Patent Application
20240010473
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for lifting a pulley such as a conveyor belt pulley.
Pulleys such as those used to support and direct conveyor belts in industrial or mining applications may need to be removed to allow for maintenance or replacement. Such pulleys typically have a cylindrical or barrel shaped body with shafts at opposing ends thereof. Such pulleys may be relatively heavy, and lifting means such as a crane or the like is required to lift the pulley. However, the shape of the pulley and access to the pulley due to the belt may make pulley lifting and removal challenging.
Accordingly, various types of pulley lifting devices have been developed. One such device has a U-shaped body with a first beam section that is fitted along and adjacent an outer surface of the pulley and a second beam section with fixed lifting points that is spaced apart from the first beam section to define a gap. In use, the conveyor belt may be raised and fitted into the gap and first beam section may be attached to the pulley. Chains of a crane may then be connected to the fixed lifting points of the second beam section and the pulley may be lifted upwardly and outwardly about the conveyor.
A problem with such pulley lifting devices relates to the coupling between the pulley and the device, and the balancing of the lifting device during lifting such as in situations where the device may need to be adapted for use for different lengths and sizes of pulleys as well as different installation situations.
The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative.
In accordance with a first broad aspect there is provided, a lifting apparatus for a pulley. The apparatus may include a first beam section adapted to couple to the pulley in a fitted condition; and_a second beam section connected to the first beam section in a spaced apart relationship extending parallel to the first beam section and defining a gap between the first beam section and the second beam section. The second beam section may include a lifting arrangement including a pair of lift couplings and a plurality of notches, the pair of lift couplings being moveable between a first condition in which each one of the pair of lift couplings are able to be moved between the plurality of notches, and a second condition in which each one of the pair of lift couplings is substantially retained in a respective one of the plurality of notches.
In an aspect, the pair of lift couplings are adapted to be rotatable between the first condition and the second condition.
In another aspect, the second beam section includes at least one track arranged adjacent to the plurality of notches and extending in lengthwise direction relative to the second beam section, wherein the pair of lift couplings are slidable along the track in the first condition.
In yet another aspect, each one of the lift couplings includes a first end adapted to couple with one of the plurality of notches and a second end adapted to couple with a lifting tether.
In yet another aspect, the first end includes a cam, the cam being arranged to substantially lock the lift couplings in the second condition during lifting by the lifting tether.
In yet another aspect, the cam is shaped to create an interference fit between the track and respective one of the plurality of notches in the second condition.
In yet another aspect, in the second condition, each of the pair of lift couplings are angled toward one another.
In yet another aspect, the cam is shaped to enable the lifting couplings to be unlocked by rotation of each one of the pair of lift couplings in a direction away from one another so as to be moveable in the first condition.
In yet another aspect, each one of the lift couplings includes a pin at its respective first and second ends.
In yet another aspect, each one of the lift couplings is elongate and independently moveable relative to the other of the lift couplings.
In yet another aspect, the first beam section is adjustable in length.
In yet another aspect, the length of the first beam section is fixable in the fitted condition.
In yet another aspect, the first beam section is telescopically adjustable.
In yet another aspect, the first beam section includes a first telescopic adjustment arrangement and a second telescopic adjustment arrangement.
In yet another aspect, the first telescopic adjustment arrangement includes stepwise adjustment, and the second telescopic adjustment arrangement includes continuous adjustment.
In yet another aspect, the first telescopic adjustment arrangement includes a pin and an aperture arrangement, and the second telescopic adjustment arrangement includes a threaded member to apply a clamping force to the pulley in the fitted condition.
In yet another aspect, first and second ends of the first beam section include projections adapted to capture the pulley therebetween.
In accordance with a second main aspect there is provided, a method for lifting a pulley using a lifting apparatus. The method may include one or more of the steps of: coupling a first beam section of the lifting apparatus to the pulley; sliding, in an unlocked condition, one or both of a pair of couplings along a track of a second beam section of the lifting apparatus and aligning the one or both of the pair of couplings with respective selected notches located adjacent the track; rotating each of the pair of couplings to a locked condition, in which each of the pair of couplings becomes substantially locked with its respective selected one of the notches; connecting a tether to each of the pair of couplings such that the lifting apparatus and coupled pulley are liftable.
In an aspect, the method may include rotating each of the pair of couplings to the locked condition includes rotating a cam associated with each of the pair of couplings to provide an interference fit between the track and respective one of the selected notches.
In another aspect, the coupling of the first beam section to the pulley includes telescopically adjusting the length of the first beam section.
