US2768019A

US2768019A - Grab for reels or the like

Info

Publication number: US2768019A
Application number: US318873A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brooks Robert John
Original assignee: Geo W King Ltd
Current assignee: Geo W King Ltd
Priority date: 1951-11-07
Filing date: 1952-11-05
Publication date: 1956-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-23
Also published as: DE945864C; GB712195A

Description

Oct. 23, 1956 R. J. BROOKS 2,768,019

GRAB FOR REELS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. s, 1952 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IA L ENTOR R03 ERT J HN 3x 0 KS AaEN s Oct. 23,- 1956 R. J. BROOKS 2,763,019

' GRAB FOR REELS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

[N VENTO'R R03 ERT JOHN .BRoo K A LrENTS United States Patent '0 GRAB FOR REELS OR THE LIKE Robert John Brooks, Hitchin, England, assignor to Geo. W. King Limited, Hitchin, England, a British company Application November 5, 1952, Serial No. 318,873

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 7, 1951 5 Claims. (Cl. 29495) This invention relates to mechanical grab or conpling devices, which are adapted to be connected to a hoist or haulage rope or cable for the purpose of engagement with, or attachment to, an article which is to be lifted or otherwise transported.

It is the chief object of the invention to provide such a device, which is adapted particularly to be employed in the lifting and transportation of large rolls of paper or other articles having a bore or passageway extending therethrough.

According to the invention, the device comprises a carrier member at least a portion of which is adapted to be introduced into a bore or passage in the article to be transported, one or more movable gripper or engaging elements associated with that portion of said member adapted to be introduced into such bore or passage, and means operable as a result of a pull exerted by a hoist or haulage rope or cable, to effect movement of said gripper or engaging element or elements into engagement with the inner surface of the bore or passage in the article to be transported. Preferably, the means include a rod or spindle supported within the carrier member for axial movement relatively thereto, a linkage mechanism to which the haulage rope or cable is attached and which is coupled to said rod or spindle and a cam or equivalent device associated with the latter, the arrangement being such that when a pull is exerted on the rope or cable, the linkage mechanism will be operated to effect axial movement of the rod or spindle, thereby to cause the cam or other device, to co-operate with the gripper or engaging element or elements to urge the same outwardly and into its or their operative or engaging position. Preferably also, locking means will be incorporated to prevent axial movement of the rod or spindle when it is required to Withdraw the device from an article which has been transported or handled. V

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment by way of example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevational view of a grab or coupling device.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig ure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view on a larger scale illustrating a locking mechanism employed and the device and one method of operating the same. Figures 4 and 5 show details of the construction.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the device therein illustrated comprises an upper plate or platform 10, which is adapted to support centrally and at the underside thereof, a cylindrical or other suitably shaped sleeve like element 11, the latter being so shaped and dimensioned that it is adapted to be inserted into the axial bore or passage such as is normally present, for example, in a large roll of paper. Mounted on the upper surface of the plate or platform is a plurality ofstruts or the like 12, serving to support a rubbing block or collar 13 having a central aperture therein, through which a hoist rope or cable 14 is adapted to pass. The rubbing block or collar 13 is located centrally with respect to the plate or platform 10 but is maintained spaced above the same, the centre of aperture therein being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical casing element 11. Preferably, the framework formed by the struts or the like 12 and supporting the rubbing block or collar 13 is enclosed or encased within a hood or casing of sheet metal, the construction being such that a truncated conical housing will be present at the upper side of the plate or platform 10.

