BUNDLE GRAPPLE

GRAPPIN GROUPE

English Abstract

A grappling device has a body with a track. First and second jaw members are movably mounted on the track. There is a closing mechanism comprising a lever arm with a first end attached to the first jaw member by a first linkage and a second end attached to the second jaw member by a second linkage. The lever arm is pivotally mounted to the body between the first and second jaw members relative to the track by a pivotal connection that is disposed between the first and second ends of the lever arm. A linear actuator has a first end attached to the body and a second end attached to the lever arm. As the linear actuator extends and retracts, the linear actuator causes the lever arm to pivot about the pivotal connection.

French Abstract

Un dispositif de grappin possède un corps avec un rail. Les premier et second éléments de mâchoire sont montés de manière mobile sur le rail. Il comprend un mécanisme de fermeture qui comporte un bras de levier avec une première extrémité fixée au premier élément de mâchoire par un premier lien et une seconde extrémité fixée au second élément de mâchoire par un second lien. Le bras de levier est monté de manière rotative au corps entre les premier et second éléments de mâchoire par rapport au rail par une connexion pivotante placée entre les première et seconde extrémités du bras de levier. Un actionneur linéaire possède une première extrémité fixée au corps et une seconde extrémité fixée au bras de levier. Comme lactionneur linéaire se déploie et se rétracte, lactionneur linéaire cause la rotation du bras de levier autour de la connexion pivotante.

Claims

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What is Claimed is:
1. A grappling device comprising:
a body comprising a track that extends along the body;
a first jaw member movably mounted on a first portion of the track and a
second jaw member movably mounted to a second portion of the track; and
a closing mechanism comprising:
a lever arm having a first end attached to the first jaw member by a
first linkage and a second end attached to the second jaw member by a second
linkage, the
lever arm being pivotally mounted to the body between the first and second jaw
members
relative to the track by a pivotal connection that is disposed between the
first and second ends
of the lever arm such that, as the lever arm pivots, the first and second
linkages convert the
pivotal movement of the lever arm into lateral movement of the first and
second jaw members
along the track between a grappling position and a release position; and
a linear actuator having a first end attached to the body and a second
end attached to the lever arm at a point spaced from the pivotal connection,
the linear actuator
being aligned with the track such that as the linear actuator extends and
retracts, the linear
actuator causes the lever arm to pivot about the pivotal connection.
2. The grappling device of claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw
members each
comprise a concave grasping surface.
3. The grappling device of claim 1, wherein the track comprises a first
track and a
second track in parallel with the first track, and each jaw member is attached
to both the first
track and the second track.
4. The grappling device of claim 3, further comprising a first closing
mechanism
associated with the first track and a second closing mechanism associated with
the second
track.
5. The grappling device of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is attached
to an

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extension of the lever arm that extends past a connection point to the first
linkage relative to
the pivotal connection.
6. The grappling device of claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw
members are
movably mounted to the track by a sliding connection at a top end of each jaw
member.
7. The grappling device of claim 6, wherein the sliding connection
comprises one or
more sliding plates pivotally connected to each jaw member and that engage the
track.
8. The grappling device of claim 1, wherein the first and second linkages
each have an
adjustable length.

Description

CA 02858230 2014-07-30
BUNDLE GRAPPLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This
relates to a grapple that may be used to manipulate heavy, elongated objects,
such as a bundle of exchanger tubes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In
industrial applications, it is often necessary to move or lift objects that
are large
and heavy. Grapples are often used to , such as UK patent application no.
627,807, entitled
"Improvements relating to Grabs, Grapples and the like."
SUMMARY
[0003] There is
provided a grappling device comprising a body comprising a track that
extends along the body. A first jaw member is movably mounted on a first
portion of the
track and a second jaw member is movably mounted to a second portion of the
track. There is
a closing mechanism comprising a lever
arm having a first end attached to the first jaw
member by a first linkage and a second end attached to the second jaw member
by a second
linkage, the lever arm being pivotally mounted to the body between the first
and second jaw
members relative to the track by a pivotal connection that is disposed between
the first and
second ends of the lever arm such that, as the lever arm pivots, the first and
second linkages
convert the pivotal movement of the lever arm into lateral movement of the
first and second
jaw members along the track between a grappling position and a release
position. A linear
actuator has a first end attached to the body and a second end attached to the
lever arm at a
point spaced from the pivotal connection. The linear actuator is aligned with
the track such
that as the linear actuator extends and retracts, the linear actuator causes
the lever arm to pivot
about the pivotal connection.
[0004] In
another example, the first and second jaw members each comprise a concave
grasping surface.
[0005] In
another example, the track comprises a first track and a second track in
parallel
with the first track, and each jaw member is attached to both the first track
and the second
track. The grappling device may further comprise a first closing mechanism
associated with

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2
the first track and a second closing mechanism associated with the second
track.
[0006] In another example, the linear actuator is attached to an
extension of the lever arm
that extends past a connection point to the first linkage relative to the
pivotal connection.
[0007] In another example, the first and second jaw members are movably
mounted to
the track by a sliding connection at a top end of each jaw member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grappling device.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the grappling device of HG. 1
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the grappling device of HG. 1 in a release
position.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the grappling device of FIG. 1 in a closed
position.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the grappling device of HG. 1 in a release
position around a smaller object.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the grappling device of FIG. 1 in a closed
position around the smaller object shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a side elevation cross-section view of one jaw member arm of the
grappling device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] A grappling device generally identified by reference numeral 10,
will now be
described with reference to FIG. 1 through 6.
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, grappling device 10 has a body 12 with
a track 14 that
extends along body 12. As shown, body 12 is a rectangular frame with lifting
lugs 16 to be

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3
lifted by machinery and track 14 is part of the rectangular frame. Body 12 may
also have a
central lifting lug 17. This allows grappling device 10 to be lifted using
either four attachment
points using lifting lugs 16, or a single attachment point at lifting lug 17,
depending on the
location and use of grappling device 10. As will be understood by one skilled
in the art, a
single point lift, for example, may be preferred when using grappling device
10 in situations
with low lift height. Grappling device 10 has a first jaw member 18 and a
second jaw
member 20. Jaw members 18 and 20 are movably mounted on opposite sides of
track 14 and
face each other, such that they move toward or away from each other between a
grappling
position and a release position. Jaw members 18 and 20 slide along track 14
and are pivotally
stationary as they move between the grappling and release positions. As jaw
members 18 and
only move laterally, there is no vertical component that would normally be
present in a set
of pivoting jaws. As shown, jaw members 18 and 20 are mounted by a sliding
connection 22
located at the top of each jaw member 18 and 20. It will be understood that
other types of
connections could also be used, such as one with bearings or wheels to reduce
friction.
15 Sliding connection 22 is preferably sliding plates 23, such as TeflonTm
or other low friction
surface coated plates, which are pin connected so that they are able to pivot
when under load
to avoid binding and allow movement. Referring to FIG. 7, sliding plates 23
preferably have a
plate 25 that engages track 14. By having individual plates with a single
pivot axis, sliding
plates 23 are allowed to shift slightly to prevent binding when grappling
device 10 is carrying
20 a load, which will introduce some torque at sliding connection 22.
[0011] Grappling device 10 has a closing mechanism, generally indicated
by reference
number 24. Referring to FIG. 1, closing mechanism 24 has a lever arm 26 with a
first end 28
attached to first jaw member 18 by a first linkage 30 and a second end 32
attached to second
jaw member 20 by a second linkage 34. Lever arm 26 is pivotally mounted by a
pivotal
connection 36 to body 12 between first and second jaw members 18 and 20. As
shown in
FIG. 2, lever arm 26 is made up of pieces of flat iron on either side of track
14 midway along
track 14. It will be understood that other types of levers and linkages may be
used and in
different positions, however placing the different elements in line with the
forces to be applied
reduces unnecessary strains on the system. Referring to FIG. 3 and 4, lever
arm 26 pivots
about pivotal connection 36 and first and second linkages 30 and 34 convert
the pivotal

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4
movement of lever arm 26 into lateral movement of first and second jaw members
18 and 20
along track 14 between a release position shown in FIG. 3 and a release
position in FIG. 4. In
the depicted embodiment, linkages 30 and 34 are rigid and pivotally attached
at either end to
the respective jaw member 18 or 20 and lever arm 26. This allows them to be
used to push or
pull jaw members 18 and 20 along track 14. Linkages 30 and 34 preferably have
more than
one connection location, allowing the length of linkages 30 and 34 to be
adjusted. In the
depicted embodiment, linkages 30 and 34 have two attachment locations 33 and
35. Using
attachment locations 33 and 35, the reach of jaw members 18 and 20 can be
adjusted by
moving connecting bolt 37 from one attachment location to another. It will be
understood by
one skilled in the art that the adjustment mechanism may take various other
forms, for
example, a ratcheting mechanism or a telescoping linkage. By adjusting the
length of linkages
30 and 34, the opening between jaw members 18 and 20 may be increased or
decreased when
dealing with larger or smaller diameter loads. It will also be understood that
lever arm 24 may
take other forms as well. When designing lever arm 24, there should be a
central, pivotal
connection with lever arms extending out from the pivotal connection on either
side. In this
manner, as lever arm 26 pivots, jaw members 18 and 20 move in opposite
directions either
toward or away from the other.
[0012] The movement of lever arm 26 is controlled by a linear actuator 38
that has a first
end 40 attached to body 12 such that it is fixed relative to body 12 and track
14 and a second
end 41 attached to lever arm 24 at a point spaced from pivotal connection 36.
Linear actuator
38 is aligned with track 14 such that as linear actuator 38 extends and
retracts, linear actuator
38 causes lever arm 24 to pivot about pivotal connection 36, which in turn
causes jaw
members 18 and 20 to move as described above. To enhance the force advantage,
linear
actuator 38 is preferably attached to an extension 42 of lever arm 26 that
extends past where
linkage 30 attaches to lever arm 26. It will be understood that linear
actuator 38 may be
attached at any point along lever arm 26 as long as it is able to move lever
arm 26.
Preferably, linear actuator 38 is a hydraulic cylinder, although it may take
other forms, such
as electric, pneumatic, screw-type linear actuator, etc.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 3 through 6, first and second jaw members 18 and
20 each

CA 02858230 2014-07-30
comprise a concave grasping surface 44 that is designed to engage different
sizes of objects.
It will be understood, however, that the shape of grasping surface 44 may take
any convenient
shape, depending on the intended use. First and second jaw members 18 and 20
may have
chains (not shown) that can be used to connect between first and second jaw
members 18 and
5 20 and below the load for additional safety in the event of failure or
slippage.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, grappling device 10 preferably has two tracks
14, and each
jaw member 18 and 20 is attached to both tracks. There is also preferably two
closing
mechanisms, one for each track 14. By providing two tracks 14 and two closing
mechanisms
24, the stability and available force is increased. It will be understood that
other designs may
also be possible.
[0015] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context
clearly requires
that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0016] The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the
preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be
given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Representative Drawing