US3876100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotator for lift truck attachments
Assignee: Brudi Equipment Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A device adapted to be attached to the carriage of a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis perpendicular to the front face of the carriage. The device has an exceptionally short dimension in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation so as to maximize the load-carrying capacity of the truck. Rotation is produced by engagement between an inner gear with a fixed axis of rotation and external teeth and an outer gear of greater diameter having a larger number of internal teeth. The outer gear is selectively driven in a gyratory eccentric path about the inner gear, thereby rotating the inner gear and thus the attachment through a substantial gear reduction.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A Brudi
- 👤 Randall W Matthewson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:11
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/12; B66F9/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In a lift truck having a lifting apparatus at its front end for raising and lowering a load vertically and a load handling attachment for engaging said load to be lifted, a device for rotating said load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck forwardly thereof between said lifting apparatus and said load handling attachment; b. an inner gear having external teeth and front and rear faces positioned forwardly of said frame between said frame and said load handling attachment and rotatable about said axis; c. means for mounting said load handling attachment to the front face of said inner gear so as to be supported thereby; d. means rotatably mounting said inner gear to said frame from the rear side of said gear for permitting the mounting of said load handling attachment to the front face of said inner gear; e. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, movably mounted on said frame between said frame and said load handling attachment in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; f. eccentric means for mounting said outer gear to said frame so as to permit said outer gear to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said inner gear; and g. power means for oscillating said outer gear in said gyratory eccentric path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a lift truck having a lifting apparatus at its front end for raising and lowering a load vertically and a load handling attachment for engaging said load to be lifted, a device for rotating said load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck forwardly thereof between said lifting apparatus and said load handling attachment; b. an inner gear having external teeth and front and rear faces positioned forwardly of said frame between said frame and said load handling attachment and rotatable about said axis; c. means for mounting said load handling attachment to the front face of said inner gear so as to be supported thereby; d. means rotatably mounting said inner gear to said frame from the rear side of said gear for permitting the mounting of said load handling attachment to the front face of said inner gear; e. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, movably mounted on said frame between said frame and said load handling attachment in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; f. eccentric means for mounting said outer gear to said frame so as to permit said outer gear to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said inner gear; and g. power means for oscillating said outer gear in said gyratory eccentric path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 including a plurality of eccentric pivots for attaching said outer gear at multiple locations to said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said power means comprises motor means mounted to said frame and coupled with said eccentric means for driving said eccentric means and thereby oscillating said outer gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said motor means is mounted laterally outward from the side of said lifting apparatus in a position extending rearwardly from said frame along the side of said lifting apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a lift truck having a lifting apparatus at its front end for raising and lowering a load vertically and a load handling attachment for engaging the load to be lifted, a device for rotating said load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said truck, said device comprising: a. a frame mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck forwardly thereof between said lifting apparatus and said load handling attachment; b. an inner gear movably mounted on said frame forwardly thereof between said frame and said load handling attachment and having external teeth and front and rear faces; c. an outer gear, having internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth and having front and rear faces, movably mounted on said frame forwardly thereof between said frame and said load handling attachment in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; d. means for mounting said load handling attachment to the front face of a first one of said gears so as to be supported thereby; e. pivot means for mounting said first one of said gears to said frame so as to permit it to turn about said axis, said pivot means supporting said first gear from the rear side thereof for permitting the mounting of said load handling attachment to the front face of said first gear; f. eccentric means for mounting the second one of said gears to said frame forwardly of said frame so as to permit it to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said axis; and g. power means for oscillating said eccentrically mounted second gear in said gyratory eccentric path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a lift truck having a lifting apparatus at its front end for raising and lowering a load vertically and a load handling attachment for engaging the load to be lifted, a device for rotating said load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said truck, said device comprising: a. a frame mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck forwardly thereof between said lifting apparatus and said load handling attachment; b. an inner gear movably mounted on said frame forwardly thereof between said frame and said load handling attachment and having external teeth and front and rear faces; c. an outer gear, having internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth and having front and rear faces, movably mounted on said frame forwardly thereof between said frame and said load handling attachment in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; d. means for mounting said load handling attachment to the front face of a first one of said gears so as to be supported thereby; e. pivot means for mounting said first one of said gears to said frame so as to permit it to turn about said axis, said pivot means supporting said first gear from the rear side thereof for permitting the mounting of said load handling attachment to the front face of said first gear; f. eccentric means for mounting the second one of said gears to said frame forwardly of said frame so as to permit it to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said axis; and g. power means for oscillating said eccentrically mounted second gear in said gyratory eccentric path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 5 including a plurality of eccentric pivots for attaching said second gear at multiple locations to said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said power means comprises motor means mounted to said frame and coupled with said eccentric means for driving said eccentric means and thereby oscillating said second gear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 2 including at least three of said eccentric pivots for constraining the movement of said outer gear to a predetermined eccentric path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said eccentric means include means mounting said outer gear to said frame from the rear side of said outer gear for preventing interference with the mounting of said load handling