US3050328A

US3050328A - Sling tripping device

Info

Publication number: US3050328A
Application number: US62460A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Eaves
Original assignee: Taylor Machine Works Inc
Current assignee: Taylor Machine Works Inc
Priority date: 1960-10-13
Filing date: 1960-10-13
Publication date: 1962-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-21

Description

J. J. EAVES 3,050,328

SLING TRIPPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1960 Aug. 21, 1962 INVENTOR.

JAMES J. EAVES ilniteni rates fpatcnt @ffice 3,650,328 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,056,328 SLING TRIPPING DEVICE James J. Eaves, Louisville, Miss assignor to Taylor Machine Works, Louisville, Miss. Filed Get. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 62,456 Claims. (Cl. 29475) This invention relates to a stripping or actuating device for releasing the load from load carrying slings, and is particularly adapted for use with machines for handling pulp wood and other packaged wood products.

Other types of tripping mechaninsms have heretofore been contemplated, some hydraulic and some mechanical. A completely hydraulic type has certain disadvantages, among them being that the load is carried by the hydraulic device which necessitates its being large and expensive. Also, the full hydraulic type cannot release both slings at the exact same moment which causes undesirable conditions, such as the wood falling end first. An example of a completely mechanical type is the tripping device disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 50,218, filed August 17, 1960. In said co-pending application the elongated trip member was effectively shortened to release the load upon subsequent upward movement of the tripping device. However, the present invention is a combination mechanical and hydraulic type of device which operates on a different principle than the device of my said co-pending application and instead of shortening the trip member, the load slings are effectively lengthened.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the disadvantages of previous types of tripping mechanisms and towards providing new advantages not present in the device of my said co-pending application or in any heretofore known device.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved device for releasing the load from load carrying slings.

A further object is to provide such a device that is adapted to release the load in mid-air, if so desired.

A further object is to provide such a device that is adapted to release the wood being loaded on a car or the like without lowering the carriage of the handling equipment low enough to give slack in the slings, thus saving much upward and downward travel of the carriage on the mast of the handling equipment.

A further object is to provide such a device that is adapted to cause the connecting means of the slings to respectively disconnect simultaneously, allowing the wood to stay reasonably straight on the car.

A further object is to provide such a device having a unique arrangement of the mechanical and hydraulic parts so that the hydraulic device does not take the weight of the load, thereby permitting a smaller and less expensive hydraulic device.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of tripping devices.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the tripping device of the present invention with the device being shown in a position for carrying a load, and with the jack cylinder being broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 2 is a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1 but with an inter-mediate position of parts of the device being shown in dotted lines and with the parts being shown in solid lines just before the device is tripped.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the device after being tripped.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the hook means shown in FIG. 1, but with the hook means being shown in 21 released position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line V-V of FIG. 2, with a part being broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 is a view on a reduced scale of the tripping device shown used in conjunction with wood handling equipment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as on the line VII-VII of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, it is contemplated that the tripping device 11 be used with any suitable machine adapted to carry a load. For example, a typical machine with which the device 11 is adapted to be used is shown in FIG. 6 wherein it will be seen a wood handling ma: chine 13 includes a self-propelled wheeled vehicle 15 having a mast 17 adjacent the forward part thereof upon which is slidably mounted a carriage 19 adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly along mast 17 to raise and lower the load A, which is illustrated in this figure as pulp wood. Also, in the usual manner mast 17 is adapted to be power actuated to tilt the mast forwardly or reanvardly. Carriage 19 adjacent the upper end thereof has a suitable supporting structure 21 for tripping device 11, which structure includes a substantially horizontal platform 23.

A plate-like rocker arm 25 is rockably supported from structure 21 adjacent one end thereof as at a substantially horizontal pivot axis 27. The means for rockably supporting rocker arm 25 preferably includes a stationary tubular hinge portion 29 attached to platform 23 as by welding or the like, a pair of outer hinge portions 31 fixedly attached adjacent the lower ends of the spaced depending legs 33 of rocker arm 25, and a hinge pin 35 extending through

hinge portions

29, 31 and fixedly held in place by means of set screws 37 extending through hinge portion 29 and contacting the hinge pin.

