Abstract:
A grapple apparatus of a type having arms that pivot about parallel axes of a frame for grasping and releasing objects and wherein the entire grapple, including the grapple arms, pivots about a pivotal axis transverse to such parallel axes, and more particularly to a grapple which is pivotally adjustable about such pivotal axis between a first position and can be locked in at least the first and second positions thereof. A heel is fixed to the frame for supporting an object being grasped by the grapple when the grapple is in the first pivotal position thereof. A tooth is also optionally attached to the frame for permitting manipulation of the position of an object when the grapple itself is not being used.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a grapple of a type having arms that pivot about parallel axes of a frame for grasping and releasing objects and wherein the entire grapple, including the grapple arms, pivots about a pivotal axis transverse to such parallel axes, and more particularly to a grapple which is pivotally adjustable about such pivotal axis between a first position and can be locked in at least the first and second positions thereof. A heel is fixed to the frame for supporting an object being grasped by the grapple when the grapple is in the first pivotal position thereof. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Grapples with heels are well known, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,757,037 to Troyer, which is incorporated herein by reference, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,136 to Howard and U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,051 to Perron et al. The known configuration, as disclosed in Troyer, Howard and Perron et al., includes a grapple, with two grapple arms that move about a common grapple arm pivot shaft. The grapple arm pivot shaft is supported in a structure that is mounted to a frame at a grapple pivot. A heel is also mounted to the frame. The grapple arm pivot shaft is able to freely move relative to the frame and the heel, due to freedom of motion provided by the grapple pivot. There are times when using this structure that the operator may want to control the orientation of the grapple with respect to the heel, for example to grasp a log with the grapple and then orient the log to a position wherein it will swing upwardly against the heel so that the heel prevents the end of the log adjacent the heel from pivoting upwardly with respect to the grapple. This is exceedingly difficult with the aforementioned prior art grapples which have no way to lock the grapple to prevent it from pivoting about the grapple arm pivot shaft. 
   Of course there are other times when it is desirable to orient the grapple in a predetermined pivotal position for any number of reasons, such as to use a prime mover having a grapple attached thereto to carry a log through a narrow gate; or, alternatively, to orient the log ninety degrees from such narrow gate orientation so that the center of gravity of the log is as close to the prime mover as possible. 
   There are other times when it may be desires to permit the grapple to freely pivot about a substantially vertical axis, so the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used in that mode as well. 
   Accordingly there is a need for a grapple apparatus to overcome these aforementioned problems with prior art devices. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a grapple of a type having arms that pivot about parallel axes of a frame for grasping and releasing objects and wherein the entire grapple, including the grapple arms, pivots about a pivotal axis transverse to such parallel axes, and more particularly to a grapple which is pivotally adjustable about such pivotal axis between a first position and can be locked in at least the first and second positions thereof. In some preferred embodiments a heel is fixed to the frame for supporting an object being grasped by the grapple when the grapple is in the first pivotal position thereof. In other preferred embodiments a tooth is also optionally attached to the frame for permitting manipulation of the position of an object when the grapple itself is not being used. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description below when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the present invention mounted on a compact tool carrier and is show grasping and elevating a log above a trailer; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the grapple holding a log similar to the orientation shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view in an orientation that is ninety degrees from the orientation of the log shown in  FIG. 1  and showing how a heel helps to support the log by preventing the end of the log closest to the skid loader from pivoting upwardly; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the present invention attached to the compact tool carrier of  FIG. 1 , but showing how the grapple frame has a tooth on it which can be used to move or reorient an object such as the log shown by placing the tooth against the log and them moving the compact tool carrier, for example rearwardly, while the tooth is in engagement with the log; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the grapple apparatus of the present invention with the grapple arms closed and a sub-frame of the grapple in the pivotal position shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is another a perspective view of the grapple apparatus of the present invention with the grapple arms closed and a sub-frame of the grapple in the pivotal position shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective in the orientation of  FIG. 6 , but with the grapple arms open; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the grapple apparatus with the grapple arms open but from the back side from the way it is shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the grapple apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is and exploded perspective view of a universal connector plate that attaches a boom of a compact tool carrier an adapter plate of the grapple to form a quick connection coupler; 
       FIG. 11  is a view like  FIG. 1  but with an alternate embodiment that does not have a heel on it; 
       FIG. 12  is a view like  FIG. 1  but with an alternate embodiment that does not have a heel or a tooth on it; 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of the frame showing how a pin  31  is biased downwardly, how it can move downwardly if pivoted to one position and how it is held up when not in such one position; and 
       FIG. 14  is a view like  FIG. 1  but with an alternate embodiment that has a heel but not a tooth on it. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a device  10  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, attached to a compact tool carrier  11  (This prime mover is often referred to as a “skid loader” when a front end loader bucket is attached to the front thereof) and is being used to lift a log  21  to or from a trailer  20 . 
