Patent US5419323A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3645359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for automatically maintaining the angular position of an aerial platform used in conjunction with a boom
Assignee: REACH ALL Mfg CO
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Filing: 1970-08-13
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-08-13
Abstract
Abstract Hydraulic apparatus for maintaining the angular position of an operator basket on the end of a three-section articulated boom is disclosed. A double acting hydraulic cylinder and rack and pinion are associated with each pivot point on the boom, including the pivot point between the operator basket and the end of the boom, such that rotational movement of any or all joints in the boom causes a corresponding movement of hydraulic fluid at all joints. The double-acting cylinders are interconnected, major area to major area and minor area to minor area, such that a net rotation of the boom sections about the joints of the boom provides a net amount of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder associated with the basket to thus rotate the basket according to the net amount of rotation of the boom sections to thus maintain the angular position of the basket with respect to a fixed reference.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Raymond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:15
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F11/00; B66F11/04; B66F11/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
581 words
In a boom having a boom arm pivotally arranged with respect to a fixed reference and an aerial platform by pivots, apparatus for automatically maintaining the aerial platform in a fixed angular position with respect to the fixed reference, comprising: at least two double-acting hydraulic cylinders, each including a first fluid port, a second fluid port, a hydraulic piston, and a piston shaft connected to the hydraulic piston, fluid flow into the first fluid port and linear motion of the hydraulic piston and the connected shaft in a first linear direction being proportional, and fluid flow into the second fluid port and linear motion of the hydraulic piston and the connected shaft in a second linear direction being proportional, and the corresponding movements of the hydraulic pistons of the hydraulic cylinders causing a displacement of a corresponding amount of hydraulic fluid; first rack-and pinion means with the first pinion means connected to the pivot of the boom arm adjacent the fixed reference, and with the first rack means attached to the first hydraulic piston of the first hydraulic cylinder by means of the first shaft; means for mounting the first hydraulic cylinder in a manner that angular rotation of the boom arm with respect to the fixed reference causes angular rotation of the first pinion means with respect to the first rack means to linearly move the first rack means and the connected first hydraulic piston a distance proportional to the rotation of the boom arm with respect to the fixed reference; second rack-andpinion means with the second pinion means connected to the pivot of the boom arm adjacent the aerial platform and with the second rack means attached to the second hydraulic piston of the second hydraulic cylinder by means of the second shaft; means for mounting the second hydraulic cylinder in a manner that linear movement of the second hydraulic piston, the attached piston shaft and second rack means, causes rotational movement of the second pinion means with respect to the second rack means of an angular distance proportionAl to the linear movement of the second hydraulic piston to rotate the aerial platform an angular distance proportional to the linear movement of the second hydraulic piston; first hydraulic fluid conduit having a first end connected to the first fluid port of the first hydraulic cylinder and having a second end connected to the first hydraulic port of the second hydraulic cylinder to convey hydraulic fluid between the first ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders; second hydraulic fluid conduit having a first end connected to the second fluid port of the first hydraulic cylinder and having a second end connected to the second hydraulic port of the second hydraulic cylinder to convey hydraulic fluid between the second ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders whereby angular rotation of boom arm with respect to the fixed reference causes movement of the first rackand-pinion means, which causes movement of the first hydraulic piston, which causes hydraulic fluid to be transferred between the first hydraulic cylinder and the second cylinder, which causes linear movement of the second hydraulic piston, which causes movement of the second rack-and-pinion means, which causes a change in the angular position of the aerial platform with respect to the fixed reference which change is proportional to the angular positional change of the boom arm with respect to the fixed reference to thereby maintain the angular position of the aerial platform with respect to the fixed reference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
581 words
In a boom having a boom arm pivotally arranged with respect to a fixed reference and an aerial platform by pivots, apparatus for automatically maintaining the aerial platform in a fixed angular position with respect to the fixed reference, comprising: at least two double-acting hydraulic cylinders, each including a first fluid port, a second fluid port, a hydraulic piston, and a piston shaft connected to the hydraulic piston, fluid flow into the first fluid port and linear motion of the hydraulic piston and the connected shaft in a first linear direction being proportional, and fluid flow into the second fluid port and linear motion of the hydraulic piston and the connected shaft in a second linear direction being proportional, and the corresponding movements of the hydraulic pistons of the hydraulic cylinders causing a displacement of a corresponding amount of hydraulic fluid; first rack-and pinion means with the first pinion means connected to the pivot of the boom arm adjacent the fixed reference, and with the first rack means attached to the first hydraulic piston of the first hydraulic cylinder by means of the first shaft; means for mounting the first hydraulic cylinder in a manner that angular rotation of the boom arm with respect to the fixed reference causes angular rotation of the first pinion means with respect to the first rack means to linearly move the first rack means and the connected first hydraulic piston a distance proportional to the rotation of the boom arm with respect to the fixed reference; second rack-andpinion means with the second pinion means connected to the pivot of the boom arm adjacent the aerial platform and with the second rack means attached to the second hydraulic piston of the second hydraulic cylinder by means of the second shaft; means for mounting the second hydraulic cylinder in a manner that linear movement of the second hydraulic piston, the attached piston shaft and second rack means, causes rotational movement of the second pinion means with respect to the second rack means of an angular distance proportionAl to the linear movement of the second hydraulic piston to rotate the aerial platform an angular distance proportional to the linear movement of the second hydraulic piston; first hydraulic fluid conduit having a first end connected to the first fluid port of the first hydraulic cylinder and having a second end connected to the first hydraulic port of the second hydraulic cylinder to convey hydraulic fluid between the first ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders; second hydraulic fluid conduit having a first end connected to the second fluid port of the first hydraulic cylinder and having a second end connected to the second hydraulic port of the second hydraulic cylinder to convey hydraulic fluid between the second ports of the first and second hydraulic cylinders whereby angular rotation of boom arm with respect to the fixed reference causes movement of the first rackand-pinion means, which causes movement of the first hydraulic piston, which causes hydraulic fluid to be transferred between the first hydraulic cylinder and the second cylinder, which causes linear movement of the second hydraulic piston, which causes movement of the second rack-and-pinion means, which causes a change in the angular position of the aerial platform with respect to the fixed reference which change is proportional to the angular positional change of the boom arm with respect to the fixed reference to thereby maintain the angular position of the aerial platform with respect to the fixed reference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
