GB2464568A

GB2464568A - Lifting device

Info

Publication number: GB2464568A
Application number: GB0904776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Rodney Peek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-22
Filing date: 2009-03-20
Publication date: 2010-04-28
Also published as: GB0819358D0; GB0904776D0

Abstract

A lifting device 10 comprises a body having wheels 13, an upstanding frame 15 and a depending jaw member 22 mounted to the frame and arranged to be actuated to grip an article 11 between the jaw member 22 and an opposing formation 21 on the body and a handle 24, 25 on the body for guiding the device. The frame 15 may comprise an upright 16 which may be telescopically adjusted via a lock mechanism 18. Jaw member 22 and opposing formation 21 may also be telescopic and have locking mechanisms 23. The jaw 20, 21, 22 may have a brace 26 to adjust the jaw's inclination and may have a locking mechanism 27. In use the device 10 can be positioned over a beehive and the jaw member 22 actuated so a super 11 of the hive is gripped on opposite sides between the jaw member 22 and the opposing formation 21.

Description

LIFTING DEVICE

This invention relates to a Ufting device and more particularly but not solely to a device for lifting components of beehives.

Beehives generally comprise a brood box having opposite side and end walls and open top and bottom walls. The brood box is placed on a floor member of the beehive in such a way in which to allow bees into the brood box from below. The brood box contains removable frames of comb and its main nest or colony in which the queen bee resides, lays eggs and raises the brood of bees.

A so-called super is mounted on top of the brood box, the super also having opposite side and end walls and open top and bottom walls. Generally the super is shallower than the brood box and is separated therefrom by a mesh which is sized to prevent the queen bee from moving upwardly out of the brood box into the super, where the surplus honey is stored. One or more supers can be stacked on the brood box and a cover board is then mounted on top of the upper most super.

In use honey is harvested by removing the or each super in turn and extracting the honey from the combs inside, for example by spinning the cones. If there is more than one super it is sometime necessary to re-arrange the position of a super in the stack.

It wifl be appreciated that supers are very heavy when full of honey and can weigh as much as 20kg. Typically the supers are removed by hand, which is a two-handed operation and can leave the beekeeper vulnerable to bee stings if their protective clothing becomes ruffled during the process.

I have now devised a lifting device which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a lifting device comprising a wheeled body having an upstanding frame and a depending jaw member mounted to the frame and arranged to be actuated to grip an article between the jaw member and an opposing formation on the body, and a handle on the body for guiding the device.

in use the device can be positioned over a beehive and the jaw member actuated so that one or more supers are gripped on opposite sides between the jaw member and the opposing formation. The or each super can then be lifted off the beehive by raising the handle and wheeling the device to a convenient location where the honey can be harvested.

In this manner the weight of the or each super is borne by the device and the risk of injury is avoided. Also, the device acts to distance the beekeeper from the hive and hence the risk of bee stings is avoided.

Preferably the handle is arranged to actuate the jaw member.

Preferably the jaw member is pivoted to the frame.

Preferably the body of the device comprises a pair of depending jaw members between which the article is gripped.

Preferably the jaw members depend from an arm, the arm preferably being pivotally connected to the frame at a point intermediate the jaws.

Preferably means are provided for locking the position of the arm relative to the frame. In use, the arm is able to freely pivot during loading and unloading. During transportation, the locking means can be actuated to set the angle at which the article is carried.

Preferably the or each jaw members is adjustable in length. Preferably the actuable jaw member is pivotable relative to the frame and comprises an actuator which forms part of the handle.

Preferably the actuable jaw member is pivotably connected to the arm, the arm preferably comprising an outwardly-extending extension which forms another part of the handle against which the actuator can be urged to grip the article whilst simultaneously guiding the device to the desired location.

Preferably the device comprises a single pair of wheels arranged for rotation about a common axis, the frame comprising an upright portion which extends upwardly from a point intermediate of the wheels and a cranked portion which extends outwardly from the upper end of the upright portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis of wheel rotation.

Preferably the upright portion is adjustable in length.

