· Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an attachment for lifting/laying of equipment,
more particularly relates to lifting/laying of a pipe. The invention also relates to
an attachment assembly and a method of gripping and lifting pipe thereof for the
pick and carry cranes.
Background of the Invention
Generally pipe laying is done by tying a wire rope on the pipe. Lifting and
balancing is quiet strenuous process and also a safety concern.
In a conventional manner, torsionally rigid steel construction is used for the
transportation and placement of horizontal lying concrete pipes. The pipe hooks
are suspended from a two-leg chain and are used for the transportation of pipes
up to 4 mt. in length.
In the prior art, a Shore Hire Pipe Lifter is designed as an excavator attachment
solely for use in lifting and laying pipes. All moving parts are mechanical and
do not require the excavator to have additional hydraulics. Using the Pipe Lifter
removes the need for a dog-man to enter a trailer to unload pipes, and also
eliminates the need for pipe layers entering the trench whilst the excavator is
working.
The Pipe Lifter can be used with most quick hitch units and can be used for pipe
laying from either the end or side of an excavation. It can be used for lifting
pipes into trenches but can also be used for engaging pipe joints and final
placing of pipes to correct grade.
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According to German Patent No.DE102008022058, the lifter has wheels (r), and
a slab gripper (p) for adjusting angle of inclination of lifter. Force for lifting a
slab e.g. pavement and washed out-concrete slab, is diverted by a lever, so that
an operating person presses the lever down. An axle (a) is enclosed for a
covering i.e. pipe, provided for attachment of a lifting arm (h) and a support on
the axle, where the support supports a loading arm (1). A joint (g) is fixed at the
loading arm for balancing the angle of inclination of the loading arm. The
gripper is connected to the loading arm via steel cable.
According to Sweedish Patent No. SE8203492, the pipe lifter is for movement
of horizontal pipe sections and consists of a support leg ( 1) and a lifting leg (2).
The latter has an attachment (4) for a chain (5) or line, while a section (3) joins
the legs. - The attachment can be moved from an inner handling position to an
outer lifting position, moving against spring pressure (1 0). The lifter also has a
mechanism for ensuring horizontal balance of the whole lifter (1).
Disadvantage of the prior art;
The lifting attachment disclosed in the prior art mainly works on horizontal pipe
sections. Since the prior art disclosed above do not work on the basis of centre
. of gravity, such mode of operation are time consuming and prone to result in
accidents.
It has therefore been long felt need to develop attachment assembly and provide
a improved method of gripping and lifting pipe thereof for the pick and carry
cranes which not only overcome the disadvantages mentioned above and to
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provide an improved method of gripping and lifting pipe thereof for the pick
and carry cranes.
These objects have been achieved by the present invention.
To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, a lifting attachment assembly to
make the lifting and balancing quiet safe and easy is developed.
Objective of the invention
The principle objective of the present invention is to provide an attachment for
lifting/laying of equipment.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method of gripping,
lifting/laying of concrete pipes.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to reduce the time taken for
balancing and lifting the pipe as the principle of the lifting operation is based on
the centre of gravity.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an efficient, cost
effective method encompassing all safety aspects for construction of pipe lifting
attachment for usein lifting and laying of pipes.
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ADVANTAGES OVER PRIOR ART
The following are inter alia advantages over the prior art.
The pipe lifter attachment of the present invention basically works on the
· principle of centre of gravity balancing. Hence balancing of big size pipes will
be easy. Said attachment can easily and efficiently work upon pipes weighing
about 4 ton with maximum diameter of72 inches and length of2.5 meter.
Said attachment will reduce the timing for balancing and lifting the pipe and
therefore result in productivity increase. Pipe lifting would be made a safe
operation. The position of the hook, which can slide on a carriage, can be
adjusted in accordance to the centre of gravity for balancing different pipe sizes.
The carriage hook is bolted to the attachment and can be replaced, if damaged.
The attachment and method can be used for pipe laying, and loading I unloading
in pipe manufacturing units.
The advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description when taken in conjugation with
accompanying drawing and these drawings are illustrative in explaining the
constructional details of the invention.
Brief Description of Accompanying Drawings:
Figure 1 , 2 illustrate the side view & Isometric view.
Figure 3 illustrates the side view.
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Detailed description of drawings:
Figure 1 shows an attachment assembly that works on the principle of balancing
of centre of gravity. Said attachment comprises of a free to move hook to be
attached to the pick and carry crane, Backhoe loader or excavator and similar
machinery used in various construction work. The free to move hook moves on
a carriage hook containing plurality of spaced teeth for lifting different sizes of
pipes. The carriage hook (or plate) containing the teeth is bolted to the main
plates.
Figure 1 also illustrates a butt plate fitted in between the arms of the main plates
at the base of the U- shape.
Figure 3 shows two different positions of the centre of gravity. Position 1 shows
the position of the centre of gravity of the attachment alone (no pipe lifted) .
. Position 2 shows the position of the centre of gravity of the attachment with
pipe weighing about 4 ton having inner diameter of 72 inches and length of 2.5
Meter.
