Cargo handling equipment by gripping and suspending materials

Claim 1

In a cargo handling device for gripping and suspending materials, with foldable and extensible arms mounted on a selfadvancing movable chassis, a body mounted on the outer end of one of said arms; four gripping and holding arms affixed by means of universal joints at their one ends respectively to said body; gripping claws affixed by universal joints at the other ends of said gripping and holding arms; four fluid pressure cylinders pivotally suspended from said body with the free end of each piston rod pivotally connected At a predetermined point to a respective gripping and holding arms whereby on application of differential fluid pressure to said cylinders, said claws will move simultaneously inward and outward to grip and release said mateial; a central cylinder depending from said body inwardly of said four sets of gripping and holding arms including a reciprocal piston rod; and a plurality of links pivotally connected at their inner ends to said latter piston rod and extending at right angles thereto, and at their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to each of said sets of gripping and holding arms intermediate their ends; whereby application of differential fluid pressure to said central cylinder will move the claws laterally simultaneously.