US2668731A - Apparatus for lifting stacks of bricks and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1954 H. J. NEHER 2,668,731

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING STACKS OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. l/EKBERT J- WEI/B? BY $5M Feb. 9, 1954 H. J. NEHER 2,668,731

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING STACKS OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 25, 1951 JNVENTOR. HEKABERT d. NEHER BY I 177 7' ORA E Y5 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR LIFTING STACKS OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 25, 1951 H. J. NEHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. flfike'kr J. NEHEI? BYZ H. J. NEHER Feb. 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1951 7 a: Z E

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L w w PLAN. f Z W h a! Ag 9 w. M u Z? a ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Herbert J. N eher, Decatur, Ala.

Application August 25, 1951, Serial No. 243,730

1% filaims. 1;

My present invention relates to apparatus for lifting'sta'cks ofobjects such as bricks, concrete blocks, similar building units and thelilze, and has for an object the provision of such apparatus embodying a main frame having portions disposed to lie alongside and over the stack, a set of grippers operatively carried by the main frame movable laterally of the stack toward each other to grip the stack therebetween', together with means connected'to the grippers effective to cause the grippers to move evenly and concomitantly into clamping engagement with the stack.

A; morespecificobject of my invention is to provide brick handling apparatus embodying a main frame formed of lei-shaped sectionsheld in spaced relation to each other by suitable members and disposed for one leg" thereof to overliethe stack and iorthe other leg to stand vertically at one side thereof, a stack gripper frame comprising a plurality of sets of vertical arms disposed-on opposite sidesof thestack, the sets of corresponding'gripper arms being movable toward each other by'means' of links pivotally connected to the arms at their outer ends'and connected to vertieally movable membersat their inner ends, each of the sets of arms being provided with co-acting guide'memb'ers effective to cause the same to move toward each: other, all of the sets of grippers being actuated through a vertically movable equalizing bar and cable arrangement, whereby upon upward movement of the equalizing bar all of the sets of grippers contact the stack with equal pressure; effectively grippingthe stack for lifting the same.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which each of the oppositely disposed sets of gripper arms are moved toward each other by means of independently movable sheave blocks operatively connected. to the inner ends of the links, the sheaves being connected to the equalizing bar by means of a rope or cable passing'under the sheavesan'd over sheaves or rollers carried by the equalizing bar.

Another object is to provide brick handling app atus in which other sets of grippers are pro vi ed for engaging the ends of the stack and in which these grippers are automatically opened toreceive the stack and automatically engage the e apparatus is lifted, thereby preventi6 iricirs at ends of the stack from falling-crf when the stack is raised.

Further objects of my invention are to pro vide apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple and durable of construction; in which the number and complexity of the parts is reduced to a minimum, thus making the'sapiparatus suitable for use under the rugged conditions encountered around brick yards; toeproe vide simple, manually engageablemeans tOrlUGk the grippers in open, stack receiving. position; which means is automatically disengagediwhen the apparatus is lowered about the stack and to provide vertically slidable'gauges? on portions of the main frame nearest the operator of the lift'truck or other means used to raise the ap. paratus by means of which the apparatus may be quickly and accurately centered overra stack; facilitating the placing of the" same: about. the stack.

Apparatus illustrating the features of my ins vention is shown in the accompanying'drawings forming a part of this application in which:.

Fig. l is a side elevationaliview of my'iinproved brick handling apparatus mounted. on thetalift structure of a lift truck and-shown in place-about a stack of bricks, the gripping framebeing; in open position;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational'viewtaken-generally along line 11-11 of Fig. 1', portions of the: lift truck mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of'theappartltus in raised position, preparatory. to being lowered about a stack of'bricks;

Fig. is a iragmental end elevational View showing the device lowered about a stackoflbrioks and with the grippers clamped about'the' stack,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmental detail sectional View taken generally along line V V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view takengenerally along line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a fragmental detail view taken along line VII- VII of Fig. l, the View being enlarged for the sake of clarity; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention and morepartlbularly to Fig. 1, I show my improved apparatus associated with a lift truck Ill. Inthe manner understood, the truck I i} comprises a vertical column ll. Slidable within the column H is a block or the like M which may be raised and lowered by means of a hydraulic cylinder l3: Projecting forwardly of the block l2 and car ried thereby is a boom M- which may be'rigidly braced by a suitable knee brace 16". Means; o shown, are provided for supplying fluid under pressure to the lower end of cylinder t3, ther8- by to raise the boom [4 vertically.

