US2625424A

US2625424A - Timber grapple

Info

Publication number: US2625424A
Application number: US67313A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Hyman
Original assignee: Weyerhaeuser Timber Co
Current assignee: Weyerhaeuser Timber Co
Priority date: 1948-12-27
Filing date: 1948-12-27
Publication date: 1953-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-13

Description

Jan. 13, 1953 w. A. HYMAN 2,625,424

TIMBER GRAPPLE Filed Dec. 27, 1948 2 SHEETS SHEET l Lumber Gram/e INVENTOR. M'///'am ,4. Hyman WWW-MM A TTORNE Y6 W. A. HYMAN TIMBER GRAPPLE Jan. 13, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 27. 1948 Du m w w ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1953 TIMBER GRAPPLE William A. Hyman, Tacoma, Wash., assignor to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company,

Tacoma,

Wash., a corporation of Washington Application December 27, 1948,'Serial'No. 67,31'3

'12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to grapples for handling objects and is particularly designed for the handling of individual timbers as in a lumber yard, although the novel features of the inventionare applicable to other uses.

In the handling of lumber .in lumber mills, lumber yards, or the like, it is expedient and frequently necessary to move the lumber both in the form of individual timbers and as piles of timbers. Standard lumber grapples suspended from cranesmounted on fixed tracks are conventionally used for the purpose of handling and moving piles of lumber, but are not adapted to the handling of individual timbers. It has therefore been'necessary heretofore to provide a separate device or system of devices independent of the lumber grapple for use in the handling'o'findividual timbers to form piles thereof and 'for other purposes.

It is accordingly the primary objectof the invention to provide an auxiliary grapple for handling individual timbers which is operable in combination with a standard lumber grapple. It is also an-object to provide such-a'grapple that is quickly adjustable without manual aid or without the aid of self-contained power means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary grapple that is entirely operable from a crane through the intermediary of the standard lumber grapple, including its attachment to and detachment from the standard lumber grapple.

Still another objeciris to provide in a grapple mechanism a novel driving connection for an endless chain with a pair of oppositely rotatin driving shafts.

A further object is to provide a grapple that is simple'i'n design and involves a minimum oflinkage parts. It is also desired to provide a. grapple whose gripping action is actuated'by the Weight of the object being lifted as in the case: :of a pair of: tongs.

Itis yet another object of the invention to pro:- videa grapple for use withthe standard lumber grapple-which is efigective for piling. timbers in close fitting relation.

Theaboveandstill further objects and advam tages of the inventionwill become apparent from a study .of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference. characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fi ure .Lis a perspective view showing, the tim- .ber grapple. engaged; :by the. lumber grapple and carrying a timber;

Figure 2 is 'a side'elevation view of the timber grapple by itself with the load-engaging members in closed position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the timber grapple with the load-engaging members in open position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to "Figure 3-; and

Figure 5-is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferredembodiment'of the invention, there will be "seen in Figure 1 a standard lumber grapple, designated generally by the letter A, attached to the "auxiliary timber grapple constituting the-subject-matter ofthis invention, designated generally by the letter B, which :is shown carrying a timber C. The standard lumber grapple A comprises a frame [0 rotatably mounted in a nonrotative frame I 2 suspended by cables from a crane '(not shown). "The grapple A is provided with four" depending arms l4 rotatably mounted in eachcorner of the frame i 0' having their lower ends terminating in horizontally-extending, loadlifting fingers 16', "which, as shown in Figure 1, constitute an engaging connection for the bracket arms t8 of the timber apple B, although they are designed-intheir original intended use, for turning under a load 'of lumber to lift the load somewhat in the manner of a lumber yard straddle truck. When the load of lumber is deposited on supports allowing some clearance underneath, *the four arms *are turned outwardly to'clearthe load so that thegrapple may be lifted straight "up, empty. The lumber grapple A contains-motors for rotating the frame It! relative to the non-rot'ative structure I 2 for turning its load,.and also for rotating the depending arms l4 through anangleof degrees by means of crank and 'pitman connections 20 seen protruding from the frame lit).

