Container retrieval system

Claim 1

In a device for lifting large containers for placement upon and from a railroad car wherein the containers have coaxial openings on opposite sides of the container adjacent a top corner thereof; the improvement comprising, in combination: an elongated frame having a length that is at least as long as the distance between said opposite sides of the container to be lifted; a first lifting arm comprising a shank portion and a shoe portion extending at an angle from said shank portion, a second lifting arm comprising a shank portion and a shoe portion extending at an angle from said last mentioned shank portion; said shoe portions being stepped with the steps rising toward said shank portions and with the tops of the steps being planar to provide load bearing surfaces; means pivotally connecting said first and second lifting arms to said frame with the shoe portion of said first and second lifting arm being directed toward the shoe portion of said second lifting arm and with the pivotal axes of said lifting arms being generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said frame; means carried by said frame for pivoting said lifting arms from (a) an unlatched position wherein said shoe portions are spaced apart a distance that is greater than the distance between said opposite sides of the container to be lifted and (b) a latched position wherein said shoe portions are spaced apart a distance that is less than the distance between said opposite sides of the container to be lifted; and remote control means coupled to said lifting arms'' pivoting means.