초록 ▼

A vehicle towing apparatus includes right and left vehicle lifts releasably locked and pivoted to a pivot member and movable between a storage position alongside the low beam of the boom. The boom and/or the low beam may be hydraulically actuated or mechanically actuated by a power winch, cable and

A vehicle towing apparatus includes right and left vehicle lifts releasably locked and pivoted to a pivot member and movable between a storage position alongside the low beam of the boom. The boom and/or the low beam may be hydraulically actuated or mechanically actuated by a power winch, cable and derrick boom. A sling is provided suitably mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the rear end of the low beam. A mechanical support, including a fixed and a movable member, engages the boom to adjust the height thereof between lower loading and upper towing positions. The mechanical support is affixed to the vehicle frame and is independent of the hydraulic or mechanical actuation of the boom and/or low beam to permit unloading of same.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An improved vehicle towing apparatus for mounting on a wrecker truck for loading, lifting, and towing a vehicle, comprising; boom means having low beam means, with a front end and rear end for supporting a vehicle load, mounting means connected to said boom means for mounting said boom means on a

1. An improved vehicle towing apparatus for mounting on a wrecker truck for loading, lifting, and towing a vehicle, comprising; boom means having low beam means, with a front end and rear end for supporting a vehicle load, mounting means connected to said boom means for mounting said boom means on a wrecker truck for supporting a vehicle load on a wrecker truck with said low beam means having said front end immediately at the rear of a wrecker truck and extending longitudinally rearward to said rear end, and for movement of said low beam means only in a vertical plane between and supporting said low beam means in a lower loading position substantially at ground level and an upper towing position and preventing lateral and twisting movement and a vehicle lift assembly having right and left vehicle lifts for engaging under opposite side portions of a vehicle and pivot means pivotally mounting said right and left vehicle lefts on said rear end of said low beam means for pivotal movement, only in a transverse plane relative to said low beam means, from a transverse position with said right and left vehicle lifts in transverse alignment and on opposite sides of said low beam means with both said right and left vehicle lifts pivotally moving in the same direction to right or left angular positions to provide load supporting positions for engaging under opposite side portions of a vehicle aligned with or at an angle to a wrecker truck and pivotally movable in opposite directions from a load supporting position to a storage position with said right and left vehicle lifts respectively alongside the right and left sides of said low beam means. 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a pivot member pivotally mounted on said rear end of said low beam means for pivotal movement about a vertical pivot axis and in said transverse plane and right and left locking hinge means respectively connecting said right and left vehicle lifts to the right and left sides of said pivot member for pivotal movement about a vertical hinge axis located, a distance to the rear of said pivot axis and a distance on each side of the longitudinal central axis of said pivot member with both of said distances being about one half the overall width of said low beam means for pivotal movement of said right and left vehicle lifts to said storage position substantially flatly alongside said low beam means and for rididly connecting said right and left vehicle lifts to said pivot member for common pivotal movement to said load supporting positions through a range of substantially 180°. 3. The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising sling means having a top sling bar, a bottom sling bar and strap means connected between said top and bottom sling bars and sling mounting means for mounting said sling means on said rear end of said low beam means in a storage position closely above said low beam means and between said right and left vehicle lifts for pivotal movement similar to the pivotal of said vehicle lifts to said load supporting positions to avoid interference with the operation of said vehicle lifts for supporting a vehicle and for mounting said bottom sling bar on said rear end of said low beam means both in said storage position and in a loading position for loading a vehicle on said sling means. 4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said sling mounting means automatically provides pivotal movement in said sling means in said storage position similar to and in response to said pivotal movement of said vehicle lifts to said loading positions. 5. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said sling mounting means pivotally mounts said bottom sling bar for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis relative to said low beam means and said vehicle lifts in said loading supporting positions prevent pivotal movement of said bottom sling bar about said longitudinal axis and in said storage position permit pivotal movement of said bottom sling bar on said longitudinal axis. 6. The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising power means for mounting on a wrecker truck for moving and holding said boom means to position said low beam means in and between said lower loading position and upper towing position and mechanical support means having a fixed support member and an adjustable support member selectively engaging said fixed support member and said boom means in a plurality of adjustable height positions to provide mechanical backup support independent of said power means for said boom means in selected adjustable height positions in and between said lower loading position and said upper towing position. 