GB2398556A

GB2398556A - Pipe handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2398556A
Application number: GB0303694A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul CUMMINGS
Original assignee: MEEK GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: MEEK GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-18
Filing date: 2003-02-18
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-18
Also published as: GB2398556B; GB0303694D0

Abstract

A pipe handling apparatus 30 includes a pipe holder 31 which in use is mounted on a jack 32 and is especially for use in conjunction with an aerial lift 10. The pipe holder 31 comprises a pipe support 41 having a flat base 42 and an inclined side 43, with a hook-like arm 44 pivoted to the inclined side 43 and extending back over the base 42, the arm 44 being moveable relative to the support 41 to trap a portion of pipe between the base 42 and hook-like arm 44. A pair of spaced apart handling apparatus 30 are used side by side on the aerial lift 10. Preferably, the pipe is supported on rollers arranged in a V-shape.

Description

2398556 Pipe Handling Apparatus

Field

This invention relates to material handling apparatus and in particular to apparatus used for lifting or supporting pipes or tubes during construction of buildings.

Background of the Invention

Building construction sites for large buildings frequently employ construction equipment for lifting large and heavy components into position during the construction of a building. For example, lengths of standard 8 inch ( 200mm) diameter steel pipe are typically 6 meters in length and may weigh in the order of 150 kgs. During construction of commercial building the overhead pipework is typically fixed into position using a pair of spaced apart aerial lift working in synchronization with the pipe being finally lifted and manocuvred into position manually.

A typical aerial lift is a mobile scissor lift,-vailaú-1e from JLG Ind. and which has a work nl.atform which may be lifted into the air by a hydraulically operable sci.s:-:- mechanism. For safety the work platfot-ni is surrounded ball a safety barrier or Seance.

These lifts may be provided with auxiliary material handing equipment which is secured to the platform for manocuvring building materials into location onto a building. An example of such equipment is described in the applicants co-pending GO patent application 0214834.4 The present invention is concerned with auxiliary material handling equipment for lifting and locating pipes or tubes into position during building construction.

Statements of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a pipe handling apparatus including a pipe holder comprising a pipe support, preferably with a flat base and inclined side extending away from the base, with a hook-like arm pivoted to the support and extending back over the support, the arm being moveable relative to the pipe support to hold a portion of pipe between the support and hook-like arm.

The hook-like arm is pivoted to a bracket located on the rear of said side.

The hook-like arm may be secured in at least one pipe securing position relative so the support.

The pipe support is covered by a non-slip polymeric layer on which the pipe rests.

The support may be pivotally connected to a mounting for attachment to a material handling apparatus. Preferably the pipe support is pivoted to the mounting through two mutually perpendicular axes.

Rollers may be secured to one of the pipe support and mounting to facilitate movement of the pipe, preferably longitudinally. The rollers may be used to hold the pipe clear of the support.

The pipe handling apparatus may further include displacement means to which the mounting is secured. The displacement means may comprise an actuator and slide means. The mounting is preferably fixed to one end of a pair substantially parallel bars slidably mounted in a support block and an hydraulic actuator is operable between the support block and mounting to displace the pipe holder relative to the support block.

The pipe handling apparatus may further include a jack having an upright ram which has an adaptor means on its outer end to which the support block is secured. Tile jack may be o:erateci by any suitable means, for example the rain may be -displaced by mechanical means such as a pall and ratchet mechanism, or screw threaded drive means, and is preferably a hydraulic jack being operable through a hydraulic control means.

The pipe handling apparatus may be used in combination with an aerial lift having a work platform surrounded by a safety barrier, the jack in use resting on the platform with coupling means securing the jack to said barrier.

Preferably, a pair of spaced apart pipe handling apparatus are secured to a platform of a single aerial lift.

The apparatus includes a hydraulic control means to which the hydraulic actuators and hydraulic jacks are independently connected.

The aerial lift is preferably a mobile self drive lift having a platform which is raised by a powered hydraulic system, wherein said hydraulic control means are connected into the powered hydraulic system of the lift.

Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an aerial lift in a lowered condition and provided with pipe handling apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of the aerial lift apparatus shown in Fig.1 with the pipe handling apparatus in a raised condition, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pipe holder with rollers as are used in the pipe handling apparatus, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the pipe support and Fig. 5 shows a mounting plate and pin used for mounting the pipe holder to its actuator.

Deta_ ad Description of the Invention

With reference to Figs 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown an aerial lift 10 in the form of a self drive mobile scissor lift available from JLG Ind.. The lift 10 has a drivable vehicle body 11 having wheels 15 and a work platform 12 located on its body and which in use can be raised or lowered relative to the ground. The platform 12 is shown in a lowered condition and the vehicle body is provided with stabilizers 16 at its corners which are lowered to provide stability during use of the lift. The work platform 12 is raised or lowered by a scissor type mechanism 13 typically operated by a powered hydraulic system provided on the lift. The hydraulic system is provided with a manifold 14 whereby hydraulic power may be taken from the powered oysters of the lift and used to operate pipe handling apparatus 30 of the present invention. The platform 12 has expendable end portions 19 and the whole platform is provided with a safety barrier 17 formed from rails and an access ladder 18 is provided on the body 11 for access to the platform 12 when in the lowered condition.

The aerial lift 10 is provided with two pipe handling apparatus 30 located one adjacent each expendable end portion 19 and which is shown in Figs. 1 & 2 in a raised condition.

Each pipe handling apparatus 30 comprises a jack 32 and a pipe holder 31. The jack 32 is substantially vertical and comprises a jack body 33 having a reciprocable ram 34 telescopically mounted within the body 33. The ram 34 and body 33 have substantially square cross-sections. The jack body 33 has a foot that rests 'Dn the platform 12 and the head of the ram 34 is provided with an adaptor plate 36 to which the pipe holder 31 is attached. A hydraulic actuator (not shown) acts between the jack body 33 and the ram 34 and is operable to move the ram into and out of the body.

Each jack 32 is located adjacent the extendahle end portions 19 of the platform 12 and is secured to the inside of the barrier rail 17. A subst:antia]ly Veronica] spp--t leg 38, spaced frown the jack 92, is secured to tabs si-> of the barrier rail 17 and a pair of spaced apart substantially horizontal struts 39 & 39A extend between the jack body 33 and leg 38 to hold the jack in position.

Further brackets (not shown) secure the jack body 33 on the Other side thereof to the adjacent barrier rail 17.

The hydraulic jack 32 is operated through a hydraulic control means 35 which is fixed on one side of the jack body 33. The hydraulic control means 35 is connected by flexible hydraulic hose 36 to the manifold 14 for take-off of hydraulic power from the lift hydraulic system.

With reference also to Figs.3,4 and 5, the pipe holder 31 has a pipe support 41 with a substantially flat base 42 and a flat side 43 inclined away from one side of the base. A narrow hook-like arm 44 is connected by a pivot 40 to a bracket 45 located on the rear surface of the side 43 at one end thereof and extends back across the base 42. The hook-like arm 44 is rigidly connected to another arm 46 extending radially of the pivot 40, and the other end of the arm 46 has a locking device 55 thereon, for example a spring loaded pin which engages the bracket 45 to lock the hook arm 44 in a closed condition as shown. The upper surface of the base 42 is covered in a non-slip elastomeric layer 80.

The pipe support 41 has a d-:.rl.^:ardly projectin.- lug 56 on the underside of the base If.. ''he lug 56 is connected to one limb of an "L" shaped br;_r.et 47 by a pivot pin 48 so that the support 41 and hook-like arm 44 can pivot relative to the bracket 47. The other limb of the "L" shaped bracket 47 is fixed to a mounting plate 51 via has a second pivot pin 49 extending normally thereof to the pin 48. The bracket 47 is typically welded to the head of the pin 49.

The mounting plate 51 is mounted to the ends of a pair of spaced support bars 61 slidably mounted in a support block 62. The support block in turn is secured to the adaptor plate 36 on the ram 34, as shown in Fig 2. A hydraulic actuator 63 acts between the mounting plate 51 and the support block 62 for substantially horizontal displacement of the pipe holder 31. The hydraulically operated actuator 63 is connected via flexible hydraulic hoses 64 to the hydraulic control means 35.

The control means 35 is connected by electrical cable 66 to a control panel 65 which controls the operation of the hydraulic control means 35. The control panel 65 may also be operated through a remote pendulum set 57 which is connected to the panel 65 through electrical cable 68.

Pipes 70 may be stored on a rack 40 located on the two spaced apart horizontal struts 19. The rack 40 is provided with a retainer ?1 which prevents the pipes from rolling off the racks. In use the rams 34 of the two jacks 32 are lowered to align their respective pipe holder bases 42 with the rack 40. The respective actuators 63 moved the two pipe holders 31 proximate to the rack and the hook arms 44 are opened. A length of pipe 7Q may be rolled onto the pipe holders and is then held in position on the non-slip layer by the hook arms 44.

The pipe length may then be manoeuvred into position using the jacks 32 and actuators 63. The pivotal movement around the pins 48 and 49 allows for tilting, off-sets and other mix-alignments between the two pipe holders during the manoeuring of the pipe 70. The pipe whilst held in the two pipe holders nay need to be manually displaced lenghways in order to finalise its position.

The hydraulic jacks 32, and actuators 63 can be individually or jointly operated from the control panel 64 or pendulum set 65. The control system may be arranged so that the jack 32 and actuators 63 are operable only when the scissor lift is in a static condition.

In use, the pipe handling apparatus 30 is utilised for lifting over small height range for example from the lift platform 12 to a height of about 2 metres above the platform.

In an optional arrangemerit a pair of rollers 5' at* mounted on each pipe holder 31 by a support plate 53 in;- J formation substantially at right angle to each other. The support plate 53 may be mounted to either the mounting plate 51 or the pipe support 41 such that plate 53 is allowed to rotate relative to the pipe support so that the rollers can self adjust to different sized pipes. The dotted outline rollers 52 illustrate the rotational movement of the plate 53 and rollers 52.

In use the pipe 70 is now held on the two rollers 52 by the hook-like arm 44 with the pipe held clear of the base 42.

This arrangement facilitates longitudinal movement of the pipe.

In an optional arrangement rollers may be mounted on cams and used to lift the pipe off the pipe support 41 to facilitate lengthways movement of the pipe.

Claims

Claims 1. A pipe handling apparatus including a pipe holder comprising a

pipe support with a hook-like arm pivoted to said support and extending back over the support, the arm being moveable relative to the pipe support to trap a portion of pipe between the support and hook-like arm.
2. A pipe handling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the pipe support has a flat base and inclined side extending away from the base.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the hook-like arm is pivoted to a bracket on the rear of said side.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the hook-like arm is securable in at least one pipe securing position relative to the body.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 when dependent upon Claim 3, wherein securing means act between a second arm rigidly secured to the hook-like arm and bracket.
6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the base of the pipe support is covered by a non-slip polymeric layer on which pipes are rested.
7. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to and further including a mounting to which the pipe support is pivotally connected for attachment to an actuator.
8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the pipe support is pivoted to the mounting through two mutually perpendicular axes.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the pipe support includes rollers to facilitate movement of the pipe.
10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim when depending upon Claim 2 wherein the rollers in use lift the pipe clear of the base.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 1Q, and further including displacement means to which the mounting is secured.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the displacement means comprises an actuator and slide means.
13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the mounting is fixed to one end of a pair substantially parallel bars slidably mounted in a support block and an hydraulic actuator is operable between the support block and mounting to displace the pipe holder relative to the support block.
14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13 and further including a jack having an upright ram which has an adaptor means on its outer end to which the displacement means is secured.
15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the jack is a hydraulic jack being operable through a hydraulic control means.
16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 15, wherein the apparatus includes a hydraulic control means to which the hydraulic actuator and hydraulic jack are independently connected.
17. An aerial lift having a work platform surrounded by a safety barrier, including apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the jack in use rests on the platform with coupling means securing the body to said barrier.
16. An aerial lift as claimed in Claim 17 including a pair of spaced apart pipe handling apparatus which are secured to a platform of a single aerial lift. ) :4
19. An aerial lift as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the aerial lift is a mobile self drive lift having a platform which is raised by a powered hydraulic system, wherein said hydraulic control means are connected into the powered hydraulic system of the lift.