Dual action grapple

[JohnDeere4300]

A company from the Great White North, Hardy, makes a small telescoping
dipper hoe. HARDY Bienvenue - Welcome

It is interesting that their model 8DL weighs about the same as my hoe,
which has a conventional dipper.

I have never seen a Hardy or Pronovost hoe, but they are intriguing.

OK,

Thanks for the link.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I have a backhoe with a thumb but don't keep the hoe on all the time.. I have very tight quarters in between the trees and lots of rocks and dead branches.. "kinda lazy".. If I were to use a normal grapple like you say.."Ok "in use" I open the grapple and tilt the bucket down" After you lower the bucket down you can't see what your picking up.... I was thinking if you could go in with the bucket flat that I would have more control over what I am loading???

I'll try to attach a "crude" pic,,

Go buy a "Hungry Hungry Hippos" game and tear it apart. There is some mechanism in there that allows the Hippo to arch up and over on the way out but it pulls straight back. It sounds like what you're trying to do. I'm sure there'll be a way to scale it up with metal and hydraulics.

In the end the project may not be practical, but if you give it a try at least the rest of us will know

 

[J_J]

hr3

Here is something similar to what you described.

Q: What is the difference between the standard grab fork and the three dimensional grab fork?
A: The standard grab fork has one pivot point what allows the teeth to secure material in the bucket. The patented three dimensional Cat Claw grab fork has two pivot points which allows the teeth to reach out past the front edge of the bucket and pull material into the bucket. It increases load capacity by 200% cutting the number of trips required in half.


http://www.loaders.com/aspx/Product/Default.aspx

Click on attachments, then grab forks.

http://www.loaders.com/userdocs/products/GF-84-3D-PARTS.pdf

 

[dfkrug]

Here is something similar to what you described.

I believe it uses one cylinder for the full stroke.

Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment.

Looks like another innovative product from Westendorf. Too bad they
don't bring this or their BrushCrusher to the big AG equipment shows in
the West. I even tried to see some of their products at their HQ in
Iowa a few years ago, but they had a shut-down that summer.

The new product you link to, JJ, seems to use one cylinder and an
articulating joint to both reach and grab. Thx for posting.

 

[IslandTractor]

The patented three dimensional Cat Claw grab fork has two pivot points which allows the teeth to reach out past the front edge of the bucket and pull material into the bucket. It increases load capacity by 200% cutting the number of trips required in half.

I suppose if you are limited by the type of load (?hay bales) that required you to simply drive up to the pile and without pushing into it grab a bite then this device would increase your load capacity. However, in real life, a standard grapple can do pretty much the same thing by simply compressing the load before closing the grapple. Technique 1 is to drive into the pile thereby compressing the load against the back of the bucket then close the grapple. Technique 2 is to rotate the grapple over the pile while moving forwards and then closing over the compressed load which is being pushed against the ground. I don't see how this Cat Claw does anything more than what a standard grapple can do but it sure does add some mechanical complexity, expense and potentially vulnerable parts to the equation.

 

[J_J]

I suppose if you are limited by the type of load (?hay bales) that required you to simply drive up to the pile and without pushing into it grab a bite then this device would increase your load capacity. However, in real life, a standard grapple can do pretty much the same thing by simply compressing the load before closing the grapple. Technique 1 is to drive into the pile thereby compressing the load against the back of the bucket then close the grapple. Technique 2 is to rotate the grapple over the pile while moving forwards and then closing over the compressed load which is being pushed against the ground. I don't see how this Cat Claw does anything more than what a standard grapple can do but it sure does add some mechanical complexity, expense and potentially vulnerable parts to the equation.

Well not really. After you have compressed your stack ready for lifting, the
3D grapple will reach out more , and add another 100%. to what you already have. Instead of grabbing 200 lbs of stuff, now you can grab 400 lbs of stuff . Time is money. However this unit is expensive. $3100.00

 

[IslandTractor]

Well not really. After you have compressed your stack ready for lifting, the
3D grapple will reach out more , and add another 100%. to what you already have. Instead of grabbing 200 lbs of stuff, now you can grab 400 lbs of stuff . Time is money. However this unit is expensive. $3100.00

I agree the unit is expensive but must disagree on your other assumptions. No way you can add another "100%" with this Cat Claw, that is unsubstantiated marketing hype. I'm really not sure you can add much extra at all for something like brush as brush tends to stick together and compress so you can get a huge load of brush into a standard grapple. Check out the photo below with a standard grapple. I don't see how the Cat Claw could possibly double that load.

