GB2469136A

GB2469136A - Tipping skip release mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2469136A
Application number: GB0905897A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Perrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-04
Filing date: 2009-04-04
Publication date: 2010-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-04
Also published as: GB0905897D0; GB2469136B

Abstract

A tipping skip release mechanism comprises a main body 1, a support foot 3 under the main body, a handle 6, a release catch 7, a link pin 2, a link pin guide 4 and a locking pin 9 that can be moved between an upper locked position and a lower locked position. In the upper locked position the support foot is free to move so that when the skip is placed on a surface, the support foot pushes the link pin upwards, which in turn causes the link pin guide to press against the handle, and the handle to rotate and move the release catch, which releases the tipping skip. In the lower locked position the main body is not allowed to move. The invention allows the skip to be tipped at height without having to be operated manually, thus improving safety.

Description

TIPPING SKIP RELEASE MECHANISM

This invention relates to construction and industrial waste disposal skips.

Currently there is a safety risk when tipping temporary storage skips into large storage skips due to the tipping operation taking place at height and requiring manual operation of a lever to release a catch and tip the contents of the smaller temporary skip. This can be dangerous to the operator because of the risk of falling. The release lever can be operated by the attachment of a long piece of rope prior to the lifting of the temporary skip onto the larger skip, however this method has other dangers due to the possibility of the rope getting caught up in lifting equipment or elsewhere.

We have now devised a tipping skip release mechanism which obviates the above problems.

Our devised release mechanism can be easily fixed to a skip to allow the skip to be tipped at height without requiring high level manual intervention. A further safety feature is provided due to manual intervention being required at ground level in order to enable the release system, thus ensuring that the skip is not tipped accidentally.

According to the present invention there is provided a tipping skip release mechanism comprising a main body, a link pin incorporating a support foot, a link pin guide, a handle release guide, and a handle incorporating a release catch and retaining spring, said mechanism being arranged such that the main body forms an independent part and allows independent motion from the link pin, from the link pin guide including support foot and from the handle guide, said main body providing an attachment means for the handle such that the handle is retained by but can rotate within the main body, said main body providing through means for slidable attachment of the link pin, said link pin guide providing through means for slidable attachment of said link pin, said mechanism being arranged so that the link pin is located through both the main body and the link pin guide thus releasably joining the two, with the support foot protruding from the underside of the main body and the top of said link pin protruding through the top of the link pin guide, the link pin guide providing a means for locking in one of two positions, namely the upper locked position or lower locked position, the link pin to said link pin guide such that relative motion between said link pin guide and said link pin is not possible, the upper locked position allowing relative motion of the main body from the locked link pin and link pin guide, the lower locked position allowing no relative motion between the main body, link pin and link pin guide due to the proximity of the support foot to the underside of the main body, the handle release guide being rigidly attached to or forming part of the link pin guide and being formed such that relative motion of the main body forces part of the handle to travel along said release guide causing the handle to rotate within the main body and thereby move the release catch, the handle being previously retained in position by the retaining spring, said retaining spring being fixed between the handle and the main body.

The main body can be adapted in form and size to be attachable to any design of tipping skip and can be mass produced to order.

The component parts of the tipping skip release mechanism can be mass produced in a modular fashion to reduce manufacturing costs and manufacturing time.

In use, with the link pin locked in the upper position and the release mechanism attached to a tipping skip, the relative motion of the main body to the handle release guide and consequent rotation of the handle and catch release is caused by the tipping skip weight acting upon the main body due to the location of the support foot onto a hard surface such as the top side of a more permanent larger skip. This being achieved due to the support foot being positioned at the lowest part of the tipping skip and attached release mechanism.

Preferably to secure the release catch prior to tipping, it is located into a catch device attached to the front of the skip to be tipped. The catch device holds the release catch in a position where it is slidably fixed and the skip is secured in an upright position.

Preferably the locking mechanism for restraint of the link pin to the link pin guide is manually activated.

