Reach and pull action loader grapple
AssigneeAgile Manufacturing, LLC
InventorsTIMOTHY D. MILLER, MICHAEL L. FEILMEIER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grapple device includes a torque tube, a pivot, a rod and cylinder, a pivot link, and a tooth. The torque tube has first and second torque pivot points and is adapted to be mounted on a bucket. The pivot is rotatably connected to the first torque pivot point at a pivot cross tube located at a second end of the pivot, and the pivot further comprises a pivot collar at a first end, and first and second pivot faces adjacent the pivot collar. The rod and cylinder are operatively connected to the second torque pivot point, includes a rod and a cylinder, and has a rod pivot at a first end of the rod.
Claims16
A grapple device for picking up large amounts of material, comprising:
- a torque tube having a first and second torque pivot points, the torque tube adapted to be mounted on a bucket;
- a pivot rotatably connected to the first torque pivot point at a pivot cross tube located at a second end of the pivot, the pivot further comprising a pivot collar at a first end, and first and second pivot faces adjacent the pivot collar;
- a rod and cylinder operatively connected to the second torque pivot point and having a rod pivot point at a first end of the rod;
- a pivot link operatively connected to the pivot at the pivot collar and the rod at the rod pivot, the pivot link comprising two stops at a first end of the pivot link;
- and
- a tooth member operatively connected to the pivot link and adapted to pick up a material.
A method of closing a grapple using a reach and pull movement to grab the most amount of material possible, comprising:
- providing a grapple device including a torque tube, a pivot rotatably connected to the torque tube, a rod and cylinder operatively connected to the torque tube, a pivot link operatively connected to the pivot, and a tooth member operatively connected to the pivot link;
- extending the rod;
- rotating the rod and cylinder and the pivot about the torque tube until a pivot angle stop of the pivot abuts the torque tube;
- and
- rotating the pivot link about the pivot until a stop of the pivot link abuts the pivot to bring the tooth into contact with a bucket.
A grapple device for picking up large amounts of materials, comprising:
- a torque tube having a first torque pivot point and a second torque pivot point, the torque tube adapted to be mounted on a bucket;
- a pivot having a first end and an opposite second end, the pivot rotatably connected to the first torque pivot point at a pivot cross tube located at the second end of the pivot, the pivot further having a pivot collar at the first end with first and second pivot faces adjacent the pivot collar;
- a rod and cylinder operatively connected to the second torque pivot point and having a rod pivot point at a first end of the rod;
- a pivot link operatively connected to the pivot at the pivot collar and the rod at the rod pivot, the pivot link comprising two stops at a first end of the pivot link;
- a tooth member operatively connected to the pivot link;
- guide arms operatively connected to the cylinder, a guide pin adapted to move along the guide arms;
- wherein, in a fully open position, the rod is withdrawn within the cylinder, the guide pin of the pivot is positioned in a guide vee of the guide arms such that the pivot does not rotate counterclockwise about the first torque pivot point of the torque tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.