Patents Assigned to Kress Corporation
  • Patent number: 4632628
    Abstract: A side ejection mechanism which may be integrated either onto a trailer or into a unit truck employs a laterally translatable ejection ram to push a payload of material off the side of a load bed. The ejection ram is actuated at its midpoint with a ridged rail and mating spaced roller pair at each end of the ejection ram preventing cocking and tilting as the ram traverses the load bed. A drop gate may be provided opposite the load bed to serve as a wall when up and a lateral deflector when down. The mechanism is designed to permit the rear face of the ejection ram to clear the load bed of any overflow material as the ram is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph H. Kress, Jackson C. Medley
  • Patent number: 4624618
    Abstract: A reach back carrier includes a self-propelled tractor and a wheeled trailer having a generally U-shaped frame with rearwardly projecting side members and a forwardly projecting integral gooseneck pivotally connected to the tractor to permit turning thereof at substantially right angles, a cradle is pivotally mounted adjacent the rear ends of the side members and adapted to engage trunnions on the pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: William L. LaBerdia, Edward S. Kress, Dennis R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4618307
    Abstract: A carrier for lifting and transporting a scrap bucket supported in a stand having a substantially rectangular lower frame with depending ground engaging legs is provided including a self-propelled tractor and a wheeled trailer having a main frame cross member dimensioned to fit between the stand legs and an integral forwardly projecting tongue with a gooseneck pivotally connected to the tractor to permit turning thereof at substantially right angles, a rear frame member secured to the main frame by a plurality of vertical plates, the trailer wheels being journalled on a plurality of trailing arms each pivotally connected at one end to the main frame and interconnected at the other end to the rear frame by a first hydraulic actuator and links and a second hydraulic actuator interconnecting the gooseneck to the tractor for raising and lowering the trailer tongue to maintain the trailer substantially level as the first and second hydraulic actuators are extended and retracted and the trailer and stand being prov
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Kress, William L. LaBerdia, Dennis R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4601630
    Abstract: A load handling apparatus particularly suited for incorporation into a vehicle for lifting and transporting heavy loads such as steel billets, comprising a main frame to straddle a load, pivotally mounted lift frame assembly providing the lifting capability to raise a steel billet and suspend it during transport, suspended load engaging and clamping members, hydraulic cylinders to actuate the clamping and lifting members and an hydraulically actuated drag link for stabilizing the load while transporting over uneven terrain. The drag link is pivotally connected at its one end to the main frame and at its other end to the suspended load engaging and clamping assembly so that these pivot points, in conjunction with the pivot points of the lift frame assembly, substantially define a parallelogram relationship. By varying the length of the drag link, the clamping assembly is maintained in proper orientation relative to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Kress, Dennis R. Thomas, William L. LaBerdia
  • Patent number: 4488848
    Abstract: A load handling apparatus particularly suited for incorporation into a vehicle for lifting and transporting heavy loads such as steel billets, comprising a main frame to straddle a load, pivotally mounted lift frame assembly providing the lifting capability to raise a steel billet and suspend it during transport, suspended load engaging and clamping members, hydraulic cylinders to actuate the clamping and lifting members and an hydraulically actuated drag link for stabilizing the load while transporting over uneven terrain. The drag link is pivotally connected at its one end to the main frame and at its other end to the suspended load engaging and clamping assembly so that these pivot points, in conjunction with the pivot points of the lift frame assembly, substantially define a parallelogram relationship. By varying the length of the drag link, the clamping assembly is maintained in proper orientation relative to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Kress, Dennis R. Thomas, William L. LaBerdia
  • Patent number: 4427097
    Abstract: A two piece brake drum for large off-the-road type vehicles having large and difficult-to-remove wheels, the brake drum comprising two substantially semi-circular halves with integral flanges for mounting to a wheel. The internal friction surfaces terminate in chamfers at each end and the halves, when mounted to a wheel, have gaps between the ends through which foreign material may be expelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventor: Jackson C. Medley
  • Patent number: 4286915
    Abstract: A straddle carrier for heavy loads of the type which is driven over a load so that the load is generally beneath the carrier and straddled by the wheels of the carrier. The carrier includes a main frame which has a gripping tong mechanism integrally mounted thereon for clamping the load. The entire main frame and tong assembly may be raised and lowered to permit handling the load by means of cylinder/strut arrangements at each of the four wheels. A pair of hydraulically actuated steering cross bars are pivotally connected to the front and rear wheels, respectively, in order to steer the straddle carrier. Mounted on the main frame, and like the main frame lowered and raised relative to the wheels, are an operator's cab and a motor and pump housing for driving the straddle carrier and actuating the various hydraulic cylinders of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventor: William L. LaBerdia
  • Patent number: 4269560
    Abstract: A straddle carrier for heavy loads of the type which is driven over a load so that the load is generally beneath the carrier and straddled by the wheels of the carrier. The carrier includes a main frame which has a gripping tong mechanism integrally mounted thereon for clamping the load. The entire main frame and tong assembly may be raised and lowered to permit handling the load by means of cylinder/strut arrangements at each of the four wheels. A linkage comprising extensions from the wheel carrying members and a steering cross bar associated with each of the front and rear pairs of wheels is hydraulically activated independently of the main frame to permit steering the vehicle from any elevation. Mounted on the main frame, and like the main frame lowered and raised relative to the wheels, are an operator's cab and a motor and pump housing for driving the straddle carrier and actuating the various hydraulic cylinders of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4170434
    Abstract: A load handling apparatus particularly suited for incorporation into a vehicle for lifting and transporting heavy loads such as steel slabs, comprising a main frame for straddling a load, pivoting lift frames to provide the lifting capacity of the apparatus, suspended load engaging and clamping members and hydraulic cylinders to actuate the lift frames and the load engaging and clamping members. In the illustrated embodiment, a control system is provided for the cylinders which includes provision for synchronously extending and retracting the lift cylinders and for accommodating any necessary adjustment of the length of the clamping cylinders as the load engaging and clamping members, with a load engaged and suspended therebetween, move transversely relative to the main frame, changing the distance between the points of connection of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1979
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Kress, William L. LaBerdia, Jackson C. Medley, Merrill E. Pinter
  • Patent number: 4122961
    Abstract: A trailer for lifting, carrying and dumping large heavy ladles used in foundries in which the ladle is supported by a compound pivot tilt frame with one set of linear actuators for swinging the ladle to a dumping position and a second set of linear actuators for continuing the swinging to a ladle inverting position. The pivot axes for swinging the ladle are located so that the ladle is transported centrally of the wheeled frame of the trailer and is swung rearwardly for dumping without lowering the trailer into contact with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventor: Edward S. Kress