US2803364A

US2803364A - Crane mounted log tongs

Info

Publication number: US2803364A
Application number: US436046A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myrthan R Hibbard; Joseph L Riley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-06-11
Filing date: 1954-06-11
Publication date: 1957-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-20

Description

' 1957 M. R. HIBBARD ET AL 2,803,364

CRANE MOUNTED LOG VTONGS Filed June 11, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Myrf/mn R. Hibbard Joseph L Riley INVENTORS Aug. 20, 19 57 M. R. HIBBARD EIAL 2,303,364

- CRANE MOUNTED 1.0g TONGS Filed June 11, 1954' 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Myrf/ran R. H/bbard Joseph L Riley IN VEN TORS 7 BY I 36 Ame W M 20, 9 M. R. HIBBARD ETAL 2,803,364

CRANE MOUNTED LOG TONGS Filed June 11, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s Myr fhanP. H/bbara Joseph L Riley INVENTORS WW EMU nit CRANE MOUNTED LOG TONGS Myrthan R. Hibhard, Portland, and Joseph L. Riley, Milwaukie, Greg.

This invention relates in general to improvements in tongs, and more specifically to improvements in log tongs.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improved log tongs which are so constructed wherein the individual tong members thereof may be selectively opened by an operator of a crane carrying the log tongs so that the log tongs may be either selectively positioned with respect to a log for lifting the same or for dropping the log.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved log tong arrangement which includes a crane boom having sheaves carried thereby, a lifting line and a main trip line entrained over these sheaves and con nected to the improved tong members which are the subject of this invention, the sheaves being arrangeable with respect to each other on the boom whereas to vary the relationship of the log tongs with respect to the boom.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved tong members which are so constructed whereby the tong members may be moved to open positions by trip lines and at the same time be disposed at an angle to the horizontal while a support frame for the tong members is horizontally disposed whereby the log tongs of which the tong members are apart may be utilized for taking a log from a pile or cold deck of logs.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved log tongs which includes a support frame having depending therefrom crossed tong members, the support frame being provided with guide means for trip line sections passing therethrough and connected to the tong members, the guide means being of such a nature whereby vertical movement of the trip line sections therethrough is permitted and at the same time bending of the trip line sections out of the general plane of the support frame is facilitated.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a crane and shows the same provided with the log tongs which are the subject of this invention, the log tongs being disposed in vertical alignment with the boom of the crane and having carried thereby a log;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the crane of Figure 1 and shows a sheave carried by the boom thereof spaced longitudinally from its position of Figure l whereby the log tongs carried by lines of the crane are disposed transverse to the boom in order that a log carried by the log tongs will be disposed in vertical alignment with the boom;

Figure 3 is another side elevational view of the crane of Figure l and shows the one sheave which was moved in Figure 2 now being mounted on the cab of the crane in order to facilitate the dragging of a log towards the 2,893,354 Patented Aug. 20, 1957;

crane by the tong members carried by lines entrained over the sheaves;

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the log tongs and shows the general details of the construction thereof when the tong members are in open position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the log tongs of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 4 and shows the arrangement of guide rollers and pulley for one of the trip line sections;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of Figure 4 and shows the general details of construction of the support frame of the log tongs and the manner in which the tong members are pivotally connected thereto; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the log tongs of Figure 4 and shows the same provided with different trip line sections in order to facilitate the movement of the tong members to an open position while the tong members are disposed at an angle to the horizontal and the support frame is disposed horizontally.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is best illustrated in Figure 4 which are the subject of this invention, the log tongs being referred to in general by the reference numeral 16. The log tongs 10 includes a support frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The support frame 12 is formed of a pair of spaced parallel

elongated plates

14 and 16 which are retained in spaced parallel relation by a plurality of transverse bolts 18. The

elongated plates

14 and 16 are spaced apart by a centrally located, smaller spacer plate 20.

Disposed between the lower portions of the

elongated plates

14 and 16 and pivotally connected thereto by longitudinally spaced, transversely extending pivot pins 22 is a pair of depending links 24. The links 24 have bifurcated lower portions 26 in which are received upper ends 28 of tong members 30. The tong members 30 are pivotally connected to the bifurcated lower ends 26 of links 24 by transverse pivot pins 32.

