Abstract: A gripping and manipulating apparatus is mounted on a conveying vehicle and comprises an articulated arm and gripping member. The gripping member is disposed at the moving end of the articulated arms and comprises a multi-element lazy-tongs mechanism having two receptacle retainers. The movement of the retainers is produced by a drive element, a part thereof acting on guide elements. The guide elements are pivotally connected to the retainers. The gripping member can fold down to a reduced dimension and its three pivots lead to a compact construction for the conveying vehicle. Also, a securing device is included for securing the end of a band or sheet or the like of textile material and is disposed on the articulated arm or on the gripping member and is movable therewith. The space required between the vehicle and the textile machines and between the individual receptacles is reduced.

Abstract: A mixed freight handling system, particularly for limited access areas such as an end-opening trailer at a dock, includes a telescoping conveyor overlapping a fixed conveyor and translatable into the trailer to receive hand liftable articles. A freight manipulator includes an appropriate and changeable freight manipulator tool mounted on an extendible boom and is translatable adjacent and along the conveyors to the dock edge. The tool is extendible into the trailer for engaging and supporting manually nonliftable freight for transfer to or from a freight conveyor extending alongside the path of the manipulator. The telescoping conveyor includes a base section engaged with a track, an inclinable lift section, and a liftable and laterally swingable head section. The manipulator includes a chassis engaged with a track straddling the fixed and telescoping conveyors and has a tunnel formed therethrough, allowing the passage of articles on the conveyors therebeneath.

Abstract: The possibility of the end 26 of a boom 20 of a vehicle mounted crane being moved downwardly into engagement with part of the crane or the vehicle on which it is mounted and causing damage thereto during elevation of a mast 18 for the crane from a stowed position (FIG. 2) to an elevated position (FIG. 1) is avoided in a construction wherein the mast 18 is formed of a parallelogram linkage including rigid links 60 and cylinders 72 which assure that the attitude of the boom 20 relative to a base 10 for the crane will not change during elevation of the mast 18.

Abstract: A swingable boom-type hoist is disclosed which is characterized by a forwardly-projecting tongue of rectangular cross section that telescopes into the box-beam style drawbar of a conventional trailer hitch carried by the load-carrying vehicle thus cooperating therewith to maintain the stanchion from which the tongue projects in an upright position. The boom on the upper end of the stanchion can swing through a complete circle and is preferably vertically adjustable. An important feature is the retractable foot on the lower end of the stanchion which can be raised off the ground while the load in the load-carrying vehicle is transported from one place to another without having to dismount the hoist. A conventional winch is used to raise and lower the load.

Abstract: A load-carrying attachment for a vehicle to unload cargo from or load cargo onto the vehicle. The attachment includes a pair of spaced horizontal support beam assemblies having first and second ends. A cross beam connects the first ends of the beam assemblies to form a fixed frame with the beam assemblies. The cross beam is attachable to the vehicle such that the assembly is movable along the periphery of the vehicle. The attachment includes a pair of leg members, one of the leg members being attached to one of the support beam assemblies. The leg members include hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering the support beam assemblies and wheel assemblies which can be employed as wheels when moving the attachment or as bases when the attachment is being employed to load or unload cargo. The attachment further includes a mast which is slidably attached to the beam assemblies such that it is movable along the beam assemblies. The mast is positioned between the beam assemblies.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading palletized materials (C) into and from isothermal delivery wagons (F). The apparatus comprises a powered carriage (4) which is longitudinally movable on parallel guides (1,1') secured to the upper interior portion of the wagon (F). A telescopic guiding and lifting/lowering structure connected to the underside of a powered and transversely movable slide (17) and supporting in cantilever fashion a fork (28) for handling the palletized loads (C), comprises at least one jack (26, 26',29) of the multiple-stage single or double-acting type, and preferably of the hydraulic type. The fork (28) is rotated about a vertical axis in order to angularly position it with respect to the load to be handled, and is then locked in such position.

Abstract: A multi-purpose recovery vehicle comprising a wheel mounted chassis, a continuously slewing crane mounted on the chassis and a recovery assembly including an extensible and retractable towing assembly, a retractable anchor assembly and a retractable stabilizer assembly mounted at a rearward end of the chassis at a location which does not interfere with the operation of the crane.

Abstract: A telescoping hoist assembly normally stored in the rear bumper area of a pickup truck includes a boom telescoping into and out of a mast pivotally anchored at one end of the pickup bumper structure. A power winch operated by the pickup electrical energizer is axially mounted on the outward end of the boom. With boom extended out of the mast the cable is connected with the anchored area of the mast for a hoist self erecting action interrupted, when the mast is vertical, by stop members at the base end of the mast. A mast stored jack structure supports hoist loads independently of the pickup suspension system.

Abstract: A beverage truck having unique unloading and loading apparatus. The apparatus, which may be mounted to an existing beverage truck, or built into one as original equipment, has a framework at the front and back of the truck body which supports a track that spans the length of the body roof along its longitudinal center line. A trolley is carried on the track and moved by a powered chain drive from one end of the body to the other. Mounted to the trolley is a pivoting telescoping arm assembly that carries at the end of the arm a fork lift assembly. By operating simple controls, the user can move the trolley, extend the arm, raise, lower, rotate and tilt the forks to cause the forks to enter into the cargo area of the body, under the roof, to unload cargo from the truck and place it, e.g., on a loading dock or on the ground.

Abstract: A load handling apparatus for a vehicle has a mounting frame with a mast movable between a lowered travelling position and a raised working position. A boom carrier on the mast pivotally supports an articulated boom, which has a winch at its distal end. The winch cable is attached to a load carrying cradle which has handle bars to be gripped by the operator and the switch controls for the winch. The mast is counter-balanced by a spring and turnbuckles connect the boom carrier to the mounting frame and the mast to tilt the boom carrier in two directions if the vehicle is on uneven ground.

