Sequenced crane boom

Claim 2

In a telescoping boom having an outer fixed section and intermediate and inner sections that are extended and retracted by hydraulic cylinders, each of said hydraulic cylinders being connected at one end to the boom section to be extended and at the other end to the next radially outermost boom section, each cylinder including two sets of diametrically opposed lugs disposed to receive a pin between them, and means on said booms defining bosses for retaining pins received between the said lugs, said lugs cooperating with said pins and bosses to transmit the cylinder forces to the boom sections for extension and retraction.

Claim 3

In an extensible boom of the type having a tubular base section, a tubular mid section slidably received in said base section, a tubular inner section slidably received in said mid section, first hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected to base section and disposed in said base and mid sections, second hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected at one end to said mid section and disposed in said mid and inner sections, the improvement which comprises laterally spaced lug means radially disposed on opposite sides of each of said cylinders, means defining alignable openings in said base and in said mid and inner boom sections, first pin means insertable through the apertures in said mid section when in alignment and between said lug means of said first cylinder connecting said first cylinder in driving engagement with said mid section, and second pin means insertable through the apertures in said inner section and between said lug means of said second cylinder to connect said second cylinder in driving relation with said inner section.

Claim 4

In an extensible boom of the type having a tubular base section, a tubular mid section slidably received in said base section, a tubular inner section slidably received in said mid section, first hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected to base section and disposed in said base and mid sections, second hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected at one end to said mid section and disposed in said mid and inner sections, the improvement which comprises laterally spaced lug means radially disposed on opposite sides of each of said cylinders, means defining alignable openings in said base and in said mid and inner boom sections, first pin means insertable through the apertures in said mid section when in alignment and between said lug means of said first cylinder connecting said first cylinder in driving engagement with said mid section, and second pin means insertable through the apertures in said inner section and between said lug means of said second cylinder to connect said second cylinder in driving relation with said inner section.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 6 including an auxiliary section slidably received in said inner section and disposed in a surrounding relationship to said second cylinder connector means secured to the outward end of said cylinder, third removable pin means insertable through alignable openings in said connector means and said auxiliary section; and retaining means for retaining said second pin means in a partially inserted position in the aligned apertures of said base, mid and inner sections but out of engagement with said lugs whereby said base, mid and inner sections are locked together and said lugs on said second cylinder are disengaged whereby energization of said second cylinder causes extension of said auxiliary section.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lateral spacing between said lugs is defined by straight vertical surfaces and said pin means vertically receivable therein have a diameter less than said spacing to permit relative sliding and tilting motion between said lugs and said pin means upon deflection of the boom under load.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each cylinder includes a casing and a rod and wherein said lugs are located at the rear portion of each casing.

Claim 8

In a telescoping boom having concentric sections including an outer fixed section and intermediate and inner sections that are extended and retracted by hydraulic cylinders, each of said hydraulic cylinder being connected at one end by pin means to the boom section to be extended and at the other end to the next radially outermost boom section, wherein the improvement comprises an extendible auxiliary boom section within said inner section, pin and aperture means effective to alternately lock said inner and auxiliary sections together when said auxiliary section is either in a fully extended position or in a fully retracted position, said pin and aperture means also being effective to connect the hydraulic cylinder associated with said inner section to the auxiliary section for extension and retraction thereof, and the pin means associated with said inner section being movable to a position where the associated hydraulic cylinder is disconnected therefrom and said inner, intermediate and outer sections are locked together.

Claim 9

In a telescoping boom having concentric sections including an outer fixed section and intermediate and inner sections that are extended and retracted by hydraulic cylinders, each of said hydraulic cylinder being connected at one end by pin means to the boom section to be extended and at the other end to the next radially outermost boom section, wherein the improvement comprises an extendible auxiliary boom section within said inner section, pin and aperture means effective to alternately lock said inner and auxiliary sections together when said auxiliary section is either in a fully extended position or in a fully retracted position, said pin and aperture means also being effective to connect the hydraulic cylinder associated with said inner section to the auxiliary section for extension and retraction thereof, and the pin means associated with said inner section being movable to a position where the associated hydraulic cylinder is disconnected therefrom and said inner, intermediate and outer sections are locked together.

Claim 14

In a telescoping boom having an outer fixed section and at least movable intermediate and inner boom sections, means for connecting a first power cylinder between the outer and intermediate boom sections for extending the latter, means for connecting a second power cylinder between the intermediate and inner boom sections for extending the latter, each of the cylinders including telescoping rod and case elements defining cavities effective to cause extension and retraction of the cylinders in reponse to fluid pressure, fluid supply means for directing fluid under pressure successively through the first and second cylinders, latch means for preventing extension of the intermediate boom section until the inner boom section has been extended, sequencing valve means interconnecting the extension cavities of the cylinders for preventing fluid flow from the extension cavity of the second cylinder to the extension cavity of the first cylinder in response to fluid pressure in the retraction cavities of the cylinders until said first cylinder has been substantially completely retracted, said cylinder connecting means for each cylinder includes diametrically opposed sets of spaced lugs disposed to receive vertical pins between them, and means on said movable boom sections defining bosses for retaining said vertical pins and for cooperating with said pins and lugs to transmit extension and retraction forces between said boom sections cylinders and latch means.

Claim 15

In a telescoping boom having an outer fixed section and at least movable intermediate and inner boom sections, means for connecting a first power cylinder between the outer and intermediate boom sections for extending the latter, means for connecting a second power cylinder between the intermediate and inner boom sections for extending the latter, each of the cylinders including telescoping rod and case elements defining cavities effective to cause extension and retraction of the cylinders in reponse to fluid pressure, fluid supply means for directing fluid under pressure successively through the first and second cylinders, latch means for preventing extension of the intermediate boom section until the inner boom section has been extended, sequencing valve means interconnecting the extension cavities of the cylinders for preventing fluid flow from the extension cavity of the second cylinder to the extension cavity of the first cylinder in response to fluid pressure in the retraction cavities of the cylinders until said first cylinder has been substantially completely retracted, said cylinder connecting means for each cylinder includes diametrically opposed sets of spaced lugs disposed to receive vertical pins between them, and means on said movable boom sections defining bosses for retaining said vertical pins and for cooperating with said pins and lugs to transmit extension and retraction forces between said boom sections cylinders and latch means.

Claim 16

The boom of claim 9 wherein said spacing between said lugs is defined by straight vertical surfaces, and said vertical pins have a diameter less than said spacing for permitting relative sliding motion between said lugs and said vertical pins upon deflection of the boom under load.

Claim 17

The boom of claim 9 wherein said lugs are located on the rear portion of the cylinder case elements.

Claim 18

The boom of claim 9 wherein an auxiliary boom section is telescopingly received within said inner boom section, a seT of apertures in said outer intermediate and inner boom sections in alignment for inserting said vertical pins associated with said second cylinder when said boom sections are retracted, connector means secured to the outward end of said second cylinder, alignable openings in said connector means auxiliary and inner boom sections, a first removable pin insertable through alignable openings in said connector means and said auxiliary section to drivingly connect said second cylinder to said axuiliary boom section, and retaining means for retaining said vertical pins in a partially inserted position to disengage said second cylinder and lock said inner intermediate and outer boom sections together.

Claim 19

The boom of claim 12 wherein a second removable pin is insertable in alignable openings to lock said inner and auxiliary boom sections together when said auxiliary section is either in an extended or retracted position.

Claim 20

In a telescoping boom having concentric sections including an outer fixed section and extendible intermediate and inner sections that are extended and retracted by a hydraulic cylinder having one end pivotally connected to the fixed outer section, wherein the improvement comprises spaced lug means radially disposed on opposite sides of the other end of the cylinder, apertures in the intermediate and outer boom sections that are in alignment when said intermediate section is retracted, pin receiving bosses on the intermediate section, vertical pins insertable through said apertures and between said lug means to connect the other end of said cylinder to the intermediate section, and retaining means for retaining said vertical pins in a partially inserted position in said apertures out of engagement with said lug means and locking the intermediate and outer boom sections together.

Claim 21

In a telescoping boom having concentric sections including an outer fixed section and extendible intermediate and inner sections that are extended and retracted by a hydraulic cylinder having one end pivotally connected to the fixed outer section, wherein the improvement comprises spaced lug means radially disposed on opposite sides of the other end of the cylinder, apertures in the intermediate and outer boom sections that are in alignment when said intermediate section is retracted, pin receiving bosses on the intermediate section, vertical pins insertable through said apertures and between said lug means to connect the other end of said cylinder to the intermediate section, and retaining means for retaining said vertical pins in a partially inserted position in said apertures out of engagement with said lug means and locking the intermediate and outer boom sections together.