Container-dumping apparatus

Claim 2

In a container dumping apparatus having a hydraulically operated lift device, a grapple swingable mounted on the lift device for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, said grapple including an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar and a generally L-shaped support arm, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be dumped, first hydraulically operated piston means for moving said clamp means into and out of a container-engaging position, said support arm having a base portion extending generally perpendicularly from said lift bar and a leg portion extending generally downwardly from the base portion, second hydraulically operated piston means mounted on said lift device above said grapple for rotating the grapple about a generally horizontal axis to move the leg portion of the support arm from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position whereby the contents of the container may be dumped while said leg portion supports the container along a container side.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 including an uppeR plate secured to said support arm and a lower plate secured to said lift bar, and pin means between said upper and lower plates rotatably secured to each plate whereby said lower plate and said lift bar may rock with respect to said upper plate.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 including spring means between said plates for normally maintaining the plates generally parallel.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second piston means includes a hydraulic cylinder and a piston received by said cylinder and extending therefrom, first and second elongated links, each of said first and second links having one end thereof pivotally connected to the lift device, a third elongated link, each end of the third link being pivotally connected to the other end of one of the first and second links, one of said cylinder and piston being pivotally connected to said first link intermediate the ends thereof and the other of said cylinder and piston being pivotally connected to the lift device, said piston being extendible from the cylinder to pivot the first and second links downwardly about their pivot connections to the lift device, one of said second and third links being engageable with said grapple to swing the grapple about the pivot connection thereof with the lift device.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 including an upper plate secured to said support arm and a lower plate secured to said lift bar, and pin means between said upper and lower plates rotatably secured to each plate whereby said lower plate and said lift bar may rock with respect to said upper plate.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 including spring means between said plates for normally maintaining the plates generally parallel.

Claim 8

In a container dumping apparatus having a hydraulically operated lift device, a grapple swingably mounted on the lift device, said grapple including an elongated generally horizontally extending hollow lift bar and a generally L-shaped support arm, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be dumped, first hydraulically operated piston means for moving said clamp means into and out of a container-engaging position, said first piston means including a piston within said lift bar adjacent each end thereof, said support arm having a base portion extending generally perpendicularly from said lift bar and a leg portion extending generally downwardly from the base portion, second hydraulically operated piston means mounted on said lift device above said grapple for swinging said lift bar and said support arm about the lift device to bring said leg portion to a generally horizontal position whereby the contents of the container may be dumped while said leg portion supports the container along a container side.

Claim 9

In a container dumping apparatus having a hydraulically operated lift device, a grapple swingably mounted on the lift device, said grapple including an elongated generally horizontally extending hollow lift bar and a generally L-shaped support arm, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be dumped, first hydraulically operated piston means for moving said clamp means into and out of a container-engaging position, said first piston means including a piston within said lift bar adjacent each end thereof, said support arm having a base portion extending generally perpendicularly from said lift bar and a leg portion extending generally downwardly from the base portion, second hydraulically operated piston means mounted on said lift device above said grapple for swinging said lift bar and said support arm about the lift device to bring said leg portion to a generally horizontal position whereby the contents of the container may be dumped while said leg portion supports the container along a container side.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 in which each of said clamp means includes an elongated clamping arm pivotally mounted at the upper end thereof to the lift bar and link means operatively connecting the first piston means to each of the clamping arms whereby said clamping arms may be pivoted toward and away from the lift bar.

Claim 11

In a container dumping apparatus having a hydraulically operated lift device, a grapple swingably mounted on the lift device, said grapple including an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar and a generally L-shaped support arm, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be dumped, first hydraulically operated piston means for moving said clamp means into and out of a container-engaging position, said support arm having a base portion extending generally perpendicularly from said lift bar and a leg portion extending generally downwardly from the base portion, second hydraulically operated piston means mounted on said lift device above said grapple for swinging said lift bar and said support arm about the lift device to bring said leg portion to a generally horizontal position whereby the contents of the container may be dumped while said leg portion supports the container along a container side, The second piston means including a hydraulic cylinder and a piston received by said cylinder and extending therefrom, a first elongated link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the lift device and the other end thereof pivotally connected to one end of a second link, the other end of said second link being pivotally secured to said support arm, one of cylinder and piston being pivotally connected to said first link intermediate the ends thereof and the other of said cylinder and piston being pivotally connected to the lift device, said piston being extendible from the cylinder to pivot the first link downwardly and swing the support arm and lift bar about the lift device.

Claim 12

In a container dumping apparatus having a hydraulically operated lift device, a grapple swingably mounted on the lift device, said grapple including an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar and a generally L-shaped support arm, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be dumped, first hydraulically operated piston means for moving said clamp means into and out of a container-engaging position, said support arm having a base portion extending generally perpendicularly from said lift bar and a leg portion extending generally downwardly from the base portion, second hydraulically operated piston means mounted on said lift device above said grapple for swinging said lift bar and said support arm about the lift device to bring said leg portion to a generally horizontal position whereby the contents of the container may be dumped while said leg portion supports the container along a container side, The second piston means including a hydraulic cylinder and a piston received by said cylinder and extending therefrom, a first elongated link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the lift device and the other end thereof pivotally connected to one end of a second link, the other end of said second link being pivotally secured to said support arm, one of cylinder and piston being pivotally connected to said first link intermediate the ends thereof and the other of said cylinder and piston being pivotally connected to the lift device, said piston being extendible from the cylinder to pivot the first link downwardly and swing the support arm and lift bar about the lift device.