Stabilizer Pad Assembly

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of outriggers and stabilizer arms applied to equipment the nature, location and/or operation of which makes it subject to instability, unbalance or slippage in the use thereof. More particularly, the invention provides an improved stabilizer pad assembly or foot construction for outriggers and stabilizer arms which renders such apparatus and its components economical to fabricate, more efficient and satisfactory in use and unlikely to malfunction. Invention embodiments lend assured stability to and safety in use of the equipment to which they apply.

That slippage and instability has been found to exist in the use of prior art apparatus having pertinence to the subject invention cannot be denied. One source of such problems has been the inability of the stabilizer pads or feet of the outriggers or stabilizer arms to flexibly or readily adapt to the shifting loads imposed thereon in the operation of the equipment to which they apply. The degree of such problems is compounded when the prior art apparatus is used on an uneven ground surface, a slope or a hillside. Such problems occur in the operation of a great variety of equipment used in agriculture, road building and construction, such as a backhoe, for example. Thus the need for the present invention.

Illustrations of the state of the prior art may be found in the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,458 Mitchell

U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,079 MacKenzie et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,942 MacKenzie et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,668 Schuermann et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,306 Nault

U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,828 MacKenzie et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,206 Nault

However, the inventor knows of no prior art which is specifically pertinent to the features constituting the novelty of his invention.

Invention embodiments feature a reversible pad and a housing therefor within which the pad is so contained as to accommodate a shifting and somewhat floating movement of one relative to the other, even under load. This is in addition to providing means for a pivoting mount of this assembly to the stabilizer arm or outrigger of which it forms a part.

The invention also provides an improved pad including a base plate sized and configured as a square, all sides being substantially equal. Projected from one face of this base plate and spaced substantially from the peripheral edge thereof, on all sides, is an H-shaped cleat. This cleat is comprised of three edge mounted perpendicularly projected plates, two of which form the sides of the H and the third of which forms the bridging portion thereof, all plates being equal as to the depth of their projection.

Another feature of the invention is a housing for use with an outrigger, stabilizer arm or the like formed for a simple slip fit coupling thereto of a stabilizer pad free of any connection therewith and free to move within the limits of the housing interior yet contained to prevent its complete displacement from the housing.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a degree of flexibility in an outrigger or stabilizer arm which facilitates effective ground gripping and maximum stability and safety in use thereof.

Another object is to provide an assembly affording a pivotally mounting foot for an outrigger or stabilizer arm which is simple and economical to fabricate, more efficient and satisfactory in use and unlikely to malfunction.

A further object is to provide a stabilizer pad assembly comprising a housing having a cavity wherein an anchoring pad is slip fit which projects therefrom a cleat characterized by the pad and housing being interrelated to accommodate a relative movement therebetween under load, to insure against slippage and provide stability and safety in use of the equipment to which said assembly is applied.

Another object is to provide an improved pad for use in connection with an outrigger or stabilizer arm which facilitates a secure, stable and safe anchoring of the equipment during conditions of shifting load.

An additional object is to provide an assembly affording an improved construction for the foot of an outrigger or stabilizer arm wherein the pad is simply housed for a slip fit application thereto or removal therefrom by way of an opening in the side of the housing.

A further object is to provide an assembly of a housing and an anchoring pad and/or component parts of such an assembly for use in connection with an outrigger or stabilizer arm possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and means and mode of use herein described.

Referring to the drawings wherein one but not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reversible stabilizer pad per the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pad shown in FIG. 1 in a reversed condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pad housing per the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the housing and the pad illustrating the H-shaped cleat portion of the pad in its operative position, under load;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4, exhibiting the positions of the pad and its housing under a no load condition; and

FIG. 6 is an end view corresponding to that of FIG. 4 illustrating the pad in a reversed position.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The invention embodiment illustrated comprises a generally rectangular shell-like housing 10. This housing will be further described with reference to its normal orientation in use.

The housing 10 includes a rectangular top 12 perpendicular to and dependent from which are side walls 14 and 16 and one end wall 18. The walls 14, 16 and 18 are equal in depth; the walls 14 and 16 run the length of the top 12 and are formed integral with its side edges; and the wall 18 runs the width of the top, at one end thereof in bridging integrally connected relation to the adjacent ends of the side walls 14 and 16.