Disposed within the sleeve like element 11 and concentrically with respect thereto, is an inner tubular or sleeve like member 15 which is supported within said element 11 by a member 29 which is afiixed to the sleeve 11 the latter being in turn affixed to the plate 10. The sleeve like member 15 is adapted to constitute a guide for an operating rod or spindle 16. Mounted at the upper side of the plate or platform 10 is a lazy-tong linkage mechanism designated generally by 17 to which the hoist rope or cable 14 introduced through the rubbing block or collar 13 is connected, such mechanism being coupled to the rod or spindle 16, so that when a pull is exerted on the rope or cable 14, said rod or spindie 16 will be moved upwardly relatively to the tubular or sleeve like element 15. Pivotally mounted on brackets 18 located at the lower end of the tubular or sleeve like element 15 is a plurality of arms 19, each of which is adapted to support an arcuate shoe member 20, the outer surface of which is covered with a layer of friction grippingmateri-al, indicated at 21. For example, three pivoted arms may be provided which are spaced equidistantly around the periphery of the tubular or sleeve like element 15, each of said arms having a shoe member 20 pivotally connected to the lower or free end thereof. The construction is such that when the device is inoperative, the arcuate surfaces of the shoe members will lie on or define a circle, the diameter of which is equal to or less than the diameter of the cylindrical sleeve like element 11.

Mounted on or formed integrally with the rod or spindle 16, is a cam member 22, which is adapted, on axial movement of said rod or spindle, resultant upon a pull exerted on the rope or cable 14, to co-operate With the arms 19 carrying the shoe members 20, thereby to force the latter members outwardly into positions, wherein the outer surfaces thereof, which carry the friction gripping material, will engage the inner surface of the axial bore or passage in the article, e. g. the roll of paper to which the device is applied.

In order to allow insertion of the device into the axial bore or passage in an article requiring transportation and also to allow for withdrawal of the device from an article after transportation thereof, it is necessary to provide locking means to prevent axial movement of the rod or spindle 16 and consequent actuation of the gripper shoes 20, when a pull is exerted on the rope or cable 14, to bring the device into a position for insertion into an article to be transported or to effect removal of the device from an article after transportation. Such locking means may conveniently comprise a pair of substantially L-shaped latch members 23, which are disposed at opposite sides of the rod or spindle 16 at or ad- 11. Mounted adjacent the upper end of and rigidly secured to the rod or spindle 16 at opposite sides of the latter, is a pair of block or catch members 25, each of which is adapted to project through ,a slot .25 in the tubular or sleeve like member 15. The arrangement is such that when the rod or spindle 1 6 is in its inoperative position, i. e. when there is no pull on the rope or cable '14 and the cam 22 is inoperative in relation to the shoe members 20, the horizontal limbs of the Lshaped latch members 23 will engage over the upper ends of the blocks or catch members 25, or will engage in recesses on said members, thereby positively to lock the rod or spindle 16 against axial displacement, said rod or spindle being then locked in its lowermost position wherein the cam will be inoperative in relation to the shoe members. The operation of the latch members may conveniently be controlled through the medium of a solenoid 26, the movable member of the solenoid being coupled to a Y-shaped or forked element 27, the outer or free end of the limbs of which are pivotally connected one to each of said latch members 23. The arrangement indicated is such that on energisation of the solenoid 26, an angular movement will be imparted to the latch members 23 as shown by the dotted lines, to move the same out of engagement with the blocks or catch members 25 on the rod or spindle 16, thereby to free the latter, said latch members 23 returning by gravity or through the medium of spring means to their operative position on de-energisation of said solenoid 26. If desired, instead of employing a solenoid to effect operation of the latch members 23, the latter may be operated through the medium of any convenient manually operated mechanism.

Preferably, the lower end of the rod or spindle 16 which projects below the lower end of the sleeve like element 11 is formed or provided with a guide block or nose 28 of inverted conical shape, which will serve to facilitate entry or introduction of the device intothe bore or passage in the article to be handled.

It will be appreciated that the device is not limited in its application to articles having circular bores or passageways therein, since by employing an appropriate number of shoe members such as 20 having appropriately shaped engaging surfaces they may be caused frictionally to engage the inner surface of a'bore or passageway of any cross-sectional form.

Finally, it is to be noted that articles to be transported may be lifted either from horizontal or vertical positions.

