GB946930A - Improvements in and relating to the lifting of hollow clay blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

946,930. Lifting cradles for lift trucks. J. F. EDEN. June 23, 1961 [June 23, 1960; Jan. 17, 1961], Nos. 22032/60 and 1939/61. Heading B8H. A lifting cradle for hollow bricks comprises tines 7, Fig. 1, which pass through rows of the bricks, supported by a back-frame 1 and a wiremesh back plate 12, Fig. 2, which is in tension. The tines 7 comprise square section tubes and have wooden plugs 8 therein. A chain 16 ensures that the tines remain horizontal when the unloaded cradle is lifted. This chain is disconnected from a hook 17 when a load is lifted so that the tines incline towards the back plate 12. Holes 15 allow the slope of the tines to be adjusted. A spring may replace the chain 16 and the tines may be pivoted to the supporting frame. The tines may be replaceable either individually or as a set to permit blocks of various sizes to be lifted. Side frames 19, Fig. 2, which swing about vertical pivots 21 on the back frame to facilitate loading, may be provided. These are held in load engaging position by a bar 27 of a roller blind 24 drawn off a roller 25. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, a safety cage 32 is pivoted at 35 to the fork frame and covers the front and sides of the load. To raise the cage an eye 44 is moved from a hook 45 to a hook 46 whilst the fork is resting on the ground with the chain 14 slack. When the chain 14 becomes taut as the fork is lifted the rope 39 raises the cage. A stop 47 limits movement of the rope 39. A further stop may be provided, so arranged that when the eye 44 is engaged by the hook 46, and the fork is unloaded, the tines are supported in a horizontal position. The cage may be operated manually by a rope and pulley arrangement; mechanically, or spring biased in the open condition in such a way that the cage descends when a load is lifted. The cradle may be permanently or detachably fitted to a fork-lift truck.