Parkable grapple having quick attachment to loader holder
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsEdward Ted Kaczmarczyk, James A. Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grapple is constructed for quick attachment to and detachment from holders of an implement carrier. The implement holders of the implement carrier are also designed for quick attachment to and detachment from an implement, such as a loader bucket, to be selectively used in conjunction with the grapple or alone. The grapple has provision for parking it in an attitude ready for attachment to the implement holders when the grapple is not needed for grasping the material being handled.
Claims7
In combination with a loader having a loader boom including right- and left-hand loader arms, an implement carrier including right- and left-hand, transversely spaced holders joined together by a cross member and being respectively pivotally mounted to forward ends of said pair of loader arms for rocking about a first axis, at least one hydraulic tilt actuator connected between the boom and the implement carrier for selectively pivoting the carrier about said first axis, a loader implement, said holders and implement each having cooperating first quick connection structures releasably securing said implement to said holders, and a grapple mounted for use in conjunction with said implement for grasping loads, the improvement comprising:
- said right- and left-hand holders and said grapple each including second quick connection structures releasably securing said grapple to said holders.
In a combination including an implement carrier coupled to a loader boom and a grapple adapted for use with an implement attached to said carrier, wherein said carrier comprises right- and left-hand holders joined together by a transverse connecting rod, said right- and left-hand holders respectively being coupled to right- and left-hand loader boom arms for pivoting about a horizontal transverse axis defined by said rod among various positions including a normal upright position, wherein a first connection structure is disposed ahead of said axis and a second connection structure is disposed above said first connection structure, and a forward rolled position, wherein said holders are rotated approximately 90.degree. from said normal upright position so as to dispose said second connection structure ahead of said axis and first connection structure, and said first and second connection structures of said holders being adapted for cooperating with first and second connection structures of an implement so as to define a means for quickly attaching said holders to and detaching said holders from said implement, the improvement comprising:
- said grapple including a pair of transversely spaced, rearwardly opening receptacles having said transverse connecting rod of said carrier received therein;
- said holders each carrying a holder bushing located adjacent said second connection structure;
- and said grapple including transversely spaced grapple bushings;
- and retaining pin means being inserted in said aligned holder and grapple bushings, whereby said grapple is releasably connected to said carrier and said carrier is adapted for connection to an implement to be used in conjunction with said grapple.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.