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Forklift attachment

  • US 3,971,485 A
  • Filed: 11/26/1974
  • Issued: 07/27/1976
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1974
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Attachment means for mounting on a conventional forklift for enabling the lifting and tilting of elongated containers such as barrels, drums or the like, said attachment means comprising base frame means including connection means enabling supported attachment of said base frame means on the forks of a forklift, wherein said base frame means includes first and second fork sleeve members dimensioned and spaced to fit over first and second fork members of a forklift, wherein said connection means includes first and second threaded rods respectively mounted in said first and second fork sleeves and operable for effecting a clamping of said fork sleeves to a fork on which said fork sleeves are respectively mounted, a transverse base frame connection member connected to and extending between the first and second fork sleeve members at a position adjacent the inner end of the fork sleeve members so that said transverse base frame connection member and said fork sleeve members comprise a unitary generally U-shaped frame, first and second spaced container clamp jaw members, first and second container clamp jaw support means mounted on said base frame means for supporting said first and second container clamp jaw members for movement in a horizontal plane toward or away from each other for enabling a clamping of a container between said container clamp jaw members or for releasing said clamp jaw members from a clamped container, said clamp jaw support means including first and second coaxial pivot members on which said first and second container clamp jaw means are respectively mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis coextensive with the axis of said pivot members, a first clamp arm means, means mounting said first clamp arm on said first fork sleeve for pivotal movement about a vertical axis medially of the first clamp arm and which vertical axis is oriented generally perpendicular to said first fork sleeve, said first pivot member being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the outer end of said first clamp arm, a second clamp arm, second clamp arm support means supporting said second clamp arm for pivotal movement about a vertical axis medially of said second clamp arm, said second pivot member being mounted adjacent the outer end of said second clamp arm, clamping function power actuator means mounted on said base frame means for actuating said container clamp jaw support means to selectively move said container clamp jaw members toward or away from each other, said clamp function power actuation means comprising a pivot plate mounted for pivotal movement on said base frame and connection member, first and second hydraulic cylinder means coaxially mounted on opposite sides of said pivot plate and respectively having first and second piston rod means connected to the inner ends of said first and second clamp arms for effecting pivotal movement of said first and second clamp arms in opposite directions to provide a clamping or unclamping function with respect to a container or other object positioned between said first and second container clamp jaw members, tilting function power actuator means for pivoting said tilting function power actuator means for pivoting said clamp jaw members about the axis of said pivot members to effect a tilting of container means clamped between said container clamp jaw members, wherein said first pivot member comprises a first pivot shaft extending through bearing means adjacent the outer end of said first clamp arm, said tilting function power actuator means includes a third hydraulic cylinder, said third hydraulic cylinder being mounted on said first clamp arm, an eccentric means mounted on said first pivot shaft, and means providing a connection between said eccentric means and the outer end of the rod of said third hydraulic cylinder whereby actuation of said third hydraulic cylinder pivots said pivot shaft and said first container clamp jaw member and wherein said second pivot member comprises a second pivot shaft mounted in bearing means on the outer end of said second clamp arm and further including biassing means normally maintaining said second pivot shaft in a position in which said second container clamp jaw members is oriented horizontally for permitting rotation of said second clamp jaw upon actuation of said third hydraulic cylinder when a container is clamped between said container clamp jaw members.

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