A tong assembly for use with a work vehicle for grasping irregular shaped objects such as large rocks and smaller sized boulders. The tong assembly includes specially designed load engagement pads having a rectangular configuration of steel bars and attachable to the tong arms proximate their lower ends. A pair of the bars that extend parallel to one another, but normal to the tong arms have a serrated arcuate load engaging surface for enhancing the ability of the tong assembly to grasp and retain irregular shaped objects.

A support assembly including a coupler, a first arm having a proximate end movably coupled to the coupler, a distal end opposite the proximate end, and a second arm having a proximate end movably coupled to the coupler, a distal end opposite the proximate end. The support assembly is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. When moving from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm move toward each other.

A clamping device configured to handle large and fragile objects can include large jaws extended outside a smaller jaw support. The extended areas of the second jaw can be up to 4× of the jaw support, and can contain reinforced ridges configured so that a force applied from the second body portion to the second jaw spreads to the extended areas of the second jaw outside the second body portion, for example, to at least 80%. The clamping device can include an automatic locking mechanism for open and close the jaws from an operator far away from the clamping device.

A clamping device configured to handle large and fragile objects can include large jaws extended outside a smaller jaw support. The extended areas of the second jaw can be up to 4× of the jaw support, and can contain reinforced ridges configured so that a force applied from the second body portion to the second jaw spreads to the extended areas of the second jaw outside the second body portion, for example, to at least 80%. The clamping device can include an automatic locking mechanism for open and close the jaws from an operator far away from the clamping device.

A clamping device includes a rotatable element disposed between a jaw and a jaw support. The rotatable element has a slanting surface, interfacing a roller, and thus is configured to push the jaw toward an opposite jaw of the clamping device when rolling in a clamping direction. An auto lock mechanism is included in the clamping device, which can secure the rotating element for keeping the jaws separated. The auto lock mechanism can be activated or deactivated when the jaws are separated at a maximum or near maximum separation.

A clamping device for lifting and transferring objects can employ slanting interfaces to convert a pulling action on the clamping device to a clamping action on the object. A pulling element in the form of a triangle can be disposed between a jaw and a jaw support of the clamping device. When the pulling element is pulled up, the base of the triangle shape pulling element can exert a force on the jaw against the jaw support, for securing a gripping action on the object.

A tong assembly for use with a work vehicle for grasping irregular shaped objects such as large rocks and smaller sized boulders. The tong assembly includes specially designed load engagement pads having a rectangular configuration of steel bars and attachable to the tong arms proximate their lower ends. A pair of the bars that extend parallel to one another, but normal to the tong arms have a serrated arcuate load engaging surface for enhancing the ability of the tong assembly to grasp and retain irregular shaped objects.

A clamping device includes a rotatable element disposed between a jaw and a jaw support. The rotatable element has a slanting surface, interfacing a roller, and thus is configured to push the jaw toward an opposite jaw of the clamping device when rolling in a clamping direction. An auto lock mechanism is included in the clamping device, which can secure the rotating element for keeping the jaws separated. The auto lock mechanism can be activated or deactivated when the jaws are separated at a maximum or near maximum separation.

A pipelayer machine is provided. The pipelayer machine has a main body, a boom pivotally connected to a first side of the main body, a hook winch provided on the first side of the main body and a boom winch provided on the second side of the main body. The boom winch and the hook winch can be connected to a structural assembly that positions the boom winch proximate the second side of the main body and positions the hook winch proximate the first side of the main body of the pipelayer machine. The hook winch can be provided in a hook winch frame and the hook winch frame can form a structural member in the structural assembly.

An automatic locking mechanism can include one or more annular elements having teeth facing each other or facing away from each other. The automatic locking mechanism can include a rod disposed between the annular elements. The rod can have one or more pins configured to interface with the teeth of the annular elements. The pins and the teeth are also configured to rotate the rod when the annular elements move relative to the rod. The rotation of the rod can toggle a hook end of the rod in a hook receptacle, which can change states of the locking mechanism.