Boom slider assembly

Claim 2

A slider assembly for use in supporting first and second sections of a boom for relative movement, said slider assembly comprising a rocker member adapted to be pivotally connected with a second section of a boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from the first axis, a second slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis spaced from said first and second axes, first pad means connected with said first slider member for slidably engaging a first section of the boom, and second pad means connected with said second slider member for slidably engaging the first section of the boom at a location spaced from said first pad means, said rocker member and said first and second slider members being pivotal relative to the second section of the boom to at least partially compensate for deflection of the first section of the boom upon application of a load thereto.

Claim 3

A slider assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second slider members are independently pivotal relative to said rocker member to enable said slider members to assume different angular positions relative to said rocker member in accordance deflection of the first section of the boom.

Claim 4

A slider assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second pad means each include surface areas of equal magnitude for engaging the first section of the boom so that substantially equal loads are applied to said first and second slider members by said first and second pad means upon loading of the boom, said second and third axes of rotation being located on opposite sides of and at substantially equal distances from said first axis whereby a torque load applied to said rocker member by said first slider member upon loading of the boom is substantially equal and opposite to a torque load applied to said rocker member by said second slider member upon loading of the boom.

Claim 5

A slider assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first slider member and said first pad means have a flexural rigidity at any point along said slider member such that upon application of an operating load to the boom a deflection curve for the first section of the boom at a location where said first pad means engages the first section of the boom is the same as a deflection curve for said first slider member and said first pad means to thereby provide for the transmittal of a uniform bearing load between said first pad means and the first boom section throughout the length of said first pad means.

Claim 6

A slider assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first pad means includes a slider pad and means for dividing said slider pad into a plurality of sections having outer surfaces adapted to be disposed in abutting engagement with the first section of the boom to enable relative movement to occur between said sections of said slider pad upon deflection of the boom to thereby facilitatE maintenance of the surfaces of said slider pad sections in abutting engagement with the first section of the boom.

Claim 7

A slider assembly for use in supporting first and second sections of a boom for movement relative to each other, said slider assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel rocker members adapted to be pivotally mounted on a second section of a boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider assembly pivotally mounted intermediate said rocker members for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from and extending parallel to said first axis, said first slider assembly including a pair of spaced apart slider members extending substantially parallel to said rocker members and pivotally connected with said rocker members, a support member interconnecting said slider members, and first pad means mounted on said support member and having a bearing surface for slidably engaging a first section of the boom, and a second slider assembly pivotally mounted intermediate said rocker members for pivotal movement about a third axis extending parallel to said first axis and spaced from said first axis by a distance which is substantially equal to the distance between said first and second axes, said second slider assembly including a pair of spaced apart slider members extending substantially parallel to said rocker members and pivotally connected with said rocker members, a support member interconnecting said slider members of said second slider assembly, and second pad means mounted on said support member of said second slider assembly and having a bearing surface for slidably engaging the first section of the boom at a location spaced from said first slider assembly, said bearing surfaces of said first and second pad means having substantially equal areas so that substantially equal loads are applied to said first and second pad means by the first section of the boom upon the application of a load to the boom, said first and second slider assemblies being independently pivotal relative to said rocker members to enable said slider assemblies to assume different positions relative to the first section of the boom upon application of a load to the boom to thereby at least partially compensate for deflection of the first section of the boom upon application of a load thereto.

Claim 8

A slider assembly for use in supporting first and second sections of a boom for movement relative to each other, said slider assembly comprising a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel rocker members adapted to be pivotally mounted on a second section of a boom for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider assembly pivotally mounted intermediate said rocker members for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from and extending parallel to said first axis, said first slider assembly including a pair of spaced apart slider members extending substantially parallel to said rocker members and pivotally connected with said rocker members, a support member interconnecting said slider members, and first pad means mounted on said support member and having a bearing surface for slidably engaging a first section of the boom, and a second slider assembly pivotally mounted intermediate said rocker members for pivotal movement about a third axis extending parallel to said first axis and spaced from said first axis by a distance which is substantially equal to the distance between said first and second axes, said second slider assembly including a pair of spaced apart slider members extending substantially parallel to said rocker members and pivotally connected with said rocker members, a support member interconnecting said slider members of said second slider assembly, and second pad means mounted on said support member of said second slider assembly and having a bearing surface for slidably engaging the first section of the boom at a location spaced from said first slider assembly, said bearing surfaces of said first and second pad means having substantially equal areas so that substantially equal loads are applied to said first and second pad means by the first section of the boom upon the application of a load to the boom, said first and second slider assemblies being independently pivotal relative to said rocker members to enable said slider assemblies to assume different positions relative to the first section of the boom upon application of a load to the boom to thereby at least partially compensate for deflection of the first section of the boom upon application of a load thereto.

Claim 9

A boom assembly comprising a plurality of relatively movable sections, first and second slider means for supporting at least some of said sections of said boom assembly for relative movement, said first slider means including a rocker member pivotally connected with one of said sections of said boom assembly for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from the first axis, a second slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis spaced from said first and second axes, first pad means connected with said first slider member for slidably engaging another of said sections of said boom assembly, and second pad means connected with said second slider member for slidably engaging said other section of said boom assembly at a location spaced from said first pad means, said rocker member and said first and second slider members being pivotal relative to said one section of said boom assembly to at least partially compensate for deflection of said other section of said boom assembly upon application of a load thereto, said second slider means including a longitudinally extending support assembly pivotally connected with one of said sections of said boom assembly for pivotal movement relative thereto, and a slider pad mounted on said support assembly and disposed in abutting engagement with one of said sections of said boom assembly adjacent to said section of said boom assembly to which said support assembly is connected, said slider pad incLuding means for dividing said slider pad into a plurality of sections having outer surfaces disposed in abutting engagement with one of said sections of said boom assembly to enable relative movement to occur between said sections of said slider pad upon deflection of said boom assembly to thereby facilitate maintenance of the surfaces of said slider pad sections in abutting engagement with the engaged one of said sections of said boom assembly upon deflection of said boom assembly.

Claim 10

A boom assembly comprising a plurality of relatively movable sections, first and second slider means for supporting at least some of said sections of said boom assembly for relative movement, said first slider means including a rocker member pivotally connected with one of said sections of said boom assembly for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from the first axis, a second slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis spaced from said first and second axes, first pad means connected with said first slider member for slidably engaging another of said sections of said boom assembly, and second pad means connected with said second slider member for slidably engaging said other section of said boom assembly at a location spaced from said first pad means, said rocker member and said first and second slider members being pivotal relative to said one section of said boom assembly to at least partially compensate for deflection of said other section of said boom assembly upon application of a load thereto, said second slider means including a longitudinally extending support assembly pivotally connected with one of said sections of said boom assembly for pivotal movement relative thereto, and a slider pad mounted on said support assembly and disposed in abutting engagement with one of said sections of said boom assembly adjacent to said section of said boom assembly to which said support assembly is connected, said slider pad incLuding means for dividing said slider pad into a plurality of sections having outer surfaces disposed in abutting engagement with one of said sections of said boom assembly to enable relative movement to occur between said sections of said slider pad upon deflection of said boom assembly to thereby facilitate maintenance of the surfaces of said slider pad sections in abutting engagement with the engaged one of said sections of said boom assembly upon deflection of said boom assembly.

Claim 11

A boom assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second slider members are independantly pivotal relative to said rocker member to enable said slider members to assume different angular positions relative to said rocker member in accordance with deflection of the said boom assembly.

Claim 12

A boom assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for dividing said slider pad into a plurality of sections includes means for defining a plurality of slots which extend across said slider pad in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said boom assembly.

Claim 13

A boom assembly comprising a plurality of boom sections including a first boom section having a predetermined longitudinal curve of deflection under load and a second boom section operatively connected with said first boom section, means for effecting relative movement between said boom sections to thereby extend and retract said boom assembly, means for applying an operating load to said boom assembly which tends to effect longitudinal deflection of said boom assembly, first slider means mounted on said second section of said boom assembly and disposed in engagement with said first section of said boom assembly for transmitting a uniform bearing load to an engaged surface area of said first boom section to facilitate relative movement between said sections of said boom assembly, said first slider means having a load deflection curve in a direction extending longitudinally of said first boom section which matches the predetermined longitudinal deflection curve of said first boom section, second slider means for use in supporting third and fourth sections of said boom assembly for relative movement, said second slider means comprising a rocker member adapted to be pivotally connected with the fourth section of said boom assembly for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from the first axis, a second slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis spaced from said first and second axes, first pad means connected with said first slider member for slidably engaging said third section of said boom assembly, and second pad means connected with said second slider member for slidably engaging said third section of said boom assembly at a location spaced from said first pad means, said rocker member and said first and second slider members being pivotal relative to the fourth section of said boom assembly to at least partially compensate for deflection of third section of said boom assembly upon application of a load thereto.

Claim 14

A boom assembly comprising a plurality of boom sections including a first boom section having a predetermined longitudinal curve of deflection under load and a second boom section operatively connected with said first boom section, means for effecting relative movement between said boom sections to thereby extend and retract said boom assembly, means for applying an operating load to said boom assembly which tends to effect longitudinal deflection of said boom assembly, first slider means mounted on said second section of said boom assembly and disposed in engagement with said first section of said boom assembly for transmitting a uniform bearing load to an engaged surface area of said first boom section to facilitate relative movement between said sections of said boom assembly, said first slider means having a load deflection curve in a direction extending longitudinally of said first boom section which matches the predetermined longitudinal deflection curve of said first boom section, second slider means for use in supporting third and fourth sections of said boom assembly for relative movement, said second slider means comprising a rocker member adapted to be pivotally connected with the fourth section of said boom assembly for pivotal movement relative thereto about a first axis, a first slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a second axis spaced from the first axis, a second slider member pivotally connected to said rocker member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a third axis spaced from said first and second axes, first pad means connected with said first slider member for slidably engaging said third section of said boom assembly, and second pad means connected with said second slider member for slidably engaging said third section of said boom assembly at a location spaced from said first pad means, said rocker member and said first and second slider members being pivotal relative to the fourth section of said boom assembly to at least partially compensate for deflection of third section of said boom assembly upon application of a load thereto.

Claim 15

A boom assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first and second pad means each include surface areas of equal magnitude for engaging said third section of said boom assembly so that substantially equal loads are applied to said first and second slider members by said first and second pad means upon loading of said boom assembly, said second and third axes of rotation being located on opposite sides of and at substantially equal distances from said first axis whereby a torque load applied to said rocker member by said first slider member upon loading of said boom assembly is substantially equal and opposite to a torque load applied to said rocker member by said second slider member upon loading of said boom assembly.