A pair of

slings

39, 41 are respectively pivotally coupled adjacent one end to opposite sides of rocker arm 25 adjacent the distal end of the rocker arm as at coupling axis 42, and the slings are respectively coupled adjacent the opposite ends thereof to supporting structure 21 adjacent the opposite end of the supporting structure from rocker arm 25.

Slings

39, 41 are substantially identical in construction and function, and the following description of sling 39 and its relationship to the other parts is deemed sufl'icient:

Sling 39 comprises, in general, two parts: a sling member 43 and an opposing sling member 45, which are detachably connected together by connecting means, later to be described, to complete the sling. The actual part of sling 39 that is coupled to rocker arm 25 as hereinabove described is the upper end of sling member 43 which is coupled to the arm by suitable means and preferably comprises the following: a rod 47 is fixedly attached along the upper edge of rocker arm 25 as by welding or the like and extends beyond the opposite edges thereof. On one extension of rod 47 past the edge of rocker arm 25 is rotatably received a sleeve 49 held thereon against accidental removal by means of a washer 51 and cotter pin 53'. A depending member 55 is fixedly attached to sleeve 49 and is provided with an apertore through which extends a shackle 57 that completes the coupling of sling member 43 to the rocker arm 25. Sling 41 is coupled in a similar manner on the opposite side of rocker arm 25. The actual portion of sling 39 that is coupled to supporting structure 21 as heretofore I in this figure.

described is the upper end of opposing sling member which is preferably coupled to the supporting structure as by means of a plate 59 attached to the supporting structure as by welding or the like and provided with an aperture through which shackle 61 extends to complete the coupling of the sling member 45 to the supporting structure 21. Sling member 43 is preferably constructed by a chain portion 63 forming the upper part thereof, and a cable portion 65 forming the lower part thereof, which is connected by suitable means to the lower end of the chain portion. Likewise, sling member 45 comprises an upper chain portion 67 and a lower cable portion 69. The lower end of cable portion 69 is provided with a loop 71 adapted to be engaged in the manner shown in FIG. 1, by a hook pivotally mounted on cable portion 65 by a loop 75 provided in the end of the cable portion extending through an aperture 77 provided in hook 73.

An elongated trip member, indicated in general as at 79, is attached to hook 73 adjacent the opposite end of the hook from the pivotal connection with loop 75. This connection of the trip member 79 and the hook 73 is preferably by means of a loop 81 provided in the end of trip member 79 which extends through an aperture 83 in the hook. As in the case of the sling members, trip member 79 is preferably formed with a lower cable portion 85 and an upper chain portion 87. The upper end of trip member 79 is fixedly anchored to supporting structure 21 as at 91 by suitable means. A trip member 94 is also provided for sling 41 and is of the same construction and operation as trip member 79. Trip member 94 is attached to supporting structure 21 in the same manner as trip member 79, but preferably on the opposite side of the supporting structure.

A support 95, preferably in the form of a triangular plate, is fixedly attached on one side of rocker arm 25 and extends perpendicular thereto. If desired a pair of these plates 95 may be provided in spaced relationship for added structural strength. The lower edge or heel 97 of plate 95 is adapted to contact the upper face of supporting structure 21 to limit clockwise movement, as viewed in FIG. 1, of rocker arm 25 and is adapted to support the rocker arm in a first position as best seen The relationship of heel 97 and rocker arm 25 is such that an angle is formed therebetween which is less than degrees so that the plate supports the rocker arm in said first position which is tilted to one side (the right side as viewed in FIG. 1) of an upright dead center position of the rocker arm. This position shown in FIG. 1 is the load carrying position and it will be understood that the weight of the load normally urges heel 97 against supporting structure 21 and keeps rocker arm 25 in said first position.