   The grapple apparatus  10  is pivotally attached to the boom  12 , which boom  12  is pivotally attached to the compact tool carrier  11  at pivot  13 . A hydraulic cylinder  14  pivotally attached at one end to the compact tool carrier  11  and pivotally attached to the boom  12  pivots the boom  12  up and down as desired. A universal mounting plate or adaptor  17 , as best shown in  FIG. 10 , is pivotally connected to the boom  12  at pivot axis  18 . 
   A hydraulic cylinder  16  is pivotally attached to the boom  12  at one end and is pivotally attached to the universal mounting plate  17  at the opposite end, at pivot axis  19 . The grapple apparatus  10  includes an adapter plate or receiver  23  which mounts securely to the universal mounting plate  17  of the compact tool carrier  11  ( FIG. 10 ). This allows the operator to pivot the grapple apparatus  10  between the positions of it shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , for example. 
   The adapter plate  23  is rigidly attached to a housing  24 , which is, in turn rigidly attached to a frame  26 . A grapple sub-frame comprises members  27  and  28  which are rigidly attached together. A grapple pivot pin  29  extends through member  27  and through frame  26  for pivotally attaching the sub-frame  27 / 28  to frame  26 . So pin  29  can be referred to as a grapple pivot pin  29 . 
   Looking to  FIG. 5  it is noted that the member  27  has a plurality of holes  32  therein for selectively receiving a pin  31  that has a handle  33  thereon for selectively locking the pin  31  in place or allowing the pin  31  to be moved upwardly to the position shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 5  out of one of the openings  32 . See also  FIGS. 7 and 13  and a more detailed description below for the operation of the pin  31 . This permits first pivoting the sub-frame  27 / 28  to the position desired and then locking the sub-frame  27 / 28  in such fixed position with respect to the frame  26  for example in the position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5  or alternatively in the position shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6   7  and  8 . Of course the sub-frame  27 / 28  can be locked in positions between these two positions just mentioned in the sentence above this one, by placing the pin  29  in one of the other intermediate holes  32  in plate  27  after the sub-frame  27 / 28  is manually pivoted to the position desired. 
   Looking to  FIGS. 5 and 9 , for example, a first grapple member  36  is pivotally attached to the members  28  using a pin  38  inside a spacer  39 . Similarly, a second grapple member  46  is pivotally attached to the members  28  using a pin  48  inside a spacer  49 . A hydraulic cylinder  50  is pivotally operatively attached to a pin  51  on the first grapple  36  and to the spacer  49  around pin  48  of the second grapple  46 . Of course lengthening the hydraulic cylinder  50  causes the first and second grapple members  36  and  46  to close as shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and shortening the hydraulic cylinder  50  causes the first and second grapple members  36  and  46  to open to the position as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   In operation, the grapple apparatus  10  of the present invention can be used to grasp an object such as the log  21  in the orientation shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  by first pivoting the sub-frame  27 / 28  to the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , then opening the grapple arms  36  and  46  by using cylinder  50 . Then the compact tool carrier  11  and hydraulic cylinders  14  and  16  are used to move the grapple apparatus to a position over the log  21 . When the grapple arms  36  and  46  are resting on top of the log  21 , then hydraulic cylinder  50  is lengthened to cause the grapple arms  36  and  46  to close around the log  21  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Operating the present invention in this way permits the loads, such as the log  21 , to be across the front of the skid loader or other prime mover, which allows the operator to lift heavier loads by keeping the load closer to the center of gravity of the machine. It is also useful for grabbing brush out of a pile of brush. 
