US3913965A

US3913965A - Carrying frame for giant glass sheets

Info

Publication number: US3913965A
Application number: US375036A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernst Muller; Dragan Popovic
Original assignee: Erste Deutsche Floatglas GmbH and Co OHG
Current assignee: Erste Deutsche Floatglas GmbH and Co OHG
Priority date: 1972-07-12
Filing date: 1973-06-29
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21
Also published as: GB1430689A; AU5786373A; IT991106B; JPS5226381B2; DE2234124B2; BR7305171D0; FR2192043B1; JPS5351862A; DE2234124A1; CA972005A; ES416497A1; NL7309717A; NO140791B; BE802157A; JPS4956356A; SE7701273L; JPS5431261B2; FR2192043A1; ZA734564B; NO140791C

Abstract

A carrying frame for the transport of giant glass sheets in a vertical position, comprises a frame which is adapted for connection with a hoist and forming a generally vertical supporting surface, with carrying members arranged in the lower part and projecting to one side, on which the lower edges of the glass sheets are adapted to rest. On the carrying frame behind the abutment surface for the glass sheets on each side holding members are provided which extend laterally beyond the glass sheets, can be moved in a horizontal direction, can be fixed in the desired position, and project out of the abutment surface of the carrying frame. The holding members are for their part provided with means which fit round the glass sheets at the lateral edges and can be clamped against the glass sheets.

Description

1 1 Oct. 21, 1975 1 1 CARRYING FRAME FOR GIANT GLASS SHEETS [75] Inventors: Ernst Muller, Porz; Dragan Popovic,

Merkstein, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Erste Deutsche Floatglas GmbH. &

C0., Aachen, Germany 221 Filed: June 29,1973

211 Appl.No.: 375,036

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 12, 1972 Germany 2234124 [52] US. Cl 294/67 R; 211/41; 214/105 R; 294/67 AB; 294/67 BB [51] Int. Cl. B66C 1/22 [58] Field of Search 294/67 R, 67 A, 67 AA,

294/67 AB, 67 B, 67 BA, 67 BB, 81 R, 81 SF; 206/448, 449, 450, 451; 211/41;

3,424,487 1/1969 Pector et al 294/67 R 3,719,284 3/1973 Rasmusson et a1. 211/41 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,405,317 12/1965 France 294/67 R Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner.lohnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [57] ABSTRACT A carrying frame for the transport of giant glass sheets in a vertical position, comprises a frame which is adapted for connection with a hoist and forming a generally vertical supporting surface, with carrying members arranged in the lower part and projecting to one side, on which the lower edges of the glass sheets are adapted to rest. On the carrying frame behind the abutment surface for the glass sheets on each side holding members are provided which extend laterally beyond the glass sheets, can be moved in a horizontal direction, can be fixed in the desired position, and project out of the abutment surface of the carrying frame. The holding members are for their part provided with means which fit round the glass sheets at the lateral edges and can be clamped against the glass sheets.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet1of3 3,913,965

Fig.2

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet2of3 3,913,965

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet3 of3 3,913,965

CARRYING FRAME FOR GIANT GLASS SHEETS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field to which invention relates The invention relates to a carrying frame for the transport of giant glass sheets in a vertical position, comprising a frame which is adapted for connection with a hoist and forming a generally vertical supporting surface, with carrying members arranged in the lower part and projecting to one side, on which the lower edges of the glass sheets are adapted to rest.

2. The prior art Carrying frames of this type serve primarily for the transport within a factory or other industrial premises of packages of giant glass sheets. During the production and further processing of sheet glass, glass sheets with very large dimensions, for example with a length of 6 meters and a breadth of 2.70 to 3.20 meters are stored in large quantities in an approximately vertical position. During such storage a series of glass sheets are connected together from a package, which is separated from adjacent packages in the storage frame by the laying in of intermediate wood battens. Such packages generally have a weight of several tons, and package weights of up to 10 tons and moreare quite conventional.

For the transport of such packages of glass sheets the carrying frame is acted upon from the free side of the package. In order to ensure that the glass sheets do not fall down during transport on the upper end of the carrying frame swivel-mounted claws are provided, which can be swung over the upper edge zone of the glass sheets and thus ensure that the glass sheets lie against the approximately vertical support face and the glass sheets do not topple over.

During the use of these carrying frames particular difficulties occur if the thickness of the individual glass sheets is less than approximately 4 mm. In recent times, however, very thin glass sheets, that is to say down to 2.7 mm and less, have been processed to an increasing degree. The difficulties in transport are due to the fact that the glass sheets or the whole package is lacking in stiffness so that the glass sheets sag under their own weight and slip out of the holding means arranged for the upper edge.

In order to overcome this disadvantage the practice has already been adopted of using a plate which is stiff so that it cannot bend, as the uppermost. or outer face sheet of the package of glass sheets. This plate can, for example, be a piece of very thick glass sheeting. This practice, however, involves difficulties and costs for it requires additional manual work for the placing on and the removal of such support sheets, so that the availability of manpower is seriously impaired.

There has also been a proposal to make use of a carrying frame in the case of which on a longitudinal girder the package of glass sheets to be transported is engaged by pairs of support rails which are vertical and fit round on both sides. These rails are lowered from above over the package of glass sheets. Bolts which rest on the carrying rails at the bottom pair of each pair of carrying rails can be slid in and the glass sheets rest on the bolts. This proposed construction, however, requires a very high head clearance in the premises and for the crane with which the carrying frame is used. The head clearance required for this purpose is not available in many cases however.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aim of the present invention is therefore that of creating a transport frame for thin giant glass sheets, which is placed on from one surface of the package of glass sheets and nevertheless makes possible reliable transport also of very thin glass sheets which are therefore not very resistant to sagging.

In order to achieve these and other aims the invention consists in that on the carrying frame behind the abutment surface for the glass sheets on each side holding members are provided which extend laterally beyond the glass sheets, can be moved in a horizontal direction, can be fixed in the desired position, and project out of the abutment surface of the carrying frame, the holding members being for their part provided with means which fit round the glass sheets at the lateral edges and can be clamped against the glass sheets.

Preferably the holding members are provided in the lower part of the frame and two or more such holding members are arranged one above the other so that as a result the field of application of the invention can be extended to glass sheets which are still thinner and.

larger in dimensions.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention as means for holding .the package of glass sheets, rods, straps or the like are provided which fit over the whole package and can be fixed at two oppositely placed holding members. It has been found particularly useful to provide for this purpose flexible straps, which can be fixed in position by means of plug bolts on the holding members and which can be clamped or tightened against the stack of glass sheets by horizontal displacement of the holding members.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention on the horizontally sliding holding members projecting out of the abutment plane rigid claws are provided which act on the edge zone of the glass sheets and these claws can be displaced on or in the projecting holding members in a direction perpendicular to the abutment surface of the frame. and can be fixed in the desired position. It has been found particularly surprisingly in this respect that this type of holding arranged at the edge zones of the glass package as well makes possible absolutely reliable transport, something which could not have been expected on the basis of experience made with holdings on the upper edge zone.

In accordance with a further development of the invention in the case of this second embodiment the rigid claws acting on the edge zone are adapted to be tightened or clamped with the help of lead screw drives against the stack of glass sheets.

LIST OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS Further features of the invention will be gathered from the patent claims and the following description in which with reference to the accompanying drawings two particularly convenient forms of the invention are described.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the novel carrying framein one view.

FIG. 2 is a view from above of the carrying frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the carrying frame shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the carrying frame in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of the holding means of the second embodiment of the invention in a detailed view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The carrying frame shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a conventional frame superstructure, consisting of two L-girders, other types of girders or tubes welded together to form a right angle and denoted by references 1 to 4. The frame is stiffened by a central support 5, diagonally arranged struts 6, 7 and the transverse struts 8 and 9. The vertical L-girders or the like or tubes 1 and 3 are extended beyond the lower horizontal girder. At the lower end of these

extensions carrying members

10, 11,12 which project at a right angle to the frame plane are arranged, which fit under the package 13 of glass sheets. The central carrying member 13 can be provided with an upwardly directed part at its front end. This upwardly projected part lies against the edge zone of the glass sheets and thus prevents a sagging at this position. On the top horizontal girder 2 a lifting eye 14 is attached in the middle, with which the carrying frame can be suspended from the hook of a crane.

On the vertical girders l and 3 lugs 16 are provided with a spacing between them which project outwards beyond the rectangular frame and have a rectangular cross-section. On these projecting lugs 16 the angular limbs 17, which can be displaced on the lug 16, are arranged together with holding members which comprise the limbs 18 forming the projecting parts. The limb 17 consists of U-girder, whose central web 19 is extended so that it extends over the girder l or 3, respectively. The limb 17 is held on the lug 16 by the plug or dowel bolts 15, which pass through suitable slots in the lateral webs of the U-girder. The center web 19 has a slot 20, through which the screw 21 passes. A lever nut 22 is screwed on the screw. The screw 21 is held on the carrying frame by a bracket 23, which is welded on the girder 1 and 3, respectively.