416 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the boom arm includes at least two sections, the first section having one end pivotally arranged with respect to the fixed reference and a second end pivotally arranged with respect to the first end of the second section by a pivot, and the second section having a second end pivotally arranged with respect to the aerial platform, wherein the apparatus further includes; at least one additional doubld acting hydraulic cylinder including a first fluid port, a second fluid port, a hydraulic piston, and a piston shaft connected to the hydraulic piston, fluid flow into the first fluid port and linear motion of the hydraulic piston and the connecting shaft in the first linear direction being proportional, and fluid flow into the second fluid port and linear motion of the hydraulic piston and the connecting shaft in the second linear direction being proportional, and movements of the third hydraulic piston of the third hydraulic cylinder corresponding to movements of the first and second hydraulic cylinders causing a displacement of a corresponding amount of hydraulic fluid; third rack-and-pinion means with the third pinion means connected to the pivot of the first section and the second section, and with the third rack means attached to the third hydraulic piston of the third hydraulic cylinder by means of the third shaft; means for mounting the third hydraulic cylinder in a manner that angular rotation of the first section with respect to the second section causes angular rotation of the third pinion means with respect to the third rack means to linearly move the third rack means and the connected third hydraulic piston a distance proportional to the rotation of the first section with respect to the second section; third hydraulic fluid conduit having a first end connected to the first fluid port of the third hydraulic cylinder and having a second end fluidically connected to the first hydraulic fluid conduit; fourth hydraulic fluid conduit having a first end connected to the second fluid port of the third hydraulic cylinder and having a second end fluidically connected to the second hydraulic fluid conduit, rotation of any boom section causing a flow of a corresponding amount of hydraulic fluid, any net hydraulic fluid being forced into the second hydraulic cylinder to change the angular position of the aerial platform through the second rack-and-pinion means an amount proportional to the net hydraulic fluid and thus an amount proportional to the net angular rotaTion of the boom sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one rack-and-pinion means comprises gear means and roller chain means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
257 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the rack-and-pinion means comprises: a channel member having first and second ends, the channel member arranged to receive a piston shaft for connecting the rack-and-pinion means to a hydraulic piston; spur gear means; first roller chain means having a first end fixed to the circumference of the spur gear means and having a second end connected with a first end of the channel member in a manner to maintain the first roller chain means in engagement with the teeth of the spur gear means over at least a portion of the circumference of the spur gear means; second roller chain means having a first end fixed to the circumference of the spur gear means and having a second end connected to the second end of the channel member in a manner to maintain the second roller chain means engagement with the teeth of the spur gear means over at least a portion of the circumference of the spur gear means for causing the first roller chain to pull the channel in a first linear direction upon rotation of the spur gear means in a first angular direction and for causing the second roller chain means to pull the channel in a second linear direction upon the rotation of the spur gear means in a second angular direction for changing the rotational movement of the spur gear means into a linear movement of the channel to thereby cause linear motion of the hydraulic piston upon the rotation of the spur gear means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the boom sections are at least partially pivotally arranged with respect to one another by means of a pivot pin, and wherein the spur gear means comprises first and second spur gears immovably attached to the pivot pins in parallel relation, the first roller chain being attached to the first spur gear and the second roller chain being attached to the second spur gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein hydraulic controls are positioned adjacent the aerial platform for allowing an operator to manipulate the angular position of the aerial platform with respect to the fixed reference in a manner to override the automatic positioning apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least one rack-and-pinion means comprises gear means and roller chain means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
258 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rack-and-pinion means comprises: a channel member having a first and second end, the channel member arranged to receive a piston shaft for connecting the rack-and-pinion means to a hydraulic piston; spur gear means; first roller chain means having a first end fixed to the circumference of the spur gear means and having a second end connected with a first end of the channel member in a manner to maintain the first roller chain means in engagement with the teeth of the spur gear means over at least a portion of the circumference of the spur gear means; second roller chain means having a first end fixed to the circumference of the spur gear means and having a second end connected to the second end of the channel member in a manner to maintain the second roller chain means engagement with the teeth of the spur gear means over at least a portion of the circumference of the spur gear means for causing the first roller chain to pull the channel in a first linear direction upon rotation of the spur gear means in a first angular direction and for causing the second roller chain means to pull the channel in a second linear direction upon the rotation of the spur gear means in a second angular direction for changing the rotational movement of the spur gear means into a linear movement of the channel to thereby cause linear motion of the hydraulic piston upon the rotation of the spur gear means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spur gear means comprises first and second spur gears immovably attached to the pivot pins in parallel relation, the first roller chain being atTached to the first spur gear and the second roller chain being attached to the second spur gear.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim l, wherein hydraulic controls are positioned adjacent the aerial platform for allowing an operator to manipulate the angular position of the aerial platform with respect to the fixed reference in a manner to override the automatic positioning apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2616768A
Cited
US2606078A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |