GB2376455A

GB2376455A - Counter-weighted load handling

Info

Publication number: GB2376455A
Application number: GB0110315A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: BERESFORD PHILIP
Current assignee: BERESFORD PHILIP
Priority date: 2001-04-27
Filing date: 2001-04-27
Publication date: 2002-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-27
Also published as: GB0110315D0; GB2376455B

Abstract

Apparatus 10 for moving concrete beams and the like. The apparatus 10 including a carriage 16 pivotally mounted on axle means 14 having a pair of spaced wheels 12. An elongate handle means 60 extends to one side of the carriage 16 and a lifting means 40, 50, 52 extends to an opposite side, the lifting means 40, 50, 52 is engageable with an article to be moved. The apparatus 10 includes weight means 64 movable along the elongate handle means 60 to at least partially counterbalance the weight of an article being engaged. Preferably, the weight can be locked in place and added or removed, as necessary.

Description

Article Moving Apparatus The present invention relates to article moving apparatus and particularly but not exclusively apparatus for moving concrete beams.

The handling of building materials is a recognised hazard in the construction industry, and many types of apparatus exist to enable handling to be performed mechanically rather than manually. These may take the form of grabs or lifting apparatus fitted to cranes, fork trucks or the like. However, very often, the use of such apparatus, although improving safety, can be slow and cumbersome, and in certain situations where access is difficult or the working area is confined, the use of such apparatus may not be possible. An example of such a situation is the moving of concrete beams within partially or wholly constructed buildings.

According to the present invention there is provided article moving apparatus, the apparatus including a ground engaging part, elongate handle means extending to one side of the ground engaging part and lifting means engageable with an article to be moved and extending to an opposite side of the ground engaging part such that the apparatus is pivotally movable about the ground engaging part, and weight means movable along the elongate handle means, whereby to at least partially counterbalance the weight of an article being engaged by the lifting means.

The weight means may be slidably movable along the elongate handle means. The weight means include securing means to selectively secure the weight means in position on the handle means. The weight means may be removable from the handle means. The weight means may include a plurality of weights which may be selectively removable from the handle means.

The apparatus may include a carriage mounted on the ground engaging part. The carriage may include mounting means for mounting the lifting means. The mounting means may permit adjustment of the height of the lifting

means and/or adjustment of the angle of the lifting means relative to the handle means. The mounting means may permit removal of the lifting means..

The lifting means may include an elongate lifting member. The lifting member may include adjustment means to alter the length of the lifting member. The lifting member may be telescopic. The lifting means may further include an engagement means, selectively engageable with an article.

The lifting means may include a scissor grab. Alternatively the lifting means may include a chain, hook or a sling.

Preferably the handle means includes an elongate bar, which bar member may be mounted on the carriage.

A pair of parallel bars may be provided. Weight means may be provided on each bar member, or the weight means may be mounted on both of the bars.

The handle means may include a handle member transversely extending from the or each bar. The handle member may extend between the bars.

The ground engaging part may include wheel means. Preferably the wheel means includes a pair of spaced wheels. Preferably the wheels are mounted on axle means. Preferably the carriage is mounted on the axle means.

Preferably the axle means defines an axis about which the apparatus pivots.

The carriage may include protection means mounted on the carriage.

The protection means may be located on the side of the carriage from which the lifting member extends, to prevent an article being moved from abutting the carriage. The protection means may be formed from a resiliently flexible material, and is desirably formed from rubber.

A stop means may be provided, mounted on or adjacent to the handle

means to prevent the weight means from abutting against the carriage.

In an alternative embodiment, the lifting means may be pivotally mounted on the mounting means. The mounting means may include operating means to raise and lower the lifting means. The operating means may include an hydraulically operated piston.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. 1 is a side view of a first article moving apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the article moving apparatus fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a second article moving apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an article moving apparatus 10 includes ground engaging parts in the form of two wheels 12 mounted on an axle 14. A carriage 16 is mounted on the axle 14. The carriage 16 includes two similar side members 18,20. The side members 18,20 each include parallel upstanding end members 22,24 and upper, intermediate and lower cross members 26,28, 30 extending between the end members 22,24. Lateral members 32,34 extend between the lower ends of end members 22 and 24 respectively.

