Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6412649
-
Patent Number
6,412,649
-
Date Filed
Monday, February 7, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 2, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Kramer; Dean J.
- Chin; Paul T.
Agents
- Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & Doody, LLC
- Smith; Gregory C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 212 242
- 212 251
- 212 259
- 212 270
- 212 271
- 294 811
- 294 812
- 294 8121
- 294 813
- 294 814
- 294 815
- 294 816
- 294 74
- 294 8154
- 294 8162
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A spreader bar includes an elongated bar member having end portions that support a flexible lifting member that is supported below the bar. The flexible lifting member is preferably comprised of a plurality of link sections that are pinned together, load carrying links depending from the flexible member, preferably at pinned connections that join the additional links.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lifting apparatus and accessories, and more particularly to an improved spreader bar lifting apparatus for use with cranes and other lifting devices that use slings. Even more particularly the present invention relates to an improved spreader bar arrangement that includes a main beam or bar that supports a flexible member preferably comprised of a plurality of links or sections, and wherein the links or sections have connectors that enable connections to be made between the links and a load to be lifted or load lines (eg. slings).
2. General Background of the Invention
Spreader bars are commonly used in industry for lifting large objects with a single hook that is attached to the crown block and lift cables of a crane. A lifting hook is commonly provided with a pair of slings that depend from the crane hook at angles in a bridle fashion, each of the slings connecting to an end portion of the spreader bar. Parallel, depending lift lines are then suspended from the end portions of the spreader bar downwardly to the load that is to be lifted.
One of the problems with spreader bars is that of sizing the spreader bar to meet a particular load. Loads typically differ in size and in configuration. Some devices have been patented that enable the overall length of the bar to be changed by changing the center section to which a pair of end caps attach. An example of such as a spreader bar that has been patented can be seen in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,493, and entitled “Spreader Bar Assembly”. Other spreader bar patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,538,849 and 5,863,085, each incorporated herein by reference.
In some situations, a user has a pair of cranes or like lifting devices such as for example a ship having two cranes positioned at opposite ends of an opening in the hull above a hold or other cargo area. This presents a problem to the ship operator when very heavy loads of differing configurations are to be lifted out of the cargo area. Sometimes the position of the load in the cargo area requires that a crane be positioned at such an angle of inclination that the lifting capacity of the boom is at its lowest portion of its range.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved spreader bar apparatus that includes a pair of bar sections. The present invention provides an improved spreader bar apparatus that includes a bar or beam member having first and second end portions. Each of the end portions provides a lifting portion that can be attached to a lifting device such as a crane. A flexible member is supported by each of the bar members at the lifting portions, the flexible member preferably extending in a curved fashion below the bar and in between the two bar ends.
The flexible member provides attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member, each of the attachments being a location that can support a lifting line, sling or the like.
The flexible member is preferably comprised of a plurality of links connected together end to end.
The flexible member can be comprised of a plurality of links that are pinned together.
The flexible member can be comprised of a plurality of plate members, each plate member being an elongated structure having end portions, wherein one end portion of one plate member is connected to an end portion of another plate member, preferably using a pinned connection. At that pinned connection, a third plate member can be positioned to extend downwardly from the pinned connection and assume a generally vertical position. This third plate member functions as a load carrying member to which a depending lift line, sling or the like can be attached (for example, using shackles).
The plurality of plate members thus includes a first plurality of laterally extending plate members and a second plurality of vertically extending plate members. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes two separate lifting cranes positioned at spaced apart locations, each of the lifting cranes supporting a separate end of the bar.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a front, elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a top, plan view of the preferred embodiment of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines
2
—
2
of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines
3
—
3
of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a partial, perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown during use;
FIG. 6
is another front, elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention shown during use;
FIG. 7
is a partial, exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and
FIG. 8
is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating a connection be ween the spreader bar and a load using lifting slings and shackles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
5
and
6
show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral
10
. Spreader bar apparatus
10
is comprised generally of an elongated bar
11
having end portions
12
,
13
and center portion
14
.
Ends
15
,
16
are fitted to the bar
11
for example, using welding.
The bar
11
can be an elongated, cylindrically shaped member, such as a section of pipe. The bar
11
can be hollow or solid. The ends
15
,
16
are connected, preferably by welding, to the end portions
12
,
13
of bar
11
. End
15
is welded to bar
11
at end portion
12
. End
16
is welded to bar
11
at end portion
13
. If removable connections between bar
11
and end
15
,
16
are desired, the ends
15
,
16
can be constructed to be removable and not welded such as those shown in the Jon Khachaturian patent 4,397,493, incorporated herein by reference.
The combination of bar
11
and its ends
15
,
16
, support an elongated flexible member
17
that can be comprised of a plurality of links
18
,
19
,
20
,
22
,
23
,
25
. In
FIGS. 1
,
3
,
4
, and
7
, the flexible member
17
is shown comprised of a plurality of links connected together and preferably using a pinned connection at adjacent links such as the pinned connection
33
shown in the drawings. Each pinned connection
33
can be comprised of pin
26
having threaded portion
27
, washer
28
and nut
29
as shown in FIG.
4
.
In
FIG. 4
, outside links
18
form attachments to inside links
19
and lifting link
20
. The outside plate line
18
and inside plate link
19
are laterally extending as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4
. The lifting link
20
is generally vertically extended (or nearly vertically extended) as shown by
FIGS. 1 and 4
. Each of the links
18
,
19
,
22
,
23
and
25
have a pair of openings
21
. These openings
21
are at the end portions of each of the links
18
,
19
,
22
,
23
,
25
as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 7
. Link
20
has an upper
35
opening
21
and a lower opening
24
. Large, horizontally extended links
22
define center links for the flexible member
17
as shown in Figure
1
. At this center position, there are preferably two large horizontal links
22
as shown in FIG.
3
.
Each bar end
15
,
16
has a pinned connection
33
as shown in
FIG. 7
that forms an attachment between an end
15
or
16
and diagonally extending links
23
. In
FIG. 7
, each end
15
or
16
is comprised preferably of a pair of spaced apart plates
30
,
31
each being welded to end portion
12
or
13
of bar
11
. Alternatively, the plates
30
,
31
can be welded to the cylindrically shaped socket portion of a removable end cap that fits each end portion
12
,
13
of bar
11
. Stiffener plates
32
can be provided as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 7
for forming an attachment between each of the plates
30
and
31
and bar
11
.
The stiffeners
32
can be welded to the respective plates
30
or
31
and also are welded to the end portion
12
or
13
of bar
11
. An additional link
34
forms a part of the connection that is pinned using pin connection
33
at each end
15
or
16
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, this additional link is a vertically extending lifting link
34
having an opening
35
that aligns with the openings
36
in diagonally positioned links
23
or
25
and the openings
37
,
38
in plates
30
,
31
respectively of end
15
. The lifting link
34
also has an opening
39
that enables a connection to be formed with a lifting member or connecting member such as shackle
40
, shackle pin
41
and lifting sling (vertical or inclined)
42
.
Shackles
40
can also be used to form an attachment between one of the lifting links
20
that depends from links
18
,
19
of flexible member
17
as shown in FIG.
8
. Slings
42
can then be connected between the shackle
40
that is attached to a link
20
and shackles
43
attached to load
44
.
FIGS. 5 and 6
illustrate a completed rigging wherein spreader bar
10
forms an interface between the load
44
to be lifted and a lifting device (or devices) such as cranes
45
,
46
. Each of the cranes
45
,
46
provides a lifting line
47
and a hook
48
for engaging and supporting slings
42
.
In
FIG. 5
, the load
44
has been “centered”, being connected to flexible member
17
with slings
42
that are at equal distances from large, horizontal center link
22
. In
FIG. 6
, an offset loading arrangement is illustrated. In
FIG. 6
, the slings
42
are connected to links
20
that are to the right of the center, large horizontal link
22
. Such a situation might occur depending upon the load
44
to be lifted, the initial position of the load
44
(such as its location in the hold of a ship) or the position of equipment that is near or surrounding the load
44
to be lifted.
|
PARTS LIST
|
Part Number
Description
|
|
10
spreader bar apparatus
|
11
bar
|
12
end portion
|
13
end portion
|
14
center portion
|
15
end
|
16
end
|
17
flexible member
|
18
outside plate link
|
19
inside plate link
|
20
lifting link
|
21
opening
|
22
large horizontal link
|
23
diagonally positioned link
|
24
opening
|
25
diagonally positioned link
|
26
pin
|
27
threaded portion
|
28
washer
|
29
nut
|
30
plate
|
31
plate
|
32
stiffener plate
|
33
pinned connection
|
34
lifting link
|
35
opening
|
36
opening
|
37
opening
|
38
opening
|
39
opening
|
40
shackle
|
41
shackle pin
|
42
sling
|
43
shackle
|
44
load
|
45
crane
|
46
crane
|
47
lifting line
|
48
crane hook
|
|
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a bar member having a bar length and first and second end portions; b) the first end portion having a first bar end with a lifting portion; c) the second end portion having a second bar end with a lifting portion; d) a flexible member having end portions and a central portion and a length that approaches the bar length, and being supported by the bar member at a position next to the bar lifting portions, the flexible member being spaced farther from the bar at its central portion than at its end portions; e) attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; f) a lifting line that is attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the attachments on the flexible member; and g) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together at locations next to said attachments wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of links that are pinned together.
