GB2395937A

GB2395937A - Manual carrying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2395937A
Application number: GB0228572A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Bance; Barry Deane Steel
Original assignee: Roger Bance & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Roger Bance & Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-06
Filing date: 2002-12-06
Publication date: 2004-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-06
Also published as: GB2395937B; GB0228572D0

Abstract

Manual apparatus 10 for carrying elongate, heavy or awkwardly shaped articles such as concrete cable troughs 40 or sleepers comprises a longitudinally extending support frame 12 having one or more pairs of hand-holds 22 and an article cradle 28, preferably suspended beneath the support frame; the hand-holds are positioned on the frame to enable pairs of operatives to act in tandem to lift and carry the apparatus and the cradle is orientated with respect to the support frame such that the article is generally longitudinally aligned with the support frame and between pairs of operatives. The apparatus may have cross-handles 22 or two tandem handles on each end (Fig 3). The cradles can be suspended on movable chains 38, can be of adjustable width or L-shaped (Fig 2). As an alternative, a U-shaped cradle (52, Fig 3) with V-shaped supports can have handles 22 on each end. The handles can be rotated to maintain the article level during carrying.

Description

_ticle Carrvino Apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for manually

carrying elongate, hcaN y or awkward articles such as concrete cable troughs or railway sleepers.

Concrete cable troughs are laid alongside railway tracks to house and protect cables for signalling etc. These cable troughs can be as much as] 000 mm long by 440 mm high by 340 trim wide and weigh up to 1 15 Kg. The European guideline maximum weight for a person to lift is 25 Kg. The cable troughs have to be manhandled from a 10 point of delivery to the point of use along the railway track; clearly the ground over which the cradle troughs are carried can be rough and uneven, typically the rail bed is gravel and the sleepers and rails provide obstacles. Currently the b-oughs are simply lifted by operatives (trackmen) holding on wherever they can, the troughs are heavy and require two or more trackmen to lift and carry a trough. This can readily result in 15 injury, either to trackmen's hands in lifting the troughs or generally as the result of the awkward carrying position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide article carrying apparatus that overcomes the above difficl]ties and mitigates a,ainst operative injury.

According to the present invention, manual apparatus for carrying elongate, heavy or awkwardly shaped articles comprises a longitudinally extending support frame having one or more pairs of hand-holds and an article cradle, the hand-holds being positioned on the frame to enable pairs of operatives to act in tandem to lift and carry the 25 apparatus and the cradle being orientated with respect to the support frame such that the article is generally longitudinally aligned with the support frame and between pairs of operatives. The tandem orientation enables operatives to walk one behind the other along narrow paths or beside the railway track and readily manoeuvre and control the article.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cradle is suspended beneath the support frame. This enables the operatives to hold the support frame at a comfortable working height; such as with the handholds by their sides or on their shoulders.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the can-yin" apparatus is arranged to permit rotation of the cradle about the longitudinal axis of the support frame and with respect to the operatives; whereby, in use, the transverse attitude of 5 the cradle will always remain substantially parallel to the ground and the article will not slide of in transit. This rotation also enables operatives of different heights or standing on different levels to constantly bear the same load.

The above and further features of the present invention are illustrated, by way of 10 example, in the Drawings; wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 15 and, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown by Fig. 1, manual cable trough canying apparatus consists of a support 20 frame 10 in the fowl of an elongate main spar 12, of steel rod or tube, having steel rod or tube crosspieces 14, 16 proximate each end] 8, 20. Hand-holds 22 are provided at the spar ends 18, 20 and at the ends of the cross-pieces 14, 16. A trough cradle 24 takes the forth of a pair of grapples 26, 28 each comprising a cross-ann 30 to each of which two depending, hooks 32, 34, having small, mutually-opposed feet, are bolted.

25 Each grapple is suspended by a chain 38 attached to the centre of each cross-ann 30 and rotatably jounnalled by sings to the main spar 12.

In use, the grapple hooks 32, 34 are positioned under a concrete cable trough 40 (indicated in dotted forth in the figure) and then lifted by two or four operatives 30 (trackmen); depending on the weight of the trough. Two trackmen would use the spar hand-holds 22, both facing in the same direction and one behind the other, in tandem, so that so that the cable trough 40 is suspended between then. The length of the chains 38 and hooks 32, 34 are such that the cable trough can be lifted and carried clear of the ground with the trackman 's hands comfortably by their sides.

