Adjustable vehicle counterweight device with cylinder positioning means

• US 4,861,069 A
• Filed: 06/13/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Willard C. Gunter
• Original Assignee: Willard C. Gunter
• Inventors: Gunter, Willard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US07/205,741
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 280/758, 280/757, 280/759, 280/405 R, 280/405 A, 280/405 B, 212/195, 212/196, 172/611, 414/719, 414/673
• US Class Current: 280/758
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/18 Counterweights for cranes B66C23/72, for tractors B62D49/085

Abstract

An adjustable vehicle counterweight device (10) with cylinder positioning means (62). The vehicle counterweight device (10) comprises a frame (16) for being secured to a motor vehicle, such as a tractor (12), and comprises a weight member (14) reciprocatably supported by the frame (16) such that the weight member (14) is laterally reciprocatable and selectively positionable along a path of travel substantially parallel to the axis of the axle (13) of the tractor so as to allow the selective alteration of the center of gravity of the tractor (12). The device (10) also includes means for selectively moving the weight member (14) along its path of travel, which, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a hydraulic cylinder (22) provided with cylinder positioning means (62) for adjusting the axial position of the cylinder portion (24) of the hydraulic cylinder (22) to alter the range of travel of the weight member (14).

Claims

1. An adjustable vehicle counterweight device for being mounted on a motor vehicle for selectively altering the center of gravity of said vehicle, said vehicle having at least one axle defining a rotational axis, said device comprising:

a frame for being secured to said motor vehicle, said frame having a first end portion and a second end portion, said frame including first and second selectively spaced track members, each said track member defining a travelway extending from said first end portion of said frame to said second end portion of said frame and aligned substantially parallel to said axis of said axle of said vehicle;

a weight member reciprocatably supported by said frame, said weight member defining a first side portion provided with at least a pair of rotatably mounted wheel members for being received in said travelway of said first track member and defining a second side portion provided with at least a pair of rotatably mounted wheel members for being received in said travelway of said second track member, whereby said weight member is reciprocatable between a first position proximate said first end portion of said frame and a second position proximate said second end portion of said frame;

a hydraulic cylinder for selectively reciprocating said weight member, said cylinder including a cylinder portion and a reciprocating actuator arm having a free end portion secured to said weight member; and

cylinder positioning means for adjusting the axial position of said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder, said means including a channel bracket for securing to said frame, said channel bracket defining a channel, and including a cylinder mounting plate for engaging said cylinder portion, and for being slidably received in said channel of said channel bracket, said cylinder positioning means being provided with locking means for releasably locking said plate in a selected position as said plate is slidably received by said channel bracket.

2. The vehicle counterweight device of claim 1 wherein said plate carries a clevis for engaging said cylinder portion, said clevis defining a base portion, and wherein said channel bracket defines an elongated slot accessing said channel for slidably receiving said base portion of said clevis whereby said clevis is allowed to extend out of said channel bracket to engage said cylinder portion.

3. The vehicle counterweight device of claim 2 wherein said channel bracket defines an aperture accessing said channel and said plate defines an upper edge portion provided with a plurality of selectively spaced notches, each said notch being registrable with said aperture upon selective positioning of said plate within said channel bracket, and wherein said locking means comprises a locking member pivotally secured to said channel bracket, said locking member including a locking bar for being pivoted into said aperture and one of said notches whereby said plate member is releasably locked in a preselected position in said channel bracket.

4. The vehicle counterweight device of claim 3 wherein said locking member carries a handle assembly for selectively pivoting said locking member.

5. An adjustable vehicle counterweight device for mounting on a motor vehicle, said vehicle having at last one axle defining a rotational axis, said device comprising:

a frame for securing to said motor vehicle, said frame including first and second selectively spaced track members, each said track member including a lower support member and an upper retainer member so as to define a travelway therebetween;

a weight member reciprocatably supported by said frame such that said weight member is reciprocatable and selectively positionable along a path of travel substantially parallel to said axis of said axle, said weight member having a first side portion carrying at least a pair of rotatably mounted wheel members for being rotatably received in said travelway of said first track member, and having a second side portion carrying at least a pair of said rotatably mounted wheel members for being rotatably received in said travelway of said second track member;

a hydraulic cylinder for selectively moving said weight member along said path of travel, said hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder portion and a reciprocating actuator arm having an outboard end portion secured to said weight member; and

cylinder positioning means secured to said frame for securing said cylinder portion to said frame and for adjusting the axial position of said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder, whereby the range of reciprocation of said weight member along said path of travel is selectively altered.

6. An adjustable vehicle counterweight device for mounting on a motor vehicle, said vehicle having at least one axle defining a rotational axis, said device comprising:

a frame for securing to said motor vehicle;

a weight member reciprocatably supported by said frame such that said weight member is reciprocatable and selectively positionable along a path of travel substantially parallel to said axis of said axle;

means for selectively moving said weight member along said path of travel including a hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder portion and a reciprocating actuator arm having an outboard end portion secured to said weight member; and

cylinder positioning means for adjusting the axial position of said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder, said positioning means including a channel bracket for securing to said frame, said channel bracket defining a channel and an elongated slot accessing said channel, and including a cylinder mounting plate for engaging said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder and for being slidably received in said channel of said channel bracket, said plate being provided with a clevis for engaging said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder, said clevis defining a base portion for being slidably receiving by said elongated slot of said channel bracket, whereby said clevis is allowed to extend out of said channel bracket to engage said cylinder portion, said positioning means further including locking means for releasably locking the position of said plate as said plate is slidably received by said channel bracket.

7. The vehicle counterweight device of claim 6 wherein said channel bracket defines an aperture accessing said channel and said plate defines an upper edge portion provided with a plurality of selectively spaced notches, each said notch being registrable with said aperture upon selective positioning of said plate within said channel bracket, and wherein said locking means comprises a locking member pivotally secured to said channel bracket, said locking member including a locking bar for being pivoted into said aperture and one of said notches whereby said plate member is releasably locked in a preselected position in said channel bracket.

8. The vehicle counterweight device of claim 6 wherein said locking member carries a handle assembly for selectively pivoting said locking member.

9. A cylinder positioning apparatus for mounting on a frame for selectively adjusting the axial position of the cylinder portions of a hydraulic cylinder, said apparatus comprising:

a channel bracket for securing to said frame, said channel bracket defining a channel and an elongated slot accessing said channel;

a cylinder mounting plate for engaging said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder, and for being slidably received in said channel of said channel bracket, said plate being provided with a clevis for engaging said cylinder portion, said clevis defining a base portion for being slidably received in said slot of said channel bracket, whereby said clevis is allowed to extend out of said channel bracket to engage said cylinder portion; and

locking means for releasably locking said plate in position as said plate is slidably received by said channel bracket.

10. A cylinder positioning apparatus for mounting on a frame of a vehicle counterweight device for selectively adjusting the axial position of the cylinder portions of a hydraulic cylinder, said apparatus comprising:

a channel bracket for securing to said frame, said channel bracket defining a channel and an aperture accessing said channel;

a cylinder mounting plate for engaging said cylinder portion of said hydraulic cylinder, and for being slidably received in said channel of said channel bracket, said plate being provided with a plurality of selectively spaced notches, each notch being registerable with said aperture of said channel bracket upon selective positioning of said plate within said channel bracket; and

locking means for releasably locking said plate in position as said plate is slidably received by said channel bracket, said locking means including a locking member pivotally secured to said channel bracket, said locking member including a locking bar for being pivoted into said aperture and one of said notches whereby said plate member is releasably locked in a preselected position in said channel bracket.