Dual action grapple apparatus

摘要

A grapple apparatus may comprise at least one grapple arm movable between an open and a closed position, and having a proximal arm portion and a distal arm portion. The apparatus may include a primary actuator having extended and retracted conditions to move the proximal arm portion, and a secondary actuator having extended and retracted conditions to move the distal arm portion. The primary actuator may be configured such that an initial rate of movement of the primary actuator from the extended condition toward the retracted condition is slower than an initial rate of movement of the secondary actuator from the extended condition toward the retracted condition to produce substantially complete movement of the distal arm portion of the at least one grapple arm toward the open position before movement of the proximal arm portion toward the open position is initiated.

主权项

1. A grapple apparatus for an implement, the apparatus comprising:
at least one grapple arm movable between an open position and a closed position, the at least one grapple arm comprising a proximal arm portion for movably mounting on the implement and a distal arm portion movably mounted on the proximal arm portion; a plurality of grapple teeth being mounted on the at least one grapple arm; a primary actuator connected to the proximal arm portion to move the proximal arm portion, the primary actuator being extendable into an extended condition to move the proximal arm portion of the at least one grapple arm toward the closed position and being retractable into a retracted condition to move the proximal arm portion toward the open position; a secondary actuator connected to the distal arm portion to move the distal arm portion, the secondary actuator being extendable into an extended condition to move the distal arm portion of the at least one grapple arm toward the closed position and being retractable into a retracted condition to move the distal arm portion toward the open position; wherein the primary actuator is configured such that an initial rate of movement of the primary actuator from the extended condition toward the retracted condition is slower than an initial rate of movement of the secondary actuator from the extended condition toward the retracted condition to produce substantially complete movement of the distal arm portion of the at least one grapple arm toward the open position before movement of the proximal arm portion toward the open position is initiated.