GB2438068A

GB2438068A - Device for lifting a building panel having a top rail

Info

Publication number: GB2438068A
Application number: GB0708836A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Michael Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-11
Filing date: 2007-05-09
Publication date: 2007-11-14
Also published as: GB0708836D0; GB0609299D0

Abstract

A device 10 for lifting a building panel 12 of a timber framed building into an erected position where the building panel has a top rail 22. The device consists of a body 14 having a first portion 16 preferably provided with an aperture 18 to engage a hook of a lifting apparatus, a second portion 20 extending from the first portion for engaging the top rail of the building panel, and releasable retaining means 28 for retaining the second portion in engagement with said top rail. There is preferably also a third portion 26 disposed between the second portion and the aperture in the first portion, which has a boss 32 with an internally screw-threaded bore 34 into which an externally screw-threaded shaft 36 is inserted. The shaft has an arm 38 that engages the external surface 40 of the panel.

Description

"A Lifting Device" This invention relates to a lifting device and more

particularly, but not exclusively, for use in lifting a building panel of a timber framed building into position during the erection of the building.

Such a known building panel consists of a front panel of timber or timber composite material which is mounted on a timber top rail and on timber studding rails extending downwardly from the top rail.

It is necessary for large size building panels to be lifted into position during erection by means of a lifting U'.

apparatus, such as a crane or the like. It is necessary to * S..

provide a lifting device to connect the building panel to.* the lifting apparatus, normally a crane hook, and one known ***.

device which is commonly used consists of an endless sling of polypropylene or polyester tape. Holes are drilled in the top rail and/or the upper portions of the studding rails adjacent to the top rail and the sling is passed through these holes and the end loops are tied into a knot above the top rail and hooked onto the crane hook. This sling type of lifting device suffers from the disadvantage that after the panel has been lifted into position the knot is drawn tight and the sling can only be conveniently removed by cutting the sling so that the sling can not be re-used. In addition to this disadvantage of the expense of providing a new sling for each building panel being lifted, the use of the sling type of lifting device has other disadvantages as it will be appreciated that the drilling of holes in the top rail and/or the upper portions of the studding rails to enable the known sling to be used is an additional operation causing not only expense but also causing weakness in the strength of the top rails and studding rails.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lifting device in which one or more of the above disadvantages of the known sling type of lifting device is alleviated. S...

According to the invent.on, a lifting device,for use in the lifting of a building panel having a top rail into * S.. * S*

an erected position comprises a body having a first portion adapted to be releasably connected to a lifting apparatus, *.

a second portion extending from the first portion for engaging the top rail of the building panel and releasable retaining means for retaining the second portion of the body in engagement with the top rail of the building panel during the lifting of the building panel into the erected position.

Preferably, the first portion of the body is provided with an aperture into which a hook of the lifting apparatus is releasably engageable.

Preferably, also, the body has a third portion extending from the first portion and disposed between the second portion and the aperture in the first portion of the body.

The second portion and the third portion of the body are, preferably, spaced-apart in substantially parallel relationship to allow the top rail of the building panel to be disposed therebetween.

Preferably, the retaining means is mounted on the third portion of the body and comprises an arm adapted to extend downwardly towards the second' portion and over a front panel of the building panel located on the second portion of the body.

Preferably, also, the arm is connected to the third S...

portion of the body by screw-threaded means to enable the arm to be screwed into an engaged position in contact with the external surface of the front panel.

A spacer block is, preferably, releasably mounted on *.

the third portion of the body between the third and the second portions thereof to accommodate different sizes of top rails.

Preferably, at least part of upper surface of the second portion in contact with the top rail is provided with a non-slip finish or a gripping pad of non-slip material.

Preferably, also, the first portion of the body is substantially "S" shaped in side elevation to bring the attachment point to the lifting apparatus into a position over the centre of gravity of the building panel.

The first and the second portions of the body are, preferably, formed of steel plate by a bending or fabricating operation.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-Figure 1 is a partly sectioned side elevation of a lifting device; and Figure 2 is a front view of the lifting device.

