Abstract: A motor grader comprises a frame having a circle drawbar mounted thereunder. A normally horizontally disposed mold board or blade is attached to the circle drawbar for multi-directional movements relative thereto and relative to the frame of the motor grader. A pair of generally vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders have their rod ends pivotally connected to the circle drawbar and their housings universally connected to a pair of indexing discs rotatably mounted on either side of the frame. A detent is reciprocally mounted on the frame to engage one of a plurality of circularly disposed recesses formed in each indexing disc. A first link is pivotally interconnected between the frame and a second link which is further pivotally connected to the circle drawbar. A cylinder is pivotally interconnected between the circle drawbar and the first link whereby the blade may be side shifted and disposed substantially vertically on either side of the frame.

Abstract: A loader comprises means mounting a loader bucket thereon for selectively moving the bucket substantially vertically between lowered and raised positions thereof. Such mounting means comprises first, second and third pairs of lift arms pivotally interconnected between a frame of the vehicle and the loader bucket and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder pivotally interconnected between the frame and each first lift arm to selectively raise or lower the loader bucket. Linkage means are pivotally interconnected between the frame of the vehicle and the first, second and third lift arms for expanding the linkage means from a collapsed position on the vehicle to an expanded position when the loader bucket is moved to its raised position. A tilt linkage is pivotally interconnected between the second and third lift arms and the loader bucket for selectively tilting the same relative to ground level.

Abstract: The main frame of a truck has a pair of dual wheel suspension and drive arrangements pivotally mounted rearwardly thereon and disposed in laterally spaced relationship relative to each other. Each arrangement comprises a hollow sub-frame having its forward end pivotally mounted on the main frame by a ball and socket connection and its rearward end pivotally connected under the main frame by a suspension cylinder. A pair of roadwheels are rotatably mounted on either side of the sub-frame and driven by a common drive axle. The power input to the drive axle comprises a drive motor mounted on an inboard side of the sub-frame and drivingly connected to the axle by an intermediate gear train disposed within the hollow sub-frame.

Abstract: A backhoe comprises a support member pivotally mounted thereon for horizontal swinging movements relative thereto by actuating means operatively interconnected between the support member and frame. A boom is pivotally mounted on the support member for horizontal pivotal movements relative thereto by a first hydraulic swing motor and a dipper stick assembly is pivotally mounted on said boom for vertical pivotal movements relative thereto by a hydraulic cylinder pivotally interconnected therebetween. The dipper stick assembly comprises a support bracket having a dipper stick rotatably mounted therein and a dipper bucket mounted on a lower end of the dipper stick. A second hydraulic swing motor is operatively interconnected between the dipper stick and the bracket for selectively rotating the dipper stick thereon.

Abstract: An aerial work task apparatus comprises a pair of laterally spaced lift arms pivotally mounted on the frame of a tractor and a double-acting lift cylinder pivotally interconnected between the frame and each lift arm. A platform, adapted to carry a workman thereon, is pivotally connected to the frame and to the lift arms by linkage means which function to raise and lower the platform substantially vertically above the tractor and to maintain the platform relative to ground level. In a first embodiment of the this invention, the linkage means comprises first and second pairs of links pivotally interconnected between the lift arms and the platform to form a parallelogram type linkage and a third pair of links pivotally interconnected between the first pair of links and the frame of the tractor. The third pair of links and the lift arms form a second parallelogram type linkage to aid in the above mentioned maintenance of the platform in parallel relationship relative to ground level.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a system for guiding a pair of generally vertical elements to travel linearly relative to one another, which system includes contact means supported by a first of said elements and maintaining contact with a second of said elements. The improvement of the invention comprises using as said contact means a suspension device supported at a position thereof by said first element and having a pair of spaced apart bearing means removed from the position of support of said device, each bearing against said second element.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided with an articulating and an oscillating hitch assembly between a tractor portion and a trailer portion thereof. The hitch assembly telescopes a pinion gear support or trunnion housing carried by a differential gear housing into an oscillation housing. The oscillation housing is pivotally connected to the tractor and permits the tractor to pivot about a generally vertical axis and to oscillate about a longitudinal axis of the housing, both oscillation and pivoting being relative to the trailer as the vehicle is propelled over a terrain. The telescoping of the pinion gear or trunnion housing and oscillation housing makes it possible to eliminate parts and effectively shorten the length of the vehicle without sacrificing any flexibility or strength in the hitch assembly between the tractor and the trailer.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a tractor drawn scraper wherein the scraper has a bowl with a back, a bottom, two sides and a forward cutting edge and a spreader forward of the cutting edge and supported by forward extensions of the bowl sides. A tractor is provided forward of the spreader for pulling the scraper and means are provided for raising and lowering the forward end of the scraper relative to the tractor. The improved ripper assembly of the present invention comprises a beam suspended generally vertically downwardly from the spreader and forwardly from the bowl, the beam having a plurality of ripper sockets extending laterally from it. Held within the ripper sockets are a plurality of ripper shanks. A plurality of ripper teeth are generally provided proceeding from the ripper shanks. Means are provided for adjusting the vertical separation between the beam and the spreader.

