US 3,934,738 A · Tool connecting · patentgrep

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Abstract

Apparatus for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of the materials handler about a first axis fixed with respect to the boom, and comprising a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to the boom for rotation about the first axis and including spaced apart hook and lock members, and cooperating structure on the materials handler for receiving and engaging the hook member and for engaging the lock member; the hook member extending downwardly from the body of the hitch with the nose of the hook facing the first axis and having a predetermined maximum width, a tapering nose portion of lesser width, a jaw having an engagement surface, a rear surface, and an overall depth defined by the rear surface and the front of the nose; the cooperating structure including a top wall for engaging the bottom of the hitch body, an opening in the wall of width substantially equal to the maximum width of the hook member for receiving the hook member, a rigid cross member extending transversely the width of the opening adjacent the forward edge thereof, and a locking member spaced from the opening on the side thereof opposite the cross member for engaging the hitch locking member, the distance between the hitch locking member and a point on the hook engagement surface being substantially equal to the distance between the materials handler locking member and the point of the cross member engaging the point on the hook engagement surface.

Claims36

Dependent claims

Apparatus for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom, said apparatus comprising:

a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation about said first axis and including a hitch body, a hook member of predetermined maximum width projecting outwardly from said body, and a hitch locking member spaced from said hook member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis,
said hook member defining a jaw having a jaw engagement surface, a tapering nose portion of width less than said predetermined maximum width facing away from said hitch locking member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis, and a rear surface intermediate said nose portion and said hitch locking member and facing generally towards said hitch locking member;
and,
cooperating structure secured to said materials handler for receiving and engaging said hook member and for engaging said hitch locking member,
said cooperating structure defining an opening of width substantially equal to said maximum width of said hook member for receiving said hook member, a cooperating structure locking member spaced from said opening on one side thereof for engaging said hitch locking member, and a rigid crossmember extending transversely the width of said opening adjacent the side thereof opposite said cooperating structure locking member for engaging said jaw engagement surface when said hook member is inserted within said opening,
the overall depth of said hook member being defined by said rear surface and the end of said nose portion most distant therefrom,
the length of said opening being defined by one surface intermediate said rigid cross-member and said cooperating structure locking member and facing generally towards said cross-member, and a second and generally oppositely facing surface on the side of said one surface opposite said cooperating structure locking member,
said length of said opening being less than the distance from said jaw engagement surface to said hitch locking member.

5 more elements

Apparatus for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom, said apparatus comprising:

a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation about said first axis and including a hitch body, a hook member of predetermined maximum width projecting outwardly from said body, and a hitch locking member spaced from said hook member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis,
said hook member defining a jaw having a jaw engagement surface, a tapering nose portion of width less than said predetermined maximum width facing away from said hitch locking member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis, and a rear surface intermediate said nose portion and said hitch locking member and facing generally towards said hitch locking member;
and,
cooperating structure secured to said materials handler for receiving and engaging said hook member and for engaging said hitch locking member,
said cooperating structure defining an opening of width substantially equal to said maximum width of said hook member for receiving said hook member, a cooperating structure locking member spaced from said opening on one side thereof for engaging said hitch locking member, and a rigid cross-member extending transversely the width of said opening adjacent the side thereof opposite said cooperating structure locking member for engaging said jaw engagement surface when said hook member is inserted within said opening,
the overall depth of said hook member being defined by said rear surface and the end of said nose portion most distant therefrom,
the length of said opening being defined by one surface intermediate said rigid cross-member and said cooperating structure locking member and facing generally towards said cross-member, and a second and generally oppositely-facing surface on the side of said one surface opposite said cooperating structure locking member,
said length of said opening being less than the distance from said jaw engagement surface to said hitch locking member,
said body of said hitch and said hook member of said hitch being connected for pivotal movement relative to each other about a second axis generally perpendicular to said first axis, and
said apparatus including an actuator connected thereto and operable for pivoting said hook member relative to said body.

