US1981983A - Lift truck - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1934. A. M. BARRETT 1,981,983

LIFT TRUCK Original Filed May 2l. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m @www/AMX@ uw Nov. 27, 1934. A. M. BARRETT LIFT TRUCK original Filed May 21, 195o Nov. 27, 1934.

A. M. BARRETT 111111 TRUCK original Filed May 21, 1930 5 sheets-s111991 s x Uff Patented Nov. 27, 1934 narran stares LIFT TRUCK Arthur M. Barrett, `Winne`tlra, lill., assignor to Barrett-Cravens Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application May 21, 1930, Serial No. 454,264 Renewed April 28, 1934 14 Claims.

My present invention relates to lifting trucks of the type comprising a wheel-supported frame arranged to be steered by means of a 'leveror the like, which lever is also employed to raise a lifting frame or platform supported by the wheelsupported or main frame. Various trucks of this type have been developed, some using relatively complicated ratchet mechanism for elevating the lifting frame or platform, others using cables, insecure and structurally defective mechanism, and sundry other expediente for transmitting the lifting effort from the 'lifting lever to the lifting frame or platform.

My present invention is particularly concerned ,l5 with and adapted to be used on trucks of the actuation from all steering positions to raise the lifting frame. Many of the lift trucks in use at the present time do not have this feature. In such trucks it is necessary to turn the handle or lifting lever to a straight ahead position before the same can be operated to raise the lifting frame. There are, however, a few lift trucks in use at the present time which do attempt to provide a structure wherein the lifting lever or steering handle can be operated from a number of various positions other than a straight ahead one, but I have found that in these trucks, particularly those of the single lift type, there is considerable danger in operating the lifting leververy far to one side on account of the liability of tipping over the if truck the load thereon with possiblecon sequent injury to the operator. In addition. the trucks use at the present time, even the single lift trucks, are of considerable complexity in their constructive arrangement so that not only are these trucks structurally weak but considerable difficulty is encountered in lifting very heavy loads on account of the comparatively great amount of friction and lost :motion required to be overcome.

The principal object, therefore', of my invention, is to provide in a lift truck of the class described a much simpler and more sturdy construction tliian hitherto has been attained to-l vate the lifting frame without transmitting Vthe lifting effort through a great number of joints and bearings. Another object of my invention `is to provide a lift truck which is not llikely to tip over when the load and lifting platform is l raised with the lifting lever at an angle to 'the main frame. Another object of my invention is to provide a construction wherein the lifting frame can be elevated by a downward swing'of the lifting lever from any steering position, which 'in the present construction is practically in any position up to the limit where the lifting lever is turned rearwardly suiiicient to contact with'the load behind.

Another object of my invention is to Aeliminate to certain defects quite commonly existing in the present type of lift truck. The front steering wheels as usually found on a commercial form of the trucks `in use today consist of a pair of wheels spaced quite close together and journaled is' directly o'n a vertical king Abolt which ismounted on the forward part ofthe main frame and sub'- stantially centrally thereof. The journal Ibearings by which the king bolt can turn about its vertical axis are subjected to considerable wear so that quite soon a considerable amount of lateral play develops which makes the truck unsafe to use and unsatisfactory in operation.v I propose to lprovide such a bearing support for the king bolt that, in the first place, there is practically no tendency for lateral looseness and play to develop and, in the second place,to provide such a bearing support that the looseness` and play that does develop is'of no concern because Athe king bolt is so mounted as to be substantially self- 3oA centering. Briey,' this is vaccomplished by 4a tapered or conical lower bearing for the king bolt which `results in a tendency for the king bolt to always move toward its vertical aXis. f

Still further; another object of my invention is to provide a releasable connection between the lifting lever and the lifting frame so that the lifting lever or handle can be disconnected at will from the lifting frame, regardless as to whether the' lifting frame is yin its upper or its 1g() lower position. I provide also such a construction that the releasable connections move rearwardly when disconnected so as to be entirely out of the way of the steering handle and the truck is thereby propelled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the front end construction when the lifting platform is in its elevated position;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to that shown in Figure 3, except that the parts are shown with the lifting platform in its lowered position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the double link or lifting yoke;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing one of the elements in the link connection between the lifting lever or handle and the lifting frame; v

Figure 7 is another form of my invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail of a portion of the link connection employed in the form illustrated in Figure 7;

At their forward ends. the side members 2 and 3 are connected together by means of a crosshead 10 having a central boss 11 apertured to provide journals 12 and 13 to receive a king bolt 15. The lower end of the king bolt 15 is formed to receive a front axle 17 upon which is mounted the front steering wheels 18.