7. An improved vehicle towing apparatus for mounting on a wrecker truck for loading, lifting, and towing a vehicle, comprising: boom means having low beam means, with a front end and rear end for supporting a vehicle load, mounting means connected to said boom means for mounting said boom means on a wrecker truck for supporting a vehicle load on a wrecker truck with said low beam means having said front end immediately at the rear of a wrecker truck and extending longitudinally rearward to said rear end, and for movement of said low beam means only in a vertical plane between and supporting said low beam means in a lower loading position substantially at ground level and an upper towing position and preventing lateral and twisting movement, a pivot member pivotally mounted on said rear end of said low beam means for pivotal movement from a central position aligned with said low beam means through a wide range of rearward angle positions on both sides of said central position only about a vertical pivot axis and in a horizontal transverse plane relative to said low beam means in said loading position, a pair of wheel forks for supporting an opposed pair of vehicle wheels, a pair of cross bars each fixed at its outboard portion to one of said wheel forks and hinge means selectively rigidly connecting and pivotally connecting for pivotal movement about a vertical hinge axis, the inboard end of each of said cross bars to one of the opposite sides of said pivot member operative when rigidly connected to secure said cross bars in alignment with eath other and transverse to said low beam means with said pivot member in said central position to mount said wheel forks transversely on opposite sides of said low beam means for common pivotal movement with said pivot member in said horizontal transverse plane through a central and a wide range of rearward angular load supporting positions and operative when pivotally connected for pivotal movement of said wheel forks from a load supporting position to a storage position alongside said low beam means. 8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said cross bars are spaced, rearwardly when said pivot member is in said central position, a distance about one half the overall width of said low beam means from said vertical pivot axis so said wide range of rearward angular load supporting positions of said wheel forks is about 180° and said vertical hinge axes being spaced, laterally when said pivot member is in said central position a distance about one half the overall width of said low beam means on opposite sides of said vertical pivot axis so each of said cross bars and affixed wheel fork can swing to a storage position substantially aligned alongside said low beam means. 9. The invention defined in claim 7 further comprising pivot lock means operative in locked position to prevent pivotal movement of said pivot member on said low boom means and in unlocked position to permit said pivotal movement. 10. The invention defined in claim 7 further comprising a sling having a top sling bar, a bottom sling bar and strap means connected between said top and bottom sling bars, sling mounting means for mounting said bottom sling bar on said pivot member for positioning said sling for loading a vehicle on said sling, support means for supporting said sling in a storage position on said pivot member above said low beam means permitting movement of said wheel forks to said storage position forward of said bottom sling bar for loading a vehicle on said sling and to said loading position for loading a vehicle on said wheel forks. 11. The invention defined in claim 7 further comprising a sling having a top sling bar, a bottom sling bar and strap means connected between said top and bottom sling bars; sling mounting means having sling pivot means on said pivot member for pivotally mounting said bottom sling bar at the rear of said pivot member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis aligned with said low beam means when said pivot member is in said central position for supporting said sling on said low beam means for supporting a vehicle and sling support means on said pivot member for supporting said top sling bar coacting with said sling pivot means for supporting said sling on said pivot member in a storage position for pivotal movement with said pivot member to permit free pivotal movement of said wheel forks for loading a vehicle. 12. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said sling support means has a sling support bar secured on top of said pivot member and with said pivot member in central position longitudinally aligned with said low beam means extends longitudinally forward over said low beam means, and detachable securing means for securing said top sling bar to the forward portion of said sling support bar in said sling storage position. 13. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said boom means also includes high beam means having a first beam extending longitudinally and horizontally from a forward end to a rear end and a second beam with an upper end secured transversely to said first beam at its rear end and extending vertically down to a lower end, said mounting means having a support hinge for mounting said forward end of said first beam for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis, boom hinge means connecting said second beam at said lower end to said low beam means at said front end for pivotal movement of said low beam means relative to said second beam only about a transverse horizontal axis and including hinge abutment means to limit downard swinging movement of said low beam means in said loading and towing positions and substantially perpendicular to said second beam for supporting a vehicle load and permitting upward swinging movement of said low beam means to a storage position substantially parallel to said second beam means, power means for mounting on a wrecker truck, engaging said boom means for lifting said boom means from said loading position to said towing position and mechanical support and guide means for mounting on the rear of a wrecker truck for engaging the rear portion of said high beam means to provide mechanical backup support independent of said power means in a plurality of manually adjustable height positions and to guide said boom means for movement only in said vertical plane. 14. The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said mechanical support and guide means has guide members centrally engaging opposite sides of said second beam. 15. The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said mechanical support and guide means has a pair of plates for mounting on a wrecker truck and centrally engaging the opposite sides on said second beam to guide said boom means for movement in said vertical plane and support means including a plurality of support surfaces positioned to provide a plurality of adjustable height positions and a support member selectively positioned to engage selected pairs of said support surfaces in a plurality of adjustable height positions of said boom means to mechanically support said boom means in and between said lower loading and upper towing positions. 16. The invention defined in claim 13 wherein said mechanical support and guide means has a pair of vertical support members for mounting on a wrecker truck having a series of pairs of adjustable height apertures and a support member selectively inserted in one of said pairs of adjustable height apertures and engaging the rear portion of said first beam to mechanically support said boom means selectively in and between said lower loading and upper towing positions. 17. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein each of said cross bars provides a base bar at each side of said pivot member for each of said wheel forks, each of said wheel forks has an outboard tine secured to the outboard end of its base bar and an inboard tine secured to the inboard portion of its base bar, each of said tines being perpendicular to its base bar and extending rearwardly in horizontal alignment with said low beam means and each wheel fork has a support rod rotatably supported on its inboard and outboard tines to ease movement under a ground supported wheel and in spaced relation to its base bar for cradle supporting a wheel between its support rod and base bar. 18. A vehicle towing apparatus, comprising: a wrecker truck having a frame and a platform mounted on said frame and extending generally horizontally to the rear portion of said wrecker truck; lift boom means including an upper boom having only one horizontal beam with a front end and a rear end and only one vertical beam with the top end rigidly transversely secured to said rear end of said horizontal beam and a bottom end and only one lower boom having a front end and a rear end; vehicle lift means mounted on said rear end of said lower boom; attaching means for attaching said front end of said lower boom on the bottom end of said vertical beam to extend transversely rearward in a load supporting position relative to said vertical beam and preventing lateral and twisting movement; mounting means pivotally mounting said front end of said horizontal beam centrally and forwardly on said platform for pivotal movement of said lift boom means only about a transverse horizontal axis for movement in a vertical plane between a loading position and a towing position and preventing lateral movement out of said vertical plane; power means mounted on said wrecker truck and engaging said lift boom means to move said lift boom means between and support said lift boom means in said loading, towing and intermediate positions; said lift boom means in said position having said horizontal beam extending generally horizontally and longitudinally over said platform, said vertical beam extending downwardly closely adjacent said back plate and said lower boom extending substantially horizontally near ground level all in said vertical plane and pivotally moving on said mounting means with said horizontal beam, vertical beam and lower boom remaining in the same relative position to each other to raise said lift boom means to towing position so said horizontal beam and lower boom slope upwardly and rearwardly in said vertical plane to raise said vehicle lift means and a vehicle thereon for towing and said vehicle lift means having right and left vehicle lifts for engaging under opposite said portions of a vehicle and pivot means pivotally mounting said right and left vehicle lifts on said rear end of said lower boom for pivotal movement, only in a transverse horizontal plane relative to said low beam means, from a transverse position with said right and left vehicle lifts in transverse alignment and on opposite sides of said lower boom with both said right and left vehicle lifts pivotally moving in the same direction to right or left angular positions to provide load supporting positions for engaging under opposite side portions of a vehicle aligned with or at an angle to said wrecker truck and pivotally movable in opposited directions from a load supporting position to a storage position with said right and left vehicle lifts respectively alongside the right and left sides of said lower boom. 19. The invention defined in claim 18 further comprising sling means having a top sling bar, a bottom sling bar and strap means connected between said top and bottom sling bars and sling mounting means for mounting said sling means on said rear end of said lower boom in a storage position closely above said lower boom and between said right and left vehicle lifts for pivotal movement similar to the pivotal of said vehicle lifts to said load supporting positions to avoid interference with the operation of said vehicle lifts for supporting a vehicle and for mounting said bottom sling bar on said rear end of said low beam means both in said storage position and in a loading position for loading a vehicle on said sling means. 20. The invention defined in claim 18 further comprising adjustable mechanical support means has a fixed support member mounted on said rear portion of said wrecker truck and a movable support member supported on said fixed support member and supporting said lift boom means at the longitudinal central portion and being selectively movable to each of a plurality of adjustable height positions for mechanically structurally supporting the load of said lift boom directly on said rear portion of said wrecker truck independent of said power means to unload said power means in the selected one of said loading, towing and intermediate positions. 21. The invention defined in claim 20 wherein said fixed support member includes a pair of strut members, each secured at its lower end to said rear portion of said wrecker truck and extending vertically on opposite sides of the rear portion of said horizontal beam; a series of support holes in each strut member arranged to extend vertically with corresponding height support holes in each strut member being horizontally aligned to provide a series of pairs of support holes and said movable member being a support pin selectively insertable in a selected one of each of said pairs of support holes providing said adjustable height positions for supporting said lift boom means. 22. The invention defined in claim 20 wherein said fixed support member includes a pair of guide plates secured to said rear portion of said wrecker truck and slidably engaging the opposite lateral sides of said vertical beam between said top and bottom ends to further guide said lift boom means in said vertical plane, a series of support apertures extending horizontally through one of said bertical beams and said pair of guide plates, a support portion on the other of said vertical beam and said pair of guide plates, both said series of support apertures and guide portion being located on an arc about said transverse horizontal axis of said mounting means and a support pin insertable in a selected one of said series of support apertures and supported on said support portion to rigidly mechanically support said lift hoom in said loading, towing and intermediate position. 23. The invention defined in claim 22 wherein said support apertures, are on equally spaced centers in said vertical beam and having the same center distance and said support portion is a small number of support holes in each of said guide plates spaced on centers having a center distance equal to the reciprocal of said small number times the center distance of said spaced centers of said support apertures. 24. The invention defined in claim 23 wherein there are two of said support holes spaced on centers spaced one half the center distance of said spaced centers of said support apertures. 25. The invention defined in claim 18 and further composing guide means mounted on said wrecker truck and engaging opposite lateral side walls of said vertical beam in loading, towing and intermediate positions to retain said lift boom in said vertical plane. 26. A vehicle towing apparatus, comprising: a wrecker truck having a frame and a platform extending generally horizontally and a back plate extending generally vertically at the rear of said platform with both mounted on said frame; lift boom means including an upper boom portion having only one horizontal beam with a front end and a rear end and only one vertical beam with the top end rigidly transversely secured to said rear end of said horizontal beam providing a knee portion and a bottom end; only one lower boom having a front end and a rear end; vehicle lift means mounted on said rear end of said lower boom; attaching means for attaching said front end of said lower boom on the bottom end of said vertical beam to extend transversely rearward in a load supporting position relative to said vertical beam and preventing lateral and twisting movement; mounting means pivotally mounting said front end of said horizontal beam centrally and forwardly on said platform for pivotal movement of said lift boom means only about a transverse horizontal axis for movement in a vertical plane between a loading position and a towing position and preventing lateral movement out of said vertical plane; power means mounted on said wrecker truck and engaging said lift boom means to move said lift boom between and support said lift boom means in said loading, towing and intermediate positions; said lift boom means in said loading position having said horizontal beam extending generally horizontally and longitudinally over said platform, said vertical beam extending downwardly closely adjacent said back plate and said lower boom portion extending substantially horizontally near ground level all in said vertical plane and pivotally moving on said mounting means with said horizontal beam, vertical beam and lower boom remaining in the same relative position to each other to raise said lift boom means to towing position so said horizontal beam and lower beam slope upwardly and rearwardly in said vertical plane to raise said vehicle lift means and a vehicle thereon for