Connectors

Claim 2

In a system comprising a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to a boom for rotation about an axis and including a hook member projecting downwardly from a hitch body and defining a generally upwardly-facing hook engagement surface, and cooperating structure secured to a materials handler and including an opening for receiving said hook member and a cross-member extending transversely across said opening in position for engaging said hook engagement surface, that improvement wherein: said hitch body includes a pair of spaced parallel, generally vertical side plates; a hitch bearing plate is secured to and projects generally perpendicularly from one of said side plates defines a generally planar downwardly-facing bearing surface, a cooperating structure bearing is secured to said cooperating structure and defines a generally planar upwardly-facing bearing surface disposed for engaging said hitch bearing surface, said cooperating structure bearing surface being located intermediate said cross-member and a transverse edge of said opening.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said cooperating structure bearing includes a pair of generally parallel transversely spaced support members extending generally perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said cooperating structure bearing includes a support member welded at one end thereof to said cross-member and extending generally perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 including a pair of said support members positioned generally parallel to and spaced transversely relative to each other.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said hitch includes a pair of said hitch bearing plates projectng outwardly in opposite directions from respective ones of said side plates and defining respective generally co-planar downwardly-facing bearing surfaces.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein said hitch bearing plate is secured to and extends between said side plates.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 wherein one of said hitch and cooperating structure bearing surfaces is adjustable in directions perpendicular to the plane thereof.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein the adjustable said one of said bearing surfaces is defined by the head of a threaded member fitted within a threaded bore the axis of which is generally perpendicular to said one of said bearing surfaces.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 wherein said threaded member defines said cooperating structure bearing surface.

Claim 11

The system of claim 1 wherein said hitch includes two of said hitch bearing surfaces inclined relative to each other, and said cooperating structure includes two of said cooperating structure bearing surfaces each arranged to engage a respective one of said hitch bearing surfaces.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein the planes including said cooperating bearing surfaces define an upwardly-facing angle of about 120°.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10 wherein said hitch includes two hitch bearing plates each projecting outwardly from a side of a respective one of said hitch side plates and defining a said hitch bearing surface.

Claim 14

The system of claim 1 wherein one of said hitch and said cooperating structure includes two pairs of adjustable members, each of said adjustable members defining a said bearing surface and being adjustable to move said bearing surface thereof in directions generally perpendicular to the plane thereof, and the adjustable members of each of said pairs being spaced along a respective line generally perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 15

The system of claim 13 wherein each of said adjustable members comprises a threaded shaft fitted into a threaded bore in one of said hitch and said cooperating structure, a head at one end of said shaft defining said bearing surface thereof.

Claim 16

The system of claim 14 wherein said cooperating structure includes a pair of generally parallel transversely spaced supporting members extending from said cross member generally perpendicular to said axis, and a said pair of adjustable members is mounted on each of said support members.

Claim 17

The system of claim 2 or claim 14 wherein said support members are positioned along and define the opposite side edges of said opening, and said hook is adapted to fit between said support members.

Claim 18

The system of claim 1 wherein each of said side plates has a downwardly-facing lower edge above said hook engagement surface, and including a pair of tapered wedges each mounted below a said lower edge with the upper surface thereof engaging said lower edge and the bottom surface thereof positioned to engage an upper surface of said cross member, said wedges being movable relative to sides in engagement with said lower edges such as to vary the distances from each of said lower edges to the bottom surface of the wedge in engagement therewith and being biased in directions to increase said distances.

Claim 19

The system of claim 1 wherein a said hook member projects downwardly from each of said side plates.

Claim 20

The system of claim 1 wherein said hitch includes a connecting pin extending generally perpendicular to and spaced from said axis, said materials handler cooperating structure includes an upstanding bracket defining a recess open at its top for receiving said connecting pin, and further including means for locking said connecting pin in position within said recess.

Claim 21

The system of claim 19 wherein said means for locking includes a locking pin supported by said bracket, and extending transversely across said recess in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of said connecting pin.

Claim 22

The system of claim 20 wherein said locking pin engages said connecting pin.

Claim 23

The system of claim 20 including a retaining block mounted in said recess intermediate said locking and connecting pins; said connecting pin being rotatable relative to and in engagement with said recess and block.

Claim 24

In a system comprising a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to a boom for rotation about an axis and including a hook member projecting downwardly from a hitch body and defining a generally upwardly-facing hook engagement surface, and cooperating structure secured to a materials handler and including an opening for receiving said bearing member and a cross member extending transversely away from said opening in position for engaging said hook engagement surface, that improvement wherein: said hitch body defines a pair of transversely spaced downwardly facing edges above said hook engagement surface; a tapered wedge having relatively inclined top and bottom surfaces is mounted below each of said downwardly-facing edges for movement relative thereto with the top surface of said wedge in engagement with said edge and the bottom surface of said wedge in position for engaging said cross member; and, biasing means engages each of said wedges and tends to move said each wedge relative to the edge in engagement therewith in a direction such as to increase the distance from said edgeto said bottom surface of said wedge.

