US2756883A - Vat lifting and dumping truck - Google Patents

Description

July 31, 1956 Filed June 17, 1953 I. F. SCHRECK VAT LIFTING AND DUMPINGTRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Irvin E Schreck ATTORNEY July 31, 1956 I. F. SCHRECK 2,756,883

VAT LIFTING AND DUMPING TRUCK Filed June 17, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s 1 m. VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIZ'IIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR Irvin E Sckreclr BY a/uao ATTORNE trallybulged. portion of circular cross section.

United StatesPatent 6 VAT LIFTIN G AND DUMPIN G TRUCK Irvin F; Schreck, South-Euclid, Ohio Application June-17, 1953, Serial-No. 362,274-- 12 Claims. (Cl; 214313) Thisdnvention relates to a method. of and apparatus for hoisting, transporting andv tilting barrel-like containers.-

The'method of the present invention maybe used to handle. various types ofbarrel-like containers but 'is preferably'used .to handle barrels .or vats having a cen- In this method .anexpansible and contractible annulus is supported concentric to and above the barrel to be lifted. Thednternal .diameter of the annulus is normally such.

that the-annulus may be slid down over thebulge of the-barreL- The annulusis moved down from its positionvabove the barrel to a position a short distance below the bulge and the annulus is then'contracted so that the internal diameter is less than the diameter of the bulged portion of the barrel. When the barrel .is lifted the weight thereof is imposed upon the contracted annulus :so that a substantially;uniform; pressure is applied to the entire circumference of the. barrel whereby grip .-v ping pressures tending; to distort- .thebarrel are avoided, and the barrel'may be transported and-tilted to discharge.

its contents without damaging .the barrel.

The .apparatus for performing; the above-mentioned method preferably comprises an industrial lift truck'having a carriage mounted for movement vertically onupright. guide standards attached to the truck frame, An annulus-is carried onthe'carria ger-for tiltingg movement about ahorizontalaxis preferably by horizontal trunnions supported .by a pair. of spaced cantilever arms extending..fo.rwardly from the carriage, In order to provide a .cushionbetween the annulus and the. barrel fbeing lifted, it is desirable to employ. a. rubber ringbetween said. annulus and said-barrel To .decrease the internal diameter of the annulus. so as to grip the barrelwhile at the-same time providing a-cushion, itis preferable to provide.- a hollow flexible inflatable ring, such. as a hollow inflatable rubber annulus, supplied with air under pressure. from the truck frame througha flexible conduit;

An object of the present invention is to..provide..a

simple and economical methodand apparatus for -hoist. ing and tilting barrel-like containers wherein. a .uniform.

gripping pressure is applied throughout the..circumference of thecontainer bya radially contractible ring.

A further object of the present invention, is to provide amethod'of lifting. abarrel'wherein a radiallycontractible. annulus is slid. downover the bulgev ofthe barrel andthe annulus is contracted. soas to gripthe barrel;

A' still furtherobject of the invention is to. .providea slack-take-up roller for a flexible conduiflconveying flu'idfrorn the-frame of an industrial lift truck to the vertically movable carriage thereof.

Otherobjects, uses and advantages of the present -invention" will' 'become app arent from the' following description and'dr'awings.

Referenceshould' be had to the accompanying -'drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:-

Figuresl :aside:elevation of 'alift truck embodying "ice 2'. the invention,- showingthe. inflatable gripping ring-iele-s vated to. aiposition above. and concentric .tovav barreli'to/ be lifted;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary side elevationof the lift truck;- showingtheinflatable gripping ring. supporting the.x-barrel. oif the ground;

Fig. 3 is a fragmenetary side elevation of the.;:lift'truck': showing the inflatable gripping ring -tiltedto a' pouring po on;-..

Fig, 4 is a top plan view of the lift truck;-

Fig. 5 is-afront elevation ofthea truck partially in; section;

Fig.-- 6 is a fragmentary side elevation-of thegguidexy standard viewed as indicated at 6-'.6:in Fig.;y5;'.

Fig 7 is-a fragmentary-horizontal sectiontaken onwthe; line indicated at: 77 ;of Fig..-5

Fig, 8. is a fragmentary vertical section through :the. deflated gripping ring' taken -on :the line indicated at. 8.-8rin..Fig. l;

Fig.- -9 is a-fragmentary vertical section through :the inflated gripping.ring;.taken on the line indicated at. 9:-9 in -Figr; 4; and

Fig. l0-,-isa-, diagrammatic view showing. the: fluidsystems and the fluid .connections :from the truck. frame. to the titlting motor and the 1 inflatable. .rubber ring...

Referring; more particularly to the accompanying drawings, theindus-trial lift' truck of the present invert-- tion has a frame which includes a horizontal base mem her 1 provided witlra rear portion 2 and a forward-pop tion formed by a pair of laterally spaced sidevmembers 3 'and- 4... A pair of .alined laterally spaced .front supportingwheels 5 and a .pairof laterally spaced stops 6c arecarriedt by theside members 3 and 4; A rear steeringv and driving 'wheel 7 is; mounted inna frame -8=swiveled: in the rear portion 2 of the base member '1. Thewheel 7 is'driven by meansofan electric motor mounted on theframe- 8xwithin a housing 9'and geared to the'wheel 7 through asprocket chain 10.

A draft tonguezllis connected by a horizontalpivot 12 tothe frame Sand maybe used to. steer the truck While it is'being propelled by the electric motor inhousing 9,- or--to manuallymove .the'truck when saidmotor is'idle. At 21116-011181 end of the draft tongue-11 and rigidly attached thereto aretubular hand grip members- 13 whichproject from oppositesides of. the tongue 11. If desired,suitable-electric control means forthe driving andhoistingmcans may beincorporated in the hand grip; members :13, for example, the control means -'.diS'-: closediin my :Patent =No;. 2,520,857, granted August 29, 1950.-

The..frame includes :an upstanding telescopic elevators orguide standard formed by anoutervertical support 14 rigidly attached .to the base member 1 andan-inner vertical.support 15 mounted for movement vertically. withrespect totheouter support 14. The outer support is formed by a pair of verticalchannel guide members .16, and 17 welded at their: lower ends to the base member 1'at thesidesthereof and connected at their upper endsto a; topcross.bar 18 Which-joins the :upper ends of the chan-vz nel members 16 and 17.A-horizontal shelf 19 is -supported on the outer support .14 .and projects. rearwardly therefrom. The inner support .15 includes a pair ofvertical channels 20 and 21 mounted for travel vertically with respect to thechannel members 16 and 17 and also includes atop cross member 22 joining the-top ends of'the'channels 20 and 21. These channels carry two vertically spaced pairs of laterally. alined rotatably mounted rollers'23 and "24 which engage the inwardly porjecting=flalnges -'of*the-channel members 16 and '"17 and are guided vertically thereby.

A" load-supportingcarriage 25 is mounted for "travel vertically' 'on the inner support"-15' of the upstanding 3 elevator standard and is provided at its forward end with a pair of alined, laterally spacedcantilever arms 26 and 27 and at its rearward end with a flat vertically disposedplate 28 positioned between the channels. Theflat plate 28 has rearwardly projectingflanges 29 that support two vertically spaced pairs of alined, laterally spacedrollers 30 and 31 that are guided between and engage the flanges projecting from the channels and 21. A reinforcingarm 32 extends between a bottom side edge of theplate 28 and the forward end of each of thearms 26 and 27 to provide a'strong triangular support.

The carriage is raised and lowered by means of anhydraulic cylinder 33 mounted in vertical position upon the base member 1 midway between the side posts formed bychannel members 16 and 17 of the guide standard. Thecylinder 33 has a vertically movable piston rod orplunger 34 that carries a pair of laterally spacedsprocket wheels 35 at its upper end. Asprocket chain 36, attached at one end to theplate 28 of thecarriage 25, extends over eachsprocket wheel 35 and is attached at its opposite end to the truck frame. The upper end of theplunger 34 engages thetop cross member 22 of theinner support 15 to move the same vertically with the plunger. By the use of the sprocket and chain hoisting connection, theinner support 15 moves half as far as thecarriage 25 during each revolution of thesprocket wheels 35. The vertically spaced pairs ofrollers 23, 24, 3t and 31 and thesupports 14 and 15 of the elevator standard provide a strong support for the load supported on thecarriage 25 at all vertical positions of the carriage and theinner support 15. Theinner support 15 is particularly advantageous where a heavy load is to be lifted a considerable distance, since it allows the use of a relatively short standard.

