Patent Application
20160016770
This invention relates generally to lifting devices and assemblies, including lifting devices and assemblies that are attachable to a movable piece of equipment, or a “lift vehicle” such as a tractor, a front end loader, a skidster, a fork lift truck and the like. This invention also relates generally drum or barrel handling devices. It also relates to such barrels or drums that are made of metal or plastic material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lifting device and assembly that can be used to lift 55-gallon barrels or drums and to tip such barrels or drums so as to empty the fluid contents from them as may be desired or required.
55 gallon drums and barrels are well known and are generally used for the transportation and storage of liquids and powders. Such barrels or drums typically comprise a cylinder that defines a perimeter and an outer surface or sidewall, a plurality of horizontally-disposed reinforcing ridges, or billets, that are defined in the cylinder or sidewall, an upper lip, a lower lip and an integral bottom. For the remainder of this disclosure, such drums or barrels will be referred to collectively as “barrels.” Such barrels may also comprise a top cover which may or may not be removable. Either way, the barrel cover often has a pour spout defined in it for dispensing the contents of the barrel when the barrel is tipped. Such barrels can be made of metal but can also be made of a rigid plastic material.
There are a number of 55-gallon barrel lifting devices known in the art. In the experience of this inventor, many such barrel lifting or handling devices utilize a set of opposing arms that, pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically, grab the barrel around its periphery. Such devices are generally claw-like in construction and can be quite complex in design. They are also dependent on air, electricity or hydraulic fluid for actuation of the arms to grab the barrel and to release it.
In the experience of this inventor, other barrel lifting or handling devices use some sort of lip-clamping mechanism to grab a small portion of the upper barrel lip to lift and move the barrel. Unlike the devices that use opposing arms, the lip-clamping type of mechanism is typically unsuitable for tipping the barrel in any reliable way.
In the view of this inventor, there is a need to provide a barrel lifting and tipping apparatus and assembly that accomplishes the task of securely grabbing the barrel about its peripheral lip such that it can be moved and tipped. It would also be desirable to configure such an apparatus and assembly that is relatively simple in its construction while being reliable in its use. It would further be desirable to configure such an apparatus and assembly such that it can be easily mounted to and removed from a vehicle of the type that is often used to lift objects, such as a fork truck. It would also be desirable to configure such an apparatus and assembly such that it can be used with both metal barrels as well as plastic barrels.
The apparatus and assembly of the present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for an apparatus and assembly that can be easily mounted to and removed from a vehicle of the type that is often used to lift objects, such as a tractor, a front end loader, a skidster, a fork lift truck and the like. The apparatus and assembly is configured with a front end that has two opposing forks, or support members. Situated on top of each support member is a hinged plate. Each hinged plate is normally disposed in a horizontal plane, but can be pivoted upwardly relative to a hinge. Each plate also comprises an arcuate portion that faces inwardly relative to the support members. The arcuate portions of the plates form part of a round circumferential diameter that substantially matches the diameter of a barrel. This diameter, however, is less than the diameter of an upper rim of the barrel and is less than any horizontally-disposed reinforcing ridges that are defined in the sidewalls of the barrel. More specifically, a typical 55 gallon metal barrel is about 23 inches in diameter and about 35 inches tall. The top lip (which can also be called an edge, brim or chime) extends outwardly from the diameter of the barrel top about 3/16ths of an inch, although lips can extend anywhere from between about ¼ and ⅜ths of an inch outwardly from the diameter of the barrel top.
In use, the apparatus of the present invention is positioned above a barrel with one support member disposed to either side of the barrel. As the apparatus is lowered in a substantially vertical motion, the hinged plates are rotated upwardly by virtue of their contact with the rim of the barrel. Once the plates have been lowered to a point that each clears the top lip of the barrel, the plates will drop back down into their horizontal position. Elevation of the plates then results in the top lip being contacted from beneath a good portion of the perimeter of the top lip by the plates such that the barrel can be lifted. In an additional embodiment, a strap or other securement can be used to retain the barrel within the apparatus such that the barrel can be tilted or tipped once elevated, allowing the barrel contents to be emptied. The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,
The barrel-lifting apparatus 10 includes a framework having a primary horizontal rear support portion 12 and a pair of opposing and forwardly-extending horizontal support members 14, 15. Situated on the top surface 16, 17 of each support member 14, 15 is a hinged lift plate 20, 30. Each hinged lift plate 20, 30 is normally disposed in a horizontal plane, as is shown in
Each lift plate 20, 30 also comprises an innermost edge 24, 34, each of which further comprises an arcuate edge portion 26, 36 having a radius that is substantially the same as the radius of a barrel 40. See
Lastly, a secondary horizontal support portion 11 extends between the support members 14, 15. It is to be noted that this secondary horizontal support portion 11 also comprises an arcuate portion 13 which is also part of the round circumferential barrel radius that is mentioned above. It is also to be noted that, unlike the lift plates 20, 30, the secondary horizontal support portion 11 is stationary in that it does not move relative to other portions of the framework of the apparatus 10.
In use, the barrel-lifting apparatus 10 is positioned above a barrel 40 with one forwardly-extending support member 14, 15 and its corresponding lift plate 20, 30 disposed to opposing sides of the barrel 40. See
As shown in
In an assembly 100 of the present invention, it is to be understood that the apparatus 10 would be used, and properly adapted for use, with a fork lift or other utility vehicle 1 of conventional manufacture. The assembly 100 of the present invention is not limited to any one type of utility vehicle 1, but can instead be adapted for use with many.