The lower portion of the bearing boss 11 is provided with a tapered journal or seat 20 which receives thetapered or conical bearing flange 21 formed on the king bolt 15 near the lower end thereof.

l A king bolt cap 25 is secured to the upper end of the king bolt 15. as by a clamping bolt 26 or the like, and the king bolt capv 25 has a pair of apertured forwardly extending ears 28 having a pivot bolt -29 upon which the handle or lifting lever 32 is pivoted for vertical swinging movement. As will be clear from Figure 2 the handle or lifting lever^32 is forked at its lower end to thereby provide a member on each side of the ears 28 so that the handle or lifting lever 32 may be swung laterally to turn thereby the king bolt cap 25 and the king bolt 15. Thus .the handle 32 may be employed to steer the truck while. at the same time, the handle 32 is capable of up and down swinging movement whereby the lifting frame may be raised, as will be more fully described later.

The lifting frame or platform is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 35 and from Figure 2 is seen to consist of a substantially U- shaped member having side portions 38 and 39 and a rear portion 40. The forward ends of the side portions 38 and 39 are connected to the main frame 1 by means of upwardlyextending swinging links 42 and 43 while the rear end of the lifting frame or platform 35 is connected to the main frame 1 by means of a long journal or bearing member 45 received in the corner of a transverse angle 46 secured as by welding,` riveting or the like, to the side portions 38 and 39 of the lifting frame 35 and the depending arms or links 50, 51, 52 and 53, see Figure 2. secured to the'journal or bearing member 45 at their upper ends and to Figure 9 is still another form of my invention; I

the rear axle 8 at their lower ends as more fully described in my prior Patent, No. 1,459,044, issued June 19, 1923. It will be noted that the links 42, 43, and 53 are substantially the same length and extend substantially parallel so that asthe lifting frame 35 is moved forwardly and upwardly ,the links above mentioned swing in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFigure 1.

The improved means I have provided for moving the lifting vframe 35 upwardly and forwardly to thereby raise the load mounted thereon will now be described. Pivoted near the front end to the side members 38 and 39 of the lifting frame 35 is a double link or yoke member having a pair of arms 61 and62 which diverge and at their ends are provided with slots 60a and 60h for sliding pivotal connection to the lifting frame 35, which connection is attained by means of a threaded rod 64 received by the slots in the arms 61 and 62 and connected to the side members or portions 38 and 39 of the lifting frame 35 as shown in Figure 2. The yoke 60 is provided with astrengthening web 67 and a boss 69 having an aperture 79. A swivel link 73 is pivoted to the yoke or double link 60 for lateral swinging relative thereto by means of a pin 74 passing through the ears 75 formed on the swivel links 73 and the aperture 70 in the yoke member 6i).

The swivel link 73 is provided with an eye 77 which is adapted to receive the lifting link 79 which is pivoted to the king bolt cap 25, preferably by means of the same pivot bolt 29 by means of which the lifting lever or handle 32 is pivoted to the king bolt cap. The lifting link 79 is adapted to be releasably connected to move with the lifting lever 32 by means of a latch member 32, such as the one shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,707,971, issued April 9, 1929.

