IES83946Y1 - Lifting and turning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

LIFTIN G AND TURNING APPARATUS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lifting and turning apparatus for use in handling payloads or materials which are too heavy to be manually manipulated or are not so manipulated to avoid repetitive strain injury (RSI). Bulk materials, whether provided in containers from which the material is dispensed or reels from which a length of cable or sheet material may be unfurled, often require special handling or orientation to allow the material to be used or loaded The apparatus of the invention may be adapted for the most convenient uses and the terms "materials" and "reels" as used herein are not intended to be restrictive or to limit the scope of the disclosure. It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that any suitable payload may be manipulated by the apparatus and that the shape of the payload is not confined to reels or substantially cylindrical shapes. The invention relates particularly to the lifting and turning of material reels such as paper and polyethylene reels.

Background to the Invention The invention is directed to overcoming some of the established disadvantages associated with payload manipulation, particularly manipulation apparatus using combined electric and pneumatic or hydraulic systems.

Chain driven hoists are used with electric motor driven hoisting mechanisms and use a chain to firstly raise a payload and move it laterally after which it is deposited.

Thus, a simple hoist arrangement comprises a lifting motor which raises and lowers the payload under direct control of an operator. The hoist is operated by a pushbutton, pendulum type controller. For manipulating payloads, such as material reels, the degree of rotation and agility of the apparatus becomes more important.

One solution to increase agility is the provision of a load balancer. While this solution eases manipulation of the load, often to the extend where the payload can be manually manipulated when raised, it decreases the overall lifting capacity of the main hoist and often the balancer will include a hydraulic or pneumatic component, thereby increasing the maintenance overhead. The simple hoist does not require the skill level required to operate a hoist which includes a balancer.

Hoist which include a means for rotating or otherwise manipulating a payload are traditionally cumbersome, complex and require a reasonable amount of operator skill.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lifting and turning apparatus which is light, robust, reliable and inexpensive to operate and maintain.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a lifting and turning apparatus which is easy to operate and has intuitive controls which allow an operator to manipulate a payload in logical steps.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a lifting and turning apparatus adapted for connection to and defining a point of connection to an overhead support, the apparatus comprising a payload engaging means which is operably coupled to and supported by at least one cable means being acted upon by first and second electrically actuable brake/drive units, the centre of gravity of the lifting and turning apparatus, with or without the payload, being maintained substantially in line with the point of connection to the overhead support.

The apparatus includes a hoist incorporating a driven cable engaging means to effect turning of the payload engaged.

This arrangement obviates the requirement for a lifiing hoist in the manipulation of the payload. The in-line centre of gravity allows a lighter or lower rated apparatus to be used for existing payloads or facilitates the manipulation of heavier payloads than heretofore.

The invention further provides a method of manipulating a payload comprises coupling a payload to a lifting and turning apparatus of the type operably suspended from an overhead support and supporting said payload via at least one cable means, the or each cable means being acted upon by first and second electrically actuable brake/drive units and having a centre of gravity substantially in line with the point of connection to the overhead support; together or separately, actuating the brake/drive units and a hoist means to lift, turn, lower or otherwise manipulate the payload; and disengaging the payload from the lifting and turning apparatus, whereby a simplified, intuitive control of the manipulation of the payload is provided by the relative straightforward operation of the brake/drive units in conjunction with the hoist.

Preferably, the payload engaging means comprises a chuck adapted to engage a corresponding receiver within a payload for securing the payload during the manipulation thereof.

The invention also provides a pendulum controller comprising a housing which presents to an operator switches to enable and disable a lifting and lowering function and control means for directional control of the payload turning and said lifting and lowering function. Advantageously, the controls are presented in a readily understandable format to facilitate differing levels of operator skill and experience.

In a separate embodiment of the invention, a processing means is provided in the controller so that manipulation of payloads may be automated. Preset parameters relating to the position and orientation of the payload engaging means and/or the payload are programmable into said processing means. In one arrangement, the automated control of the manipulation of the payload may be realised by transferring a control programme to the processing means via an electrical interface or via a keyboard on the controller.

