RESCUE TOOL

• US 3,819,153 A
• Filed: 04/26/1972
• Issued: 06/25/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hale Fire Pump Company
• Original Assignee: George H. Hurst, James F. Hobbins
• Inventors: Hobbins, James F., Hurst, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simpson, Othell M.
• Application Number:
  US05/247,553
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 254/18,93R,93H,93HP,124 72/392,7S 29/252
• US Class Current: 254/93.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 3/005 Rescue tools with forcing action
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 1/14 Straightening frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 19/00 Hoisting, lifting, hauling or pushing, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/24 fluid-pressure operated water-pressure machines F03B; hydraulic gearings F16H; cylinders, pistons F16J; fluid-pressure servomotors F15B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 60/916 Unitary construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 72/705 Vehicle body or frame straightener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator

Abstract

A lightweight, fluid powered portable rescue tool for applying high magnitude, push/pull forces comprising a base and a pair of force arms supported for pivotal movement adjacent to inner ends about spaced parallel axes on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said base. Fluid actuated force means is movable along the longitudinal axis of the base for pivoting the arms to move the outer ends toward and away from each other to close and open. Handle means is provided for manipulating the rescue tool to position the outer ends of the arms in the desired location and a pair of controls is disposed on opposite sides of the base conveniently adjacent the handles for controlling the fluid actuated force means to pivot the force arms toward or away from one another as desired.

Claims

1. A fluid powered, hand manipulatable rescue tool comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis, said body including a fluid cylinder and a forward end structure;

a pair of force arms mounted on said forward end structure on either side of the longitudinal axis of the body and supported for movement relative to said body about parallel pivot axes which are normal to said longitudinal axis, said arms having outer ends movable between open and closed positions when pivoted about said axes relative to said body;

fluid powered means for pivoting said arms in opposite directions and relative to said body;

a pair of handles parallel of and spaced on opposite sides of the fluid cylinder and extending rearwardly of said forward end structure for supporting and manipulating said tool to position the outer ends of said arms; and

control means adjacent at least one of said handles for controlling said fluid powered means to open and close said arms.

2. A fluid powered, hand manipulatable rescue tool comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis, said body including a fluid cylinder in a forward end structure;

a pair of force arms mounted on said forward end structure on either side of the longitudinal axis of the body and supported for movement relative to said body about parallel pivot axes which are normal to said longitudinal axis, said arms having outer ends movable between open and closed positions when pivoted about said axes relative to said body;

fluid powered means for pivoting said arms in opposite directions and relative to said body, said fluid powered means including a piston slidable in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting outwardly through an opening in said forward end structure, and linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward end of said piston rod with each of said force arms about pivot axes inwardly of said first mentioned pivot axes;

a pair of handles on opposite sides of said body for supporting and manipulating said tool to position the outer ends of said arms; and

control means adjacent at least one of said handles for controlling said fluid powered means to open and close said arms.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said force arms are substantially triangular in shape having a pointed outer end, each of said arms including an inner end portion pivotally supported adjacent an outer corner for pivotal movement relative to said body and an inner corner pivotally connected with said linkage means.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said handles and said fluid cylinder have longitudinal axes arranged in parallel on a common plane normal to the pivot axes of said arms.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said control means includes a first pair of operators adjacent the forward end of said handles, valve means for directing pressurized fluid to opposite sides of said piston to open and close said arms and linkage means interconnecting each of said first pair of operators and said valve means to provide opening of said force arms when either of said operators is moved outwardly away of said cylinder and closing of said force arms when either of said operators is moved inwardly toward said cylinder.

6. The tool of claim 5 including a second pair of said operators adjacent the forward end of said handles interconnected with said linkage means, said first pair of operators projecting outwardly of said common plane in one direction therefrom and said second pair of operators projecting outwardly of said common plane in A generally opposite direction therefrom whereby said tool is readily controllable from opposite sides of said plane.

7. The tool of claim 5 wherein said operators are mounted for pivotal movement about said longitudinal axes of said handles.