The carriage 16 includes mounting means, including a plurality of first and second through holes 36,38 in the end members 22,24 respectively, the holes in corresponding end members 22,24 being aligned so that a bolt or other may be passed therethrough. A lifting member 40 extends outwardly and upwardly from between the end members 22 past the end members 24 and to one side of the carriage 16. The lifting member 40 defines a plurality of through holes 42 such that a fastening such as a bolt 44 extends through the

first holes 36 in the end members 22 and through one of the lifting member through holes 42 to secure an end of the lifting member 40. Similarly, a fastening such as a bolt 46 extends through one of the second through holes 38 in the opposite end members 24. This bolt 46 may similarly pass through a through hole provided in the lifting member, or more conveniently, the lifting member may rest on the bolt 46.

The opposite, free end of the lifting member 40 is provided with a plurality of through holes 48. A suitable engaging means is mounted on the free end of the lifting member. In the drawings the engaging means includes a short length of chain 50, attached to the lifting member by a shackle through one of the through holes 48, and a scissor grab 52. In Fig. 1 the scissor grab 52 is shown in engagement with an article 54 such as a concrete beam. The scissor grab 52 is a commonly known apparatus and will not be described here.

It will be readily seen that by altering which of the holes used in the end members 22,24, the angle of the lifting member 40 and the height of the lifting member 40 may both be adjusted. Further, by altering the holes used at the lower end of the lifting member 40, the amount of extension of the lifting member 40 to the side of the carriage 16 may be adjusted. By altering the hole 48 used by the chain shackle at the upper end of the lifting member 40, the distance of the engaging means from the carriage may be adjusted.

Two substantially parallel elongate bars 60 extend from the carriage 16 on the side opposite the lifting member 40. Each bar 60 is mounted on the intermediate cross member 28 by means of a bracket 68, with a through bolt 70 securing the bar 60 in position. At the free end of the bars 60, a handle 62 in the form of a transverse bar, extends between and to either side of the bar 60.

A weight 64 is provided on each bar 60. Each weight 64 has the form of a hollow cylinder, and is shdable along the bar 60. The bars 60 include a plurality of apertures 74. The weights 64 each include an aperture which allows a bolt to be passed through the apertures in the weight 64 and bar 60 to secure the weight 64 in a required one of plurality of positions along the bar 60.

The adjacent weights on the bar members may be linked by connecting means 72 for ease of use.

Protection means in the form of a pad 82 of resiliently flexible material such as rubber extends across the carriage 16 on said one side to prevent an article 54 being carried from abutting the carriage 16. Further protection means in the form of a second pad 80 again of resiliently flexible material such as rubber extends across the opposite side of the carriage 16 to prevent the weights 64 from abutting the carriage 16.

In use, the apparatus 0 is wheeled into position near to the article 54 to be moved, and the article 54 is engaged by the engagement means, in this case, the scissor grab 52. To do this, it is necessary to pivot the apparatus 10 about the axle 4 so that the lifting member 40 is lowered towards the article 54, and the scissor grab 52 can then be attached thereto. To ease this operation, the weights 64 are moved along the bars 60 to a position close to the carriage 10.

The angle, height and extension of the lifting member 40 may be adjusted in the carriage 16 to accommodate different size articles 54. W When the article 54 is attached, the handle 62 is swung downwards, pivoting the apparatus and lifting the article 54 off the floor. The weights 64 are then, or have previously been, moved along the bars 60 away from the carriage 16 to a position in which the weights substantially counterbalance the weight of the article 54. The weights 64 may be secured in position by the holt 66 inserted through the weights, and the respective holes 74 in the bars.

Further weights or alternative weights may be added to adjust the counterbalance weight, dependent on the weight of the article. Once the weights 64 have been moved to counterbalance the article 54, the apparatus 10 and the article 54 are moved by utilising the handle 62 sideways. The counterbalanced load is much easier to manoeuvre than an uncounterbalanced load would be.

When in or near to a desired new position for the article 54, release of

the article from the apparatus is the reverse of the above. The weights 64 may be unsecured and moved towards the carriage 10, and the article 54 is lowered by pivoting the apparatus 10 about the axle 15. The scissor grab 52 is released from the article 54, and if not moved previously, the weights 64 are moved towards the carriage 16 to enable ready manoeuvring of the apparatus 10 It will thus be seen that the invention provides a convenient apparatus for the moving of heavy, awkward articles, and is particularly suitable for the moving of concrete beams in partially constructed buildings, especially on elevated floors where powered lift trucks may not be usable. The sliding counterweight offsets the weight of the article, improving manoeuvrability, reducing strain and fatigue of the user and making the task of moving the article easier, quicker and safer.

In a further embodiment, shown in Fig. 3, a lifting member 140 is pivotally mounted on the apparatus at one end, and operating means in the form of an hydraulic cylinder 190 are provided to raise and lower the lifting member. The hydraulic cylinder 190 may be actuated by a manual pump. The use of the hydraulic cylinder Improves the flexibility of the apparatus since the lifting and lowering of the load, and any adjustment of the height and angle of the lifting member, can be performed by the hydraulic operation of the lifting member.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the carriage may be of different construction.. The number of bar members may be different. The number, size and shape of the weights may be varied and the method of attachment and securing of the weights to the bars may be different. Different engaging means may be provided. A stand may be provided in the vicinity of the handle extendable to the ground to provide a rest position for the apparatus.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable

feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 Article moving apparatus, the apparatus including a ground engaging part, elongate handle means extending to one side of the ground engaging part and lifting means engageable with an article to be moved and extending to an opposite side of the ground engaging part such that the apparatus is pivotally movable about the ground engaging part, and weight means movable along the elongate handle means, whereby to at least partially counterbalance the weight of an article being engaged by the lifting means.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the weight means is slidably movable along the elongate handle means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the weight means includes securing means to selectively secure the weight means in position on the handle means.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the weight means is removable from the handle means.
5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the weight means includes a plurality of weights.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, in which the weights are selectively removable from the handle means.
7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the apparatus includes a carriage mounted on the ground engaging part.

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8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the carriage includes mounting means for mounting the lifting means.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which the mounting means permits adjustment of the height of the lifting means and/or adjustment of the angle of

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the lifting means relative to the handle means.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, in which the mounting means permits removal of the lifting means.
11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the lifting means includes an elongate lifting member.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which the lifting member includes adjustment means to alter the length of the lifting member.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which the lifting member is telescopic.
14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the lifting means includes an engagement means, selectively engageable with an article.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the engagement means includes a scissor grab.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14, in which the lifting means includes a chain, hook or a sling.
17. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the handle means includes an elongate bar.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 7, in which the bar is mounted on the carriage.
19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18, in which a, pair of parallel bars is provided.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, in which weight means is provided on each bar member.

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21. Apparatus according to claim 19, in which the weight means is mounted on both of the bars.
22. Apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 21, in which the handle means includes a handle member transversely extending from the or each bar.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22 when dependent on any of claims 19 to 21, in which the handle member extends between the bars.
24. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the ground engaging part includes wheel means.
25. Apparatus according to claim 24, in which the wheel means includes a pair of spaced wheels.
26. Apparatus according to claim 25, in which the wheels are mounted on axle means.
27. Apparatus according to claim 26 when dependent on claim 7, in which the carriage is mounted on the axle means.
28. Apparatus according to claim 26 or claim 27, in which the axle means defines an axis about which the apparatus pivots.
29. Apparatus according to claim 7 and any of claims 8 to 28 when dependent on claim 7, in which the carriage includes protection means mounted on the carriage.
30. Apparatus according to claim 29, in which the protection means is located on the side of the carriage from which the lifting means extends, to prevent an article being moved from abutting the carriage.
31. Apparatus according to claim 29 or claim 30, in which the protection means is formed from a resiliently flexible material.

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32. Apparatus according to claim 31, in which the protection means is formed from rubber.
33. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which a stop means is provided, mounted on or adjacent to the handle means to prevent the weight means from abutting against the carriage.
34. Apparatus according to claim 8 and any of claims 9 to 33 when dependent on claim 8, in which the lifting means is pivotally mounted on the mounting means.
35. Apparatus according to claim 34, m which the mounting means includes operating means to raise and lower the lifting means.
36. Apparatus according to claim 35, in which the operating means includes an hydraulically operated piston.
37. Apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3.
38. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.