The lifting link 79 is so'formed that downward movement of the lifting lever or handle 32 occasions a vertical movement of the eye 77 substantially in the line ofthe vertical axis ofthe king bolt 15. Reference to Figures 3 and 4 will disclose that the lifting link 79 is formed as a downwardly extending loop, one leg 79d of which is pivoted to the pivot bolt 29 while the other leg 79h is substantially straight and extends above the pivotfbolt 29 and along the lifting lever or handle 32 up to a point where it can be engaged by the latch 82. The curve of the loop is such that when the eye 77 is resting in and carried by the invert of the loop it is substantially over the upper end of the king bolt l5 when the lifting lever or handle 32 is in its uppermost position, as shown in Figure 4. As the lifting lever or handle 32 is rocked downwardly the portion of the eye 77 contacting with the invert of the loop curve of the lifting link 79 moves therealong and toward the pivot bolt 29 so as to always occupy a position in the curve which is the shortest distance from the rod 64 by which the double link or yoke 60 is pivoted to the lifting frame 35. This position is, of course, the bottom of the curve as far as direction of the stress between the lifting link 79 and the pivot connection 64 betweenvthe double link or yoke 69 and the lifting frame 35 is concerned. It is therefore seen that the lifting link 79 acts as a sort ofcam to apply a force substantially'vertically to always move the eye 77 in a vertical direction and substantially in line with the axis of the king bolt 15. Since the lifting link 79 can raise the eye 77, and therefor-e the lifting frame 35, from any position of contact around the circular point of the eye 77 it becomes clear that the lifting lever 32 orhandle can be turned to any lateral position, as is necessary in steering the truck, and still be operative to elevate the lifting frame. Reference to Figure 2 will show that the handle 32 can be turned laterally substantially through the entire 360 of a circle, the only limitation being that the handle 32 cannot be turned rearwardly any farther after it contacts with the load carried upon the lifting platform 35 or any farther after the forks of the lifting lever 32 contacts with the downwardly extending parts of the swivel link 73. This limitation is, however, of no concern since it is never necessary to turn the steering wheels or the lifting 1ever or handle 32 throughout the entire 360 in the practical operation of a lift truck.

As stated above, the swivel link 73 is capable of lateral swinging relative to the yoke 60. This is for the purpose of allowing some lateral adjustment of the parts 60 and 73 when lifting from the side instead of from a straight forward position.

The links 42 and 43 and the rear axle links 50, 5l, 52 and 53 are so arranged that when the lifting platform 35 is in its highest position, the said links are inclined rearwardly a small amount so that there is a slight tendency for the lifting platform 35 and the load thereon to descend by gravity. To overcome this tendency and hold the lifting frame in its elevated position, I provide a latch in the form of a lever having a pedal 86 at its front end and a hook 87 at its rear end. This latch 35 is pivoted between its ends on a pivot 89 mounted between lugs 90carried by the crosshead 10. Cooperating with the hook 37 is a roller 93 carried by a bracket 94 secured, as by bolts, to a transverse angle member 95 connecting the side portions 38 and 39 of the lifting frame 35 at their forward ends. The roller 93 is so arranged with reference to the latch 85 that when the lifting frame is raised to its uppermost position the hook 87 rides over it and engages it, thereby preventing rearward movement and consequently holding the lifting frame in its elevated position. The hook 35 may be released from engagement with the roller 93 by pressing down on the pedal 86.

The descent of the lifting frame is cushioned and controlled by means of a check interposed between the angle member 95 and a similar transverse angle member 101 secured to the main frame as indicated in Figure 1. The check 100 may'take the form of the check shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,707,971, referred to above.

The operation of my lift truck as so far described is believed to be obvious. One downward swing of the lifting lever 32 from any steering position exerts a substantially vertical lifting effort upon the eye 77 of the swivel member or rig 73, which lifting effort is transmitted through the double link or yoke 60 to thereby swing the lifting frame 35 upwardly and forwardly, moving the same on the links at the front and rear ends thereof and swinging the said links in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. When the hook 87 engages the roller 93 the force exerted on the lifting lever or handle 32 may be relaxed since the latch 35 will retain the lifting platform and any load thereon in its elevated position. Furthermore, the latch 82 may be released from engagement with the lifting link 79, and when the latter is so released it falls by gravity to the position illustrated in Figure 1. In this manner the lifting link 79 is moved to a position entirely out of the way of the lifting lever or handle 32 'and the truck may be propelled from place to place as operating conditions may demand. l

When the link 79 is released the yoke member 60 slides down on rod 64 by virtue of the slotted connection at 60a and 601).