A double acting hydraulic jack 99 is provided for pivoting rocker arm 25. Jack 99 comprises the usual jack cylinder 101, piston 103 slidably mounted in the cylinder, and the usual piston rod 105 connected to piston 103 and extending outwardly through the end of jack cylinder 101. Suitable and well-known fluid supply means, not shown, and suitable and well-known control means, not shown, are provided for introducing fluid to jack 99 through

conduits

107, 109 for actuating the hydraulic jack in a well-known manner. Rod 105 is pivotally coupled to rocker arm 25 by suitable means, as by a lug 111 fixedly attached to the rocker arm and by a pin 113 extending through aligned apertures in the lug and rod. The opposite end of jack 99 from rocker arm 7 25 is pivotally connected to a sliding base 115 of a mounting mechanism 117 for the jack. This connection be tween jack 99 and base 115 is preferably by means of a pin 119 extending through aligned apertures in a stud 121' fixedly attached to jack cylinder 101 and through an upstanding bracket 123, which in turn is fixedly attached to base 115. Sliding base 115 is preferably blocklike in construction and is provided with an opening 125 extending therethrough. Base 115 is slidably mounted on a rod 127 with the rod extending through opening 125 and with the rod being supported in horizontal spaced relationship above platform 23 by means of sleeve-

like stop members

129, 131 which are disposed on rod 127 adjacent opposite ends thereof. Stop

members

129, 131 are fixedly mounted on platform 23 and are respectively provided with

set screws

133, 135 which engage rod 127 and hold it fixed in place.

For the purposes of describing the operation of device 11, the description is started with the device in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. It is assumed that the

slings

39, 41 are carrying a load A therein which is suspended in the air. If it is desired to release the load in mid-air the hereinafter described sequence of operations is performed with supporting structure 21 held in place. Otherwise, if it is desired to lower the load onto a car or the like supporting structure 21 is lowered, as for example by lowering carriage 19 in the typical wood handling machine 13 shown in FIG. 6. After the load is lowered onto the car or the like then said following hereinafter described sequence of operations is performed:

Jack 99 is actuated to cause the jack to extend to a first extended position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Durin extension of jack 99 from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 to said first extended position rocker arm 25 will remain stationary to hold the end of piston rod 1115 stationary and the jack will cause base 115 to move from a position adjacent stop member 129 to a position in abutment with stop member 131. Continued extension of jack 99 will cause rocker arm 25 to be pivoted counterclockwise past the dead center position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 until the jack is in a second extended position slightly past the dead center position at which position it will be understood rocker arm 25 will be unsupported against pivoting, whereby the weight of the load will cause downward pivot of the rocker arm in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. This downward pivoting movement is limited by a rubber bumper 137 which is fixedly attached to supporting structure 21 and contacts the rocker arm to stop it in a position in which the coupling axis 42 is below the levelit occupied when rocker arm 25 was in said first position shown in FIG. 1; and, if desired, another rubber bumper 138 may be provided on the supporting structure for cylinder 101. In other words, one of the upper ends of

slings

39, 41 are respectively lowered relative to supporting structure 21 and thus the slings are respectively lengthened relative to trip

members

79, 94 so that a pull is exerted on the trip members to release the load. Both of the

trip members

79, 94 operate simultaneously and in the same manner so that the following description of the operation of trip member 79 will suifice:

When a pull is exerted on trip member 79, book 73 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 1 about loop 75 to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that the hook releases loop 71 and the