towing, and said vehicle lift means having a pivot member pivotally mounted on said rear end of said lower boom for pivotal movement from a central position aligned with said lower boom through a wide range of rearward angle positions on both sides of said central position only about a vertical pivot axis and in a horizontal transverse plane relative to said lower boom in said loading position, a pair of wheels forks for supporting an opposed pair of vehicle wheels, a pair of cross bars each fixed at its outboard portion to one of said wheel forks and hinge means selectively rigidly connecting and pivotally connecting for pivotal movement about a vertical hinge axis, the inboard end of each off said cross bars to one of the ooposite sides of said pivot member operative when rigidly connected to secure said cross bars in alignment with each other and transverse to said lower boom with said pivot member in said central position to mount said wheel forks transversely on opposite sides of said lower boom for common pivotal movement with said pivot member in said horizontal transverse plane through a central and a wide range of rearward angular load supporting positions and operative when pivotally connected for pivotal movement of said wheel forks from a load supporting position to a storage position alongside said lower boom. 27. The invention defined in claim 26 wherein said cross bars are spaced, rearwardly when said pivot member is in said central position, a distance about one half the overall width of said lower boom from said vertical pivot axis so said wide range of rearward angular load supporting positions of said wheel forks is abot 180° and said vertical hinge axes being spaced laterally when said pivot member is in said central position a distance about one half the overall width of said lower boom on opposite sides of said vertical pivot axis so each of said cross bars and affixed wheel fork can swing to a storage position substantially aligned alongside said lower boom. 28. The invention defined in claim 27 further comprising a sling having a top sling bar, a bottom sling bar and strap means connected between said top and bottom sling bars; sling mounting means having sling pivot means on said pivot member for pivotally mounting said bottom sling bar at the rear of said pivot member for pivotal movement when said wheel forks are in storage position about a horizontal axis aligned with said lower boom when said pivot member is in said central position and rotating with said pivot member, for supporting said sling on said lower boom for supporting a vehicle on said sling, and sling support means fixed on said pivot member for detachably supporting said top sling bar and coacting with sling pivot means for supporting said sling on; said pivot member horizontally above said lower boom, in a storage position for pivotal movement similar to and in response to pivotal movement of said pivot member to permit free pivotal movement of said pivot member and wheel forks for loading a vehicle on said wheel forks and said wheel forks in loading positions engaging said bottom sling bar to prevent rotation on said sling pivot means and in storage position disengaged from said bottom sling bar to permit rotation on said sling pivot means. 29. The invention defined in claim 28 further comprising adjustable mechanical support means has a fixed support member mounted on the rear portion of said wrecker truck and a movable support member supported on said fixed support member and supporting said lift boom means at the longitudinal central portion and being selectively movable to each of a plurality of adjustable height positions for mechanically structurally supporting the load of said lift boom directly on said rear portion of said wrecker truck independent of said power means to unload said power means in the selected one of said loading, towing and intermediate positions. 30. The invention defined in claim 29 wherein said fixed support member includes a pair of strut members, each secured at its lower end to the rear portion of said platform and extending vertically on opposite sides of the rear portion of said horizontal beam; a series of support holes in each strut member arranged to extend vertically with corresponding height support holes in each strut member being horizontally aligned to provide a series of pairs of support holes and said movable member being a support pin selectively insertable in a selected one of each of said pairs of support holes providing said adjustable height positions for supporting said lift boom means. 31. The invention defined in claim 29 wherein said fixed support member includes a pair of guide plates secured to said back plate and slidably engaging the opposite lateral sides of said vertical beam centrally between said top and bottom ends to further guide said lift boom means in said vertical plane, a series of support apertures extending horizontally through one of said vertical beams and said pair of guide plates, a support portion on the other of said vertical beam and said pair of guide plates, both said series of support apertures and guide portion being located on an arc about said transverse horizontal axis of said mounting means and a support pin insertable in a selected one of said series of support apertures and supported on said support portion to rigidly mechanically support said lift boom in said loading, towing and intermediate position. 32. The invention defined in claim 26 wherein said power means includes a derrick mounted on said wrecker truck and having a cable and a power winch for raising and lowering said cable; said attaching means providing swinging movement of said lower booms from said load supporting position to a storage position alongside said vertical beam; said lower beam having a first member attached by said attaching means to said vertical beam, a second number telescopically mounted on said first member and pivotally mounting said pivot member for extending and retracting said lower boom and locking means to lock said first and second members in external positions; first securing means to secure said cable to said second member to raise said lower boom to storage position and to extend and retract said lower beam and second securing means to secure said cable to said first member to move said lift boom means between loading and towing positions. 33. The invention defined in claim 30 wherein said power means includes hydraulic cylinder means mounted on said back plate and extending vertically to engage said knee portion of said lift boom means to raise and lower said lift boom means. 34. A vehicle towing apparatus, comprising: a wrecker truck having a frame and a platform extending generally horizontally and a back plate extending generally vertically at the rear of said platform with both mounted on said frame; a lift boom including an upper boom portion having only one horizontal beam with a front end and a rear end and only one vertical beam with the top end rigidly transversely secured to said rear end of said horizontal beam and a bottom end; only one lower boom portion having a front end and a rear end; vehicle supporting means mounted on said rear end of said lower boom portion; attaching means for attaching said front end of said lower boom portion on the bottom end of said vertical beam to extend transversely rearward in a load supporting position relative to said vertical beam and preventing lateral and twisting movement; mounting means pivotally mounting said front end of said horizontal beam centrally and forwardly on said platform for pivotal movement of said lift boom only about a transverse horizontal axis for movement in a vertical plane between a loading position and a towing position and preventing lateral movement out of said vertical plane; power means mounted on said wrecker truck and engaging said lift boom to move said lift boom between and support said lift boom in said loading, towing and intermediate positions; said lift boom in said loading position having said horizontal beam extending generally horizontally and longitudinally over said platform, said vertical beam extending downwardly closely adjacent said back plate and said lower boom portion extending substantially horizontally near ground level all in said vertical plane and pivotally moving on said mounting means with said horizontal beam, vertical beam and lower boom portion remaining in the same relative position to each other to raise said lift boom to towing position so said horizontal beam and lower boom portion slope upwardly and rearwardly in said vertical plane to raise said vehicle supporting means and a vehicle thereon for towing and adjustable mechanical support means mounted on the rear portion of said wrecker truck and engaging the longitudinal central portion of said lift boom and having a plurality of adjustable height positions for mechanically structurally supporting the load of said lift boom directly on said rear portion of said wrecker truck independently of said power means to unload said power means in the selected one of said loading, towing and intermediate positions. 35. A vehicle towing apparatus, comprising: a wrecker truck having a frame and platform extending generally horizontally and a back plate extending generally vertically at the rear of said platform with both mounted on said frame; a lift boom including an upper boom portion having only one horizontal beam with a front end and a rear end and only one vertical beam with the top end rigidly transversely secured to said rear end of said horizontal beam and a bottom end; only one lower boom portion having a front end and a rear end; vehicle supporting means mounted on said rear end of said lower boom portion; attaching means for attaching said front end of said lower boom portion on the bottom end of said vertical beam to extend transversely rearward in a load supporting position relative to said vertical beam and preventing lateral and twisting movement; mounting means pivotally mounting said front end of said horizontal beam centrally and forwardly on said platform for pivotal movement of said lift boom only about a transverse horizontal axis for movement in a vertical plane between a loading position and a towing position and preventing lateral movement out of said vertical plane; power means mounted on said wrecker truck and engaging said lift boom to move said lift boom between and support said lift boom in said loading, towing and intermediate positions; said lift boom in said loading position having said horizontal beam extending generally horizontally and longitudinally over said platform, said vertical beam extending downwardly closely adjacent said back plate and said lower boom portion extending substantially horizontally near ground level all in said vertical plane and pivotally moving on said mounting means with said horizontal beam, vertical beam and lower boom portion remaining in the same relative position to each other to raise said lift boom to towing position so said horizontal beam and lower boom portion slope upwardly and rearwardly in said vertical plane to raise said vehicle supporting means and a vehicle thereon for towing and guide means mounted on said wrecker truck and located adjacent to and at the rear end of said platform, said guide means having a pair of guide members slidably engaging opposite lateral sides of said vertical beam in a central portion in said loading position of said lift boom and a lower portion in said towing position of said lift boom to further retain said lift boom in said vertical plane.