GB2153783A

GB2153783A - Chain sling for winding around long goods

Info

Publication number: GB2153783A
Application number: GB08500327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anton Muller; Karl Herdeg; Gunter Leyermann; Richard Kimmit; Frank Meyer
Original assignee: Eisen und Drahtwerk Erlau AG
Current assignee: Erlau AG
Priority date: 1984-01-07
Filing date: 1985-01-07
Publication date: 1985-08-29
Also published as: DE3400403C2; DE3400403A1; GB2153783B; BR8500029A; GB8500327D0

Abstract

The chain sling serves for winding around long goods (8) and at one end of the chain strand (1) comprises a hook (2) for forming a sling loop (1a). At the other end the chain strand (1) is provided with a suspension member (5, 6) by which the tensile stress is exerted on the chain sling. Seated on the chain strand (1) between the hook (2) and the suspension member (5, 6) is a stop (3), which comprises a stop face for the hook (2) acting in the direction opposed to that of the tensile stress. When the bundled goods (8) are deposited and the chain sling is no longer under tensile stress, the hook (2) cannot move along the chain strand (1), since it comes to bear against the stop face (31). Therefore, the bundled goods (5) cannot fall apart. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chain sling for winding around long goods The invention relates to a chain sling, for winding around long goods, comprising a chain which at one end comprises a pull-through member, such as a hook, for forming a sling loop and at the other end a suspension member, by means of which the chain sling is tensioned in use.

Chain slings were wound around long goods, such as for example pipes, bars and the like. For this purpose, the chain is wound around the goods to be bundled and passed through the pull-through member which may be constructed as a hook. Now if a tensile force is exerted on the chain sling by way of the suspension member, then the chain sling loop contracts by the chain being pulled through the pull-through member, and lashes the long goods.

However, it is only possible to secure the goods in the pulling direction using the pull-through member, i.e. the long goods remain bundled only as long as the chain sling is under tension. If the bundled goods are laid down or deposited for example, then the chain sling is no longer under tension. The pullthrough member then moves along the chain, because the bundled goods fall apart as a result of their own weight. There is thus a considerable risk of an accident.

The object of the invention is to construct a chain sling of the abovementioned type such that the tension of the chain sling loop is maintained even when the sling itself is no longer pulled.

The invention provides a chain sling for winding around long goods, which comprises a chain strand having a pull-through member at one end for forming a sling loop and a suspension member at the other end, by means of which the chain sling is tensioned when it is in use, and provided on the chain strand in the region between the pull-through member and the suspension member is a stop for the pull-through member, which stop comprises a stop face to engage the pull-through member and act thereon in the opposite direction to that of the tension in the loop.

In the chain sling according to the invention, a stop is arranged between the pull-through member and the suspension member on the chain. When the bundled goods are deposited and the chain sling is no longer under tension, then the pull-through member is no longer able to move along the chain since it comes to bear against the stop face of the stop acting in the opposite direction to that of the tension in the chain sling loop. The chain sling loop consequently remains in the contracted position and secures the bundled goods, so that the latter can no longer fall apart as a result of their own weight. The risk of an accident is thus not very high with the chain sling according to the invention.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a chain sling in the extended position and on which a stop is provided, Figure 2 shows the stop of the chain sling of Figure 1, partly in section and partly in elevation and to an enlarged scale, Figure 3 is a plan view of the stop of Figure 2.

The chain sling has a chain strand 1, to one end of which a pull-through member 2 is attached, which is constructed as a hook. A stop 3 is provided on the chain strand 1. Located at the other end of the chain strand lisa shackle 5 in which an annular member 6 is suspended. Also suspended in the annular member 6 is a shortening member 4 by which the length of the chain strand 1 may be varied.

The chain sling is wound around a bundle of goods, for example long timber, by its part lying between the pull-through member 2 and the stop 3.

The pull-through member 2 is then hooked onto the chain strand 1,so that the chain strand passes through the hook opening 7 of the pull-through member. The pull-through member 2 itself is constructed so that it cannot be accidentally released from the chain strand 1. This bundled position is shown in Figure 1 by broken iines. The chain sling 1 is wound around the bundled goods 8, to form a loop la.

Now if these bundled goods are raised with the chain sling, then the chain loop la contracts, so that the bundled goods 8 are held together. In this bundled position, the stop 3 is located in the region between the pull-through member 2 and the suspension member 6. When the bundled goods are lifted by means of the chain sling, a tensile stress is produced in the chain strand 1, in which case the loop of the chain strand slung around the bundled goods 8 is drawn together and holds the bundled goods together. However, if the bundled goods are deposited on the ground, then there is no longer any tensile stress in the straight part of the chain strand 1.As a result of the inherent weight, the bundled goods 8 tend to fall apart, and the pull-through member 2 tends to move on the chain strand 1 in the direction of the suspension member 6.Thus without the stop 3, the bundled goods 8 would fall apart.

However, the stop 3 prevents the pull-through member 2 from being able to move along the chain strand 1 in the direction of the suspension member 6, so that the bundled goods are held together and do not fall apart even if they are deposited on the ground or the chain sling is not under tensile stress.

The stop 3 is preferably releasable so as to be moved along the chain strand 1, in order that the looping length la of the chain strand 1 can be varied.

The stop 3 comprises a stop body 9 surrounding the chain strand 1 (Figures 2 and 3), which comprises a pull-through opening 10 for the chain strand 1. Due to this the stop 3 may simply be arranged and guided on the chain strand 1. In order that the chain strand 1 can always be pulled in a predetermined position through the pull-through opening 10, the contour of the pull-through opening 10 is adapted to the contour of the chain strand 1, seen in its longitudinal direction. Since, in the embodiment, the chain strand 1 consists of elongated chain links 11 of the same size, the pull-through opening 10 has a cross-shaped cross section (Figure 3). However, the pull-through opening 10 may have any other suitable outer contour, for example it may have a circular or rhombic cross section.

The stop body 9 may consist of synthetic material or metal. In the embodiment, the stop body 9 comprises recesses 13 on its outer side 12, which extend in the axial direction of the pull-through opening 10 and the cross section of which is in the shape of part of a circle, due to which the stop body is easy to grip and handle. The stop body may naturally also have a round or angular cross section.

In order that the stop 3 can be attached to the chain strand 1 in any position, a locking member 14 is located in the stop body 9, by which the stop can be arrested on the chain sling. The locking member 14 is arranged so that in the locking position (Figures 2 and 3), it penetrates the pull-through opening 10.

Due to this, in the locked position, the locking member 14 projects through a chain link 11 of the chain strand 1 located in the pull-through opening 10, so that the stop 3 is fixed in a simple manner on the chain strand.

The locking member is advantageously a bolt mounted to slide in the stop body 9, which is able to slide easily through the corresponding chain link 11 and can be moved from the locked position without difficulty into a released position. The end of the locking member 14 projecting from the stop body 9 is provided with a handle 15, which is preferably constructed in an annular manner and with which the locking member be can conveniently actuated.

In order that the locking momber 14 always has its predetermined position with respect to the stop body 9, it is mounted in the stop body so that it is not able to rotate. The locking member 14 is then easily actuated. It is prevented from rotating due to the fact that the locking member 14 is provided over part of its length with a recess 16 (Figure 3), in which a securing part 17, preferably a clamping sleeve engages. The base 18 of the recess 16 is flat. The securing part 17 lies at the bottom 18 of the recess 16 and serves as a guide for the locking member 14, when the latter is moved in the stop body 9. As a result of the flat bottom 18, the bolt-shaped locking member 14 cannot be rotated in the stop body 9. In the embodiment the securing part 17 lies parallel to the axis 19 of the pull-through opening 10, but may extend at right angles to this axis.Moreover the securing part 17 lies at right angles to the locking member 14 and is completely protected in the stop body.

In order that the locking member 14 cannot be moved accidentally from its locked position into its released position, it can be arrested in the locked position. For this a click-stop device 20 is provided, which comprises a drop-in ball 21 which is under the force of a spring, which in the locked position engaged in a locking recess 22 in the locking member 14 (Figure 2). The spring force for the drop-in ball 21 can be adjusted by means of a set screw 23, which is screwed into a threaded bore 24 in the stop body 9 lying parallel to the axis 19 of the pull-through opening 10. The securing part 17 and threaded bore 24 lie approximately diametrically opposite each other with respect to the pull-through opening 10. The locking recess 22 is provided close to the end face 25 of the locking member 14.The base 26 of the locking recess 22 intersects the base 18 of the recess 16 of the locking member 14. The setscrew 23 is recessed in the stop body 9 so that it cannot be damaged when the chain sling is in use.

The latter is used to pretension the drop-in ball 21 so that it reliably resists moving of the locking member 14 from the locked position. If the locking member 14 is to be moved into its released position, then it is pulled by the handle 15 in the withdrawal direction 27, due to which the drop-in ball 21 is pushed back into the setscrew 23 against spring force, so that the locking member 14 becomes free from the drop-in ball and can be moved into its released position.

Accordingly, when pushing the locking member 14 in, the drop-in ball 21 is pushed so far into the setscrew 23 that the locking member can be moved into the locked position, in which the drop-in ball then engages in the locking recess 22 under its spring force.

In the embodiment, the recess 15 and the locking recess 22 are arranged with an angular interval of 90 with respect to each other. However, the locking recess may also be formed by part of the recess 16.

In this case the threaded bore 24 lies at right angles to the securing part 17. Arresting of the locking member 14 is then achieved due to the fact that the front end wall 29 of the recess 16 in the pushing-in direction 28 engages behind the drop-in ball 21. Due to this the drop-in ball 21 must be pushed in the aforedescribed manner into the setscrew 23, when the locking member 14 is to be unlocked and withdrawn. Such a construction of the locking member and of the click-stop device 20 is simpler than the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 with a separate locking recess.

In addition, the end wall 29 of the recess 16 serves as a locking surface, by which complete withdrawal of the locking member 14 from the stop body 9 is prevented. When the locking member 14 is being withdrawn, this end wall 29 comes to bear against the securing part 17, which serves not oniy to prevent rotation, but also to prevent extraction of the locking member.

In addition, the securing part 17 has a third function. When the locking member 14 is pushed-in the other end wall 30 of the recess 16 comes to bear against the securing part 17, due to which the locked position of the locking member 14 is defined.

When the position of the stop 3 is to be varied on the chain strand 1, when the locking member 14 is moved in the extraction direction 27 by means of the handle 15, in which case the locking arrangement is released in the aforedescribed manner. The locking member 14 can be withdrawn so far until the end wall 29 strikes against the securing part 17. Then the end face 25 of the locking member 14 is located in the region outside the pull-through opening, so that the stop 3 can be moved on the chain strand. As a result of the cross-shaped construction, the chain links 11 have a predetermined position inside the pull-through opening 10 with respect to the locking member 14, so that the latter can then be moved without difficulty through the link opening of the desired chain link 11, in order to fix the stop 3 on the chain strand 1.

On the side of the locking member 14 remote from the click-stop device 20, the stop body 9 has a conical taper. The end face 31 of the stop body 9 forms a contact surface for the pull-through member 2 acting in the opposite direction to the direction 32 of tensile stress (Figure 1). When the chain sling is not under tensile stress, then the pull-through member 2 can be moved on the chain strand 11 in the opposite direction to the direction 32 of tensile stress only so far until it bears against the stop face 31 of the stop body 9. By means of the stop 3 it is thus possible to prevent the bundled goods 8 from falling apart when the chain strand 11 is not under tension.

Claims

1. A chain sling for winding around long goods, which comprises chain strands having a pullthrough member at one end for forming a sling loop and a suspension member at the other end, by means of which the chain sling is tensioned when it is in use, and provided on the chain strand in the region between the pull-through member and the suspension member is a stop for the pull-through member, which stop comprises a stop face to engage the pull-through member and act thereon in the opposite direction to that of the tension in the loop.

2. A chain sling according to claim 1, wherein the stop is releasable to move along the chain strand.

3. A chain sling according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a stop body surrounding the chain strand, which body has a pull-through opening for the chain strand.

4. A chain sling according to claim 3, wherein, seen in its longitudinal direction, the pull-through opening has a contour adapted to the contour of the chain strand.

5. A chain sling according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stop comprises at least one locking member, by which it can be arrested on the chain strand in a locking position.

6. A chain sling according to claim 5, wherein in the locking position, the locking member penetrates the pull-through opening.

7. A chain sling according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the locking member is a bolt mounted to move in the stop body.

8. A chain sling according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising a handle whereby the locking member can be moved by means of said handle.

9. A chain sling according to any one of claims 5 to 8, comprising securing means whereby the locking member is not able to rotate in the stop body.

10. A chain sling according to claim 9, wherein said securing means for preventing rotation of the locking member comprises a locating recess extending over part of the length of said locking member in which a securing part engages.

11. A chain sling according to claim 10, wherein the securing part extends transversely of the locking member.

12. A chain sling according to any one of Claims 5 to 11, comprising arresting means whereby the locking member can be arrested in said locking position.

13. A chain sling according to claim 12, wherein said arresting means is a click-stop device.

14. A chain sling according to claim 13 wherein said arresting means comprises a drop-in ball which is under the force of a spring.

15. A chain sling according to claim 14, wherein the stop-in ball in able to engage to an arresting recess in the locking member.

16. A chain sling according to claim 15 comprising adjustment means whereby the spring force for the drop-in ball can be adjusted.

17. A chain sling according to claim 15 or claim 16, when dependent on claim 10, wherein the arresting recess is formed by the front end section of the locating recess in the insertion direction of the locking member.

18. A chain sling according to any one of claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon wherein, to prevent its extraction, the locking member comprises a locking surface coming into abutment with the securing part when it is moved theretowards.

19. A chain sling according to claim 18, wherein the locking surface is an end wall defining the locating recess of the locking member.

20. A chain sling according to claim 19, wherein the locking member comprises a further locking surface restricting the insertion movement.

21. A chain sling according to claim 20 wherein said further locking suface comprises an end wall limiting the locating recess of the locking member.

22. A chain sling forwinding around long goods substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.