GB1587678A

GB1587678A - Apparatus for the trnsport and laying of concrete mouldings

Info

Publication number: GB1587678A
Application number: GB359378A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SF VOLLVERBUNDSTEIN
Current assignee: SF VOLLVERBUNDSTEIN
Priority date: 1977-01-29
Filing date: 1978-01-30
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: FR2378712A1; ATA19678A; AT363986B; DE7702534U1

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSPORT AND LAYING OF CONCRETE MOULDINGS (71) We, SF-VoLLvERBUNDsTEIN- KOOPERATION GmbH of 14, Bremerhavener Heerstrasse, 2820 Bremen 77, Federal Republic of Germany, a German company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement::- This invention relates to an apparatus of the kind (herein called "the kind defined") for the transport and laying of concrete mouldings, for example panels or blocks or paving stones or so-called "laying units" each comprising a plurality of mouldings detachably held together, the apparatus comprising a vehicle, an overhang arm secured to and extending from the vehicle, and a gripper device at the end of the overhang arm remote from the vehicle for releasably gripping the concrete mouldings.

"Laying units" are often of panel form, comprising concrete paving stones which are arranged in positions relative to one another corresponding to the laid condition, and the units cohere due to disengageable connections. The connections of the paving stones with one another are to be maintained only during transport, storage, and laying (installation). Afterwards these connections are eliminated, for the achievement of a conventional pavement of paving stones.

From German Publication Specification No. 2,241,503 there is known an apparatus, which is provided with an overhang arm pivotably mounted on a vehicle. At the free end of this overhang arm there is a gripper device for releasably gripping "laying units".

For taking up a "laying unit", for example from a stack, and depositing it on a prepared base at the installation site, precision in the vertical laying movement of the "laying unit" is necessary. In the known apparatus the requisite vertical movements are effected by pivoting the overhang arm.

Experience has shown that for rapid, trouble-free and precise installation of the "laying units" the requisite vertical laying movements must be effected very precisely.

Any undesired lateral movements of the "laying unit" are harmful, because they hinder the adjustment of the "laying unit" to the desired exact position in relation to the already installed paving.

The invention is therefore intended to provide a convenient apparatus of the kind defined, able to facilitate correct lowering movements of the "laying units".

According to the invention an apparatus of the kind defined is characterised in that: a) the vehicle is in the form of a hand truck which travels upon only two wheels, b) the vehicle is provided with handles for guiding the vehicle, the handles being remote from the wheels and from the said end of the overhang arm, c) the gripper device is movable up and down relative to the said end of the overhang arm and is constructed to engage the side surfaces of the concrete mouldings, d) there is a brake for arresting the gripper device at a desired position relative to the said end of the overhang arm, and the brake is manually controllable by means of a brake control element adjacent to one of the handles.

For effecting the up and down movements of the gripper device, a drive unit may be arranged on the overhang arm. This drive unit is preferably an automatically working drive device, spring-loaded in the upward direction; it can be so stressed initially that the gripper device moves downwards when loaded, but when unloaded the gripper device moves in the upward direction due to the initial stressing of the drive unit. The up and down movements of the gripper device may be controllable, for example with the aid of a brake, from a handle of the apparatus.

How the invention may be put into practice is explained in greater detail hereinafter by reference to an example of embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention, in simplified lateral elevation, and Figure 2 shows a detail of the apparatus according to Figure 1 in a horizontal section along the line II-II in Figure 1.

The illustrated apparatus serves primarily for the transport and installation of so-called "laying units" 10 of individual, detachably mutually connected, concrete paving stones.

These "laying units" 10 are ordinarily delivered to the construction site in stacks, mostly on pallets. Accordingly the apparatus is formed so that single "laying units" 10 can be successively taken from a stack, transported over a short distance to the installation point, and there deposited on a prepared base for the formation of a pavement.

The apparatus comprises a vehicle 12 mounted on two wheels 11. There is an elongated arm on one end of which the wheels 11 are arranged and on the other end of which handles 13 are arranged on a transversely directed handle bar or the like.

An overhang arm 14 is connected rigidly, that is immovably, with a frame of the vehicle 12.

At the free end of the overhang arm 14 remote from the vehicle 12 there is carried a gripper device for the laying units 10, in the form of a clamp 15. As usual the clamp 15 consists of two mutually opposite clamp jaws 16 and 17 to grip a "laying unit" 10 at two mutually opposite sides. Each clamp jaw 16 and 17 is connected through a respective carrier arm 18 and 19 to a common mounting body 20. In this body 20 the ends of the carrier arms 18 and 19 are held, independently pivotably, by a common pivot mounting 21.

