Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Grapple – Pivoted jaws
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-11-27
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 2167)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Grapple
Pivoted jaws
C294S118000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322120
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the biggest problems in the petrochemical industry is bundles being damaged by contractors during shut downs by using cables and straps on the bundles to move them, or by using conventional tong lifting devices which tend to damage the tubes which come in contact with the cable or tong.
The industry desires a means to cut labor and cost in handling bundles whether loading them in a truck or moving them around the work yard, into the shop, around the cleaning pad, loading and unloading trucks, or for putting bundles into the shells.
The bundle lifting device of the present invention is the safest way to lift a tube bundle without any damage to the tube bundle. Once a bundle has been picked up, it is impossible for it to come out until it has been sit down and the weight relieved, releasing the tube bundle. The lifting device is maintenance free. The present invention may be used in combination with conventional lift trucks or fork lifts to move a six to eight ton tube bundle in a matter of minutes. Other devices which are delicate and heavy such as, U-tube bundles, pillbox bundles, floating head type bundles, or even distillation columns may be carried with the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tube bundle lifting device for use in the chemical industry for moving large tube bundles around a building or work area. The tube bundle device may be supported by heavy equipment such as a fork truck or crane.
A frame including an upper longitudinal frame member such as a steel beam supports a lifting assembly including at least two pair of “J-shaped” lifting arms extending downward from each end in alignment with one another and have opposing curved distal ends portions. The pair of “J-shaped lifting arms are pivotally connected at their center to a lower longitudinal frame support member extending thereinbetween and in alignment with the upper longitudinal frame support member. The proximate ends of each of the “J-shaped” lifting arms are pivotally connected to the distal end of a pair of upper lifting arms each of which is pivotally connected to a pivot point extending from the distal end of the upper longitudinal frame support member. Opposing curved blades are mounted on the inner surface of the curved distal ends of the “J-shaped lifting arms for providing a large surface area for holding tube bundles thereinbetween.
A locking latch assembly consists of a pair of latch arms, defining an upper latch arm and a lower latch arm, pivotally connected to one another at the distal ends for pivotal movement up and down in the Y-axis. The upper latch arm is pivotally connected near its distal end to a short upper center support arm extending downward from the upper longitudinal frame support member. The lower latch arm is pivotally connected near its distal end to a short lower support arm extending upward from the a central point of the lower longitudinal frame support member.
A disassembleable cylindrical cam locking and latch assembly which is mounted to the distal end of the upper latch arm includes a locking dog and wedge shaped plunger for cooperative engagement with a slot or keyway formed in the distal end of the lower latch arm. The cylindrical cam locking and latch assembly provides a means for automatically opening and closing the lifting arms around a tube bundle without requiring the driver to leave the lift truck or the use of hydraulic cylinders or cables connected to a power unit. Dropping the open lifting arms on the ground releases tension on and activates the cylindrical cam locking mechanism so that upon raising the lifting arms they close around the tube bundle. Upon lowering the lifting arms and tube bundle to the ground taking the tension off of the cylindrical cam locking mechanism, whereby the cam holds the arms in the open position to be removed from the tube bundle.
The cylindrical cam locking assembly consist of three parts: a bushing with grooves; a housing that holds the bushing; and a locking dog with pin inserted on the top center line for traveling the grooves in the bushing. Inside the bushing are twelve grooves, eight grooves in the top half and four grooves in the bottom half. The four grooves in the bottom half are milled on the vertical center lines at the 1, 90, 180, and 270 degree lines. The bottom grooves are milled at 0.125 thousands “off set” making the dog travel in one direction only. The top eight grooves are milled on a 45 degree angle intersecting the four bottom grooves allowing the locking dog to rotate the full 360 degrees with up and down motions. The bottom grooves are milled “off set” which makes the locking dog travel in one direction only.
The locking dog consists of a movable cylinder coaxially disposed within a cylindrical cam coaxially and immovably retained within a housing attached to the upper arm of the lifting assembly. A shaft extending downwardly from the cylinder includes distal end defining a wedge shaped plunger which extends downwardly therefrom for cooperative engagement with a slot or “keyway” formed in the lower arm of the lifting assembly.
The cylindrical cam locking mechanism works as follows: With the fork lift suspending the tube bundle lifting device the traveling pin and locking dog are in the locked “up” position so that the traveling pin supporting the plunger is located at the bottom of the groove and the distal ends of the pin are supported by the flange extending around the periphery of the bottom of the housing of the upper arm. The upper surface of the plunger extending through the keyway is oriented normal to the keyway and therefor lifts the lower arm and the blades in a selected position either a “partially open” or open”, locked “up” position, after release of a tube bundle.
Upon lowering the blades onto the ground the traveling pin rotates an additional 45 degrees and travels downward at an angle within the channels or grooves formed in the interior surface of the cylindrical locking cam. The locking dog and plunger simultaneously extend downward and rotate an additional 45 degrees. Lifting of the frame and lifting assembly with the fork lift tines rotates the traveling pin and locking dog an additional 45 degrees upward to the “up” unlocked position wherein the plunger is in alignment with and can extend through the keyhole permitting the scissoring action of the arms and closing the blades around an object to be lifted.
To release the tube bundle, the tube bundle lifting device is lowered until the blades touch the ground taking the pressure off of the cam locking mechanism. The travel pin rotates and slides downwardly along the channel of the bushing and the locking dog rotates and additional 45 degrees. Upon lifting the tube bundle lifting device upward the travel pin rotates and slides upwardly along the channel within the bushing and the locking dog and plunger again rotate 45 degrees in a locked “up” position normal to the keyway.
Therefore, assuming the locking dog is in the locked position meaning the traveling pin and locking dog are rotated at 45 degrees at the top of the bushing channel and the locking dog is in the “up” position. The next time the top frame is lifted up, the traveling pin and locking dog will rotate and drop down 45 degrees. Upon lifting the top frame, the locking dog will rotate and move to the top of the channel at 90 degrees in misalignment with the keyhole to lift the lifter in the opened position for moving to the next job. When the lifter is lowered, the travel pin and locking dog rotate 45 degrees which unlocks the locking dog from the keyhole. The next time the frame is lifted “up”, the travel pin and locking dog rotate and drop 45 degrees aligning the unlocking dog with the keyhole and unlocking the dog 100 percent allowing the lifter to close around the tube bundle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to lift heavy tube bundle type objects whereby the weight is distribute evenly over a large surface area by utilizing curve blades mounted to the lever arms of the lifting device.
It is anothe
Carey Consulting, Inc.
Carrithers David W.
Carrithers Law Office
Kramer Dean J.
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