Claim 25

In a system comprising a hitch adapted for pivotal connection to a boom for rotation about an axis and including a hook member projecting downwardly from a hitch body and defining a generally upwardly-facing hook engagement surface, and cooperating structure secured to a materials handler and including an opening for receiving said bearing member and a cross member extending transversely away from said opening in position for engaging said hook engagement surface, that improvement wherein: said hitch body defines a pair of transversely spaced downwardly facing edges above said hook engagement surface; a tapered wedge having relatively inclined top and bottom surfaces is mounted below each of said downwardly-facing edges for movement relative thereto with the top surface of said wedge in engagement with said edge and the bottom surface of said wedge in position for engaging said cross member; and, biasing means engages each of said wedges and tends to move said each wedge relative to the edge in engagement therewith in a direction such as to increase the distance from said edgeto said bottom surface of said wedge.

Claim 26

The system of claim 23 wherein said bottom surfaces of said wedges and the upper surface of said cross member are complementary.

Claim 27

The system of claim 23 wherein said wedges are mounted in alignment with and biased towards each other along a line generally parallel to said axis.

Claim 28

In a system for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler relative to said boom about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom and a second axis generally perpendicular to said first axis, said system including a hitch having first and second hitch portions connected to each other for relative rotation about said second axis, said first hitch portion being adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation relative thereto about said first axis and including a first connector adapted for connection to said materials handler, and said second hitch portion including a second connector adapted for connection to said materials handler, and materials handler cooperating structure having a first connector adapted for connection to said first connector of said hitch first portion and a second connector, each of said first connectors defining a respective bore coaxial with said second axis when said materials handler is connected to said hitch, that improvement comprising: a cylindrical pin extending along said second axis through coaxial bores in said first and second hitch portions and connecting said hitch portions for said relative rotation about said second axis; a bore within said pin extending coaxially of said pin; a piston mounted within said bore; and a piston rod connected to said piston, extending through an end of said cylinder, and including a connecting pin portion adapted for seating within said bores of first and second connectors, said piston being movable within said bore to move said connecting pin portion between a first position within said bores and connecting said first and second connectors and a second position spaced along said second axis from said first position in which said first and second connectors are free to move relatively apart.

Claim 29

In a system for releasably securing a materials handler to a boom while permitting rotation of said materials handler relative to said boom about a first axis fixed with respect to said boom and a second axis generally perpendicular to said first axis, said system including a hitch having first and second hitch portions connected to each other for relative rotation about said second axis, said first hitch portion being adapted for pivotal connection to said boom for rotation relative thereto about said first axis and including a first connector adapted for connection to said materials handler, and said second hitch portion including a second connector adapted for connection to said materials handler, and materials handler cooperating structure having a first connector adapted for connection to said first connector of said hitch first portion and a second connector, each of said first connectors defining a respective bore coaxial with said second axis when said materials handler is connected to said hitch, that improvement comprising: a cylindrical pin extending along said second axis through coaxial bores in said first and second hitch portions and connecting said hitch portions for said relative rotation about said second axis; a bore within said pin extending coaxially of said pin; a piston mounted within said bore; and a piston rod connected to said piston, extending through an end of said cylinder, and including a connecting pin portion adapted for seating within said bores of first and second connectors, said piston being movable within said bore to move said connecting pin portion between a first position within said bores and connecting said first and second connectors and a second position spaced along said second axis from said first position in which said first and second connectors are free to move relatively apart.

Claim 30

The system of claim 26 wherein said cylindrical pin is journaled within said coaxial bores in said first and second hitch portions, the outer surface thereof providing a bearing surface for said relative rotation of said hitch portion.

Claim 31

The system of claim 26 wherein said hitch includes a hook member projecting downwardly from a hitch body and defining a generally upwardly-facing hook engagement surface, said cooperating structure is secured to said materials handler and includes an opening for receiving said hook member and a cross-member extending transversely across said opening in position for engaging said hook engagement surface, said hitch body includes a pair of spaced parallel, generally vertical side plates, a hitch bearing plate is secured to and projects generally perpendicularly from one of said side plates and defines a generally planar downwardly-facing bearing surface, and a cooperating structure bearing is secured to said cooperating structure and defines a generally planar upwardly-facing bearing surface disposed for engaging said hitch bearing surface, said cooperating structure bearing surface being located intermediate said cross-member and a transverse edge of said opening.

Claim 32

The system of claim 26 wherein said hitch includes a hook member projecting downwardly from a hitch body and defining a generally upwardly-facing hook engagement surface, said cooperating structure is secured to said materials handler and includes an opening for receiving said bearing member and a cross member extending transversely across said opening in position for engaging said hook engagement surface, said hitch body defines a pair of transversely spaced downwardly facing edges above said hook engagement surface, a tapered wedge having relatively inclined top and bottom surfaces is mounted below each of said downwardly-facing edges for movement relative thereto with the top surface of said wedge in engagement with said edge and the bottom surface of said wedge in position for engaging said cross member, and biasing means engages each of said wedges and tends to move said each wedge relative to the edge in engagement therewith in a direction such as to increase the distance from said edge to said bottom surface of said wedge.

Claim 33

The system of claim 26 wherein said second hitch portion comprises a support defining said coaxial bore thereof and a pair of hook members extending downwardly from opposite sides of said support in respective planes parallel to and on opposite sides of said second axis.