LIFTING JACK ASSEMBLY WITH ROTATABLE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FOR STEERING AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

A lifting jack assembly for use on a walking machine to raise it off the ground and preselect a steering direction before the walking machine is lowered onto the ground for travel therealong includes a hydraulic power-driven lift cylinder for actuating an extendable/retractable rod, wherein the lift cylinder is rotatable about its vertical axis. A roller assembly is provided with rollers mounted to the rod. A foot plate mounted below the roller assembly engages the rollers, and a power-driven shifter mechanism mounted on the foot plate and connected to the roller assembly shifts the roller assembly along the foot plate. A linkage assembly interconnects the lift cylinder to the foot plate. A steering mechanism rotates the lift cylinder about its vertical axis to impart rotation to the foot plate and the roller assembly to orient and fix the direction of travel of the walking machine in a preselected direction.

主权项

1. A lifting jack assembly for use on a walking machine to raise it off the ground and preselect a steering direction before the walking machine is lowered onto the ground for travel therealong comprising:
a hydraulic power-driven lift cylinder mounted on the walking machine operable for actuating an extendable/retractable rod, wherein the lift cylinder is rotatable about its vertical axis; a roller assembly provided with rollers mounted adjacent a lower end of the rod; a foot plate mounted below the roller assembly for engaging the rollers; a power-driven shifter mechanism mounted on the foot plate and connected to the roller assembly selectively operable for shifting the roller assembly in a preselected horizontal direction along the foot plate; a linkage assembly interconnecting the lift cylinder to the foot plate; and a steering mechanism including a drive mechanism connected to the lift cylinder operable for rotating the lift cylinder about its vertical axis to a preselected position whereby the linkage assembly simultaneously imparts the rotation to the foot plate and the roller assembly as a unit to orient and fix the direction of travel of the walking machine in a preselected direction.