attachment to the front face of said inner gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said inner gear includes a tooth portion and a cover plate portion, said tooth portion being mounted between said frame and said cover plate portion and said load handling attachment being mounted to said cover plate portion, said cover plate portion being of sufficient size to overlap said internal teeth of said outer gear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 6 including at least three of said eccentric pivots for constraining the movement of said second gear to a predetermined eccentric path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said eccentric means includes means mounting said second gear to said frame from the rear side of said second gear for preventing interference with the mounting of said load handling attachment to the front face of said first gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said first gear includes a tooth portion and a cover plate portion, said tooth portion being mounted between said frame and said cover plate portion, and said load handling attachment being mounted to said cover plate portion, said cover plate portion being of sufficient size to overlap said teeth of said second gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said motor means is mounted laterally outward from the side of said lifting apparatus in a position extending rearwardly from said frame along the side of said lifting apparatus.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
192 words
A device adapted for use on a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame adapted to be mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck; b. an inner gear with external teeth rotatably mounted on said frame so as to turn about said axis; c. means for mounting said load handling attachment to said inner gear; d. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, mounted on said frame in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; e. eccentric means for mounting said outer gear to said frame so as to permit said outer gear to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said inner gear; f. hydraulic cylinder means attached between said outer gear and said frame for oscillating said outer gear in said gyratory eccentric path; and g. hydraulic valve means coupled to said cylinder means for automatically controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said cylinder means in response to the position of said outer gear.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
192 words
A device adapted for use on a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame adapted to be mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck; b. an inner gear with external teeth rotatably mounted on said frame so as to turn about said axis; c. means for mounting said load handling attachment to said inner gear; d. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, mounted on said frame in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; e. eccentric means for mounting said outer gear to said frame so as to permit said outer gear to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said inner gear; f. hydraulic cylinder means attached between said outer gear and said frame for oscillating said outer gear in said gyratory eccentric path; and g. hydraulic valve means coupled to said cylinder means for automatically controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said cylinder means in response to the position of said outer gear.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
197 words
A device adapted for use on a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame adapted to be mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck; b. an inner gear with external teeth rotatably mounted on said frame so as to turn about said axis; c. means for mounting said load handling attachment to said inner gear; d. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, mounted on said frame in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; e. eccentric means for mounting said outer gear to said frame so as to permit said outer gear to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said inner gear; and f. a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each attached at one end to said outer gear and at the other end to said frame for oscillating said outer gear in said gyratory eccentric path, at least two of said cylinders being attached so as to exert their respective forces on said outer gear at an angle to one another.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
197 words
A device adapted for use on a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame adapted to be mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck; b. an inner gear with external teeth rotatably mounted on said frame so as to turn about said axis; c. means for mounting said load handling attachment to said inner gear; d. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, mounted on said frame in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; e. eccentric means for mounting said outer gear to said frame so as to permit said outer gear to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said inner gear; and f. a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each attached at one end to said outer gear and at the other end to said frame for oscillating said outer gear in said gyratory eccentric path, at least two of said cylinders being attached so as to exert their respective forces on said outer gear at an angle to one another.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
210 words
A device adapted for use on a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame adapted to be mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck; b. an inner gear movably mounted on said frame and having external teeth; c. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, movably mounted on said frame in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; d. means for mounting a first one of said gears to said frame so as to permit it to turn about said axis; e. eccentric means for mounting the second one of said gears to said frame so as to permit it to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said axis; f. hydraulic cylinder means attached between said second gear and said frame for oscillating said second gear in said gyratory eccentric path; g. hydraulic valve means coupled to said cylinder means for automatically controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said cylinder means in response to the position of said second gear; and h. means for mounting said load handling attachment to said first gear.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
210 words
A device adapted for use on a lift truck for rotating a load handling attachment about an axis longitudinal of said lift truck, said device comprising: a. a frame adapted to be mounted on the lifting apparatus of said lift truck; b. an inner gear movably mounted on said frame and having external teeth; c. an outer gear, with internal teeth adapted to engage said external teeth, movably mounted on said frame in surrounding relation to said inner gear, said outer gear having a greater number of teeth than said inner gear; d. means for mounting a first one of said gears to said frame so as to permit it to turn about said axis; e. eccentric means for mounting the second one of said gears to said frame so as to permit it to oscillate in a gyratory eccentric path about said axis; f. hydraulic cylinder means attached between said second gear and said frame for oscillating said second gear in said gyratory eccentric path; g. hydraulic valve means coupled to said cylinder means for automatically controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said cylinder means in response to the position of said second gear; and h. means for mounting said load handling attachment to said first gear.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 16 including hydraulic valve means coupled to said cylinders for automatically sequentially controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said cylinders in response to the position of said outer gear, said valve means including means for detecting the position of said outer gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |