Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to systems, methods and devices for attaching to lifting anchors. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and devices for connecting to a pre-installed insert or anchor bolt associated with a panel or building component.
Certain pre-installed members for transmitting force and manipulating panels or structures, such as pre-formed concrete panels, are known in the art. Such devices and systems include, for example, the MeadowBurke® Rapid Lift and Super Lift systems. Prior art systems comprise, for example, a void former or recessing member as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,063 to Kelly, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Such devices are generally provided to create a void or point of access in, for example, a concrete panel or wall which generally provides access to an anchor member embedded within the concrete panel for aiding in manipulation and/or movement of the panel. Such manipulation, including lifting and movement of the panel, is facilitated through features and devices as shown and described herein.
One of skill in the art will recognize that when preformed panels and devices of the present disclosure are being manipulated or transmitted between various positions and/or orientations, it is desirable and often critical to establish a secure and safe connection between the panel or device and operational equipment. Additionally, however, it is also necessary to provide a system and device that allows for relative ease of removal of such operational equipment from the panel or device after transport or manipulation of the same is complete. Finally, the device must be designed to prevent damaging the wall panel or structure to avoid the necessity of costly repair and/or replacement.
Accordingly, it is one aspect of the present invention to provide a lifting system for selectively connecting to concrete members and securely moving or manipulating the members. It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a system that allows a hook bolt to lock up when lifting in the shear direction without the need for a steel ear on the anchor.
Existing lift systems pose risks of spalling concrete members, particularly at void edges where lifting components contact such edges. Systems and devices of the present disclosure provide a novel lifting mechanism and anchor which reduce concrete spalling, as well as provide for a more efficient anchor capable of being used in thinner panels, at least as compared to the systems of the prior art.
The present disclosure contemplates various systems and methods for providing a void or access feature in a precast concrete structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,663 to Kelly et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, provides one such system suitable for use in connection with the present disclosure.
The oldest and most common void formers employ solid urethane blocks which have an undersurface of a generally arcuate configuration and a slot formed therein and extending into the undersurface for releasable receipt of the anchor to be positioned. The blocks carry protrusions which extend across the slot to releasably engage the anchor. In use, the block is plastically deformed to engage and disengage the anchor. A recent variation of such an anchor wherein the slot is narrowed and defines a passage complimental with the shape of the anchor is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,700, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Earlier examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,383,674, 4,821,994, 5,535,979, 5,651,911, and 7,950,190, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
It is also well known in the art to provide hollow void formers for positioning anchors wherein the void formers have a smooth arcuate undersurface with a slot formed therein for receipt of the anchor. Such void formers, however, are relatively rigid and require some type of separate retaining element to secure the anchor within the slot. An example of such a void former can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,047, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Aspects of the present disclosure comprise a hollow body having first and second sections hinged together for movement between a closed condition engageable around an anchor received therebetween and an open condition in which the sections are separated to release an anchor received therebetween. A latch is disposed between the sections to releasably secure them in the closed condition. A passage for an anchor is defined between the first and second sections.
A method of embedding a lifting anchor in a concrete structure according to the present disclosure comprises providing a polymeric hollow body having first and second sections hinged together at their upper portions for movement between a closed condition engageable around an anchor received therebetween and an open condition in which the sections are separated to release an anchor received therebetween. The sections define a passage therebetween for receipt and retention of a lifting anchor and are provided with a latch to selectively secure the sections together. In the method, the sections are moved apart to receive the anchor and then moved together to secure the anchor in place. As so conditioned, the void former is cast in place within a concrete structure and, ultimately, removed from the structure by spreading the first and second sections apart and releasing them from the anchor.
