Container dumping apparatus

Claim 2

In a container lifting apparatus having a power operated lift device, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be lifted, a support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to the lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a central bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and the support shaft being mounted on the connecting clock for rotation within the bore, rotary actuator means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the support shaft, a generally L-shaped support arm swingably secured to the lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the support arm including a first leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the lift bar and a second leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg portion, and hydraulic motor means interconnected between the lift device and the support arm for swinging the support arm about the lift device.

Claim 3

In a container lifting apparatus having a power operated lift device, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be lifted, a support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to the lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a central bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and the support shaft being mounted on the connecting clock for rotation within the bore, rotary actuator means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the support shaft, a generally L-shaped support arm swingably secured to the lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the support arm including a first leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the lift bar and a second leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg portion, and hydraulic motor means interconnected between the lift device and the support arm for swinging the support arm about the lift device.

Claim 4

In a container lifting apparatus having a power operated lift device, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be lifted, a support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to the lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a central bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and the support shaft being mounted on the connecting clock for rotation within the bore, rotary actuator means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the support shaft, a generally L-shaped support arm swingably secured to the lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the support arm including a first leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the lift bar and a second leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg portion, and hydraulic motor means interconnected between the lift device and the support arm for swinging the support arm about the lift device.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the connecting block is provided with a shoulder extending transversely from the bore therethrough, the support shaft including a transversely enlarged head portion, the head portion of the shaft engaging the shoulder of the connecting block whereby the support shaft is supported by the connecting block.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 including thrust bearing means between the enlarged head portion of the supporting shaft and the shoulder of the connecting block.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 including lug means extending transversely from the head portion of the supporting shaft and stop means on the connecting block engageable with the lug means after predetermined rotation of the shaft in either direction.

Claim 8

In a container lifting apparatus having a power operated lift device, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be lifted, a support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to thE lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a central bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and the support shaft being mounted on the connecting block for rotation within the bore, rotary actuator means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the support shaft, the lift device including a pair of spaced-apart end portions, each of the end portions having a generally horizontally extending opening therethrough, the connecting block being received between the end portions of the lift device and having a pair of opposed generally horizontally inwardly extending recesses, each recess in the connecting block being aligned with the opening in one of the end portions of the lift device, a pair of spaced-apart plates extending transversely to the lift bar, each plate being positioned adjacent one of the end portions of the lift device and having a generally horizontally extending opening aligned with the opening in one of the end portions, a pair of generally horizontally extending trunnion pins, each trunnion pin extending through the aligned openings of a plate and an end portion into one of the recesses of the connecting block whereby the side plates, connecting block and lift device can swing relative to each other in a generally vertically extending plane, and an arm secured to the side plates and extending generally perpendicularly to the lift bar for engagement with the container to be lifted.

Claim 9

In a container lifting apparatus having a power operated lift device, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, means on each end of the lift bar for engaging a container to be lifted, a support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to thE lift device for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a central bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and the support shaft being mounted on the connecting block for rotation within the bore, rotary actuator means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the support shaft, the lift device including a pair of spaced-apart end portions, each of the end portions having a generally horizontally extending opening therethrough, the connecting block being received between the end portions of the lift device and having a pair of opposed generally horizontally inwardly extending recesses, each recess in the connecting block being aligned with the opening in one of the end portions of the lift device, a pair of spaced-apart plates extending transversely to the lift bar, each plate being positioned adjacent one of the end portions of the lift device and having a generally horizontally extending opening aligned with the opening in one of the end portions, a pair of generally horizontally extending trunnion pins, each trunnion pin extending through the aligned openings of a plate and an end portion into one of the recesses of the connecting block whereby the side plates, connecting block and lift device can swing relative to each other in a generally vertically extending plane, and an arm secured to the side plates and extending generally perpendicularly to the lift bar for engagement with the container to be lifted.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 including hydraulic motor means interconnected between the lift device and the arm for causing swinging movement of the arm and the side plates about the lift device.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rotary actuator means includes a hydraulic cylinder surrounding the support shaft and providing an internal fluid chamber, the hydraulic cylinder being provided with a pair of ports for introducing hydraulic fluid into the fluid chamber, a fluid supply conduit for each port for connecting the port to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, each fluid supply conduit having an internal passage of approximately the same size, and a bypass conduit interconnecting the fluid supply conduits and having an internal passage smaller than the internal passages of the fluid supply conduits.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 in which the bypass conduit includes an orifice-restricting plug having a central opening smaller than the internal passages of the fluid supply conduits.