"The four comers of the grapple are. designated generally by the small case letters a, b, c, and d, which are used herein together with the numeral Ito-identify each. of the four depending arms ;l'4 when referring to a specific arm. This same plan of. reference is used throughout the speci+ fication for identifying a particular one of any four other similar parts with reference to its position in the tour-cornersof. its supporting frame. The depending arms M are interconnected with the energizing. motor :so as to turn in unison with adjacent arms turning in opposite directions,

or in, other words, only the diagonally opposed arms-turnin.thesamedirection. In: Figure 1, as illustrated. arms.- .Ma and Md rotate from a pp-'- sition where their horizontal finger projections "5 are substantially in axial alignment (1. e., along a line connecting corners a and d) to the position shown where the projecting fingers are parallel, and vice versa.

Lumber grapples of varying design are shown in Patents 1,767,525 to George R. Hoffman, 1,730,- 128 to Robert Z. Drake and 1,564,655 to B. W. Westbo, any of which are illustrative for operation in combination with the timber grapple of the present invention.

The timber grapple of the present invention, generally designated at B in Figure l, and shown by itself in side elevation in Figure 2, comprises a rectangular framework 22 (see Figure 4) including as illustrated front and rear longitudinal, beam members 24 and 26 (Figure 1), and a pair of transverse spacing members 28. Each of the beam members constitutes a slidablesupport for a pair of adjustable grabs or load-engaging

members

30 and 32 as will be more fully hereinafter described. The frame is provided with a vertical drive shaft 34 rotatably mounted in each corner with the axes of said drive shafts being spaced for alignment with the axes of the depending arms [4 of the lumber grapple A. One of the hook-like, upwardly extending bracket arms I8 is fixedly secured to the upper end of each of said drive shafts. The bracket arms [8 are offset from their shank connection with the driving shafts 34 as will be observed in Figures 1 and 2, thereby providing in effect a crank, and in the embodiment illustrated, are reinforced by a rib 35 integrally secured thereto as by welding. The

downwardly curved upper end 35 of the bracket arm provides a hook or hanger for'cooperating engaging connection with the horizontal fingers 16 of the depending arms of the lumber grapple A.

A driven shaft 38 is mounted in each of the

longitudinal members

24 and 26 at each corner interiorly of each of the drive shafts 34 and adjacent thereto. The drive shafts on the left-hand side, referring to Figure 1, or at corners a and d, have fixedly secured thereto gear wheels 40 in meshing engagement with a pinion gear 42 on the driven shaft 38. The pinion gear 42 has a smaller diameter than the main gears 40, in order to provide a speed gear ratio. The drive shafts on the right-hand side, referring to Figure 1, or at corners b and c, have fixedly secured thereto sprocket wheels 44 which are drivingly connected by a sprocket chain 46 with sprocket wheels 48 fixedly secured to the adjacent driven shafts 38. The sprocket wheels 48 are of smaller diameter than the driving sprocket wheels 44 in the same ratio as the

gears

40 and 42. On the under side of each of the

longitudinal beams

24 and 26, sprocket wheels 50 are fixedly secured to the driven shafts 38 and the two on each beam are connected in driving engagement with an endless sprocket chain 52 made of two separate pieces. Each of the

longitudinal beam members

24 and 26 is provided on its lower edge with a pair of parallel rails, as seen in Figure 5, which are substantially adjacent the reaches of chain 52. Mounted on each rail is a slidable trolle 54 having the two pieces of sprocket chain 52 connected to the opposite ends thereof by means of an adjustable eye-bolt 55 as through the trolley were another link. The trolley is provided with a depending clevis lug 56 in which is pivotally mounted a crank-shaped lifting arm 58 by means of pin 68 spaced near the free end of the long horizontal portion of the lifting arm. A'pad or grip plate 62 constituting a load-engaging member is pivotally attached to the short depending portion of the crank arm. The face of the grip plate 62 is provided with grooves, or otherwise roughened to facilitate gripping engagement with the sides of a timber.