Preferably the locking mechanism for restraint of the link pin to the link pin guide is provided by means of holes through the link pin guide and link pin through which a locking pin can be inserted.

Preferably the handle is retained in the main body by means of a hollow tubular section attached to the top of the main body and providing a loose fit such that the handle can rotate within but is restrained to move with the main body in terms of lateral vertical motion.

Preferably an anti-spin pin is provided attached to the main body and inserted through the link pin guide such that the link pin guide cannot twist when subjected to force from the handle release guide or support foot. Preferably the link pin guide has provision for insertion of the anti-spin pin by through means of a thin walled cylinder.

In a further embodiment as an additional precaution against twist of the link pin guide and to ensure alignment of the handle with the handle release guide, two handle alignment plates can be added to the handle such that said plates form part of the handle and fit either side of the handle release guide, motion of the handle being thus confined to the region of the handle release guide.

Preferably the point of contact between the handle and the handle release guide is facilitated by means of a handle contact roller, said roller being a tubular section attached to the handle such that it will rotate along the handle release guide as the handle moves, Said roller can be attached between two plates attached to the handle or between the handle alignment plates if these are used.

In a further embodiment as an additional safety feature a handle stop device is attached to the skip being tipped. This takes the form of a chain or hinged pocket that is attached to or around the handle preventing the handle from movement during transit.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -Figure 1 shows an end elevation view of the tipping skip release mechanism with arrows indicating the motion required for catch release.

Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the skip release mechanism.

Figure 3 shows an end elevation view of the link pin guide formed to include the handle release guide.

Figure 4 shows an end elevation view of the link pin and the locking pin.

Figure 5 shows the release mechanism attached to a typical tipping skip with forks from a forklift (shown shaded) engaged.

Referring to the Figures there is shown a tipping skip release mechanism including a main body I, a link pin 2 incorporating a support foot 3, a link pin guide 4, a handle release guide 5, a handle 6 incorporating a release catch 7 and a retaining spring 8, and a locking pin 9.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the separate parts of the release mechanism used for the link pin guide 4 and the link pin 2. The link pin guide 4 (Figure 3) has a sloping front face which is used as the handle release guide 5. It also has two cylindrical holes or thin walled cylinders through it, one extending above the top of the link pin guide 4 allowing for insertion of the link pin 2, and the other allowing for insertion of an anti-spin pin 11 (Figures 1 and 2) which forms part of the main body L The link pin guide 4 also has a hole through the extended thin walled cylinder which allows for insertion of the locking pin 9 in order to lock the link pin 2 to the link pin guide 4.

The link pin 2 (Figure 4) has a flat plate forming its bottom part which is used as the support foot 3. It also has a cylinder forming the link pin 2 which is inserted into the extended cylinder of the link pin guide 4. The link pin 2 cylinder has two holes through it (namely a top hole 10 and a lower hole) which allow for insertion of the locking pin 9 in order to lock the link pin 2 to the link pin guide 4. When the locking pin 9 is used in the top hole 10, the support foot 3 is clear of the bottom of the main body 1 as shown in Figure 1, and thus the main body 1 can move downwards and pull the handle 6 downwards with it. When the locking pin 9 is used in the lower hole of the link pin 2, the support foot 3 touches the underside of the main body 1 and thus no relative motion of the main body 1 is possible.

The handle 6 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. These show that the horizontal part of the handle 6 is retained in the main body I but is free to rotate within it. The handle 6 also has an extended part which rests against the handle release guide 5, with the handle 6 held in this position by the action of the retaining spring 8. The release catch 7 also forms a part of the handle 6 such that rotation of the handle 6 moves the release catch 7 and the retaining spring 8. A lever is also provided for manual operation of the handle 6 if required.

Figure 1 indicates the motion of the component parts during activation of the release catch 7 in order to tip an attached skip. It is assumed that a tipping skip is attached to the release mechanism, with the skip held in an upright position predominantly by gravitational force but aided by the release catch 7. Figure 5 shows the release mechanism attached to a typical tipping skip with forks engaged. Some details and numbering have been left off for clarity.

