US3409157A - Hold down apparatus for material handling carriages - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 5, 1968 LE GRAND H.- LULL HOLD DOWN APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL HANDLING CARRIAGES 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 9, 1965 INVENTOR. LEGRA/VD CH LULL ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 LE GRAND H. LULL. 3,4

HOLD DOWN APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL HANDLING CARRIAGES Filed March 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEGRA/VD H LULL United States Patent 3,409,157 HOLD DOWN APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL HANDLING CARRIAGES Le Grand H. Lull, 5501 Woodlawn Blvd., Minneapolis, Minn. 55417 FiledMar. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 438,427 10 Claims. (Cl. 214-654) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A forklift load handling carriage provided with flexible cable or chain hold down means which can be tightened down over irregularly sized and shaped loads such as logs or poles or the like to hold them securely in place.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for material handling; in particular, it concerns improved apparatus of this type including flexible elongated tension member means for engaging and holding loads upon a carriage.

The general object of the invention is to improve material handling carriage of the type used for handling and sorting logs, pole and other articles. Other objects of the invention are: to provide an improved hold down apparatus for material handling carriages whereby to enhance the versatility of the carriage and permit it to handle loads efficiently without regard to their size or shape; to provide apparatus of this type including elongated flexible tension member and associated power means adapted to securely hold a load; to provide in apparatus of this type improved means for mounting said tension member means upon a load handling carriage for coaction with the lift arms and hold down clamps forming part of the carriage; to provide in apparatus of this type improved means for guiding and supporting said tension member for movement towards and away from the lift arms of the carriage whereby to hold or release a load; and in general to provide an improved hold down apparatus for material handling carriages which is highly versatile and dependable in operation, simple and inexpensive to construct, and rugged and long wearing in service.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent lfI'OIIl a consideration of the followng detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a material handling carriage incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention with the hold down clamps in a raised position;

FIG. 4 is a side view with the hold down clamps in a lowered position and the chain members in a relaxed position;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the chain members tightened against a load;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, partially in section, taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. ll is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

Briefly speaking, according to the principles of the invention, I provide a material handling carriage of the type adapted for handling and sorting logs, poles and the like. The carriage includes a frame having a pair of forwardly extending lift arms or forks and a pair of hold down clamps which are pivotally mounted on the frame over the forks. In order to improve the versatility of this carriage to permit handling of small and irregular shaped loads, I have equipped it wit-h a pair of load engaging chain members each of which is suspended between the end of one of the hold down clamps and the frame. Each chain is adjustably mounted so that its suspended length can be varied to accommodate different loads. To effect tightening of the chains over a load placed on the lift arms I provide hydraulically actuated guide members which are mounted on the frame between the ends of each chain and in surrounding sliding engagement therewith. The guide members move in directions towards and away from the lift arms so that the chains are tightened over a load when the guide members move towards the lift arms and loosened when the guide members move away from the lift arms. The ends of the chains are pivotally supported.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown in FIGURE 1 as part of a material handling carriage 10 of the type used for handling and sorting logs and poles. Carriage 10 includes a rear frame 12 adapted for attachment to the boom of a mobile loader. Frame 12 includes side plates 14, 15 welded to vertical tubular members 16, 17 which are connected by laterally extending structural members 18. A pair of forwardly extending lift arms 20, 22 are mounted on frame 12 in laterally spaced relation to each other and adjacent side plates 14, 15. The tubular members 16, 17 extend above structural members 18. Pivotally secure to tubular members 16, 17 are hold down clamps 24, 26 which are connected at their rear to brackets 28, 30 attached to members 16, 17. Hold down clamps 24, 26 each include a straight section 27 extending from brackets 28, 30, and a downwardly and forwardly curved end section 29. Hydraulic power cylinders 32, 34 pivotally connected at their rear ends to brackets 36, 38 on members 16, 17 above side plates 14, 15 and at their forward ends, as at 35, to the straight sections 27 of hold down clamps 24, 26 actuate the clamps for movement about their pivot axes from a raised position to a lower load clamping position.

