Patent ID: 8297904

Claim:
An apparatus for lifting and transporting containers comprising: a frame having spaced apart horizontal frame members with forward and rearward ends and spaced apart vertical frame members extending upwardly above and substantially perpendicular thereto, said vertical frame members being connected together by at least an upper interconnecting member; a fork assembly including at least one fork; at least one tilt hydraulic cylinder having a barrel pivotably attached to said frame, and a piston rod pivotably attached to said fork assembly so that extension of said tilt cylinder causes the fork assembly to pivot; a telescoping mast comprising a sleeve and an extension slidably disposed therein, said sleeve having a first end and a second end, and said extension having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said first end of said sleeve is pivotably attached to said frame and said distal end of said extension is pivotably connected to said fork assembly; at least one extend hydraulic cylinder having a barrel attached to said sleeve between said first and second ends and a piston rod attached proximate said distal end of said extension so that as the piston rod of said extend cylinder is moved outward, such extension moves relative to said sleeve to move the fork assembly rewardly from a retracted position to an extended position whereby the fork assembly is positioned rewardly of the rear ends of said horizontal frame members; at least one lift hydraulic cylinder for vertically raising or lowering said fork assembly; and control means for selectively actuating said hydraulic cylinders, said control means adapted to alternatively allow the tilt and extend cylinders to be operated simultaneously and further allow the tilt cylinder to be operated independently of the extend cylinder.