US2815250A - Machine with elevatable and traveling carriage - Google Patents

Description

1957 w. E. THORNTON-TRUMP 2,815,250

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MACHINE WITH ELEVATABLE AND TRAVELING CARRIAGE 93 Y L Nii 1957 w. E. THORNTON-TRUMP 2,815,250

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MACHINE WITH ELEVATABLE AND TRAVELING CARRIAGE Filed Nov. 19, 1952 Dec. 3, 1957 w. E. THORNTON-TRUMP 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 H II WET/w Mia n-Puw v ATTORNEY United States Patent MACHENE WITH ELEVATABLE AND TRAVELING CARRIAGE Walter E. Thornton-Trump, Oliver, British Columbia, Canada, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pittman Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, M0,, a corporation of Missouri Application November 19, 1952, Serial No. 321,301

7 Claims. (Cl. 304-29) This invention relates to a novel mobile machine having an elevatable and traveling load supporting carriage or stage on which a workman and other load is adapted to be supported to enable work to be performed by the workman from the carriage or stage in various positions and at different elevations relatively to a base portion of the machine.

Another and particularly important object of the present invention is to provide a novel machine of extremely simple construction wherein an operator or workman on the traveling carriage can control the movement thereof to accomplish up and down movement, forward and rear movement and swinging movement as well as a combination of such movements for locating the carrier in any desirable position accessible to Work to be performed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine equipped with a traveling load supporting carrier having novel means for stabilizing the machine when the carrier is positioned at a point remotely spaced relatively to the base portion of the machine to prevent the machine from being overturned by the weight of the carrier in an unbalanced position relatively to the machine base and by the weight of an extended supporting structure of the carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine possessing novel safety features which are operated automatically to prevent the carrier from being moved into a position to endanger an operator supported thereby even where movement of the carrier into a position to endanger the supported operator is being accomplished by manipulation of the controls of the machine by such operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine having a novel linkage means for maintaining a platform portion of the carrier in substantially a horizontal position irrespective of the swinging movement of booms on which the carrier is supported and by means of which it is raised and lowered, swung and moved toward and away from a centered position over the base portion of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine utilizing two pivotally connected booms for raising and lowering the carrier and whereby through a novel linkage, swinging movement of the upper boom through an arc of substantially 180 is accomplished by means of a cylinder and piston unit without materially reducing the leverage of the force exerted by said unit on the upper boom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the carrier and its extensible supporting structure may be rotated in either direction to any extent desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine through which electricity, compressed air and other power supplying mediums may be conveyed to the carrier for utilization in conjunction with tools or equipment employed by a workman supported by the carrier and wherein feed lines for such power means will not F be affected by rotation of the carrier and its supporting structure.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide novel control means actuated by a workman from a standing position on the carrier platform through operation of the feet and legs for controlling the substantial universal movement of the carrier relatively to the base portion of the machine.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the fol lowing description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the machine showing the parts in substantially a fully extended position and with the carrier or stage at substantially a maximum elevation;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the machine in substantially a fully retracted position;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 44 of Figure 3 and showing a portion of the lower boom in a fully extended position;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view looking from right to left of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken transversely through a part of the main frame and showing a portion of the stabilizing unit;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view showing the turntable in top plan, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 88 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system of the machine;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the carrier or stage including the adjacent portion of the upper boom and with the stage platform removed to illustrate the control means disposed therebeneath;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view partly in side elevation, of the structure as illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the manifold knuckle shafts of the extensible boom structure;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1313 of Figure 12;

Figures 14 and 15 are cross sectional views thereof taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 1414 and 15-15, respectively, of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the stationary center shaft of the base, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 16-46 of Figure 18;

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the stationary shaft as seen in Figures 19 and 20 with the rotatable cap thereof removed;

Figures l8, l9 and 20 are longitudinal sectional views of the center shafttaken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 1818, 19-19 and 2020, respectively, of Figure 17;

Figure 21 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view partly in top plan, taken through the carrier or stage below the floor or platform thereof and showing the control unit imldl its connection to the upper knuckle shaft and mani- Figure 22 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 22-22 of Figure 21, and

Figure 23 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken 3 substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 23-23 of Figure 1 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the machine with traveling carrier in its entirety and comprising the inventionis designated generally 25 and includes a lower or main frame 26, as best seen in Figure 3, which is substantially triangular shaped and which has a rear cross member 27 on the ends of which are journalled the two supporting wheels 28. The frame 26 includes corre sponding forwardly converging side frame members 29 which are connected by a short cross member 39 at their forward ends to complete the frame 26. A supporting structure 31 is attached to and extends forwardly from the forward end of the frame 26 and includes vertically spaced portions between the forward ends of which are secured ring members 32 and a coupling bar 33. The coupling bar 33 is adapted to be disposed over an inter mediate portion of a drawbar 34 of a tractor or other suitable draft vehicle 35, said drawbar being supported behind and transversely of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 35 by means of a pair of rearwardly extending supporting arms from the vehicle 35, between the rear ends of which supporting arms 36 the drawbar 34 is swivelly mounted for rocking movement by means of the fastening 37, as best seen in Figure 5. The ring members 32 straddle the drawbar 34. A coupling pin 38 extends through the bar 33 and drawbar 34 for coupling the machine 25 to the tractor 35. It will be apparent that the swivelly mounted drawbar 34 will allow longitudinal rocking movement of the forward end of the machine frame 26 relatively to the rear end of the draft vehicle 35. It will also be obvious that the stabilizing rings 32 will effectively prevent any lateral rocking movement of the frame 26 relatively to the tractor 35 and which is a critical feature of the invention as will hereinafter become apparent.

