AU2010202113A1 - Pipe lifting device - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "PIPE LIFTING DEVICE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION PIPE LIFTING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The invention relates to pipe lifting devices, and in particular but not exclusively to pipe lifting devices for simultaneously lifting a number of large industrial pipes. BACKGROUND 10 Pipe lifting devices for picking up and manoeuvring large industrial pipes such as concrete pipes are well known. Prior art pipe lifting devices are generally of a hook-type or a tong-type. Example hook-type pipe lifting devices are shown in FIG's 1 and 2. These prior art hook-type pipe lifting devices require a slinging worker to 15 hook the hooks of these devices onto the pipes. The prior art pipe lifting devices are also difficult to orientate relative to the pipes to be lifted. Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a pipe lifter disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,736,976 is shown. The pipe lifter comprises a spreader bar 70 having cluster bars 66 and 68 from which a number of 20 cables 92 with end hooks 60 extend. The hooks 60 are manually hooked onto the ends of pipes 64. Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a pipe lifter disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,037,151 is shown. The pipe lifter of FIG. 2 has a number of wire ropes 408 suspended from hooks 405. Distal ends of 25 the ropes 408 are attached to hooks 409 that insert into pipes 417. The hooks 409 can be remotely unhooked from the pipes 417 by having actuators 420 push arms 413 outwardly. A slinging worker is then necessary to connect the hooks 409 to a new set of pipes 417. 30 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a pipe lifting device including: 2 a frame; bars rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the frame; one or more hooks mounted to each bar; and urging means attached to the frame for urging the hooks between a 5 gripping position and a release position. Preferably, the urging means is operable to rotate the bars. Preferably, the urging means is operable to extend and retract the bars relative to each other. Preferably, the frame has telescoping end pieces to which the bars 10 are mounted. More specifically, the frame comprises a central beam and the telescoping end pieces are slidably received at opposite ends of the central beam. Preferably, the urging means includes a linear actuator which is operable to displace the end pieces between extended and retracted 15 positions. Preferably, the pipe lifting device includes a linkage between the frame and each bar so that the bars are rotated as the end pieces are displaced between the extended and retracted positions. Preferably, the hooks are selectively lockable at various positions 20 along the bars. Preferably, the pipe lifting device includes adjustable guide formations for orientating the pipe lifting device relative to pipes to be lifted. Preferably, the bars are parallel to each other. 25 Preferably, the urging means comprises a remote controlled electro-mechanical linear actuator. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with 30 respect to the accompanying drawings, of which: FIG. 1 shows a prior art pipe lifter having a number of cable suspended hooks; 3 FIG. 2 shows another prior art pipe lifter having opposite hooks which are operable to be remotely actuated into and out of engagement with a pipe; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a pipe lifting device, according 5 to one embodiment of the present invention, gripping two pipes in a gripping condition of the pipe lifting device; FIG. 4 shows a side view of the pipe lifting device of FIG. 3 with its hooks in a release position; FIG. 5 shows a side view of the pipe lifting device of FIG. 3 with its 10 hooks in the same gripping position as depicted in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 shows a top view of the pipe lifting device of FIG. 3; FIG. 7 shows an end view of the pipe lifting device of FIG. 3; FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a pipe lifting device in accordance with the invention, configured to lift three pipes 15 simultaneously; and FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a pipe lifting device in accordance with the invention, configured to lift six pipes simultaneously. 