US3276789A - Lateral brace for orchard apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1966 A. L. GIRARDI LATERAL BRACE FOR ORCHARD APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1964 FIG'4 INVENTOR. fl/vra/v/a A, 6/?490/ Oct. 4, 1966 A. L. GIRARDI 3,

LATERAL BRACE FOR ORCHARD APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l/vra/v/a Z, 6/9440/ Oct. 4, 1966 A. GIRARDI LATERAL BRAGE FOR ORCHARD APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25, 1964 Oct. 4, 1966 A. L. GIRARDI 3,276,789

LATERAL BRACE FOR ORCHARD APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1964 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. /7/V70/V/0 L. GMW W BY/y// United States Patent 3,276,789 LATERAL BRACE FOR ORCHARD APPARATUS Antonio Lawrence Girardi, Stockton, Calif.

(758 W. Acacia St., Salinas, Calif.)

Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 355,152 10 Claims. (Cl. 280-150) This invention relates to orchard apparatus of the character disclosed in my Patents No. 2,798,623, issued July 9, 1957, and No. 2,927,705, issued March 8, 1960. More particularly, this invention relates to lateral supporting mechanism operable in connection with apparatus of the character noted to brace the apparatus against lateral tilting when the apparatus is in operation in an orchard.

It is among the objects of my present invention to provide supports extending laterally from the sides of a mobile carriage of the character shown in my earlier patents above referred to, for movement to and from ground engaging positions, later-ally space-d from the sides of a mobile carriage, to stabilize the carriage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lateral support providing a rolling contact with the ground at the sides of a carriage such that the carriage may be advanced through an orchard without disturbing the lateral support and without material obstruction to the forward advance of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a lateral support or bracing mechanism arranged to be hydraulically actuated to sustain a great amount of weight tending to tilt a mobile carriage laterally on its supporting wheels; and which may be moved through a relatively wide angle of adjustment and effectively held at any desired point Within its range of adjustment.

Another object is to provide a support of the character described which may be readily moved to and from an operative position, and which may be effectively locked in such position to guard against inadvertent release at times when a tilting of the apparatus might cause damage thereto or injury to a workman carried thereby.

A still further object is to provide lateral supporting mechanism of rugged structure capable of supporting very heavy loads, and which is manipulatable to permit effective operation of the mechanism and of the apparatus to be braced thereby under widely varying conditions of ground surface, and to surfaces which yield to various degrees under heavy load so as to maintain the equilibrium of the carriage under widely varying conditions.

The invention has other features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be more fully explained in the following specification. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, as the invention may be otherwise embodied within the definition of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental side elevational view of a portion of a mobile orchard apparatus equipped with the lateral supporting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the carriage frame of the apparatus illustrating a preferred form of the lateral support of the present invention, the superstructure being omitted to more clearly show the manner in which the supporting mechanism is mounted.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the figure being drawn upon a larger scale.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a carriage frame equipped with a modified form of the lateral supporting mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a fragmental detail view, partly in section, of a preferred roller mounting means.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the lateral brace mechanism of the present invention as attached to the frame of a mobile carriage;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6, and indicating in full and dotted lines its elevated and ground engaging positions, respectively;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 6 as viewed from the right-hand side of FIG. 6, parts being broken away, and parts being shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the lower frame section of the brace; and

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the ground engaging roller, parts being broken away and shown in section.

In terms of broad inclusion, the device of my present invention contemplates the provision of laterally extending supports mounted upon the sides of a mobile carriage upon which are mounted axially extensible booms arranged to be moved angularly about horizontal and vertical axes to support a workman at the end of each boom in desired positions, such as to give access to an adjacent tree over at least one quadrant thereof. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the supports are actuated by hydraulic rams to raise and lower ground engaging rollers from and to supporting engagement with the ground surface at opposite sides of the carriage at points sufliciently spaced from the carriage to brace the carriage against tilting movement when any boom is moved to its maximum laterally extending position. The invention also contemplates the provision of novel means for mounting the rollers upon the supports to insure effective supporting engagement with the ground, regardless of irregularity of the surface or the firmness of the soil, and which will permit forward movement of the carriage while the supports are in active bracing position, as well as when in elevated inactive position.

