GB2592399A

GB2592399A - Apparatus for beam moving

Info

Publication number: GB2592399A
Application number: GB2002755.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thornberry John; Hughes Richard
Original assignee: MOULDED FOAMS Ltd
Current assignee: MOULDED FOAMS Ltd
Priority date: 2020-02-27
Filing date: 2020-02-27
Publication date: 2021-09-01
Also published as: GB202002755D0

Abstract

The apparatus 10 includes a handle 22 connected to a base section 30. The base section includes at least one roller 40, such as a wheel, and a support member 60 for supporting a beam. The roller is positioned such that the base is asymmetric. The apparatus may also comprise a guide member for engaging a surface where the guide extends away from the roller in a first plane and a orthogonally in the first plane parallel with the rotational axis of the roller. The handle and the roller may be at opposite ends of the apparatus. The support and the roller may be adjacent to each other. Also claimed is a kit comprising two apparatus where they are a mirrored pair. The support may be planar and may take approximately the same space as the roller.

Description

APPARATUS FOR BEAM MOVING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for moving a beam. The invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising two of the aforementioned apparatus.

Background to the Invention

Beam and block flooring is a type of suspended flooring commonly used in ground floors wherein the void underneath the floor structure helps ventilation and prevents rot. Beam and block flooring demonstrates good noise reduction and fire resisting properties, and is also a good host for underfloor heating systems. Further, beam and block flooring has found extensive use in self-build projects due to a cost-effective and fast installation time, without the need for a specialist labour force.

Beam and block floors comprise pre-stressed concrete beams, laid across or between walls, fitted with hollow or solid blocks. The blocks provide a continuous, safe working surface, such that subsequent trades can be carried out. Beam and block installation can occur in almost all weathers and requires minimal ground preparation, reducing the risk of site delays. Further, beam and block flooring enables otherwise unsuitable ground, such as ground with poor bearing capacity or slopes, to become a viable build site.

The beams are heavy and cumbersome to manoeuvre making the manual handling and positioning of the beams by hand not only onerous, but dangerous. In this way, machinery for moving, such as a lifting crane, is often deployed on site to manoeuvre and positon the beams. Such machinery introduces additional safety considerations, handling issues and may not be suitable or economical for many work sites.

In this way, there is need for a safer, faster, and more convenient means to manoeuvre the beams into position.

Objects and aspects of the present claimed invention seek to alleviate at least these problems with the prior art.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for moving a beam, the apparatus comprising: a handle member, the handle member connected to a base section, wherein the base section comprises; at least one roller and a support member for supporting a beam wherein the roller is positioned such that the base portion is asymmetric.

In this way, an apparatus to aid manual handling of beams is provided, in particular an apparatus for moving beams in beam and block flooring installation.

Here, asymmetric should be interpreted to mean that the base portion does not contain any planes of symmetry.

Preferably, the base section further comprises a guide member for engaging a surface, wherein the guide member extends away from said roller substantially in a first plane, and a normal of this first plane is substantially parallel with the rotational axis of the roller.

Preferably, the support member extends away from the roller substantially in a second plane. More preferably, a normal of the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the roller.

Preferably, the handle member is located substantially at a first end of the apparatus, and the roller is located substantially at a second end of the apparatus. Preferably, the handle member comprises an elongate portion.

Preferably, the guide member is located adjacent to the roller. Preferably, the support member is located adjacent to the roller. More preferably, the roller is located intermediate the guide member and the support member.

Preferably, the guide member extends from substantially the centre of the base section.

Preferably, the angle between the longitudinal axis of the guide member and the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion is greater than or equal to 90 degrees and less than or equal to 180 degrees. More preferably, the angle is between 120 degrees and 150 degrees. Most preferably, the angle is about 135 degrees.

Preferably, the base section has a width, the width divided into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the roller extends across the first portion, and the support member extends across the second portion. More preferably, the first portion and the second portion together extend substantially across the entire width of the base section. Most preferably, the first and second portions are substantially equal in length.

Preferably, the roller comprises at least one wheel. Preferably, the guide member is substantially planar. Preferably, the support member is substantially planar.

Preferably, the handle member comprises a handle bar portion. Preferably, the handle bar portion is connected to the elongate portion such that the position and/or height of the handle bar portion can be adjusted. In this way, the apparatus may be adjusted to improve ease of use.

