GB548179A - Improvements in or relating to bundling or gripping devices - Google Patents

Abstract

548,179. Hooks; bundling; artificial limbs. PYROTENAX, Ltd., and LEWIS, J. G. March 26, 1941, No. 4065. [Class 89 (ii)] [Also in Groups. VI and XVII] Crane hooks and like lifting appliances adapted to grip a number of rods or like articles from a heap or stack, have a number of jointed members that form an extension of the point of the hook and can be curled up preferably to such position that the weight of the load gripped is taken wholly or mainly by the body of the hook. The device is applicable also for use in forming a compact bundle of wire, rods, tubes &c. from a loose stack and for operating the fingers of artificial hands. In one form the device comprises two chains of triangular links A', A<2>, A' and B', B', B<3>. The link A<1> is pivoted at D to the point of the hook C, at D<2> to the link B<1> and at D' to the link A<2>. The link B' is also pivoted to the hook at D<4> and at D' is pivoted to an actuating lever E pivoted to the hook at E<1>. A stop C<1> arrests the linkage in the straight position and a stop D' limits the curled position. The lever E may be spring loaded or weighted to cause it to return to the straight position when the lead is off the hook and the hook may be suspended by the linkage G, F, G' to cause the device to curl up as the load is applied. The links of the two chains may be duplicated and interleaved to improve the distribution of bending movement on the pins. The triangular plates may be replaced by sets of thin bars. In a modified form in which sets of links are interleaved slots are provided in the links to pass pins that require to move relatively to the links. The amount of angular motion may vary along the chains and the links may vary in size so that the device may have a curvature greater at the outer end than at the inner end or conversely.