In accordance with an object of the invention, electric motors can be used to realise a hoist with improved payload characteristics. By isolating the major turning function of the apparatus from the payload engaging means to the hoist and by moving the lifting and lowering function away from the hoist, the advantages inherent in decreased weight of the apparatus and the improved features of handling and manipulating payloads arise from the combination of the invention.

The resultant apparatus is simple to use and has better handling characteristics with basic ON/OFF control of the brake/drive units and hoist. It will be appreciated the proportional control and other control algorithms may be applied to the apparatus of the invention, however, in is basic form, the performance of the lifting and turning apparatus is equal to, if not superior, to prior art devices of significantly greater complexity.

The objectives are thus achieved by the combination described in accordance with the present invention, as exemplified hereinbelow.

The term "cable" as used herein is intended to include chains, ropes, straps and other material webs capable of supporting the weight of the payload or being rated according to the Safe Working Load of the hoist or apparatus in its entirety.

Similarly, the word "beam" is directed to any joist, rail, gantry, frame or crane, whether moving or fixed.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of lifting and turning apparatus and its use, in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure la is a schematic representation of the lifting and turning apparatus in a suspended position; Figure lb is a schematic representation similar to that of Figure la, showing the lifting and turning apparatus in a position to select and lift a first material reel from a payload stack; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the lifting and turning apparatus lifting the material reel; Figure 3 schematically represents the material reel being turned by the apparatus; Figure 4a is a schematic representation similar to those of Figures la to Figure 3, in which the payload is lowered to the floor or to a position adjacent or remote of the payload stack; Figure 4b is a schematic representation similar to those of Figures la to Figure 3, in which the payload is lowered to the floor or to a position adjacent or remote of the payload stack; Figure 5a is a cross—sectional side elevation of a brake/drive unit; and Figure 5b is an exposed front view of the brake/drive unit of Figure 5a Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure la, a lifting and turning apparatus 1 comprises a hoist unit 2 connected to a wheel unit 3 to suspend’ the apparatus 1 from an overhead beam or joist B and to allow for lateral movement of the apparatus. The hoist 2 is coupled to a first brake/drive unit 5 and a second brake/drive unit 6 via a cable 10 which ordinarily comprises a roller chain of the type having links which consist of rollers and sideplates, the rollers being mounted on pins which connect the sideplates and are adapted to engage driven sprocket wheels. It will be understood that the cable 10 may comprise any material suitable for the purpose and that a cable drive means is adapted for the particular material chosen, for example, driven pinch rollers.

The brake/drive units 5,6, which are described in more detail with reference to Figures 5a and 5b, connect via hook and eye couplings 11 to a payload engaging means 12 having, in the preferred embodiment, a reel chuck 14 adapted to penetrate a hollow axial core C of a reel R and lock therein. Reel chucks of the type which expand to engage the core of a reel and are biased to apply additional radial force against the wall of the core when further weight is encountered (that is, when the reel is lifted) are commercially available.

In alternative unillustrated embodiment, the payload engagement means 12 is adapted to securely and swiftly fasten to barrels, drums, frames, plates and any container required to be lifted and positioned or emptied. Such payload engagement means 12 are well known in the art.

In the illustrated construction of brake/drive units 5,6, the chain l0 engages and is captured by a driven sprocket which controls the relative movement of the unit 5,6 along the open length of the chain 10. A stop link is optionally provided at each end of the chain and a drive stop mechanism may be incorporated into the unit housing to disengage power to the driven sprocket once the stop link is encountered. The chain 10 may be accumulated within the unit housing to prevent contact with the payload and to obviate potential operator hazards.

Operator controls for the brake/drive units 5,6 are housed in a pendulum housing having a pair of ON/OFF switches and a pair of PUSH ON/RELEASE OFF buttons to enable the drive and brake modes.