In terms of greater detail, and in particular reference to the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 the device of the present invention comprises a lateral support, designated in general by the numeral 11, mounted upon a side portion of the carriage frame 12 adjacent each of a plurality of extensible booms 14. Broadly, the booms 14 are mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis upon a supporting base member 16 which, in turn, is rotatable about a vertical axis. 'Each boom is extensible along its longitudinal axis between fully retracted and fully extended positions. A cage 17 is supported upon the end of each boom on which a workman may stand while picking fruit or performing other Work, such as pruning, thinning, spraying or other operations on the trees of an orchard. By extending and retracting the boom and manipulating it through desired angles of horizontal and vertical adjustment, a workman may be supported at desired positions from which he may reach any portion of at least a full quadrant of an adjacent tree. Since the structure and operation of such orchard apparatus is fully described in my patents above identified, a further or more detailed description of that apparatus is herein unnecessary.

In the embodiment show in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the support comprises and arm 21 mounted for pivotal movement about a shaft 22 substantially parallel to the carriage frame 12, a support being provided upon each side of the frame at front and back of the carriage. While only the rear of the carriage is shown in the present application, it is to be understood that similar booms 14 and lateral supports 11 are contemplated at the forward end of the machine, as disclosed in my prior patents above referred to. Preferably, the arm 21 is of an A shape with the diverging ends of the arm sections pivoted at spaced points along the frame, the resist torsion and displacement of the arms in a forward and backdirection relative to the carriage.

At the outer end of each arm, near where the arm sections coverage to a meeting point, is mounteda ground engaging roller 23. Preferably, the roller 23 is mounted upon a yoke 24 pivotally movable about a vertical shaft 25 extending through a bearing 26 carried by a shaft 27, which, in turn, is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis through bearings 28 secured to the end of the arm, as best shown in FIG. of the drawings. The axis of the shaft 29, upon which the roller rotates,

.is offset from the axis of the vertical shaft25 so that the roller will trail in the manner of a castor when the carriage is advanced along the ground with the roller in ground engaging position.

Each arm 21 is movable bodily about the axis of the shaft 22 upon which it is mounted by means of a' lever arm 31, which arm may be formed integrally with one of the A forming sections. The arm 21, with the lever portion 31, operates as a bell crank pivotally movable to raise and lower the roller from and to ground engaging position. The lever portions 31 of the arms at opposite sides of the carriage are connected to piston stems 32 of a double acting hydraulic ram 33 mounted at the back of the carriage frame in any convenient manner, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Fluid pressure introduced between pistonswithin the ram in conventional manner cause the stems 32 to move outwardly in opposite directions to move the rollers 23 into ground engaging positions, as shown in full lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings. When the flow is directed into the pistons from the outer ends of the ram, the pistons move inwardly to displace the levers 31 inwardly, thereby rais-v ing the arms 21 and rollers 23 to an elevated ground ,frame 12, to which the shaft is secured, to be telescoped with a main carriage frame member 34, as taught in my prior patent No. 2,798,623 above referred to. The arm may, of course, be otherwise mounted, if desired.

In order to prevent an inadvertent raising of the arms 21 and rollers 23, I prefer to provide a latch arranged to hold each arm against 'upward movement until the latch is manually released. A toothed arm 34 pivoted to each lever 31 and arranged to engage a portion of the carriage frame 12 as a detent is satisfactory, though any other type of releasable latch may be substituted.

Instead of the bell crank type of lever 31 and arm 21 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the rollers 23 may be mounted upon rigid laterally extending arms 36, as shown in FIG.