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate modified forms ofthe lifting yoke or double link which are slightly different from the form illustrated in Figure 1 and described above. The lifting yokes described in Figures 7 and 9 possess one feature in common, and that is that they are adapted to collapse when the lifting lever or handle 32 is raised with the lifting platform 35 retained in its elevated position. The form of lifting yoke or double link illustrated in Figure 7 includes a swivel member or swivel link which is similar to the swivel link 73 shown in Figure 1. The eye 111 thereof is formed to all intents and purposes exactly the same as the eye 77 of the swivel link 73. Instead, however, of being pivoted to a rigid yoke, such as the yoke 60 shown in Figure 1, the swivel member 110 is connected by downwardly diverging chains 112 which are connected at their lower ends to the lifting frame or platform 35 by kmeans of an eye bolt 114. Thus it is that when the liftingflever or handle 32 has been rocked downwardly to raise the lifting frame or platform 35 to its elevated position where it is engaged by the latch 85, the lifting lever or handle 32 may again be elevated to a vertical position and the lifting yoke means, that is. the swivel member 1.10 and the chains 112, will collapse, the chains 112 hanging in a form of catenary curve from the lower end of the swivel member 110 to their pivotal connections on the lifting frame 35. In this form of lifting yoke means the eye 111 will always remain at the bottom of the curve or loop of the lifting link 79 regardless as to whether the handle 32 is raised or the lifting link 79 is released with the lifting frame 35 in its raised position, just as in the form illustrated` in Figure 1, when the lifting link 79 is released the eye 77 always takes a position at the bottom of the curve of the lifting link 79, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The yoke 60 also takes this position when the lifting lever or handle 32 is raised with the lifting frame 35 in its elevated position.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a form of lifting yoke which comprises a pair of rigid members. one being a swivel member having at its upper end an eye 121 which is practically the same as the eye 77 of the swivel member 73 or the eye 111 of the swivel member 110. At its lower end the swivel member 120 is formed with a straight stem or pin-like portion 123 at the extreme end of which is a ball or spherical member 124 formed integral therewith. The other member of this l lo ias

lifting yoke is a rigid member which is cuite similar to the yoke 60 illustrated in Figure 5 but which is illustrated on Figure l0 as having a socket 131 with an aperture 132 formed therein and through which the stem 123 of the swivel` member 120 is adapted to extend, as shown in Figure 9. d

is such that the neck or pin-like portion 123 and the spherical member 124 normally lie in a line drawn from the pivot rod 64 to,the contacting portion of the eye 121. I.

iFrom Figure 9 it will be noted that the swivel member is capable of telescoping or collapsing movement in the socket 131. This 4is for the purpose of allowing theswivel member 120' to move downwardly relative to the yoke member when the lifting frame 35 is retained in its elevated position and the lifting lever 32 is swung upwardly or the lifting link 79 released from the lifting lever 32 and allowed to rotate clockwise as viewed in Figure 9 about the pivot bolt 29 under the action of gravity.

. It will be noted that the aperture 132 is slightly larger than the stem 123, this being for the purpose of allowing the swivel member 120 to have some lateral movement relative to the yoke member 130, as well as for the purpose of allowing the parts 120 and 130 to telescope or collapse easily. 1t will also be noted that the depth of the socket 131 is only slightly more than equal to a radius-of the wallorl spherical end 124. This construction prevents any binding between the parts 120 and 130. f

As in the yoke shown in Figure 5, the yoke member 13() of Figurel() may be provided with strengthening flanges 137 if desirable.

Figure 7 also illustrates a modified form of latch or retaining means for holding the lifting frame 35 in its raised position. in this construction the lugs 14:0 extend upwardly a substantial amount and the latch 85 is provided with a downwardly extending arm 142 and has a stop pin 143 fixed therein. rThe stop pin 143 is adapted to contact with the underside -of` the-lugs thereby limit the downward movement of the latch 85, whereby the latter is held in a position best fitted to engage the roller S3 carried by bracket means on the lifting -frame.,l35. in this construction the bracket means includes a pair of lugs 145 which extend upwardly a greater distance than the corresponding lugs ofk the bracket 94 illustrated. in Figures 1 and 2.