Maybe there is some configuration of hay bales (small rectangular ones) where the Cat Claw could increase the load but I suspect it would be only a few special circumstances like that.

 

[J_J]

I agree the unit is expensive but must disagree on your other assumptions. No way you can add another "100%" with this Cat Claw, that is unsubstantiated marketing hype. I'm really not sure you can add much extra at all for something like brush as brush tends to stick together and compress so you can get a huge load of brush into a standard grapple. Check out the photo below with a standard grapple. I don't see how the Cat Claw could possibly double that load.

Maybe there is some configuration of hay bales (small rectangular ones) where the Cat Claw could increase the load but I suspect it would be only a few special circumstances like that.

Yep, that is one big load, everything seems to be tied or intertwined together. No, the claw could not do better with that load.

 

[hr3]

Thanks JJ.. at least you have given me ideas with the claw...It is kinda what i'm looking to build........

Any more thoughts????

 

[J_J]

If you have a set of forks, something like this would be easy to build.

In the last picture, you could use one cylinder per fork, or put two forks on with independent action. These just slip over the fork, could even be a fork extension.

 

[IslandTractor]

If you have a set of forks, something like this would be easy to build.

In the last picture, you could use one cylinder per fork, or put two forks on with independent action. These just slip over the fork, could even be a fork extension.

And, if you are a really good designer and fabricator, you could build a transferable grapple that could be mounted on either the forks or on your standard bucket. That would be nice.

There is little if any benefit to dual grapple arms and it would be much simpler, less costly and less weight penalty to just build one 24-30 inch wide grapple arm.

 

[dex3361]

JJ didnt you build a grapple out of box blade ripper shanks?
I was thinking real serious about building a grapple like that myself.

 

[J_J]

JJ didnt you build a grapple out of box blade ripper shanks?
I was thinking real serious about building a grapple like that myself.

Yes sir, I did. I made it out of a receiver hitch and some ripper shanks. The cost was small, about $50.00

The second picture, is a laser cut grapple kit that I ordered and welded to go with my front hoe.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Yes sir, I did. I made it out of a receiver hitch and some ripper shanks. The cost was small, about $50.00

The second picture, is a laser cut grapple kit that I ordered and welded to go with my front hoe.

J_J

That is nice!

Was there a thread on that build???

 

[mwb]

J_J

That is nice!

Was there a thread on that build???

I found this link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/54517-root-rake-grapple-combo.html

It would be nice to have some better pictures though!

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I found this link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/54517-root-rake-grapple-combo.html

It would be nice to have some better pictures though!

Thanks for the link

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Yes sir, I did. I made it out of a receiver hitch and some ripper shanks. The cost was small, about $50.00

The second picture, is a laser cut grapple kit that I ordered and welded to go with my front hoe.

J_J

When i click on your pictures they won't enlarge...Why not??

 

[J_J]

J_J

When i click on your pictures they won't enlarge...Why not??

Because they are thumbnails. I will see if I can find the originals.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1452

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/3409

 

[hr3]

"There is little if any benefit to dual grapple arms and it would be much simpler, less costly and less weight penalty to just build one 24-30 inch wide grapple arm"... I don't think so Island..I don't have a huge tractor,,and would like to be able to pull my fel up to a rock sitting on the ground,, and have the abillity to nug it into the bucket,,,not have to come down from above and squeeze the daylights out of it trying to pick it up...along with the ability to carry brush out of the woods..
Great Stuff JJ... I'm going to see if I can figure out the geomerty this weekend...

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Because they are thumbnails. I will see if I can find the originals.

ROOT RAKE/GRAPPLE - TractorByNet.com Photo Gallery

Fronthoe - TractorByNet.com Photo Gallery

OK thanks J_J

That is really a good setup....I've been wanting to build one.