It will now be observed that when the bracket arm I Set rotates counterclockwise, referring to Figure 4, the pinion gear 42a, and sprocket wheel 50a will operate to move the front or outside trolley 54 to the left, from a closed to an open position, which would release the timber being carried as shown in Figure 1. At the same time that bracket arm [8a was being rotated counterclockwise, bracket arm lBb would be rotating clockwise, in accordance with the operation of the lumber grapple described above, and would thereby cause driving sprocket 44, driven sprocket wheel 48, and sprocket wheel 5% to rotate so as to pull the trolley on the rear rail to the right and to permit the front trolley to be drawn to the left as above described. Reverse motion of bracket arms l8a and [8b, from the position shown in Figure 4, which is the open position of the grapple, will move the trolleys toward each other to the position illustrated in Figure 2 for engagement with a timber. Operation of the trolleys on the rear beam member 26 connecting corners c and 11, viewed from the front in the drawings, is similar and coordinated, the chain connections being arranged to accommodate the reversed rotations of the rear arms [40 and d.

It will thus be appreciated that positive drive of the endless sprocket chain 52 from both sprocket wheels 5811 and b is achieved by the provision of'the direct gear drive at brackets 18a and d and the sprocket chain drive at brackets 18b and c. It will also be observed that bracket arms 18 are so positioned on the drive shafts 34 and the trolleys vare so positioned on the spocket chain 52 that the load engaging members 62 are urged into closed position for engagement with a timber when the bracket arms are turned toward the planes of the front and rear longitudinal beam members, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and that the hook portions 36 at the top of the bracket arms are faced toward the horizontal fingers of the depending arms 14 of the lumber grapple to insure positive engagement therebetween as the fingers on the depending arms turn from their open position where they point toward each other, in the case of arms 14a and 14d, to their closed position wherein the fingers approach the planes of the front and rear longitudinal members of the timber grapple. The bracket arms |8a and b then turn to a position at substantially right angles to the front and rear frame members in the open position of the grapple as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It is desired to further point out that while the bracket arms turn only through from the open to the closed position of the lumber grapple, such movement is suflicient, because of the ratio of the gears employed, to provide the necessary movement of the sprocket chain to effect closing and opening of the load engaging members over a substantial distance sufficient to accommodate the grapple to a large variation in size of timbers. In one practical example of the grapple, a variation of 6 to 26 inches was provided between the grip-plates 62. It will be obvious that the position of the trolleys corresponding to the open and closed position of the lifting arms 58 may be adjusted with respect to the center of the lon- 5. gitudina'l beam members '24 and 281 :by altering the placement of the sprocket chain 52 on the sprocket wheels 50.

While the operation of the. device is believed to be fairly clear from the foregoing description, it is of interest to note that the timber grapple unit B may be picked up by the lumber grapple A from a position of rest by centering the l'um-' ber grapple over the timber grapple with the depending arms M' of the lumber grapple. in approximate alignment with the drive shafts 3 4 of the timber grapple and rotated so that thefi-ngers 1'6 'are'in the open position of the lumber grapple. The lumber grapple is then lowered toward the timber grapple until the fingers IShave dropped below the hook portions 36 of the bracket arms It. The depending arms of the lumber grapple are then rotated with the fingers IG turning toward the center of the lumber grapple until engagement with the bracket arms IB- is effected, and then the lumber grapple is raised vertically to position the fingers I B in the hook portions 36 of the bracket arms. Actuation of the bracket arms by the depending arms of the lumber grapple then efiects engagement and disengagement of the grip plates with the timber as hereinbefore described.

However, it should be noted in this connection that the chain 52 only adjusts the grapple-it is not required to effect engagement of the load engaging grip-plates 62 with the timber with great force in order to lift the timber. The, conventional form of-"lum'ber grapple A is ordinarily equipped with an automatic overload clutch which may be adjusted to a desired tension, for limiting the torque which may be applied to the arms I4. Such clutch is preferably adjusted so that when the grip plates 62 make contact with the timber to be carried, the resistance. to further movement transmitted through the bracket arms is and depending arms 14 causes the clutch to slip without damaging the mechanism if the motor is not turned off immediately. The gripping force on the timber is produced by a virtual camming action initiated by the weight of the timber acting through the medium of the grip-plates 62 on the lifting crank arms 58 by virtue of their pivotal connection at 60 near their ends opposite the grip-plates, thereby resulting in a tong-like engagement of the grip plates with the timber or other load.

