GB725941A - Improvements in or relating to mechanical handling appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

725,941. Grab attachments for fork lift trucks. NAAMLOOZE VENNOOTSCHAP DE BATAAFSCHE PETROLEUM MAATSCHAPPIJ. Jan. 22, 1953 [Jan. 24, 1952], No. 1892/53. Class 78 (3) and 78 (4). [Also in Group XXII] In a fork lift truck, grab arms attached to the lifting carriage are constructed from flexible laminated sheets which are pre-stressed to cause them to converge when disengaged from the load, and the outer ends of the arms are made more flexible than the inner ends. When used for lifting a drum the sides of the drum are engaged by the arms at the points where the pre-stressing commences and thus the ends of the arms remain converged to prevent tilting of the drum, the arms being provided with horizontal slots extending longitudinally thereof to accommodate rolling hoops on the drum. When used to lift a flat sided package the extra flexibility at the ends of the arms permits them to move into alignment with the inner portions of the arms and to grip the package with a substantially uniform pressure. The arms are each constructed from two or more laminations 21, 22 which are first welded together at 26 and are then further connected by continuous welds along the top and bottom edges as far as line 30. Next a member 31 is inserted between the arms and the end portions are moved into the position shown by a clamp 32, the remaining portions of the edges of the laminations are then tack-welded together so that when the clamp 32 and member 31 are removed the arms remain in the shape illustrated. The extra flexibility at the ends of the arms is obtained by reducing either the depth or thickness of the arms at their free ends. A layer of resilient material is provided on the gripping faces of the arms.