   Also in operation, the grapple apparatus  10  of the present invention can be used to grasp an object, such as the log  21 , in the orientation shown in FIGS.  3  and  6 - 8  by first pivoting the sub-frame  27 / 28  to the position shown in FIGS.  3  and  6 - 8 , then opening the grapple arms  36  and  46  by using hydraulic cylinder  50 . Then the compact tool carrier  11  and hydraulic cylinders  14  and  16  are used to move the grapple apparatus to a position over the log  21 . When the grapple arms  36  and  46  are resting on top of the log  21 , the hydraulic cylinder  50  is lengthened to cause the grapple arms  36  and  46  to close around the log  21  as shown in  FIG. 3 . After that, when the grapple device  10  is raised, the end of the log closest to the compact tool carrier  11  will pivot upwardly into contact with the heel  25 , thereby stabilizing the log  21  or other object being grasped. Operating the present invention in this way, by locking the grapple sub-frame  27 / 28  to the frame  24 , permits the loads to be in-line with the machine. This allows a person to move long objects through gates without lifting the load high in the air. It also rigidly secures the load between the grapple arms  36 / 46  and the heel  25 , so that the load, such as log  21 , does not shift during transport. 
     FIG. 4  shows how the present invention is used to move an object, such as a log  21 . The frame  28  has a tooth  30  rigidly attached to it, which tooth  30 , used in conjunction with the compact tool carrier  11  and its hydraulic cylinders  14  and  16  can be used to move or reorient an object such as the log  21  shown by placing the tooth  30  against the log  21  and them moving the skid loader, for example rearwardly as shown in  FIG. 4 , while the tooth  30  is in engagement with the log  21 . 
     FIG. 11  is a view like  FIG. 1  but shows an alternate embodiment that does not have a heel on it like that shown in  FIGS. 1-10 .  FIG. 12  is a view like  FIG. 1  but with another alternate embodiment that does not have a heel or a tooth on it like that shown in  FIGS. 1-11 .  FIG. 14  is a view like  FIG. 1  but with an alternate embodiment that has a heel but not a tooth on it. 
     FIGS. 7 and 13  show how the pin  31  is biased, by a compression spring  69 , downwardly towards sub-frame  27 / 28  and into the slot  66  therein when the shaft  67  with handle  33  is aligned with the slot  66 . When the shaft  67  is in the long slot  66  the pin can extend into any one of the holes  32  in member  27 , thereby preventing the sub-frame  27 / 28  and the grapple arms  36  and  37  from pivoting about the axis of pin  29 . This allows the grapple sub-frame  27 / 28  to be moved, for example, between the positions shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and locked into the  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3  positions for use as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     FIG. 13  shows a close-up of the lock pin  31 , and supporting tube  65 , with a long slot  66  and a short slot  68  with the spring  69  positioned between the bottom of tube  65  and a shoulder  70  on pin  31 .  FIGS. 7 and 13  also illustrate that when the shaft  67  is not in the slot  66  is in the short slot  68 , the pin  31  is held above and out of the holes  32  because shaft  67  rests on the top shoulder of tube  65  at the top of short slot  68 . When the pin  31  is held in this position, the sub-frame  27 / 28  and the sub-frame  27 / 28  and grapple arms  36  and  46  can freely pivot about the axis of pin  29 . Some operators may prefer to use the grapple in this freely pivoting mode at certain times. 
   Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the preferred embodiments do indeed overcome the deficiencies of the prior art explained above. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.