The forks from the forklift are shown shaded. Usually, in the design of tipping skips, fork pockets are situated underneath the skip and are arranged such that a forklift truck can slide its forks under the skip in order to lift it. The fork pockets usually extend beyond the front edge of the tipping skip and allow the skip to rotate independently to the forks, about a rotation pin sited underneath the skip. The release mechanism is attached on top of the fork pockets, where they extend beyond the front face of the tipping skip, and in an upright attitude such that the handle 6 rotates away from the skip during handle 6 release. Also, the release mechanism is sized so that the bottom of the main body I is flush with the bottom of the fork pockets. This allows the support foot 3 to extend beneath the lowest point of the tipping skip.

In order for the release catch 7 to engage and hold the tipping skip in position, a catch device in the form of a steel pocket is fixed to the front of the skip, and the end of the release catch 7 is slidably fixed into it. The release catch 7 is held in position by the retaining spring 8 and by friction against the catch pocket.

After tipping, the tipping skip is rotated back into an upright position by lifting the forks up and down or by reversing the fork lift truck and lowering. The tipping skip is thus forced towards an upright position by rotating about its underside rotation pin. As the skip rotates towards the upright the release catch 7 of the release mechanism comes into contact with the catch pocket. The catch pocket has a sloping front face such that the release catch 7 is forced along it and into the catch pocket during tipping skip retrieval to the upright position. The retaining spring 8 ensures that the release catch 7 is pulled back into the catch pocket when the tipping skip reaches an upright position.

A handle stop device is also attached to the tipping skip. This is a safety feature and engages the handle 6 so that it cannot move outwards to the release position. This is engaged whilst the tipping skip is in transit.

In order to enable the release mechanism the locking pin 9 (Figure 4) must be manually inserted through the top hole 10 of the link pin 2 and the hole in the link pin guide 4. When the locking pin 9 is located in the top hole position 10, location of the support foot 3 onto a supporting surface such as the top of a larger storage skip causes the skip weight to force the main body 1 of the mechanism downwards. This causes part of the handle 6 to slide downwards and outwards against the handle release guide 5 and thus forces the handle 6 to rotate inside the main body 1, thus lifting the release catch 7 from the tipping skip. The tendency of the tipping skip is to rotate forward due to its inclination and set up with respect to the release mechanism, thus lifting the release catch 7 allows the weight of the tipping skip to rotate the skip and empty its contents into the larger storage skip.

The anti-spin pin 11 ensures that the release mechanism does not twist when force from the handle 6 is applied to the handle release guide 5.