Detailed description of the invention based on drawings:
The present invention is directed towards an attachment assembly for lifting the
pipes and similar objects where in the assembly is having contoured main side
plates (1 ,2) forming box section of minimum four metal plates (3,4,5,6) and
minimum one box section (7) is formed with the help of metal plates, a butt
plate (8) is fixed at the U section of main plates (1,2) with the help of two
metallic strips (9,10) to enable it to take the side load, minimum one carriage
·plate (11) with minimum two slots (12) is attached with main plates. The slots
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. on carriage plate are equally spaced and the carriage hook (13) with minimum
one slot can be engaged with carriage plate, if it is having two slot then, one end
of this can be adjusted with carriage plate and other can be hooked with the pick
and carry crane, backhoe loader or excavator during the process of lifting. In the
present invention carriage plates can be attached with main plates with the help
of welding or bolting. If the requirement is there then more box sections can be
created, as this provides more strength to assembly. The contour of main plate
can be made straight if the stiffeners are used, which give strength to main
plates.
Summary of the invention:
· The working of the carriage plates is based on the principle of balancing of
centre of gravity. Figure 3 shows the working of the attachment.
Position 1 shows the location of the centre of gravity of the attachment alone
(no pipe lifted).The centre of gravity line passes through the innermost teeth.
Hence, the attachment alone will be lifted when the hook is placed in the
innermost teeth.
Position 2 shows the position of the centre of gravity of the attachment with
pipe of maximum size lifted. The centre of gravity line passes through the
outerinost teeth. Hence, the attachment with the maximum possible pipe size
will be lifted when the hook is placed in the outermost teeth.
The maximum load carrying capacity of the attachment is 4.0 Ton, while the
maximum length of the pipe that can be lifted with this attachment is of 2.5
metres.
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The pipe can be placed between the two arms of the U-shape. Two plates are
fitted on either side of the two arms to give the attachment a box type frame and
provide a flat surface for the pipes to be lifted.
The butt plate prevents the pipe from touching the attachment and hence
safeguards the pipe from any damage.
According to the present invention there is provided an attachment assembly
and a method of gripping and lifting pipe thereof for the pick and carry cranes
· comprising an attachment assembly working on the principle of balancing of
centre of gravity, characterized in that having contoured main side plates (1,2)
forming box section of minimum four metal plates (3,4,5,6) and minimum one
box section (7) is formed with the help of metal plates, a butt plate (8) is fixed at
the U section of main plates (1,2) with the help oftwo metallic strips (9,10) to
enable it to take the side load, minimum one carriage plate (11) with minimum
two slots (12) is attached with main plates, the slots on carriage plate are equally
spaced and the carriage hook (13) with minimum one slot can be engaged with
carriage plate, if it is having two slot then, one end of this can be adjusted with
carriage plate and other can be hooked with the pick and carry crane, backhoe
loader or excavator during the process of lifting.
· Carriage plates can be attached with main plates with the help of welding or
bolting.
The contour of main plate can be made straight if the stiffeners are used which
give strength to main plates of a free to move hook to be attached to the pick
and carry crane.
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The method of gripping and lifting the pipe where in the said method comprises
the steps of :
Putting the carriage hook in the innermost slot of carriage plate and hooking it
with pick and carry crane, backhoe loader or excavator;
Engaging the assembly with pipe;
Putting the carriage hook in the suitable slot of carriage plate in accordance with
the center of gravity of system which comprises of attachment assembly and
pipe;
Lifting the system with the help of pick and carry crane, backhoe loader or
excavator;
Placing the pipe at required place;
Adjusting the carriage hook manually or mechanically to the inner most slot of
carriage plate to disengage the assembly from pipe;
Pulling out the assembly from pipe with the help of pick and carry crane,
· backhoe loader or excavator;
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawing in
the above description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not
restrictive in character, it is understood that, given the above description of the
embodiments of the invention, various modifications may be made by one
skilled in the art.
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Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree
. of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form
has been made only by way of explanation and that numerous changes in the
details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be
resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.

WE CLAIM:
1. An attachment assembly and a method of gripping and lifting pipe
thereof for the pick and carry cranes comprising an attachment assembly
working on the principle of balancing of centre of gravity, characterized in that
having contoured main side plates (1 ,2) forming box section of minimum four
metal plates (3,4,5,6) and minimum one box section (7) is formed with the help
of metal plates, a butt plate (8) is fixed at the U section of main plates (1,2) with
the help of two metallic strips (9,10) to enable it to take the side load, minimum
one carriage plate (11) with minimum two slots (12) is attached with main
plates, the slots on carriage plate are equally spaced and the carriage hook (13)
with minimum one slot can be engaged with carriage plate, if it is having two
slot then, one end of this can be adjusted with carriage plate and other can be
hooked with the pick and carry crane, backhoe loader or excavator during the
process of lifting.
2. An attachment assembly and a method of gripping and lifting pipe
thereof for the pick and carry cranes as claimed in claim 1, wherein carriage
plates can be attached with main plates with the help of welding or bolting.
3. An attachment assembly and a method of gripping and lifting pipe
thereof for the pick and carry cranes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contour
of main plate can be made straight if the stiffeners are used which give strength
to main plates of a free to move hook to be attached to the pick and carry crane .