Grapple assembly

[0002] This is a continuation of provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/102,899, filed Oct. 2, 1998, entitled Grapple Assembly, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0003] Not Applicable.

[0004] There are a number of attachments for skid steer loaders that enable them to accomplish a number of functions. One attachment mechanism is a clamping mechanism known as a “grapple”. A grapple is typically an hydraulically operated clamp which includes pivotal jaws extending across the front of the skids steer loader. Typically, a grapple is wider than the skid steer loader, so that the jaws protect the wheels of the loader against obstructions. In most such grapples the jaws are opened by a pair of spaced hydraulic cylinders. A problem with grapples of this nature is that they are expensive and sometimes are too wide when access space is limited. Also, a wide jaw constriction complicates picking up certain types of load.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved grapple that fits through narrow openings and has improved jaw construction for picking up a variety of objects.

[0006] The present invention relates to a grapple assembly that is particularly suited for use as an attachment to a skid steer loader. The grapple is operated by a single hydraulic drive cylinder that is inexpensive and easily replaceable. The grapple jaws are narrower than the wheels of the loader and are lightweight and rigid. The lower jaw is formed of spaced vertical ribs having a bar extending across the tips of the ribs. This is lighter and stronger than a flat plate, which is commonly used. The bar at the ends of the tips improves rigidity and improves the clamping capabilities of the grapple. The upper jaw of the grapple also has vertically spaced ribs which are interconnected by a bar adjacent the tips of the ribs. An intermediate bar reinforces the upper jaw and provides an attachment point for the drive cylinder at the center thereof.

[0007] These and other features and advantages of the present invention are described in more detail in connection with the preferred embodiment of the present invention described below.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of skid steer loader employing a grapple assembly in accordance with the present invention, with the grapple assembly being shown in its open and raised position.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1 wherein the grapple assembly is closed.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the skid steer loader and grapple assembly of FIG. 1 from the left front side thereof, showing the grapple assembly tilted and opened for picking up items on the ground.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 showing the grapple in its closed position.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the grapple apparatus of FIG. 5.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the grapple apparatus being employed for picking up logs that are positioned transversely in the jaws of the grapple.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the grapple apparatus picking up a log extending longitudinally from the front of the grapple apparatus.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the grapple apparatus picking up smaller materials, in this case a pile of scrap lumber or firewood.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the grapple attachment showing the open and closed positions of the jaws.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a front view of the grapple attachment of the present invention shown with the jaws open.

[0019] Referring to the drawings, a grapple attachment 10 constricted in accordance with the present invention is mounted on a skid steer loader 11 and is used to clamp and pick up a wide range of products.

[0020] The grapple attachment 10 comprises a lower jaw 12 and an upper jaw 14 pivotally connected together by means of an upper transverse shaft or hinge pin 16, which is mounted at the upper end 17 of upwardly extending legs 18 at an inner end of the lower jaw. The upper and lower jaws are mounted on a mounting plate 22 that is attached by a pivotal fitting 24 to distal or outer ends 26 of a loading arm mechanism 28 of the loader. This fitting can be a so-called “Fast Attach” brand mounting device which is commercially available. The fitting and thus the grapple is pivoted by a hydraulic drive 25, which is part of the loader. The loading arm mechanism comprises a pair of parallel spaced arms 29 that extend forwardly from the loader. These arms are raisable and lowerable by means of a hydraulic drive mechanism 31. The loader has an auxiliary hydraulic drive for supplying the hydraulics to drive the grapple of the present invention. The loader is conventional and does not form a part of the present invention.

[0021] As shown in the drawings, an important feature of the present invention is that the grapple is somewhat narrower or at least no wider than the width of the loader. This makes it possible to use the grapple in any physical surroundings where the loader can fit, yet gives the grapple sufficient gripping power and torsional resistance to pick up a wide variety of unbalanced loads (see FIGS. 7-9). For example, long longs 80 can be carried transversely in the grapple (FIG. 7), and the jaws have sufficient gripping power to hold the logs horizontal. The grapple also has sufficient gripping force to lift a log 82 positioned longitudinally, as shown in FIG. 8. Finally, the jaws have the capability to pick up and hold a collection of smaller objects such as firewood or wood scrap 84 as shown in FIG. 9. The pick up bars on the outer edges of the jaws assist in picking up and clamping all such materials. A width of 46 inches is desirable when used with a conventional loader. This makes the grapple extend to the inside edge of the wheels. A grapple width of about 36 to about 82 inches (the width of the loader to the outer sides of the wheels) is satisfactory. The grapple is proportionally larger or smaller when used on a larger or smaller loader.

[0022] The lower jaw of the grapple comprises a plurality of transversely spaced vertically disposed ribs 38, which are mounted at inner ends to a transverse mounting tube 40. The mounting tube extends between L-shaped end plates 44 on the outer ends of the jaw. A lower leg 46 of the L-shaped end plates constitutes one of the ribs in the jaw. Upwardly extending leg 18 of L-shaped end plate 46 extends to an upper end 17, to which the upper jaw hinge pin 16 is mounted. The mounting plate 22 is attached to a rear side of upper legs 18. Desirably, the present invention comprises a third L-shaped member 50 positioned halfway between end plates 44 for additional structural rigidity.

[0023] An important feature of the present invention is that a pickup bar 52 is attached to the outer ends of ribs 38 and extends transversely across the entire width of the lower jaw. The pickup bar makes it possible to employ a lighter jaw by utilizing the improved strength of spaced ribs while at the same time benefiting from the improved pickup capabilities of a jaw having a flat plate across the front edge of the lower jaw. This also facilitates the use of the jaw for a scraping function without requiring a complete flat plate for the bottom jaw. The combination of the ribs and pickup bar make the jaws light and strong. The preferred grapple of the present invention weighs only about seven hundred pounds.

[0024] The upper jaw 14 comprises a plurality of spaced arcuate ribs 54 formed of vertical plates, with crossbars 56 and 58 interconnecting the ribs. One of the crossbars 56 forms a pickup bar at outer tips of the upper ribs leaving a short extension 59 of the ribs extending outwardly for improved pickup grip. Bar 56 mates with lower bar 52 for picking up objects.

[0025] An important feature of the invention is that the grapple is operated by a single hydraulic cylinder 60 that is inexpensive and easy to replace. One end 62 of the hydraulic cylinder is mounted on a bracket 64 attached to mounting plate 22 and the other end of the cylinder (a fitting 66 at the outer end of piston shaft 68) is mounted on a bracket 70 attached to crossbars 56 and 58 at the center thereof. The hydraulic cylinder is supplied with hydraulic fluid by the auxiliary drive mechanism of the loader. The open and closed positions of the grapple are shown in FIG. 11 with the solid line figure of upper jaw 14 being shown in an open position and the phantom figure 14′ representing the closed jaw position. The preferred cylinder is very inexpensive and easy to replace, and is available commercially from farm implement stores.

[0026] The size of the grapple of the present invention provides a number of advantages. With a conventional wide grapple (which typically extends outwardly beyond the tires of the vehicle) two hydraulic drive cylinders are necessary to operate the jaws, and the jaws cannot effectively pick up smaller objects or objects in narrow places. With the present invention, the jaws can fit into relatively narrow places and pick up a much wider variety of things than the wider jaws. Moreover, the jaws are sufficiently wide to pick up long objects and resist torsion on the jaws.

[0027] It should be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of the preferred practice of the present invention and that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.