A reservoir or storage tank 39 for a hydraulic fluid is supported on the forward end of the lower frame 26 and is secured on the upper support member 31 thereof, or may be otherwise suitably mounted adjacent the forward end of said frame 26. A fluid pump 40 of any suitable type and constituting a part of the machine 25 is suitably mounted detachably on the rear end of the tractor 35 as for example on a cross brace 41 extending between the supporting arms 36 and with the pump 40 in a position to be coupled detachably to a power take-off shaft 42 of the tractor 35 by which the pump is driven. The hydraulic fluid in the tank 39 is pumped therefrom and through the pump 40 through a conduit or hose 43 leading from the tank 39 to the pump 40. An outlet or pressure conduit or line 44 leads from the outlet side of the pump 40 to the inlet of a multiple Valve 45. The conduit 44 is always in communication with a line or conduit 46 leading from the valve and said valve 45 is provided with two additional pairs of supply and return conduits 47 and 47a and 48 and 48a which are selectively brought into communication with the pressure conduit 44 by operation of the valve actuating elements 49 and 50, respectively.

A cross brace 51 extends transversely of the primary frame 26 and is secured at its ends to the frame members 29 rearwardly of and adjacent the tank 39, as illustrated in Figure 4. A substantially A-shaped upper or secondary frame 52 has a restricted forward end disposed above the cross brace 51 and supported thereon for rocking movement longitudinally and transversely of the primary frame 26 by means of a universal joint or bracket 53, the upper part of which is fixed to the frame 52 and mounted for longitudinal rocking movement relatively to the lower part of said bracket which is supported at 54 for transverse rocking movement on the cross brace 51. A pair of bell cranks 55 are journalled at their apexes, one on each frame member 29, rearwardly of the cross brace 51 and are provided with depending forward ends 56 to which are pivotally connected piston rods 57 forming parts of two hydraulic piston and cylinder units 58, the cylinders of which are pivotally mounted at their forward closed ends 59 on the primary frame 26. The other longer legs 60 of the two bell cranks 55 which normally extend downwardly and rearwardly from the pivots 55a of said bell cranks are pivotally connected adjacent their rear ends in the lower ends of upwardly extending rigid links 61. The upper ends of the two links 61 are connected by universal joints 62 to the divergent rear ends of the upper secondary frame 52. The conduits 47 and 48 are connected to the rear ends of the two cylinders of the hydraulic cylinder and piston units 58 and the conduits 47a and 48a are connected to the forward ends of said cylinders so that the valve members 49 and 50 may be actuated individually or together to cause the units 58 to rock the bell cranks 55 simultaneously in the same direction or in opposite directions or for individually rocking either bell crank to angularly adjust the secondary frame 52 longitudinally or transversely relatively to the primary frame 26 for levelling said secondary frame when the primary frame is disposed at an incline due to the wheels 28 and tractor 35 resting on a sloping surface, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. However, it will also be apparent as the description proceeds that this levelling means for the secondary frame 52 may be omitted where the machine 25 is only intended to be used on a level surface.

A cross member or supporting brace 63 is secured to and supported by the rearwardly diverging sides of the secondary frame 52, intermediate of the ends of said frame, and provides a support for a stationary shaft or post 64 which is fixed to and rises therefrom and which is disposed perpendicular to the plane of the frame 52. A lower circular track 65 is secured to and supported on the frame 52 and in turn supports an upper track 66 which is disposed above and spaced from the track 65. The track 66 is connected to the track 65 by a plurality of connecting members 67 having inwardly offset ends which are secured to the outer sides of the tracks 65 and 66. A strong skeleton frame 68 including cross arms 69 is disposed within the space surrounded by the tracks 65 and 66. Flanged wheels 70 are journalled on the ends of the crossarms 69 and ride upon the upper edge of the lower rail 65 and likewise engage the lower edge of the upper rail 66 for rotatably mounting the frame 68 around the post or stationary shaft 64. The frame 68 is provided with a central opening 71 which fits loosely around the upper portion of the post 64.

Another portion of the frame 68 which constitutes a turntable and which is radially spaced from the center post 64 provides a support for a hydraulic motor 72. Said last mentioned turntable portion 73 additionally supports a gear housing 74 containing gearing, not shown, which is coupled at 75 to the hydraulic motor 72 and which drives a shaft 76 which is journalled in and tie pends from the housing 74. A small sprocket wheel 77 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 76 and a large stationary sprocket wheel 78 is fixed to a lower portion of the stationary shaft 64. A chain 79 is trained around the sprocket wheels 77 and 78 so that when the shaft 76 is driven by the motor 72 the chain 79 will pull the turntable 68 and cause said turntable to revolve about the post 64 as an axis.

The base portion of the machine 25 also includes an adjustable stablizing unit, designated generally 80, including a tubular member 81 which is secured to the underside of the primary frame 26 and transversely thereof. The tubular member 81 is disposed adjacent the forward end of the secondary frame 52. The stabilizing unit includes a pair of rods 82 having adjacent ends which telescope into the ends of the tube 81 and which are adjustably secured therein by bolts or setscrews 83 to position the outer ends of the rods 82 at different distances outwardly with respect to the sides 29 of the frame 26. Said rods 82 are provided at their remote ends with leg members 84 which are fixed thereto and depend therefrom. A foot member 85 is secured to the lower end of each leg member 84 and is disposed with its plane at a right angle to the axis of said leg member and normally above and slightly spaced from a surface 86 on which the machine is supported, so that if the frame 26 is rocked transversely in either direction only slightly one or the other foot members will move into engagement with the surface 86 to brace the frame 26 and so that further rocking movement of the frame in the same direction can only be accomplished about said surface engaging foot member as a pivot.

A hood 87 is disposed over the turntable 68 and the upper portion of the lower track 65 and over the upper track 66, as seen in Figures 2 and 4. A pair of supporting posts 88 are fixed to and rise from a part of the turntable 68, and a second pair of shorter posts 89 are likewise fixed to and rise from the turntable 68. The posts 88 and 89 are disposed remote to one another and are spaced from the center of said turntable. The posts 88 and 89 extend upwardly through the top portion of the hood or shield 87 and said hood may be secured thereto and thus detachably mounted over the turntable. A hydraulic cylinder 90 is disposed in an opening 91 in the top portion of the hood 87 and has a closed end which is disposed above and swingably connected at 92 for vertical swinging movement to an upstanding portion of the turntable 68 which is disposed remote to its center and adjacent to and between the legs 89 for up and down swinging movement of the cylinder 90 through the hood opening 91. The cylinder 90 contains a piston, not shown, having a piston rod 93 projecting therefrom slidably through the other end of said cylinder and which piston rod extends between the legs 88. The parts previously described constitute the base portion of the machine 25 or parts closely associated therewith.

The machine 25 also includes an extensible boom structure, designated generally 94, including a lower boom 95 and an upper boom 96, which is preferably somewhat longer than the lower boom 95. One end of the lower boom 95 is supported by and disposed between the upper ends of the posts 88 and is journalled thereon at 97 for vertical swinging movement from substantially a horizontal position with an intermediate portion of said lower boom 95 resting on the shorter posts 89 to a fully extended, substantially vertical position, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. The lower boom 95 is provided with a rigid leverage member 98 forming an extension thereof which projects beyond its pivot 97 and to the end of which the outer end of the piston rod 93 is pivotally connected at 99. The upper end of the lower boom 95 is connected to a laterally offset portion of the lower end of the upper boom 96 by a knuckle shaft 100. A triangular shaped member or hell crank 101 is also pivotally mounted on one end of the knuckle shaft 100 adjacent one corner thereof. The legs 88 are preferably braced from the turntable 68 by diagonal braces 102 and one of said diagonal braces or a part connected thereto forms a stationary perch 108 which projects from one of the legs 88 in a direction away from the legs 89 and to which one end of a link rod 104 is pivotally connected. The opposite end of the link rod 104 is pivotally mounted at 105 to another corner of the plate 101 so that when the lower boom 95 is swung upwardly about the lower knuckle shaft 97 in a clockwise direction from its position of Figure 2 to its position of Figure l, the plate 101 which is carried by the upper end of said boom 95 will swing in a counterclockwise direction about the knuckle shaft 100 due to the stationary support provided for the lower end of the rod 104 by the perch 103.

A basket-like carrier or stage 106 has lugs 107 projecting from a bottom rear part thereof which are pivotally connected to the upper end of the upper boom 96 by an upper knuckle shaft 108. A rigid arm 109 is fixed to and projects from the rear side of the carrier 106 above the lug 107. One end of a rigid connecting rod 110 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 109 and the opposite end of said rod is pivoted at 111 to a third corner of the plate 101. Consequently, when said plate 101 is rocked counterclockwise on the intermediate knuckle shaft 100 during upward swinging movement of the lower boom 95, the connecting rod 110 will exert a downward pull on the arm 109 to cause the carrier 106 to swing counterclockwise on the pivot 108. Since the booms and 96 are swung upwardly and downwardly in unison, as will hereinafter be described, the stationary arms or perches 103 and 109 in combination with the plate 101 and connecting rods 104 and 110 will cause the carrier 106 to swing relatively to the upper boom 96 by which it is carried in the opposite direction to the swinging movement of the upper end of said boom to thus maintain the carrier in an upright position at all times as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Thus, the linkage just described together with the booms 95 and 96 form two parallelograms, the corners of the lower parallelogram being formed by the pivots 97, 103, and and the four corners of the upper parallelogram being formed by the pivots 100, 108 and by the pivots of the ends of the rod to the arm 109 and plate 101. These two parallelograms having the common pivot 100 will cause the carrier 106 to swing about the pivot 108 according to the law of parallelograms so that the angular disposition of the arm 109 relatively to the axis of the upper boom 96 will always vary to correspond to the variation between the angle formed by the stationary arm or perch 103 and the axis of the lower boom 95.