A contemplated method of forming the void former comprises providing a mold for injection molding a polymeric material into a body having first and second sections joined by a bridge therebetween and then removing the body from the mold and hinging the sections relative to one another through bending of the bridge, before the polymer is fully cured. In the preferred embodiment, the sections are molded in a condition where the first and second sections are separated and hingedly connected by the bridge. This enables a protruding latching device to be formed between the sections. After removal of the body from the form, and before the polymer has fully cured, the bridge is bent to alter its molecular structure and facilitate it for repeated usage as a hinge.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lifting apparatus, system and method for erecting panels. U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,900 to Scott, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, provides an anchor for use with ring clutches and bail lift clutches. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,164 to Fricker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,856 to Fricker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,642 to Holt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,979 to Courtois and U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,554 to Lancelot disclose lifting means and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Various known lifting devices and methods provide a risk of spalling an associated concrete panel, particularly when used improperly. Features of the present disclosure provide for enhanced panel and concrete erection. In one embodiment, a hoisting assembly is provided, the hoisting assembly adapted for erecting a precast concrete element which has at least one anchoring member embedded therein, the assembly comprising an arcuate locking bolt, a hoisting shackle having a hollow toroidal portion, the hollow toroidal portion comprising a slot proximal at least an outer circumference of the hollow toroidal portion for receiving the bolt and a void portion for receiving an upper end of an anchoring member which has been embedded into the concrete structure. The shackle comprises an internal arcuate surface having a radius, the internal arcuate surface comprising a tangent line substantially perpendicular to a tangent of the hollow toroidal portion, and the internal arcuate surface adapted for contacting the anchoring member. The internal arcuate surface is adapted for contacting lateral portions of the anchoring member, thus transferring various non-vertical loads to the anchoring member as opposed to subjecting portions of the panel (e.g. edges of pre-formed voids) to such loads and risking damage to the concrete member.
As will be recognized by one of skill in the art, when a vertical load is applied to a known clutch system and lifting anchor in a substantially vertical manner (i.e. where system components are aligned), a minimal amount of lateral or excess movement will be present. That is, risk of contact between system components and the preformed concrete panel is minimized and spalling of the concrete is unlikely in preferred orientations. However, where loads are applied at various angles, as is common in erection procedures, contact between lifting features and the concrete panel is known to occur with prior art systems. Such contact causes spalling damage to the concrete as well as various undesired point-loading and thus requiring costly repairs. Peripheral wings provided with shackles as shown and described herein provide an internal surface and support structure for contacting an erection anchor when a lateral movement or load is applied to the clutch system. An internal surface of the peripheral wing contacts an exterior surface of the erection anchor upon application of a lateral or non-vertical load, thus maintaining the clutch in a substantially aligned position with respect to a panel or member to be lifted. Maintaining the clutch in such a position prevents contact between various lifting elements and the panel member. Whereas known devices typically result in various forces and points of contact between, for example, an edge region of a pre-formed void, peripheral wings and internal surface area of the shackle center the lifting device and act to direct various loads to the anchor.
Various anchors are contemplated for use in connection with additional system components. In one embodiment, for example, an anchoring member is provided comprising two substantially parallel members for extending into a concrete member, each of the two substantially parallel members connected at a first end to an inwardly converging member, the inwardly converging members connected at a load point, the load point and converging members being generally defined by a U or V-shaped feature. Each of the substantially parallel members, in at least one embodiment, comprise an outwardly oriented portion at a second end of the substantially parallel members, the outwardly oriented members being angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the substantially parallel members by approximately ninety degrees and wherein the outwardly oriented members extend away from each other.
These and other objects will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detail description.
The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
Referring to
The attachment link 10 comprises of a ring part 11 and a link plate 12. The ring part 11 reaches through a central opening 21a of the hoisting shackle 20, adjoining the lower extremity of the link plate 12 with a rectangular hub portion 11a which engages a central vertical recess 12a in the link plate 12. A number of corner welds 12b form of strong junction between the ring part 11 and the link plate 12.