Claim 13

In a container dumping apparatus having a power actuated lift boom, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging q container to be dumped, hydraulically operated piston means carried by the lift bar for moving the clamp means into and out of container-engaging position, a generally cylindrical support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to the lift boom for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a circular bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and a radially enlarged recess, the support shaft including a radially enlarged head portion engageable with the recess of the support block for supporting the support shaft within the connecting block, first hydraulic motor means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the shaft, a generally L-shaped support arm swingably secured to the lift boom for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the support arm including a first leg portion extending generally transversely to the lift bar and a second leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg portion, and second hydraulic motor means interconnecting the support arm and The lift boom for swinging the support arm about the lift boom.

Claim 14

In a container dumping apparatus having a power actuated lift boom, an elongated generally horizontally extending lift bar, clamp means on each end of the lift bar for engaging q container to be dumped, hydraulically operated piston means carried by the lift bar for moving the clamp means into and out of container-engaging position, a generally cylindrical support shaft secured to the central portion of the lift bar and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting block swingably secured to the lift boom for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the connecting block having a circular bore rotatably receiving the support shaft and a radially enlarged recess, the support shaft including a radially enlarged head portion engageable with the recess of the support block for supporting the support shaft within the connecting block, first hydraulic motor means carried by the connecting block and operatively connected to the support shaft for rotating the shaft whereby the lift bar can be rotated in a plane transverse to the shaft, a generally L-shaped support arm swingably secured to the lift boom for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane, the support arm including a first leg portion extending generally transversely to the lift bar and a second leg portion extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg portion, and second hydraulic motor means interconnecting the support arm and The lift boom for swinging the support arm about the lift boom.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the lift boom includes a pair of spaced-apart end portions, each of the end portions having a generally horizontally extending opening therethrough, the connecting block being received between the end portions of the lift boom and having a pair of opposed generally horizontally inwardly extending recesses, each inwardly extending recess in the connecting block being aligned with the opening of one of the end portions of the lift boom, a pair of generally horizontally extending trunnion pins, each trunnion pin extending through the opening of one of the end portions of the lift boom into one of the recesses of the connecting block whereby the connecting block can swing relative to the lift boom in a generally vertically extending plane.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the lift boom includes a pair of spaced-apart end portions, each of the end portions having a generally horizontally extending opening therethrough, the connecting block being received between the en portions of the lift boom and having a pair of opposed generally horizontally inwardly extending recesses, each inwardly extending recess in the connecting block being aligned with the opening in one of the end portions of the lift boom, a pair of spaced-apart plates extending transversely to the lift bar, each plate being positioned adjacent the outside of one of the end portion of the lift boom and having a generally horizontally extending opening aligned with the opening in one of the end portions, a pair of generally horizontally extending trunnion pins, each trunnion pin extending through the aligned opening of a plate and an end portion of the lift boom into one of the inwardly extending recesses of the connecting block whereby the side plates, connecting block and lift boom can swing relative to each other in a generally vertically extending plane, the support arm being secured to the side plates for movement therewith.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the first hydraulic motor means includes a a hydraulic cylinder surrounding the support shaft and providing an internal fluid chamber, the hydraulic cylinder being provided with a pair of ports for introducing hydraulic fluid into the fluid chamber, a fluid supply conduit for each port for connecting the port to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, each fluid supply conduit having an internal passage of approximately the same size, and a bypass conduit interconnecting the fluid supply conduits and having an internal passage smaller than the internal passages of the fluid supply conduits.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 in which the bypass conduit includes an orifice-restricting plug having a central opening smaller than the internal passages of the fluid supply conduits.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 9 in which the second hydraulic motor includes a hydraulic cylinder and an extendible piston, one end of the second hydraulic motor being pivotally connected to the lift boom and the other end of the hydraulic member being pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of an elongated link, one end of the link being pivotally connected to the lift device and the other end of the link being pivotally connected to the side plates.