The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;
Referring initially to
The second beam 16 section includes a lifting arrangement 20 including a pair of lift couplings 22 and a plurality of locators or notches 24. The pair of lift couplings 22 are moveable, more specifically slidable, between a first condition (an example of which is shown in
In more detail, referring to
In this example, the second beam section 16 includes a main second beam 29 and a plate 30 extending along an ordinary top 31 thereof. The plate 30 includes two notched sections 32 which are spaced apart from the top 31 to define the track 28. The notched section 32 and track 28 are divided to separate each of the pair of lift couplings 22.
The pair of lift couplings 22 each include a pair elongate bodes 34 having first and second ends 36, 38. Each of the pair of elongate bodies 34 are coupled by respective first and second pins 40, 42. The first end 36 and the pin 40 are adapted to couple with the notches 24 and the second end 38 and pin 42 are adapted to connect with a lifting tether 44, shown in
The first end 36 is shaped to provide a cam 46, the cam 46 being arranged to substantially lock or inhibit movement of the lift couplings 22 in the second condition during lifting by the lifting tether 44. In more detail, the cam 46 is longer in a lengthwise axis than its width, and the lengthwise axis of the cam 46 is angled relative to the lengthwise axis of the elongate bod 34. The angle between the lengthwise axis of the cam 46 and the lengthwise axis of the elongate body 34 may be an obtuse angle.
As such, when the elongate bodies 34 of the lift couples 22 are angled inward toward one another (as shown in
To disengage the lift couplings 22, each of the lift couplings 22 are outwardly rotated away from one another (as shown in
Turning to the first beam section 14 in more detail and referring to
In this example, the first beam section 14 includes a first telescopic adjustment arrangement 56 and a second telescopic adjustment arrangement 58. The first telescopic adjustment arrangement 56 includes stepwise adjustment provided by a first telescopic member 60 received by a second telescopic member 62 that are telescopically moveable relative to one another. The second telescopic member 62 is fixed to the intermediate side section 26. The first telescopic member 60 and the second telescopic member 62 are fixed or locked by a pin 64 that passes through locking apertures 66, 68 of the members 60, 62 respectively. This provided a first stage of locking.
The second telescopic adjustment arrangement 58 includes continuous adjustment provided by a third slidable member 70 that is carried by the first telescopic member 60 toward its free end 72. The free end 72 may include a plate structure 74 and handle 76 and support threaded actuators, in this example bolts 78, which are threadedly engaged with the third slidable member 70 such that actuation of the bolts 78 moves the third slidable member 70 along the first telescopic member 60.
In this example, the third slidable member 70 carries the projection or hook 52 and this allows the bolts 78 to be used to provide the finer adjustment to ensure the pulley 12 is appropriately captured, and provided a second stage of locking. Accordingly, it may be appreciated that the first telescopic adjustment arrangement 56 may be used to obtain the approximate fitment and first stage of locking, and the second telescopic adjustment arrangement 58 may be used for the finer adjustment, final clamping and second stage of locking to the pulley 12.
Referring now to
The first beam section 14 is then coupled to the pulley 12 by engaging the protections or hooks 52 with the pulley 12. The length of the first beam section 14 is telescopically adjusted, as need be, using the first telescopic adjustment arrangement 56 to obtain the approximate fitment, and the second telescopic adjustment arrangement 58 for the finer adjustment and final clamping to the pulley 12. It is noted that the clamping force of the first beam section 14 may retain the apparatus 10 atop the pulley 12 to allow the lift couplings 22 to be disengaged and repositioned, as need be. An example of the telescopic adjustment is shown in
If the load is required to be balanced, the lifting tethers 44 may be relaxed or released, the lift couplings 22 may be then rotated away from one another to disengage the respective cams 46 and place the lift couplings 22 in the unlocked condition (an example of this is shown in
Once in position, the lift couplings 22 may be then rotated toward one another to engage the respective cams 46 which forces and retains the lift couplings 22 in the respective selected notches. The lift couplings 22 are now back onto the locked or retained condition. The lifting tether 44 may then be reconnected or tightened such that the lifting apparatus 10 and coupled pulley 12 are liftable, as shown in
The pulley 12 may be placed into a cradle 80 as shown in
Advantageously, there has been described a lifting apparatus that includes lift couplings that are lockable or retained in a first condition, and then slidable and repositionable in a second condition to allow balancing of load when the apparatus is connected to the pulley. In particular, cams of the lift couplings are arranged such that when being lifted with lifting force and angle serves to main the first condition, and only once the lifting load is removed and the cams are moved to a non-lifting angle—may the lift couplings be moved and repositionable. The lift couplings are not required to be removed during this process.
Further, the lifting apparatus incudes a telescopic arrangement to couple to and clamp onto the pulley for lifting. The first telescopic adjustment arrangement is provided to obtain the approximate fitment and a first stage of locking, and the second telescopic adjustment arrangement may be used for the finer adjustment, and final clamping and second stage of locking to the pulley which improves the grip of the apparatus and the pulley.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.
While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.
Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.
