Loading and recovery apparatus with self-locking L-Arm
AssigneeAmerican Hook Lift, Inc.
InventorsLeslie Smart, Gary MacQueen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved multi-function loading and recovery apparatus for pallets, containers and the like having a simple, effective design while enabling efficient operation in a wide variety of recovery operations. This multi-function loading and recovery apparatus utilizes a unique self-locking L-Arm, a portion of which is extendable and retractable, so that the L-Arm can be engaged or disengaged with a tilt frame when the L-Arm is in a variety of lengths, enabling the utilization of containers of various lengths. The present invention further allows either the rotation of a tilting frame with the L-Arm for tilting and dumping, or the rotation of the L-Arm alone for unloading of the container.
Claims11
An improved loading and recovery apparatus for loading and unloading containers, the apparatus being operable from a rearward end of a recovery vehicle having a chassis and front and rear wheels, comprising:
- a tilt frame pivotally mounted on the chassis;
- an extendable and retractable generally L-shaped arm having a first boom and a second boom, and a free end and a pivot end;
- said L-arm being pivotally connected at said pivot end to said tilt frame;
- said first boom being generally L-shaped and having first and second members substantially perpendicular to one another;
- a stabilizing frame extending laterally from each side of said L-shaped arm;
- a pair of power actuators for pivoting said L-shaped arm, each power actuator being mounted outboard of the vehicle chassis and connected to opposing lateral sides of said stabilizing frame;
- and
- a self-locking member for self-locking said L-shaped arm to said tilt frame, whereby said L-shaped arm and said tilt frame can be maintained together in a fixed position through a range of movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.