NZ543546A - Pipe or log grapple with hydraulically extendible gripping fingers - Google Patents

Abstract

A pipe handling clamp for mounting to the arm of a machine such as a digger includes a rotator 8 having the upper part 5 fixedly mounted to the end of the machine arm and a lower part rotatable with respect to the upper part and to which the active parts of clamp are attached. The main clamp semicircular hollow body sections 1 are hinged together at 2 and supported by square section extendable brackets 6 from the lower part of the rotator. Semicircular tongues 3 are housed within the hollow body sections and can be propelled in and out of the body sections by actuation of the hydraulic rams 4 which act between a connection to the lower portion of the rotator and the respective connection 7 on each tongue. When the tongues are fully withdrawn into the body sections, finger-like projections at the top end of the tongues are meshed together and cross over beneath the hinge to lock the hinge in open position so that the clamp can be placed over the top of the pipe to be placed. When the tongues 3 are projected out of the bodies 1 by the rams 4 they slide around the pipe to support the pipe from below without increasing the overall size of the clamp, and allow the hinge to close up. When the tongues are fully extended, the brackets 6 are also fully extended so that the weight of the pipe is supported by the extended brackets rather than by the hydraulic cylinders.

Description

543546 Received at IPONZ on 18 February 2010 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Hydraulic extending clamp for handling pipes I, William Patrick KEEHAN, a New Zealand citizen of P O Box 584, Taupo, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 543546 Received at IPONZ on 18 February 2010 Hydraulic extending clamp for handling pipes TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to pipe handling by a machine imperator without the need for other labour, in confined spaces, or in dangerous situations. The handling of heavy pipe is achieved by various types of cranes and requires extra labour to attach the pipe to the crane using ropes or chains, and leaves the pipe swinging uncontrolled.

BACKGROUND ART Field of the Invention By removing the bucket from an excavator (for example) and replacing it with this invention, and alternatively connecting a rotator, the operator can then pick up and place pipe without the need for 15 other labour and has complete control either in a drain which he has dug, up in a building in a factory construction situation, and in limited areas such as confined trenches.

At present where pipe handling is required, ropes or chains attach the pipe to the machine. This requires labour other than the machine operator and does not give the operator complete control, thereby allowing the pipe to swing uncontrolled. With this invention the machine operator has 20 complete control hydraulically and can pick up and place pipe at will.

With the use of a hydraulic powered rotator the operator can turn the pipe completely around with the pipe held firmly crowd ram on the machine can give another control dimension at the operators command.

This clamp can be used as a detachable implement for, but not limited to, an excavator, HIAB, 25 telescopic boom extension, forklift, loader or robotic arm.

This clamp can, for example, be used in a factory on an overhead gantry to move product without the need to clear floor space as would need to be done with other machinery, e.g. a forklift.

Summary of the Invention The use of this equipment on a truck-type crane, for example, would allow the truck driver to handle pipe onto and off a truck on his own and in complete safety and without the need for additional personnel.

The object is to allow the operator to handle heavy pipe-work on his own and be far enough away 35 to be out of harms reach as he would not need to lay a hand on the pipe. 2 543546 Received at IPONZ on 18 February 2010 This tool consists of two main sections, namely; (a) the arms which are made up of the attachment (5), two hydraulic rams (4) and (4) and four mounting brackets (6), (6), (6) and (6), and, (b) the clamp, which is made up of two body sections (1) and (1), connecting hinges (2) and the extension tongues (3).

To be able to handle products of a different diameter the hands will need to be changed to suit the diameter of the respective object. To this end, the arm and hands will be held together by six 10 removable pins (7). When different sized objects are to be handled the appropriate hand will be attached to the arms by pulling out the six pins, changing the hand and replacing the pins.

BRIEF REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS Sketch 1 Sketch 2 Sketch 3 SUMMARY (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) shows the tongues extended, the hinge now able to operate and the clamp holding a pipe, shows the tongues fully retracted and the hinge stopped from operating, and shows a side-view of the present invention OF PARTS Curved body sections Hinge Retractable tongues Hydraulic rams Mounting hitch Weight-bearing telescopic mounting brackets Removable mounting pins Hydraulic rotator 543546 Received at IPONZ on 18 February 2010 FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Sketch 1 shows how the hydraulic rams (4) and (4) can perform numerous functions when activated, namely; they extend the tongues (3) and (3) which, when extended, 5 unlock the hinge (2) and when the rams (4) and (4) reach full extension they cause the clamp to close firmly on the pipe. The four mounting brackets (6) need to telescope to allow the clamp to close. The mounting brackets (6) alone carry the weight of the pipe so that that the hydraulic rams (4) and (4) do not carry this weight. All of these functions occur when the hydraulic rams (4) and (4) are extended.