In order to disable the release mechanism, the locking pin 9 is inserted into the lower hole of the link pin 2 and the hole in the link pin guide 4. This causes the support foot 3 to touch the underside of the main body 1 so that no relative vertical motion between components is possible and the release catch 7 cannot be automatically activated.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A tipping skip release mechanism comprising a main body, a link pin incorporating a support foot, a link pin guide, a handle release guide, and a handle incorporating a release catch and retaining spring, said mechanism being arranged such that the main body forms an independent part and allows independent motion from the link pin guide, from the link pin including support foot and from the handle release guide, said main body providing an attachment means for the handle such that the handle is retained by but can rotate within the main body, said main body providing through means for slidable attachment of the link pin, said link pin guide providing through means for slidable attachment of said link pin, said mechanism being arranged so that the link pin is located through both the main body and the link pin guide thus releasably joining the two, with the support foot protruding from the underside of the main body, the link pin guide providing a means for locking in one of two positions, namely the upper locked position or lower locked position, the link pin to said link pin guide such that relative motion between said link pin guide and said link pin is not possible, the upper locked position allowing relative motion of the main body from the locked link pin and link pin guide, the lower locked position allowing no relative motion between the main body, link pin and link pin guide due to the proximity of the support foot to the underside of the main body, the handle release guide being rigidly attached to or forming part of the link pin guide and being formed such that relative motion of the main body forces part of the handle to travel along said release guide causing the handle to rotate within the main body and thereby move the release catch, the handle being previously retained in position by the retaining spring, said retaining spring being fixed to the handle or part thereof.
2. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the main body is specifically adapted in form and size to be attachable to a specific design of tipping skip.
3. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the component parts of the tipping skip release mechanism are designed to be mass produced in a modular fashion.
4. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the release mechanism is attached on top of the fork pockets of a tipping skip, where they extend beyond the front face of the tipping skip, and in an upright attitude such that the handle rotates away from the skip during handle release.
5. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the release catch is secured prior to tipping, by locating said release catch into a catch device attached to the front of the skip to be tipped.
6. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the catch device holds the release catch in a position where it is slidably fixed and the skip is secured in an upright position.
7. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the catch device consists of a steel pocket formed from metal plates.
8. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the catch device has a sloping front face such that the release catch is forced along it and into the catch device during tipping skip retrieval to the upright position.
9. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the retaining spring ensures that the release catch is pulled back into and secured in the catch device when the tipping skip reaches an upright position during tipping skip retrieval.
10. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the release is caused by the location of the support foot onto a supporting surface with sufficient force applied to the main body and with the release mechanism locked in the upper locked position.
11. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein release activation is facilitated due to the support foot being positioned at the lowest part of the tipping skip and attached release mechanism.
12. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the release mechanism is disabled when locked in the lower locked position, causing the support foot to touch the underside of the main body so that no relative vertical motion between components is possible and the release catch cannot be automatically activated.
13. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism for restraint of the link pin to the link pin guide is manually activated.
14. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main body is formed using metal plates.
15. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein through means for slidable attachment of the link pin to the main body consists of a thin walled section through said main body.
16. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the thin walled section through the main body is cylindrical.
17. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the link pin guide is formed from a metal block.
1 8. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the link pin guide is formed from metal plates.
19. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the through means for slidable attachment of the link pin to the link pin guide consists of a hole or thin walled section through said link pin guide or a thin walled section through and extended above the top of said link pin guide allowing for insertion of the link pin.
20. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the hole through the link pin guide is extended by alignment with a thin walled section attached to the top of said link pin guide allowing for insertion of the link pin.
21. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, wherein the hole or thin walled section through the link pin guide is cylindrical.
22. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism for restraint of the link pin to the link pin guide is provided by means of holes through the link pin guide and link pin through which a locking pin can be inserted.
23. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 22, wherein two holes are provided in the link pin, a top hole and a lower hole, to facilitate the upper and lower locked positions described in Claim 1.
24. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle is retained in the main body by means of a hollow tubular section attached to the top of the main body and providing a loose fit such that the handle can rotate within but is restrained to move with the main body in terms of lateral vertical motion.
25. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the handle has a lever attached for manual operation.
26. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two handle alignment plates are added to the handle such that said plates form part of the handle and fit either side of the handle release guide, motion of the handle being thus confined to the region of the handle release guide.
27. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the point of contact between the handle and the handle release guide is facilitated by means of a handle contact roller, said roller being a tubular section attached to the handle such that it will rotate along the handle release guide as the handle moves.
28. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 27, wherein the roller is attached between two plates attached to the handle or between the handle alignment plates if these are used.
29. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a handle stop device is attached to the skip being tipped.
30. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the handle stop device takes the form of a chain or hinged pocket that is attached to or around the handle preventing the handle from movement during transit.
3 1. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the link pin guide has a sloping front face which is used as the handle release guide.
32. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support foot consists of a flat plate attached to the bottom of the link pin.
33. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retaining spring is fixed between the handle or part thereof and the main body.
34. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an anti-spin pin is provided attached to the main body and inserted through the link pin guide such that the link pin guide cannot twist when subjected to force from the handle release guide or support foot.
35. A tipping skip release mechanism as claimed in Claim 34, wherein the link pin guide has provision for insertion of the anti-spin pin by through means of a thin walled cylinder or hole.
36. A tipping skip release mechanism substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.