Preferably, the elongate portion is hollow to reduce the weight of the apparatus. Alternatively, the elongate portion is substantially solid to improve the strength of the apparatus.

Preferably, the roller is smooth. Alternatively, the roller comprises indentations and/or protrusions such that tread is provided to improve the grip of the roller.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts, the kit of parts comprising two of the apparatus of the first embodiment, wherein the second embodiment can comprise any of the preferred or optional features of the first embodiment.

Preferably, the two apparatus of the kit of parts are substantially mirror images of each other.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an apparatus for moving a beam in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of the base portion of a second embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the side of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 depicts perspective view of the back of the apparatus of Figure 2; and Figure 5 depicts a view of the apparatus of Figure 2, in use, engaged with a beam.

With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a perspective view of an apparatus 10 for moving a beam. Reference axes X, Y and Z are provided in Figure 1.

The apparatus comprises a handle member 20. In this embodiment, the handle member 20 is a rigid frame comprising an elongate portion 21 and a handle bar portion 22. The elongate portion 21 comprises a first end 23 and a second end 24.

The handle bar portion 22 is located at the first end 23 of the elongate portion 21. The handle bar portion 22 comprises a cylindrical, rigid bar. The handle bar portion 22 extends from the first end 23 of the elongate portion 21 such that the handle bar portion 22 is perpendicular to the elongate portion 21. In this way, the handle member 20 is substantially T-shaped.

In use, the operator grips the handle bar portion 22 of the handle member 20. The handle bar portion 22 may comprise one or more features to aid operator interaction with the handle member 20. For example, the handle bar portion 22 may be shaped or comprise materials to ease operator grip and comfort. It is envisaged that the handle bar portion 22 may be substantially straight, substantially curved, M-shaped, H-shaped, a drop bar, a bullhorn bar or any other suitable shape to aid operator interaction with the apparatus 10. The handle bar portion 22 is fixed to the elongate portion 21.

The elongate portion 21 comprises a rectangular, rigid bar with a longitudinal axis B, parallel to reference axis Y. The elongate portion 21 may be any shape such that force can be transferred from the handle bar portion 22 through the elongate portion 21. In this way, the elongate portion 21 may comprise a frame with multiple rigid elements.

A base section 30 is located at the second end 24 of the elongate portion 21. The base section 30 comprises a base frame 31, a roller 40, a guide member 50 and a support member 60. In this way, the handle member 20 is located at a first end of the apparatus 10 and the roller 40 is located at a second end of the apparatus The roller 40 is connected at a first end 41 to the elongate portion 22 and at a second end 42 to the base frame 31. The roller 50 may be connected at a single end 41, 42 of the roller 40. The roller 40 is fixed in position and is free to rotate about a rotational axis A. The rotational axis A of the roller 40 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B of the elongate portion 21. In this way, the rotational axis A is parallel to reference axis X. In this embodiment, the roller 40 comprises a cylindrical roller for engaging a surface. The roller 40 comprises a continuous surface 43. The continuous surface 43 is flat.

The guide member 50 is adjacent to the roller 40 and is located proximate the second end 42 of the roller 40. The guide member 50 comprises a rectangular plate. The guide member 50 is substantially planar. The guide member 50 extends away from the roller 40 in a first plane (the Y-Z plane). In this way, a normal of the first plane (Y-Z plane) is parallel to the rotational axis A of the roller 40.

The support member 60 is adjacent to the roller 40 and is located proximate the first end 41 of the roller 40. The support member 60 comprises a rectangular plate. The support member 50 is substantially planar. The support member 60 extends away from the roller 40 in a second plane (the X-Z plane). In this way, a normal of the second plane (X-Z plane) is perpendicular to the rotational axis A of the roller 40.

In this way, the roller 40 is located intermediate the guide member 50 and the support member 60.

With reference to Figure 2, a base section 230 of a second embodiment of the apparatus 210 is shown. In the following description, similar numerals will be used for similar parts of the second embodiment of the present invention as the first embodiment.

The embodiment of the apparatus 210 of Figure 2 may be considered the mirror copy' of the embodiment of the apparatus 10 in Figure 1. That is, the features of the apparatus 210 of Figure 2 are substantially identical to the features of the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 but mirrored about an axis B'. The apparatus 210 of Figure 2 comprises a roller 240, a guide member 250 and a support member 260 substantially identical to the corresponding features of Figure 1. The base section 230 comprises a base frame 231 and a handle member substantially identical to the handle member 20 of the embodiment of Figure 1. In this way, the axis B' is the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion 221.