4. In this arrangement, each yoke 24 is connected to the. joined ends of a pair of pivoted links 37, which diverge toward the arm upon which it is supported. The upper ends of the links are slidably and pivotally connected to the arm 36 by pins 38, which engage slots 39 in the arm. A double acting hydraulic ram 41 is provided with piston stems 42 connected to pins 38 for moving the pins toward and away from each otheralong 'the'slots 39. When the pins are drawn together, they cause the links 37 to move the roller downwardly to ground engaging position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4. As a pins 38 are forced apart, the links raise the roller to inactive position, as indicated in broken lines at the right hand side of FIG. 4.

ble depth in soft ground or mud, so as to keep the carriage in a level position when such a condition is en- 4' countered. Likewise, the rollers must be movable upward sutficiently to make allowance for the tendency of the wheels 18 of the carriage to diginto soft ground as the apparatus is. advanced along the ground. It may be sometimes necessary to raise the rollers nearly to the level of the carriage frame .12 in order to permit the wheels to gain-the necessary traction. However, for ordinary ground conditions,- the carriage may be advanced without raising the rollers 23 from the ground. In that case, the rollers may pivot about the horizontal shaft 27 or the vertical shaft 25, or both, to conform to irregularities in the ground surface- At the same time,

the offset position of the roller with respect to the vertical shaft 25 permits the roller, to trail as a castor.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 6 through 10 of the drawings, a brace mounting plate 43 is welded, riveted or otherwise secured to the carriage body frame 12 adjacent an end thereof. The mounting plate 43 is provided with outwardly disposed brackets 44 arranged to support bearings 46 in which a shaft 47 is journaled. A lateral brace, designated in general by the numeral 48, is mountedupon the shaft 47.

As. illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the brace48 comprises a pair of brace arms 49 secured-in spaced relation by stays 51 which may be formed of pipe, suitable lengths of which are welded to form an X-shaped cross brace by which the arms 49 may be rigidly held in spaced parallel relation to form a main brace frame. Preferably, nuts 52 are welded or otherwise secured within the ends of the stay pipe lengths 51 to be engaged vby bolts 53 lthreacled thereto through the brace arms 49. Hubs 54, formed upon or secured to the brace arms 49, engage the shaft 47 and are secured thereto by keys 56 or other suitable securing means.

A cross piece 57, preferably an upwardly faced channel, is pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to the ends of the brace arms 49. Ends of the channel piece 57 have the flange portions cut away, and are downturned to provide brackets 58. The channel cross piece 57 is connected to the ends of the arms 49 by bearing studs 59 extending through the ends of the arms and through the brackets 58. Nuts 61, retained by cotter pins or other suitable retaining means, secure the bolts in operative engagement with the arms 49 and brackets 58.

A ground engaging roller 63 is rotatably mounted upon a bearing shaft 64 extending between the arms of a yoke 66. A pin 67, secured to the yoke 66, extends through a ball bearing 68 and through the cross channel 57 and a bearing plate 69'seating within the channel. The pin 67 and the roller 63 are held in assembled position upon the cross channel 57 by means of a nut 71 threaded onto the upper end of the pin 67 and secured thereto by a taper pin 72 or other suitable retaining means. The arms of the yoke 66 are shaped to engage the shaft 64 in offsetrelation to the axis of the bearing pin 67' so that the roller 63 may roll as a castor.

Links 73 are pivoted at one end to a bracket-44 and at the other end to the lower end of a bracket 58. The links 73 are connected and braced in spaced relation by crossing pipe sections 74 secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding,.or by bolts applied in a manner similar to the bolts 52 and nuts 53 by which the stays 51 are secured to the arms 49.

The roller 63, which is preferably in the order of a twelve-inch diameter and ,a twelve-inch length, is moved to and from ground engaging position by means of a hydraulic ram 78 secured to the end of the carriage frame 12. The ram 78 is provided with a piston stem 79 pivotally connected to the outer end of a bell crank arm 81 formed integrally with one of the brace arms 49. The crank arm 81 is arranged to clear the end of the carriage frame 12, and the stroke of the ram 78 is designed to raise the roller to a maximum clearance above the ground level suflicient to permit free movement of the carriage over any ordinary ground obstruction without interfering withthe manipulation of equipment mounted and operating upon the carriage frame 12. The lower limit of movement of the roller 63 should be such as to accommodate movement of the roller downwardly into soft soil or mud sufliciently to hold the carriage substantially level, even under conditions which permit the roller to sink into the soil to a substantial depth.