7 more elements

Apparatus for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom, said apparatus comprising:

a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation about said first axis and including a hitch body, a hook member of predetermined maximum width projecting downwardly from said body, and a hitch locking member spaced from said hook member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis,
said hook member defining a jaw having a jaw engagement surface, a tapering nose portion of width less than said predetermined maximum width facing away from said hitch locking member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis, and a rear surface intermediate said nose portion and said hitch locking member and facing generally towards said hitch locking member;
and,
cooperating structure secured to said materials handler for receiving and engaging said hook member and for engaging said hitch locking member,
said cooperating structure defining an opening of width substantially equal to said maximum width of said hook member for receiving said hook member, a cooperating structure locking member spaced from said opening on one side thereof for engaging said hitch locking member, and a rigid cross-member extending transversely the width of said opening adjacent the side thereof opposite said cooperating structure locking member for engaging said jaw engagement surface when said hook member is inserted within said opening,
the overall depth of said hook member being defined by said rear surface and the end of said nose portion most distant therefrom,
the length of said opening being defined by one surface intermediate said rigid cross-member and said cooperating structure locking member and facing generally towards said cross-member, and a second and generally oppositely-facing surface on the side of said one surface opposite said cooperating structure locking member,
said length of said opening being less than the distance from said jaw engagement surface to said hitch locking member,
said hitch including a downwardly-facing surface defined by said locking member of said hitch and arranged to engage an upwardly-facing portion of said handler spaced from said cross member, and
said downwardly-facing surface and said upwardly-facing portion being generally semi-cylindrical whereby said downwardly-facing surface and said portion vertically and transversely locate said locking members relative to each other when said hitch and said handler are engaged.

7 more elements

Apparatus for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom, said apparatus comprising:

a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation about said first axis and including a hitch body, a hook member of predetermined maximum width projecting outwardly from said body, and a hitch locking member spaced from said hook member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis,
said hook member defining a jaw having a jaw engagement surface, a tapering nose portion of width less than said predetermined maximum width facing away from said hitch locking member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis, and a rear surface intermediate said nose portion and said hitch locking member and facing generally towards said hitch locking member;
cooperating structure secured to said materials handler for receiving and engaging said hook member and for engaging said hitch locking member,
said cooperating structure defining an opening of width substantially equal to said maximum width of said hook member for receiving said hook member, a cooperating locking member spaced from said opening on one side thereof for engaging said hitch locking member, and a rigid cross-member extending transversely the width of said opening adjacent the side thereof opposite said cooperating structure locking member for engaging said jaw engagement surface when said hook member is inserted within said opening,
the overall depth of said hook member being defined by said rear surface and the end of said nose portion most distant therefrom,
the length of said opening being defined by one surface intermediate said rigid cross-member and said cooperating structure locking member and facing generally towards said cross-member, and a second and generally oppositely-facing surface on the side of said one surface opposite said cooperating structure locking member,
said length of said opening being less than the distance from said jaw engagement surface to said hitch locking member,
each of said locking members including an aperture extending therethrough in a direction perpendicular to said first axis:
said hitch and said cooperating structure including stops for coaxially aligning said aperatures with each other when said locking members are engaged with each other;
a locking pin extending through said aperatures and securing said locking members together;
and,
a hydraulic piston and cylinder for actuating said locking pin mounted on said hitch, said pin being attached to said piston, and said cylinder being restrained against movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said aperatures but being free to float in the plane perpendicular to said axis of said apertures whereby said pin is self-aligning.

9 more elements

Apparatus for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom, said apparatus comprising:

a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation about said first axis and including a hitch body, a hook member of predetermined maximum width projecting outwardly from said body, and a hitch locking member spaced from said hook member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis,
said hook member defining a jaw having a jaw engagement surface, a tapering nose portion of width less than said predetermined maximum width facing away from said hitch locking member in a direction generally perpendicular to said first axis, and a rear surface intermediate said nose portion and said hitch locking member and facing generally towards said hitch locking member;
and,
cooperating structure secured to said materials handler for receiving and engaging said hook member and for engaging said hitch locking member,
said cooperating structure defining an opening of width substantially equal to said maximum width of said hook member for receiving said hook member, a cooperating structure locking member spaced from said opening on one side thereof for engaging said hitch locking member, and a rigid cross-member extending transversely the width of said opening adjacent the side thereof opposite said cooperating structure locking member for engaging said jaw engagement surface when said hook member is inserted within said opening,
the overall depth of said hook member being defined by said rear surface and the end of said nose portion most distant therefrom,
the length of said opening being defined by one surface intermediate said rigid cross-member and said cooperating structure locking member and facing generally towards said cross-member, and a second and generally oppositely-facing surface on the side of said one surface opposite said cooperating structure locking member,
said length of said opening being less than the distance from said jaw engagement surface to said hitch locking member, and
each of said locking members including a camming surface arranged for engaging the camming surface of the other of said locking members and urging said engagement surface of said hook jaw into engagement with said cross member when said locking members are moved into engagement with each other.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.