Abstract: A telescopic boom and lift apparatus positions a vertical support and platform and includes a telescopic boom unit and a rigid mechanical lift linkage to pivot the boom unit with automatic leveling of the support. The telescopic boom unit is pivoted to a base, with a motor unit coupled to extend and retract the boom unit. A rigid linkage unit is pivotally interconnected to the base and the tip boom of the boom unit. The linkage unit is constructed and arranged to support the boom unit in the retracted, collapsed position and to exert a lifting and pivot force on the boom unit in response to extension of the tip boom. Parallelogram linkages on the boom unit and lift unit are coupled to a pivot unit at the tip boom and maintains a precise orientation of the vertical support and platform. The lift arm unit includes parallel rigid arms which are laterally spaced such that the boom unit collapses into the lift unit to form a compact assembly.

Abstract: An improved work platform suitable for mounting on a vehicle mounted telescoping boom. The work platform includes a fixed platform section mounted on the tip of the boom in conjunction with a leveling mechanism. Two movable side platform sections are pivotally fastened at one of their ends to the fixed platform section for independent movement on either side of a centerline. The side platform sections may be moved apart in a scissors-like motion so that the platform may be maneuvered to straddle the object being worked on. Bumpers and troughs are provided along the inner edge of the side platform sections to protect the object being worked on and to prevent articles from rolling off the platform. When the side panel sections are moved into abutment to use the platform as a conventional unitary platform, a hinged flap on one of the side platform sections covers the abutting edges of the side platform sections, the bumpers and the troughs.

Abstract: A telescopic boom consists of a plurality of generally rectangular boom sections nested with each outwardly extending section inside of the next adjacent inward section. The boom is provided with self-aligning slide pad mounts at both the front and rear reaction points. At the front reaction point, this mounting includes elongated slide pads supported to stay with the outside inward boom section and situated directly under the side plates of the outwardly extending inside boom section. At the rear reaction points, the mounting includes elongated slide pads mounted to move with, and to be immediately adjacent to, outer surfaces of the side plates of the outwardly extending, inside boom section. Both the front reaction slide pads and the rear reaction slide pads are mounted to pivot on a horizontal axis with respect to the boom section with which they move, and the pivotal mountings for these slide pads are situated between the adjacent, spaced apart side plates of the nested boom sections.

Abstract: A steering mechanism particularly suited for vehicles of the type having a variable width track. The steering mechanism is flexible enabling it to automatically extend and retract laterally along with the track of the wheels of the vehicle. The mechanism acts on steering arms of the steerable wheels of a vehicle to simulate a conventional tie rod type of steering geometry. During turning, the inner wheel turns more than the outer wheel to minimize tire slippage or scrub. A flexible steering linkage assembly is connected between the steering arm ends of the pair of steerable wheels to maintain controlled spatial relationship between them which results in a simulation of tie rod steering geometry.

Abstract: A steering mechanism particularly suited for vehicles of the type having a variable width track. The steering mechanism is flexible enabling it to automatically extend and retract laterally along with the track of the wheels of the vehicle. The mechanism acts on steering arms of the steerable wheels of a vehicle to simulate a conventional tie rod type of steering geometry. During turning, the inner wheel turns more than the outer wheel to minimize tire slippage or scrub. A flexible steering linkage assembly is connected between the steering arm ends of the pair of steerable wheels to maintain controlled spatial relationship between them which results in a simulation of tie rod steering geometry.

Abstract: An improved mounting arrangement for the vertical cylinder of an extensible outrigger assembly includes laterally extending plates on the cylinder that are connected to the beam side walls by two transverse mounting pins, one of which also functions as a connection point for the horizontal cylinder that actuates the outrigger beam. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical cylinder has a self-storing float and a piston rod that is held against rotation to assure correct alignment of the float.

Abstract: An outrigger assembly for stabilization of a load handling machine such as a truck crane. An outrigger beam is horizontally extensible from the vehicle to a working position and retractible to a storage position. A float assembly is located on the beam end and has a float pad vertically extensible and retractible relative to the beam end by means of a hydraulic power unit enabling the float pad to be positioned in stabilizing engagement with the ground. The float pad is rotatable with respect to the beam end between a generally horizontal working orientation and a generally vertical storage and transport orientation adjacent the structure. During extension and retraction of the outrigger beam, the float pad is maintained in the horizontal, less obtrusive, position for clearance of ground obstacles. An actuator is mounted on the vehicle to contact a part of the float assembly as it approaches the vehicle.