An upper hydraulic cylinder 112 is pivotally mounted at its lower closed end at 113 on the lower boom 95 and contains a piston, not shown, having a piston rod 114 extending reciprocably through the upper end of said cylinder and which is pivotally connected at 115 to a novel linkage unit, designated generally 116, including a lower arm 117 and an upper arm 118. The arms 117 and 118 are pivotally connected to one another at complementary ends thereof at 119 and the other end of the lower arm 117 is pivoted at 120 to the lower boom 95 below and adjacent the pivot 100 and the other end of the upper arm 118 is pivoted to the upper boom 96 at 121 above and adjacent the pivot 100. This is considered a critical feature of the machine 25 as it enables the hydraulic cylinder unit 112 to swing the upper boom 96 through an arc of approximately relatively to the lower boom 95 without materially decreasing the leverage by which the force of the cylinder 112 and piston rod 114 is transmitted to the upper boom 96. If the outer or upper end of the piston rod 114 were pivotally connected directly to a part of the upper boom 96 it would be substantially impossible for said cylinder and piston rod to exert any force on the upper boom when the booms were in their folded positions of Figure 2 and substantially no force could be exerted on the upper boom as the booms approached their straight line positions of Figure l and only the maximum force would be exerted while the booms were substantially at right angles to one another when the leverage was at the maximum. Further, this leverage would decrease rapidly as the booms swung in either direction away from positions forming a right angle. However, with the linkage connection 116 the pivot point 115 is maintained at all times in laterally spaced relationship to the pivot 100 and the leverage is multiplied by the spacing of the pivot 119 from the knuckle shaft 100 and further by the spacing of the pivot 121 from said knuckle shaft 100, so that less pressure is required to extend the booms, the booms are made capable of being extended through a substantially greater are than would otherwise be possible, and the distance that the piston rod 114 must travel from a fully retracted to a fully extended position is materially reduced.

The stationary center post 64 is provided with a restricted center bore 122 having an enlarged upper end 123 which is threaded and which opens outwardly of the 7 top surface of the post 64. The bore 122 terminates substantially above the lower end of the post 64 and has a laterally extending portion 124 the outer end of which is enlarged and tapped to receive a pipe 125 through which air may be supplied under pressure. The upper end of the post 64 around the tapped bore 123 is provided with an inner groove 126 and an outer groove 127. The grooves 126 and 127 are annular and are radially spaced and concentric with respect to one another. The post 64 has a longitudinally extending bore closed at its lower end and the upper end of which bore 128 opens into a portion of the groove 126. A second longitudinally extending bore 129 likewise having a closed lower end opens at its upper end into a portion of the outer groove 127. A port 130 extends laterally from the bore 128 and opens outwardly of the post 64. The opposite end of the supply conduit 46 leading from the pump 46 is connected to said port 130 and thus communicates with the bore 128. A port 131 extends laterally from a part of the bore 129 and opens outwardly of the post 64 and has one end of a return conduit 132 connected thereto. The opposite end of the return conduit 132 opens into the tank 39.

The post 64 may also be provided with a bore or passage 133 having laterally extending ends openbore or passage 133 having laterally extending ends opening outwardly of said post adjacent the upper and lower ends of the post through which one or more conductor wires 134 may extend from a suitable source of electric current, not shown. The conductor wire 134 is connected to a ring of electrical conducting material 135 which is disposed around the upper end of the post 64 and insulated therefrom by a ring 136 of electrical insulating material. A brush contact 137 which is supported by the turntable 68 engages the ring 135 to form an electrical connection between the conductor 134 and a conductor 138 leading from the brush contact 137 and by means of which current may be supplied to the carrier 106 for operating any electrical tool which may be used by a workman supported on said carrier.

A cap or head 139 is rotatably disposed on the upper end of the shaft 64 and has a center bore 140 which turnably engages the stern portion 141 of a headed bolt 142, the head of which bears on the upper end of the cap 139 and on an annular sealing gasket 143 which is recessed in the upper side of said cap around the stem 141. The bolt 142 is provided with a threaded shank end of reduced diameter relatively to the unthreaded stem or shank 141. Said reduced threaded shank end 144 threadedly engages in the threaded bore portion 123 to secure the bolt to the post 64 for rotatably mounting the cap 139 on the upper end of the post. The shank 144 and stem 141 are provided with a longitudinal bore 145 which communicates with the air passage 122 and which opens into an annular groove 146 formed in the stern 141 and which in turn communicates with a radial port 147 which opens outwardly of the periphery of the cap 139 and to which is adapted to be connected an air supply conduit, not shown, leading therefrom to the carrier 106. The cap 139 is provided with a radial port 148 opening outwardly of the periphery thereof and having an inner depending end communicating with the annular groove 126. A corresponding port 149 communicates with the groove 127. The underside of the cap 139 has additional annular sealing rings 143 recessed therein between the grooves 126 and 127, between the inner groove 126 and the center bore 123, and between the outer groove 127 and the periphery of the post 64 and cap 139, as best illustrated in Figure 18. A pressure or supply conduit 150 is tapped into the port 148 and a return conduit 151 has a discharge end tapped into the passage 149. A branch return conduit 152 leading from the reversible hydraulic motor 72 is tapped into the return line 151 adjacent the cap 139, as illustrated in Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15, the middle knuckle shaft 100 is journalled adjacent its ends in the upper end of the lower boom 95 and has a manifold sleeve 153 journalled thereon and to which the lower end of the upper boom 96 is connected. The knuckle shaft 100 is provided with eight annular grooves 154 formed therein and in the portion thereof which is surrounded by the manifold 153 and said shaft is also provided with smaller grooves 155 between the grooves 154 in which are received annular sealing gaskets 156 to prevent escape of hydraulic fluid from one groove 154 to another groove. The shaft 100 has flattened portions 157 disposed between the ends thereof which are journalled in the lower boom 95 and the end of the manifold 153. The opposed flat surfaces 157 of each end portion of the knuckle shaft 100 has a block 158 detachably secured thereto by a fastening 158a. The knuckle shaft 100 has four bores extending longitudinally of each end thereof designated 159. The inner ends of the four bores of each end of the shaft open into the four grooves 154 of said shaft end and two of said bores open outwardly through each of the two flat surfaces 157 of said shaft end and said two bores communicate with corresponding ends of two ports of the block 158, which bores 160 have complementary ends communicating with the shaft bores 159 and opposite ends opening outwardly of a side of the block 158 and in communication with conduits which are connected thereto, as illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. The manifold 153 is provided with eight ports 161 which open outwardly thereof and into the eight grooves 154, so that said grooves and the passages 159 connect the ports 161 with the passages 160 of the blocks 158. It will be understood that the lower knuckle shaft 97 is similarly provided with a manifold sleeve 153a and is constructed in the same manner as the knuckle shaft 100. Likewise, the upper knuckle shaft 108 is also provided with a manifold sleeve 153b and is also constructed in the same manner as the knuckle shaft 100, and as illustrated in Figures 12 to 15.

