US 5,073,077 A · Multi-directional lifting and handling attachment for a boom-type vehicle

Abstract

This apparatus relates to an attachment to the boom of a boom-type vehicle for lifting and supporting a panel assembly of the type having a panel and a purline. The purline is securely attached to the panel and disposed at an angle thereto. The attachment comprises attachment devices connectable to a forward end of the boom of the vehicle for supporting at least a portion of the purline and at least a portion of the panel. The attachment device provides selective movement between the purline, the panel, and the boom for permitting the panel assembly to be maneuvered in the desired manner at the construction site. A panel handler assembly is connectable to a forward portion of a mast assembly. The panel handler assembly includes a rearwardly disposed purline supporting portion securably connectable to the mast assembly; a forwardly disposed panel supporting portion rotatably attached to the purline supporting portion; and, devices for providing selective rotation of the panel supporting portion relative to the purline supporting portion along an axis parallel to a plane supporting a forward portion of the mast assembly. The attachment provides versatile multi-directional lifting and handling capabilities which have been unachievable in prior art attachments to boom-type forklifts.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An attachment to the boom of a boom-type vehicle for lifting and supporting a panel assembly of the type having a panel and a purline, said purline being attached to said panel and disposed at an angle thereto, comprising:

(a) a mast assembly connectable to a forward end of the boom of said vehicle, including:
(i) means for providing selective vertical translation of a forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom in a vertical direction;
(ii) means for providing selective rotation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom about a vertical axis;
and
(iii) means for providing selective horizontal translation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom along a first horizontal direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a purline supported thereby;
and
(b) a panel handler assembly connectable to said forward portion of said mast assembly said panel handler assembly including:
(i) a rearwardly disposed purline supporting portion including;
(A) a rigid purline backrest assembly securely connectable to said forward portion of said mast assembly so as to extend in a vertical plane;
(B) a rigid base frame assembly integrally connected to a lower end of said backrest assembly so as to extend forwardly of said purline backrest assembly on a horizontal plane;
(ii) a forwardly disposed panel supporting portion rotatably attached to said purline supporting portion, said panel supporting portion including a rigid C-frame assembly circumscribable about a forward section of said purline supporting portion and hingedly attached to said purline supporting portion at two locations on said first horizontal axis;
and,
(iii) means for providing selective rotation of said panel supporting portion relative to said purline supporting portion along a first horizontal axis substantially aligned in said first horizontal direction.

10 more elements

(a) a mast assembly connectable to a forward end of the boom of said vehicle, including:
(i) means for providing selective vertical translation of a forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom in a vertical direction;
(ii) means for providing selective rotation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom about a vertical axis;
and
(iii) means for providing selective horizontal translation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom along a first horizontal direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a purline supported thereby;
and
(b) a panel handler assembly connectable to said forward portion of said mast assembly, said panel handler assembly including:
(i) a rearwardly disposed purline supporting portion securably connectable to said mast assembly, said purline supporting portion including in a rigid purline backrest assembly securely connectable to said forward portion of said mast assembly so as to extend in a vertical plane, said rigid backrest assembly including a pair of elongate, parallel, substantially vertical spaced rigid members;
an elongate rigid horizontal member integrally connected to the bottoms of said vertical rigid members;
and a lifting support sub-assembly integrally connected to said vertical rigid members and said horizontal member, said lifting support sub-assembly including two vertically disposed extensions, each vertical extension integral an associated vertical rigid member, each extension having an upper end thereon with an integral attaching eye for connection thereof with a pin secured to the front portion of said mast assembly, and in a rigid base frame assembly integrally connected to a lower end of said backrest assembly so as to extend forwardly of said purline backrest assembly on a horizontal plane
(ii) a forwardly disposed panel supporting portion rotatably attached to said purline supporting portion;
and,
(iii) means for providing selective rotation of said panel supporting portion relative to said purline supporting portion along a first horizontal axis substantially aligned in said first horizontal direction.

10 more elements

(a) a mast assembly connectable to a forward end of the boom of said vehicle, including:
(i) means for providing selective vertical translation of a forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom in a vertical direction;
(ii) means for providing selective rotation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom about a vertical axis;
and
(iii) means for providing selective horizontal translation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom along a first horizontal direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a purline supported thereby;
and
(b) a panel handler assembly connectable to said forward portion of said mast assembly, said panel handler assembly including:
(i) a rearwardly disposed purline supporting portion securably connectable to said mast assembly;
(ii) a forwardly disposed panel supporting portion rotatably attached to said purline supporting portion, said panel supporting portion including a rigid C-frame assembly circumscribable about a forward section of said purline supporting portion and hingedly attached to said purline supporting portion at two locations on said first horizontal axis, said C-frame assembly including a pair of spaced parallel lift arm sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly being hingedly attached at an end portion to said purline supporting portion at a respective location on said first horizontal axis, a lift arm cross member integrally attached to another portion of each of said lift arms, and an adjustable support arm assembly, having a support arm assembly cross member connected to forward ends of said parallel lift arm sub-assemblies and a pair of telescoping support arm extensions, each extension attached to an end of said support arm assembly cross member, said telescoping extensions and said support arm assembly cross member cooperating to lift and support the panel of said panel assembly;
and,
(iii) means for providing selctive rotation of said panel supporting portion relative to said purline supporting portion along a first horizontal axis substantially aligned in said first horizontal direction.

8 more elements

(a) a mast assembly connectable to a forward end of the boom of said vehicle, including:
(i) means for providing selective vertical translation of a forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom in a vertical direction;
(ii) means for providing selective rotation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom about a vertical axis;
(iii) means for providing selective horizontal translation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom along a first horizontal direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a purline supported thereby;
(iv) a connecting assembly securably connectable to the boom head of a boom;
(v) a vertical upright sub-assembly comprising a pair of integrally connected, spaced, parallel, vertical upright beams, said vertical upright sub-assembly being pivotally attached to said connecting assembly;
and,
(vi) a pair of horizontal hydraulic actuators, each connected to an associated vertical upright and to said connecting assembly for providing said selective rotation of said forward portion of said mast assembly relative to said boom about said vertical axis.
(b) a panel handler assembly connectable to said forward portion of said mast assembly, said panel handler assembly including:
(i) a rearwardly disposed purline supporting portion securably connectable to said mast assembly;
(ii) a forwardly disposed panel supporting portion rotatably attached to said purline supporting portion;
and,
(iii) means for providing selective rotation of said panel supporting portion relative to said purline supporting portion along a first horizontal axis substantially aligned in said first horizontal direction.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-directional lifting and handling attachment for a boom-type vehicle

Life of this patent

Multi-directional lifting and handling attachment for a boom-type vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20