The base section 230 has a width W. The width W comprises a first portion Wa and a second portion Wb. The roller 240 extends across the first portion Wa and the support member 260 extends across the second portion VVb.

In this embodiment, the first portion W'a and the second portion W'b do not extend across the entire width W of the base section 230. The first portion Wa and the second portion W'b do not meet, such that there is a gap between them. Further, the first portion Wa and/or the second portion Wb do not extend to the edges of the width W of the base section 230.

The first portion Wa and second portion Wb do not overlap, and as such the roller 240 and the support member 260 do not overlap. In this way, when the apparatus 210 is in use, the supporting member 260 may be positioned under a beam whilst the entire roller 240 is positioned on a guiding surface without need for the beam to be lifted prior to the positioning of the supporting member 260. In this way, the apparatus 210 can be quickly and easily positioned for moving a beam.

With reference to Figure 3, a perspective view of the side of the apparatus 210 of Figure 2 is shown, with reference axes X', Y' and Z' provided. The rotational axis A' of the roller 240 is parallel to reference axis X'. The apparatus 210 has a front side 270 and a back side 280. In use, the back side 280 faces substantially towards the operator and the front side 270 faces substantially away from the operator.

The guide member 250 has a longitudinal axis C'. The guide member 250 extends away from the roller 240 in a first plane (the Y'-Z' plane). In this way, a normal of the first plane (Y'-Z' plane) is parallel to the rotational axis A' of the roller 240. The guide member 250 is fixed at an angle a from the Y' axis, such that it extends substantially from the back side 280 of the apparatus 210. The angle a is 135 degrees. In this way, when the apparatus 210 is being guided over a surface in use, the longitudinal axis C' of the guide member 250 is substantially perpendicular to the surface which the apparatus 210 traverses.

The support member 260 extends away from the roller 240 in a second plane (the X'-Z' plane). In this way, a normal of the second plane (X'-Z' plane) is perpendicular to the rotational axis A' of the roller 240. The support member 260 extends from the front side 270 of the apparatus 210. The support member 260 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B' of the elongate portion 221 of the apparatus 210.

In this embodiment, the support member 260 is a flat plate. The support member 260 comprises an upper surface 261 which is substantially flat.

With reference to Figure 4, a perspective view of the back side 280 of the apparatus 210 is shown. The bottom edge 244 of the roller 240 is substantially aligned with the bottom of the base frame 231. In this way, when the apparatus 210 is in use, the upper surface 261 of the supporting member 260 (not shown in Figure 4) may be positioned in engagement with a surface of a beam whilst the roller 240 is positioned in engagement with a top surface upon which the beam is laid. The guide member 250 is adjacent and parallel to a second end 242 of the roller 240.

With reference to Figure 5, a view of the apparatus 210 of Figure 2, in use, is shown in engagement with a beam 300. The beam 300 is laid across a pair of parallel guide beams 310 (only one guide beam 310 is shown). The beam 300 is substantially perpendicular to the guide beams 310.

In use, the operator grips the handle member of the apparatus 210. The apparatus 210 is positioned such that the support member 260 engages with a bottom surface 301 of the beam 300. The roller 240 is positioned such that it engages with the top surface 311 of the guide beam 310. In this way, the guide member 250 (not shown in Figure 5) is located proximate a guiding surface 312 of the guide beam 310. In this way, the longitudinal axis B' of the elongate portion 221 forms an angle 13 with the top surface 311 of the guide beam 310. When positioning the apparatus 210 to engage the beam 300, the angle 13 is substantially 90 degrees.

When positioned in engagement with a beam 300, as shown in Figure 5, only the roller 240 and guide member 250 are in contact with the guide beam 310. The guide member 250 may not be in contact with the guide beam 310, such that friction between the guide member 250 and the guide beam 310 is avoided.

To move the beam 300, the operator tilts the apparatus 210 such that the angle 13 increases. In this way, the gravitational pull on the beam 300 assists with keeping the beam 300 in engagement with the engaging surface 260. Commonly, the operator tilts the apparatus 210 such that the angle p is between 110 degrees and 160 degrees. The operator pushes the apparatus 210 in the F direction or pulls the apparatus 210 in the R direction. The roller 240 rotates about its rotational axis A' such that linear motion of the apparatus 210 occurs. In this way, the apparatus 210 moves the beam 300 in the F and R directions.