Referring now to the diagrammatic view, Figure 9, it will be noted that four of the ports 161 of the lower manifold 153a are either plugged or omitted and likewise only four of the bores 159 of the lower knuckle shaft 97 are utilized or provided and the blocks 158 of the lower knuckle shaft are provided only with a total of four passages 160 which are utilized. The pressure conduit 150 leading from the cap 139 and the return conduit 151 leading to the cap 139 each passes through the lower knuckle shaft 97 and its manifold 153a. Said conduits 150 and 151 likewise pass through the intermediate knuckle shaft 100 and its manifold 153 and the upper knuckle shaft 108 and its manifold 15311 by entering each knuckle shaft through one of the blocks thereof and by extending from and being connected to a port 161 of the manifold of said knuckle shaft. The supply conduit 150 and the return conduit 151 are shown leading from the upper manifold 1531) into the carrier 106.

As best seen in Figures 10, 11, 21 and 22, the carrier 106 includes a surrounding wall 163 having a floor 164 disposed substantially above the bottom thereof on which a workman is supported on the carrier stand. Three double acting valves 165, 166 and 167 are mounted in the carrier beneath the floor 164. Said valves are connected by conduits 168 which are divided so that a portion of the conduit 168 constitutes a return conduit portion and another portion thereof a supply conduit portion. The pressure line 150 communicates with the valve 165 and through the conduit 168 communicates with each of the valves 166 and 167. The return conduit 151 connects with the valve 167 and through the conduit 168 withthe valves 166 and 165. Each of said valves is provided with two ports 169, either of which is capable of being brought into communication with either the supply line 150 or the return line 151 by operation of a sliding valve core 170 of said valve. Two lines 171 and 172 lead from the two ports 169 of the valve 165 through the upper and middle knuckle shafts and their manifolds and the line 171 extends from the middle knuckle shaft 100 and is tapped into the forward end of the cylinder 112 and the line 172 extends from said knuckle shaft 100 to the rear end of the cylinder 112. Two lines 173 and 174 extend from the two ports 169 of the valve 167 likewise through the upper and middle knuckle shafts and their manifolds, and the line 173 extends from the knuckle shaft 100 and is tapped into the forward end of the lower cylinder 90 and the line 174 similarly extends to and is tapped into the rear end of said lower cylinder 90. Two lines 175 and 176 extend from the ports 169 of the middle valve 166 through the three knuckle shafts and their manifolds and are connected at their opposite ends to the hydraulic rtation motor 72 for supplying pressure to said motor for driving it in either direction.

, A shaft 177 formed of swivelly connected end sections is journalled at its ends in bearings 178 which are secured in the forward part of the carrier 106 below the floor 164. One section of the shaft 177 has an upstanding lever element 179 which is pivotally connected to a rearwardly extending link 180 which is connected to the forward end of the sliding core 170 of the valve 165. The other shaft section has a similar upstanding lever element 181 connected by .a link 182 to the core 170 of the valve 167. Lever members 183 and 184 are fixed to and extend forwardly from the shaft sections adjacent the lever elements 179 and 181, respectively, and similar lever elements 185 and 186 extend rearwardly from said shaft sections adjacent said lever elements 179 and 181, respectively. Plunger-type foot pedals extend slidably through the floor 164, there being four of such foot pedals 187. The lower ends of the four foot pedals 187 bear on the four lever members 183, 184, 185 and 186.

The lower portion of a shaft 188 which is journalled in a sleeve 189 is disposed beneath the floor 164 and has a laterally projecting crank or lever 190 to which one end of a rigid link 191 is pivotally connected, eccentrically of the shaft 188, the opposite end of said link being connected to the sliding core of the valve 166. Thus, the links 180, 182 and 191 are capable of being reciprocated for moving the valve cores 170 so that either port 169 of each valve may be brought into communication with the pressure line 150 and the other port thereof will be simultaneously brought into communication with the return port 151. Likewise, the cores 170 may be disposed in intermediate positions with .both ports 169 of each valve out of communication with the pressure line 150 and return line 151. A paddle-type member 192 is fixed to and extends rearwardly from the upper end of the shaft 188 and is adapted to be engaged between the knees for turning said shaft in either direction to actuate the valve 166. As it will be obvious that the plungers 187 are intended to be actuated by the feet, it will thus be apparent that the three valves are actuated by the feet and knees of the operator standing on the floor 164 so that hydraulic pressure can be supplied to either end of either cylinder 90 and 112 selectively or simultaneously for selectively or simultaneously raising or lowering the booms 95 and 96 or for raising one boom while simultaneously lowering the other boom. Likewise, the shaft 188 is actuated by engagement of the knees with the plate 192 to supply the hydraulic fluid under pressure through either line 175 or 176 to turn the motor 72 in either direction for revolving the turntable 68 to any extent desired in either direction. The fluid from the motor 72 travels by the bypass 152 directly to the return line 151 whereas the fluid from either end of either cylinder is returned through the line connected to said cylinder and which is not then pressurized.

' A pair of rods 194 and 195 are connected to the links 180 and 182, respectively, and said rods extend slidably through the rear end of the bottom portion of the carrier 106 and the rear ends thereof are disposedso that if the upper cylinder 112 is extended sufficiently to cause the boom 96 to approach a position directly over the boom 95, .as illustrated in Figure 1, said rods 195 and 194 will strike the upper boom to exert a thrust on the links 180 and 182 to return the valves 165 and 167 to neutral closed positions so as to prevent the carrier from being swung to a position in which the occupant might be in risk of injury. A shaft 196 extends slidably through a sleeve 197 and has a lower end bearing on an extension 198 of the lever member 186, said shaft 196 having a horizontally disposed opposite upper end 199 arranged over the carrier 106 so that should the carrier be elevated too high and the operator pinned between the top portion of the carrier and a ceiling, branch or the like disposed thereabove, the operators body will be pressed down upon the shaft end 199 to displace the shaft 196 downwardly to depress the lever members 198 and 186 to thus actuate the valve 167 so that the boom will be swung downwardly by the pressurizing of the line 173 and to release the pressure from the lower end of said cylinder through the line 174.

A hinged bottom 200 is swingably mounted at 201 beneath the bottom 202 of the carrier 106 and is limited by a hook 203 at its free end in its downward swinging movement. Plungers 204 extend upwardly from the hinged bottom 200 slidably through the bottom 202 and engage under the lever elements 183, 184, 185 and 186 when said bottom 202 is swung upwardly. The bottom 202 may be provided with a depending runner element 205. Accordingly, if the carrier 106 is allowed to swing downwardly too close to the ground or to any other obstruction disposed therebeneath either the runner element 205 or the hinged bottom 202 will strike said obstruction causing said member 200 to be swung upwardly and its plungers 204 to engage the depressed lever members beneath which they are disposed to thus return the valves and 167 to neutral positions automatically. It will thus be seen that three automatic safety units are provided to prevent damage to the machine or injury to its occupant, due to careless or improper operation thereof by the occupant of the carrier 106.

The rear portion of the surrounding wall 163 is provided with spaced uprights 206 formed of angle iron to which are secured the lugs or arms 107 which extend rearwardly from the carrier 106 and are connected to the upper manifold 15% and form the pivotal connection of the carrier to the upper end of the upper boom 96. The rear portion of the surrounding wall 163 has an opening 208 located between the arms 107 through which the lines previously described leading to and from the valves 165, 166 and 167 extend. Two posts 209 are fixed to and extend upwardly from the angle members 206 and a railing 210 is supported by the upper end-s of the posts 209 and at a sufficient elevation to be disposed around a workman standing in the carrier at approximately hip height. The front part of the railing 210 is supported by front posts 209a. The valve actuating rod portion 199 is disposed above the front part of the railing 210, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 11. Racks 211 are supported on the carrier 106 outwardly of the front and rear part thereof for supporting fruit boxes, for example, when the machine 25 is being used in harvesting fruit from trees, or for supporting various equipment and tools where the machine is being used for other purposes such as by power or telephone company workers for working on overhead lines or the like, by painters, plasterers, structural workers or other artisans working at heights which would otherwise require the use of a ladder or scaffold, by maintenance men of outside advertising signs, in connection with aircraft maintenance and for numerous other uses requiring that a workman be supported in an elevated position.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the machine 25 is extremely versatile and is capable of being readily and efficiently controlled by a single operator supported in the carrier 106 thereof for raising and lowering the carrier, for moving the carrier toward or away from a position directly above the base structure of the machine and for swinging the carrier in a circle in either direction around said base portion. Also, a combination of these movements is possible so that the carrier may be moved outwardly and upwardly or outwardly and downwardly relatively to the base portion simultaneously for most effectively positioning the carrier in a position most convenient to the workman for the work to be performed. It will also be apparent that the machine is extremely stable with the booms in extended positions as one or the other of the foot members 85 will be disposed below the extended booms, if said booms are extended transversely to the base and said foot member will rest on the supporting surface of the machine so that any tendency of the machine to overturn would have to be about said foot member as a pivot. Additionally, the stabilizing ring members 32 by engaging over and under the drawbar 34 forms a connection with the draft vehicle or tractor so that the weight of the tractor additionally stabilizes the machine and would have to be overturned in order for the machine 25 to be overturned.

Where the machine 25 is used in picking fruits from trees, said machine can be propelled by a tractor between two rows of trees of an orchard and the machine stopped in a position centrally of four fruit trees. With the machine 25 thus positioned, it will be readily apparent that it is possible for the operator to completely pick the fruit from a quarter segment of each of four trees between which the machine is disposed without the base portion of the machine being moved. Furthermore, as the picker supported on the carrier 106 controls movement of the carrier relatively to the base portion of the machine, no other workmen are required and the picker may fill as many as four boxes supported on the racks 211 with the picked fruit before moving the carrier back to a position adjacent the ground for unloading the filled boxes and picking up empty boxes to be filled.

As previously explained, the linkage arrangement including the link rods 104 and 110, bell crank 101, stationary perch 103 and stationary arm 109 always maintains the carrier in a level position with respect to the turntable 68. Additionally, the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 58 and the bell cranks 55 and links 61 provide additional means for initially leveling the secondary frame 52 and turntable 68 in each new position to which the machine is moved so that when the machine is supported on uneven ground or on a hillside, the carrier 106 will still be level with its floor 164 in substantially a horizontal position, enabling the workman to work much more efficiently and to feel much safer than if the floor 164 and the carrier 106 as a whole were tilted.

As previously pointed out, the linkage connection 117, 118 of the upper hydraulic cylinder unit 112, 114 to the upper boom 96 provides an extremely novel means whereby the upper boom 96 may swing through an arc of substantially 180 relatively to the lower boom 95 and which would otherwise be impossible. This, in combination with the fact that the turntable carrying the extensible boom may be rotated under control from the carrier indefinitely in either direction without twisting or winding the hose and line extending from below the turntable to the carrier, enables the workman to transport himself readily either clockwise or counterclockwise to any new more favorable position in the work to be performed. With reference to the various motions which may be transmitted to the carrier 106, it will be apparent that a forward and backward or outward and inward motion may be accomplished by operation of the lower cylinder 90 and its piston rod 93 especially when the carrier is substantially immediately above the lower knuckle shaft, while straight up and down movement of the carrier may be accomplished when it is in a position almost on the ground or in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower knuckle shaft. Thus, the carrier can be displaced forwardly and downwardly into a recess of a tree to position a picker for conveniently picking fruit from the inside of the tree adjacent the trunk and so that the carrier may also be Withdrawn from the tree upwardly and rearwardly without disturbing the branches.

It will also be readily apparent that the machine 25 can be conveniently transported in its folded position of Figure 2 and may be more completely collapsed for storage by disengaging the upper link rod from the arm 109 so that the carrier 106 may swing downwardly about its pivot 108.

If desired, a forward part of the frame 26 may be provided with any suitable type of jack, not shown, for supporting the forward end of the frame when disengaged from the drawbar 34 and for positioning said forward end at a proper level to be coupled to the drawbar 34.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the kind described, a support; an upper boom and a lower boom; means pivotally interconnecting the booms for relative swinging movement; means pivotally mounting the lower boom on the support for swinging movement relative thereto; power means inter connecting the support and the lower boom for swinging the latter; mechanism pivotally interconnecting the booms; and power means having means connecting the same with the lower boom for swinging the upper boom, said last-mentioned power means being pivotally coupled with said mechanism whereby to swing the upper boom substantially relative to the lower boom.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a support; an upper boom and a lower boom; means pivotally interconnecting the booms for relative swinging movement; means pivotally mounting the lower boom on the support for swinging movement relative thereto; power means interconnecting the support and the lower boom for swinging the latter; a pair of pivotally interconnected links pivotally interconnecting the booms; power means having means connecting the same with the lower boom for swinging the upper boom, said last-mentioned power means being pivotally coupled with that link pivotally secured to the lower boom whereby to swing the upper boom substantially 180 relatively to the lower boom; a stage; means pivotally securing the stage to the upper boom for swinging movement relative thereto; and structure interconnecting the stage and the support, and coupled with the booms for maintaining said stage level at all times throughout the full 180 swinging movement of the upper boom.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a support; an upper boom and a lower boom; means pivotally interconnecting the booms for relative swinging movement; means pivotally mounting the lower boom on the support for swinging movement relative thereto; power means interconnecting the support and the lower boom for swinging the latter; a pair of pivotally interconnected links pivotally interconnecting the booms; power means having means connecting the same with the lower boom for swinging the upper boom, said last-mentioned power means being pivotally coupled with that link pivotally secured to the lower boom whereby to swing the upper boom substantially 180 relative to the lower boom; a stage; means pivotally securing the stage to the upper boom for swinging movement relative thereto; a rod for the stage and for the support respectively having means pivotally connecting the same thereto; a member pivotally interconnecting the rods; and means pivotally coupling the member with the booms for maintaining said stage level at all times throughout the full 180 swinging movement of the upper boom.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising a.

