US2047139A

US2047139A - Lifting sling

Info

Publication number: US2047139A
Application number: US61909A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick K Fildes
Original assignee: Pennsylvania Railroad Co
Current assignee: Pennsylvania Railroad Co
Priority date: 1936-02-01
Filing date: 1936-02-01
Publication date: 1936-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-07

Description

July 7,' 1936. FlLDES 2,047,139

LIFTING SLING WI TNESSES:

' v f d '1,

BY m and: K F; a QM M TORNEYS.

INVENTOR:

F. K. FILDES July 7, 1936.

LIFTING SLING Filed Feb. 1, 1956 I V 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 11

TORNEYS. I

Fmdzricic H. Fildes,

BY I

WITNESSES: ywdmuw Patented July 7, 1936 or ii V '2 Claims:

My; invention-relates to.-lifting slings used moving. demount'able truckbodies and shipping containers. Many lifting, slingsahave been proposed. for moving shipping: containers but the 7. problem is to efiiciently couple the sling-lto-the containen without a man a riding-1 the sling: or climbing up on:totheicontainer'ftom Theriding of the sling is dangerous to the workman and the weight of a man on the top of many containers and truck bodies will seriously damage them.

Consequently the principal object of my invention is the provision of a serviceable lifting sling which may be coupled and uncoupled without the presence of a workman on the sling or container. Another object is the provision of a lifting sling which guides itself into the coupling position as it is lowered over a container or truck body. Another object of my invention is a simple, rugged and efiiciently operated lifting sling without complicated structural features. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, referring to the accompanying drawings.

Of these drawings,

Fig. I shows a plan view of a lifting sling which is a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. II shows a side View of same.

Fig. III shows an end view of same.

Fig. IV shows a fragmentary plan view' of a corner of the frame of the lifting sling.

Fig. V shows a fragmentary side view of a corner of a lifting sling modified as to the outside hook guides.

Fig. VI shows a fragmentary end view of same.

Fig. VII shows an exploded view of the combination of hook guide and engaging link in the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. VIII shows an exploded view of the combination of hook guide and engaging link in the modified form of my invention.

For the purposes of a detailed description, the lifting sling shown in the drawings may be separated into a suspension frame I shown conventionally in broken lines only, a frame 2, outside hook guides 3, hook engaging links 4, engaging solenoids and disengaging springs 6. The suspension frame I to which the frame 2 is fastened, is fully described in United States Patent to Fildes, issued July 31, 1934, No. 1,968,135 and need not be further described here.

The frame 2 is rectangular in shape and is made up of longitudinal members l0, transverse members II and diagonal bracing members l2. The construction must be rugged and durable because of the weights to'be lifted=- Thelongitudinal members I!) are each made up of a pair of'beamshaped; pieces held in spacedparallel relation by spacingelements' l3.

Securedto eachend of each longitudinal mem 5 her I!) is an outside hook guide 3: I he hook g-uide' 3 isriveted tobrackets M which-are-riveted to thelongitudinal member 01; I?he-- hook guide} has a guide surface 2| which inclines outwardly and downwardly from the frame 2. Recesses 22 are formed in the guide surfaces 2| to receive the hook engaging links 4 while the guide surfaces 2| are operating on the outside portions of container hooks in positioning the lifting sling. Thus there is no obstruction in the smooth operation of these guide surfaces 2|. The outside hook guide 3 projects outside the container and requires no elevation and special formation of the back part of the container hook as is the case where a hook guide operates on the back of the container hook. 2O

Pivotally attached to each hook guide 3 by a pin 24 is a hook engaging link 4 having operating

arms

25 and 26. The operating arm 25 is connected to a spring 6 which is secured to anchoring arm 32 attached to frame 2. The operating arm 25 26 is pivotally attached to an actuating rod 33 of the solenoid 5 which is also attached to the frame 2. Thus there are four solenoids 5, one at each corner of the frame 2, and each independently operated. There are four springs 6, two secured at each common anchoring arm 32. Consequently the engaging links 4 are each independent in their operation.

The modified form of hook guide 3a shown in Figs. IV, V, VI and VIII, has a different form of 35 recess 22a in the guide surface 2| and also a side hook guide 49 which aids in positioning the frame 2 transversely as do the outside hook guides 3 longitudinally. Recess 22a receives the sides of the link 4a into the guide 3a so that the sides of 49 the link 4a aid in guiding the frame into position by contact with a container hook.

In operation, the lifting sling is positioned over a container or truck body and lowered so that the guide surfaces 2| of the guides 3 contact the outer parts of the container hooks. In this way the frame 2 quickly comes to rest on the tops of the container hooks. The solenoids 5 are then operated and the links 4 snap into engagement with the container hooks and are held there by the 50 solenoids 5 until lifting is commenced. The solenoids 5 are released as soon as the links 4 begin to take the weight. When the container is lowered and the frame 2 again comes to rest on top of the container hooks, the spring 6 automatically snap the links 4 out of engagement with the container hooks and seat them in the recesses 22 of the guide surfaces 2|. This quick and efiicient operation in coupling and uncoupling is accomplished without a workman either on the frame 2 or on the container roof. A definite time saving results from the harmonious operation of the coupling and uncoupling mechanisms, each working with a positive and precise motion at the proper time.

While I have described a preferred and modifled form of my invention in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes may be made and other forms adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A lifting sling having a frame, outside hook guides attached to said frame, and hook engaging links attached to said guides, said links seating in recesses in said guides when in the disengaged position.

2. A lifting sling according to claim 1 characterized by the further fact that said links are held seated in said guides in the disengaged position by pressure means.

3. A lifting sling according to claim 1 characterized by the further fact that said links are held seated in said guides in the disengaged position by pressure means and said links are urged to the engaged position by engaging elements which overcome said pressure means.

4. A lifting sling according to claim 1 characterized by the further fact that said links are held seated in said guides in the disengaged position by pressure means and said links are individually urged to the engaged position by independent engaging elements which overcome said pressure means.

5. A lifting sling having a frame, outside hook guides attached to said frame, hook engaging links attached to said guides, said links seating in recesses in said guides when in the disengaged position, spring pressure means urging said hooks to the disengaged position, and an independent engaging solenoid for forcing each hook independently into the engaged position.

6. A lifting sling according to claim 1 characterized by the further fact that said outside hook guides have side hook guides for engaging the sides of container hooks.

7. A lifting sling according to claim 1 characterized by the further fact that said outside hook guides have inner side guides for engaging the inner sides of container hooks.

FREDERICK K. FILDES.