GB2093095A - Portable track for lifting trolleys - Google Patents

Abstract

The track comprises an outwardly flanged channel-section member (11) inside an inwardly flanged channel- section member (15). The channel- section members are secured together via their respective flanges (13, 14) with channel upstands of the two members spaced to afford accommodation (18, 19) for releasable couplings by which portable track lengths can be linked together end-to-end. The couplings comprise hooked spigots (24) which engage pins of another track length, preferably by dropping through end- slots in the flanges. Holes 43 in the flanges or sides allow handling by a J- hooked tool 41, 42. A bridging track length is also envisaged equipped with hooked spigots at both ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable track for lifting trolleys The invention relates to portable lengths of channel-section track for lifting trolleys that fit and roll within that track either below loads or after being operated to raise those loads. Suitable lifting. trolleys with bogie parts and covers raisable by coaction of roller-and-wedge mechanisms are known, especially our own that are available under the Registered Trade Mark JOLODA and are of particularly low overall height in both mechanically and hydraulically actuated types.

Suitable permanent track is often let into floors of platforms so as generally to present an overall flush surface save for the track channels themselves. We find, however, that there is a substantial need and market for temporary track of a removable and readily transportable type.

Standard or desired lengths of portable track can be made up as open channel sections of the usual outward upper flanges type that is secured as a unit to a further channel section member of inner upper flanged type within which it rests, preferably with channel webs in contact and channel upstands spaced to afford accommodation for releasable couplings to link the portable track lengths simply together end-to-end, thereby affording effectively unlimited linked lengths of substantially rigid track.

A convenient form of coupling comprises pins at predetermined positions close to one end of each of the spaces between channel upstands of the portable track lengths, and at the other ends of the same spaces, spigots with protruding upwardly opening hooks that will engage closely from below on said pins of an adjacent track length as one of the track lengths is lowered rotatively into its floor-engaging position wherein track length ends abut in desired flush relation.

Effective rigidity is assured if the track length ends carrying the pins have to be iifted off a floor to disengage the hooks on an abutting track length.

We have found that the desired flush relation of track length ends, whereby effective rigidity is afforded, can cause problems for unskilled fitters who find difficulty in linking together track lengths despite precision engineering of our abovementioned portable track lengths. Also, the hitherto desirable effective rigidity of linked track lengths can result in serious strain when the overall track crosses a change of floor levels, as can happen when loading a vehicle that is sprung or floating. We wish to meet these difficulties without sacrificing the precision that ensures there is no undesired slop or slack between track lengths coupled together end-to-end.To achieve that, we propose herein that track ends above, preferably also below, the upper, trolley-engaging, surface of the track web and above the level of the axes of the said pins, are cut back or chamfered at least slightly but afford a degree of permitted relative articulation but nonetheless assure close alignment between track length ends at the level of those said upper track web surfaces.

There is advantage in having the level of the pin axes as low as possible, and thus as near as possible to the upper track web surfaces, but that is at odds with strength requirements of the under-coupling hooks.

We therefore further propose the use of overcoupling hooks, hereinafter called drop-hooks, that enter position over the said pins through end slots of the track length flanges above the said pins. Such provisions also enable trackings to be dismantled or partially replaced by removal of an intermediate length rather than only by uncoupling sequentially from one end.

Such drop-hooks and end-slottings are, moreover, particularly well suited to the provision of bridging track lengths that have drop hooks at both ends, so long as track lengths to be so joined terminate in pinned ends. Such bridging track lengths have particular utility in transferring loads from one vehicle to another, say where a truck or lorry has broken down but its load is needed before it can be repaired, or that load cannot, by its nature, be left to await such repair.

It will be apparent that portability of our proposed track lengths is important. Normally, they will be inserted into and subsequently removed from, spaced between dunnage that will support, or has supported, the loads between loadings and unloadings utilising our lifting trolley systems. Dragging track from between such dunnage is most conveniently done using hooks that enter holes provided in sides of the track lengths hereof, and such drag hooks may be simple J-hooks, preferably with their top piece (handle) turned through 900. Those drag hooks, even if not as just preferred, benefit from having a handle that is wider than our track lengths and thus not readily supplied as a package therewith.

We therefore further propose herein that a package comprise one or more track lengths and one or more J-hooks whose handles are detachable for packing with the J-hook parts nested in a track length.

