Load handling apparatus

Claim 2

A load handling apparatus for use with a load skidding vehicle of the type adapted to hold a front end of an elongated load at a load transport position rearwardly of the vehicle and to drag the load over terrain, said load handling apparatus including: boom means extending rearwardly of the vehicle; grapple means depending from the boom means; means to position the grapple means over a load; said grapple means having a pair of arcuate, interiorly opposed grapple arms; each said grapple arm having a first end pivotally assembled to a grapple block, and each having a second free end pivotally movable between an open position to straddle a load and a closed position encompassing a first end of the load; means for opening and closing said grapple arms; closed loop means connected to the free ends of said grapple arms whereby when said arms are closed around the end of a load, an interior loop constituted as a portion of the loop means is formed around and engages the load; a main line connected at one end to the loop means; means to draw in said main line for engaging, lifting and pulling a load independent of the boom means; said means to draw in said main line including main line guide means positioned on said vehicle independent of said boom means, and including main line take up means supported on said vehicle; said main line being trained through said guide means; said main line guide means being positioned on said vehicle on an upstanding support means independent of said boom means at an elevation above the load transport position of the front end of the load to locate said main line in position to lift and drag the load; said main line take up means being adapted to draw in said main line whereby said loop means and main line are operable to raise the end of the load and the grapple arms to the load transport position and to drag the load independent of the boom means when the vehicle moves forward.

Claim 3

The load handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said boom means is pivotally assembled to said vehicle for rearward pivotal movement, and said means to position the grapple means over a load includes at least one first power unit connected between the boom means and the vehicle adapted to control pivotal movement of the boom means.

Claim 4

The load handling apparatus of claim 2 wherein said power unit comprises at least one first hydraulic motor of the piston-cylinder type.

Claim 5

The load handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein said main line guide means includes: a fairlead assembly secured to the rearward portion of the vehicle, a main line roller positioned on the fairlead assembly at an elevation above said load transport position, said main line being trained over said main line roller.

Claim 6

The load handling apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the free end of each said grapple arm has a tip accommodating a pulley, said closed loop means being associated with the free ends of said grapple arms by having a portion of the closed loop means engaging each pulley.

Claim 7

The load handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the means for opening and closing said grapple arms include second power units connected between each grapple arm and the grapple block.

Claim 8

The load handling apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said second power units are constituted as second hydraulic motors of the piston-cylinder type.

Claim 9

The load handling apparatus of claim 1 including: coupling means pivotally coupling the grapple means and the boom means whereby the grapple means is pivotally movable relative to the boom means about a vertical and horizontal axis.

Claim 10

The load handling apparatus of claim 8 wherein said boom means is of the type having a pair of struts pivotally connected to the vehicle, a shoulder connecting the upper ends of said struts, a neck extending from said shoulder, and a head extending rearwardly from the top of the neck, said coupling means including: a closed coupling loop having a portion engaging said head and a portion engaging the grapple means.

Claim 11

The load handling apparatus of claim 8 wherein said boom means is of the type having a pair of struts pivotally connected to the vehicle, a shoulder connecting the upper ends of said struts, a neck extending from said shoulder, and a head extending rearwardly from said neck, said coupling means including: a first roller rotatably positioned at the outboard end of said head, a second roller positioned adjacent the intersection of said head and said neck, and a fixed length grapple line attached at one end to the grapple means, trained over said first and second rollers, and attached at the opposite end to the vehicle.

Claim 12

A load handling apparatus for use with a load skidding vehicle of the type adapted to hold a front end of an elongated load at a load transport position rearwardly of the vehicle and to drag the load over terrain, said load handling apparatus including: boom means extending rearwardly of the vehicle; grapple means depending from the boom means; means to position the grapple means over a load; said grapple meaNs having a pair of arcuate, interiorly opposed grapple arms; each said grapple arm having a first end pivotally assembled to a grapple block, and each having a second free end pivotally movable between an open position to straddle a load and a closed position encompassing a first end of the load; means for opening and closing said grapple arms; closed loop means associated with the free ends of said grapple arms whereby when said arms are closed around the end of a load, an interior loop constituted as a portion of the loop means is formed around and encompasses the load; the free end of each said grapple arm has a tip accommodating a pulley, said closed loop means being associated with the free ends of said grapple arms by having a portion of the closed loop means engaging each pulley; a main line connected at one end to the loop means and at the opposite end to take up means adapted to draw in said main line; main line guide means positioned on said vehicle at an elevation above the load transport position of the front end of the load; said main line being trained over said guide means whereby when said take up means are operable to draw in said main line with said interior loop in engagement with a load said loop means and main line are operable to raise the end of the load to the load transport position and drag the load when the vehicle moves forward.

Claim 13

A load handling apparatus for use with a load skidding vehicle of the type adapted to hold a front end of an elongated load at a load transport position rearwardly of the vehicle and to drag the load over terrain, said load handling apparatus including: boom means extending rearwardly of the vehicle; grapple means depending from the boom means; means to position the grapple means over a load; said grapple meaNs having a pair of arcuate, interiorly opposed grapple arms; each said grapple arm having a first end pivotally assembled to a grapple block, and each having a second free end pivotally movable between an open position to straddle a load and a closed position encompassing a first end of the load; means for opening and closing said grapple arms; closed loop means associated with the free ends of said grapple arms whereby when said arms are closed around the end of a load, an interior loop constituted as a portion of the loop means is formed around and encompasses the load; the free end of each said grapple arm has a tip accommodating a pulley, said closed loop means being associated with the free ends of said grapple arms by having a portion of the closed loop means engaging each pulley; a main line connected at one end to the loop means and at the opposite end to take up means adapted to draw in said main line; main line guide means positioned on said vehicle at an elevation above the load transport position of the front end of the load; said main line being trained over said guide means whereby when said take up means are operable to draw in said main line with said interior loop in engagement with a load said loop means and main line are operable to raise the end of the load to the load transport position and drag the load when the vehicle moves forward.

Claim 14

A load handling apparatus for use with a load skidding vehicle of the type adapted to hold a front end of an elongated load at a load transport position rearwardly of the vehicle and to drag the load over terrain, said load handling apparatus including: boom means extending rearwardly of the vehicle; grapple means depending from the boom means; said boom means having a pair of struts pivotally connected to the vehicle, a shoulder connecting the upper ends of said struts, a neck extending from said shoulder, and a head extending rearwardly from said neck; coupling means pivotally coupling the grapple means and the boom means whereby the grapple means is pivotally movable relative to the boom means about a vertical and horizontal axis, said coupling means including a first roller rotatably positioned at the outboard end of said head, a second roller positioned adjacent the intersection of said head and said neck, and a fixed length grapple line attached at one end to the grapple means, trained over said first and second rollers, and attached at the opposite end to the vehicle; means to position the grapple means over a load; said grapple means having a pair of arcuate, interiorly opposed grapple arms; each said grapple arm having a first end pivotally assembled to a grapple block, and each having a second free end pivotally movable between an open position to straddle a load and a closed position encompassing a first end of the load; means for opening and closing said grapple arms; closed loop means associated with the free ends of said grapple arms whereby when said arms are closed around the end of a load, an interior loop constituted as a portion of the loop means is formed around and engages the load; a main line connected at one end to the loop means and at the opposite end to take up means adapted to draw in said main line; main line guide means positioned on said vehicle at an elevation above the load transport position of the front end of the load; said main line being trained over said guide means whereby when said take up means are operable to draw in said main line with said interior loop in engagement with a load said loop means and said main line are operable to raise the end of the load to the load transport position and drag the load when the vehicle moves forward.

Claim 15

A load handling apparatus for use with a load skidding vehicle of the type adapted to hold a front end of an elongated load at a load transport position rearwardly of the vehicle and to drag the load over terrain, said load handling apparatus including: boom means extending rearwardly of the vehicle; grapple means depending from the boom means; said boom means having a pair of struts pivotally connected to the vehicle, a shoulder connecting the upper ends of said struts, a neck extending from said shoulder, and a head extending rearwardly from said neck; coupling means pivotally coupling the grapple means and the boom means whereby the grapple means is pivotally movable relative to the boom means about a vertical and horizontal axis, said coupling means including a first roller rotatably positioned at the outboard end of said head, a second roller positioned adjacent the intersection of said head and said neck, and a fixed length grapple line attached at one end to the grapple means, trained over said first and second rollers, and attached at the opposite end to the vehicle; means to position the grapple means over a load; said grapple means having a pair of arcuate, interiorly opposed grapple arms; each said grapple arm having a first end pivotally assembled to a grapple block, and each having a second free end pivotally movable between an open position to straddle a load and a closed position encompassing a first end of the load; means for opening and closing said grapple arms; closed loop means associated with the free ends of said grapple arms whereby when said arms are closed around the end of a load, an interior loop constituted as a portion of the loop means is formed around and engages the load; a main line connected at one end to the loop means and at the opposite end to take up means adapted to draw in said main line; main line guide means positioned on said vehicle at an elevation above the load transport position of the front end of the load; said main line being trained over said guide means whereby when said take up means are operable to draw in said main line with said interior loop in engagement with a load said loop means and said main line are operable to raise the end of the load to the load transport position and drag the load when the vehicle moves forward.