Abstract
A lift arm assembly comprises an elongated lift arm having an inner end pivotally connected to the carriage by a lift arm pivot member to enable pivoting about a pivot axis; a rotatable arm lock gear secured on the inner end of the lift arm in coaxial relation to the lift arm pivot member, the rotatable lock gear having rotatable lock gear teeth projecting radially about substantially an entire circumferential surface thereof; a rotationally fixed lock gear supported by the lift carriage in spaced coaxial relation to the rotatable lock gear, the rotationally fixed lock gear having rotationally fixed lock gear teeth projecting radially about substantially an entire circumferential surface of the rotationally fixed lock gear, the rotationally fixed lock gear having a mounting lug extending radially therefrom; the rotationally fixed lock gear meshing with the rotatable lock gear in a locked position of the rotationally fixed lock gear and unmeshing from the rotatable lock gear in a released position of the rotationally fixed lock gear; and a release member engaged with the lift carriage and with the mounting lug of rotationally fixed lock gear, positioned in radially spaced relation from the pivot axis, and preventing rotation of the rotationally fixed lock gear relative to the lift carriage; and the release member being operable to transition the rotationally fixed lock member between the locked position and the released position.