GB2248222A

GB2248222A - Drum lift device

Info

Publication number: GB2248222A
Application number: GB9118087A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Nuttall; Stanley Wright
Original assignee: S & J Wright
Current assignee: S & J Wright
Priority date: 1990-08-24
Filing date: 1991-08-22
Publication date: 1992-04-01
Also published as: GB9018708D0; GB9118087D0

Abstract

A drum lift device 10 has a central support plate 18 carried on links 14, 15 from a block 11 and biassed upwards by spring 19. Two upper jaws 20, 21 are mounted on opposite sides of plate 18 and can cooperate with a lower jaw 22. When the device is raised, e.g. by a fork lift truck, a rim 46 of a drum is gripping between the jaws, the jaws 20, 21 moving together. The jaws 20, 21 are exposed so as to be visible by a user at the rear of the device. A stop 31 on plate 18 cooperates with jaw extension 29 to restrict pivoting of jaw 22. An arrangement is described enabling two devices 10 to be mounted at selected positions on a mast of a fork lift truck. <IMAGE>

Description

DRUM LIFT DEVICES This invention relates to drum lift devices.

According to one aspect of the invention a device for use in gripping and lifting drums comprises two upper jaws and a cooperable lower jaw for gripping a bead or rim of a drum, the upper jaws being mounted for movement together towards and away from the lower jaw.

The upper jaws may be mounted on opposite sides of a common support; and may be at a front of the device and visible from the rear when gripping.

The lower jaw may carry stop means from limiting movement of the lower jaw towards the support.

Means may be carried by the support for restricting movement of the lower jaw away from the support.

There may be means biassing the jaws to an open position.

From another aspect the invention provides a device for use in gripping and lifting drums comprising upper and lower jaws at a front of the device and visible from the rear when gripping.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a lifting device in one position; Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 in another position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device in use; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of part of the device; Fig. 5 is a side view of part of the device; and Fig. 6 is a front view of part of the device.

A device 10 for use in gripping and lifting drums comprises an elongate metal block 11 to which are pivoted at 12, 13 upper and lower links 14, 15 of equal length pivoted at their other ends 16, 17 to an upright metal plate 18. A tension spring 19 extends between pivots 12, 17 to bias the links 14, 15 to a generally horizontal position when the block 11 is vertical.

Two upper gripping jaws 20, 21 have gripping ends 20a, 21a.

The jaws 20, 21 are pivoted at 23 to the plate 18 and are respectively biassed to an upper inoperative position (Fig. 1) by tension springs 24 (only one shown). The lower jaw 22 is pivoted on a pivot 25 which extends through an upright slot 26 in the plate 18. Links 27 are pivoted at their ends at 28 and 25 to the upper and lower jaws.

The lower jaw carries an extension 29 having an edge 30 which is in contact with a circular section boss 31 on the plate 18.

The lower jaw 22 extends over an arcuate extent in front of the plate 18 so as to be operatively cooperable with both upper jaws 20, 21.

In the inoperative position the rear edge 32 of the lower jaw is spaced forwards of the front edge 33 of the plate 18, and the front edge 34 of the lower jaw 22 is spaced forwards of the most forward part of the front edge of the plate 18.

In use the block 11 is secured to an elongate bar 40 Fig.

3 which is mounted on the mast 41 of, for example, a fork lift truck.

The lower end of the bar 40 has fixed to it a generally V-section cradle 42 having arms 43.

When the truck is moved forwards towards a drum 44 to be lifted, the drum engages and is located and steadied by the arms 43 and the forward edge 34 of the lower jaw engages the surface 45 of the drum. When the mast is raised, the lower jaw 22 engages beneath an upper peripheral bead or rim 46 of the drum 44. The lower jaw is prevented from rotating clockwise by engagement of the edge 30 with the boss 31. The jaw 22 moves downwards and pulls on links 27 to pivot the upper jaws 20, 21 to the operative position in which the ends 20a, 21a engage behind the rim 46 so that the drum is then gripped and lifted. On lowering of the mast to deposit the drum the movement is reversed.

The bar 40 carries upper and lower brackets 50, 51 which engage behind cross members 52, 53 of the mast. One or more bolts with wing nuts 55 releasable grip the lower member 53 and a stop 56 on bracket 50 can be raised against a spring 57 by a handle 58 so that the stop 56 can be located in a selected notch 59 in a series of spaced notches in the member 52. The bar 40 can thus to adjusted to a selected lateral position on the mast.

Two bars 40 with associated lift devices can thus be mounted on the cross members 52, 53 so that two drums can be lifted at the same time.

The front edge of the plate 18 acts as a stop to the rearward movement of the jaw 22.

In a modification the jaw 22 has a central gap 60 but carries a stop 61 beneath the gap 60 engageable with the edge 33.

As above, both jaws 20, 21 move together on downwards movement of the jaw 22.

The front edge 22a of the jaw 22 is curved for better embracing the drum.

With this arrangement a single lifting device grips the drum rim at effectively two angularly spaced locations.

The plate 18 engages the block 11 when the drum is being lifted to limit pivot movement of plate 18.

The lower jaw 22 is sufficiently long for an operator of the lifting truck to the rear of the device to see the jaws in the gripping position when the drum is being lifted and thus check that the device is operated as desired, the jaws being exposed and readily visible on either side of the central support plate 18.

The edge 32 could engage the edge 33 at all times.

Claims

1. A device for use in gripping and lifting drums comprising two upper jaws and a cooperable lower jaw for gripping a bead or rim of a drum, the upper jaws being mounted for movement together towards and away from the lower jaw.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the upper jaws are mounted in opposite sides of a common support.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the upper jaws are at a front of the device and visible from the rear when gripping.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lower jaw carries stop means for limiting movement of the lower jaw towards the support.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which means are carried by the support for restricting movement of the lower jaw away from the support.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, including means biassing the jaws to an open position.

7. A device for use in gripping and lifting drums substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, including upper and lower brackets for cooperating with a mast of a fork lift truck.

9. A device for use in gripping and lifting drums comprising upper and lower jaws at a front of the device and visible from the rear when gripping.