The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1992
Filed:
Sep. 28, 1990
Robert D Barwise, Bovey, MN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A load handling vehicle for movement of a load such as a drag of logs over rough terrain. The vehicle has a grapple assembly for lifting one end of a load for dragging the load over the terrain with one end elevated. The grapple assembly is connected to the boom of the skidder vehicle by a releasable load coupling. The grapple assembly is hydraulically actuated and hydraulically connected to the tow vehicle for that purpose. A mainline is connected at one end to the grapple assembly and at the other end to the tow vehicle and engages a powered winch drum permitting playing out and allowing for reeling in of the mainline. The grapple assembly is detachable from the tow vehicle by disconnecting the load coupling. When the grapple assembly is detached from the tow vehicle, it still engages the load and can be dragged by the tow vehicle using the mainline over the rough terrain. The skidder operator operates the vehicle in such a configuration when the terrain is too rugged to permit operation of the vehicle as a grapple skidder. Once clear of the adverse terrain, the operator can reattach the grapple assembly to the boom structure from the vehicle, then lift the load to the transport position and resume operation as a grapple skidder.