I claim:

l. A mechanical grab or coupling device comprising a carrier member including an upper plate, rigid outer guide means depending from said plate and capable of insertion into an axial bore or passage in an article to be transported and inner guide means fixedly mounted within and concentrically with respect to said outer guide means; a rod slidable axially with respect to said inner guide means, cam means associated with said rod, a plurality of gripper elements of arcuate form pivotally mounted on said inner guide means and a lazytong linkage supported on the upper plate of said carrier member, such linkage being coupled to said rod and also adapted to have a hoist rope attached thereto and the arrangement being such that on insertion of the rigid outer guide means into the axial bore or passage in an article to be transported and on a subsequent pull being imparted to the hoist rope attached to said lazytong linkage, the rod will be caused to move axially so that the cam means associated therewith will be effective to project the gripper elements into an operative position wherein they will frictionally engage the interior of said bore so that the article will be lifted and transported on further pulling of said hoist rope and interengaging looking means connected to said rod and carrier member and operable at will to prevent axial movement of said rod and thereby to prevent actuation of the gripper elements when a pull is exerted on the lazytong linkage.

2. A mechanical grab or coupling device comprising a carrier member including an upper plate, rigid outer guide means depending from said plate and capable of insertion into an axial bore or passage in an article to be transported and inner guide means fixedly mounted within and concentrically with respect to said outer guide means; a rod slidable axially with respect to said inner guide means, cam means associated with said rod, a plurality of gripper elements of arcuate form pivotally mounted on said inner guide means, a lazytong linkage supported on the upper plate of said carrier member, such linkage being coupled to said rod and also adapted to have a hoist rope attached thereto, catch means associated with said rod and at least one pivoted latch member associated with said carrier member and adapted on operation to engage said catch means thereby to prevent axial movement of said rod whereby said gripper elements are maintained in inoperative position, the arrangement being such that with the outer guide means inserted into the axial bore or passage in an article to be transported and with the latch member in its inoperative position a pull exerted by a hoist rope on the lazytong linkage will result in axial movement of the rod such as to cause the cam means to project the gripper elements into an operative position wherein they will frictionally engage the interior of said bore or passage so that the article will be lifted on continued pulling of said hoist rope.

3. A mechanical grab or coupling device as in claim 2 and including electro-magnetic means whereby actuation of the latch member may be effected.

4. A mechanical grab or coupling device comprising a carrier member including an upper plate, an outer sleeve member depending from said plate and capable of insertion into an axial bore or passage in an article to be transported and an inner sleeve member fixedly mounted within and concentrically with respect to said outer sleeve member, said inner sleeve member having at least one slot at its upper part; a rod slidable axially with respect to said inner sleeve member, catch means fixedly mounted on said rod at the upper part thereof, cam means associated with said rod, a plurality of gripper elements of arcuate form pivotally mounted on said inner sleeve member, a lazytong linkage supported on the upper plate of said carrier member, such linkage being coupled to said rod and also adapted to have a hoist rope attached thereto, pivoted latch means associated with said carrier member and means adapted on operation to cause said latch means to be projected through the slot in the inner sleeve member and into engagement with the catch means on said rod thereby to prevent axial movement of the latter when required whereby said gripper elements are maintained in inoperative position, the arrangement being such that with the outer sleeve member inserted into the axial bore or passage in an article to be transported and with the latch means inoperative a pull exerted by a hoist rope on the lazytong linkage will result in axial movement of the rod such as to cause the cam means to project the gripper elements into an operative position wherein they will frictionally engage the interior of said bore or passage so that the article will be lifted on continued pulling of said hoist rope.

5. A mechanical grab or coupling device as in claim 4, and including a plurality of struts fixedly mounted on the upper plate of the carrier member and a rubbing collar supported by said struts, said collar serving as a guide for the hoist rope or cable to be attached to the lazytong linkage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS