US3549190A - Cable reel sling - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Robert H. Caldwell 205 S. Kosciusko, Jacksonville, Ill. 62650 [21] Appl. No. 742,261

[22] Filed July 3, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 22, 1970 [72] Inventor [54] CABLE REEL SLING 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 294/81 [51] Int. Cl B66c 1/10 [50] Field of Search 24/206;

Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney- Rummler & Snow ABSTRACT: The disclosure describes a cable reel sling adapted to safely and conveniently handle different sizes of heavy telephone cable reels and the like in close quarters. The cable reel sling is characterized by being easily adjustable to handle reels of different axial lengths and different diameters, having positive safety features and adapted to be used withor without a support bar or axle through the center hub of the reel. One feature of the sling is the provision of a spreader bar with spacers along the top engaged by a pair of pear-shaped links, which can be slid along the spreader bar in an upward turned position to adjust for various reel widths, and then turned downward and locked between adjacent spacers. The links are affixed to chains, having length-adjustable grab hooks, and the chains, in turn, support at their ends lifting fixtures adapted to engage either a bar axle or, be turned 180 and provide a supporting arm to engage the center bore of the hub of any type of cable reel.

E 46 2 l MAM: 2 3a /4 2 /0 30 3e 42 l l 40 4 I l 42 46 r 0 1'5 CABLE REEL SLING I BACKGROUND or T E INVENTION The handling of heavy telephone cable reels, weighing up to about 5,000 lbs., having diameters up to ,7 feet and measuring in axial length from about 18 inches to 42 inches within and from the confined space of a van-type truck presents a difficult problem, especially where factors of compactness, convenience, safety are paramount and both supply and construction requirements are to be met. One structural design problem required that the sling have very low section weight for use with 7 foot diameter reels in van-type trucks. The sling must be light enough for one man to handle, heavy enough to overhaul lifting line or block without a load, support a maximum load of about 5,000 lbs. and allow the load or reel to be turned 360. The sling must be usable-with or without an axle bar as well as provide safe and fool-proof adjustability. The sling must also be adapted to handle the reels with a winch or tow truck to snake or roll them over ditches and difficult terrain as well as to be suitable for ordinary lifting purposes. A minimum of a 3 to 1 safety factor had to be met and the sling had to be easily attached and detached and also capable of such attachment and detachment in confined quarters under storage supply conditions and within the limited space on a truck bed.

SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a cable reel sling meeting all of the foregoing requirements comprising a spreader bar with a central swivel eye bolt, for attachment to a lifting means, and having spacer lugs along the top surface engaged by a pair of pearshaped links slidable therealong in an upturned position and locked therebetween in a down-turned position, from which adjustable lifting chains are supported having dual-functioned lifting fixtures at the ends which engage an axle in one position and the borehole of the cable reel in another position. In one embodiment the lifting fixture can be a slotted plate or a hook member where an axle is used within the hub of the reel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the sling of this invention, shown supporting a cable reel on an axle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view partly in cross section, of the cable reel sling of this inventionsupporting a cable reel without an axle;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the grab hook in position engaging and foreshorten ing the lifting chain;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the spreader bar to show the locked position of the slidable end link on the spreader bar;

FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 5 with the slidable end link rotated 180 to an unlocked or slidable position on the spreader bar;

and I FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative form of lifting v fixture to be used with the cable reel sling of this invention.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be described in relation to a preferred embodiment for use in handling cable reels, it being understood that the embodiment shown can be used to handle other objects where safety, convenience, adjustability and adaptability are required to move heavy objects to and from various positions or drag heavy objects along any type of terrain. Thus, although specific forms, materials of construction and dimensions of the parts will be referred to, these are not limiting and the features of this invention can be incorporated in other types of slings, catches, rope-net harnesses and the like. Also, more than one sling combination, as will be tain objects where the number of suspension points must be varied to obtain proper balance for safe and convenient handling.

Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the sling of this invention is shown to comprise a round, solid, spreader bar 10 with a shorter length of seamless tubing 12 telescoped over the middle portion, as reinforcement. A borehole 14 is drilled vertically through the center of the spreader bar 10 and the tube 12 to receive the specially forged high strength eyebolt 16 having the U-bolt l8 affixed thereto by means of the cross-bolt 19. The e'yebolt 16 has an elastic stop nut 20 holding it to the assembly such that the-spreader bar 10 and tube 12 are free to swivel or turn thereabout through 360. The spreader bar 10 has a disc 22 at each end which is of slightly larger diameter than the bar 10 to form a circumferential flange thereabout. The discs 22 can .be centered on the ends of the bar 10 or oficenter with the flange portion on the upper side, as desired, and are affixed by weld- Also welded or otherwise affixed to the bar 10, and evenly spaced between the ends of the tube 12 and the discs 22 are a series of stop members 24, with the uniform and equal spaced therebetween indicated at 26. The stop members 24 are shown as flat-sided half-discs (see also FIGS. 5 and 6) with. rounded top surfaces or edges although they may be triangular or square or any other shape.

A pair of pear-shaped, weldless links 30 is used on the spreader bar 10 having an eye portion 32 which fits around and encompasses the bar and each having a U-shaped lobe 34 with an opening or slot 36 therein. As seen in FIG. 6 the stop members 24 are narrower in thickness'than the width of the slots 36 in the lobes 34. The links 30 are in turn connected with the pear-shaped split missing links 38,which, in turn, are connected to the sling chains 40. Each link 30 has a grab hook 42; As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the links 30 have their eye portions 32 normally engaging the spreader bar 10 and the lobes 34 normally carrying the missing links 38 in the load-carrying position. The grab hooks 42 are retained on the missing links 38 by means of their eye shanks 44 (see FIG. 4) and each has a hook end 46 so shaped as to engage around any desired link 48 of the chain or through the eye thereof, to effectively shorten the sling chains in a manner known in this art. This arrangement comprises the means for shortening the chains 40 uniformly or to different lengths to accommodate different shaped loads or to orient the load to a particular angle for placement into a desired position upon release.

Again referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 it is seen that the links 30 have their eye members 32 encompassing the body of the spreader bar 10 with the top portion engaged by the space 26 between adjacent stop members 24 along the top of the bar in the normal or load carrying position. Each link 30 canbe positioned along the bar 10 to any of the spaces 26 and including the spaces 50 between the outermost stop member 24 and the discs 22 or the spaces 52, between the innermost stop member 24 and the end of the tube 12. This movement is readily accomplished by turning the links 30 upwardly about (see FIG. 6) so that the slot or opening 36 registers with the stop member 24, with the link 38 held in the top end of this opening, and sliding the links 30 to any of the other spaces 24, 50 or 52. Once in position the links 30 and 38 are released or rotated to the load position shown in FIGS. Once the links 30 are in the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, they cannot be accidentally moved from the particular space then occupied.

The lower ends of the sling chains 40 carry the lower pearshaped connecting links '54 which are affixed by means of their eyes 56 to the lifting fixtures 60 through the holes 62 in the top portions thereof. The fixtures 60, in one embodiment, are shown in the form of flat plates with the lower hook members 64 (FIG. 2) formed therein by the diagonal slot 66 having a rounded end 68 adapted, in this instance, to accommodate a shaft 70 representing the object or load. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the fixtures 60 each have a short shaft 72 extending from the side thereof between the holes 62 .and the slot 66. At-the ends of the shafts 70 a flat round [disc 741s welded or otherwise affixed offcentertoward the top end of the fixture 60 to form the arcuate flange '76 th'ereabout of larger diameter thanthe body of the shafts 72. Asseen in FIG. 2, the center'line ofthe shaft'72 or disc 74 is not necessarily coincident with the center lines of the hole 62 and the rotinded end 68 of the slot 66,. Alternatively, the shafts72 can be affixedto the flat side of "the fixture 60 at any desired locatioii thereof including the flatside of the hook member 64.