The use of the apparatus of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures la to 4. Under operator control, the hoist 2 is moved along the beam B until the reel chuck 14 is brought into line with the reel core C. The chuck 14 is locked into the core C and the operator engages the lifting drive mode of the second brake/drive unit 6 to elevate the reel R sufficiently to clear the stack from which the reel has been taken. The apparatus with reel may be moved along the length of the beam B at will, as shown in Figure 2, when the operator has locked the brakes (enabled the brake mode) of each brake/drive unit 5,6. To turn the reel, the operator selects one brake/drive unit 5,6, in this case the second brake/drive unit 6, and engages the lifting drive mode while maintaining the brake mode of the first brake/drive unit 5. As the reel turns, the centre of gravity is maintained in line with the point of connection with the overhead support beam B via the hoist 2 and wheel unit 3, as will be appreciated from Figure 3.

In Figure 4a, the reel has been turned through 90° so that it may be lowered in this position to a surface such as the floor or mounted on a horizontally disposed reel spindle (not shown). The brake mode is engaged on the second brake/drive unit 6 and disengaged on the first unit 5. The operator then presses the actuator button on the controller to allow the reel to be lowered. The reel chuck is disengaged from the reel core C and the apparatus 1 is withdrawn in this position, as illustrated in Figure 4b.

Figure 5a and 5b show the coilspring drive of the brake/drive units 5,6. The coilspring drive is coupled to the driven sprocket for engaging the chain 10. A brake mechanism is connected via a shafi by a gear train which, when engaged by the brake mechanism, prevents rotation of the driven sprocket.

Summarising the operation of the pendulum controller, the operator is presented with a pair of ON/OFF switches for the lifting/lowering function and for the turning function. A pair of PUSH BUTTON switches is provided to effect the direction of the lifting/lowering and turning functions. For example, for lifting the reel, the lifting switch is enabled and the turning switch is disabled. The two push buttons are then pressed in unison to lift the reel.

The realisation of a lighter lifting and turning apparatus 1 facilitates the manipulation of a heavier payload for a given rating of hoist. For example, if the hoist has a Safe Working Limit (SWL) of 500kg and the lifting and turning apparatus weighs l50kg, the maximum allowed weight of the payload is 350kg.

With the present invention, the total weight of the lifting and turning apparatus may be of the order of 50kg allowing a maximum payload of 450kg for the identical hoist.

An important factor in reducing the overall weight of the apparatus 1 is the incorporation of a cable drive in the hoist so that the hoist 2 turns the reel. By using the hoist in this manner, selected power drives and activators, normally realised by hydraulic or pneumatic circuits are eliminated. Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, while robust and flexible, have associated disadvantages particularly in respect of maintenance frequency, complexity and cost. Faults or leaks with such systems may lead to contamination of payloads or of surrounding areas, making them unsuitable in clean room environments.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A lifting and turning apparatus adapted for connection to and defining a point of connection to an overhead support, the apparatus comprising a payload engaging means which is operably coupled to and supported by at least one cable means being acted upon by first and second electrically actuable brake/drive units, the centre of gravity of the lifting and turning apparatus, with or without the payload. being maintained substantially in line with the point of connection to the overhead support.

2. A lifting and turning apparatus as claimed in claim l. in which the payload engaging means comprises a chuck adapted to engage a corresponding receiver within a payload for securing the payload during the manipulation thereof.

3. A method of manipulating a payload comprises coupling a payload to a lifting and turning apparatus of the type operably suspended from an overhead support and supporting said payload via at least one cable means. the or each cable means being acted upon by first and second electrically actuable brake/drive units and having a centre of gravity substantially coincident or coaxial with the payload: together or separately, actuating the brake/drive units and a hoist means to lift, turn, lower or otherwise manipulate the payload; and disengaging the payload from the lifting and turning apparatus, whereby a simplified, intuitive control of the manipulation of the payload is provided by the relative straightforward operation of the bralte/drive units alone.

4. A method of manipulating a payload as claimed in claim 3. in which the hoist means incorporates a driven cable engaging means to effect the turning of a payload.

5. A lifting and turning apparatus substantially as herein described. with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.