Clamshell basket loader
AssigneeMcNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorRonald E. Christenson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A loading device mounted to a collection vehicle is disclosed. The loading device may comprise several embodiments for scooping a soft-sided object through either a horizontal or vertical plane. The loading device is attached to a mechanized arm for compound angular displacement and operable between a stowed, extended, lift, and dump positions. A swivel mount interconnects the mechanized arm to the collection vehicle and further compounds the angular displacement and operating positions of the loading device.
Claims12
A dual function apparatus for acquiring and transferring material to a receiving hopper of a collection vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a) an articulated mechanized arm connected to a collection vehicle, operable between stowed, extended, lifting and dumping positions and having a free end;
- b) a container grabbing mechanism comprising a pair of opposed arms connected to said free end of said mechanized arm and aligned in spaced relation operable for accessing, grasping and releasing a container of interest and a fluid-operated arm actuating system connected to said pair of arms for opening and closing said opposed arms;
- and
- (c) a pair of opposed mechanized scoops carried by and pivotally connected to said free end of said mechanized arms and disposed to converge and diverge beneath a soft-sided container of interest and provide support in a plane generally parallel to that described by said opposed arms of said grabbing mechanism and a fluid-operated scoop actuating system connected between said free end of said mechanized arm and said opposed mechanized scoops for opening and closing said scoops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.