Immediately to the rear of the elevator standard the rear portion 2 of the base member 1 supports abattery frame 37 containing anelectric battery 38 which is connected to the electric motor withinhousing 9 by anelectrical conduit 39.

Arigid metal annulus 49 is mounted on the forward portion of thecarriage 25 for rotation about a horizontal axis by alinedhorizontal trunnions 41 that are journaled in upwardly extending flanges d2 welded to the top of the forwardly projectingarms 26 and 27, the trunnion axis being located a short distance in front of the center of the annulus 4i} as viewed in Fig. l. Alever arm 43 is welded to the annulus 4'1) at its one end and is pivotally connected to apiston rod 44 of a single-actingreciproeating tilt motor 45 at its other end. The cylinder of thetilt motor 45 is pivotally mounted on anupstanding flange 46 welded to thearm 27 at the inner end thereof. I

A shortflexible conduit 47 is connected at one end to the intake of the motor 4-5 to supply motive fluid thereto while accommodating tilting movement of themotor 45 with respect to thecarriage 25.

strokes of thetilt motor 45 and the lever arm 4-3 are of such lengths that theannulus 46 may be tilted approximately 135 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the pouring position shown in Fig. 3.

Themetal annulus 40 is preferably of cylindrical form and includes upper and lower tubular metal stiffening rings 49 and 5t welded to the top and bottom edges thereof. An inflatabletubular rubber ring 51 is located closely adjacent the inner surface of the metal annulus 4t) and between therings 4% and. 5b. Thetubular rubber ring 51 is normally axially elongated in cross sectional form and contains a similarly elongated annular air chamber therein whereby the inner diameter of the ring will be radially contracted when the ring is inflated as shown in Fig. 9. To prolong the life of the ring without greatly increasing the cost thereof, it is preferable to provide fabric reinforcement at least on the inner barrelgripping surface of the rubber ring. As herein shown thering 51 has a substantially cyiindrical fabric rein- The other end ofcon duit 47 is rigidly connected to thecarriage 25 at 48. The

.slots 53, and along the inner surface of theannulus 40.

The two ends of eachstrap 54 are connected together bysuitable fasteners 55. A shortflexible conduit 56 is rigidly connected at one end to themetal annulus 40 and at the other end to arigid pipe 57 fixed to the top ofplate 28. Theconduit 56 accommodates tilting movement of theannulus 46 with respect to thecarriage 25 while conveying air to inflate and deflate thering 51.

Thehorizontal shelf 19, which is supported on the guide standard of the truck frame, provides a support for anair compressor 58 that is driven by anelectric motor 59 and for a pair ofhousings 6i and 61 and their associatedelectric motors 62 and 63. The housing provides a reservoir for hydraulic fluid and contains a pump 64 driven by themotor 62 for supplying motive fluid to thetilt motor 45. Asupply conduit 65 conveys hydraulic fiuid from the pump 64 through a two-way valve 66 to aconduit 67 which is rigidly connected at 68 to the guide standard of the truck frame near the plane of theshelf 19. Connected between theend 68 ofconduit 67 and theend 48 ofconduit 47 is a longflexible conduit 69 which conveys motive fluid to the tilt motor while permitting relative movement of thecarriage 25 and theshelf 19. Thevalve 66 has a first position in which fluid is supplied fromconduit 65 toconduit 67 and a second position as shown in Fig. 10 in which fluid is exhausted fromconduit 67 through abypass conduit 76.

Thehousing 61 is similar to thehousing 60 in that its acts as a reservoir and contains means including a pump driven by theelectric motor 63 for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure tocylinder 35 to raise and lower theplunger 34. The hoisting system employed on the lift truck of the present invention may be of the type described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,520,857.

Theair compressor 58 supplies air under pressure through asupply conduit 71 and a two-way air valve 72 to aconduit 73 which is rigidly connected at 74 to the guide standard of the truck frame near the plane of theshelf 19. A longflexible conduit 75 is connected between the rigid conduit connections at 57 and 74 to convey air to and from therubber ring 51 while permitting relative movement of thecarriage 25 and theshelf 19. The two-way valve 72 has a first position wherein air under pressure is conveyed fromsupply conduit 71 to theflexible conduit 75 and a second position as shown in Fig. 10 wherein air is exhausted to atmosphere from theflexible conduit 75.

The longflexible conduits 69 and 75 are preferably of about the same length and have loop portions that pass beneath a pair of similar slack take-uprollers 76 and 77 which are supported in the loops of said conduits and which are provided with annular circumferential recesses that receive the flexible conduits. Therollers 76 and '77 are guided vertically by a pair of similarroller guide channel 78 and 79, the inwardly projecting flanges of which provide guiding surfaces which engage the rollers.Channels 16 and '78 andchannels 17 and 79 are fixed to the frame member 1 and are spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of therollers 76 and 77, respectively, so as to provide a vertical guiding means of rectangular cross-sectional form in which the rollers may roll. The weight of therollers 76 and77 biases the longflexible conduits 76 and 69 in the downward direction to take up the slack caused by movement of thecarriage 25 with respect to theshelf 19 of the truck frame. t

H The lift truck described above is usually employed ayrsegses for-hoisting; moving and dumping-vats,-' hogsheads",-'- or large 'barrelsof the-typeshown= in-Figs. 1 to-' 3. Fig," 1 shows a'centrally bulged barrelorvat80 of'cir'cular" cross section containing'a large volume ofIiquid; the maximum diameter of the barrel at: the bulge thereofb'e ing slightly less than the normaldi'ameter of :theexpanded'inner surface 52 and largerthan thediameter-of'the'con tractedinner surface 52. Theannulus-40andririg 51" may obviouslybe made of various sizes-to=handle'dif ferent types of vats and hogsheads.

The method of thepresent invention-comprises placing'theinflatable rubberring 51 above and coaxial -with thebarrel 80 as shown in Fig. 1, sliding'the'ring'down' over the bulge of thebarrel to the'dotted line position shown inFig: 1, and radially; contracting the inner'bar rel-gripping surface of the ring-51and'raising the ring' so'that theinternal surface 52 engages and grips substan= tially'the entire circumference ofthebarrel 80 below'its' bulge. The barrel may be raised -to"any desired 'height as shown in-Fig. 2 while'the uniform gripping "pressure is maintained throughout the circumference of the bar-' rel. According to the method of "the -present inventionthe ring 51 is tilted about a horizontal axis as shown in Fig. 3 to discharge the contents of thecbarrel80r Thereafter, the barrel may be tilted back to its'horizontal position and lowered to the ground; The internal surface of the 'ring 51'is expanded to its normal diameter'to .releasethe grip on. the barrel andtopermit sliding of the ringupwardly over the bulge of thebarrel 80."

The preferred apparatus for performing themethod is the industrial lift truck described abovewhichzcarries thetiltable ring 51. 7 Before the barrel; 80is'lifted icar riage 25. is elevated and the rubber'ring 51is positioned above and coaxial with the'barrel "80; To. facilitate centering of .thebarrel 80 with respectto 'therubber ring 51, it" is preferable to employ thepositioning pmeans 6 of theside members 3 and 4. The barrel-engaging outer surfaces of the positioning stops 6'are located at predetermined equal distances from the vertical axisoflthe rubber ring 51 so as to locate the lift truck. in proper lifting position when they engage thebarrel 80? The ring 51is slid down over the bulge of the barrel after the valve70 is placed in the exhaust position shown in Fig. 10 to deflate the ring.Valve 72"is then. moved to a position whereinconduit 71 is connectedto conduit '73." A relatively low predetermined initial pressure, for .ex-.- ample 10 to p. s. i. is supplied to the ring 51toinflate the'same as shown in Fig. 9, to reduce its internal.diam-. eter, and to supply suflicient air to therubber'rin'g 51 to support the barrel, thereby providing a-uniforrn' gripping pressure throughout the entire circumference ofthe barrel. The carriage is then elevated to the desired height, and the barrel is transported horizontallybyythe driving wheel 7 to the desired location.

Thevalve 66 may be placedin a position blocking made "without departing from the spirit ofthe invention;

flow to and from the tilt motor during hoisting and lateral moving of thebarrel 80 to prevent undesirable tilting. However, the center of gravity of the barrel ispreferably located a short distance-behind the trunnion axis at 42'so that the piston may be held'in retracted position and the barrel held horizontal as shown in Fig. 2 by the weight of the barrel alone. After the barrel has been moved to the desired location, thevalve 66 is moved toaposition connecting conduit to .conduit 67. Pump 64then supplies hydraulic fluid through the conduits.65, 67, 69 and 47 to themotor 45"so as to tiltthebarrel to a pouring position and discharge its liquidcontents.Theannulus 40 may be tilted about ffomQthe position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 so as to provide a pouring angle of approximately 45. The barrel is tilted back to its original horizontal position by turningvalve 66 to the exhaust position as shown in Fig. 10. The weight of the barrel causes thepiston rod 44 to retract, and therefore themotor 45 need not be of the double-acting type. The barrel may be released What [claim-is:

15' Iii-an industriallift truck for hoisting and tilting barrels including a-frame 'provided with a standard, a carriage mounted' form'ovement'vertically on the standard and having a pair oflaterallygspaced '-horizontally extending arms; and motor'means to'raise and lowersaid carriage-andsai'd spaced-arms, the'improvement which comprises: a tiltable" barrel receiv ing annulus having; trunnionsjournaled horizontally in'said' spaced arms, a holl'tiw tubularrubber ring'normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form supported within and" concentric with'=said-annulus-, the outer surface of said rubberring being closely adjacenttheinner surface of said annulus, said "ringhavinga fabric-reinforced barrel-gripping inner surface-of a 'diameter when=uninflatedto slip over a barrel to-be lifted, meanslocated on said frame for inflating the-rubber ring 'to-reducethe"internal diameter of saidrubber ring'to grip the barreh'and'motor means connected to--said-"carriage -to til't said='annulus about the'axis of said 'trunnions=so as to'discharge the contents of thebarrel. supported "on'-'-said' carriage;

2'. Ima barrel hoisting industrial lift truck including a frame; a standard verticallysupportedom the frame; a carriage mounted for movementvertically' on'the stand ard, and means to raise-"and lowersaid carriage, the improvement which comprises: aradi'ally ,expansible and contractible-barrel gripping-"ring mounted 'onsaid*carriage' to 'tilt" about *ah'orizontal axis, means totilt said ringabout'said horizontal axis, means to increase and decrease=the internal diameter ofsaid ring, and position= ing means located 'onthe'-*lower*partof said frame be lowsaid carriage and-'havingtwo laterally spaced bar rel-engaging stops-for'-engagementwith a'barrel to be lifted to center said ring with" respect to thefbarrel.

3." In" -a-barrelhoisting and tiltingindustrial lift truck including a frame, a' guide standard vertically supported on the frame, a carriage mounted for vertical movement on-the guide standard,"and'means to 'raise'and lower said carriagey the improvement fwhich' comprises: a.rigid .an-'- nulushaving 'horizontal trunnions'journaled in said car riage, said annulus having; a"flexible radially contractible interior face normally 'of "a 'diam'eterfto Lslip downwardly over-the widest portionof an upright. barrel to'be lifted, means to reduce the internal diameter of said interior. faceto cause said face to engage'the barrel throughout its circumference when-the carriage is elevated, and means to tilt said annulus and'the barrel supportedthere b'jfiabbut the horizontal 'trunnion: axisto discharge the contents ofthe barrel'whilethe carriage is elevated.

4.In"amaterial handling 'industrial lift truck including aframe provided .withia standard, a carriage mountedfor movement verticallyon the standard, and meansto raise and to lower said carriage, the improvement whichcorn-v prises: a forwardly projecting, support on saidcarriage, article-gripping means. including. aminflatable flexible member carried by said support, a-flexible conduit.lead-. ing; from said..frameto saidinflatable member, means located .on the frameto supplyfluid under pressure -.to. saidrinflatable member throughlsaid conduit, a slack-- take.-up -roller beneath :which; said flexible conduit passes, and a roller guide connected to said standard, said roller moving vertically on said guide to take up slack in said flexible conduit due to movement of said carriage vertically.

5. The apparatus defined inclaim 4 wherein said inflatable member is mounted for tilting movement on said support, a fluid motor means on said carriage tilts supply conduit passing beneath said roller means and being forced downwardly thereby so that slack in said supply conduit due to vertical movement of the carriage is taken up by said roller means.

6. In an industrial lift truck including a frame provided with a guide standard, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard, and means to raise and to lower said carriage, hoisting and tilting apparatus comprising: a forwardly projecting load carrying member pivotally mounted on said carriage, fluid motor means interposed between said carriage and said member to tilt said member and having a fluid inlet connection fixed to said carriage, a source of motive fluid fixed to said frame, a flexible supply conduit rigidly connected at one end to said motive fluid source and at the opposite end to said inlet connection, said flexible conduit supplying motive fluid from said source to actuate said motor means, a vertically extending roller guide connected to said standard, a slack-take-up roller mounted for vertical movement by gravity along said roller guide, said conduit passing beneath and engaging the lower surface of said roller, said roller biasing said conduit in the downward direction to take up slack caused by vertical movemet of the carriage and the fluid motor means carried thereby.