' This assembly, just des'cribed, comprises one form ofsling contemplated by the instant invention which can be used in a variety of material handling operations-For this-purpose the U-bolt 18 is affixed to any .suitablemeans for 'raisingand lowering same such asthe hook 80 which is in turn affixed'to a winch cabie,'differentiallhoist, hydraulichoist or, as'shown, the block and tackle 182 ,the lowermost sheave of which is fiit'ed .tothe hook 80 by means of thefcrossbolt 84. Thehook SGfnay-havea s'afety hasp (not shown) toprev'ent its disengagement fromethe sling assembly. The block and tackle or th'er. hoist arrangement, toillustrate, is carried 'by a trolley running one horizontaleye-beam'extending from a van truck which parts are not illustrated'The hoist means can also be a ci'ane orjback-hoeh I Y t v In the preferred embodiment of this invention theload on the' shaft 70 comprises the cable reel86 carrying the cable 88 thereon'and having a central bore "90 extending through the;

cireularten'd flanges 92. The core. or hub of the reel 86 u'pon 4 operations,-even though .the' terrain may be rough er muddy and one or both sling chains go, slackat intervals during the dragging operations. For some dragginggoperations or short movements of the reels on a roadside,'for;example, the fix-.

tures 60 can be .usedin the positions shown'in FIG. 3.

In order to facilitate both handling of the heavy reels in 7 close quarters'and the" snaking operations theshafis 72 can be shdivn in FIG: 1. In this instancetlie block and tackle 82 is af- 3.

which the cable or wire 88jis wbundican be formed ofhard.

wood or steel and a full reel is representative of a deadv weight .cornmodate the desiredflength of cable. The representationof he shown in nos. 1 and 2, the two links so are spacedfrom each otherralong the spreader-bar 10 a distanceless than the length of the shaft ,70 and the shaft 70 engaged by the slots 66 and hooks 64 of the fixtures'60, in this instance, with the shafts 72'directedoutwar'dly. Assuming that the reel 86 is to 'beloaded on a van truck, the hoist82 is raised, the loadis pushed back on the trolley running on the l-beam and then lowered into the truck;*T'he sling takes up very little more width than the reeltitself withthe exception of the shafts 72 vwhich need only be '3 inches to 4 inches-long as will be j described. The'fixtures'are easily 'remioved from the shaft 70 by 'sflacking off and sliding the hooks6 4 from under the shaft.

For purposes of storage of empty or loaded reels or placing ree'i'son a truck wherelimited space is available, the shafi 70 maybe eliminated and the fixtures reversed or turned '180",

' the sling chains 40 into the position shown in FIG. 3. The

72 are then inserted into the: central bore 90 so that the flanges 76 engage the edges 96 of the flanges 92 on the hub of I ofiiip to about-5,0001%. The flanges'92 can be of any desired diameter in relation to the core sizeof the reel in order to ac' eliminated and the modified form of pear shaped fixturezfl) shown in no. 1 is-usedi In this embodiment thejslot as es been replaced bythe-borehole 98adaptedto engage the ends of the shaft and'prevent accidentaldisengagement between the fixture and theshaft. The modified fixture60' 'can also be 1 constructed, with the shafts 72 locatedthereon, if desired,.as 1 still another alternative form of the fixturesfil). lnsteadofa plate 'or' flat configuration, the fixture 60 can-be formed of 1 rod material, like a link, and theboi'e98 can be oblong.

0D. and the stub shafts 72are 3% inches long formed of extra heavy [54-inch pipe. The discs 74 areformed of -36 inch-steel plate and are 2% inches in diameter. A protrusion or nubbin" of this size will fitinto theholes 90. of most commercial cable reels. All of the pear links are dropforged, heat treated and weldless, being load rated at 2900 lbs. with a five-to-one safety 7 factor to an 'ultimate'of 14,500 lbisfl he chain 40 is 8i inch alloy, steel proof tested at 13,200 lbs- The fixtures.60. are formed of 56 inch structural steel plateand the fixtures 60' are formedof 9i! inch drop forged, heat-treated weldless sling link.

with a l6,800 lb. ultimatebreaking load; The lifting eye 18 and eyebolt 16 are drop forged,;heattreated?steel, shackle rated at 15,000 lbs-1Tb: ultimate breakingload of thesling L becomes about 26,400 lbs. t i