My improvedv brick handling apparatus comprises a main or supporting frame indicated generally by the numeral IT. The frame I? may comprise integrally formed, L-shaped sections each of which comprises a rear vertical leg 58 and a horizontal base section l9. It will be noted that there are two of the main frame sections I1 and that they are held in spaced relation by means of lateral angles 22. and 29. The lower ends of the legs l8 are disposed to rest on the surface supporting the stack when the device is placed about a stack of bricks indicated by the letter S. V V

Secured to the horizontal base portions I9 of the main frame sections I! are upstanding, spaced apart guide members 24 and 26. The upper ends of the sets of upright members 24 and 26 may be cross-braced by plates 21. The sets of members 24-26 may be cross connected by means of a bar 28 secured thereto as by means of bolts 29.

The gripping frame for my improved apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced apart arms 3i formed of steel bars or the like. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the arms 3| converge inwardly from the top to the bottom so that in the manner later to be explained the lower ends thereof contact the lower course of bricks in the stack S. The inner faces may be provided with half round gripping pads 3la at the lower ends of the arms 3|. On the front side of the apparatus are a similar set of gripping members indicated by the numeral 32, which'also slope inwardly as illus trated and which may carry half round pads 32a atthe lower ends thereof. gripping arms 3| and 32 are substantially aligned transversely of the stack S and I preferably provide a front and rear arm for each of the individual bricks or the like forming the lower course as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

The rear arms 3| of the gripping frame each carry a horizontal, inwardly extending rod 33 made fast as by welding to the inner side thereof. The front legs 32 each carry a horizontally'disposed, inwardly'extending tube 34, likewise made fast to the inner side thereof as by welding. Rods 33 fit snugly and slidably within the tubes 34 for a purpose later to be explained.

Secured to the inner faces of each of the front and rear legs, just beneath the rods or tubes carried thereby are horizontally disposed lengths of tubing 39. (See Figs. '7 and 8.) The lengths of tubing 36 may be welded to the inner sides of the legs 3| and 32 to form a bearing. At each end of each of the lengths of tubing 36 are inwardly directed links 3! and 38. Headed pins 39 pass through suitable openings in the links and thence through the tubes 96 and are held in place by means of cotter pins or the like 4|. will thusbe apparent that each of the arms 9! and 32 is provided with a pair of links 31 and 38 which are pivotally connected thereto by means of the tubes 36 and the pins 39. The inner ends of each of the sets of links 3'! and 38 are pivotally connected by means of pins 49 and 42 to clevises 43 and 44 which depend'from the sides of sheave blocks 46. The clevises are disposed to stradle the tubes 34 when the apparatus is lowered about a stack of bricks as will later become apparent.

In each of the blocks 46 is a sheave 47, journalled l, n a suitable bearing pin 48. The tubes 94 are Wired to the lateral angle 22 of the main frame y means of straps 45 which are welded to j gczuozes and bolted to the laterally extending The corresponding Slidable vertically between the uprights 24 and 26 is an equalizing bar indicated generally by the numeral 49. The equalizing bar 49 com prises parallel, spaced apart bars 5! and 52 which are cross connected by a plurality of bolts 53 and which may be held in spaced relation by any suitable means, not shown. Mounted for rotation on the bolts 53 are sheaves 54 which are so spaced longitudinally of the equalizing bar 49 as to lie approximately midway between adjacent ones of the sheave blocks 46. Secured to a rivet 56 or the like passing between the bars 5! and 52 is one end of a flexible member 57 such for instance as a cable or wire rope. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the cable 51 is threaded alternately under the'sheaves 47 and over the sheaves 54 and finally is secured to a rivet 58 at the opposite end of the equalizing bar 49.