7. In a barrel hoisting industrial lift truck having a frame provided with a standard, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard, and means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a forwardly projecting supporting member on said carriage, a barrel-gripping hollow tubular inflatable flexible member normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form mounted along the inside surface of saidsupporting member to tilt, about a horizontal axis and when deflated adapted to beinserted over the top of a barrel to be lifted, means to inflate said flexible member to reduce the internal diameter thereof, said means causing the inflated flexible member to act as a cushion and to exert a uniform gripping pressure throughout the .major portion of the' circumference of the barrel when said carriage and said barrel are elevated, and means to tilt said flexible member and the barrel supported thereby about said horizontal axis.

8. Apparatus for hoisting a barrel-like container comprising: a rigid circumferentially continuous annulus having a metal ring fixed to the top thereof and a cylindrical inner surface, an inflatable hollow tubular rubber ring normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form having a circumferentiallycontinuous fabric-reinforced inner portion adapted to grip said container when inflated, a plurality of fabric-reinforced flexible straps each extending over said metal ring and closely adjacent said cylindrical inner surface, each of said straps surrounding said rubber ring and holding said rubber ring adjacent said inner surface, and means for inflating said rubber ring and lifting said barrel, said rubber ring applying a uniform pressure throughout the circumference of said container.

9. In a barrel hoisting industrial lift truck including a frame, a standard supported vertically on the frame, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard and having a pair of laterally spaced horizontally extending cantilever arms, and motor means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a circumferentially continuous annulus having trunnions mounted horizontally in said spaced arms, means connected to said carriage to tilt said annulus about the trunnion axis, a circumferentially continuous inflatable tubular rubber ring supported within and concentric to said annulus, said ring being normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form, and means to inflate and deflate said rubber ring to reduce and increase, respectively, the diameter of its internal surface.

10. In a barrel hoisting industrial lift truck including a frame, a standard supported in upright position on the frame, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard, and motor means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a rigid annulus having horizontally alined trunnions mounted in said carriage, means for tilting said annulus about the trunnion axis, ahollow tubular inflatable flexible ring supported within. and concentric to said annulus and normally of a size to slip downwardly over the widest portion of an upright barrel to be lifted, means to inflate said flexible ring to reduce the internal diameter thereof to less than the diameter of said widest portion and to cause said ring to exert a uniform gripping pressure throughout the circumference of the barrel when said carriage and said ring are elevated to lift the barrel, and means to tilt said annulus and the flexible ring carried thereby about said horizontal trunnion axis to dump the barrel.

11. Apparatus for hoisting and transporting an upright centrally-bulged barrel comprising a vertically movable carriage, a radially contractible ring mounted on said carriageto swing about a horizontal axis, said ring normally having an internal diameter greater than the max mum diameter of the bulge, means for lowering said carriage and the ring supported thereby from a position where the ring is above and coaxial with the barrel to a position where the ring is below the bulge of said container, means. for radially contracting said ring so that its internal diameter is less than the diameter of said bulge and its internal surface engages substantially the entire circumference of said barrel below said bulge when the ring is lifted, means for elevating said carriage to lift said ring and the barrel supported thereby, and

' means for tilting said ring and said barrel about said horizontal axis to discharge the contents of the barrel.

12. In a barrel hoisting and tilting industrial lift truck including a frame having an upright guide standard, a carriage mounted for vertical movement on the guide standard, and means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a forwardly projecting support rigidly mounted on said carriage, a hollow tubular inflatable rubber ring mounted on said support to swing about a horizontal axis to a horizontal position, means for inflating and deflating said rubber ring to grip and release a barrel, means for limiting the radial expansion of the exterior circumferential portion of said ring, and means for tilting said ring whereby a barrel may be lifted and tilted to discharge its contents.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,978 Weber May 10, 1921 1,943,483 Miller Jan. 16, 1934 2,267,355 Van Riper Dec. 23, 1941 2,308,209 Schmutyer et al. Ian. 12, 1943 2,645,372 Broersma July 14, 1953

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