Referring now to the drawings, a lifting device indicated generally at 10 for use in lifting a building panel indicated generally at 12 of a timber framed building (not shown) into position by a crane or the like (not *:.: shown) Consists of a body indicated generally at 14 formed *...

of steel plate by a bending and/or fabrication process such as welding. The body 14 has a first upright portion 16 having a hole 18 formed therein at its upper end to enable the lifting device 10 to be releasably connected to a hook (not shown) of the crane. The portion 16 is substantially "S" shaped in side elevation to bring the hole 18 forming the attachment point to a position which is above or substantially above the centre of gravity of the building panel 12. The body 14 has a second portion 20 extending at substantially right angles from the lower end of the first upright portion 16 of the body 14 which is placed beneath a top rail 22 of the building panel 12 so that it is supported thereon. At least part of the upper surface, of the second portion 20 is provided with a non-slip finish, such as knurling or the like, to grip the top rail 22 or is provided with a gripping pad 24 of non-slip material or finish. The body 14 has a third portion 26 extending parallel to and spaced-apart above the second portion 20 so that the top rail 22 is inserted therebetween. One or more spacer or packing blocks 28 are releasably connected to the lower surface of the third portion 26 by screws 30 to accommodate different thicknesses of top rails 22. The * *..SS, third portion 26 has a boss 32 on its upper surface and the S...

boss 32 has an internally screw-threaded bore 34 formed w therein into which an externally screw-threaded shaft 36 is inserted. The external end of the shaft 36 has an arm 38 connected thereto by means of which the shaft 36 is screwed into the boss 32 from a disengaged position shown in full lines to an engaged position shown in broken lines where the arm 38 extends over and engages in contact with the external surface of a front panel 40 of the building panel 12. The shaft 36 is provided with a circlip 42 fitted into a groove at the end of the shaft 36 remote from the arm 38 to prevent the shaft 36 from being inadvertently screwed out of the boss 32 and becoming lost.

In operation, the arm 38 is screwed outwardly of the boss 32 to the disengaged position. A suitable size of block 28 if required depending upon the size of the top rail 22 of the building panel 12 is secured onto the lower surface of the third portion 26 of the body 14 of the lifting device 10. The lifting device 10 is mounted on the building panel 12 with the top rail 22 resting on the upper surface of the second portion 20 of the body 14 with the front panel 40 adjacent to the free end of said second portion and the arm 38 is screwed into the engaged position to contact and extend downwardly over the front panel 40 to retain it in position. The crane hook (not shown) is inserted into the hole 18 and the panel 12 lifted to the desired position for erection. After the building panel 12 has been erected, the arm 38 is screwed into the disengaged. * *

position and the lifting device 10 removed from the building panel 12 to be used again for lifting subsequent building panels. *:.: In a modification, the or each spacer or packing block *, **.* 28 is provided with an inverted T-shaped slot which enables *.* said spacer or packing block to be slidably inserted onto the lower.surface of the third portion 26 of the body 14 and is retained thereon by a locking stud which engages the top thereof. The spacer or packing block is formed of a plastics material such as NYLON registered trade mark.

In a further modification, the circlip 42 is replaced by a ring which is pinned to the shaft 36 at the end thereof remote from the arm 38.

Although the hereinbefore described lifting device is particularly suitable for use in lifting building panels of timber framed buildings, it will be appreciated that the lifting device can also be used for lifting other loads having a configuration making it possible to mount the lifting device thereon * . *S*S.. **** * * *.** * *** * * S.. * * . * * *.SS * S * S.. *. S * S S.

Claims

Claims: 1. A lifting device for use in the lifting of a building panel

having a top rail into an erected position comprising a body having a first portion adapted to be releasably connected to a lifting apparatus, a second portion extending from the first portion for engaging the top rail of the building panel and releasable retaining means for retaining the second portion of the body in engagement with the top rail of the building panel during the lifting of the building panel into the erected position. * S...

2. A lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the S...

first portion of the body is provided with an aperture into which a hook of the lifting apparatus is releasably engageable.

3. A lifting device according to claim
2. wherein the body has a third portion extending from the first portion and disposed between the second portion and the aperture in the first portion of the body.

4. A lifting device according to claim 3, wherein the second portion and the third portion of the body are spaced-apart in substantially parallel relationship to allow the top rail of the building panel to be disposed the rebetween.

5. A lifting device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the retaining means is mounted on the third portion of the body and is adapted to extend downwardly towards the second portion and over a front panel of the building panel located on the second portion of the body.

6. A lifting device according to claim 5, wherein the arm is connected to the third portion of the body by screw-threaded means to enable the arm to be screwed into an engaged position in contact with the external surface of the front panel.

7. A lifting device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein a spacer block is releasably mounted on the third portion of the body between the third and the second B.s portions thereof to accommodate different sizes of top rails. * * I..

8. A lifting device according to any one of the preceding. : claims wherein at least part of upper surface of the second ** * *.* portion in contact with the top rail is provided with a non-slip finish or a gripping pad of non-slip material.

9. A lifting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first portion of the body is substantially "S" shaped in side elevation to bring the attachment point to the lifting apparatus into a position over the centre of gravity of the building panel.

10. A lifting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second portions thereof are formed of steel plate by a bending or fabricating operation.

11. A lifting device constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings. * *

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