Abstract: A flanged link cross tube (1) for use in pivotal connections of beams (10) that locates weld roots (5) to the outer mating surface of beam (10) and flange (4). As the beams (10) rotate about a pivot connection, high torque loading occurs along the common plane (Z) between adjacent beams (10). Locating weld roots (5) on the outer mating surface of beams (10) and flanges (4) reduces loading on weld roots (5) and extends the useful life of a scissors lift (20).

Abstract: A trailer personnel lift (20) with a level-sensing system (69). The level-sensing system (69) provides information to a level-indicator display (72) that indicates which outriggers (34) of the trailer personnel lift (20) need to be lowered. Upon lowering of the designated outriggers (34), the signal for the outrigger (34) changes so as to indicate that the outrigger (34) no longer needs lowering. The outriggers (34) are capable of locking into at least three positions, a first position (40A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially horizontal to the surface upon which the personnel lift (20) is to be located, a second position (48A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially vertically from the base, and a third position (46A) that is intermediate of the first and second positions, the third position being selected so that the outriggers (34) may be stabilized in the third position (46A) on an upward slope.

Abstract: A personnel lift (20) having adjustable side-to-side shim assemblies (38a-d) used in conjunction with a series of slide blocks (39, 40) in the mast of the personnel lift. The mast of the personnel lift includes a number of nested columns (24a-e) that extend to lift a person and an aerial work platform (22) to a desired height. The shim assemblies (38a-d) and slide blocks (39, 40) are used to maintain the nested columns (24a-e) in proper alignment, and the shim assemblies (38a-d) are adjustable to account for wear. The adjustable features of the shim assemblies (38a-d) are accessible when the columns are fully assembled, which allows the shim assemblies (38a-d) to be adjusted without requiring that the mast be disassembled.

Abstract: A scissors lift (20) including an engine compartment (22) having an engine (24) therein. An engine mount (25) which permits rotation of the engine (24) outward about two pivot axes and out of the engine compartment (22) so that items on the back side of the engine such as the oil filter, alternator, or starter can be accessed. The engine (24) begins in a first position, is rotated about a first axis (68) to a second position, and is rotated outward about a second axis (70) to a third position.

Abstract: A trailer personnel lift (20) with a level-sensing system (69). The level-sensing system (69) provides information to a level-indicator display (72) that indicates which outriggers (34) of the trailer personnel lift (20) need to be lowered. Upon lowering of the designated outriggers (34), the signal for the outrigger (34) changes so as to indicate that the outrigger (34) no longer needs lowering. The outriggers (34) are capable of locking into at least three positions, a first position (40A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially horizontal to the surface upon which the personnel lift (20) is to be located, a second position (48A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially vertically from the base, and a third position (46A) that is intermediate of the first and second positions, the third position being selected so that the outriggers (34) may be stabilized in the third position (46A) on an upward slope.

Abstract: A personnel lift (20) including a three-wheeled transport in which a rear or transport wheel (30) is connected to a lever arm or handle (32) that is designed to raise and lower the transport wheel (30). Pulling the handle (32) downward drops the transport wheel (30) to ground level raising the support legs (34) off the ground. Raising the handle (32) lifts the transport wheel (30) off the ground, dropping the support legs (34) onto the ground. An electric interlock system is utilized to prevent the vertical lift assembly (24) of the personnel lift (20) from being used when the support legs (34) are not on the ground. The electric interlock system includes three switches (89, 104a, 104b), all of which must be closed in order for the aerial work platform (22) to be elevated. Two of the switches (104a, 104b) are operated by the support legs (34). The switches (104a, 104b) in the support legs (34) are closed when the support legs are in full contact with the ground.

Abstract: A transport device, or hand truck (10), having a load carrying surface (26) that is mounted to move up and down along the hand truck (10). The level of the load carrying surface (26) is changed by the amount of air within a pneumatic cylinder (40). The amount of air in the pneumatic cylinder (40) is determined by a pneumatic adjustment subsystem (42) and the load on the load carrying surface (26). Preferably, the pneumatic adjustment subsystem (42) is set so that the top item located on the load carrying surface (26) is always at waist level. The pneumatic adjustment system (42) permits the pneumatic cylinder (40) to be offset an incremental amount respective to items of identical weight and height being removed from or placed upon the load carrying surface (26). Thus, as items are removed from the load carrying surface (26), the load carrying surface indexes upward so that the top item is readily available at waist level.

Abstract: A personnel lift (20) including a three-wheeled transport in which a rear or transport wheel (30) is connected to a lever arm or handle (32) that is designed to raise and lower the transport wheel (30). Pulling the handle (32) downward drops the transport wheel (30) to ground level raising the support legs (34) off the ground. Raising the handle (32) lifts the transport wheel (30) off the ground, dropping the support legs (34) onto the ground. An electric interlock system is utilized to prevent the vertical lift assembly (24) of the personnel lift (20) from being used when the support legs (34) are not on the ground. The electric interlock system includes three switches (89, 104a, 104b), all of which must be closed in order for the aerial work platform (22) to be elevated. Two of the switches (104a, 104b) are operated by the support legs (34). The switches (104a, 104b) in the support legs (34) are closed when the support legs are in full contact with the ground.