8. The tool of claim 6 wherein said operators are mounted for pivotal movement about said longitudinal axes of said handles.

9. The tool of claim 5 wherein said valve means is movable between a neutral, an arm closing and an arm opening control position and including bias means for returning said valve means to said neutral position upon release of pressure from an operator.

10. The tool of claim 6 wherein said valve means is movable between a neutral, an arm closing and an arm opening control position and including bias means for returning said valve means to said neutral position upon release of pressure from an operator.

11. A fluid powered, hand manipulatable rescue tool comprising:

a body;

a pair of force arms supported for movement relative to said body about parallel pivot axes, said arms having outer ends movable between open and closed positions when pivoted about said axes relative to said body;

a pair of tip members each detachably mounted adjacent the outer ends of said force arms, said tip members having a pointed outer end and teeth formed along an outer surface, and releaseable detent means for securing said tip members in place on said arms;

fluid powered means for pivoting said arms in opposite directions and relative to said body;

a pair of handles on opposite sides of said body for supporting and manipulating said tool to position the outer ends of said arm; and

control means adjacent at least one of said handles for controlling said fluid powered means to open and close said arms.

12. The tool of claim 11 including pin and socket connector means for securely positioning said tip members on said force arms.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said pin and socket connector means comprises a socket formed in the inner end portion of said tip members and pin means adapted to extend into said socket formed on said force arms extending longitudinally thereof, said detent means interconnecting said tip members and said force arms preventing outward movement of said tip members until released.

14. A light weight, fluid powered, portable rescue tool for applying high magnitude push-pull forces comprising:

a base having a longitudinal axis including a fluid cylinder aligned on said axis and arm support means at a forward end of said cylinder extending laterally outward on opposite sides thereof;

a pair of force arms mounted on said arm support means and supported for pivotal movement adjacent their inner ends about spaced parallel axes on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis fixed in relation to and normal of said cylinder axis;

fluid actuated force means movable along said longitudinal axis for pivoting said arms to move their outer ends thereof toward and away from each other, said force means including a piston rod extending outwardly of the forward end of said cylinder between said arm support means, and a pair of pivot links, each having an inner end pivotally connected to said rod and an outer end pivotally connected to a force arm for relative rotation about a movable pivot axis inside of the fixed pivot axis of said arm;

handle means for manipulating said tool to position the outer ends of said arms in a desired position; and

a pair of controls disposed on opposite sides of said base adjacent to said handle means for controlling said fluid actuated force means to pivot said force arms.

15. The tool of claim 14 wherein said handle means includes a pair of elongated handles disposed on opposite sides of said cylinder and extending rearwardly of said arm support means in spaced parallel relation with said cylinder.

16. The tool of claim 15 wherein each handle has a longitudinal axis parallel of said cylinder axis and wherein said controls include operators mounted on a handle axis for pivotal movement toward and away from said cylinder to close and open said force arms.

17. The tool of claim 16 wherein said controls include a pair of said operators on each handle axis extending in generally opposite directions thereof.

18. The tool of claim 16 wherein said controls comprises valve means for directing pressurized fluid to a selected side of said piston means, and a pair of linkage members interconnecting said valve means and the operator on each handle.

19. The tool of claim 17 wherein said controls include valve means for directing pressurized fluid to a selected side of said piston means and a pair of linkage members for operatively interconnecting said valve means and each pair of operators on each handle.

20. The tool of claim 18 wherein said valve means is operable between a neutral, a force arm closing and a force arm opening position, and biasing means for returning said valve means to said neutral position upon release of control force on said operators.

21. The tool of claim 19 wherein said valve means is operable between a neutral, a force arm closing and a force arm opening position, and biasing means for returning said valve means to said neutral position upon release of control force on said operators.

22. The tool of claim 19 including connector means between an outer end of a linkage member and a pair of operators on an adjacent handle for moving said outer end outwardly of said valve means on manipulation of either of said pair of said operators in opposite rotation directions with respect to the axis of said handle.