The mounting body 20 is secured to the lower end of an upwardly and downwardly movable carrier rod 22.

The carrier rod 22 runs through a guiding means 23 fitted on the free end of the overhang arm 14. In the present case this guiding means 23 comprises a triangular guide piece 24 (Figure 2) provided with a vertical passage opening 25. The carrier rod 22 is guided in this passage opening 25.

The carrier rod 22 is polygonal, triangular as illustrated, in cross-section. The passage opening 25 in the guide piece 24 has a corresponding cross-section. The carrier rod 22 is supported in the passage opening 25, by guide rollers; two guide rollers 26 and 27, one above the other, are arranged at each of the three corners. These rollers 26 and 27 lie in such a way that the corner zones of the carrier rod 22 are engaged and prevented from lateral movements and rotation. Furthermore the rollers 26 and 27 ensure easyrunning and substantially friction-free movements of the carrier rod 22.

For the upward and downward movements of the carrier rod 22 a drive unit 28 is carried by the overhang arm 14, namely on the guide piece 24. This drive unit 28, under control from the handle 13, transmits movements to the carrier rod 22.

A known, commercially available, selfwinding cable drum 29 is installed as the drive unit 28. A traction member, namely a cable 30, is unwound from the cable drum 29, against its spring loading. The cable 30 is made fast to the carrier rod 22 or to the mounting body 20. In the region of the guide piece 24 the cable 30 runs over a deflector pulley 31.

The spring tension on the cable drum 29 is such that the clamp 15 when loaded by a "laying unit" 10 moves downward, overcoming the tension of the cable drum 29 and with the cable 30 unwinding. After the "laying unit" 10 is set down on the base, the unloaded clamp 15 with the carrier rod 22 is moved upwards by the automatic action of the cable drum 29.

The clamp 15 can be controlled by the actuation of a lever 32 fitted on the handle 13, through an operating lead 33 (for example a Bowden cable) in such a way that the clamp 15 can be halted and arrested at every height position. For this purpose there is a brake 34 actuatable through the operating lead 33. This brake 34 can comprise a simple brake shoe which is pressed under spring stress against the carrier rod 22 and can be brought out of engagement by means of the lever 32 transmitting force through the operating lead 33. Of course stopping of the clamp movement may be effected otherwise, for example by operation from the handle 13.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus of the kind defined herein, characterised in that: a) the vehicle (12) is in the form of a hand truck which travels upon only two wheels (11), b) the vehicle (12) is provided with handles (13) for guiding the vehicle (12), the handles (13) being remote from the wheels (11) and from the said end of the overhang arm (14), c) the gripper device (15) is movable up and down relative to the said end of the overhang arm (14) and is constructed to engage the side surfaces of the concrete mouldings (10), d) there is a brake (34) for arresting the gripper device (15) at a desired position relative to the said end of the overhang arm (14), and the brake (34) is manu ally controllable by means of a brake control element (32) adjacent to one of the handles (13).

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein at the said end of the overhang arm (14) there is a guiding means (23) whereby the gripper device (15) is guided during its up and down movements relative to the said end of the overhang arm (14).