The foregoing describes a conventional carriage for loaders; my invention concerns means for holding a load on the lift arms which because of its size or shape could not be properly held by the clamps alone. To this end I provide a pair of load engaging chains 40, 42 which are secured at one end to the forward section 29 of clamps 24, 26 and at the other end to structure rearwardly of frame 12. A pin 44 removably mounted in one of three holes 46 in section 29 of clamps 24, 26 pivotally anchors the forward ends of chains 40, 42. The rear ends of chains 40, 42 are each held in a mounting plate 50 which is swingably mounted on a bracket member 52 extending rearwardly from members 16, 17 slightly below brackets 28, 30. Each mounting plate 50 is connected to its bracket member 52 by a pin 54 which extends laterally through both parts 50, 52 to permit plate 50 to swing in an are about the axis of pin 54. Below pin 54 plate 50 is provided with a hole 56 of larger radial extent than the thickness of chains 40, 42. Hole 56 communicates at its lower end with an elongated chain link notch 58. This construction allows the length of chain that is suspended between pin 44 and plate 50 to be adjusted according to the load. To do this the chain is run through the hole 56 until a particular length is reached, then the link 57 corresponding to this length is placed in notch 58 and held against endwise movement by the adjacent links 59 which abut on each side of plate 50 adjacent notch 58 when the towards and away from the lift arms 20, 22. The mounting means for each guide members 60 consists of an elongated bed 62 which extends generally upwardly on side plates 14, 15 from a position substantially adjacent the heel of lift arms 20, 22, as at 64. Each bed 62 includes a slotted way 66 which extends throughout its length. Guide members 60 each include a box-like body having sides 61, 63 which are connected at their top and bottom by semicircular chain engaging members 65 and 67. Side 63 is provided with an external rib 71 which slidably reciprocates in way 66 of bed 62. Members 65 and 67 are mounted between sides 61, 63 of each guide member 60 with their convex surfaces 68 facing each other to form bearing surfaces for the chains 40, 42 which extend through the throat 69 in each guide member 60. The upper chain engaging member 65 of each guide member 60 is connected to the end of a piston rod 70 of hydraulic power cylinders 72 which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to brackets 36, 38 of frame 12, as at 73.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 and 10, when a load of logs or poles are placed on the lift arms 20, 22 and held by the clamps 24, 26, chains 40, 42 can be moved by the guide members 60 from a loosely suspended position above the load into a tightening position firmly biased against the load. Because the slack removed from the chains is taken up adjacent the rear of the lift arms virtually the entire chain length can be brought to bear against the load. The flexible nature of the chains 40, 42 permits them to conform to the shape of the load; considerable pressure may be exerted by the cylinders 72 to hold the logs or poles in place even though there may be space between the clamps and the load. Cylinders 72 are in a hydraulic circuit and under the control of any suitable operator controlled valve mechanism (not shown) which in known manner permits introduction of pressure fluid to one of the ends of each cylinder while exhausting from the other and which permits retention of fluid in both ends of the cylinders to hold their pistons 70 in any desired set position. Thus, through the action of cylinders 72, the chains 40, 42 may be moved in directions towards or away from the lift arms 20, 22 whereby to either release a load or exert tightening pressure thereagainst.

It is evident that changes within the skill of those versed in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In many instances features may be added; in other, features may be omitted. It is clear that modifications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art and where the same or similar results may be achieved by the use of equivalents, substitution of the equivalent may be made without departing from the inventive concept.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in the appended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

I claim:

1. In a material handling carriage including a frame, forwardly extending lift arm means carried by said frame, forwardly and downwardly extending hold down clamping means pivotally mounted on said frame above said lift arm means, the combination of:

flexible elongated tension member means one end of which is secured to the forward end of said hold down clamping means and the other end of which is secured to said frame,

guide means slidably surrounding said tension member means intermediate the ends thereof between its points of attachment to the .hold down clamping means and frame and mounted on said frame for movements in directions towards and away from said lift arm means, and

power means mounted on said frame and operable for moving said guide means towards said lift arm means to tighten said tension member means over a load carried by said lift arm means and said hold down clamping means.

2. The combination described in claim 1 wherein means are provided for changing the length of said tension member means.

3. The combination described in claim 1 wherein said hold down clamping means is provided with means for adjusting the mounting position of said tension member suspended thereon.

4. The combination described in claim 1 wherein said tension member is pivotally supported at each end.

5. In a material handling carriage including a frame, a pair of forwardly extending lift arms carried by said frame, a pair of forwardly and downwardly extending hold down clamps pivotally mounted on said frame above said lift arms for load clamping coaction therewith, the combination of:

a chain member, one end of which is secured to the front end of each hold down clamp and the other end of which is secured to said frame in generally overlying relationship to said lift arms,

a hollow tubular guide member slidably surrounding each of said chain members intermediate its ends between its points of attachment to the hold down clamp and frame,

each said hollow guide members being mounted on said frame for movements in directions towards and away from said lift arms,

said guide and chain members coacting so as to effect the tightening of said chain members over a load held between said lift arms and said hold down clamps when said guide members are moved towards said lift arms, and

power means mounted on said frame and operable to move said guide members towards and away from said lift arms.

6. The combination described in claim 5 wherein means are provided for adjusting the length of said suspended chain members.

7. The combination described in claim 5 wherein said hold down clamps are provided with means for adjusting the mounting position of said chain members suspended thereon.

8. The combination described in claim 5 wherein said chain members are each pivotally supported at their ends.

9. In a material handling carriage including a frame, forwardly extending lift arm means carried by said frame, forwardly and downwardly extending hold down clamping means pivotally mounted on said frame above said lift arm means, the combination of:

flexible elongated tension member means suspended between the forward end of said hold down clamping means and said frame,

guide means slidably surrounding said tension member means intermediate the ends thereof and mounted on said frame for movements in directions towards and away from said lift arm means,

said guide means including bed means mounted on said frame and extending upwardly from said lift arm means, and hollow guide member means slidably mounted for reciprocal movement in said bed means,

said guide means when moved towards said lift arm means being adapted to tighten said tension member means over a load carried by said lift arm means and said hold down clamping means, and

power means operable to move said guide means in directions towards and away from said lift arm means.

10. The combination described in claim 9 wherein said 3,409,157 a 5 6 power means includes power cylinder means connected FOREIGN PATENTS between said hollow guide member means and said frame. 785,402 10/1957 Great Britain References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 R. B. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner. 3,120,898 2/1964 Eaves 214-654 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

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