Mounted for oscillation in bearings 59 and 6| carried on top of the sets of uprights 24-26 is a cross shaft 62. Secured to the shaft 62 and extending outwardly and downwardly thereof on the side of the apparatus toward the lift truck 19 are bars 63 and 64. On the opposite side and extending in an opposite direction from the bars 63 and 64 is a third bar 66, the purpose of which is to counterweight the bars 63 and 64 to bias the same to the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

Secured to the top of the shaft 62 is a short length of bar 61. bar 61 is a rope or the like 68 which is placed in reach of the operator of the lift truck M.

In order to assure that bricks at the end of the stack do not fall off while the stack is being moved, I provide end gripping means which will 7 now be described. Since the grippers at each end are identical, a description of one will sufiice for both. At each end of the stack S I provide depending grippers in the form of bars 69. The bars preferably are so spaced that each one engages the bricks of the uppermost courses. Since the lowermost course is clamped by the main gripper arms, it is not necessary that the end grippers engage the lowermost course. The bars 69 are secured at their upper ends to an angle H Secured to the angle H and projecting over the stack S in a length of flat steel stock 12. The flat plate 12 passes slidably through straps'l3 and I4- secured in any suitable manner tothe upper side of a relatively'large rectangular section of plate 16. The plates '16 at each end of the apparatus are cross connected by lengths of plate 15. 'As will be later explained the plate 16 and the cross plate 15 are adapted to rest upon the upper course of bricks when the device is lowered thereover. Fitting loosely over the superjacent one of the tubes 34 are U-shaped straps l! and 18 which are secured at their lower ends to the plate 16.

Secured to the inner end of the plat 12 is a cross member 19. Tension spring BI and 92 have their ends secured to the strap 13 and to the bar 19 as shown in Fig. 6. A pair of other tension springs 83 and 94 are secured at 88 and 8? to the angle H and at their opposite ends are secured to the ends 88 and 89 of a flexible tension member such as a cable 9|. The cable 9! passes under the centermost one of the cross tubes 34 and may be secured to the superjacent one of the pins 40 or 42 passing through the clevises 43 and 44 of the centermost sheave block 49.

Mounted slidably about the main frame legs l8 are plate members 92. The members 92 may comprise a lower inwardly bowed section 93 and Fastened to the top of the' accs vsi an upper generailvflat' section 943 'I'liemem- 'bers"92l' maybe held" slidably'about the legs l8 by means ofstrapsBIi asill'ustrat'ad in Figs; 1 andz; Limit chains 91 may be providedtolimit downward sliding movement of the members 92, all .for a purpose which will" presently be more definitely set forth.

Referring more particularlyto Figs. 1' and 2, the equalizing bar 49 may be operatively' connected to the. boom l4 of the' lift truck by means of a cross bar 98" carried bythe boom I 4. De-

pending'from the ends of the lift bar 9'8 are cables 99 and i! which pass lo'oselythrough suitable. openings 102 and 93 in the plates-s21. Thelo'wer'en-ds of the cables 99" and fill may be connected to the equalizing-bareaby means of c'l'evis shaped straps Hi l and I06.

