Free-hanging load carrier for boom, with brake

Claim 2

Material-handling apparatus including a boom-part and a lift fork hanging from the end thereof, and power means for manipulating the boom-part during use with a vertical angular swing substantially exceeding 180°; said lift fork being a rigid structure including tines for slipping under a load and extensions to a point above a mid-zone of the tine length at which the fork is pivotally suspended from the boom-part; a brake disc angualarly locked to the lift fork and pivotal about the pivotal axis thereof; and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick application at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto during material handling, and for quick full release to allow the load carrier to hang naturally.

Claim 3

Material handling apparatus including a rear boom-part pivoted at its base about a horizontal axis to swing vertically, an intermediate boom-part pivoted at one end to the forward end of the rear boom-part about a horizontal pivot, and a forward boom-part pivoted at one end to the forward end of the intermediate boom-part; hydraulic cylinder means for each boom-part for pivoting it about its horizontal pivot, with the full force of the hydraulic means applied directly to the boom-part; with the forward boom-part having a total vertical swing during use through over 240° and a lift fork hanging from the front end of the forward boom-part; said lift fork being a rigid structure pivotally suspended from the boom-part and balanced to hang therefrom with its tines approximately horizontal when suitably loaded, and conveniently close to horizontal when empty; a brake disc angularly locked to the lift fork and pivotal about the pivotal axis thereof, and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick application at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the lift fork to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto throughout the range of vertical swinging of the forward boom-part, during material handling, and for quick full release to allow the load carrier to hang naturally.

Claim 4

Material handling apparatus including a rear boom-part pivoted at its base about a horizontal axis to swing vertically, an intermediate boom-part pivoted at one end to the forward end of the rear boom-part about a horizontal pivot, and a forward boom-part pivoted at one end to the forward end of the intermediate boom-part; hydraulic cylinder means for each boom-part for pivoting it about its horizontal pivot, with the full force of the hydraulic means applied directly to the boom-part; with the forward boom-part having a total vertical swing during use through over 240° and a lift fork hanging from the front end of the forward boom-part; said lift fork being a rigid structure pivotally suspended from the boom-part and balanced to hang therefrom with its tines approximately horizontal when suitably loaded, and conveniently close to horizontal when empty; a brake disc angularly locked to the lift fork and pivotal about the pivotal axis thereof, and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick application at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the lift fork to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto throughout the range of vertical swinging of the forward boom-part, during material handling, and for quick full release to allow the load carrier to hang naturally.

Claim 5

Material-handling apparatus including a boom-part, power means for manipulating the boom-part during use with a vertical angular swing substantially exceeding 180° and including a swing through a downwardly extending vertical position, and a load carrier carried by the end of the boom-part that is its bottom end in said position; said load carrier being a rigid structure and having a slim bottom designed to be thrust under a load by the swing of the boom-part through said position; said load carrier being hung from the boom part with a pivotal connection above a mid-zone of the front-to-back length of the bottom to hang in a load-retaining position; its bottom in that position being substantially horizontal and of substantial front-to-back length; a brake disc angularly locked to the load carrier and pivotable about the pivotal axis of said connection; and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick actuation at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part to be thrust under a load by the boom-part's swing through said position, and to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto during material handling, and operable for quick full release to allow the load carrier to hang naturally.

Claim 6

Material-handling apparatus including a boom-part, power means for manipulating the boom-part during use with a vertical angular swing substantially exceeding 180° and including a swing through a downwardly extending vertical position, and a load carrier carried by the end of the boom-part that is its bottom end in said position; said load carrier being a rigid structure and having a slim bottom designed to be thrust under a load by the swing of the boom-part through said position; said load carrier being hung from the boom part with a pivotal connection above a mid-zone of the front-to-back length of the bottom to hang in a load-retaining position; its bottom in that position being substantially horizontal and of substantial front-to-back length; a brake disc angularly locked to the load carrier and pivotable about the pivotal axis of said connection; and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick actuation at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part to be thrust under a load by the boom-part's swing through said position, and to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto during material handling, and operable for quick full release to allow the load carrier to hang naturally.

Claim 7

Material-handling apparatus including a boom-part, power means for manipulating the boom-part during use with a vertical angular swing substantially exceeding 90° and including a swing through a position extending steeply downward, and a load carrier carried by the end of the boom-part that is its bottom end in said position; said load-carrier being a rigid structure and having a slim bottom designed to be thrust under a load by movement of the boom-part through said position; said load carrier being hung from the boom-part with a pivotal connection having its axis above a mid-zone of the front-to-back length of the bottom to hang in a load-retaining position; its bottom in that position being substantially horizontal and of substantial front-to-back length; a brake disc angularly locked to the load carrier and pivotal with it about said axis; and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick application at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part to be thrust by it under a load as it is moved through said position, and to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto during material handling, and operable for quick full release to allow the load-carrier to hang naturally.

Claim 8

Material-handling apparatus including a boom-part, power means for manipulating the boom-part during use with a vertical angular swing substantially exceeding 90° and including a swing through a position extending steeply downward, and a load carrier carried by the end of the boom-part that is its bottom end in said position; said load-carrier being a rigid structure and having a slim bottom designed to be thrust under a load by movement of the boom-part through said position; said load carrier being hung from the boom-part with a pivotal connection having its axis above a mid-zone of the front-to-back length of the bottom to hang in a load-retaining position; its bottom in that position being substantially horizontal and of substantial front-to-back length; a brake disc angularly locked to the load carrier and pivotal with it about said axis; and braking means carried by the boom-part and operable by remote control for quick application at will for seizing the brake disc to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part to be thrust by it under a load as it is moved through said position, and to lock the load carrier firmly to the boom-part at any one of a wide variety of angularities with respect thereto during material handling, and operable for quick full release to allow the load-carrier to hang naturally.