The links 73 hold the channel 57 substantially level and the yoke bearing pin 67 substantially vertical as the roller is lowered and raised to and from ground engaging position. The cross stays 51 and 74 strengthen and brace the arm-s 49 against distortion and cooperate to give a strength and rigidity adequate to sustain a heavy load acting through the leverage of a long boom. Because the roller 63 is so mounted as to trail in the manner of a castor, the carriage may be advanced without raising the rollers unless and until ground conditions are encountered which require special manipulation of the rollers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are movably mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be independently manipulated to support workmen in desired positions relative to adjacent trees, lateraljsupporting means mounted upon opposite sides of the carriage adjacent the booms for bracing the same against lateral tilting movement, each supporting means comprising an arm pivoted to a side of the carriage in substantial alinement with the base of each boom, a roller, a yoke rotatably supporting the roller upon the outer end of the arm, the yoke being mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, and actuating means comprising a lever carried by each supporting arm and a hydraulic ram mounted upon an end of the carriage and connected to said lever for raising and lowering each arm to move its roller to and from ground engaging position in laterally spaced relation to the carriage in transverse alinement with its boom.

2. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are movably mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be independently manipulated to support workmen in desired positions relative to adjacent trees, lateral supporting means mounted upon opposite sides of the carriage in substantial alinement with the booms for bracing the carriage against lateral tilting movement, each supporting means comprising a bell crank pivoted to a side of the carriage adjacent a boom and provide with a relatively long bracing arm extending laterally from the carriage and a shorter lever arm portion, a yoke pivotally mounted upon the outer end of each bracing arm, a roller rotatably mounted upon each yoke, a hydraulic ram mounted upon the carriage between opposite bell cranks pivoted to opposite sides of the carriage, said ram being connected to the lever arm portions of the bell cranks for actuating the cranks to move the rollers to and from ground engaging positions.

3. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are movably mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be independently manipulated to support workmen in desired positions relative to adjacent trees, lateral supporting means mounted upon opposite sides of the carriage for bracing the same against lateral tilting movement, each supporting means comprising an arm extending laterally from a side of the carriage adjacent a boom, a pair of links pivotally and slidably connected at their upper ends to each laterally extending arm, a yoke pivotally connected to the lower ends of each pair of link arms, the upper ends of the links of each pair being movable toward and away from each other to lower and raise the yoke, a roller rotatably mounted upon the yoke, and a hydraulic ram mounted upon the carriage between the upper ends of each pair of links and connected thereto for actuating the links to move the respective rollers carried thereby to and from a ground engaging position laterally spaced from the carriage.

4. A lateral support for orchard apparatus of the character described compir-sing an arm pivoted to a side of a mobile carriage upon an axis fixed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage, in a position below and inwardly spaced from a side frame member of the carriage whereby the member itself limits upward movement of the arm, a yoke pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the arm for tilting movement about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to the arm pivot axis and for turning movement about a vertical axis, a roller rotatably mounted upon the yoke, and means for actuating the arm to lower and raise the roller to and from a ground engaging position.

5. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be manipulated to support workmen in varying positions relative to adjacent trees, lateral bracing means mounted upon the sides of the carriage for bracing the carriage against tilting, said lateral bracing means comprising a pair of brace arms pivotally mounted to extend laterally outwardly therefrom in substantially parallel spaced relation upon a side of the carriage frame adjacent an end thereof, cross stays extending between and secured to the arms including a cross beam pivotally connected to the brace arms near their outer ends, ground engaging means pivotally secured to the cross beam in downwardly extending relation thereto; a bell crank arm attached to one of the brace arms, and an hydraulic ram mounted upon the carriage frame and connected to the crank arm for moving the ground engaging means to and from ground engaging position.