On the arms 3| nearest the'ends of the apparatus I may provide auxiliary gripping means The lower ends of the same may bebent inwardly toward the stack S as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 3' and 4. The purpose ofthese spring fingers is to grip the end bricks of'the lower course more firmlyso that when the arms 3'! move inwardly to clamp the stack these end. bricks are not permitted to twist and fall. from the gripping units.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improved apparatus may now be explained. and understood. Wtih the apparatus assembled on a lift truck or like apparatus so that power for lifting the same may be applied to the equalizing bar d9, it will be apparent that if the device is resting. on the ground or other surface, not. surrounding a stack of bricks, the entire apparatus is supported by the legs 18 and the front gripping arms 32. In this position,v by further lowering the boom M the weight of the parts, including thesheavev blocks 46', the tubes 35, rods 33 and the links 38 causes the links themselves to assum th position shown in Figs. 1 ancl2; Downward movement of the sheave blocks 46 is limited by the same coming to rest on top or the guide tubes 34. In this position it will be apparent that the gripping arms 3i have movedoutwardly, awayfrom theforward arms 32; It will be apparent also that the cables 9! are slacked, permitting the tension springs 8! and 82 to move the plate '12 outwardly, thus moving the end gripping members 69 away from each other; thus opened the operator pulls on the rope 68, rocking the bars 53 in position to be engaged by the equalizing bar 453' when lift is next applied toth equalizing bar through the cables 39 and till. The operator nowra'ises upwardly on the boom I 5, causing theequalizing' bar to come chock -a -bloclr" with the two bars "63 and 64, locking the apparatus in open position; Upon further upward movement of the boom'l i' the entire apparatus israised off'theground and is now ready to be placed about a stack of bricks S to be lifted. It will be noted that as soon as the legs [8 clear the ground the plate'members 92 move downwardly so that they project below the ends of the legs is as illustrated iri'Fig. 3. Theoperator now moves the'apparatustoa stack ofbricks s and by" eye centers the sameto-th'e right or left of thestack; Bymoving the tractor or lift truck forwardly until the-p1ates92 contact 'the rear side of the stack asshown'in With the device the apparatusis lowered onto the stack it is supported from the top thereof on the plates 1'5 and 16. Upon" furtherslackening or th cables 99' and I05, gravity'moves the equalizing bar 49 downwardly," out of contact with the bars 63 and 64. The: unbalanced weight of the bar 66 then causes" the" shaft carrying all of the bars to rock so that the bars occupy the position shown in Fig. 1. The operator now raises the boom M, putting tension-on cables 99 and Hit, thus moving the equalizing bar upwardly. This moves all of the sheave blocks 46 upwardly through the medium of cable 5?; moving th inner ends of the links 33 upwardly in response thereto. This causes the rods 33 to telescope further into the tubes 34, bringing" the rear arms 3| and the arms 32. into contact with the lower course of the bricks at the front and rear sides of the stack. Simultaneously with this movement cables 9'! are tightenedj putting tension on springs 83 and 84; thus moving" the end gripping members fiFlinto engagement with the ends of the stack. Continued lift on th equalizing bar 49 causes the arms 3| a-Il'di32 tofirmlygrip the lower course of bricks, whereby the stack may be lifted clear of the ground and moved from place to place. Likewise; th end gripping members 69' grip more tightly? as thecentermost sheave block moves upwardly through theinedlum ofthe cables Bl. The springs 83' and 34 form a resilient connection between the end grippers and their cables,

the stack, permitting these arms to move inwardly.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improved apparatus for handling stacks-of brick, concrete blocks,.and simil'arobjects. In actual practice I have found that my'invention is practical in every way and that it is simple of 'c'on'struction. and economical of manufacture. a It will be noted that the cross bar ztextending betweenthe uprights acts as a stopfor the. bals' iii' and ti4 iii resp'onse' to oscillation' of 'tlieshaft 62 so thatthese'ba'rs arecentere'cl' over the equalizing bar whenever the rope 63 i is? pulled:

My invention; is particularly adapted for use in picking up a staclriot bricks" or the like from a yardandplacingitheisame in a vehicle; Thus, a single'lift truck equipped with on of myimprovedstack liftingmachines can quickly load trucks calling at a bricli'yardor the like'by picking up the stacks and-setting them on the body "ofthetrucki" Due'tothefactthat I provide sets of" gripper arm's equal in number to the number 'of"ii1dividua-lunits in the lower course of the stack; I do'not' h'ave to stack the" bricks on-pallets the entry of tine arms or the like. Further, my

improved apparatus is effective in lifting a given number of courses of stacked objects from the top of a high stack thereof as well as for lifting an entire stack placed on the ground or other supporting surface.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks and the like, a main frame embodying vertical members disposed at one side of the stack and horizontal members overlying the stack, stack gripping means comprising sets of vertically disposed gripping arms with one arm of each set disposed on the same side of the stack as the vertical members of the main frame, coacting gripping arm guide means overlying the stack some of which are secured to the main frame and holding the arms for slidable movement toward and from the stack, means connecting the gripping arms to said guide means at points above the top of the stack, links pivoted to the gripping arms beneath the points of connection therewith of the associated guide means and extending inwardly over the stack, upwardly movable means connected to the inwardly extending end of the links, and means engaging the upwardly movable means and adapted to raise the same thereby bringing the gripping arms into contact with the stack.

2. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks and the like, an L-shaped frame having legs disposed substantially vertically alongside and substantially horizontally over the stack, at least one set of coacting stack grippers comprising generally vertically disposed arms located on opposite sides of the stack, coacting guide members carried by the frame and connected to the gripper arms adjacent the tops thereof and overlying the stack, links pivotally connected to the arms and extending inwardly over the stack, a member to which the links are pivotally connected adjacent their inner ends, and means operatively engaging the member and adapted to move the same upwardly thus bringing the gripper arms into contact with the stack.

3. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a mainframe comprising spaced apart L-shaped members having legs disposed generally vertically along one side and generally horizontally' over the stack, stack gripping means comprising at least two sets of generally vertically disposed arms with one arm of each set located on opposite sides of the stack and extending above the top of the stack, sets of coacting guide members secured to the sets of gripper arms near the top thereof and extending inwardly over the stack, means securing one of the coacting guide members of each set to the horizontal legs of the L-shaped frame members, sets of links pivotally associated with the gripper arms and extending over the top of the stack, independently movable sheave blocks carrying sheaves to which sheave blocks the inner 7 ends of the sets of links are pivotally connected,

an equalizing bar above the sheave blocks,

endsanchored and passing alternately under the sheaves in the blocks and over the sheaves on the equalizing bar, and means adapted to engage the equalizing bar and move the same upwardly thereby causing the gripper arms to clamp the stack therebetween.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the sets of coacting guide members each comprises a tube secured to the horizontal leg of the L-shaped frame member and connected adjacent its outer end to one arm of a set thereof, and a cylindrical member carried by the other arm of the set and fitting slidably within the tube connected to its associated arm.

5. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a main supporting frame having elements disposed along one side and over the stack, stack gripping means comprising vertically disposed sets of arms located on opposite sides of the stack, lengths of tube secured to one of the arms of each set near the upper end thereof and extending inwardly toward the other arm of its set on the opposite side of the stack, cylindrical members secured to the other arm of the set on said opposite side of the stack and projecting slidably into said tubes, means operatively securing the tubes to the members of the main frame overlying the stack, sets of links pivotally connected at their outer ends to the arms, a

sheave block for each set of links to which the inner ends thereof are pivotally connected, an equalizing bar mounted for vertical movement above the sheave blocks, sheaves carried by the equalizing bar, flexible means operatively connecting the sheaves whereby lifting force applied to the equalizing bar is transmitted substantially equally to the sheave blocks, and means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted to apply a lifting force thereto thereby bringing the arms into contact with the stack.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which means is provided on the supporting frame for locking the equalizing bar in lowered position whereby upon applying said lift force to the equalizing bar the gripper arms remain in spread, stack receiving position.

7. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a main frame having a vertical portion disposed on one side of the stack and adapted to rest on the surface supporting the stack, a horizontal mainframe member connected to the vertical portion and extending over the stack, at least one length of tube carried by the horizontal member of themain frame and directed inwardly over the stack, a first'stack gripping arm carried by and depending substantially ver-' tically from the outer end of said tube alongside one side of the stack, a cylindrical member projecting slidably into said tube, a second stack gripping arm carried by and depending substantially vertically from the projecting end of said cylindrical member, links pivotally and operatively connected at their outer ends to said gripping arms and extending inwardly over the stack, a member to which the inner ends of said links are pivotally connected, and mean operatively engaging the member at the inner ends of the links and adapted to move the same upwardly thereby moving the gripping arms into clamping engagement with the stack.

8. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a main frame in the form of laterally spaced L-shaped sections having vertical legs which are longer than the height of the stack to be lifted, the other legs of said sections extending over the stack, lateral braces rigidly connecting the main frame sections, a plurality of sets of stack gripping arms each set of which comprises one vertically disposed arm rigidly connected adjacent its upper end to the main frame and depending therefrom at one side of the stack, a second arm for each set similar to the first named arm supported for sliding move ment relative to the main frame toward and from the first named arm, links operatively connected to said arms and extending inwardly of the apparatus over the top of the stack, sheave blocks movable independently of each other to which the links of each set are pivotally connected, a flexible member passing under the sheaves of the blocks, an equalizing bar above the sheave blocks, said flexible member passing from the sheaves over members on the equalizing bar, and means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted to move the same upwardly thereby to clamp the stack and subsequent thereto lift the entire apparatus and the stack.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the main frame is provided with upstanding guide means restraining the equalizing bar to movement substantially vertically, and in which there is manually operated mechanism carried by said upstanding guide means effective when engaged to hold the equalizing bar in lowered position while the apparatus is being raised.