The hydraulic rotator (8) will lock in position, by a pin dropping into a one of a series of holes, when the flow of oil to this rotator is discontinued. The rotator locks can also be unlocked without rotating so as to allow the rotator to be turned manually.

Sketch 2 shows the tongues (3) and (3) fully retracted inside the body sections (1) and (1) 15 and crossing from one body section to the other under the hinge (2) thereby locking the hinge, prohibiting it from working. The ends of the tongues (3) and (3) inside the body sections (1) and (1) may be finger-jointed allowing them to retract further into the body sections (1) and (1) if required.

Sketch 3 shows a side view of the tool where the mounting of the hydraulic arm (4) to the tongue (3) can be seen. The hinges (2) allow the body sections (1) to swing together under pressure from the rams (4) when the tongues (3) are fully extended.

DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE INVENTION OPERATES With the tongues (3) and (3) retracted, the tool, mounted on an excavator, is placed on top of the pipe to be lifted. The hydraulic rams (4) and (4) are activated and the tongues (3) and (3) are extended around the pipe. At the same time as the rams (4) and (4) reach full extension the tongues (3) and (3) have cleared the space under the hinge (2) which allows the body sections (1) 30 and (1) to swing together thereby firmly gripping the pipe to be lifted. When the pipe is in the desired position the rams (4) and (4) are retracted which pulls the tongues (3) and (3) from around the pipe and the tool is lifted clear.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be 35 appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. 4 543546 Received at IPONZ on 18 February 2010 The handling of round products such as pipe or drums traditionally creates problems with respect to lifting safely. Generally ropes, strops or chain slings are used which can slip off and they also require labour other than the machine operator to attach them to the machine.

With the present invention, with it being attached to a machine such as an excavator via a quick hitch system, the handling of pipe or the like becomes quick and safe and does not require other labour.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The main aspects of this invention are that the body consists of two % round hollow sections. A hinge joins these body sections along one side which allows them to swing together and close firmly on an object. The body sections are controlled by two double-acting hydraulic rams.

The hydraulic rams are attached to tongues inside the body sections which extend from the lower end of the body sections thereby increasing the amount of the lifted object to be firmly held.

When the lifted object is in place, the tongues are retracted by the hydraulic rams and the body sections swing clear.

As the tongues retract into the body sections the top ends of them extend from one body section to the other under the hinge. This is made possible by the top end of the tongues being shaped so they interlock with each other.

With the tongues retracted the hinge is locked open and will stay open until the tongues are again extended.

By extending around an object to be lifted this clamp uses very little more space when lifting than when empty. This allows it to work in confined space more easily.

The hydraulic rams control all major movement in the clamp in sequence: (1) the tongues are extended, (2) the hinge is unlocked, (3) the clamp closes on the object to be lifted, (4) the mounting brackets take the weight. 543546 Recieved at IPONZ 24 Feb 2010

Claims (7)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. This tool is attached to a machine (e.g. an excavator) with the bucket removed via a hydraulic rotator. 1.1. The rotator allows the machine operator to place an object (e.g. a pipe) accurately. 1.

2. The non-rotating, upper part of the rotator is coupled to the operating machine. 1.

3. The lower part, which rotates, has all of the active parts of the tool attached to it. 1.

4. The active parts of the tool consist of: 1.4.1. Four support brackets which can extend and are attached at the top end of the rotator and the lower end to the main clamp body sections - two each. 1.4.2. Two hydraulic rams which are attached at the top opposite each other to the lower section of the hydraulic rotator and the other end, to the extending tongues which are inside the main body sections. 1.4.3. Two semicircular hollow body sections joined together along one edge to form a half-circle by an externally mounted hinge which allows them to swing towards one another as the hydraulic rams extend and the hinge is unlocked. 1.4.4. Two extending tongues which are inside the main body sections. These tongues are propelled in and out of the body sections by the hydraulic rams which are attached to them. It is these tongues that extend around the object to be lifted without substantially increasing the overall size of the tool. 1.4.

5. The top end of the tongues are shaped like fingers so that they can mesh together and cross over under the hinge from one body section to the other thereby locking the hinge until the tongues are fully extended, and then the top end of the tongues are back in their own body sections, and this allows the hinge to close. 1.4.

6. The support brackets need to be made from square material so as to help stop the tool from twisting when in operation. 1.4.

7. These brackets extend and reach full extension when the hydraulic rams are close to full extension, therefore the rams will not be required to carry the load. WILLIAM PATRICK KEEHAN