CONSTRUCTION HOIST

Abstract

 A construction hoist (12) adapted to be coupled to a structure comprises at least one load-bearing column (14, 16) arranged on an anchorage side (18) with anchorage means (20) adapted to anchor said at least one load-bearing column (14, 16) to a structure. The construction hoist (12) further comprises a lifting unit (22) provided with a loading surface (24) and a support structure (26) for the loading surface (24). The lifting unit (22) is adapted to slide along the at least one load-bearing column (14, 16) along a direction (X). The construction hoist (12) further comprises movement means (28) adapted to allow the sliding of said loading surface (24) with respect to said support structure (26) in a direction (Y) substantially transverse to the direction (X), between a retracted or rest position, and an extracted position in which said loading surface (24) protrudes from said support structure (24) on the anchorage side (18).

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001] This invention relates to a construction hoist. In particular, the present invention relates to a hoist suitable for use in many fields to facilitate operations to be performed at a given height.

PRIOR ART

[0002] As is well known, hoists comprise one or more load-bearing columns that are anchored to the concerned structure, along which at least one lifting unit connected to a loading surface runs.

[0003] The loading surface is provided with gates, usually tilting gates, to bridge the gap between the loading dock platform and the structure. For example, the gates may be sized to bridge a gap of approximately 500 mm between the platform and the unloading surface on the structure.

[0004] If the distance between the unloading surface and the platform is greater, it is necessary to make custom walkways, which allow the distance between the tilting gate and the structure to be bridged. These walkways are integral with the unloading surface of the structure and allow the distance between the unloading surface and the platform of the loading surface to be bridged with the gate in the tilted position.

[0005] Thus, the prior art, while widely appreciated, is not without its drawbacks.

[0006] In effect, the distance to be bridged between the unloading surface and platform of the loading surface is not always constant in a given installation. For this reason, the technique used is to build custom coupling walkways in steelwork. In addition, in most cases, the constructed walkway is adapted for the specific application and must therefore be adapted for subsequent applications where possible.

[0007] The problem is further heightened in the shipbuilding field, where the dimensions of the decks of ships under construction are different from each other.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Thus, there is a need to resolve the cited drawbacks and limitations in reference to the prior art.

[0009] This need is satisfied by a construction hoist according to claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Further features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

• Fig. 1 shows in schematic form a perspective view of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 2 shows in schematic form a bottom view of a portion of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 3 shows in schematic form a side view of a portion of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 4 shows a further bottom view of a portion of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention;
• Fig. 5 shows in schematic form a side view of a portion of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention, wherein a portion of the covering panels has been removed to show the internal mechanisms;
• Fig. 6-8 show in schematic form perspective views of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention in various stages of operation;
• Fig. 9-10 show in schematic form views of portions of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of the present invention, wherein a portion of the covering panels has been removed to show the internal mechanisms; and
• Fig. 11 shows in schematic form a side view of a portion of a construction hoist according to a possible embodiment of this invention.

[0011] Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In Fig. 1, a construction hoist according to this invention is indicated by the general reference 12.

[0013] The hoist 12 is of a type suitable for coupling to a structure and comprises at least one load-bearing column 14, 16 arranged on an anchorage side 18 with anchorage means 20 adapted to anchor said at least one load-bearing column 14, 16 to a structure.

[0014] The construction hoist 12 further comprises a lifting unit 22 arranged with a loading surface 24 and a support structure 26 for the loading surface 24. The lifting assembly 22 is suitable for sliding along the at least one load-bearing column 14, 16 along one direction (X) .

[0015] The construction hoist 12 comprises movement means 28 adapted to allow the loading surface 24 to slide with respect to the support structure 26 in a direction (Y) substantially transverse to the direction (X), between a retracted or rest position, and an extracted position in which the loading surface 24 protrudes from the support structure 26 on the anchorage side 18.

[0016] In this discussion, "structure" means any type of structure in which the construction hoist may be used, by way of non-limiting example: a building, a monument, a ship, a bridge, etc. Similarly, the hoist may also be used with natural structures such as mountain slopes.

[0017] According to a possible embodiment, the load-bearing columns 14, 16 may be two. The load-bearing columns 14, 16 may be arranged parallel to each other. Further, the load-bearing columns 14, 16 may be connected to each other by means of stringers 15, in a manner known per se.

[0018] As mentioned above, the at least one load-bearing column 14, 16 is fixed to the structure, on the anchorage side, by anchorage means 20.

[0019] The anchorage means 20 may be, for example, beams adapted to be fixed to the structure on which the construction hoist is to be used. In any event, the anchorage means may be of a type known per se, and since they are not the specific subject matter of this invention, they will not be described further.

[0020] According to a possible embodiment, the lifting unit 22 may comprise at least one lifting motor 30; 32; 34 adapted to drive at least one lifting pinion 302, 304; 322, 324; 342, 344 suitable for coupling with at least one rack 36, 38 provided on said at least one load-bearing column 14, 16.

[0021] According to a possible embodiment, an example of which is shown in the attached figures, and in particular in Fig. 9-10, the lifting unit 22 may comprise three lifting motors 30; 32; 34 adapted to drive two lifting pinions each 302, 304; 322, 324; 342, 344, suitable for coupling with respective racks 36, 38 provided on respective load-bearing columns 14, 16.

[0022] According to a possible embodiment, the lifting pinions 302, 304; 322, 324; 342, 344 may be provided at the ends of respective lifting axles, 306, 326, 346.

[0023] In this discussion, particular reference has been made to an embodiment comprising three lifting motors, however, depending on specific requirements, the number of lifting motors may be increased or decreased.

[0024] The lifting unit 22 may comprise emergency braking means 40. Advantageously, the emergency braking means 40 may, for example, be adapted to be activated by centrifugal force exerted on a rotating mass and may be calibrated to enter into operation if and only if the nominal downward speed is greater than the nominal speed of the machinery. Thus, the emergency braking means 40 are suitable to stop the movement of the lifting unit 22 in an emergency.

[0025] According to a possible embodiment of the present invention, the lifting unit 22 may comprise a lifting structure 56, wherein the at least one lifting motor, the related axles, and the related pinions may be grouped together. Advantageously, the lifting structure 22 may comprise shoulders 58, 60, suitable to slide along the load-bearing columns 14, 16.

[0026] According to a possible embodiment, the movement means 28 may comprise at least one movement rack 42, 44 arranged on said loading surface 24, lying substantially parallel to the direction (Y) of movement of said loading surface 24, while on said support structure 26 drive means 46 may be provided with at least one movement pinion 48, 50 suitable to be coupled with the at least one rack 42, 44 for moving the loading surface 24.

[0027] According to a possible embodiment, illustrated in the attached figures, the movement means 28 may comprise two movement racks 42, 44 arranged on the sides of the loading surface 24, lying parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the direction (Y) of movement of the loading surface 24, and, on the support structure 26, drive means 46 may be provided with two movement pinions 48, 50 suitable to be coupled with the two racks 42, 44 for moving the loading surface 24.

[0028] Advantageously, the drive means 46 may be arranged centrally with respect to the racks 42, 44, and may be arranged with a rotating axis 52 at the ends of which axle pinions 54 may be keyed, which engage with said movement pinions 48, 50.

[0029] In the attached figures only one of the two axle pinions is shown, however at the opposite end of the rotating axis 52 a respective axle pinion is similarly arranged.

[0030] Advantageously, the movement means may be placed on the lower surface of the loading surface, which in use is not intended for walking or for loading the equipment to be moved.

[0031] According to a possible alternative embodiment, the mechanism used for moving the loading surface may be of a different type. For example, the rack-and-pinion system may be reversed, so that the at least one rack is arranged on the support structure and the related at least one pinion on the loading surface.

[0032] According to a further embodiment, not shown in the attached figures, the mechanism used for the movement of the loading surface may be of the hydraulic type.

[0033] For example, a suitably sized hydraulic jack connected to the support structure of the loading surface via its bottom, and to the loading surface via its rod (or vice versa), may be provided.

[0034] In a possible alternative embodiment, the hydraulic jack may be smaller in size than the preceding one and may be connected to the support structure by means of its bottom and a ring on the opposite side, and to a movable pulley on the rod side. The pulley may be adapted to tension a chain, a rope, or a cord of finite size, which is integral with two defined points of the support structure and the translating surface.

[0035] In a manner known per se, the loading surface 26 may be constructed with a frame 262 on which support panels 264 are provided.

[0036] According to a possible embodiment of this invention, the movement of the loading surface 24 with respect to the support structure may occur by sliding by means of side wheels 268 suitable to slide on rails 270 arranged on the support structure, as seen in the example of Fig. 3.

[0037] According to a possible alternative embodiment, not shown in the attached figures, the side wheels may be arranged on the support structure and the loading surface may be provided with the related rails.

[0038] Advantageously, the loading surface may be provided with end flaps 27, 29. The flaps 27, 29, known per se, may be connected via hinges to the loading surface so that they may rotate to assume a configuration substantially parallel to the loading surface.

[0039] According to a possible embodiment of this invention, the support structure 26 is adapted to be tilted about a tilting axis (Z), substantially perpendicular to said direction (X) and said direction (Y) .

[0040] Fig. 1, 7, and 8 show three stages of tilting of the support structure and thus the loading surface about the Z axis.

[0041] In particular, once the loading surface is in a fully retracted position (Fig. 1), the support structure may be raised until it assumes a substantially vertical configuration, i.e., one that is substantially parallel to the load-bearing columns 14, 16.

[0042] Advantageously, the support structure 26 may be connected to the shoulders 58, 60, via lateral tie-rods 62, 64.

[0043] According to a possible embodiment, the lateral tie-rods 62, 64 may be rigid and connected by means of respective hinges to the support structure 26 and to the shoulders 58, 60, and be provided with a joint 622, 642, such that during lifting operations of the support structure 26, and therefore of the loading surface 24, they fold back on themselves.

[0044] The support structure 26, and thus the loading surface 24, may be raised by lifting means 74.

[0045] According to a possible embodiment, the lifting means 74 may comprise at least one chain winch 70, 72, integral with a shoulder 58, 60.

[0046] Preferably, the chain winches 70, 72 may be two. Advantageously, the chain winches 70, 72 may be fixed on a stringer 73 that connects the shoulders 58, 60 together.

[0047] As seen in Fig. 11, the lifting means may comprise lifting chains 84, 86, suitable to be used with chain winches 70, 72. In particular, according to a possible embodiment, the chain 70, 72 may be fixed at one end to the respective chain winch 70, 72, and passed through an idler 80, 82 arranged laterally at the support structure 26, and then returned to the respective chain winch 70, 72. In this case, the return portion of the chain is the portion of the chain suitable to interact with the chain winch during raising and lowering operations.

[0048] According to alternative embodiments, the lifting means 74 may be of different types, as will appear obvious to the person skilled in the art, and adaptable to specific needs.

[0049] According to a possible embodiment of this invention, the construction hoist may be provided with a control device known per se, suitable to control the various movements that have been described. Said control device, may be for example a computerized unit.

[0050] The advantages achieved with the construction hoist according to the present invention are therefore now apparent.

[0051] First, a construction hoist is provided to easily bridge the gap between the loading and unloading surfaces. In effect, depending on the need, the loading surface may be extracted by the amount necessary to bridge the gap, without the need for ad hoc structures.

[0052] It is therefore possible to use the hoist also in structures where the distance between the unloading surface and the loading surface is not constant at different heights, as may happen for example in shipbuilding.

[0053] Thus, the solution of this invention involves both an economic advantage, since it is no longer necessary to make ad hoc walkways that must then be replaced, but above all an advantage in terms of time. In effect, it is no longer necessary to build walkways according to specific needs.

[0054] Further, the tilting of the support structure, and thus the loading surface, to assume a substantially vertical position is particularly advantageous in shipbuilding.

[0055] In effect, in the field of shipbuilding, the ship under construction is docked at a quay and the construction hoist is positioned between a stern crane and a bow crane, which are movable along the quay.

[0056] Usually, the organization of the yard is such as to preclude - in situations of productive necessity - the use of both main cranes at the stern or bow depending on the eventuality, given the abundant protrusion of the platform of the hoist beyond the sliding rails.

[0057] If it is essential to the yard, the only solution to date is to remove the loading platform of the machinery, resulting in the cranes being taken out of service for the time needed to return to their usual workstations. It goes without saying that the system is very wasteful in terms of time and human resources to be reallocated to the disassembly and subsequent assembly of the hoist.

[0058] With the construction hoist of the present technical solution, it is possible to tilt the platform such that it assumes a substantially vertical position, thus leaving the possibility of passage for the stern and bow cranes along the rails, in a way that the construction hoist is positioned between the ship under construction and one of the two cranes.

[0059] A person skilled in the art may make modifications to the embodiments described above and/or substitute described elements with equivalent elements, in order to satisfy particular requirements, without thereby departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Construction hoist (12) adapted to be coupled to a structure comprising at least one load-bearing column (14, 16) arranged on an anchorage side (18) with anchorage means (20) adapted to anchor said at least one load-bearing column (14, 16) to a structure, said construction hoist (12) further comprising a lifting unit (22) provided with a loading surface (24) and a support structure (26) for said loading surface (24); said lifting unit (22) being adapted to slide along said at least one load-bearing column (14, 16) along a direction (X) ;
characterized in that it comprises
movement means (28) adapted to allow the sliding of said loading surface (24) with respect to said support structure (26) in a direction (Y) substantially transverse to the direction (X), between a retracted or rest position, and an extracted position in which said loading surface (24) protrudes from said support structure (24) on the anchorage side (18).

2. Construction hoist (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two load-bearing columns (14; 16).

3. Construction hoist (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting unit (22) comprises at least one lifting motor (30; 32; 34) adapted to actuate at least one lifting pinion (302, 304; 322, 324; 342, 344) suitable for coupling to at least one rack (36, 38) provided on said at least one load-bearing column (14, 16).

4. Construction hoist (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said lifting unit (22) comprises three lifting motors (30; 32; 34) adapted to actuate two lifting pinions each (302, 304; 322, 324; 342, 344), suitable for coupling to respective racks (36, 38) provided on the respective load-bearing columns (14, 16) .

5. Construction hoist (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lifting unit (22) comprises friction means (40) suitable for blocking the movement of the lifting unit (22) in an emergency.

6. Construction hoist (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means (28) comprise at least one movement rack (42, 44) provided on said loading surface (24), lying substantially parallel to the direction of movement (Y) of said loading surface (24); drive means (46) being provided on said support structure (26) provided with at least one movement pinion (48, 50) suitable for coupling to said at least one rack (42, 44) to move said loading surface (24).

7. Construction hoist (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said movement means (28) comprise two movement racks (42, 44) provided on the sides of said loading surface (24), lying parallel with each other and substantially parallel to the direction of movement (Y) of said loading surface (24); said support structure (26) being provided with drive means (46) provided with two movement pinions (48, 50) suitable for coupling to said two movement racks (42, 44) to move said loading surface (26).

8. Construction hoist (12) according to claim 7, characterized in that said drive means (46) are arranged in a central position with respect to said racks (42, 44), and are provided with a rotating axle (52) having two ends on which axle pinions (54) are keyed, which engage with said movement pinions (48, 50).

9. Construction hoist (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support structure (26) is suitable to be tilted about a tilting axis (Z), substantially perpendicular to said direction (X) and to said direction (Y).

10. Construction hoist (12) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (26) is connected to shoulders (58, 60) suitable to slide along the load-bearing columns (14, 16), by means of lateral tie-rods (62, 64).

11. Construction hoist (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lateral tie-rods (62, 64) are rigid and connected by means of respective hinges to the support structure (26) and to the shoulders (58, 60), and are provided with a joint (622, 642), such that during the lifting operations of the support structure (26) and therefore of the loading plane (24), they fold back on themselves.

Drawing