The guide member 250 acts as a stopper to prevent the roller 240 from breaking contact with the guide beam 310 if the operator steers the apparatus 210 away from the guiding surface 312 and off the beam 300. In this way, the guide member 250 improves the safety of the manual handling of the beam 300. Further, the guide member 150 assists the operator in moving the beam in a straight line relative to the guide beam 310.

To position the beam 300, the operator halts the motion of the apparatus 210 and tilts the apparatus 210 such that the angle p decreases to 90 degrees. The operator then pulls the apparatus 210 substantially towards them such that the support member 260 is no longer in engagement with the beam and the roller is no longer in engagement with the guide beam 310.

In the second aspect of the present claimed invention, the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 and the apparatus 210 of Figure 2 comprise a kit of parts. In this way, the two apparatus 10, 210 of the kit of parts are substantially mirror images of each other. This is preferable, as the guide members of each of the apparatus 10, 210 prevent the rollers of both of the apparatus 10, 210 from steering off either side of the guide beams 310, in a direction perpendicular to the F and R directions. In this way, improved safety and ease of steering of the apparatus 10, 210 is provided.

In use, each apparatus of the kit of parts operates in substantially an identical manner as the single apparatus 210. Each of the pair of apparatus 10, 210 of the kit of parts engage with each of the pair of guide beams 310. Each of the pair of apparatus 10, 210 is operated by a separate operator. In this way, the operators simultaneously engage the pair of apparatus 10, 210 with the beam 300. The operators simultaneously tilt each of the pair of apparatus 10, 210 to substantially the same angle p, such that the angle 13 is increased. The operators then provide a substantially equal force on each apparatus 10, 210 such that the beam 300 is moved in a linear direction. The beam 300 is moved substantially parallel to the top surface 311 of the guide beams 310.

Further embodiments within the scope of the present invention may be envisaged that have not been described above, for example, the handle member and base section may comprise any suitable shape or design for transferring force applied to the handle by the operator to the roller.

In the embodiments shown in the Figures, the entire apparatus is formed from the same metal, however it is envisaged that any suitable material for supporting a heavy beam is provided, in particular a material suitable for supporting a concrete or metal beam. Additionally, the apparatus may comprise a combination of materials, in particular the handle member or the roller may comprise a combination of materials.

The apparatus may be used for moving one or more types or shapes of beam including, but not limited to, a H-beam, I-beam, T-beam, U-beam, square beam, channel beam, angle beam or wide flange beam. Further, the apparatus may be for moving a beam over a single guide beam or multiple guide beams or over any other suitable surface.

Claims

Claims 1 An apparatus for moving a beam, said apparatus comprising: a handle member, said handle member connected to a base section, wherein said base section comprises; at least one roller, and a support member for supporting a beam, characterised in that, said at least one roller is positioned such that said base section is asymmetric.
2 The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base section further comprises a guide member for engaging a surface, wherein said guide member extends away from said roller substantially in a first plane, and a normal of said first plane is substantially parallel with the rotational axis of said roller.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said support member extends away from said roller substantially in a second plane.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a normal of said second plane is substantially perpendicular to said rotational axis of said roller.
The apparatus of any one preceding claim, wherein said handle member is located substantially at a first end of said apparatus, and said roller is located substantially at a second end of said apparatus.
6. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said guide member is located adjacent to said roller.
7. The apparatus of any one preceding claim, wherein said support member is located adjacent to said roller.
8. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said roller is located intermediate said guide member and said support member.
9 The apparatus of any one preceding claim, wherein said base section has a width, said width divided into a first portion and a second portion, wherein said roller extends across said first portion, and said support member extends across said second portion.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first portion and said second portion together extend substantially across the entire width of said base section.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said first and second portions are substantially equal in length.
12. The apparatus of any one preceding claim wherein said roller comprises at least one wheel.
13. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein said guide member is substantially planar.
14 The apparatus of any one preceding claim, wherein said support member is substantially planar.
15. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 14, wherein said guide member extends from substantially the centre of said base section.
16.A kit of parts, said kit of parts comprising two of the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15.
17. The kit of parts of claim 16, wherein the two apparatus are substantially mirror images of each other.