GB2156312A

GB2156312A - Load handler

Info

Publication number: GB2156312A
Application number: GB08507269A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Frederick Margetts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-23
Filing date: 1985-03-20
Publication date: 1985-10-09
Also published as: DE3510511A1; GB8507269D0; GB8407573D0

Abstract

A load handler for holding a load whilst moving it from one position to another comprises a lower support means 31, 32 a movable load securing member 43 which is slidably mounted on an upwardly extending member 39. The handler also includes a horizontal engaging member 37 which includes a latch 45 for latching the load securing member 43 in its uppermost position. The load securing member 43 may be brought into and out of engagement with the load to be supported, by sliding the member 43 along the vertically extending member 39. The engaging member 37 includes a 35 number of holes through which attachment may be made to a crane or other lifting device in order to move the load handler. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load handler This invention relates to a load handler for holding a load during movement of the load. It relates especially to movement of short heavy loads such as billets.

Movement of load such as billets from the floor surface of the warehouse to a machine tool is typically carried out by placing a sling around the billet and moving the sling by a crane to the machine tool. The slings do not secure the load very efficiently and often the loads fall out of the slings.

This means that the load cannot be put in the sling and then left for a long time waiting to be placed in the machine tool. Another problem with a heavy load such as a billet is the difficulty in placing the sling around the billet and also removing it.

According to this invention a load handler for holding a load during movement of the load comprises lower support means for supporting the underside of the load, means engageable by a load lift device to allow the load handler, including the load, to be lifted, a vertically extending member connecting the lower support means and said load lift engageable means, and a load securing member mounted on the vertically extending member and being movable from a first position where a load may be removed from the handler to a second position where the load securing member engages a load positioned on the lower support means.

Such a device may be used to load billets etc.

into machine tools quickly and efficiently wasting a minimum of time and increasing safety. The load to be moved is moved into the lower support means and the load securing member is moved to a position where it engages the load to hold it securely within the handler. The handler is then lifted by a crane which engages the engaging means on the handler which then moves the load handler to a position adjacent the machine tool. The load securing member is then moved to its first position and the billet is moved from the load handler.

Preferably the lower support means comprises two parallel limbs which are joined together at one end by a perpendicular joining member, each limb having an inclined load engaging surface to provide support for a load in the form of a short round bar or billet.

The load or billet may be rolled in a direction perpendicular to the parallel limbs and is supported between the two limbs and secured by the load securing member.

In the case where the billet is a standard solid cylinder, the load handler is moved towards the billet in the direction of the parallel limbs towards the planar face of the billet which stands on its cylindrical surface. The parallel limbs are positioned beneath the widest part of the billet and the load handler is moved upwards so that the parallel limbs engage the cylindrical surface of the billet to support it.

Preferably the positioning of the two limbs is such that the two limbs fit in the spaces between the jaws of a three jaw chuck. This means that when the load is to be placed in the three jaw chuck the handler is brought towards the machine tool In a downwards direction so that it is supported by the three jaws of the chuck and the two lower supporting limbs. The load securing member is then moved to its first position and the handler is moved downwardly leaving the load held by the three jaw chuck.

Preferably the free ends of the lower support means include stops engageable with the load to hold the load securely.

Preferably these stops are adapted to be removed from the handler and replaced by new stops.

Preferably the means engageable by a load lift device includes a series of horizontally spaced apart holes which may be engaged by the hook of a load lift device such as crane, the hole engaged being determined by the centre of gravity of the particular load.

Preferably the handler includes a latching member to latch the load securing member at the highest point on the upwardly extending member.

The load securing member may be slidably mounted on the upwardly extending member or may be pivotally mounted with respect to the upwardly extending member.

In the case where the load securing member is pivotally mounted, preferably the load securing member consists of two parallel jaws which are parallel to the lower support means and pivotable about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertically extending member.

Preferably the load securing member comprises a substantially U-shaped member the jaws forming the walls of the U and having their free ends bent downwards.

Preferably the upwardly extending member carries a bracket which has two parallel plates extending backwards fr.om the bracket. The plates each have a hole bored into it and bearings are then placed between the holes and the holes adjacent to the U of the load securing member allowing the load securing member freely to rotate with respect to the bracket.

Preferably the bracket is slidably adjustable along the upwardly extending member and the load securing members may then be adjusted to the height of the load to be carried.

Preferably the bracket carries a stop which is engageable by one of the jaws of the load securing member to define a limit position so that the jaws do not extend further downwards than the lower support means.

The other limit position is formed by the base of the U-shaped member coming into contact with the upwardly extending member.

Preferably an over-centre tension spring is connected between the bracket and the centre of the U of the load securing member.

When the load securing member is close to its first position the spring biases it into the position and also when the load securing member is close SPECIFICATION Load handler This invention relates to a load handler for holding a load during movement of the load. It relates especially to movement of short heavy loads such as billets.

Such a device may be used to load billets etc.

Preferably the upwardly extending member carries a bracket which has two parallel plates extending backwards from the bracket. The plates each have a hole bored into it and bearings are then placed between the holes and the holes adjacent to the U of the load securing member allowing the load securing member freely to rotate with respect to the bracket.

When the load securing member is close to its first position the spring biases it into the position and also when the load securing member is close three jaw chuck which is a conventional machine tool. When a billet is to be placed in a three jaw chuck the billet is placed within the handler and secured to it by the load securing jaws 10 and 11.

The crane then lifts the load handler to a position where limbs 2 and 3 are parallel to the jaws of the three jaw chuck and the billet is supported by all five members, the load supporting member 9 is then moved to its first position and the load handler is dropped downwards leaving the billet supported by the three jaw chuck.

This handler provides a quick, efficient and safe method of moving heavy loads.

With reference to Figures 4 to 6, the second billet handler 30 has lower support means 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 exactly the same as the first billet handler 1.

The perpendicular member 37 is also identical to the first billet handler 1.

Joined to the joining member 38 is the upwardly extending member 39, which is a smooth vertical cylinder with a flattened vertical face 40 facing in the opposite direction to the parallel members 31, 32 and 37.

Slidably mounted on vertical member 39 is bracket 41.

The bracket 41 has a cylindrical bore extending verticvally therethrough. The bracket also has a horizontal smooth bolt extending therethrough so that the bolt is in contact with the flattened face 40 of vertical member 39.

The horizontal bolt has a handle 42 by which it may be rotated. Attached to bracket 41 is horizontal rod 43 which extends forwards of the vertical member.

At the forward end of the rod 43 is stop 44 which is used to engage the front upper surface of the billet. Slidably mounted on rod 43 is downwardly depending backstop 46 which may be locked into position by means of rotatable bolt 47. This stop 44 is subject to wear and may be removed and replaced with a new stop when necessary.

A latch 45 is pivotally mounted on upper member 37 and is used to lock the rod 43 at a position close to the top of vertical member 39.

When the load handler 30 is to be used, it is moved towards the billet in the direction of parallel limbs 31 and 32 with the limbs 31 and 32 beneath the widest part of the billet with the latch 45 holding the rod 43 in.its highest position. The latch 45 is then released and the rod 43 drops smoothly down the verticval member 39 until it contacts the top of the billet. The backstop 46 is then slid forwards until it contacts the back of the billet and bolt 47 is then tightened to lock the backstop in position.

Thus the billet is supported underneath by parallel limbs 31 and 32, at the front by stops 35, 36 and 44 and behind by backstops 46. Again the front stops 35, 36 are subject to wear and may be removed by loosening nuts 48 and 9 replaced by new stops.

The billet exerts an upwards force on the front end of rod 43 which exerts a turning force on the bracket 41 with respect to vertical member 39. Friction between horizontal bolt and the flat face 40 locks the bracket 20 in position.

The load handler 30 is then moved to bring the billet into the required position, by engaging the hook of a crane within loop 49. By rotating handle 42 and the horizontal bolt the friction between the bolt and face 40 is released allowing the rod 43 to slide upwards to be engaged by latch member 45 so that the load handler 30 may be moved away from the billet.

Claims

1. A load handler for holding a load during movement of the load comprising a lower support means for supporting the underside of the load, means engagable by a load lift device to allow the load handler, including the load, to be lifted, a vertically extending member connecting the lower support means and said load lift engagable means, and a load securing member mounted on the vertically extending member and being movable from a first position in which the load may be removed from the handler to a second position where the load securing member engages a load positioned on the lower support means.

2. A load handler according to Claim 1 in which the load securing member comprises two parallel jaws which are parallel to the lower support means and pivotal about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertically extending member.

3. A load handler according to Claim 1 in which the load securing member comprises a single rod parallel to the lower support means and slidably mounted on the vertically extending member.

4. A load handler according to Claim 3 in which the load securing member includes at its free end a stop engageable with a load to hold the load securely, said stop being adapted to be removed from the handler and replaced by a new stop.

5. A load handler according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the load securing member has slidably mounted on it a back support member which depends downwardly from the lower securing member.

6. A load handler according to Claim 5 in which the back support member includes means to lock the back support member in position along the load securing member.

7. A load handler according to any of the preceding claims in which the lower support means comprises two parallel limbs joined together at one end by a perpendicular joining member, each limb having an inclined load engaging surface to provide support for a load in the form of a short round bar or billet.

8. A load handler according to any of the preceding claims in which the free ends of the lower support means include stops engageable with the load to hold the load securely, said stops being adapted to be removed from the handler and replaced by new stops.

9. A load handler according to any of the preceding claims in which the means engageable by a load lift device includes a series of horizontally spaced apart holes, one of which may be engaged by the hook of a load lift device such as a crane, the hole engaged being determined by the centre of gravity of the particular load.

10. A load handler according to any of the preceding claims in which there is included a latch member to latch the load securing member at the highest point on the vertically extending member.

11. A load handler according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

12. A load handler substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.