Patent ID: 6176531
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B66C

Abstract:
A grapple system comprising:a. an attaching frame;b. a jaw assembly mounted to the attaching frame and including a stationary jaw section and a movable jaw section;c. the movable jaw section being secured about a pivot axis and movable back and forth relative to the stationary jaw section between open and close positions;d. an actuated linkage assembly connected to the movable jaw section for moving the movable jaw section between open and close positions; ande. the actuating linkage assembly including:(1) a connecting link rotatively mounted about the pivot axis and movable back and forth about the pivot axis;(2) a first hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to the connecting link and a second end anchored with respect to the movable jaw section;(3) a second hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to the connecting link and a second end connected to the movable jaw section;(4) wherein the selected actuation of the hydraulic cylinders causes the movable jaw section to move between open and closed positions and in the process results in the connecting link rotating about the pivot axis;(5) wherein he hydraulic cylinders are arranged to extend to close the grapple system and to retract to open the grapple system;(6) wherein both hydraulic cylinders act under pressure during opening and closing of the grapple system but wherein both hydraulic cylinders may not at all times be extended or retracted simultaneously because at some instances during the opening and closing of the grapple system one cylinder may enjoy a more favorable mechanical advantage over the other and consequently during certain periods of opening or closing one cylinder may be extending or retracting while the other cylinder is not extending or retracting; andf. wherein the stationary jaw section and the movable jaw section include individual fingers and wherein the hydraulic cylinders are connected at points between the respective fingers of the stationary and movable jaw sections.