The chain suspension of the cradle enables the can-ier to be raised, louvered and rocked (about the main spar's longitudinal axis) whilst the orientation of the cradle and trough remains substantially constant. The hooks 32, 34 small feet ease loading 5 and unloading of troughs as the trough only needs to be rocked from side-to-side for the hooks to be arranged under the lateral edges of the trough.

The cross-ans 30 are pierced by a series of bolt holes 4(), so that the separation of the 38 can be adjusted to accommodate various widths of trough. The chains 38 can 10 also slide longitudinally of the main spar 12, to accommodate different lengths of trough. Heavier cable troughs would need to be lifted by four trackmen, each using one of the handholds 22 on the cross-pieces 14, 16; such that two trackmen would be shou] der 15 to-shoulder at the Font of the canter and the other two shoulderto-shoulder at the rear; the trackmen also being in tanden1 to either side of the longitudinal axis of the main spar 12.

In an unillustrated embodiment, the cross pieces 14, 16 could be replaced by an 20 extended main spar, with additional hand-holds provided at each end 18, 20; the separation of the hand-holds being such as to enable two trackmei1 to be positioned one behind the other at each end of the carrier. This enables heavy troughs to be can-ied along narrow paths or through narrow openings.

25 Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a cable trough carrier 42 in accordance with the present invention, the only difference from the Fig. I cattier is that invested G-shaped hooks 44 replace the grapples 26, 28. An upper leg 46 of each hook is attached to a respective suspension chain 38. The alignment of the attachment leg 46 to the hook 44 is such that, in use, the hooks balance with the open hook end 46 higher than the 30 hook body 48; such that troughs of any shape or width can be retained in the hooks.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of a cable trough carrier 50 in accordance with the present invention to consist of an elongate, U-shaped cradle 52 of square section metal bar or tube; the length of the cradle being sufficient to accommodate the longest

trough. Tiansverse, inducted angle-iron cross-pieces 54, 56 are attached to the bottom bar 58 of the cradle and straight support arms 6(), 62 extend for\vardly and reavard]y from the cradle Uprights 64, 66. Two handholds 22 are provided on each end arm 60, 62; the separation of the handholds being such as to enable two trackmen to be 5 positioned one behind the other at each end of the canter 50 for a four man lift. Again, the two or four trackman are in tandem one behind the other, enabling troughs to be carried along narrow paths or through nanow openings.

In use, a concrete trough (not shown) is positioned centrally on the angle irons 54, 56; I () the ridges of which minimise friction for sliding troughs onto and off the cradle 52.

This embodiment of car ier has no moving parts; any shape or size of trough can be accommodated; the straight support anus allow the handholds to turn in a tracknan's hand so that the transverse attitude of the cradle will always remain substantially 15 parallel to the ground and the trough will not slide of in transit. The vertical offset between the cradle bottom bar 58 and the support anus 60, 62 provides balance and a comfortable working height above ground.

A ring or handle (not shown) may be attached to one end only of each cross-piece 54, 20 56 and on the same side; the sings assist in removal of the trough from the cradle.

Claims

Claims:

1. Manual apparatus for carrying elongate, heavy or aNNkNNardly shaped articles comprising a longitudinally extending support flame having one or more pairs 5 of hand-holds and an article cradle, the hand-holds being positioned on the frame to enable pairs of operatives to act in tandem to lift and carry the apparatus and the cradle being orientated with respect to the support frame such that the article is generally longitudinally aligned with the support frame and between pairs of operatives.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle is suspended beneath the support frame.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and ananged to permit rotation of the cradle 15 about the longitudinal axis of the support frame and with respect to the operatives; whereby, in use, the transverse attitude of the cradle will always remain substantially parallel to the ground and the article will not slide off in transit. 20

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cradle comprises a pair of article grapples or hooks suspended by chains beneath the support frame.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claims, wherein the chains are rotatably attached to the support frame.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cradle is 13-shaped and the support frame comprises two anus respectively extending forwardly and rearwardly from the cradle uprights.

30

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and claim 6, wherein the support anns are straight whereby, in use, the hand-holds can tunn in a backman's hand to maintain the transverse attitude of the cradle.

s

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims to 5, Herein the support finale comprises an elongate main spar and crosspieces proximate each end; hand ho]ds being provided at the spar ends and at the ends of the cross-pieces to permit of two and four operative use.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims to 7, wherein additional handholds provided at each end of the support frame; the separation of the hand-holds being SUC]1 as to enable two operatives to be positioned one behind the other at each end of the carrier.

] 0. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims I to 9, wherein the article is a concrete cable trough.

11. Manual apparatus for carrying elongate, heavy or awkwardly shaped articles 15 substantially as described with reference to or as shown by the Drawings.