' On the holding

member

17, 18 holding means 25 with a U-shaped cross-section are attached. These holding means have a series of holes 26 which serve receiving plug bolts 27. The plug bolts 27 have a handle part 28 and fit into metallic sleeves 29, which are mounted in the end parts, constructed as loops, of flexible straps 30. The flexible straps consist of polyamide and have a breadth of approximately cm. For tightening the straps handles 32 are arranged on the holding

members

17, 18. Furthermore,

projections

34, 35 are mounted on the one hand on the middle web 19 of the sliding holding member and on the other hand on the girder l of the frame. With the help of these projections using a lever 36 the tension of the straps 30 can be further increased. As soon as the necessary degree of tightness has been achieved in the strap 30 the holding

member

17, 18 is fixed with the help of the lever nut 22.

In the glass warehouse the individual packages of glass are separated from each other by means of wooden battens or other intermediate members. These spacing members must be accordingly so constructed that the straps 30 can be drawn through between two packages of glass. This operation can be facilitated by placing threading strings between the individual packages of glass on stacking so that the strings can be used later for drawing the straps between the packages of glass.

The carrying frame represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 again comprises a frame construction 41 to 52. The central carrying member 51 again has on its front end a cranked up part, which at this position as well prevents a sagging of the glass sheets. On the

vertical carriers

41 and 43 at the side remote from the glass package angle pieces 53 are welded on with whose help continuous rectangular tubes 54 can be attached on the rear side of the frame and which extend laterally beyond the rectangular frame. In the ends of the rectangular tubes 54, rectangular tube pieces 55 are arranged in a sliding manner. They can be fixed within the rectangular tubes 54 with the help of plug bolts 56 which pass through corresponding holes.

On the rectangular tube pieces 55 guide tubes 58 are arranged which are set at the right angle to the pieces 55 and consist also of rectangular tube. In these guide tubes 58 the holding tubes 59 are mounted for sliding movement in the same direction as the guide tubes 58. This sliding movement is brought about via the lead screw 60 which is actuated with a handle 61. At the free end of the holding tubes 59 claws 62 are arranged which are cranked towards the glass package and the claws can be moved against the package of glass with the help of the

lead screw drive

60, 61. The surfaces of the claws 62 adapted to lie against the glass are provided with felt pads 63.

During the loading of this transport frame with a package of glass the first step is that of drawing out the plug bolts 56 or pins and drawing the lateral holding devices out of the rectangular tubes 54 to such an extent that the transport frame can be applied to the package of glass without the claws 62 being any obstacle in this respect. After the application of the transport frame the holding devices are drawn back into the rectangular tubes 54 and secured by means of the plug bolts or pins. Following this the claws 62 are brought into engagement with the package of glass by actuation of the hand wheels 61.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets in a vertical position, the frame having means for connecting it to a hoist and members having their forward faces arranged in a common generally vertical plane to form a generally vertical support for engaging one face of the glass, said frame also having carrying members at the lower end thereof projecting outwardly from said vertical support upon which the bottom edges of the glass can rest, said frame characterised in that a holding member is provided at each end of said frame and means securing said holding members to said vertical support; said holding members being adjustable in length for extension and contraction parallel to the plane of said vertical support; the ends of said holding members projecting outwardly from the plane of said vertical support in the same direction as said carrying members; glass engaging means on each of said holding members adapted to wrap around the edges of the glass sheets and to grip the edge portions of the forward face of the glass sheets for holding them against said vertical support.

2. A carrying frame as described in claim 1 wherein said glass engaging means is a flexible strap extending between and secured to each of said holding members and adapted to overlie the glass sheets whereby the glass sheets are firmly held in engagement with said vertical support.

3. A carrying frame for the transport of thin, giant glass sheets arranged in a vertical position, said frame having means for engagement by a hoist, said frame comprising: a plurality of rigid elements having their forward faces arranged in a common plane to form a substantially vertical sheet positioning surface, a pair of said elements, one at each side edge of said frame forming the sides of said frame; rigid sheet supporting members secured to and projecting forwardly from the lower portion of said rigid elements for engaging the lower edges of glass sheets; vertically spaced, laterally projecting members secured to each of the sides of said frame, said laterally projecting members being laterally adjustable in length and having forwardly extending portions, rigidly secured to their outer ends; each of said forwardly extending portions having glass sheet engaging means at their forward ends, said glass sheet engaging means being adjustable toward and away from said sheet positioning surface for clamping a plurality of glass sheets firmly against said positioning surface, said glass sheet engaging means applying positive clamping pressure to the sheets only adjacent the lateral edges thereof.

4. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets as described in claim 3 wherein said glass sheet engaging means includes a pair of telescoping elements and a threaded adjustment member extending lengthwise thereof for positively moving one of said elements with respect to the other.

5. A carrying frame for the transport of thin giant glass sheets as described in claim 3 wherein said glass sheet engaging means is a flexible strap; a strap anchoring element at each end thereof, said anchoring elements being movable lengthwise of said forwardly extending portions to accommodate packages of glass sheets of varying thickness.