Abstract: A personnel lift (20) having adjustable side-to-side shim assemblies (38a-d) used in conjunction with a series of slide blocks (39, 40) in the mast of the personnel lift. The mast of the personnel lift includes a number of nested columns (24a-e) that extend to lift a person and an aerial work platform (22) to a desired height. The shim assemblies (38a-d) and slide blocks (39, 40) are used to maintain the nested columns (24a-e) in proper alignment, and the shim assemblies (38a-d) are adjustable to account for wear. The adjustable features of the shim assemblies (38a-d) are accessible when the columns are fully assembled, which allows the shim assemblies (38a-d) to be adjusted without requiring that the mast be disassembled.

Abstract: An outreach mechanism (34) for an aerial work platform (22) on a personnel lift (20). The outreach mechanism (34) is designed to attach an aerial work platform (22) to the upper section (24A) of a vertical lift assembly (24) of a personnel lift (20). The outreach mechanism (34) includes scissors-like arms (38, 40) that extend between the aerial work platform (22) and the upper section (24A) of the vertical lift assembly (24). The upper ends of the arms (38, 40) are pivotally attached to the aerial work platform (22) and to the vertical lift assembly (24) at pivot points (46, 48). The lower ends (50, 52) of the arms (38, 40) slidingly engage channels (42, 44) attached to the aerial work platform (22) and to the upper portion of the vertical lift assembly (24). One of the lower ends (50, 52) of the arms (38, 40), namely, the lower end (50) of the arm (38) mounted in the channel (42) adjacent the aerial work platform (22), is affixed to a continuous chain (66).

Abstract: A linkage mounted counterweight for offsetting a load at the free end of an articulated boom crane (20). The articulated boom crane (20) includes an articulated boom (23) that includes an elevate linkage (25) and a telescoping section (24) is disclosed. The elevate linkage (25) includes a lower section (42) and a mid section (44). The counterweight (60) is located on the lower section (42) near where the lower section (42) is hingedly attached to the base of the crane (20). As the articulated boom (23) is raised from a stowed position, the counterweight moves away from the tilting fulcrum (F) of the articulated boom crane (20) to assist in maintaining the stability of the crane.

Abstract: A multi-stage mast assembly has its mast stages stacked front to back when retracted and has front-to-back guide rollers and side-to-side guide rollers between the mast stages and a front carriage frame. An extrusion is used for the mast stages and the carriage frame. The extrusion has a central hollow rectangular column, inwardly facing channels at the front corners, outwardly directed flanges at the back corners, and pairs of central stub flanges at the front and back.

Abstract: A suspension system for utility vehicles of the type in which the chassis is supported at one end on an oscillating axle with a central pivot, has the oscillation of this axle controlled by one or two extensible links each in the form of a hydraulic cylinder unit. The second vehicle axle has limited oscillation used to shuttle the spool of a directional control valve which determines the flow of pressurized fluid for operation of the hydraulic cylinder units(s). The control valve can also be electrically operated responsive to the closing of switches responsive to the oscillations of the second axle.

Abstract: A portable multi-stage lift is provided with multiple outriggers for stability. The lift cannot be raised unless the outriggers are positioned in a fully extended, load-bearing relationship with the lift.

Abstract: A portable telescopic hoist has an auxiliary tilt-back frame at the rear for supporting the hoist when it is tilted from its normal upright position to a backward sloped position to clear an overhead restriction. The tilt-back frame has a strut with a gas spring therein having a nearly constant spring force. This strut has a downwardly sloped operating position from a detachable connection at the back of the mast of the hoist.

Abstract: A telescopic pneumatic hoist has a flexible stationary hollow probe on its base arranged to unseat a check ball in the piston of the lowest intermediate stage when the piston is near the base. When such a condition exists, the probe closely interfits with the piston and has a radial port communicating with the underside of the piston. The probe connects at the bottom with a supply and exhaust passage which also communicates with the underside of the piston via a check valve controlled secondary passage.

Abstract: A telescopic mast has a top mounting assembly which plugs into the top cylinder of the mast and presents an upwardly projecting threaded stud. A platform unit is seated on the mounting assembly and includes a wing nut which is screwed onto the stud and can be turned independently of the rest of the platform unit. The nut is exposed in a recess at the top of the platform unit for access to permit manual turning.

Abstract: A dual-handled manual winch has a ratchet wheel meshing constantly with a pawl and which is automatically frictionally locked to a drive pinion for the winch drum when the drum starts to overrun. The drive pinion is threaded into a drive shaft on the ends of which the handles are mounted in diametrically opposite relation and on which the ratchet wheel and a pair of friction washers are sleeved to be engaged between the pinion and the ratchet wheel, and between the ratchet wheel and a stop collar on the shaft, responsive to axial movement of the drive pinion in the shaft toward the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A low noise, self-locking winch with a cylindrical cable drum having a cable wound around its periphery. The drum is rotated by a drive wheel which is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft. A latch wheel, having a smooth outer periphery, is slidably mounted on the drive shaft adjacent the drive wheel with a layer of frictional braking material positioned therebetween such that axial pressure on the latch wheel with respect to the drive shaft causes the latch and drive wheels to rotate as a unit. A crank is threaded onto the end of the drive shaft adjacent the latch wheel so that rotation of the crank in a winding direction forces the latch wheel against the drive wheel to rotate the cable drum. A pivotally mounted latch lever is resiliently biased against the smooth outer periphery of the latch wheel in a manner that causes the latch lever to cam against the latch wheel as the drum rotates in an unwinding direction thereby locking the winch.