It is to be noted that the tong members 30 are identical and are pivotally connected together at their point of crossing by a transverse pivot pin 34. The lower ends of the tong members 30 are provided with inwardly projecting prongs 36.

It is to be also noted that the links 24 are identical. However, the bifurcated lower ends 26 of the two links 24 are offset in opposite relation in order that the offset relation of the two tong members 30 may be compensated for.

In order that the log tongs it may be conveniently lifted, there is extending the upper portion of the

plates

14 and 16 and also the spacer plate 26 a fastener 38. The fastener 38 removably secures to the support frame 12 a clevis 40. As is best illustrated in Figure 4, the clevis 40 passes through an eye 42 carried by the lower end of a lifting cable 44.

In order that the tong members 30 may be selectively moved to open positions for either engaging the tong members over a log or for releasing a log, there is provided a pair of identical trip line sections 46. The trip line sections 46 are in the form of elongated cables having eyes 48 at the lower ends thereof. The eyes 48 are engaged by clevises 50 pivotally connected to upstanding ears 52 on the tong members 30 by transverse pivot pins 54.

The trip line sections 46 pass upwardly between outer ends of the

plates

14 and 16 and are provided at their upper ends with eyes 56. The eyes 56 are connected together by a clevis 58 which is in turn carried by an eye 69 at the lower end of a main trip line 62. Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that carried by the end portions of the

plates

14 and 16 between these plates are pulleys 64. Each pulley 64 is mounted on a transverse headed pivot pin 66 which is retained within the

plates

14 and 16 against rotation by a small block 67 welded to the outer face of plate 16. The pivot pih 66 is provided with a threaded end carrying a nut 68. The nut 68 is retained against rotation by a block 69 welded to the outer face of plate 14. The pulleys 64 are so positioned within the ends of the support frame 12 that the trip line section 46 ride over and are entrained on the pulleys 64. v

Inorder to prevent the accidental displacement of the trip line sections 46 from between the'plates '14 and 16, there is, carried by the extreme upper outer corners of the support frame 12 transverse rollers 70. The transverse rollers '78 are mounted on transverse pivot pins 72 and under certain circumstances engage the trip line sections 46 to act as keepers.

Under certain circumstances it is desired that the upper parts of the trip line sections 46 be disposed at an angle to the general plane of the support frame 12. In order to facilitate the free running of the trip line sections 46 between the

plates

14 and 16, there is carried by the plate 14 at the upper edge thereof longitudinal rollers 74. The longitudinal rollers 74 are disposed generaly vertically above the pulley 64 and substantially within the general plane of the plate 14. In order to facilitate the mounting of the longitudinal rollers 74, there is provided at each end of the plate 14 a pair of outwardly projecting ears 76. The ears 76 together with the upper portions of the plate 14 have journaled therein reduced ends78 which support the longitudinal roller 74 for rotation. It is noted that the longitudinal rollers 74 are tangent both with the inner face of the plate 14 and the upper edge thereof.

Referring now to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a mobile crane which is referred to in general by the reference 80. The crane 80 includes a vehicle body 82 on which is mounted a cab 84 of the crane 80. It will be understood that the cab 84 has mounted therein operating mechanism including a pair of drums 86. Mounted on one of the drurns 86 is an end of the main trip line 62 and mounted on the other of the drums is an end of the lifting line 44. I p

Pivotally connected to the front of the cab 84 as at 88 is an elongated boom 90. The boom 90 is retained in a vertically adjusted position by a cable 92.

Carried at the other end of the boom is a pair of

sheaves

94 and 96, only the sheave 94 being illustrated in Figure l. Entrained over the sheave 92 the main trip line 62 and entrained over the sheave 96 is thelifting line 44. Inasmuch as the sleeves 94 and 96:81? in transverse alignment with respect to the boom 90, the lifting line 44 and the main trip line 62 extend downwardly from the upper end of the boom 98 in parallel relation. This results in the log tongs 10 to be disposed in a vertical plane substantially coplanar with the center of the boom 99. When the tongs 10 are so disposed, a log 98 carried thereby will have a tendency to pivot relative to the boom 90 and may be guided into a desired position at any desired angle to the longitudinal axis of the boom.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the sheave .94 has been moved downwardly on the boom 9 towards the cab 84 When the sheave 94 Referring now to Figure 3 in particular; it will-be seen 7 that the boom 90 of the crane 80 has been lowered and.

that the sheave 94 has now been moved rearwardly an is mounted on a mounting bracket 100 of the cab 84. The main trip line 62 is entrained over the sheave 94 and causes the lifting tongs to be disposed transverse of the boom 90. When the

sheaves

94 and 96 are so arranged, the log tongs 10 may be positioned longitudinally of the boom 90 as desired for engaging the center of the log 98.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that the log tongs 10 have had the trip line sections 46 removed and replaced by

trip line sections

102 and 104. It is. to be noted that the

trip line sections

102 and 104 are mounted in the same manner as the trip line sections 46. However, the trip line section 104 is much longer than the trip line section 102. Thus, when the

trip line sections

102 and 104 are tensioned to move the tong members 30 to open positions, the tong members 30 to which the trip line section 102 is attached is pulled up closer to the support frame 12 than usual and the tong member 39 to which the trip line section 104- is attached is disposed lower than usual with respect to the support frame 12. 7 Thus, it will be seen that by providing trip line sections which are of different lengths the tong members 30 may be moved to open positions and be disposed at an angle to the horizontal while the support frame 12 with the log tongs 10 remain in a horizontal position.

Inasmuch as one tong member 30 may be disposed higher than the other tong member 30 when the two tong members are in open positions, it will be seen that the tong members 30 can be easily engaged with logs of apile or cold deck of logs. In order to engage the tong members 30 with logs at the side of a pile of logs, the log tongs 30 when opened as illustrated in Figure 8, are swung into the pile logs 98 and the uppermost tong member 30 is hooked over the log to be lifted out of the pile. Inasmuch as the upper tong member 30 is hooked over the log to be lifted, it will be seen that when the tong members 30' are moved to closed positions, the log 98 to be lifted will be firmly grasped therebetween and may be lifted out of its associated pile.

In the operation of the log tongs 10 in mid air, the

tong members 30 are moved to open position by slacking on the lifting line 44 so that the weight of the log tongs 10 may be imposed on the main trip line 62. This results in the tensioning of the trip line sections to move the tong members 30 to open positions.

After the tong members 30 have been properly engaged about a log 98 to be lifted, the lifting line 44 is tensioned while the main trip line 52 is either slacked or remains in the same position so that it becomes slacked and th log tongs 10 operated in a normal manner.

With the lifting tongs 10, a log, such as the :log 98 may either be set into position and then released from the tong members 39 or may be released in mid air and dropped, for example in the water or the like. When it is desired to release a log 98, it is merely necessary to slack the lifting line 44 while tensioning the main trip line 62. This will result in the opening of the tong members 30 irrespective of the position of the log 98. When a' log is being set in position on the ground or on a truck, it is first positioned as desired and then the trip line 62 is tensioned to release the tong members 30.

Although the lifting tongs 10 have been specifically illustrated and described as being carried by a crane, such as the crane 80, the lifting tongs 10 are not so limited in use. It is to be understood that the lifting tongs 10 may be utilized with any piece of equipment provided with two drums for the independent operation of two lines.

' During the operation of the lifting tongs 10 in confined spaces, the tong member need not be fully opened, but may be opened only the amount required to pass around a log by retaining the trip line 62 under tension and slack ing off on the lifting line 44'only a slight amount. It is pointed out at this time that when tension on'the lifting line 44 is released, the weight of the upper portion of the lifting tongs effects a buckling action on the links 24 and the upper ends 28 of the tong members 30 to cause spreading apart of the lower ends of the tong members 30. This action is an addition to the pulling effect of the trip lines 46.

-When the

sheaves

94 and 96 are spaced apart, the log 98 may be positioned relative to the boom 91) by tensioning the trip line 62. However, when performing this operation the lifting line 44 must be sufficiently tensioned to present tripping of the tong member 16. Also the lifting tongs 10 may be initially swung away from the crane 84) in an action similar to that of a drag line operation and then positioned through the use of the trip line 62.