23. A fluid powered, hand manipulatable rescue tool comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis, said body including a fluid cylinder and a mounting structure extending outwardly therefrom;

a pair of elongated force arms mounted on said mounting structure on either side of the longitudinal axis of the body and supported for movement relative to said body about a pivot axis, said arms being substantially triangular in shape, each arm having a pointed outer end, a middle portion pivotally supported for movement relative to said body and a corner, the outer ends of said arms being movable between open and closed positions when pivoted, said arms being pivotally mounted adjacent the end opposite from said outer end;

fluid powered means connected to said arms adjacent to their pivotal mounting for pivoting said arms in opposite directions relative to said body, said fluid power means including a pressurized hydraulic oil supply connected to said cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting outwardly from said cylinder, and linkage means pivotally interconnecting said piston rod with each of said force arms at the corner thereof;

handle means on said body for supporting and manipulating said tool to position the outer ends of said arms; and

control means adjacent said handle means for controlling said fluid powered means to open and close said arms.

24. The tool of claim 23 wherein said control means includes an operator on said handle, valve means for directing pressurized fluid to opposite sides of said piston to open and close said arms, and linkage means interconnecting said operator and said valve means to provide opening and closing of said force arms when said opertor is moved.

25. The tool of claim 24 wherein said valve means is movable between a neutral control position and an arm closing control position and an arm opening control position, and including bias means for returning said valve means to said neutral position upon release of activating pressure from said operator.

26. The tool of claim 25 wherein said pressurized hydraulic oil supply includes a supply reservoir for providing oil to a pump for pressurizing the oil, said pump being powered by a pump motor, a pair of oil supply lines connected to said pump at their one end and to said valve means at their other end.

27. The tool of claim 26 wherein said pump includes a first stage for supplying oil at a high volume flow rate at moderate oil pressure for quickly opening said force arms in order that said arms may be rapidly brought into engagement with the work load, a second stage for supplying oil at a moderate volume flow rate at high oil pressure for providing the thrust necessary to move the work load, and internal automatic pump valve means for shifting from said first to said second stage.

28. A fluid powered, hand manipulatable rescue tool comprising:

a body;

a pair of elongated force arms each arm being supported for movement relative to said body about a pivotal axis, said arms having outer free ends movable between open and closed positions when pivoted relative to said body, said arms being pivotally mounted adjacent the end opposite from said outer end;

fluid powered means connected to said arms adjacent to their pivotal mounting for pivoting said arms in opposite directions relative to said body, said fluid powered means including a pressurized hydraulic oil supply connected to said cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting outwardly from said cylinder, and linkage means pivotally interconnecting said piston rod with each of said force arms, said pressurized oil supply including a reservoir for providing oil to a pump for pressurizing the oil, said pump being powered by a pump motor, a pair of oil supplying return lines connected to said pump at their one end and to said valve means at their other end, said pump including a first stage for supplying oil at high volume flow rate at a moderate oil pressure for quickly opening said force arms in order that said arms may be brought rapidly into engagement with a workload, a second stage for supplying oil at a moderate flow rate at high oil pressure for providing the thrust necessary to move the workload, and internal automatic pump valve means for shifting from said first to said second pump stage; and

control means adjacent said handle means for controlling said fluid powered means to open and close said arms.

29. A fluid powered, hand manipulatable rescue tool comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis, said body including a fluid cylinder and a forward end structure;

a pair of force arms mounted on said forward end structure on either side of the longitudinal axis of the body and supported for movement relative to said body about parallel pivot axes which are normal to said longitudinal axis, said arms having outer ends movable between open and closed positions when pivoted about said axes relative to said body;

fluid powered means for pivoting said arms in opposite directions and relative to said body;

a pair of handles parallel of and spaced on opposite sides of the fluid cylinder and disposed rearwardly of said forward end structure for supporting and manipulating said tool to position the outer ends of said arms; and

control means adjacent at least one of said handles for controlling said fluid powered means to open and close said arms.