pivotable about an axis with respect to the support member between a first position in which the clamping arms are disposed outboard of the axis in the widthwise direction of the lift truck and a second position in which the clamping arms are disposed forward of the axis in the fore-and-aft direction of the lift truck.

A clamping arrangement comprising:

• a clamping apparatus having a frame with a pair of opposing clamping arms mounted on the frame for movement towards and away from each other to grasp or release an object;
• a lift truck;
• a support member mounted on the lift truck and extending away from the lift truck and having an engaging portion in an outer end thereof;
• and
• a connector connecting the support member to the clamping apparatus and comprising
• a central wall,
• first and second opposing walls extending from the central wall and pivotably connected to the frame of the clamping apparatus to permit the frame to pivot about a first axis to adjust an angle of the clamping apparatus with respect to the horizontal,
• an adjustment bolt extending from the central wall and engaging the frame for fixing an angle of the frame with respect to the connector about the axis,
• a third wall extending from the central wall on an opposite side of the central wall from the first and second walls and pivotably connected to the support member for pivoting with respect to the support member about a second axis transverse to the first axis between first and second positions, the third wall including first and second engaging portions respectively aligned with the engaging portion of the support member when the third wall is in the first or second position, respectively, and
• a removable pin engageable with the engaging portion in the support member and whichever of the first and second engaging portions of the third wall is aligned therewith to releasably secure the third wall in its first or second position.