10. In apparatus for clamping and lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a main frame having sections L-shaped as viewed in end elevation with one leg thereof disposed alongside the stack to rest on the surface supporting the stack and with the other leg overlying the stack, lateral cross bracing securing the main frame sections rigidly together, a plurality of horizontally disposed lengths of tube carried by the main frame and projecting inwardly over the stack substantially parallel with the overlying legs of the main frame sections, gripper arms secured to the outer ends of the tubes and extending downwardly far enough to engage the bricks of the lower course at one side of the stack, members slidable in said tubes, other stack gripping arms secured to and depending from said slidable members and engageable with the bricks of the lower course on the side of the stack directly opposite the first named arms and adjacent the vertical legs of the main frame, inwardly directed pairs of links operatively connected to the arms for pivotal movement in vertical planes and extending over the top of the stack, independently movable members to which the inner ends of the links of each pair are operatively connected, and means positioned to apply lifting force substantially equally to the independently movable members thereby to move the gripping arms in clamping relation to the stack and subsequent thereto lift the entire apparatus and the stack.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which there are stack clamping means at the ends of the stack, which means comprises laterally slidable vertically disposed gripping arms, means connected to the independently movable members and adapted upon upward movement thereof to move said end gripping arms into engagement with the ends of the stack, and other means connected to said independently movable member and adapted upon upward movement thereof to move the end gripping arms away from each other to stack receiving position.

12. In apparatus for lifting a generally cubical stack of bricks or the like wherein the apparatus is translatably supported on a lifting vehicle, a main frame comprising at least one pair of L- shaped sections disposed with one of the legs thereof overlying the stack, the other legs being vertically disposed and long enough to hold the overlying legs spaced above the stack when the lower ends of the vertical legs rest on the surface supporting the stack, lateral cross bracing rigidly securing the sections together, tubes operatively connected to the main frame extending partially across the top of the stack and equaling in numoer the number of bricks in the lowermost course of the stack, downwardly and inwardly directed gripper arms secured to the outer ends of said tubes and adapted to contact the bricks of the lower course near the longitudinal center thereof, members fitting snugly in each of said tubes and slidable therein, gripper arms similar to the first named ones secured to the outer ends of said slidable members, a pair of links for each arm pivoted thereto at their outer ends for movement in vertical planes, sheave blocks for corresponding sets of said arms to which the links thereof are pivotally connected at their inner ends, an equalizing bar mounted for movement in a vertical plane above the sheave blocks, sheaves on the equalizing bar, a cable having its ends secured to the equalizing bar and passing alternately under the sheaves in the blocks and over the sheaves on the equalizing bar, means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted to apply a lifting force thereto thereby to move the sheave blocks and said links upwardly and move the gripping arms into contact with the lower courses of bricks, and manually engageable hold-down means operatively carried by the main frame disposed when engaged to hold the equalizing bar in lowered position when said lifting force is applied.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which the hold-down means is normally biased to a position permitting the equalizing bar to move upwardly when the lifting force is applied thereto.

14. The combination with stack lifting apparatus of the type embodying sets of inwardly movable independently actuatable gripping arms disposed on opposite sides of the stack, of means to move said arms into contact with the stack comprising an equalizing bar disposed aobve the arms, sheaves on the equalizing bar, a sheave block associated with each set of gripper arms, sheaves in said sheave blocks, a cable having its ends anchored and passing alternately under the sheaves of the blocks and over the sheaves of the equalizing bar, means operatively connecting the sets of arms to their associated sheave blocks and effective upon upward movement of the blocks to move the arms into engagement with the stack, and means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted to move the same upwardly.

HERBERT J. NEHER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ,308,021 Allen July 1, 1919 1,516,973 Loughran Nov. 25, 1924 1,577,347 Neumann Mar. 16, 1926 1,733,084 Schmidt et a1 Aug. 22, 1929 1,818,584 Schroeder u 1931 2,040,574 Sutcliife May 12, 1936 2,142,232 Angstrom et a1. Jan. 3, 1939 2,375,747 Brown May 15, 1943

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