Practical implementation of the invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one portable track length; Figure 2 is a section through that track length; Figures 3A and 3B show confronting ends of track lengths ex coupling parts; Figures 4A and 4B show side views of coupling parts; Figures 5A and 5B show end views of those coupling parts; Figures 6A and 6B show side views of those coupling parts; Figure 7 is a plan view of one track length end; Figure 8 is a side view of a bridging track length; and Figure 9 shows a J-hook.

In the drawings, portable track lengths 10 comprise shallow channel section tracking 11, shown with our preferred side joggles 1 2. Upper outward flanges 1 3 of that tracking are shown overlying inward flanges 14 of an outer channel section carrier member 1 5. The webs 16 and 17 of the channel section tracking 11 and carrier member 15, are shown in mutual contact with the tracking nesting in the carrier member The superposed flanges 13 and 14 are usually welded together. Side spaces 18, 19 between upstands of the tracking and carrier member extend throughout the track lengths 10.At both ends of the track length, tops and bottoms of the side spaces 18, 19 are apertures at 20, 21 to take rivets for securing therein blocks or shanks of coupling parts 22, 23. The coupling part 22 has a drop hook 24 whose shank is apertured for rivetting purposes at 25. The coupling part 23 is an end slotted holder for a pin 26 to be engaged by the drop hook 24 and is apertured for rivetting purposes at 27. All corners of the blocks or shanks of the coupling parts are shown chamfered to aid snug fitting in the side-spaces 1 8, 19. Tops only, i.e. flanges 13, 14 at ends having the pin-holding coupling parts 23 are apertured at 29 in register with end slotting 28 of the latter.

Ends of the track lengths 10 are shown with a backward taper 30 above the upper surface 31 of the tracking web 1 6 and another backward taper 32 of the superposed webs 16, 17 below that surface 31. The drop hooks 24 and pins 26 have matching circular arcuate engaging surfaces and the pins are as little as practicable above the upper tracking web surfaces 31, and close to the ends of the track lengths. The nett result is that a small angle of permitted relative articulation is afforded between track ends, say 50 to 100, with negligible, if any, stepping between the upper tracking web surface 31. A precise, small gap say about 1 mm will be ensured between the confronting upper tracking web surfaces by the hooks and pins.

That small angle of articulation is required to avoid track strain when loading or unioading anything where relative floor levels under the overall track can change, for example due to vehicle suspensions.

Finally, referring to Figures 1,2 and 9 we show how a two-part J-hook 40 with a hooked shank 41 screwing to a handle 42 can make a package with a track length for supply purposes (Figure 1) and then be assembled (Figure 9) on site usually with thread locking compound, for use in handling track lengths 10 via holes 43 in their sides accessible between dunnage 44 (Figure 2) defining track length accommodation and affording normal load support.

Claims (8)

1. Lifting trolley portable track having a channel-section to accommodate the width and lowered height of lifting trolleys, comprising a first channel-section member having outward upper flanges and a second channel-section member having inner upper flanges between which said first member is fitted, the first and second members being secured together via their respective flanges with channel upstands of the two members spaced to afford accommodation for releasable couplings by which portable track lengths can be linked together end-to-end, said couplings comprising, for each track length, pins secured at predetermined positions close to one end of each of the spaces between channel upstands, and hooked spigots secured in and protruding from the other end of each of said spaces to engage the pins of another track length, ends of each track length being cut-back or chamfered at least above the level of the axes of said pins.

2. Lifting trolley portable track according to claim 1, wherein both ends of each track length are also cut back or chamfered below the level of the axis of said pins.

3. Lifting trolley portable track according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pins are substantially below mid-height of the channel upstands and the hooked spigots have downwardly open hooks, the pin-housing ends of the spaces between the channel upstands having end-slots in the confronting said flanges by which the said first and second members are secured together, the end-slots allowing said downwardly open hooks to pass and be dropped over the said pins.

4. Lifting trolley portable track according to any preceding claim, wherein the webs of the first and second members of each track length rest one upon the other in substantial contact.

5. Lifting trolley portable track according to any preceding claim, wherein each track length has an aperture into at least one of said spaces through said flanges, or channel upstand of its second member, so that the track length can be engaged and dragged by a J-hooked tool.

6. Lifting trolley portable track comprising two track lengths according to any preceding claim and a further track length equipped at each end with said hooked spigots for interconnècting pinequipped ends of said two track lengths.

7. Lifting trolley portable track according to any preceding claim, wherein both of said hooked spigots and said pins are afforded by or in blocks configured to fit closely to the interior crosssection of the said spaces between channel upstands and be secured therein at positions of the blocks spaced from ends of each track length.

8. Lifting trolley portable track substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.