sling members

43, 45 are disconnected. In the above described operation of tripping device 11, it will be understood that after jack 99 has reached said second extended position that no more power is needed from the jack but rather the jack 7 is pulled by rocker arm 25 and the weight of the load causes the pivoting of the rocker arm. Also, it will be understood that jack 99 is free to be pulled as above described since base 115 is free to slide to the left on rod 127 to a position adjacent stop member 129, as shown in FIG. 3. The tripping device 11 is re-set in position for the load simply by actuating jack 99 to retract the jack so that rocker arm 25 is pulled up into the position shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that a very unique type of device is provided which offers many advantages over heretofore known types of tripping devices. In addition, it will be understood that very little power is needed by the jack 99 to push the rocker arm 25 over the dead center position and thus, there is no necessity for a large and expensive jack. Thus, it can be seen that the jack at no time supports the load and due to the unique mounting arrangement the Weight of the load exerts no force on the jack when it is free falling beyond the dead center position.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a load carrying apparatus, a supporting structure, a tripping device comprising a rocker arm rockably supported from said structure at a pivot axis, sling means for carrying a load, said sling means including at least a pair of sling members each having an upper end and a free end, one of said sling members being coupled adjacent its upper end to said structure and the other of said sling members beng coupled adjacent its upper end to said rocker arm at a coupling axis spaced from said pivot axis, connectng means detachably connecting the free ends of said sling members to releasably hold the load, an elongated trip member attached adjacent one end thereof to said connecting means and adapted to be pulled, said trip member being coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said structure, said connecting means including means for disconnecting said connecting means when said trip member is pulled, means supporting said rocker arm in a first position tilted to one side of an upright dead center position of said rocker arm, mounting means carried by said structure; said mounting means including a rod, a base slidably mounted on said rod, a first stop member mounted on said rod adjacent one end thereof and a second stop member mounted on said rod adjacent the opposite end thereof; jack means coupled adjacent one end thereof to said rocker arm and coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said base, said jack means being moveable between a retracted position and extended positions, with said rocker arm in said first position extension of said jack means from said retracted position to a first extended position being effective to cause said base to slide from a first position adjacent said first stop to -a second position adjacent said second stop, with said base in said second position further extension of said jack means beyond said first extended position to a second extended position being effective to pivot said rocker arm in one direction from said first position of said rocker arm past said dead center position to an unsupported position so that the weight of the load carried by said sling means is adapted to cause downward pivot of said rocker arm, said rocker arm being pivotable far enough downwardly in said one direction to carry said coupling axis below the level it occupied when said rocker arm was in said first position whereby said sling means is effectively lengthened relative to said trip member so that a pull is exerted thereon to disconnect the connecting means and release the load, and pivot of said rocker arm in said one direction past said dead center position being effective to pull therewith said jack means as a unit and slide said base on said rod without said jack means carrying any of the load.

2. In a load carrying apparatus, a supporting structure, a tripping device comprising a rocker arm rockably supported from said structure at a pivot axis, sling means for carrying a load, said sling means including at least a pair of sling members each having an upper end and a free end, one of said sling members being coupled adjacent its upper end to said structure and the other of said sling members being coupled adjacent its upper end to said rocker arm at a coupling axis spaced from said pivot axis, connecting means detachably connecting the free ends of said sling members to releasably hold the load, an elongated trip member attached adjacent one end thereof to said connecting means and adapted to be pulled, said trip member being coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said structure, said connecting means including means for disconnecting said connecting means when said trip member is pulled, means supporting said rocker arm in a first position tilted to one side of an upright dead center position of said rocker arm, mounting means carried by said structure, jack means coupled adjacent one end thereof to said rocker arm and coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said mounting means, said mounting means establishing a movable amount for said jack means, means limiting movement of said opposite end of said jack means in opposite directions so that said jack means is adapted to be stopped in a first stopped position and a second stopped position, said jack means being movable between a retracted position and extended positions, with said rocker arm in said first position extension of said jack means from said retracted position to a first extended position being efiective to cause said opposite end of said jack means to move from said first stopped position to said second stopped position, with said opposite end of said jack means in said second stopped position further extension of said jack means beyond said first extended position to a second extended position being effectiv to pivot said rocker arm in one direction from said first position of said rocker arm past said dead center position to an unsupported position so that the weight of the load carried by said sling means is adapted to cause downward pivot of said rocker arm, said rocker arm being pivotable far enough downwardly in said one direction to carry said coupling axis below the level it occupied when said rocker arm was in said first position whereby said sling means is eifectively lengthened relative to said trip member so that a pull is exerted thereon to disconnect the connecting means and release the load, and pivot of said rocker arm in said one direction past said dead center position being effective to pull therewith said jack means as a unit without said jack means carrying any of the load.

