摘要 |
An outrigger assembly for stabilization of a load handling machine such as a truck crane. An outrigger beam is horizontally extensible from the vehicle to a working position and retractible to a storage position. A float assembly is located on the beam end and has a float pad vertically extensible and retractible relative to the beam end by means of a hydraulic power unit enabling the float pad to be positioned in stabilizing engagement with the ground. The float pad is rotatable with respect to the beam end between a generally horizontal working orientation and a generally vertical storage and transport orientation adjacent the structure. During extension and retraction of the outrigger beam, the float pad is maintained in the horizontal, less obtrusive, position for clearance of ground obstacles. An actuator is mounted on the vehicle to contact a part of the float assembly as it approaches the vehicle. Just as the float assembly approaches a fully retracted position, the actuator contacts the float assembly part to rotate the float pad to the vertical position upon final retraction of the assembly. As soon as the float pad is again extended vertically or horizontally, it moves to the horizontal orientation.
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