Abstract: A crane device is installed in a freight car with a roof and comprises a revolvable frame suspended by the roof so as to be revolvable about a vertical axis, a derrick boom assembly having a telescopically extendable boom and luffably supported by the revolvable frame, a winch mounted on the revolvable frame and operating to lower and raise a cargo hook via a length of wire rope, a control system using motive power to operate the crane device, and a safety system having a tactile sensor on the front end of the boom and operating to stop movements of the boom when the sensor contacts an object such as a part of a freight car or a piece of cargo. The winch is provided with a safety device for preventing excessive unwinding of the wire rope.

Abstract: A mobile maintenance stand for servicing and transporting ejection seats utilized in aircraft includes a mobile platform having disposed thereon upright arms adapted to encompass an ejection seat and rotatable to expose the various portions thereof for servicing and maintenance of the wiring, electronics, etc. disposed therein. The platform is rotatable 360 degrees in a horizontal plane with the upright arms rotatable 270 degrees in a vertical plane and is mounted on a lower portion provided with wheels disposed at the distal ends of outwardly extending arms. The arms may be extended to provide additional stability and removable screw jacks are attachable on the arms to provide a rigid stable platform. Additionally included on the rotating base platform is a removable telescoping crane assembly that may be attached to an ejection seat disposed in an aircraft for removing the seat therefrom and placing it in position to be retained by the pair of servicing arms.

Abstract: A Compact Heavy Duty Lifting Crane (CHDLC) for removing and installing heavy objects such as engines and transmission from vehicles. The CHDLC incorporates a feature that allows the vertical lifting angle of the telescoping boom (40) to remain constant as the telescoping pylon cylinder (18) is raised. This feature is particularly useful for removing engines located in limited-space engine compartments such as those encountered in vans and buses. The CHDLC consists of two major assemblies: a base assembly and a portable lifting crane. When the CHDLC is used as a standard utility crane in a repair shop the crane is mounted to the base assembly. When the CHDLC is required to be mounted on a truck bed the crane is removed from the base assembly and installed on a truck pylon plate (14a) that is permanently mounted to the bed of the truck. Additionally, the CHDLC may be placed in its storage configuration. In this configuration the CHDLC occupies a horizontal area of only four square feet.

Abstract: A device for transporting logs or the like in which a two-part, trailer is carried upon a truck bed for storage, then unloaded and assembled by a log loader provided at the rear of the truck bed. The first portion of the two-part trailer includes an axle having wheels and a forwardly extending tongue which attaches to the truck bed by means of a trailer eye and hook. The second portion of the two-part trailer attaches to the first portion by means of a fifth wheel type of attachment. After use, the two-part trailer is disassembled and nested in a set, secure position upon the truck bed.

Abstract: A foldable hoist assembly has an elongated column with a boom pivotally mounted at its outer end to be moveable from a stored position alongside the column to its operating position. A spindle with radial and thrust bearings in the support column base provides rotary support so that loads suspended from the bottom can be swung over and away from the load bed. The base of the support column is also pivotally mounted on a horizontal support structure affixed to the vehicle chassis, preferably in the position of a bumper below te rear edge of the load bed. With boom stored alongside, the support column is rotated from its upright operating position to be supported horizontally within the support structure leaving the load bed unobstructed.

Abstract: A mounting for a crane on a load carrying platform comprising a guide mounted on the underside of the platform and extending at least the full length of one side of the platform, a carriage mounted on said guide for movement therealong and having a portion projecting beyond the adjacent edge of the platform, said projecting portion being so dimensioned to enable the base of a crane to be mounted thereon so that the crane projects upwardly beyond the load carrying platform.

Abstract: A device for lifting and loading objects into and from a storage space of an automobile for transportation thereby. The device is fully contained within the storage space and is adapted to be mounted directly to the chassis of the automobile. The device is particularly suited to assist disabled individuals who may be unable to lift, load and transport such objects otherwise.

Abstract: A lifting device adapted to be mounted within an automobile trunk is disclosed as having a rigid boom mounted for free pivotal movement about both vertical and horizontal axes. The lifting device includes a motor-driven lift mounted at the distal end of the boom. A counterbalance member is employed to counterbalance the gravitational force biasing the boom in downward movement about its horizontal axis so that the boom may be easily pivoted upwardly or downwardly by a handicapped person. A prop assembly may be manually moved into position to positively maintain the boom in an elevated lifting position.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading a vehicle comprising a supporting frame having a pair of parallel spaced horizontally extending elongated tracks supported near the ends thereof by upstanding legs and elongated cross members operatively secured to said tracks adjacent the upper ends of said legs thereby defining a loading space within said frame. A hoist carrier is mounted on the tracks for movement longitudinally thereof. The carrier lies substantially within the plane of the tracks near the top of the space. A hoist boom is pivotally mounted on the carrier adjacent one of the tracks, the boom extending horizontally beneath the carrier and being swingable across the space between the tracks. The boom is also movable with the carrier longitudinally of the frame.

Abstract: A high security transfer system for transferring valuable or dangerous consignments from a vehicle to a receiving apparatus includes an armored container for the consignment which has at least two connectors interlocked with one another so that a connector is only releasable after another connector has been fastened. The vehicle includes at least one interconnecting element which is fastened to one of the connectors on the container when the container is in the vehicle and the receiving apparatus also includes an interconnecting element. The system also includes a transfer device having an interconnecting element. The system is arranged so that to transfer the container from the vehicle to the receiving apparatus, the interconnecting element on the transfer device is fastened to one of the connectors on the container to enable the interconnection between the container and the vehicle to be released, and the transfer device then transfers the container to the receiving apparatus.