6. A lateral brace for mobile field apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein the ground engaging means is mounted as a castor upon said cross beam substantially midway between the ends thereof.

7. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be manipulated to support workmen in varying positions relative to adjacent trees, lateral bracing means mounted upon the sides of the carriage for bracing the carriage against tilting, said lateral bracing means comprising a brace frame pivotally mounted upon a side of the carriage frame adjacent an end thereof in laterally outwardly extending relation thereto, said brace frame comprising a pair of brace arms positioned in spaced relation, a cross member pivotally connected to and extending between the ends of the brace arms, a yoke pivotally mounted upon the cross member between the brace arms for movement about a vertical axis, a ground engaging roller mounted upon the yoke for rotation about a horizontal axis rearwardly offset from the vertical axis sufiiciently to obtain a castor-like action, and means for moving the brace frame to raise and lower the ground engaging roller from and to ground engaging position.

8. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be manipulated to support workmen in varying positions relative to adjacent trees, lateral bracing means mounted upon the sides of the carriage for bracing the carriage against tilting, said lateral bracing means comprising a brace frame pivotally mounted upon a side of the carriage frame adjacent an end thereof in laterally outwardly extending relation thereto, said frame comprising a pair of brace arms positioned in substantially parallel spaced relation, a structural cross beam pivotally connected to and extending between the ends of the brace arms, a ground engaging roller mounted for movement as a castor about a substantially vertical castor axis upon the cross beam substantially midway between the brace arms, a bell crank arm connected to one of the brace arms, and an hydraulic ram connected to the bell crank arm for actuating the brace frame to raise and lower the roller from and to ground engaging position.

9. A lateral brace for mobile field apparatus as defined by claim 8 provided with means for maintaining the eastor axis in substantially vertical position.

10. In an orchard apparatus of the character described wherein a plurality of booms are mounted upon a mobile carriage and arranged to be manipulated to support workmen in varying positions relative to adjacent trees, lateral bracing means mounted upon the sides of the carriage for bracing the carriage against tilting, said lateral bracing means comprising a main brace frame pivotally mounted upon a side of the carriage frame in laterally outwardly extending relation thereto, said frame including a pair of substantially parallel brace arms one of which is provided with a bell crank arm by which the frame may be actuated, a cross member connected to the arms between their outer ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a roller mounted upon the cross member between the brace arms for movement about a substantially ver- 8 crank arm for raising and lowering the roller, and a second brace pivoted at one end to the carriage frame and at the other end to the cross members.

2,927,705 3/ 1960 Girardi ,182- -2 X 3,107,021 10/1963 Dempster 280-l50.5 X

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

tical castor axis, hydraulic means connected to the bell 15 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ORCHARD APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF BOOMS ARE MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON A MOBILE CARRIAGE AND ARRANGED TO BE INDEPENDENTLY MANIPULATED TO SUPPORT WORKMEN IN DESIRED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO ADJACENT TREES, LATERAL SUPPORTING MEANS MOUNTED UPON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CARRIAGE ADJACENT THE BOOMS FOR BRACING THE SAME AGAINST LATERAL TILTING MOVEMENT, EACH SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING AN ARM PIVOTED TO A SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE IN SUBSTANTIAL ALINEMENT WITH THE BASE OF EACH BOOM, A ROLLER, A YOKE ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE ROLLER UPON THE OUTER END OF HE ARM, THE YOKE BEING MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL AXES, AND ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING A LEVER CARRIED BY EACH SUPPORTING ARM AND A HYDRAULIC RAM MOUNTED UPON AN END OF THE CARRIAGE AND CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER FOR RAISING AND LOWERING EACH ARM TO MOVE ITS ROLLER TO AND FROM GROUND ENGAGING POSITION IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION TO THE CARRIAGE INTO TANSVERSE ALINEMENT WITH ITS BOOM.

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