Load handling equipment

Claim 1

In a crane for handling a load having spaced pickup means thereon, an elevatable support, means for raising and lowering the support, means mounting the support for movement to and from juxtaposed relationship to a load, a carriage comprising a frame having opposing sides and ends, a pair of movable beams extending transversely of the frame and mounted on the sides thereof for adjustment toward and away from each other into a variety of spaced positions corresponding to various sizes of loads, means for moving the beams into various spaced positions, fluid actuated means on each of the beams for raising and lowering the beams with respect to the frame, articulated conduit means mounted on the beams and connected to said fluid actuating means for supplying fluid to said actuating means in the various positions of said beams, said articulated conduit means including coupling means on the beams connected to said fluid actuated means and a plurality of elongated rigid conduits disposed generally in the plane of said frame and being connected to each other and to said coupling means by swivel joints whereby said conduits pivot relative to each other about said swivel joints during said adjustment of the beams into their various positions, means mounting the carriage on the support for horizontal travel therealong, and lift means mounted on the movable beams of the carriage for establishing connection with a load when the support and load are juxtaposed.