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 2 shows a detail of the apparatus according to Figure 1 in a horizontal section along the line II-II in Figure 1. The illustrated apparatus serves primarily for the transport and installation of so-called "laying units" 10 of individual, detachably mutually connected, concrete paving stones. These "laying units" 10 are ordinarily delivered to the construction site in stacks, mostly on pallets. Accordingly the apparatus is formed so that single "laying units" 10 can be successively taken from a stack, transported over a short distance to the installation point, and there deposited on a prepared base for the formation of a pavement. The apparatus comprises a vehicle 12 mounted on two wheels 11. There is an elongated arm on one end of which the wheels 11 are arranged and on the other end of which handles 13 are arranged on a transversely directed handle bar or the like. An overhang arm 14 is connected rigidly, that is immovably, with a frame of the vehicle 12. At the free end of the overhang arm 14 remote from the vehicle 12 there is carried a gripper device for the laying units 10, in the form of a clamp 15. As usual the clamp 15 consists of two mutually opposite clamp jaws 16 and 17 to grip a "laying unit" 10 at two mutually opposite sides. Each clamp jaw 16 and 17 is connected through a respective carrier arm 18 and 19 to a common mounting body 20. In this body 20 the ends of the carrier arms 18 and 19 are held, independently pivotably, by a common pivot mounting 21. The mounting body 20 is secured to the lower end of an upwardly and downwardly movable carrier rod 22. The carrier rod 22 runs through a guiding means 23 fitted on the free end of the overhang arm 14. In the present case this guiding means 23 comprises a triangular guide piece 24 (Figure 2) provided with a vertical passage opening 25. The carrier rod 22 is guided in this passage opening 25. The carrier rod 22 is polygonal, triangular as illustrated, in cross-section. The passage opening 25 in the guide piece 24 has a corresponding cross-section. The carrier rod 22 is supported in the passage opening 25, by guide rollers; two guide rollers 26 and 27, one above the other, are arranged at each of the three corners. These rollers 26 and 27 lie in such a way that the corner zones of the carrier rod 22 are engaged and prevented from lateral movements and rotation. Furthermore the rollers 26 and 27 ensure easyrunning and substantially friction-free movements of the carrier rod 22. For the upward and downward movements of the carrier rod 22 a drive unit 28 is carried by the overhang arm 14, namely on the guide piece 24. This drive unit 28, under control from the handle 13, transmits movements to the carrier rod 22. A known, commercially available, selfwinding cable drum 29 is installed as the drive unit 28. A traction member, namely a cable 30, is unwound from the cable drum 29, against its spring loading. The cable 30 is made fast to the carrier rod 22 or to the mounting body 20. In the region of the guide piece 24 the cable 30 runs over a deflector pulley 31. The spring tension on the cable drum 29 is such that the clamp 15 when loaded by a "laying unit" 10 moves downward, overcoming the tension of the cable drum 29 and with the cable 30 unwinding. After the "laying unit" 10 is set down on the base, the unloaded clamp 15 with the carrier rod 22 is moved upwards by the automatic action of the cable drum 29. The clamp 15 can be controlled by the actuation of a lever 32 fitted on the handle 13, through an operating lead 33 (for example a Bowden cable) in such a way that the clamp 15 can be halted and arrested at every height position. For this purpose there is a brake 34 actuatable through the operating lead 33. This brake 34 can comprise a simple brake shoe which is pressed under spring stress against the carrier rod 22 and can be brought out of engagement by means of the lever 32 transmitting force through the operating lead 33. Of course stopping of the clamp movement may be effected otherwise, for example by operation from the handle 13. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An apparatus of the kind defined herein, characterised in that: a) the vehicle (12) is in the form of a hand truck which travels upon only two wheels (11), b) the vehicle (12) is provided with handles (13) for guiding the vehicle (12), the handles (13) being remote from the wheels (11) and from the said end of the overhang arm (14), c) the gripper device (15) is movable up and down relative to the said end of the overhang arm (14) and is constructed to engage the side surfaces of the concrete mouldings (10), d) there is a brake (34) for arresting the gripper device (15) at a desired position relative to the said end of the overhang arm (14), and the brake (34) is manu ally controllable by means of a brake control element (32) adjacent to one of the handles (13).

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2,

wherein the gripper device (15) is guided by the guiding means (23) against relative movements at least in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 2, or 3, wherein the gripper device (15) is guided against movements relative to the overhang arm (14) in all directions with the exception of the said upward and downward direction.

5. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the gripper device (15) is fitted on a rigid upwardly and downwardly movable carrier rod (22), running in the guiding means (23).

6. An apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the guiding means (23) has a guide piece (24) surrounding the carrier rod (22), with a passage opening (25) for the carrier rod (22).

7. An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the carrier rod (22) is mounted nonrotatably in the guiding means (23), due to a polygonal cross-section of the carrier rod (22).

8. An apparatus according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the passage opening (25) in the guide piece (24) is formed with a polygonal cross-section corresponding to the crosssection of the carrier rod (22).

9. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the carrier rod (22) is guided by multiple rolling bodies (26, 27) or other guides within the guiding means (25).

10. An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein guide rollers (26, 27), at least two one above the other in each case, which bear upon the guide rod (22), are mounted in each of the corners of the polygonal passage opening (25).

11. An apparatus according to Claim 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, wherein the carrier rod (22) and the passage opening (25) are made with triangular cross-section.

12. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 11, wherein a drive unit (28) for the upward and downward movement of the gripper device (15) is arranged on the overhang arm (14) or on the guiding means (23).

13. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the drive unit (28) in the form of an automatically windable spring-loaded cable drum (29) tensioned in the direction of the upward movement of the gripper device (15), from which drum can be drawn a cable (30) which raises the gripper device (15).

14. An apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the brake (34) has a brake shoe pressable against the cable (30).

15. An apparatus for the transport and laying of concrete mouldings, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.