supporting base structure, a lower boom pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said supporting base structure and having an opposite free end, an upper boom pivotally connected at one end thereof to the free end of said lower boom and having an opposite free end, an operator and load-supporting carrier pivotally connected to the free end of the upper boom, selectively operated means for actuating said booms including a lower actuating unit connected to the lower boom and to the base structure and an upper actuating unit for selectively rocking the lower boom relative to the base structure, and the upper boom relative to said lower boom respectively, a linkage means for maintaining the carrier in a level position in the various adjusted positions of the booms including a lower link having means pivotally connecting the same to the base structure adjacent the pivotal connection of the lower boom to the base structure, an upper link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the carrier in spaced relationship to the pivotal connection of the carrier to the upper boom, and a bell crank member having an apex portion pivotally mounted on the pivotal connection of the upper boom to the lower boom, said upper and lower links being pivotally connected to the bell crank member at points spaced from one another and from the apex of the bell crank member, said upper actuating unit having a lower end pivotally connected to the lower boom and an upper end, and a pair of arms including a lower arm pivoted at one end thereof to the lower boom and an upper arm having one end thereof pivoted to the upper boom, said arms being pivoted to said booms in spaced relationship to said pivotal connection of the upper boom to the lower boom, said arms being pivotally connected to one another at their opposite ends, and said upper end of the upper actuating unit being pivotally connected to the lower arm intermediate of the ends of the latter whereby said upper boom may be swung through an arc of substantially 180 relative to the lower boom by operation of the upper actuating unit.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting base structure, a lower boom pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said supporting base structure and having an opposite free end, an upper boom pivotally connected at one end thereof to the free end of said lower boom and having an opposite free end, an operator and load-supporting carrier pivotally connected to the free end of the upper boom, selectively operated means for actuating said booms including a lower actuating unit connected to the lower boom and to the base structure and an upper actuating unit connected to the lower boom and to the upper boom for selectively rocking the lower boom relative to the base structure, and the upper boom relative to said lower boom, respectively, a linkage means for maintaining the carrier in a level position in the various adjusted positions of the booms including a lower link having means pivotally connecting the same to the base structure adjacent the pivotal connection of the lower boom to the base structure, an upper link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the carrier in spaced relationship to the pivotal connection of the carrier to the upper boom, and a bell crank member having an apex portion pivotally mounted on the pivotal connection of the upper boom to the lower boom, said upper and lower links being pivotally connected to the bell crank member at points spaced from one another and from the apex of the bell crank member, said upper and lower actuating units being hydraulically actuated, manual means operative from said carrier for selectively actuating the upper and the lower actuating units, a manifold means associated with and forming a part of said pivotal connection of the upper boom to the lower boom, the pivotal connection between the lower boom and the base structure, and the pivotal connection between the upper boom and the carrier, through which a hydraulic medium under pressure is adapted to pass to the carrier and from the carrier to said lower and upper actuating units, said manual means comprising foot pedal actuated valves for selectively controlling said upper and lower actuating units and a plurality of safety units for selectively moving said valves to closed positions and thereby interrupt movement of the carrier, to prevent the carrier from striking obstructions disposed thereabove or therebeneath and to limit swinging movement of the booms toward a fully extended upright position.

6. In an extensible boom structure, a lower boom and an upper boom, said booms having pivotally interconnected ends, and means for swingably extending said booms relative to one another including an extensible brace member having one end thereof pivotally connected to the lower boom remote from the pivot between the booms, a lower arm pivoted to the lower boom, and an upper arm pivoted to said upper boom, said arms being pivoted to the booms at points spaced from the pivot between the booms and having pivotally interconnected ends spaced a substantial distance from the pivot of said booms, the opposite end of said extensible brace being pivotally connected to the lower arm intermediate the ends of the latter whereby said upper boom may be swung relative to the lower boom through an arc of substantially by movement of said brace from afully retracted to a fully extended position.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a supporting base structure, a lower boom pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said supporting base structure and having an opposite free end, an upper boom pivotally connected at one end thereof to the free end of said lower boom and having an opposite free end, an operator and load-supporting carrier pivotally connected to the free end of the upper boom, selectively operated means for actuating said booms including a lower actuating unit connected to the lower boom and to the base structure and an upper actuating unit connected to the lower boom and to the upper boom for selectively rocking the lower boom relative to the base structure, and the upper boom relative to said lower boom, respectively, a linkage means for maintaining the carrier in a level position in the various adjusted positions of the booms including a lower link having means pivotally connecting the same to the base structure adjacent the pivotal connection of the lower boom to the base structure, an upper link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the carrier in spaced relationship to the pivotal connection of the carrier to the upper boom, and a bell crank member having an apex portion pivotally mounted on the pivotal connection of the upper boom to the lower boom, said upper and lower links being pivotally connected to the bell crank member at points spaced from one another and from the apex of the bell crank member, said upper and lower actuating units being hydraulically actuated, manual means operative from said carrier for selectively actuating the upper and the lower actuating units, and a manifold means associated with and forming a part of said pivotal connection of the upper boom to the lower boom, the pivotal connection between the lower boom and the base structure, and the pivotal connection between the upper boom and the carrier, through which a hydraulic medium under pressure is adapted to pass to the carrier and from the carrier to said lower and upper actuating units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 218,210 Alling et al Aug. 5, 1879 445,193 Osborn Jan. 27, 1891 763,771 Lukens June 28, 1904 1,003,967 Magliocca Sept. 19, 1911 1,561,694 Clutter Nov. 17, 1929 1,761,726 Havens June 3, 1930 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,472,944 Fure r June 14, 1949 2,085,921 McElheny July 1937 2,500,315 Gefll 14, 1950 2,114,262 Havens APL 1933 2,512,150 Geren June 9 2,202,009 Knox et a1 May 4 216061078 Brock 5, 1952 2,346,900 Black Apr 18,1944 5 1 7 sfiemm 4, 2 2,362,170 Swaisgood N 1944 2,627,560 EH61 1953 2,450,152 Miller Sept, 2 1943 2,674,500 Hukarl P 6, 1954

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