20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention comprise a pipe lifting device including a frame; parallel bars rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the frame; one or more hooks mounted to each bar; and urging means for urging the hooks between a gripping position and a release position by 25 rotating the bars. Elements of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary to understanding the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to clutter the disclosure with excessive detail that will be obvious to those of 30 ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description. In this patent specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, front and back, top and bottom, etc., are used solely to define 4 one element from another element without necessarily requiring a specific relative position or sequence that is described by the adjectives. Words such as "comprises" or "includes" are not used to define an exclusive set of elements or method steps. Rather, such words merely define a 5 minimum set of elements or method steps included in a particular embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in a variety of ways, and that this description is given by way of example only. With reference to FIG. 3, an embodiment is illustrated of a pipe 10 lifting device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The pipe lifting device 10 is generally used for lifting a course of pipes 12 from the bed of a truck. The pipe lifting device 10 is suspended from lifting systems such as a hoist or a crane by chains or cables 13. The cables 13 are of a length so that when the pipe lifting device 10 is suspended the cables 13 are at a 15 45 degree angle relative to the horizontal. The pipe lifting device 10 comprises a frame 14, parallel bars 16, interchangeable and replaceable hooks 18 mounted to the bars 16 and urging means for rotating the bars 16, as will be described in more detail herein below. The frame 14 comprises a central beam 20 and end pieces in the 20 form of rams 22 at opposite ends of the central beam 22. The central beam 20 is of hollow square tubing and the rams 22 are slidably received in end regions at the opposite ends of the central beam 20. The rams 22 have sockets 24 in which the bars 16 are rotatably captured by way of bearings 26. The bars 16 are generally square in cross section. 25 The hooks 18 are slidably mounted to the bars 16. The hooks 18 comprise a bracket 28 and an L-shaped hook body 30 fixed to the bracket 28 at one end and having a prong 31 at the other end. The brackets 28 have a square aperture through which the bars 16 are received. Rotation of the bars 16 is translated into rotation of the brackets 28 and hence 30 rotation the hook bodies 30. The prongs 31 of the hooks 18 are displaceable into and out of engagement with the pipes 12, as will be described more specifically with reference to FIG's 4 and 5. In FIG. 3, the 5 hooks 18 are in a gripping position wherein they engage the pipes 12 during the lifting operation. The brackets 28 have eyelets 32 at a side of its aperture across from where the hook bodies 30 are fixed to the brackets 28. The cables 13 depending from the hoist or crane are fixed to 5 the pipe lifting device 10 by fixing the distal ends of the cables 13 to the eyelets 32. The pipe lifting device 10 includes adjustable guide formations 34 for guiding the pipe lifting device 10 into position for gripping the pipes 12, in use. The guide formations 34 are described more specifically with 10 reference to FIG. 7. Referring to FIG's 4 and 5, the hooks 18 are displaceable between a release position as shown in FIG. 4 and a gripping position as shown in FIG. 5. Prongs 31 of the hook bodies 30 are inwardly projecting so that the pipes 12 are suspended between opposite hooks 18 in the gripping 15 position of the hooks 18. In the release position, the rams 22 are extended and in the gripping position the rams 22 are retracted. The rams 22 are driven by the urging means in the form of linear actuators housed within the central beam 20. The linear actuators are powered by a 12V battery pack housed in the central beam 20. The linear actuators are 20 actuated by remote control to stroke the rams 26 between their extended position shown in FIG. 4 and retracted position shown in FIG. 5. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the actuators can include various types of commercially available linear actuators, including electro mechanical linear actuators. 25 The central beam 20 is connected to the bars 16 by links 35. The links 35 extend between lugs 36 fixed on the central beam 20 and lugs 38 fixed on the bar 16. The lug 38 is similar to a bracket 28 but further including an upwardly projecting lug formation. The links 35 are hingedly connected to the lugs 36, 38 by pins extending through holes in the lugs 30 36, 38 and the links 35. When a ram 22 is stroked to an extended position, the links 35 impart a rotational force on its connected bar 16. Similarly, when the ram 22 is stroked back to its retracted position, a 6 rotational force in the opposite direction is imparted. The links 35 and lugs 36, 18 are configured so that the hooks 18 are in the release position when the rams 22 are fully extended and in the retracted position when the rams 22 are fully retracted. Stroking of the rams 22 displaces the 5 hooks 18 both angularly by the rotation of the bars 16 and linearly by the linear displacement of the bars 16. Referring to FIG. 6, a top view of the pipe lifting device 10 is shown. The bars 16 have a longitudinal flange 48 with a number of holes 50 along the length of the flange 48. The hooks 18 are selectively lockable at 10 various positions along the bars 16 by spring action pins (not shown) which extend through holes in the brackets 28 of the hooks 18 and the holes 50 when the respective holes are aligned. The hooks 18 are slidably moveable along the bars 18 by releasing the pins from the holes 50. The guide formations 34 include arms 40 projecting sideways from 15 the central beam 20. Referring to FIG. 7, an end view of the pipe lifting device 10 is shown. The guide formations 34 include rollers 42 at the distal ends of the arms 40. The arms 40 are adjustably fixed to the central beam 20 by rods 44 which are received in sleeves 46 fixed to the central beam 20. The 20 guide formations 34 are movable up or down relative to the central beam 20. Referring to FIG's 3 to 7, in use the pipe lifting device 10 is lowered onto a course of pipes 12 with the hooks 18 in the release position. As the pipe lifting device 10 is lowered, the guide formations 34 orientate the pipe 25 lifting device 10 on the course of pipes 12 as the device 10 contacts the pipes 12. An operator then operates a remote control which sends a signal to the linear actuators to retract the rams 22 so that the hooks 18 grip the pipes 12 between them in the gripping position of the pipe lifting device 10. The pipes 12 then can be lifted and placed by the crane/hoist 30 operator. To release the pipes 12 the operator again operates the remote controller so that the linear actuators retract the rams 22 and the hooks 18 release the pipes 12 in the release position of the hooks 18. The 7 configuration of the brackets 28, and specifically the eyelets 32 being on the opposite side of the bars 16, provides fail safety to the pipe lifting device 10 as the hooks 18 are urged to the gripping position when there is tension on the wires/chains/cables 13. 5 Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment is illustrated of a pipe lifting device 100 in accordance with the invention. The pipe lifting device 100 is similar to the pipe lifting device 10, with a difference being that the pipe lifting device 100 includes an additional hook body 30, which is fixed to the lug 38. The pipe lifting device 100 is thus configured to lift three 10 pipes 102. Any number of hooks 18 may be fitted side by side on the bars 16. Hooks 18 are mounted to the bars 16 by simply sliding them onto a bar 16 and locking their brackets 28 in place with pins. Referring to FIG. 9, yet another embodiment is illustrated of a pipe lifting device 200 in accordance with the invention. The pipe lifting device 15 200 is similar to the pipe lifting device 100, with a difference being that hook bodies 202 of the pipe lifting device 200 are double pronged. The pipe lifting device 200 is configured to simultaneously grip six pipes 204. Advantages of the pipe lifting devices 10, 100, 200 of the present invention include enabling the automatic gripping and handling of pipes 20 without the need to use a slinging worker. Not only is this less labour intensive, but there are significant workplace health and safety advantages. The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in 25 the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other 30 embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this patent specification is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present 8 invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention.

Claims (11)

1. A pipe lifting device, comprising: a frame; 5 bars rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the frame; one or more hooks mounted to the bars; and urging means attached to the frame for urging the hooks between a gripping position and a release position. 10

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the urging means is operable to rotate the bars.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the urging means is operable to extend and retract the bars relative to each other. 15

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises telescoping end pieces to which the bars are mounted.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the frame comprises a central beam 20 and the telescoping end pieces are slidably received at opposite ends of the frame.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the urging means comprises a linear actuator that is operable to displace the end pieces between extended and 25 retracted positions.

7. The device of claim 4, further comprising a linkage between the frame and each bar enabling the bars to be rotated as the end pieces are displaced between extended and retracted positions. 30

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the hooks are selectively lockable at various positions along the bars. 10

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising adjustable guide formations for orientating the pipe lifting device relative to pipes to be lifted. 5

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the bars are parallel to each other.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the urging means comprises a remote controlled electro-mechanical linear actuator.