Abstract: A refuse transport vehicle having improved structure for picking up bagged refuse placed alongside a roadway. The pickup structure includes paddle structure for lifting the picked-up bagged refuse and transferring it to a portion of the vehicle hopper. To provide improved efficiency in the refuse handling operation, the transferred refuse may be compacted in a compacting portion of the hopper prior to delivery thereof to a storage portion of the hopper. The refuse pickup structure permits the handling of the refuse automatically without the need for additional manual labor with the pickup operation being effected as a concomitant of the travel of the vehicle past the position of the set out bagged refuse.

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle includes arms and links associated with a bucket, the arms being pivotable about a pivot axis which is substantially aligned with the axis of rotation of the front wheels of the vehicle. The arms and links may be appropriately placed so that the bucket is in a position forward of the wheels, and the arms and links may be further appropriately pivoted to move the bucket to a position generally rearwardly of the front wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved material grasping apparatus such as a grapple especially adapted for grasping and moving irregularly shaped, fragile material such as refuse packed in plastic bags or the like. The grapple includes a pair of jaws pivotally connected to each other and each having confronting material receiving cavities. Each jaw has spaced, rigid end members and a flexible, deformable material engaging element extending between and connected to the end members to at least partially close the respective material receiving cavity. Each such element is substantially unbacked whereby it may deform to the shape of a fragile, irregularly shaped object when the jaws are closed thereon. The invention contemplates the provision of a power source for opening and closing the jaws as well as mounting of the grapple on a boom which, in turn, is mounted on a refuse collecting truck.

Abstract: A track-type vehicle comprises a pair of endless track assemblies including a plurality of articulated track shoes. A drive sprocket, engaged with the track assembly for driving the same, comprises a pair of laterally spaced annular support members and a toothed sprocket member detachably mounted on an outboard side of each of the support members. The sprocket members may be detached from the support members and attached to inboard sides thereof to increase the service life of drive lugs formed on the track shoes.

Abstract: A collapsible steering wheel column of the resettable type for motor vehicles that progressively absorbs the energy of an operator's body which is thrust upon the steering wheel in an accident or crash. The steering column includes two longitudinally extending and telescopically slidable coacting members. The members are held in a normal operating position by a resilient torus between their interface and are rotatably coupled to each other. The torus is set in a radially inwardly facing annular recess of the outer member while the inner circumference of the torus is received in an opposing radially outwardly facing annular recess of the inner member to maintain a normal operating position until a disengaging impact force occurs. The outer member carries a shock-absorbing resilient pad with a central bore that is axially and radially engaged by a tapered conical portion on the other member upon telescoping movement. The pad progressively cushions and absorbs the energy from the impact upon the steering wheel.

Abstract: A bulldozer having a brace between the blade and the frame of the tractor upon which the blade is mounted to absorb lateral forces encountered by the blade and to make unnecessary the conventional diagonal braces thus enabling the blade to be mounted closer to the front end of the tractor.

Abstract: An earthworking vehicle, such as a wheel loader, comprises a pair of lift arms mounted on a forward end thereof. A tilt linkage is interconnected between each lift arm and a loader bucket for selectively moving the loader bucket relative to the lift arms. The tilt linkage comprises mounting means, including an over-center toggle mechanism, releasably attached to the loader bucket whereby various work implements may be substituted in lieu thereof.