It is desired to point out as an advantage of the embodiment of the invention illustrated that the timber grapple. may be used to pile a series of 'individualtimbers in close-fitting relation, as

for either stock piling of the lumber, or for preparing a temporary pile for subsequent han- 'dling by the lumber grapple or a straddle truck. For example, the timbers shown in perspective in Figure designated as, D andllE'have already been piled. Timber C in thetimber grapplemay be brought into position against and parallel with timber D andlowered. until the grip-plates substantially contact the upper edge of timber D. The grip-plates are then backed oftirom the timber-by the reverse operation of, the depending arms of the lumber grapple causing the opposing trolleys to be drawn toward their respective drive shafts. Timber C then drops into a snug position beside timber D and the lumber and timber grapple assemblies may then be moved to pick up another timber. It will be observed that the advantage of piling lumber in this manner is peculiar to a grapple of the type having grip plates for engaging the lateral surfaces of the objecttobe'carried.andthat'thisradrantagecannct: be obtained by devices which engage; the bottom: of the: object to. be carried.

It will now be apparent that there. is. provided by the presentzinvention a timber grappleior use incombinaticn with. a standard lumber grapple, which can be entirely operated, including its attachment to and detachment from the lumber grapple, by the crane operator who controls: the lumber grapple, and that all operations of. the timber grapple may be conducted without any manual assistance on the floor of the. lumber mill or in the lumber yard. There is thus obtained the advantage of more expeditious handling of bothlumber and timbers, orother loads, and also the advantage of eliminating a hazardous work assignment. The timber grapple is made with a minimum number of parts and maximum simplicity of design, ingeniously contrived for both mechanical attachment to and energizing by the standard lumber grapple.

It is to be understood that the language and expressions which have been employed are. used as terms of description only and not of limitation, and that the invention is not limited to use with lumber nor to the exact details of construction shown and described, for changes and modifications will readily occur to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a standard lumber grapple havingrotatable dependingarms provided' with'horizonta-l fingers projecting inwardly of the lumber grapple, a timber grapple com prising a framework, a drive shaft in each' corner of the framework disposed axial alignment with the corresponding depending arms of the lumber grapple, a pair of oppositely disposed load engaging members connected in driven engagement with a pair of said drive shafts for movement into and out of engagement with a timber, and a bracket arm rigidly secured to, each of said drive shafts having a socket portion for detachable engagement with the corresponding .horizontal finger of said lumber grapple for connect.- in'g said timber grapple to said lumber grapple and. for actuating the drive shaft of said timber grapple upon rotative movement of the depending .arms of said lumber grapple.

2. A timber grapple for detachable connection with a lumber grapple having rotatable depending shanks equipped with horizontal feet, comprising a. pair of oppositely disposed load. engaging members movable into and. out of engagement with the timber to be carried, a plurality of rotatable arms arranged for detachable 001111.801" 'tion with the horizontal feet, of. said lumber grapple, and a driving connection between said last mentioned rotatable arms and said load engaging members arranged. to maintain said load engaging. members in-open,. disengaged. position in one position of the lumber grapple feet and to maintain said load engaging members in closed, engagedipositionin a second position of said lum; ber' grapple feet.

3. An auxiliary rapple device. for detachable connection with a lumber grapple having rotatable depending shanks with horizontal feet, comprising a frame, rotatable hangers on said frame arranged to engage said horizontal feet for suspending the device, said hangers being rotatable by said feet when so engaged, opposed load engaging members on said frame, and a driving connection between said rotatable hangers and said load engaging members for moving said members together and apart to engage and release a load.

