Rotatable grapple with individually actuated outriggers

Claim 1

In combination with the free end of a boom member, a grappling and stabilizing unit comprising an upper head attached to said boom member, a lower head rotatably mounted to said upper head, first power means for rotating said lower head relative to said upper head through an angle of at least 90* and to also at the same time rotate said lower head relative to said boom member, a pair of grapple jaws pivotally connected at their upper ends to said lower head for opening and closing movement, second power means carried by said lower head for actuating said jaws to provide said opening and closing movement, a pair of oppositely directed stabilizing outrigger arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to said lower head for movement at right angles to said grapple jaws so that said stabilizing arms are always oriented perpendicularly to said grapple jaws in all angular positions of said lower head, said pair of stabilizing arms constituting the only stabilizing arms in the combination, and third power means carried on said lower head for actuating said stabilizing arms, said third power means including a hydraulic ram for each arm operable independently of said first and second power means.