Patent Application
20160160511
Efforts to reduce the cost of construction have led to the increased use of prefabricated building components. Prefabrication of such components reduces construction costs and waste while also increasing efficiency. Large, prefabricated wall panels, for example, are one such prefabricated building component and are commonly used in the construction of buildings. Such wall panels, however, are typically heavy and cumbersome. Despite their prevalent use, the current means of lifting and moving these wall panels, such as with large, specialized cranes, remains inefficient, expensive, and risks damage to the wall panels and surrounding structure. Further, space and budget constraints at construction locations often preclude the use of such large, specialized equipment. Therefore, a system capable of lifting and moving wall panels efficiently, inexpensively, and without a high risk of damage to the wall panels or other structures is generally desirable.
The present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The present disclosure generally pertains to a system for lifting and positioning wall panels. In certain embodiments, a lifting apparatus is provided, wherein a frame is configured to attach to opposing edges of a wall panel and wherein the frame, along with an attached wall panel, may be lifted and moved using a forklift. The width of the lifting apparatus may be adjusted to attach to wall panels of various widths. In other embodiments, a positioning apparatus is provided, wherein a frame is configured to roll across a surface and to attach to opposing edges of a wall panel. In certain embodiments, the positioning apparatus is configured to raise and lower using a source of force.
The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments.
As used herein, “alloy” means pure metals and metals including incidental impurities and/or purposeful additions of metals and/or non-metals. For example, alloy may mean aluminum. Other examples of alloys include brass, bronze, copper, duralumin, Inconel, nickel, steel, titanium, other alloys known to those skilled in the art, and combinations of the same.
As used herein, “beam” means beams of different shapes including, but not limited to, rectangular and cylindrical beams.
As used herein, “bracket” means an anchored fixture capable of supporting a load.
As used herein, “composite” means engineered materials made from two more constituent materials. Examples of composites include, but are not limited to, carbon composites, in which carbon fiber is embedded in a matrix or resin, including epoxy matrices, thermosetting or thermoplastic resins, as well as composites containing fiberglass, ceramics, and other elements.
As used herein, “jack” means a device configured to support or lift a load through the application of force, including, but not limited to, mechanical jacks, such as screw jacks and scissor jacks, hydraulic jacks, such as floor jacks, bottle jacks, and barrel jacks, pneumatic jacks, strand jacks, and farm jacks.
As used herein, “tube” means tubes of different shapes including, but not limited to, rectangular and circular tubes.
As used herein, “wall panel” means a combination of one or more layers of various materials, having a front face and a rear face, for use in construction. In certain embodiments, two or more layers may be separated by a void. Examples of panels include, but are not limited to, sheets of drywall, metal, and other prefabricated walls and wall sections known in the art.
The positioning apertures 5 and the lifting apertures 7 may be uniformly or differentially spaced at a range of distances. For example, in certain embodiments, the apertures are spaced approximately 100 cm apart. In certain embodiments, at least the first aperture proximal to the top of the lateral edge 3 is a lifting aperture 7. The positioning apertures 5 and the lifting apertures 7 may be configured at a range of widths and heights.
The telescoping crossmember 17 includes a central support bar 19 and two L-shaped lifting arms 21 on opposing sides of the central support bar 19. In certain embodiments, the central support bar 19 and L-shaped lifting arms 21 are tubes. In certain embodiments, the telescoping crossmember 17 further includes at least one secondary support bar 23 between the central support bar 19 and each L-shaped lifting arm 21. In certain embodiments, the secondary support bars 23 are tubes. Each secondary support bar 23 is configured to fit within the inner periphery of the central support bar 19. The horizontal arm 25 of each L-shaped lifting arm 21 is configured to fit within the inner periphery of the secondary support bar 23 and the central support bar 19. The central support bar 19, secondary support bar 23, and the horizontal arm 25 of each L-shaped lifting arm 21 may be secured to one another by one or more locking pins 26—although bolts, clamps, and like locking mechanisms are possible in other embodiments—inserted through telescope apertures 27 located on opposing faces of each of the foregoing to prevent the central support bar 19, secondary support bar 23, and the L-shaped lifting arm 21 from becoming dislodged from one another. The width of the telescoping crossmember 17 may be adjusted by sliding the secondary support bars 23 and/or the L-shaped lifting arms 21 and securing the same by inserting one or more locking pins 26 through incrementally-spaced telescope apertures 27 located on each of the foregoing.
Each L-shaped lifting arm 21 is further configured to include a vertical arm 29, perpendicular to the horizontal arm 25. The vertical arm 29 includes at least one arm aperture 31 located on opposing faces and configured to accept the inserting of pins, bolts, clamps, and the like. In certain embodiments, the L-shaped lifting arms 21 further include at least one secondary arm bar (not shown). In certain embodiments, the secondary arm bars are tubes. Each secondary arm bar is configured to fit within the inner periphery of the vertical arm 29. The vertical arm 29 and the secondary arm bar may be secured to one another by one or more locking pins 26 inserted through arm apertures 31 located on opposing faces of each of the foregoing. The combined length of the vertical arm 29 and secondary arm bar may be adjusted by sliding the secondary arm bar and securing the same by inserting one or more locking pins 26 through incrementally-spaced arm apertures 31 located on each of the foregoing.
In certain embodiments, the lifting apparatus 11 is composed of an alloy. In other embodiments, the lifting apparatus 11 is composed of a composite.
In certain embodiments, the support post 46 is composed of a tube. In other embodiments, the support post 46 is composed of a solid beam. In certain embodiments, the support post 46 includes a bracket 54 affixed to the exterior surface of the support post 46. The bracket 54 may be affixed at different locations along the exterior surface of the support post 46. The bracket 54 may be composed of materials including, but not limited to, alloys and composites. The support post 46 is configured to fit within the inner periphery of a positioning post 48. The positioning post 48 is a tube configured to insert over the support post 46. In certain embodiments, the positioning post 48 rests on top of the bracket 54.
A crossbeam 50 is located at the base of the positioning post 48 and extends out from opposing faces of the positioning post 48. In certain embodiments, the crossbeam 50 is flattened with its faces on the top and bottom. The positioning post 48 further includes at least one positioning hook 52 located on the lateral surface distal to the triangular base 42. The positioning hook 52 is a hook configured to mount a wall panel 1 by insertion of the positioning hook 52 into a positioning aperture 5 on the wall panel 1. In certain embodiments, the positioning post 48 includes multiple positioning hooks 52 aligned vertically. The positioning hooks 52 may be uniformly or differentially spaced. Each positioning hook 52 is angled vertically away from the crossbeam 50.
In certain embodiments, in lieu of positioning hooks 52 the positioning post 48 includes at least one arm aperture 31 located on opposing faces and configured to accept the inserting of pins, bolts, clamps, and the like. The arm aperture 31 are positioned on opposing faces of the positioning post 48 by which a locking pin 26 may be used to connect to a positioning aperture 5 on each lateral edge 3 of the wall panel 1 to prevent the wall panel 1 from becoming dislodged from the positioning apparatus 40 while positioning the wall panel 1. In certain embodiments, the positioning post 48 includes multiple arm apertures 31 aligned vertically. The arm apertures 31 may be uniformly or differentially spaced.
The positioning post 48 is configured to raise and lower through the application and removal of force, respectively, to the underside of the crossbeam 50. The source of the force may include, but is not limited to, a jack 51 or other source of force known in the art.
In other embodiments, in lieu of a jack 51, crossbeam 50, and bracket 54, the positioning post 48 may include a gearbox 56 located on the positioning post 48 configured to allow vertical adjustment of the positioning post 48, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the positioning apparatus 40 is composed of an alloy. In other embodiments, the positioning apparatus 40 is composed of a composite.
Each vertical arm 29 of each L-shaped lifting arm 21 includes at least one arm aperture 31 on opposing faces of the vertical arm 29 by which a locking pin 26 may be used to connect to a lifting aperture 7 on each lateral edge 3 of the wall panel 1 to prevent the wall panel 1 from becoming dislodged from the lifting apparatus 11 while lifting the wall panel 1.
A wall panel 1 may be lifted and moved using a forklift and lifting apparatus 11 and then transferred to two positioning apparatuses 40. To transfer the wall panel 1 from a lifting apparatus 11 to two positioning apparatuses 40, the positioning apparatuses 40 may be placed on opposing lateral edges 3 of the wall panel 1 while such wall panel 1 is supported by the lifting apparatus 11. Positioning hooks 52 on the positioning post 48 of each positioning apparatus 40 may be inserted into the positioning apertures 5 on the wall panel 1. If necessary, the height of the positioning posts 48 may be adjusted by adjusting the application of force, supplied by a source of force, to the crossbeams 50. Once the positioning apparatuses 40 are secured to the wall panel 1, the lifting apparatus 11 may be disconnected from the wall panel 1 by removing the bolt, pin, clamp, or like locking mechanism from all lifting apertures 7 on the wall panel 1.
In certain embodiments, the present disclosure contemplates a method of lifting a wall panel 1 using a lifting apparatus 11 by: inserting the tangs of a forklift into tang receptacles 13 of the lifting apparatus 11; securing a wall panel 1 to the lifting apparatus 11 by inserting locking pins 26 through the arm apertures 31 of the lifting apparatus 11 and into the lifting apertures 7 of the wall panel 1; and moving the wall panel 1 by operation of the forklift. For example, by raising the tangs of the forklift, the wall panel 1 will also raise. Similarly, the forklift may be driven to move the wall panel 1, attached to the forklift, to a desired location. In certain embodiments, the lifting apparatus 11 is secured to the forklift by attaching a safety chain from the frame of the forklift to the lifting apparatus 11, such as around the crossmember 15.
In certain embodiments, the present disclosure contemplates a method of positioning a wall panel 1 using a positioning apparatus 40 by: securing the positioning post 48 of a positioning apparatus 40 to each lateral edge 3 of a wall panel 1; rolling the positioning apparatuses 40—and thereby the wall panel 1—along a surface to a desired location; and removing the wall panel 1 from the positioning apparatus 40. In certain embodiments, a jack 51 is used to apply force to the brackets 54 to adjust the height of the positioning posts 48 to align the positioning hooks 52 with the positioning apertures 5 on the wall panel 1. In certain embodiments, the wall panel 1 is attached to a lifting apparatus 11 while the positioning posts are secured to the wall panel 1. In certain embodiments, force applied to the brackets 54 by a jack 51 is reduced to lower the wall panel 1—attached to the positioning posts 48—onto a surface.
References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generally be understood to mean “and/or” and so forth.
The compositions, concentrations, and vehicles of the various embodiments described herein are exemplary. Various other compositions, concentrations, and vehicles for the formulations described herein are possible.
