GB2447436A

GB2447436A - Clamping assembly for palletised loads

Info

Publication number: GB2447436A
Application number: GB0623907A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-30
Filing date: 2006-11-30
Publication date: 2008-09-17
Also published as: GB2456991A; GB0909785D0; WO2008065354A1; GB2456991B; GB0623907D0

Abstract

A clamping assembly 10 includes two elongate tines 16 which locate beneath the pallet. A frame 26 is provided which is connected to each of the tines 16 on each side of the pallet by chains 22. The chains 22 are connected to engagement members 34 which are pivotally mounted to the frame 26. A mounting eye 32 is also provided on the frame 26. The assembly 10 is arranged such that as the frame 26 is lifted by the eye 32 the engagement members 34 pivot downwardly to clamp on top of the palletised load.

Description

Clamping Assembly This invention concerns clamping assemblies, and

particularly but not exclusively clamping assemblies usable when lifting palletised loads or other loads liftable by a pair of tines engageable in corresponding formations.

Palletised loads of articles such as bricks and other building products are generally lifted using brick forks, with tines which locate beneath the load.

Loads such as mortar tubs are lifted in a similar manner, with tines engaging in formations on a lower part of the tub. This requires a relatively large amount of space to be able to swing the tines into position. Also such lifting apparatus is relatively heavy and cannot be readily transported for instance in a van, and also is not manually movable. This therefore means that for instance unloading bricks from a lorry at a building site is not a particularly straightforward task.

According to the present invention there is provided a clamp assembly, the assembly including a base member locatable beneath a load to be lifted so as to extend to opposite sides of the load, a frame member locatable above the load to be lifted, the frame member including a mounting point with which a lifting means is engageable, the assembly also including two engagement members, each pivotally mounted on the frame towards opposite sides thereof, each engagement member having an engagement part spaced from the pivotal mounting, and a link means selectively connectable between the respective engagement member at a connection location spaced between the pivotal mounting and the engagement part, and the base member at a location to said one side of the load, whereby when the assembly is initially lifted by the mounting point the frame member is lifted and the engagement members are caused to pivot downwardly so that the engagement parts engage on top of the load and clamp the load between the engagement members and the base members, and further lifting causes the clamp assembly and clamped load to rise.

I

The base member may comprise an elongate member. Two spaced base members may be provided. Four link means may be provided, one for each base member on each side of the load. Two connection locations may be provided on each engagement member, one for each link means.

The or each base member may be elongate with a mounting point for a link means adjacent each end. A formation may be provided on one or both ends of the base member to enable wrapping around a load to be punctured to allow the base member to pass through the wrapping.

The link means may be length adjustable. The link means may be chains, which may include chain shorters to provide length adjustment. The chain links may be particularly marked to provide a visual indication that each 1 5 link means is the same length.

A plurality of connection locations may be provided on the engagement members at different spacings from the pivotal mountings, for use with different width loads.

The engagement members may be generally U-shaped, with the pivotal mountings at or towards the free ends of the side limbs, and the base of the U providing the engagement part.

The frame member may be generally H-shaped in plan view, with each engagement member mounted between the side limbs of the H, one engagement member on each side of the cross limb of the H. The mounting point is preferably provided at least generally centrally on the frame member.

The mounting point may be provided on the cross limb of the H. The mounting point may be movably mounted to a limited degree on the frame member to permit an uneven load to be balanced.

The engagement members may be mounted on the frame member so as to automatically return to a rest position when not clamping a load. The engagement members may be pivotatly mounted by sprung pivots. The rest position may be substantially parallel to the H-shaped frame member.

Hook means may be provided on the frame member to receive the link means when not in use. One or more handles may be provided on the frame member to facilitate manual handling of the assembly.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first clamping assembly according to the invention in use; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of a second clamping assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a clamping assembly 10 for clamping a palletised load such as a shrink wrap stack 12 of blocks supported on a pallet 14. The assembly 10 includes a base member in the form of two elongate tines 16 which locate extending beneath the pallet, parallel to and spaced from each other. The tines 16 have a mounting hook 18 at each end and also two pointed projections 20 on each end for use in puncturing shrink wrapping or other packaging when required, to enable insertion of the tines in position. A chain 22 extends from each hook 18 and is provided with a chain shortener 24 so that the chains 22 can be provided at an appropriate length relative to the height of the stack 12 of blocks. The individual chain links are colour coded to provide a ready visual indication that all the chains 22 are of the same length.

The assembly 10 also includes a frame member in the form of an H-shaped frame 26 with a cross bar 28 forming the central limb of the H and bars 30 providing the side limbs. The bars 30 taper inwardly gently away from the cross bar 28. A mounting eye 32 is provided centrally on the top of the cross bar 28.

Two engagement members 34 are provided, each including side limbs 36 interconnected in a U-shaped format by a cross limb 38. The cross limb 38 is cylindrical in section and has a plurality of spaced annular resilient members 40 thereon. The side limbs 36 are pivotally mounted adjacent their free ends to the free ends of the bars 30 on the inside thereof, with the cross limb 38 towards the cross bar 28. This mounting is provided by sprung pivots 42 which in a rest position urge the side limbs 36 to a substantially parallel alignment with the bars 30. Mounting loops 34 engage in slots 46 in the upper surface of the limbs 36 spaced from the mountings 44.

In use to lift the stack 12, the tines 16 are slid underneath the pallet 14, using the projections 20 to break any shrink wrap or any other packaging extending around the pallet. The frame 26 can then be placed on the stack of blocks 12 and the chains 22 fitted extending between the hooks 18 and the loops 34 in the slots 46. The chains 22 are each equally shortened as far as is possible.

The frame 26 can then be gently lifted by a crane engaging with the eye 32. As the frame 26 lifts, the engagement members 34 will be caused to pivot downwardly about the mountings 42 by virtue of the chains 22 pulling thereon. This will continue until the cross limb 38 clamps the top of the stack 12 against the tines 16. Further lifting of the frame 26 will then also cause the clamped stack of blocks 12 to be lifted, and if required a net can be fitted on the stack 12 at this time. The securely clamped load can then be moved as required.

When the stack 12 is in position on the ground or elsewhere the frame 26 can be lowered to drop back onto the stack 12, and by virtue of the sprung pivots 42 the engagement members will return to a substantially parallel orientation relative to the frame 26. The chains 22 at this point will be slack and can be disconnected. The assembly 10 can readily then be moved away from the stack 12 and taken away for further use.

There is thus described apparatus which can readily permit a palletised item to be securely moved whilst clamped by the assembly 10. Compared with previous arrangements the assembly is significantly lighter and can thus be readily handled and also transported as required. The assembly provides for an automatic clamping of the load, and is usable with different sizes and shapes of load by changing the lengths of the chains 22.

Fig. 2 shows part of a further clamping assembly 50 which is similar in many respects to the assembly 10, and only the differences will now be described. Here four upstanding parallel handles 52 are provided towards the free ends of the bars 30. The mountings for the chains 22 on the side limbs 36 are provided on the underside thereof, and a plurality of downward facing slots 54 are provided for use with different width loads. Hooks 56 are provided on the cross bar 28 to receive the chains 22 when not in use. The assembly 50 can be used in a similar way to the assembly 10, and the handles 52 facilitate manual handling thereof. Provision of the slots 54 on the underside of the side limbs 36 eases mounting of the chains 22.

Whilst the above examples are being used for lifting palletised loads, such apparatus can be used with other loads such as mortar tubs where formations are provided at a lower part of the tub which can receive a pair of tines. For such uses a lighterweight version of the apparatus may be used.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the mounting eye could be mounted so as to permit a limited amount of movement, perhaps being slidable in one or two dimensions, to allow compensation for uneven loads. The engagement members may have a different shape or format. The base members could be differently configured.

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. A clamp assembly, the assembly including a base member

locatable beneath a load to be lifted so as to extend to opposite sides of the load, a frame member locatable above the load to be lifted, the frame member including a mounting point with which a lifting means is engageable, the assembly also including two engagement members, each pivotally mounted on the frame towards opposite sides thereof, each engagement member having an engagement part spaced from the pivotal mounting, and a link means selectively connectable between the respective engagement member at a connection location spaced between the pivotal mounting and the engagement part, and the base member at a location to said one side of the load, whereby when the assembly is initially lifted by the mounting point the frame member is lifted and the engagement members are caused to pivot downwardly so that the engagement parts engage on top of the load and clamp the load between the engagement members and the base members, and further lifting causes the clamp assembly and clamped load to rise.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the base member comprises an elongate member.
3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which two spaced base members are provided.
4. An assembly according to claim 3,in which four link means are provided, one for each base member on each side of the load.
5. An assembly according to claim 4, in which two connection locations are provided on each engagement member, one for each link means.
6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or each base member is elongate with a mounting point for a link means adjacent each end.
7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a formation is provided on one or both ends of the base member to enable wrapping around a load to be punctured to allow the base member to pass through the wrapping.
8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the link means is length adjustable.
9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the link means comprises claims.
10. An assembly according to claim 9, in which the link means includes a chain shortener to provide length adjustment.
11. An assembly according to Claim 10, in which the chain links are particularly marked to provide a visual indication that each link means is the same length.
12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of connection locations are provided on the engagement members at different spacings from the pivotal mountings, for use with different width loads.
13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the engagement members are generally U-shaped, with the pivotal mountings at or towards the free ends of the side limbs, and the base of the U providing the engagement part.
14. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the frame member is generally H-shaped in plan view, with each engagement member mounted between the side limbs of the H, one engagement member on each side of the cross limb of the H.
15. An assembly according to claim 14, in which the mounting point is provided at least generally centrally on the frame member.
16. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mounting point is provided on the cross limb of the H.
17. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the mounting point is movably mounted to a limited degree on the frame member to permit an uneven load to be balanced.
18. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the engagement members are mounted on the frame member so as to automatically return to a rest position when not clamping a load.
19. An assembly according to claim 18 when dependent on claim 14, in which the rest position is substantially parallel to the H-shaped frame member.
20. An assembly according to claims 18 or 19, in which the engagement member are pivotally mounted by sprung pivots.
21. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which hook means are provided on the frame member to receive the link means when not in use.
22. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which one or more handles are provided on the frame member to facilitate manual handling of the assembly.
23. A clamp assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the attached drawings.
24. A clamp assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the attached drawings.
25. 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.