LIFTING MEANS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lifting means according to the preamble of claim 1. A lifting means of this type is disclosed in JP-A-50118455.

[0002] The object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting means. Said object is achieved by the characterising features of claim 1.

[0003] A further lifting means is known from US patent specification 4,447,085. This known lifting device has a cylindrical housing which can be inserted into a conically tapering hole. The hooks, which protrude outward with respect to the cylindrical housing, are initially pushed inward, and issue outward at the rear edge of the hole. Furthermore, this known lifting means has operating rods which can be operated by levers. As the cylindrical housing is inserted further into the hole, these levers also enter into contact with the cone, in such a way that the hooks tilt inward and the lifting means can be removed from the hole.

[0004] This known lifting means has various drawbacks. First of all, there are no interlocking arrangements by means of which the hooks can be reliably kept in interaction with the object in question. Furthermore, the cylindrical housing has a relatively large diameter, as a result of which the lifting means is not suitable for use in objects wherein merely a small hole can be formed. Examples include the cutter heads of cutter suction dredgers, which articles do have a high weight, but on the other hand have fairly narrow, elongate arms wherein merely small holes can be formed.

[0005] A further drawback is the fact that the ratio between the carrying capacity and the diameter of this known lifting means is fairly small. As a result, it is not readily possible to handle large loads using a relatively small lifting means. The term "large loads" refers to the loads which are for example in practice hoisted with the aid of hoisting chains and hoisting links. Furthermore, it is not readily possible to raise the hoisting loads in various hoisting directions. As a consequence of the conical shape of the hole wherein the known lifting means is mounted, the hoisting direction must be almost centered with respect to the axis of that hole and it may not deviate laterally or be directed obliquely.

[0006] The rod assembly according to the invention necessitates a compact construction of the lifting means, wherein the carrying body can have fairly small cross-sectional dimensions. As a result, the lifting means according to the invention can be made to interact effectively with relatively small holes. Furthermore, the carrying body can have, owing to its compact construction, high strength and rigidity, and for example be embodied in a solid manner. The carrying body can be mounted in a fairly long hole having a constant cross section. As a result, bending moments can also be transmitted between the carrying body and the object, meaning that obliquely directed hoisting loads are also acceptable.

[0007] The hook and the rod assembly can be interlocked in their outermost positions. For this purpose, provision is made for the rod assembly to comprise a lock which is coupled to the operating rod at the end thereof which is remote from the coupling rod. By means of said lock, the rod assembly can be interlocked in the outermost slid positions which the rod assembly assumes when the hook is in the active position or the inactive position respectively of the hook. Preferably, said lock is operated manually.

[0008] The lock can be embodied in various ways, for example in the form of a pin which can be inserted into lock holes which are located in the rod assembly and in various positions in the carrying body. In connection with manual operation and a non-detachable embodiment of the lock, preference is given to an embodiment wherein the lock is rotatably connected to the operating rod. In addition, the carrying body has a locking chamber wherein the lock can be received in two different outermost rotational positions for interlocking the rod assembly in the outermost sliding positions thereof.

[0009] The lock can now be gripped by hand, and be rotated out of the locking chamber, after which the rod assembly can be slid. As soon as the rod assembly has reached the other desired outermost position, the lock can subsequently be rotated back inward into the locking chamber, in such a way that the desired interlocked position of the rod assembly is obtained.

[0010] As stated hereinbefore, the carrying body is preferably embodied at least partly in a solid manner. In that case, the carrying body can have a channel wherein the operating rod is received. Although the operating rod fits snugly in that channel, it has with respect thereto a clearance such that the operating rod is able without much difficulty to slide in that channel in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] Preferably, the channel opens into said locking chamber. The lock is preferably connected to the operating rod by means of a hinge, which is directed transversely with respect to the channel, in such a way that in a first outermost rotational position of the lock, the operating rod assumes a first outermost sliding position and in a second outermost rotational position, rotated over substantially 180 degrees with respect to the first outermost rotational position, of the lock, the operating rod assumes a second outermost sliding position.

[0012] The carrying body has preferably a fork-shaped end wherein the hook is received. In that case, the hook can be located in the inactive state wholly within the contour of at least the fork-shaped end, whereas it protrudes in the active state with respect to said contour. In the inactive state, the lifting means can therefore be inserted into the hole in question of the object, wherein merely the transverse dimensions of the carrying body and the transverse dimensions of the hole have to be adapted to each other.

[0013] Preferably, the hook has a slot. The coupling rod can be received in these slots. The hook can be suspended from the fork-shaped end by means of a hinge pin; in that case, the coupling rod can be embodied in a curved manner in such a way that the hollow shape thereof is turned toward the hinge pin. In connection with balanced engagement of the hook on both sides of the hole, the hook can have a circumferential contour which, viewed in a plane perpendicular to the hinge pin, is symmetrical with respect to a plane wherein the axis of the hinge pin is located. The loads are then exerted on the object by means of both ends, which protrude with respect to the carrying body, of the hook.

[0014] The invention further relates to a combination of a lifting means as described hereinbefore, and also an object to be lifted, wherein the object has at least one through-hole having a cross-sectional contour which is constant over the entire length and corresponds to the cross-sectional contour of the carrying body, and of which the length is smaller than the length of the carrying body. This object can be a large number of different articles, such as for example the cutter head of a cutter suction dredger and the like.

[0015] The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail based on an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, in which:

figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a lifting means according to the invention, in a first position;

figure 2 is a front view of the lifting means;

figure 3 is a transverse view of the lifting means in a second position;

figure 4 shows a first exemplary application of the lifting means;

figure 5 shows a second exemplary application;

figures 6-8 are perspective views of the lifting means; and

figure 9 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, of the lifting means.

[0016] The lifting means 1 according to the invention shown in figures 1-9 has a carrying body 2 to which the tiltable hook 3 is fastened. A clasp, to which a hoisting cable can be fastened, is received in the hole 4 of the carrying body. Furthermore, the lifting means 1 has the operating means which are denoted by reference numeral 5 and which can be used to transfer the hook 3 between the active hook position as shown in figure 1, wherein the hook protrudes outside the contour of the carrying body 2, and the collapsed or inactive position which is represented in figure 3 and wherein the hook 3 is located within the contour of the carrying body 2.

[0017] The operating means 5 consist of the lock 6, the operating rod 7 and the coupling rod 8. The lock 6 is connected to the operating rod 7 via a hinge 8, and the operating rod 7 is connected to the coupling rod 8 via a further hinge 9. Finally, this coupling rod 8 is connected to the hook 3 by means of, again, a hinge 10. The operating rod 7 is received in a channel 11 extending through the solid portion 12 of the carrying body 2. This means that the operating rod 7 can be displaced back and forth merely in its longitudinal direction.

[0018] The hook 3 is rotatably suspended by means of the hinge pin 13 from the fork-shaped end 14 of the carrying body 2 which has two fork parts 15. The hook 3 has a solid portion 16 and also two cheeks 17 which form an entity connected thereto and mutually enclose a gap 18. The bottom end of the operating rod 7 reaches into the gap 18 between the cheeks 17 of the hook 3. The coupling rod 8, which is coupled to the hook 3 via a pin 19 which is secured in both cheeks 17, is also located in the gap 18.

[0019] At the top end, the operating rod 7 has a short transverse arm 20, onto the free end of which the lock 6 is coupled by means of hinges 21. This lock is located in the locking chamber 22 which is hollowed out in the solid portion 12 of the carrying body 2.

[0020] During operation, the lifting means is operated as follows. In the state shown in figures 1 and 2, the hook 3 is in the active position wherein the two ends thereof protrude outward with respect to the carrying body 2. In this position, the operating rod 7 is slid downward in the channel 11, in such a way that a rotation of the hook around the hinge pin 13 is brought about by means of the coupling rod 8. The further downward movement of the operating rod 7 is limited by the transverse arm 20 which abuts against the wall of the locking chamber 22. An embodiment wherein the lock 6 abuts against the wall of the locking chamber 22 is also possible. The upward movement of the operating rod 7 is prevented by the lock 6 which abuts against the opposing wall of the locking chamber 22.

[0021] During the transferring of the hook 3 to the collapsed position as shown in figure 3, the lock 6 is first of all extended outward from the locking chamber 6. Subsequently, the operating rod 7 can be slid upward in the channel 11, wherein the coupling rod 8 can also move upward and the hook 3 can tilt around the hinge pin 13 in the process. Finally, the position shown in figure 3 is reached, in which position the sliding-downward of the operating rod 7, and thus the re-extending of the hook 3, is prevented by pressing the lock 6, which is now rotated over 180 degrees with respect to the previous position, into the locking chamber 6.

[0022] Figure 4 shows the combination of the lifting means according to the invention and an object 23 to be lifted. This object 23 to be lifted has 1 through-hole 24, on the back of which the hook 3 rests. The forces which are in this case exerted on the object 23 by the hook are indicated by arrows. A hoisting eye 25, on which hoisting forces can be exerted which are directed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the carrying body 2 of the lifting means 1, is coupled to the eye 4. These oblique hoisting forces can be accommodated as a result of the occurrence of the indicated reaction moments between the carrying body 2 and the wall of the hole 24 in the object 3.

[0023] The example of figure 5 shows that the lifting means 1 is coupled to the cutter head 26, in such a way that the cutter head can be raised by the hoisting cable 27.

[0024] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the collapsed or inactive state of the hook 3, the lock 6 being collapsed in such a way that it prevents the extending of the hook 3. In figure 7, the lock 6 is extended, in such a way that the operating rod 7 and the coupling rod 8 can be slid in the channel 11 in the solid portion 2 of the carrying body 2, as a result of which the hook 3 tilts outward. The partial sectional view in figure 9 shows that the lock 6 is engaged in the locking chamber 22, in such a way that the protruded position of the hook 3 can be maintained.

[0025] As shown in figure 1, the hook 3 has a substantially symmetrical shape with respect to the hinge pin 13. In particular, the hook has a roughly rectangular contour, two ends of which are beveled.

List of reference numerals

[0026] 

1.

Lifting means

2.

Carrying body

3.

Hook

4.

Eye

5.

Operating means

6.

Lock

7.

Operating rod

8.

Coupling rod

9.

Hinge

10.

Hinge

11.

Channel

12.

Carrying body, solid portion

13.

Hook, hinge pin

14.

Carrying body, fork-shaped end

15.

Fork parts

16.

Hook, solid portion

17.

Hook, gap

18.

Hook, cheek

19.

Hinge

20.

Transverse arm

21.

Hinge

22.

Locking chamber

23.

Object

24.

Hole in object

25.

Hoisting eye

26.

Cutter head

27.

Hoisting cable

Claims

1. A lifting means (1), comprising a carrying body (2) which can be inserted through a through-hole (24) in an object (23) to be lifted, a tiltable hook (3) at one end of the carrying body (2), an engagement means (4, 25) which is located at the opposing end of the carrying body and with which a hoisting cable (27) and the like can engage, and also operating means (5) for displacing the hook (3) between an inactive position wherein the hook can pass through the hole and an active position wherein the hook can engage with the object, the operating means (5) comprise an articulated rod assembly (7, 8) with at least one operating rod (7) which is guided so as to be able to slide in the longitudinal direction with respect to the carrying body (2) and a coupling rod (8) which is coupled between the operating rod (7) and the hook (3), characterized in that the rod assembly comprises a lock (6) which is coupled to the operating rod (7) at the end thereof remote from the coupling rod (8) for interlocking the rod assembly in the outermost sliding positions which the rod assembly assumes when the hook (3) is in the active position or the inactive position respectively.

2. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock (6) has an end which is rotatably connected to the operating rod (7) and a free end, and the carrying body (2) has a locking chamber (22) wherein the lock (6) can be received in two different outermost rotational positions for interlocking the rod assembly in the outermost sliding positions thereof.

3. The lifting means (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrying body (2) is embodied at least partly in a solid manner (12) and has a channel (11) wherein the operating rod (7) is received.

4. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claims 2 and 3, wherein the channel (11) opens into the locking chamber (22), and the lock (6) is connected to the operating rod (7) by means of a hinge (21), which is directed transversely with respect to the channel (11), in such a way that in a first outermost rotational position of the lock (6), the operating rod (7) assumes a first outermost sliding position and in a second outermost rotational position, rotated over substantially 180 degrees with respect to the first outermost rotational position, of the lock (6), the operating rod (7) assumes a second outermost sliding position.

5. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the axes of the hinge connections (21, 9, 19) are parallel between the lock (6), the operating rod (7) and the coupling rod (8).

6. The lifting means (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrying body (2) has a fork-shaped end (14) and the hook (13) is received in the fork-shaped end (14).

7. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the hook (3) is located in the inactive state wholly within the contour of at least the fork-shaped end (14) and protrudes in the active state with respect to said contour.

8. The lifting means (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook (3) has a slot (18), and the coupling rod (8) is received in the slot (18).

9. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claims 7 and 8, wherein the hook (3) is suspended from the fork-shaped end (14) by means of a hinge pin 13), and the coupling rod (18) is embodied in a curved manner in such a way that the hollow shape thereof is turned toward the hinge pin (13).

10. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hook (3) has a circumferential contour, viewed in a plane perpendicular to the hinge pin (13), which is symmetrical with respect to a plane wherein the axis of the hinge pin is located.

11. The lifting means (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hook (3) has a substantially rectangular circumferential contour.

12. The lifting means (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrying body (2) has a substantially circular cross section.

13. In combination, a lifting means (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims and also an object (23, 26) to be lifted, wherein the object has at least one through-hole (24), of which the cross-sectional contour corresponds substantially to the cross-sectional contour of the carrying body (2), and of which the length is smaller than the length of the carrying body.

Ansprüche

1. Hebemittel (1), umfassend einen Tragekörper (2), der durch ein Durchgangsloch (24) in einem zu hebenden Gegenstand (23) eingeführt werden kann, einen verkippbaren Haken (3) an einem Ende des Tragekörpers (2), ein Eingriffsmittel (4, 25), das sich an dem entgegengesetzten bzw. gegenüberliegenden Ende des Tragekörpers befindet und mit dem ein Förderseil (27) und dergleichen in Eingriff sein kann, sowie Betätigungsmittel (5) zum Versetzen des Hakens (3) zwischen einer inaktiven Position, in der der Haken durch das Loch hindurchgehen kann, und einer aktiven Position, in der der Haken mit dem Gegenstand in Eingriff sein kann, wobei das Betätigungsmittel (5) eine gelenkartige Stangenanordnung (7, 8) umfasst, die wenigstens eine Betätigungsstange (7), die derart geführt ist, dass sie in der Längsrichtung in Bezug auf den Tragekörper (2) gleiten kann, und eine Kopplungsstange (8), die zwischen der Betätigungsstange (7) und dem Haken (3) eingekoppelt ist, aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stangenanordnung eine Arretierung (6), die mit der Betätigungsstange (7) an dem von der Kopplungsstange (8) entfernten Ende hiervon gekoppelt ist, zum Arretieren der Stangenanordnung in den äußersten Gleitpositionen, die die Stangenanordnung einnimmt, wenn der Haken (3) jeweils in der aktiven Position oder in der inaktiven Position ist.

2. Hebemittel (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Arretierung (6) ein Ende, das drehbar mit der Betätigungsstange (7) verbunden ist, und ein freies Ende aufweist und der Tragekörper (2) eine Arretierungskammer (22) aufweist, in der die Arretierung (6) in zwei verschiedenen äußersten Drehpositionen zum Arretieren der Stangenanordnung in den äußersten Gleitpositionen hiervon aufgenommen sein kann.

3. Hebemittel (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Tragekörper (2) wenigstens teilweise auf feste bzw. massive Weise (12) verkörpert ist und einen Kanal (11) aufweist, in dem die Betätigungsstange (7) aufgenommen ist.

4. Hebemittel (1) nach Ansprüchen 2 und 3, wobei sich der Kanal (11) in die Arretierungskammer (22) hinein öffnet und die Arretierung (6) mit der Betätigungsstange (7) mittels eines Gelenkes (21) verbunden ist, das in Bezug auf den Kanal (11) quer gerichtet ist, sodass in einer ersten äußersten Drehposition der Arretierung (6) die Betätigungsstange (7) eine erste äußerste Gleitposition einnimmt und in einer um im Wesentlichen 180° in Bezug auf die erste äußerste Drehposition gedrehten zweiten äußersten Drehposition der Arretierung (6) die Betätigungsstange (7) eine zweite äußerste Gleitposition einnimmt.

5. Hebemittel (1) nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Achsen der Gelenkverbindungen (21, 9, 19) parallel zwischen der Arretierung (6), der Betätigungsstange (7) und der Kopplungsstange (8) sind.

6. Hebemittel (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Tragekörper (2) ein gabelförmiges Ende (14) aufweist und der Haken (13 bzw. 3) in dem gabelförmigen Ende (14) aufgenommen ist.

7. Hebemittel (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei sich der Haken (3) in dem inaktiven Zustand gänzlich innerhalb des Umrisses wenigstens des gabelförmigen Endes (14) befindet und in dem aktiven Zustand in Bezug auf den Umriss vorsteht.

8. Hebemittel (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Haken (3) einen Schlitz (18) aufweist und die Kopplungsstange (8) in dem Schlitz (18) aufgenommen ist.

9. Hebemittel (1) nach Ansprüchen 7 und 8, wobei der Haken (3) von dem gabelförmigen Ende (14) mittels eines Gelenkstiftes (13) herabhängt und die Kopplungsstange (18) auf gekrümmte Weise derart verkörpert ist, dass die Hohlform hiervon hin zu dem Gelenkstift (13) gewandt bzw. gedreht ist.

10. Hebemittel (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Haken (3), in einer Ebene senkrecht zu dem Gelenkstift (13) betrachtet, einen Umfangsumriss aufweist, der symmetrisch in Bezug auf eine Ebene ist, in der sich die Achse des Gelenkstiftes befindet.

11. Hebemittel (1) nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Haken (3) einen im Wesentlichen rechteckigen Umfangsumriss aufweist.

12. Hebemittel (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Tragekörper (2) einen im Wesentlichen kreisförmigen Querschnitt aufweist.

13. Kombination aus einem Hebemittel (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche und einem anzuhebenden Gegenstand (23, 26), wobei der Gegenstand wenigstens ein Durchgangsloch (24) aufweist, dessen Querschnittsumriss im Wesentlichen dem Querschnittsumriss des Tragekörpers (2) entspricht und dessen Länge kleiner als die Länge des Tragekörpers ist.

Revendications

1. Moyen de levage (1) comprenant un corps porteur (2) qui peut être inséré par un trou débouchant (24) dans un objet (23) à lever, un crochet (3) pouvant s'incliner à une extrémité du corps porteur (2), un moyen d'engagement (4, 25) qui est situé à l'extrémité opposée du corps porteur et avec lequel un câble de relevage (27) et similaire peut s'engager, et aussi des moyens de commande (5) pour déplacer le crochet (3) entre une position inactive, dans laquelle le crochet peut passer par le trou et une position active, dans laquelle le crochet peut s'engager avec l'objet, les moyens de commande (5) comprenant un ensemble à tiges articulé (7, 8) avec au moins une tige de commande (7) guidée de sorte à pouvoir coulisser dans la direction longitudinale par rapport au corps porteur (2) et une tige de couplage (8) couplée entre la tige de commande (7) et le crochet (3), caractérisé en ce que l'ensemble à tiges comprend un verrou (6) qui est couplé à la tige de commande (7) à son extrémité à distance de la tige de couplage (8) pour le verrouillage de l'ensemble à tiges dans les positions de coulissement extérieures que l'ensemble à tiges occupe lorsque le crochet (3) est respectivement dans la position active ou la position inactive.

2. Moyen de levage (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le crochet (6) présente une extrémité qui est reliée de manière rotative à la tige de commande (7) et une extrémité libre, et le corps porteur (2) présente une chambre de verrouillage (22), dans laquelle le verrou (6) peut être reçu dans deux positions rotatives extérieures différentes pour le verrouillage de l'ensemble à tiges dans ses positions de glissement extérieures.

3. Moyen de levage (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le corps porteur (2) est réalisé au moins en partie de manière solide (12) et présente un canal (11) recevant la tige de commande (7).

4. Moyen de levage (1) selon les revendications 2 et 3, dans lequel le canal (11) ouvre dans la chambre de verrouillage (22), et le verrou (6) est relié à la tige de commande (7) à l'aide d'une articulation (21) qui est dirigée transversalement par rapport au canal (11) de telle manière que dans une première position rotative extérieure du verrou (6), la tige de commande (7) occupe une première position de glissement extérieure et dans une seconde position rotative extérieure, tournée sensiblement à 180 degrés par rapport à la première position rotative extérieure, du verrou (6), la tige de commande (7) occupe une seconde position de glissement extérieure.

5. Moyen de levage (1) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les axes des liaisons articulées (21, 9, 19) sont parallèles entre le verrou (6), la tige de commande (7) et la tige de couplage (8).

6. Moyen de levage (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le corps porteur (2) présente une extrémité fourchue (14) et le crochet (13) est reçu dans l'extrémité fourchue (14).

7. Moyen de levage (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le crochet (3) est situé, dans l'état inactif, entièrement dans le contour d'au moins l'extrémité fourchue (14) et fait saillie dans l'état actif par rapport audit contour.

8. Moyen de levage (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le crochet (3) présente une fente (18) et la tige de couplage (8) est reçue dans la fente (18).

9. Moyen de levage (1) selon les revendications 7 et 8, dans lequel le crochet (3) est suspendu depuis l'extrémité fourchue (14) à l'aide d'une tige d'articulation (13) et la tige de couplage (18) est réalisée courbée de telle manière que sa forme creuse soit tournée vers la tige d'articulation (13).

10. Moyen de levage (1) selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le crochet (3) présente un contour circonférentiel, vu dans un plan perpendiculaire à la tige d'articulation (13), qui est symétrique par rapport à un plan, dans lequel l'axe de la tige d'articulation est situé.

11. Moyen de levage (1) selon la revendication 10, dans lequel le crochet (3) présente un contour circonférentiel sensiblement rectangulaire.

12. Moyen de levage (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le corps porteur (2) présente une section transversale sensiblement circulaire.

13. Combinaison d'un moyen de levage (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes et aussi d'un objet (23, 26) à lever, dans laquelle l'objet présente au moins un trou débouchant (24), dont le contour de section transversale correspond sensiblement au contour de section transversale du corps porteur (2), et dont la longueur est inférieure à la longueur du corps porteur.

Drawing