The bar lo'has' been described bar. It is to be understood that the 10 can have any desired cross-sectional configuration i.e., square, oval, etc. or it can be hollow. The eye portions'32 of the links 30 would be shaped to encompass a sufficient-amount of the surface of the bar 10 between the stop members 24 to be supported thereby. The stop members 24 need not be, on the top portion of the bar 10 and can be on either side as long as the locking and sliding functions are, retained. The stop members 24 can extend along theireel and the sling is ready to lift a reel without the use of theishafifl'he links 54 can have swivel fittingsattaching to the sliiig chains 40, if desired, to facilitate this repositioning of the idt't'ttional motion without a swivel.

iel 'a tive positions of the, fixtures 6,0 in relation to the ends'of themed. Normally, the sling chains 40 will allow this degree of Once the full reel has been lowered th m the truck it is the pragtice to hold it an the ground and-unwind the cable the iefrorn- This would be done with the shaft 70 in place as shown in FIG. 1. Another practice is to snake or drag the unloaded reels across all kinds of terrain to locations not accessij blew the van trucks as by means of an off-the-road truck or Jeep" Thisoperation can be performed by the sling shown in F I95. 1 and 2 by detaching the hoist and affixing the U-bolt 18 q'idrag line leading from'the truck'or from a winch.,ln so dothe fixtures 60 are positioned with their slots opening dowpwardly so that they'will not disengage from the shaft 70. Thief-weight of the chain 40 and the offcenter location of the slot along with the weight of the fixtures facilitate the constartt engagement of the fixture with the shaft 70 during these part, or all of the length of the bar-l0 and are equally spaced from the center for balance.

Similarly, the reinforcing'collar or sleeve 12 can be made part of the bar 10 oreliminated, as long as the bar retains sufficient rigidity to sustain the loads contemplated by the. sling. For some purposes cables can be substituted for the chains 40,

as the flexible load-bearing member, where length adjusts ments are not required. Also the links 30 can be made integral with the fixtures-60-by meansof a rigid-supporting bar, rod or I hangenOther alterationscan be made in the structures shown, without departing from theinvention and any com- 1 bination of the structures shown can be used.

While this invention has been described fully and completely with special emphasis upon certain preferred embodiments,

it is'to be understood that withinthe scope of the appended claims this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. e

I claim: i i 1. A sling for hoisting heavy objects comprising: a. an elongated cylindricalspre aderbar having means intermediate the ends for attachment to a hoist;

b. a pair of keyhole shaped links on said'spreader bar each having an eye portion and an intermediate connecting U- shaped lobe, the eye portion encompassing said spreader bar, the inner diameter of the eyeportion being substantially equal to the outside diameter of said spreader bar,

and the inner diameter of the lobe, being substantially less than the outer diameter of the spreader bar;

and shown asa round solid I c. means to hold the eye portion of said links at a number of fixed distances along said bar .on each side of said attaching means;

d. a load-bearing member attached to saidlobe of each link;

e. a fixture at an extended end of said load-bearing member having means to engage a heavy object;

f. said means to hold said links at said fixed distances comprises a series of spaced protuberances along said spreader bar;

g. said links are rotatable on said spreader bar to place said lobes in registry with said protuberances and movable therealong to any position between said protuberances; and

h. said links are rotatable to a load-carrying position with said lobe supporting said load-bearing member and said.

eye portion held between the spaced protuberances. 2. A sling in accordance with claim 1 in which said protube- 3. A sling for cable reels having a central axle bore comprising:

a. a cylindrical, elongated spreader bar having a hoisting eye intermediate the ends;

b. a pair of keyhole shaped links on said spreader bar;

c. said links each comprising an eye portion encompassing said bar and an interconnected lobed opening said eye portion having an inside dimension substantially equal to the outside diameter of said bar, and, said lobe having an inside dimension substantially less than the outside diameter of said bar;

d. a series of spaced protuberances along said spreader bar defining spaces to receive said links and of a size sufficient to pass through the smaller lobed openings of said links when said lobe opening is shifted on said bar from a load-carrying position in which said eye portion is held between the spaced protuberances;

e. flexible load-carrying means affixed to the smaller lobed opening of said links; and

f. a fixture attached to the extended end. of said load-carrying means, said fixture having a protuberance fixedly secured at one end to said fixture and a hook at the free end thereof.

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