Abstract: Apparatus for providing additional effective length to the telescoping boom of a material handling apparatus is provided. A pivotable boom cradle is supported on an upper structure of the material handling apparatus. The boom cradle pivotally supports the base boom section by means of front and rear cradle arms. Front and rear straps are provided to attach the boom to the cradle arms. In addition, front stop blocks are provided intermediate the length of the base boom section while rear stop blocks are provided adjacent the trailing end thereof. In normal operation, bolts secure the front stop blocks to the front portion of the boom cradle. When it is desired to operate with an additional entended length of the boom, the material handling implement is imbedded in the ground, the bolts securing the front stop blocks to the boom cradle are removed and the bolts securing the front and rear straps to their respective cradle arms are loosened.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided which includes a lower truck chassis and an upper material handling structure pivotally supported by the lower chassis, all functions of which vehicle are driven by a single engine. The material handling vehicle is controllable from a main truck cab on the truck chassis or from an upper operator's cab mounted on the upper structure. The single engine provides highway travel power and power to all excavator functions, while the vehicle, including remote travel and implement manipulation capabilities, may be controlled from the upper operator cab. The main engine, when used for over the highway travel, powers the driven wheels through a power shift transmission in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes an improved force transmitting assembly which is utilized to rotate a base boom section relative to a cradle and to retain the base boom section against axial movement relative to the cradle. The force transmitting assemby is advantageously disposed between an inner end portion of the base boom section and an upstanding end portion of the cradle and includes a gear drive arrangement which is operated by a relatively high speed motor to rotate the base boom section about its central axis at a relatively low speed. The gear drive arrangement includes a stator or internally toothed ring gear which is fixedly connected with the cradle. A rotor gear or wheel has an external diameter which is less than the internal diameter of the ring gear and has external teeth which are disposed in meshing engagement with the internal teeth of the ring gear. The central axis of the rotor gear is offset from the central axis of the ring gear.

Abstract: An improved material handling apparatus includes a base boom section which is rotatably supported in a cradle and a second boom section which is telescopically received within the base boom section and is movable axially relative to the base boom section. A force transmitting assembly is provided to transmit rotational drive forces from a tilt motor to the base boom section to effect rotational movement of the two boom sections about their longitudinal axes. This force transmitting assembly also retains the base boom section against axial and radial movement relative to the cradle. The force transmitting assembly includes a single force transmitting member or body which is fixedly connected at one end portion to an end wall of the base boom section and is rotatably supported by a cradle mounted thrust bearing assembly. The thrust bearing assembly holds the single force transmitting member against axial movement to thereby retain the base boom section against axial movement.