- 2. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a bar member having first and second end portions; b) the first end portion having a first bar end with a lifting portion; c) the second end portion having a second bar end with a lifting portion; d) a flexible member supported by the bar member at the lifting portions; e) attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; f) a lifting line that is attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the attachments on the flexible member; g) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together at locations next to said attachments; and h) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of plate Members, each having end portions, an end portion of one plate member being connected to an end portion of another plate member.
- 3. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a bar member having first and second end portions; b) the first end portion having a first bar end with a lifting portion; c) the second end portion having a second bar end with a lifting portion; d) a flexible member supported by the bar member at the lifting portions; e) attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; f) a lifting line that is attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the attachments on the flexible member; and g) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together at locations next to said attachments; h) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of plate members including a first plurality of laterally extending plate members and a second plurality of vertically extending plate members.
- 4. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 3 wherein the vertically extending plate members define said attachments.
- 5. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 4 wherein a common pinned connection joins a plurality of laterally extending plate members and a vertically extending plate member.
- 6. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 5 wherein the vertically extending link member has an opening that defines one of said attachments.
- 7. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 3 further comprising two separate lifting cranes for supporting tile respective bar ends at the lifting ends.
- 8. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a bar member having first and second end portions; b) the first end portion having a first bar end with a lifting portion; c) the second end portion having a second bar end with a lifting portion; d) a flexible member supported by the bar member only at the bar end portions; e) sling attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; f) a plurality of slings that are attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the sling attachments on the flexible member; and g) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of links that are pinned together.
- 9. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 8 further comprising two separate lifting cranes for supporting the respective bar ends at the lifting ends.
- 10. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a bar member having first and second end portions; b) the first end portion having a first bar end with a lifting portion; c) the second end portion having a second bar end with a lifting portion; d) a flexible member supported by the bar member at the bar ends; e) sling attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; f) a plurality of slings that are attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the sling attachments on the flexible member; g) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together; and h) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of plate members, each having end portions, an end portion of one plate member being connected to an end portion of another plate member.
- 11. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a bar member having first and second end portions; b) the first end portion having a first bar end with a lifting portion; c) the second end portion having a second bar end with a lifting portion; d) a flexible member supported by the bar member at the bar ends; e) sling attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; f) a plurality of slings that are attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the sling attachments on the flexible member; g) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together; and h) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of plate members including a first plurality of laterally extending plate members and a second plurality of vertically extending link members.
- 12. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 11 wherein the vertically extending link members define said attachments.
- 13. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 12 wherein a common pinned connection joins a plurality of laterally extending link members and a vertically extending link member.
- 14. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vertically extending link member has an opening that defines one of said attachments.
- 15. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a pair of lifting cranes; b) a bar member having first and second end portions; c) the first end portion having a first bar end removably attached to a first of the cranes; d) the second end portion having a second bar end removably attached to a second of the cranes; e) a flexible member supported by the bar member at the lifting portions, wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate plates that are connected together end-to-end, a plate being connected to the plate next to it at a pinned connection; f) each pinned connection supporting a depending plate; g) a plurality of lifting lines that are attachable to selected depending plates.
- 16. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 15 wherein the plurality of elements connected together end to end are about the same size.
- 17. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 15 wherein an end portion of one plate member is connected to an end portion of another plate member.
- 18. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 15 wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of plate members including a first plurality of laterally extending plate members and a second plurality of vertically extending plate members.
- 19. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 18 wherein the vertically extending plate members define said attachments.
- 20. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 18 wherein a common pinned connection joins a plurality of laterally extending plate members and a vertically extending plate member.
- 21. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 18 wherein the vertically extending link member has an opening that defines one of said attachments.
- 22. A spreader bar apparatus, comprising:a) a pair of lifting cranes;, b) a bar member having first and second lifting end of portions; c) the first end portion having a first bar end removably attached to a first of the cranes; d) the second end portion having a second bar end removably attached to a second of the cranes; e) a flexible member having end portions and a central portion and being supported by the bar member at a position next to the lifting portions, the flexible member being spaced farther from the bar at its central portion than at its end portions; f) attachments at spaced apart intervals along the flexible member; g) a lifting line that is attachable to the flexible member at a selected one of the attachments on the flexible member; and h) wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of separate elements that are connected together at locations next to said attachments wherein the flexible member is comprised of a plurality of plate members defining said elements including a first plurality of laterally extending plate members and a second plurality of vertically extending plate members.
- 23. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 22 wherein the vertically extending plate members define said attachments.
- 24. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 22 wherein a common pinned connection joins a plurality of the laterally extending plate members and a vertically extending plate member.
- 25. The spreader bar apparatus of claim 24 wherein the vertically extending link member has an opening that defines one of said attachments.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0252176 |
Dec 1987 |
DE |
1172194 |
Jul 1989 |
JP |
0812691 |
Mar 1981 |
SU |