EP3524563B1 - Grappling hook for gripping barrels - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general technical field of gripping grapples and more particularly to an improved gripping grapple for barrels.

STATEMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

The prior art teaches gripping grapples of various products of the kind generally comprising a body equipped with a hydraulic unit, two articulated members mounted in opposition, two hydraulic cylinders respectively actuating said members and two gripping jaws mounted respectively at the ends of said members and configured to pick up the product to be handled.

• à saisir un fût indifféremment en position verticale ou horizontale et à le reposer, après l'avoir déplacé, indifféremment en position horizontale ou verticale ;
• à maintenir le fond du fût qui peut être détérioré (corrosion d'origine externe ou interne) ;

lesdits moyens étant indispensables lorsqu'il s'agit de déplacer des fûts, plus particulièrement contenant des déchets nucléaires ou corrosifs de toute nature.Unfortunately, these grapples do not simultaneously include suitable means:

• to grasp a barrel either in a vertical or horizontal position and to put it back, after having moved it, either in a horizontal or vertical position;
• to maintain the bottom of the drum which may be deteriorated (corrosion of external or internal origin);

said means being essential when it comes to moving drums, more particularly containing nuclear or corrosive waste of any kind.

In addition, such grapples do not include means for attaching to any type of lifting device (overhead crane or crane for example) necessary in the particular context of nuclear waste.

This is how the patent US-3971485 teaches a grapple which is designed to be placed on a pallet truck and which does not include the combination of means as described in the present invention.

The same is true of patents JP-H01104592 and JP-H0279382 even if they include means for attaching to a lifting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to provide a grapple of the type in question capable of responding advantageously to these various requirements.

The grapple according to the invention is essentially characterized in that the gripping jaws are rotatably mounted on the frames and are respectively actuated by electric jacks via rods so as to grip the barrel either in vertical or horizontal position and to put it back, after having moved it, either in a horizontal or vertical position.

It is also characterized in that each end of each member comprises, in its extension, an additional member provided, at its end, with an articulated pallet, actuated by its own electric cylinder, designed to be positioned under the shaft so as to maintain its bottom.

• les membrures articulées additionnelles sont amovibles ;
• les mâchoires de préhension sont interchangeables et leur forme, fraction cylindrique, est adaptée au diamètre du fût à manutentionner ;
• les palettes de maintien sont interchangeables et leurs dimensions sont adaptées au diamètre du fût à manutentionner ;
• les différents vérins sont pilotés automatiquement à distance.

According to non-limiting particularities of embodiment of the invention:

• the additional articulated frames are removable;
• the gripping jaws are interchangeable and their shape, cylindrical fraction, is adapted to the diameter of the barrel to be handled;
• the holding paddles are interchangeable and their dimensions are adapted to the diameter of the drum to be handled;
• the various jacks are automatically controlled remotely.

1. a) de saisir un fût indifféremment en position verticale ou horizontale et à le reposer, après l'avoir déplacé, indifféremment en position horizontale ou verticale ;
2. b) de maintenir le fond du fût qui peut être détérioré (corrosion d'origine externe ou interne) ;

lesdites fonctions étant indispensables pour déplacer des fûts, plus particulièrement contenant des déchets nucléaires ou corrosifs de toute nature dont les fonds sont généralement détériorés.Thus produced, the improved grapple according to the invention allows; simultaneously :

1. a) grab a drum either in a vertical or horizontal position and put it back, after having moved it, either in a horizontal or vertical position;
2. b) to maintain the bottom of the drum which may be deteriorated (corrosion of external or internal origin);

said functions being essential for moving drums, more particularly containing nuclear or corrosive waste of any kind, the bottoms of which are generally deteriorated.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of at least one preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example and shown in the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 représente, en vue de face, l'ensemble selon l'invention, montrant l'intérieur du corps et des membrures de la partie gauche de manière à mettre en évidence les mécanismes d'entraînement des membrures articulées, des mâchoires en rotation (en prise avec le fût) et des palettes articulées (en position ouvertes) ;
• la figure 2 représente, en vue de profil, ledit ensemble, montrant l'intérieur du corps et des membrures de la partie droite de manière à mettre en évidence les mécanismes d'entraînement des membrures articulées, des mâchoires en rotation (en prise avec le fût) et des palettes articulées (en position fermées).

On these drawings:

• the figure 1 represents, in front view, the assembly according to the invention, showing the interior of the body and of the frames of the left part so as to highlight the drive mechanisms of the articulated frames, of the rotating jaws (in engagement with the barrel) and articulated paddles (in open position);
• the figure 2 represents, in profile view, said assembly, showing the inside of the body and the members of the straight part so as to highlight the drive mechanisms of the articulated members, of the rotating jaws (in engagement with the shaft) and articulated pallets (in closed position).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The grapple shown in the figures is a barrel gripper comprising a body (1) equipped with a hydraulic unit (2), two articulated frames (3) and (4) mounted in opposition, two hydraulic jacks (5) and (6) respectively actuating said frames (3) and (4) and two gripping jaws (7) and (8) mounted respectively at the ends of said frames (3) and (4) and configured to grip the drum (9) to be handled.

• les mâchoires de préhension (7) et (8) sont montées rotatives sur les membrures (3) et (4) et sont respectivement actionnées par des vérins électriques (10) et (11) par l'intermédiaire de biellettes (12) et (13) de manière à saisir le fût (9) indifféremment en position verticale ou horizontale et à le reposer, après l'avoir déplacé, indifféremment en position horizontale ou verticale ;
• chaque extrémité de chaque membrure (3,4) comporte, dans son prolongement, une membrure additionnelle (14,15), pourvue, à son extrémité, d'une palette articulée (16,17), actionnée par son propre vérin électrique (18,19), conçue pour être positionnée sous le fût (9) de manière à maintenir son fond.

According to the essential characteristics of the invention:

• the gripping jaws (7) and (8) are rotatably mounted on the frames (3) and (4) and are respectively actuated by electric jacks (10) and (11) via connecting rods (12) and ( 13) so as to grasp the barrel (9) either in vertical or horizontal position and to put it back, after having moved it, either in horizontal or vertical position;
• each end of each member (3,4) comprises, in its extension, an additional member (14,15), provided, at its end, with an articulated pallet (16,17), actuated by its own electric cylinder (18 , 19), designed to be positioned under the barrel (9) so as to maintain its bottom.

• les membrures articulées additionnelles (14) et (15) sont amovibles ;
• les mâchoires de préhension (7) et (8) sont interchangeables et leur forme, fraction cylindrique, est adaptée au diamètre du fût (9) à manutentionner ;
• les palettes de maintien (16) et (17) sont interchangeables et leurs dimensions sont adaptées au diamètre du fût (9) à manutentionner ;
• les différents vérins sont pilotés automatiquement à distance ;
• le grappin comporte un moyen de guidage embarqué constitué d'une caméra d'approche et d'un détecteur de position du fût à manutentionner ;
• son corps (1) comporte un moyen d'accroche à tout type de dispositif de levage (pont roulant ou grue par exemple).

According to particular features of the invention:

• the additional articulated members (14) and (15) are removable;
• the gripping jaws (7) and (8) are interchangeable and their shape, cylindrical fraction, is adapted to the diameter of the barrel (9) to be handled;
• the holding paddles (16) and (17) are interchangeable and their dimensions are adapted to the diameter of the barrel (9) to be handled;
• the various jacks are automatically controlled remotely;
• the grapple comprises on-board guidance means consisting of an approach camera and a position detector for the barrel to be handled;
• its body (1) comprises a means of attachment to any type of lifting device (overhead crane or crane for example).

Initially designed to be used in the field of handling drums, the grapple according to the invention could see its application extended to the handling of other objects or products.

Of course, a person skilled in the art will be able to carry out the invention as described and represented by applying and adapting known means without it being necessary to describe or represent them.
It may also provide other variants without departing from the scope of the invention as determined by the content of the claims.

Claims (7)

1. Improved grapple for gripping barrels, essentially comprising a body (1) equipped with a means for attachment to any type of lifting device, a hydraulic power unit (2), two articulated members (3, 4) mounted in opposition and actuated respectively by two hydraulic cylinders (5, 6), two grasping jaws (7, 8) mounted respectively at the ends of said members (3, 4) and configured to grasp the barrel (9); with each end of each member (3, 4) comprising, in its extension, an additional member (14, 15), fitted at its end with an articulated pallet (16, 17), actuated by its own electric cylinder (18, 19), designed to be positioned under the barrel (9) to support its bottom, and with the two grasping jaws (7, 8) being respectively mounted rotationally at the ends of said members (3, 4) and being configured to grasp the barrel (9) to be handled in either a vertical or horizontal position and, after moving it, to put it down in either a horizontal or vertical position.
2. Improved grapple, according to claim 1, characterized in that the grasping jaws (7, 8) are respectively actuated by electric cylinders (10, 11) by means of connecting rods (12, 13).
3. Improved grapple, according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting pallets (16, 17) are interchangeable and their dimensions are adapted to the diameter of the barrel (9) to be handled.
4. Improved grapple, according to claim 1, characterized in that the grasping jaws (7, 8) are interchangeable and their shape, a cylindrical fraction, is adapted to the diameter of the barrel (9) to be handled.
5. Improved grapple, according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulated additional members (14, 15) are removable.
6. Improved grapple, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the various cylinders are automatically controlled remotely.
7. Improved grapple, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an on-board guidance means consisting of an approach camera and a position detector for the barrel to be handled.

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