US 5,127,791 AGranted

Method for lifting and transporting a panel assembly

OwnerCarl P. Attmaninventor

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Abstract

An attachment to the boom of a boom-type vehicle is 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 an attachment 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 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 securely connectable to the mast assembly; a forwardly disposed panel supporting portion rotatably attached to the purline supporting portion; and, an actuator 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 attachment to boom-type forklifts.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of lifting and transporting a panel assembly to a predetermined position with a vehicle such that the panel assembly can be installed onto a structure, the panel assembly having a panel portion orthogonally attached to a purline, the purline having a longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an attachment to the vehicle, said attachment including;
a purline support member operatively connected to the vehicle, said purline support member being adapted to pass under the purline of the panel assembly;
a panel portion support member operatively connected to said purline support member, said panel portion support member being adapted to pass under the purline and panel of the panel assembly;
first movement means operatively connected to said panel portion support member for controllably moving said panel portion support member relative to said purline support member;
first translation means operatively connected to said purline support member for translating said purline support member and said panel portion member in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the purline;
(b) moving the vehicle such that the panel portion support member passes under the purline and is positioned under the panel portion thereof, and so that said purline support member is positioned under the purline of the panel assembly;
(c) raising said panel portion support member until said panel portion support member engages the panel portion such that the panel portion and the purline are supported in a substantially horizontal position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/622,725Filed 5 Dec 1990 · division
Priority: 6 Jul 1989
Granted: 7 Jul 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B66F 9/0655
Non-masted: with a telescopic boom
B66F 9/10
Masts; Guides; Chains: movable in a horizontal direction relative to truck
B66F 9/147
Laterally movable, e.g. swingable, for slewing or transverse movements: whole unit including fork support moves relative to mast
B66F 9/18
Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members: load gripping or retaining means