This invention relates to material handling apparatus in particular but not necessarily for the moving lengths of ducting and in particular ducting used during construction of buildings.
Building construction sites for large buildings frequently employ construction equipment for lifting large and heavy components into position during the construction of a building. For example, lengths of standard ducting may be up to 2.9 meters in length and up to 2.1 meters×2.5 meters in section and weigh up to 350 kgs. During construction of commercial building the overhead ducting is typically lifted and fixed into position using manned aerial lifts which may be provided with material handling apparatus to facilitate the final positioning of the ducting.
A typical aerial lift is a mobile scissor lift available from JLG Ind. and which has a work platform which may be lifted into the air by a hydraulically operable scissor mechanism. For safety the work platform is surrounded by a safety barrier or fence for the protection of personnel on the platform.
The present invention provides an aerial lift adapted for the handing of ducting.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an aerial lift having a platform surrounded by a kick plate adjacent the platform with a pair of spaced apart cross members supported on the kick plate and extending transversely of the platform, each cross member being secured to the kick plate and having an upwardly projecting stop at each end thereof for sideways location of material(s) supported on the cross members.
Typically the lift is intended for moving length of rectangular or square section materials such as ducting but could be utilised for moving other objects that will fit onto the cross members between the stops.
The cross members are held in place by engaging with the kick plate on opposite sides of the platform and are held in a stable condition resting on the platform.
Preferably the cross members have a bracket at each end portion thereof for coupling to a respective second bracket standing on the platform and engaging with the kick plate. The kick plate on an aerial lift typically has an upper edge with either an inwardly or an outwardly turned lip which may be further provided with a downwardly turned lip flange. The second bracket used in co-operation with the kick plate may be adapted to engage with the different kick-plates.
Preferably the stops at the end of the cross-members are adjustably connected to the cross members for accommodating different widths of material(s) e.g. ducting.
Preferably a pair of spaced apart longitudinal beams are supported on the cross-members and extend beyond the platform for insertion into ducting, or other hollow object, for lifting an manoeuvring the ducting. The beams are adjustably mounted on the cross members to accommodate different widths of ducting. The distal ends of the two beams are coupled together by a transverse connecting rod.
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
With reference also to
The cross beams 22 are held in place on the kick plate 14 by two spaced apart brackets 23 secured to the cross members by for example welding and which is are each fastened to a respective pair of further brackets 25 arranged on the platform floor 20 adjacent the kick plate 14. Each pair of further brackets 25 comprise a lower “L” shaped bracket 25A which sits on the platform floor 20 with its back against the kick plate 14, and an upper “L” shaped bracket 25B which in use engages under the lip 19 of the kick plate 14. The two brackets 25 A & B are mounted back to back with the upper bracket inverted and having an elongate aperture 26 in its back whereby it is adjustably mounted on the lower bracket 25A using suitable fasteners. The upper bracket 25A has a detent 27 on its upper surface which is engagable with the kick plate 14 to hold the pair of brackets on the platform.
Each cross member 22 is secured to the kick plate 14 by respective brackets 23 & 25 on the opposite sides of the platform. The cross members 22 are hollow and the ends of the cross-members 22 are provided with safety stops 26 which extend upwardly to facilitate location of ducting D mounted on the cross members 22. The stops 26 may be detachably and adjustably mounted within the hollow cross members to facilitate use with different sizes of ducting. A length of tubing 30 or semi circular section tube may be provided on the upper surface of the cross members 22 to provide point contact with the ducting D to facilitate longitudinal movement of the ducting D when mounted on the carrier assembly 21. The outer end portions of the cross beams are inclined inwardly from the base to provide access to apertures 28 in the end portions of the cross members which are provided as anchorage points for safety straps.
With reference to
The two longitudinal beams 32 extend outwardly in one direction beyond the platform 12 to form a fork which can be inserted into a duct, or other hollow object, for lifting and carrying in the manner of a fork lift. The releasable clamps 33 allow the beams to be moved relative to each other to accommodate different widths of ducting. The distal ends of the beams 32 are connected together by a rod 34 which serves to strengthen the fork and also prevent the beams 32 from passing to the outside of a duct during insertion.
Typically the lift is intended for moving length of rectangular or square section ducting D as described above. However such a lift could be utilised for moving other objects that will fit onto the cross members between the stops, for example heat exchanger units, or fan units.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1014920.1 | Sep 2010 | GB | national |
This application is a national stage of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2011/001301, filed Sep. 6, 2011, which claims priority to United Kingdom Priority Application 1014920.1 filed Sep. 8, 2010. The specification, drawings, claims and abstract of these applications, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/GB2011/001301 | 9/6/2011 | WO | 00 | 5/15/2013 |