The log 98 may be retained in the position illustrated in Figure 1 by replacing the trip line 46 by a single trip line having a bight portion disposed below the clevis 53. A trip line sheave will be engaged with the bight portion of the single trip line and connected to the clevis 52% in depending relation by a second clevis. The sheave 94 is then positioned at a point intermediate the ends of the boom 99.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been illustrated and described log tongs which are so constructed and arranged whereby they may be conveniently positioned over any log to be lifted and which have tong members which are selectively openable and closable so that a log may be lifted by a crane operator without a helper and the log may be released at anytime.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Log tongs comprising a support frame, a pair of tong members pivotally carried by said support frame in depending relation, a lifting line connected to said support frame, trip line sections passing through and guidingly engaging said support frame, lower ends of said trip line sections being connected to said tong members, upper ends of said trip line sections being connected to a main trip line whereby the log tongs may be selectively raised and lowered simultaneously with the tripping of said tong members, one of said trip line sections being shorter than the other of said trip line sections, whereby said tong members may be moved to a fully open position and simultaneously be disposed at an angle to the horizontal with said support frame being horizontally disposed.

2. Log tongs comprising a support frame, a pair of tong members pivotally carried by said support frame in depending relation, a lifting line connected to said support frame, trip line sections passing through and guidingly engaging said support frame, lower ends of said trip line sections being connected to said tong members, upper ends of said trip line sections being connected to a main trip line whereby the log tongs may be selectively raised and lowered simultaneously with the tripping of said tong members, one of said trip line sections being shorter than the other of said trip line sections, links disposed between said tong members and said support frame, said links being pivotally connected to both said support frame and said tong members whereby said tong members may be moved to a fully open position and simultaneously be disposed at an angle to the horizontal with said support frame being horizontally disposed.

3. Log tongs comprising a support frame, a pair of tong members pivotally carried by said support frame in depending relation, a lifting line connected to said support frame, trip line sections passing through and guidingly engaging said support frame, lower ends of said trip line sections being connected to said tong members, upper ends of said trip line sections being connected to a main trip line whereby the log tongs may be selectively raised and lowered simultaneously with the tripping of said tong members, said support frame being formed of a pair of elongated plates, a smaller spacer plate disposed between and secured to said elongated plates to retain said elongated plates in spaced parallel relation, links having upper ends disposed between lower portions of said elongated plates and pivotally connected thereto by spaced pivot pins, said tong members being disposed in crossed relation and pivotally connected together, upper ends of said tong members being pivotally secured to lower ends of said links, said trip line sections passing between spaced ends of said elongated plates, a pulley carried between each pair of ends of said elongated plates, said trip line sections being entrained over said pulleys, transverse rollers extending between said plate ends and overlying said trip line sections and retaining the same between said plate ends.

4. Log tongs comprising a support frame, a pair of tong members pivotally carried by said support frame in depending relation, a lifting line connected to said support frame, trip line sections passing through and guidingly engaging said support frame, lower ends of said trip line sections being connected to said tong members, upper ends of said trip line sections being connected to a main trip line whereby the log tongs may be selectively raised and lowered simultaneously with the tripping of said tong members, said support frame being formed of a pair of elongated plates, a smaller spacer plate disposed between and secured to said elongated plates to retain said elongated plates in spaced parallel relation, links having upper ends disposed between lower portions of said elongated plates and pivotally connected thereto by spaced pivot pins, said tong members being disposed in crossed relation and pivotally connected together, upper ends of said tong members being pivotally secured to lower ends of said links, said trip line sections passing between spaced ends of said elongated plates, a pulley carried between each pair of ends of said elongated plates, said trip line sections being entrained over said pulleys, transverse rollers extending between said plate ends and over lying said trip line sections and retaining the same between said plate ends, longitudinal rollers carried by one of said elongated plates at the upper edge thereof, said longitudinal rollers engaging said trip line sections to permit twisting of said trip line sections out of the general plane of said support frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362 Lobdell Aug. 18, 1837 1,369,963 Carlson Mar. 1, 1921 1,434,478 Carlson Nov. 7, 1922 1,523,972 Johnson Jan. 25, 1925 1,727,942 Savini Sept. 10, 1929 1,731,970 Carlson Oct. 15, 1929 1,781,518 Munn Nov. 11, 1930 2,025,340 Crocker Dec. 24, 1935 2,160,891 Neff June 6, 1939 2,367,912 Westfall Ian. 23, 1945 2,486,479 Kennedy Nov. 1, 1949 2,587,217 Quenan Feb. 26, 1952 2,656,212 Eckstein Oct. 20, 1953