Welded to be integral with, perpendicular to and coextensive in length with the side wall 14, at its lower edge, is a longitudinally extending flat bar 24 which is rectangular in cross section and projects inwardly of the side wall 14 in a plane parallel to that occupied by the top 12. A bar 26 identical to the bar 24 is similarly applied the length of the side wall 16 to project toward and co-planar with the bar 24. As will be seen the bars 24 and 26 serve to provide internal flanges on the lower edges of the side walls 14, 16 and slides which facilitate the application of a stabilizer pad 40 to the housing 10. The adjacent inner edges of the bars 24 and 26, together with the end wall 18, frame a rectangular opening in the bottom of the housing 10 which runs the length thereof.

Welded to the outer surface of the housing, about its end 20 which is open, is an inverted U-shaped frame 22 which reinforces and rigidifies the housing structure.

Each of the side walls 14 and 16 include an indentically positioned aperture 28 adjacent and spaced from the end 20 of the housing 10. The apertures 28 are transversely aligned on a level substantially midway of the depth of the side walls 14 and 16. Once a stabilizer pad is applied to the housing, the apertures 28 receive therethrough a rod 30 having an expanded head at one end which abuts one side wall of the housing and an aperture in its opposite end which projects outwardly of the housing. The aperture in the rod 30 receives therethrough a retention pin. As should be obvious the rod 30 has no connection to the stabilizer pad and its only function is that of a blocking device which insures the retention of the stabilizer pad in the housing 10 until the removal of the retention pin 32 and the subsequent removal of the rod from the housing.

Two brackets 34, 36 are welded to rise perpendicular to and from the top of the housing 10, in a longitudinally spaced relation and in location centered between its sides. The brackets 34 and 36 have apertures which are aligned to accommodate a bridging pivot rod 38 serving as means for a pivotal connection of the housing (in a conventional manner) to form the foot of an outrigger or stabilizer arm.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the stabilizer pad 40 is reversible. It comprises a square base plate 42, the bounding edges 47, 48, 49 and 50 of which are substantially equal in length. Fixed to project from and perpendicular to one face 44 of the plate 42, at a location within and spaced from its peripheral edges, on all sides, is a rectangular block 52 of laminated reinforced rubber. The block 52 is relatively rigid but somewhat resilient in character. Its respective ends are abutted, adjacent their base, by shallow plate elements 54, between and to which they are secured and anchored by through bolts. The plate elements 54 embody means by which they are suitably secured to project from and perpendicular to face 44. The plate elements 54 are parallel and postion the block 52 between and more closely adjacent the edge 50 than the edge 48 and they are spaced equidistantly from the edges 47 and 49 of the plate 42.

The block 52 provides the stabilizer pad with a resilient anchor adapted for frictional engagement with a surface such as that of a street, highway or the like, useful in the event the apparatus of which it forms a part must function in such an environment.

An H-shaped cleat 58 is welded to and projected outwardly from and perpendicular to the reverse face 46 of the plate 42. Cleat 58 is located within the boundaries of the face 46 and spaced from the edges thereof on all sides. It includes two metal plates 60 and 62 identical in size and trapezoidal outline edge mounted to project outwardly from and perpendicular to the face 46 and bridged by a third metal plate 64. The plate 64 has a rectangular outline, is edge mounted to project perpendicular to the face 46 and integrated with the plates 60 and 62 by welding to provide the "H" shape of the cleat.

The plates 60 and 62 of the cleat 58 run parallel to the sides 48 and 50 of the plate 42 and like the block 52 are somewhat closer to the edge 50 than the edge 48. Also, the ends of the plates 60 and 62 at the respective opposite extremities thereof are spaced equidistant from the edges 47 and 49. With the arrangement thus provided the H-shaped cleat 58 is in substantially back to back relation with respect to the resilient block 52.

It should be noted that the depth of projection of each of the plates 60, 62 and 64 is equal.

A slot 66 is formed in the plate 42 adjacent and running parallel to the edge 48 and spaced equidistantly from the edges 47 and 49. The slot 66 has a length and width to freely accommodate the fingers of a hand, thereby to provide a hand grip facilitating the manipulation of the stabilizer pad 40 in its application to and removal from the housing 10.

With the rod 30 removed, one can then apply the pad 40 to the housing 10. Since both the block 52 and the cleat 58 lie within and are adequately spaced from the boundary thereof, plate 42 can be manipulated to establish outer surface portions of its face 46, including edges 47 and 49, in bearing relation to the innermost surface portions of the bars 24 and 26. Once pad 40 is positioned so limited portions of the lateral boundaries of the face 46 are brought to bear on the bars 24 and 26, it is a simple matter to slide the plate 42 inwardly of the housing 10 and towards the back wall 18 until the block 52 is beyond and clear of the line of the apertures 28. At this point rod 30 can be applied through the apertures 28 to produce a barrier to block removal of the pad from the housing. Of course, once the rod is applied, the retention pin 32 is also applied to prevent the withdrawal of the rod from the housing. In the application of the stabilizer pad as above described the slot 66 is outermost, at the open end of the housing, and the cleat 58 depends between and in respectively spaced relation to the bars 24 and 26 and projects between these bars outwardly of the bottom of the housing. The depth of the projection of the cleat 58 is greater than the depth of the housing to insure a substantial projection thereof under load, under which condition the block 52 will abut and bear, coextensive therewith, on the inner surface of the top 12 of the housing 10.

Attention is directed to the fact that in the assembled relation of the pad 40 there is clearance of a limited degree between the edges 47 and 49 and the side walls 14 and 16. There is, moreover, on full insertion of the pad to the limit of the end wall 18, a substantial spacing between the rod 30 and the adjacent end of the resilient block 52. The same condition would exist as between the cleat 58 and the rod 30 under similar circumstances. Furthermore, the depth of the housing as compared to the depth of the plate 42 plus the depth of the block 52 or the cleat 58 is greater, giving space for vertical movement as between the pad and the housing under shifting load conditions which might apply during use of the apparatus in application to an outrigger or stabilizer arm in connection with operating equipment.

Using the stabilizer pad assembly of the construction and nature described, it has been established in tests that under conditions of terrain or underlying surface being uneven, sloped or significantly inclined that the invention apparatus inhibits slippage of the structure involved and provides a most stable operating condition for the equipment to which the outrigger or stabilizer arms of which it forms a part are applied.

Furthermore, each of the housing 10 and a pad comprised of the plate 42 bearing an H-shaped cleat indicate independent benefits in use thereof. To apply any given pad to a housing such as the housing 10 obviously simplifies its application and obviates the need for any positive connection directly to the pad to insure its proper function. Given the degree of play contemplated as between a pad and the housing 10 permitting relative freedom of movement therebetween, though limited, provides a flexibility of application of the pad and more effective performance thereof for the purpose intended than heretofore possible for apparatus of this type. The use of the H-shaped cleat has been found to lend a degree of security and balance in use of a pad by virtue of its position being limited to lie within the boundaries of the plate 42 and being substantially spaced therefrom. The projection of the surface 46 relative the boundaries of the cleat 58 appears to lend a versatility of base footing as provided by this apparatus giving much better performance than prior art cleated pads heretofore available.

In summary, the assembly of the invention lends benefits in its use which are singularly important in that the housing and the stabilizer pad contained and protected thereby are so constructed and interrelated as to enable their relative movement in multiple directions, including directions substantially at right angles to one another and even in a three dimensional sense under both load and no load conditions. This permits optimal shifting and accommodation of load under adverse circumstances. It also facilitates protection of the pad and cleaning of the assembly. In this last respect, it should be self evident that the assembly may be induced to vibrate, under no load conditions, by shaking thereof through the medium of movement of the outrigger or stabilizer arm to which it connects, thereby to dislodge debris from the pad and the cavity of the housing which protects and lends support to the pad.

It is accordingly seen that the construction of the invention assembly and its components, whether taken together or separately, enables a very important advance in the art which in use thereof will be reflected by a definitely improved performance of equipment requiring the use of outriggers or stabilizer arms as well as greater safety, security and flexibility in use thereof.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and constuction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.