Cascade Corporation

Larry D McCart

Harry F Weinert

David J Weisgerber

Hooshang Shafii-Kahany

A selectively rotatable load clamp for lift trucks, having a pair of openable and closable clamp arms. The clamp arms are capable of shifting the position of a load relative to the lift truck by movement of the clamp arms in unison, by which the load may be moved relative to the lift truck between a position of equal extension, wherein the forward ends of the clamp arms extend a substantially equal distance forwardly of the lift truck, and a position of unequal extension wherein the forward end of one clamp arm extends a greater distance forwardly than the forward end of the other clamp arm. The fluid motor apparatus for accomplishing such shifting function is selectively actuatable only in certain predetermined rotation positions of the clamp, that is, those positions where the two clamp arms are disposed at substantially a 45.degree. angle relative to horizontal. A valve assembly responsive to the rotational position of the clamp permits the selective actuation of the shifting function in such position, while preventing the selective opening or closing of the clamp arms. Conversely, when the clamp arms are placed either one above the other or side-by-side, the selective opening or closing of the arms is permitted while the actuation of the shifting function is prevented.

Rotatable load clamp adapted for selective load positioning in response

A takeup reel for a combination hydraulic hose and electrical cable including a rotatable storage portion for taking up and paying out hose and cable, a stationary mounting member on which the storage portion is mounted for rotation, and a rotatable connector providing a fluid connection between hose stored on the storage portion and a supply of hydraulic fluid external to the reel. A brushless electrical connection is provided between cable stored on the storage portion and a supply of electrical energy external to the reel by an interface cable which may be coiled in either of reverse directions about the axis of rotation for the storage portion. A cable housing for the interface cable is joined to the storage portion for rotation therewith. The interface cable includes a plurality of flexible conductor elements. The elements in that portion of the interface cable stored in the cable housing are joined in side-by-side relation to form a flat ribbon-like configuration, and in another portion of the cable the elements are unjoined to form a loose bundle. The unjoined portions of the elements extend through a passage generally parallel to the rotational axis for the line storing portion. The ribbon-like portion of the cable extends radially into the cable housing through a strain relief guide which is mounted for limited rotation about an axis substantially paralleling the rotational axis of the line-storing portion, thus to guide a stretch of the joined cable elements in either of opposite spirally wound directions.

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Lake Oswego, OR, United States of America

Larry D McCart