3. In a load carrying apparatus, a supporting structure, a tripping device comprising a rocker arm rockably supported from said structure at a pivot axis, s-ling means for carrying a load, said sling means including at least a pair of sling members each having an upper end and a free end, one of said sling members being coupled adjacent its upper end to said structure and the other of said sling members being coupled adjacent its upper end to said rocker arm at a coupling axis spaced from said pivot axis, connecting means detachably connecting the free ends of said sling members to releasably hold the load, an elongated trip member attached adjacent one end thereof to said connecting means and adapted to be pulled, said trip member being coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said structure, said connecting means including means for disconnecting said connecting means when said trip member is pulled, means supporting said rocker arm in a first position tilted to one side of an upright dead center position of said rocker arm, mounting means carried by said structure, jack means coupled adjacent one end thereof to said rocker arm and coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said mounting means, said jack means being extendable to pivot said rocker arm from said first position past said dead center position to an unsupported position so that the weight of the load carried by said sling means is adapted to cause downward pivot of said rocker arm, said rocker arm being pivotable far enough downwardly in said one direction to carry said coupling axis below the level it occupied when said rocker arm was in said first position whereby said sling means is effectively lengthened relative to said trip member so that a pull is exerted thereon to disconnect the connecting means and release the load.

4. In a load carrying apparatus, a supporting structure, a tripping device comprising a rocker arm rockably supported from said structure at a pivot axis, sling means for carrying a load, said sling means including at least a pair of sling members each having an upper end and a free end, one of said sling member being coupled adjacent its upper end to said structure and the other of said sling members being coupled adjacent its upper end to said rocker arm at a coupling aXis spaced from said pivot axis, connecting means detachably connecting the free ends of said sling members to releasably hold the load, an elongated trip member attached adjacent one end thereof to said connecting means and adapted to be pulled, said trip member being coupled adjacent the opposite end thereof to said structure, said connecting means including means for disconnecting said connecting means When said trip member is pulled, means supporting said rocker arm in a first position tilted to one side of an upright dead center position of said rocker arm, mounting means carried by said structure, said rocker arm being pivotable from said first position past said dead center position to an unsupported position, means connected to said rocker arm for pivoting said rocker arm from said first position past said dead center position to said unsupported position so that the weight of the load carried by said sling means is adapted to cause downward pivot of said rocker arm to effectively lengthen said sling means relative to said tripping member and disconnect said connecting means.

5. In a load carrying apparatus, a supporting structure, a tripping device comprising a rocker arm rockably supported from said structure at a pivot axis, a pair of slings for carrying a load, each of said slings including at least a pair of sling members each having an upper end and a free end, one of said sling members of each of said slings being coupled adjacent its upper end to said structure and the others of said sling members of said slings being respectively coupled adjacent the opposite ends thereof to said structure, a pair of connecting means respectively detachably connecting the free ends of said pairs of sling members to releasably hold the load, a pair of elongated trip members respectively attached adjacent one of the ends thereof to said pair of connecting means and adapted to be pulled, said pair of trip members being respectively coupled adjacent the opposite ends thereof to said structure, said pair of connecting means respectively including means for disconnecting said connecting means when said trip members are pulled, means supporting said rocker arm in a first position tilted to one side of an upright dead center position of said rocker arm, said rocker arm being pivotable from said first position past said dead center position to an unsupported position, means connected to said rocker arm for pivoting said rocker arm from said first position past said dead center position to said unsupported position so that the weight of the load carried by said pair of slings is adapted to cause downward pivot of said rocker arm to effectively lengthen said pair of slings relative to said pair of tripping members and simultaneously disconnect said pair of connecting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,267 Wiley Jan. 3, 1899 r ew