The ring part 11 is preferably an annular steel forging. In order to insert the ring part 11 through the central opening 21a of the hoisting shackle 20, it is split open along a radial slit 11b which bisects its hub portion 11a. The split ring part 11 is bent open, so that it can be inserted through the central opening 21a of the shackle 20, and the inserted ring part is bent back into its annular shape, whereupon the rejoined halves of its hub portion are inserted into the vertical recess 12a of the link plate 12 for the welding operation. Alternatively, a joined cable may be provided for interconnection with the hoisting shackle.
The link plate 12 is a flat metal plate of generally triangular shape with a large eye 12c for the insertion of a hook, cable, or other suitable connecting member of a hoisting harness (not shown). The major plane of the link plate 12 is perpendicular to the major plane of the ring part 11. In
As shown, an anchor 40 is provided generally embedded in a panel 42 and capable of transmitting and maintaining a force at least as great as the weight of the panel 42 via additional components.
A side view of the cross-sectional views of
The shackle of
As shown in
As shown in
In various embodiments, and as shown in
As will be recognized by one of skill in the art, when a vertical load is applied to a clutch system and lifting anchor in a substantially vertical manner where system components are aligned, a minimal amount of lateral or excess movement will be present. That is, risk of contact between system components and the preformed concrete panel is minimized and spalling of the concrete is unlikely. It is known, however, that where loads are applied at angles or not perfectly-vertical, as is common in erection procedures, contact between lifting features and the concrete panel is known to occur with prior art systems. Such contact causes spalling damage to the concrete as well as various undesired point-loading. Peripheral wings 48a, 48b as shown and described herein provide an internal surface and support structure for contacting an erection anchor when a lateral movement or load is applied to the clutch system. An internal surface 66 of the peripheral wings 48a, 48b contacts an exterior surface of the erection anchor upon application of a lateral or non-vertical load, thus maintaining the clutch 44 in a substantially aligned position with respect to a panel or member to be lifted. Maintaining the clutch 44 in such a position prevents contact between various lifting elements and the panel member. Whereas known devices typically result in various forces and points of contact between, for example, an edge region of a pre-formed void, peripheral wings and internal surface area of the shackle center the lifting device and act to direct various loads to the anchor.
As shown in
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
This Non-Provisional Application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/661,947, filed Jun. 20, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2099116 | Kalmach | Nov 1937 | A |
3798856 | Gloskowski | Mar 1974 | A |
4083156 | Tye | Apr 1978 | A |
4173856 | Fricker | Nov 1979 | A |
4367892 | Holt | Jan 1983 | A |
4383674 | Fricker | May 1983 | A |
4437642 | Holt | Mar 1984 | A |
4615554 | Schilla et al. | Oct 1986 | A |
4634164 | Fricker | Jan 1987 | A |
4671554 | Lancelot | Jun 1987 | A |
4700979 | Courtois et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
4703595 | Zipf et al. | Nov 1987 | A |
4769960 | Zipf et al. | Sep 1988 | A |
4807843 | Courtois et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
4821994 | Fricker | Apr 1989 | A |
4872634 | Gillaspy et al. | Oct 1989 | A |
5094047 | Kelly et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5155954 | Roire | Oct 1992 | A |
5535979 | Ellis-Callow | Jul 1996 | A |
5580115 | Jessen | Dec 1996 | A |
5651911 | Pennypacker | Jul 1997 | A |
6082700 | Lancelot, III et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6092849 | Zambelli et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6142546 | Hansort | Nov 2000 | A |
6152509 | Hansort | Nov 2000 | A |
6260900 | Scott | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6341452 | Bollinghaus | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6769663 | Kelly et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
7905063 | Kelly | Mar 2011 | B2 |
7950190 | Schulze | May 2011 | B2 |
8291649 | Kelly | Oct 2012 | B2 |
20090320386 | Mackay | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20120073170 | Boltz et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
U.S. Appl. No. 14/046,730, filed Oct. 4, 2013, Recker et al. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20130340357 A1 | Dec 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61661947 | Jun 2012 | US |