4. In a grapple device, a longitudinal frame member having a driving shaft and an adjacent driven shaft at each end thereof, suspension hangers for the grapple device on said driving shafts, an endless sprocket chain having parallel reaches disposed longitudinally of said longitudinal frame member driven by sprocket wheels mounted on said driven shafts, load carrying members connected with said chain reaches, a gear and pinion connection between one of said driving shafts and its adjacent driven shaft, and a sprocket wheel and chain connection between the other of said driving shafts and its adjacent driven shaft whereby oppositely directed rotary movements of said driving shafts cooperate to drive said first mentioned chain to actuate said load carrying members.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said load carrying members are slidably mounted on said longitudinal frame member and include pivotal lifting arms with oppositely disposed load clamping elements.

6. In a grapple device, a longitudinal frame member, a pair of oppositely disposed load engaging members slidably mounted on said frame member and movable toward and away from each other for engagement and disengagement with a load to be carried, a driving shaft and an adjacent driven shaft at each end of said longitudinal frame member, an endless sprocket chain disposed longitudinally of said longitudinal frame member driven by sprocket wheels mounted on said driven shafts, said load engaging members being connected to the reaches of said sprocket chain one to each reach intermediately thereof, a gear and pinion connection between one of said drive shafts and its adjacent driven shaft, and a sprocket wheel and chain connection between the other of said drive shafts and its adjacent driven shaft whereby oppositely directed rotary movement of said drive shafts is translated into unitary movement of said first mentioned sprocket chain.

7. In a grapple device having a rigid frame, a pair of trolleys slidably mounted on the frame for movement longitudinally in parallel paths, load engaging means carried by said trolleys, a drivin shaft and an adjacent driven shaft in said frame disposed at each end of the path of longitudinal movement of said slidable trolleys, an endless sprocket chain disposed longitudinally of said paths driven by sprocket wheels mounted on said driven shafts, one of the reaches of said sprocket chain being connected to one load engaging means and the other reach of said sprocket chain bein connected to the other of said load engaging means, and driving connections between each of said driving shafts and its adjacent driven shaft whereby oppositely directed rotary movement of said drive shafts is translated into unitary movement of said first mentioned sprocket chain.

8. In a grapple mechanism having a longitudinal frame member fixedly disposed relative to the lifting connection of said grapple, a pair of slidable members mounted on said longitudinal frame member, means for mutually urging said slidable members toward and away from each other, a

carrying arm pivotally connected at one end thereof to each of said slidable members and having a load engaging member attached to the other end of said arm, said load engaging members being'disposed oppositely in facing relation and having gripping surfaces below said pivotal connections and spaced apart a greater distance than said pivotal connections whereby the Weight of the load tends to urge said load-engaging members toward each other in tong-like engagement with said load.

9. In a timber grapple and the like, a horizontal frame member, a pair of members mounted for sliding movement on said frame member, means for moving said sliding members toward and away from each other, a horizontal pivot on each of said sliding members transverse to the direction of said movement, an arm on each of said pivots extending horizontally in a direction away from the other member, and opposed vertical grip plates pivotally mounted on said arms below said pivots, said grip plates being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between said pivots to exert a tong-like clamping action on a load supported by the grip plates.

10. A grapple device comprising a frame, load engaging members on said frame movable into and out of load engaging position, a plurality of hanger brackets for suspending said frame, means mounting said hanger brackets on said frame for rotation about vertical axes, and means operable by the rotation of said hanger brackets in opposite directions to move said load engaging members into and out of load engaging position.

11. A timber grapple for use with a rectangular lumber grapple havin a depending rotatable arm at each corner, comprising a rectangular frame, load engaging members on said frame movable into and out of load engaging position, hangers at the corners of said frame engageable with said lumber grapple arms to suspend said frame from said arms, and driving means operable by the rotation of said arms to adjust said load engaging members.

12. A timber grapple for use with a lumber grapple having depending rotatable arms, comprising a frame, load engaging members on said frame movable into and out of load engaging position, hanger brackets mounted on said frame for rotation on vertical axes and engageable with said lumber grapple arms to suspend said frame from said arms, and means operable by rotation of said brackets to adjust said load engaging members.

WILLIAM A. HYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,765,023 McWane June 17, 1930 1,767,525 Hoffman June 24, 1930 1,807,1 4 Meyer May 26, 1931 2,276,905 Windsor Mar. 17, 1942 2,445,019 Breslav July 13, 1948