Preferably the actuable jaw member is supported by the cranked portion.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a side view of a lifting device in accordance with the present invention for lifting components of beehives.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a device 10 being used for lifting a super 11 off the brood box 12 of a beehive. The device 10 comprises a pair of wheels 13 mounted at opposite ends of an axle 14. The device 10 comprises a frame 15 having an elongate upright portion 16 which extends upwardly from a point intermediate opposite ends of the axle 14. The frame 15 further comprises a cranked portion 17 which extends outwardly from the upper end of the upright portion 16 in a direction which extends perpendicular to the axis of wheel rotation. The upright portion 16 is telescopically adjustable in length and comprises a locking member 18 which can be operated to set the length.

A support leg 19 extends downwardly from the cranked portion 17 of the frame 15 intermediate at opposite ends thereof. The lower end of the leg 19 is pivotally connected to a support arm 20 at a point intermediate opposite ends thereof.

Inner and outer elongate jaw members 21, 22 extend downwardly from respective opposite ends of the support arm 20. Each jaw member 21, 22 is telescopically adjustable in length and comprises a locking member 23 which can be independently operated to set the length. An elongate actuator 24 extends perpendicularly outwardly from the upper end of the outer jaw member 22 above the point at which it is pivoted to the arm 20. An elongate handle 25 extends co-axially outwardly from the outer end of the arm 22 at a point lying below the actuator 24.

The outer end of the arm 20 is connected to the outer end of the cranked portion 17 of the frame 15 by an adjustable brace 26, which can be set to vary the attitude of the arm 20 by means of a locking member 27 on the cranked portion 17 of the frame that engages the brace 26 at a selected position along the length thereof.

The jaw members 21, 22 comprise respective fingers 28 at their lower ends which are directed towards each other and which are arranged to engage into formations 29 on opposite sides of the super 11 or underneath the super.

In use, the device 10 is positioned over the beehive such that the jaw members 21, 22 are positioned on opposite sides thereof. The length of the jaw members 21, 22 and the length of the upright portion 16 of the frame 15 can be adjusted to suit the depth of the super. The jaw members 21, 22 can then be engaged with the super by pivoting the actuator 24 downwardly in direction A to cause the outer jaw member 22 to pivot towards the inner jaw member 21 thereby gripping the super 11. The beekeeper can then grasp the handle 25 and actuator 24 in one hand, thereby urging them together and maintaining the grip on the super 11. Once the super 11 is securely gripped, the handle 25 and actuator 24 can be lifted upwardly in direction B causing the frame 15 of device 10 to pivot relative to the wheels 13, such that the super 11 is lifted off the brood box 12. The device 10 can then be wheeled to a convenient location, whereupon the actuator 24 can be released to release the super 11 from the device 10.

In an alternative embodiment the spacing of the jaw members 21, 22 can be adjusted to suit different widths of beehive.

A lifting device in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction yet allows the components of beehive to be lifted safely without the risk of back injury or beestings.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A lifting device comprising a wheeled body having an upstanding frame and a depending jaw member mounted to the frame and arranged to be actuated to grip an article between the jaw member and an opposing formation on the body, and a handle on the body for guiding the device.
2. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, in which the handle is arranged to actuate the jaw member.
3. A lifting device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the jaw member is pivoted to the frame.
4. A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the body of the device comprises a pair of depending jaw members between which the article is gripped.
5. A lifting device as claimed in claim 4, in which the jaw members depend from an arm of the body.
6. A lifting device as claimed in claim 5, in which the arm is pivotally connected to the frame at a point intermediate the jaws.
7. A lifting device as claimed in claim 6, in which means are provided for locking the position of the arm relative to the frame so that the angle at which the article is carried can be adjusted.
8. A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each jaw members is adjustable in length.
9. A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the actuable jaw member is pivotable relative to the frame and comprises an actuator which forms part of the handle.bA lifting device as claimed in claim 9 as appended to claim 5, in which the actuable jaw member is pivotably connected to the arm.11. A lifting device as claimed in claim 10, in which the arm comprises an outwardly-extending extension which forms another part of the handle against which the actuator can be urged.12. A lifting device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the device comprises a single pair of wheels arranged for rotation about a common axis, the frame comprising an upright portion which extends upwardly from a point intermediate of the wheels and a cranked portion which extends outwardly from the upper end of the upright portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis of wheel rotation.13. A lifting device as claimed in claim 12, in which the upright portion is adjustable in length.14. A lifting device as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the actuable jaw member is supported by the cranked portion.15. A lifting device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.