Cargo container spreader with guide apparatus

A cargo-container spreader having a frame and L-shaped guides located along a generally horizontal rectangle outlining the frame, each of said guides having a proximal portion and a distal portion contiguous therewith which extends, at operative position, downward from said rectangle alongside a region occupied by a container when attached to said spreader, pivotal supporting means for each guide fixed to said frame providing a swing axis for the guide located laterally inward of the periphery of the rectangle pivotally connecting with said proximal portion of the guide enabling said guide to be swung to an upward position of storage within a vertical projection of said rectangle;

• and operating means for shifting each guide from one of said positions to the other comprising:
• lever means in fixed relation with each guide and having pivotal connective means radially spaced an effective lever length from said swing axis, said lever means being contained within a vertical projection of said rectangle at any position of the guide;
• link means having one end portion connected with said pivotal connective means;
• bell crank means having two distal means at opposite ends and an intermediate fulcrum means adapted for making pivotal connections, one of said distal means being pivotally connected with the other end portion of said link means;
• means fixed to the frame pivotally connecting with said fulcrum means;
• operating means located inwardly of said frame having one portion connected with the frame and another portion reciprocable with respect to the frame and connected to the other distal means to rotate said bell crank means, said bell crank means being located relative to the guide to swing said first named distal means through a path in close proximity to the swing axis.