While I'have described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that my invention is not limited to the specific structure shown but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the wider aspects of my invention. What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A lift truck comprising .thecombination cf wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame movably mounted on said wheeled supporting means, supporting and steering wheels for saidsupporting means, a king bolt journaled in the supporting means and on which the steering wheels are mounted, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt and pivoted to swing vertically, an apertured link operatively connected to the lifting frame to lift the same, and means on the lifting lever engaging the apertured end of said link, said means lying in line, with the axis of the king bolt and being so curved that when the lifting lever is swung a substantially verticalpull is exerted on the apertured end of the link substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the king bolt.

2,. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, a lifting frame movably on the main frame, supporting and steering wheels for the main frame, a king bolt journaled in the main frame and on which the steering wheels are mounted, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt and pivoted to swing vertically, an apertured .link operatively connected to the lifting frame to lift the same,.and means releasably secured to lthe lifting lever and having a curved portion passing through the aperture of saidlink to exert a direct pull on the link when the lifting lever is swung downwardly, the active area of said curved portion which contacts with the apertured link remaining in line with the axis of the king bolt, whereby the pull exerted on the link is always ina substantially vertical direction in line with the steering axis, said releasable means having a part extending substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the king bolt when the means 'is connected to or disconnected from the lifting lever and regardless of the position of the lifting lever.

3. A lift truck comprising the combination of wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame movably mounted on the wheeled supporting means,

supporting and steering wheels for said supporto ing means, a king bolt journaled in said supporting means and on which the steering wheels are mounted, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt and pivoted to swing vertically, and means supported only on the lifting lever and on the lifting frame and including a part curved in a generally horizontal plane and adapted to be engaged by said lifting lever whereby a downward movement of the lifting lever in any steering position is operative to raise the lifting frame.

4. A lift truck comprising the combination of l wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame movably .mounted on said supporting means, supporting and steering wheels for said supporting means, a king bolt journaled in said supporting 'i means, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt andpivoted to swing vertically, said lifting frame including a pair of side bars, link means having side members pivoted to the side bars at their rearward ends and having their forwardends extended to converge toward one another, a swivel member secured to the forward ends of the side i members substantially in 'the central vertical longitudinal plane of the truck, and means on the lifting lever engaging theswivel member to move .4 i.

the same when the lifting lever is swung downwardly in anysteering position.

5. A lift truck comprising the combination of wheeled supporting means, a lifting 'frame mounted on said supporting means to swing, supporting and steering wheels vfor said supporting means, a king bolt journaled in said supporting means, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt and pivoted to swing vertically,

said liftingy frame including a pair of side bars,

link means having side members pivoted to the side bars at their rearward ends and having their forward ends extended to converge toward one another, a swivel member secured to the forward ends of the side members, and having an eye positioned substantially in line with the pivotal axis of the king bolt, a member on the lifting lever and having a part embraced by the eye of said swivel, said part comprising a curved loop `so formed as to exert a pull on the swivel when the lifting lever is swung downwardly in any steering position.

6. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, a lifting frame mounted on the main frame, supporting and steering wheels for the main frame, a king bolt journaled in the frame, a lifting lever connected to the Ling bolt and pivoted to swing vertically, a yoke having a pair of arms respectively pivoted to the sides of the lifting frame, a swivel member having a ball and socket connection with the yoke, a substantially U-shaped member movable with the lifting lever` and loosely engaging the eye of the swivel member, said U-shaped member extending in such relation to the pivotal axis of the lifting lever on the king bolt that the lifting lever when swung downwardly in any steering position moves the swivel member to raise the lifting frame through the pivoted yoke.

7. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, a lifting frame movably mounted on the main frame, supporting and steering wheels for the main frame, a king bolt journaled in the main frame, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt and pivoted to swing vertically,

a yoke having a pair of arms pivoted to opposite sides of the lifting frame, and a boss intermediate the arms and providing a central socket portion, a swivel member having an eye at one end and an elongated stem and ball thereon at the other end, the ball adapted to seat in said socket, means connecting the swivel member to the lifting lever so that when the latter is swung downardly the lifting frame is elevated, and means to hold the lifting frame in elevated position, the stem allowing the ball to be moved out of seated engagement in the socket when the lifting lever is swung upwardly with the lifting frame in elevated position.

8. A lift truck comprising the combination of wheeled supporting means, supporting and steering wheels therefor, a lifting frame movably mounted on said supporting means, a king bolt journaled on said supporting means to turn about a substantially vertical axis, a lifting lever pivotaliy connected with the king bolt to turn therewith about its vertical axis and to swing vertlcally relatively thereto, forwardly extending lifting connections on the lifting frame, and means connecting the lifting connections with the lifting lever and having a curved portion so formed that the invert of the curve moves substantially in line with said vertical axis.

9. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, supporting and steering wheels therefor, a lifting frame movably mounted on the main frame, a king bolt journaled on the main frame to turn about a substantially vertical axis, a lifting lever pivotally connected with the king bolt to turn therewith about its vertical axis and to swing vertically relatively thereto, and connecting means between the lifting frame the lifting lever and including a link carried by the lifting frame and having an eye positioned above the king bolt and a second link connected to move with the lifting lever and having a curved portion received within said eye and so formed that the invert of tl e curve moves substantially in line with said vertical axis to raise the lifting frame when the lifting lever is actuated.

l0. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, supporting and steering wheels therefor, a lifting frame movably mounted on the main frame, a king bolt journaled in the main frame to turn about a substantially vertical axis, a

lifting lever pivotally connected with the king bolt to turn therewith about its vertical axis and to swing vertically relatively thereto, means to raise the lifting frame by the lifting lever and including a link connected to movewith the lifting frame and having an eye positioned above the king bolt and a second link connected to move with the lifting lever and having a curved portion received within said eye and so formed that the invert of the curve moves substantially in line with said vertical axis, said second link having a releasable connection with the lifting lever and also having a portion adapted when the second link is released to extend upwardly substantially in line with said vertical axis of the king bolt.

11. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, supporting and steering wheels therefor, a lifting frame movably mounted on the main frame, a king bolt journaled in the main frame to turn about a substantially vertical axis, means providing substantially cylindrical bearing surfaces at the upper end of the king bolt and cooperating downwardly diverging conical bearing surfaces at the lower end thereof for supporting the main frame on the king bolt, and means to elevate the lifting frame.

l2. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, supporting and steering wheels therefor, a lifting frame mounted on the main frame, a lifting lever, a king bolt journaled in the main frame, means pivotally connecting the lifting lever to the king bolt, releasable means pivoted to the lever above the king bolt, said releasable means comprising a curved yoke, and link means connecting the yoke directly to the lifting frame, said link means allowing the yoke to drop down when it is released while the lifting frame is in elevated position.

13. A lift truck comprising the combination of a main frame, supporting wheels therefor, a lifting frame movably mounted on the main frame, a lifting lever pivotally connected with the main frame to swing vertically relatively thereto, forwardly extending lifting connections for raising the lifting frame, and means connecting the lifting connections with the lifting lever, said means including a downwardly curved portion so formed that the invert of the curve moves substantially vertically.

14. A lift truck comprising the combination of wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame movably mounted on said wheeled supporting means, a supporting and steering wheels for said supporting means, a king bolt journaled in said supporting means, a lifting lever connected to the king bolt and pivoted to swing vertically, link means connected at one end to raise thev lifting frame and having at its other end a horizontally disposed eye positioned substantially in line with the pivotal axis of the king bolt, a member on the lifting lever having a part embraced by the eye of said link means, said part comprising a curved loop so formed as to exert a pull on the link means when the lifting lever is swung downwardly in any steering position.

ARTHUR M. BARRETT.

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