Tow truck equipped with a light weight rust resistant body assembly and an underlift assembly
First Claim
1. A tow truck for lifting a part of a vehicle and towing the vehicle comprising:
- a tow truck chassis including spaced frame members and a deck above said frame members, and said tow truck chassis having a forward end and a rearward end including a rear axle;
a lifting boom assembly coupled to the tow truck chassis; and
an underlift assembly coupled to the lifting boom, wherein said underlift assembly comprises;
a support arm coupled to the lifting boom;
a base coupled to an end of the support arm;
a boom base pivotally attached to the base at a first pivot point;
a boom pivotally attached to the boom base at a second pivot point;
a first actuator coupled to the support arm and the boom base, wherein the operation of the first actuator pivots the boom base with respect to the support arm;
a second actuator coupled to the boom base and the boom, wherein the operation of the second actuator pivots the boom with respect to the boom base; and
attachments coupled to the boom for engaging a vehicle for lifting a part thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tow truck is disclosed equiped with an improved body assembly, underlift assembly and lifting boom assembly. The body assembly includes a left body unit and a right body unit. Each body unit has a structural unit and a plurality of exterior panhed to the structural unit. The structural unit is preferably formed from flanged aluminum panels that are attached by adhesive. The improved underlift assembly comprises a support arm coupled to the vehicle. A base is coupled to an end of the support arm, a boom base is pivotally attached to the base at a first pivot point and a boom is pivotally attached to the boom base at a second pivot point. A first actuator is coupled to the support arm and the boom base. The operation of the first actuator pivots the boom base with respect to the support arm. A second actuator is coupled to the boom base and the boom. The operation of the second actuator pivots the boom with respect to the boom base. The first actuator is used to position the boom during lifting operation, and the second actuator is used to position the boom into a folded rest position. The improved lifting boom includes two lifting hydraulic actuators that are coupled to the lifting boom on each side and angled inward to provide improved stability.
74 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A tow truck for lifting a part of a vehicle and towing the vehicle comprising:
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a tow truck chassis including spaced frame members and a deck above said frame members, and said tow truck chassis having a forward end and a rearward end including a rear axle; a lifting boom assembly coupled to the tow truck chassis; and an underlift assembly coupled to the lifting boom, wherein said underlift assembly comprises; a support arm coupled to the lifting boom; a base coupled to an end of the support arm; a boom base pivotally attached to the base at a first pivot point; a boom pivotally attached to the boom base at a second pivot point; a first actuator coupled to the support arm and the boom base, wherein the operation of the first actuator pivots the boom base with respect to the support arm; a second actuator coupled to the boom base and the boom, wherein the operation of the second actuator pivots the boom with respect to the boom base; and attachments coupled to the boom for engaging a vehicle for lifting a part thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tow truck for lifting a part of a vehicle and towing the vehicle comprising:
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a tow truck chassis including spaced frame members and a deck above said frame members, and said tow truck chassis having a forward end and a rearward end including a rear axle; and a body assembly comprising; a left body unit and a right body unit;
wherein each said body unit comprising a structural unit, and an exterior panel attached to the structural unit;
the structural unit comprising;a front panel with at least one flange formed on at least one edge, the front panel attached to a plurality of compartment panels, each said plurality of compartment panels having at least one flange formed on at least one edge, the plurality of compartment panels attached to a back panel with at least one flange formed on at least one edge; and a top panel with at least one flange formed on at least one edge attached to the front panel and attached to the back panel;
whereinthe front panel, the back panel, the top panel, and the plurality of compartment panels, are attached by adhesive disposed on the each at least one flanges, and form a structural unit having at least one compartment; and a support arm coupled to the truck chassis; a base coupled to an end of the support arm; a boom base pivotally attached to the base at a first pivot point; a boom pivotally attached to the boom base at a second pivot point; a first actuator coupled to the support arm and the boom base, wherein the operation of the first actuator pivots the boom base with respect to the support arm; a second actuator coupled to the boom base and the boom, wherein the operation of the second actuator pivots the boom with respect to the boom base; attachments coupled to the boom for engaging a vehicle for lifting a part thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A tow truck for lifting a part of a vehicle and towing the vehicle comprising:
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a tow truck chassis including spaced frame members and a deck above said frame members, and said tow truck chassis having a forward end and a rearward end including a rear axle; and a body assembly comprising; a left body unit and a right body unit;
wherein each said body unit comprising a structural unit, and an exterior panel attached to the structural unit;the structural unit comprising; a front panel with at least one flange formed on at least one edge, the front panel attached to; a plurality of compartment panels, each said plurality of compartment panels with at least one flange formed on at least one edge, the plurality of compartment panels attached to; a back panel having at least one flange formed on at least one edge; and a top panel having at least one flange formed on at least one edge attached to the front panel and attached to the back panel;
whereinthe front panel, the back panel, the top panel, and the plurality of compartment panels, are attached by adhesive disposed on the each at least one flanges; and the front panel, the back panel, the top panel, and the plurality of compartment panels form a structural unit having at least one storage compartment; the at least one exterior panel comprising, an exterior panel top attached to the top panel; and an exterior front panel attached to the front panel; and an exterior rear panel taillight assembly attached to a rear surface of the structural unit; and a lifting boom assembly coupled to the tow truck chassis comprising; a first lifting hydraulic actuator disposed on a first side of the lifting boom and a second lifting hydraulic actuator disposed on a second side of the lifting boom;
whereineach of the first and second lifting hydraulic actuators coupled to the tow truck chassis at a first coupling point, and coupled to the lifting boom at a second coupling point; the first coupling point of the each first and second lifting hydraulic actuators disposed a greater distance from a center vertical plane that is formed through a length-wise center line than the second coupling point; and a support arm coupled to the lifting boom; a base coupled to an end of the support arm; a boom base pivotally attached to the base at a first pivot point; a boom pivotally attached to the boom base at a second pivot point; a first actuator coupled to the support arm and the boom base, wherein the operation of the first actuator pivots the boom base with respect to the support arm; a second actuator coupled to the boom base and the boom, wherein the operation of the second actuator pivots the boom with respect to the boom base; attachments coupled to the boom for engaging a vehicle for lifting a part thereof. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification