Set of hooks with handles

Abstract

A hook assembly (1) for a hoist, the hook assembly comprising: at least one housing (12) at least partially covering a rope pulley (14); a load hook (11) for lifting a load; and a crossbar (13) connecting the at least one housing and the load hook, wherein the housing includes a handle (19) for guiding the hook assembly.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] This invention relates to hook assemblies, and more particularly to hook assemblies for cranes.

[0002] A rope hoisting crane's hook assembly typically consists of two rope pulleys, with the crane's hook positioned between them to move the load. As the hook assembly is raised or lowered, the rope pulleys rotate with the movement of the ropes. A safety hazard exists between the rope pulleys and the hoisting rope when a user attempts to grasp the hook assembly to guide it into the correct position. The user's fingers may potentially find their way between the rope pulleys and the hoisting rope, potentially leading to serious finger injuries in the worst-case scenario. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a device for solving the above-mentioned problems. The present invention is based on a hook assembly with a handle. The handle allows the user to easily grasp and guide the hook assembly in a safe and reliable manner. Attached Figure Description

[0004] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0005] Figure 1 A basic view of an exemplary lifting device is shown;

[0006] Figure 2 An external view of the hook assembly is shown;

[0007] Figure 3 A front view of the hook assembly is shown;

[0008] Figure 4 A partial exploded view of the hook assembly is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0009] The present invention relates to a hook assembly 1 for use in cranes, and particularly for overhead bridge cranes, low headroom cranes, wall-mounted cantilever cranes or gantry cranes. Figure 1A simplified example of a lifting device for an overhead bridge crane is illustrated. Hook assembly 1 is part of the lifting device, which includes a lifting mechanism 2 having a rope drum 3 for winding the lifting rope 5. Hook assembly 1 is capable of vertical movement by extending and shortening the free length of the lifting rope 5. The lifting mechanism 2 may be movable along the main beam via a crane carriage. The crane carriage can move from left to right using wheels on a first track along the main beam. The wheels may be located next to both ends of the rope drum 3. The main beam may be capable of moving transversely on a second track, thus the main beam is typically supported at its ends by the second track, where another set of wheels is arranged below the ends of the main beam. The second track may be supported by the building's supports. This allows the crane to move in the x and y directions.

[0010] The lifting mechanism 2 may include a motor 4 and a transmission device for operating the rope drum 3. The rope drum 3 may have a single-layer winding or multiple-layer winding for lifting the rope 5. The lifting rope 5 may be a synthetic rope, a metal rope, or a mixture thereof. Figure 1 In this configuration, a 1×4 rope is used, with a single lifting rope 5 and four upper and lower rope sections visible between the rope drum 3 and the hook assembly 1. However, other rope configurations may be used.

[0011] Figure 2 An external view of a hook assembly 1 according to one embodiment is shown. Figure 3 The front view of hook assembly 1 is shown as an example, and Figure 4 A simplified exploded view of hook assembly 1 is shown.

[0012] refer to Figure 2 This illustration depicts a hook assembly 1 according to one embodiment, comprising a load hook 11 and two housings 12. The load hook 11 and housings 12 are connected to each other by a crossbar 13. Hereinafter, the term "crossbar" refers to any type of rigid structure suitable for connecting the load hook 11. The crossbar 13 is preferably made of metal. Each housing 12 may accommodate at least one rope pulley 14. The rope pulley 14 and the crossbar 13 may have a common central axis A, thus the rope pulley 14 is fastened to the crossbar 13, for example, via screws and end plates. The load hook 11 may be at least partially arranged in the area between the two housings 12.

[0013] A load hook 11 is attached to a crossbar 13 for lifting loads. For example, a locking ring or a locking sleeve with a bearing can be used to secure the load hook 11 to the crossbar 13. The bearing allows the load hook 11 to rotate about the vertical axis of the crossbar 13. The load hook 11 may include a safety latch 17 to prevent the load from slipping off the load hook 11.

[0014] The housing 12 may include two covers 18 capable of being fastened to each other and also to the crossbar 13. The covers 18 may be arranged to completely cover the rope pulley 14 in the transverse direction of the central axis A. At least one flange 16 may be present on the circumference of the housing 12, arranged to at least partially radially cover the edge of the rope pulley 14 when the two covers 18 are fastened together, preventing accidental contact of the rope pulley 14 by a user. For ease of opening and closing the housing 12, at least one nut or screw 15 may be present, secured to an end of the central axis A.

[0015] The rope pulley 14 is rotatable, and the lifting rope 5 can move freely within the housing 12 without contacting the housing 12. For example, the cover 18 of the housing 12 can be correctly aligned in the correct position by means of threaded holes and screws. For example, the cover 18 can be fastened to each other using four screws.

[0016] The housing 12 also includes a handle 19 for guiding the hook assembly 1. In this context, the term "handle" can refer to any type and shape of structure attached to a housing or part of a housing that a user can grip. The handle can be a rod, a hole, a profile, or a rope. The handle 19 can extend from the housing 12 as a protrusion. The handle 19 can be located on both housings such that when the handles 19 are opposite each other on the hook assembly 1, the user can grip the handle from either side. This eliminates the need to rotate the hook assembly 1 or for the user to move to the other side of the hook assembly 1 to grip the handle 19. The user can control the lifting from the most suitable side and simultaneously observe other actions besides lifting.

[0017] Handle 19 can be positioned on cover 18 opposite to crossbar 13. This allows the user to see handle 19 immediately when looking at hook assembly 1. Handle 19 facilitates guiding the load to the correct position when precision is required. It can also help reach slightly offset positions if the load hook 11 cannot be lowered directly to the correct position.

[0018] Handle 19 can be attached to cover 18 as a separate component. This allows handle 19 to be retrofitted to existing hook assemblies. Handle 19 can be, for example, a push-pull handle, an offset handle, a knob, a profile handle, or a cup handle. Handle 19 can be attached to cover 18 by, for example, adhesive or fasteners. Handle 19 can be made of durable and impact-resistant materials such as polycarbonate (PC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS), or high-impact polystyrene (HIPS). Handle 19 can also be made of natural materials such as rubber or wood or metal. Handle 19 and cover 18 or housing 12 can be made of a combination of different materials. In some embodiments, handle 19 can be a rope, such as a synthetic rope, with at least one end of the rope attached to cover 18 or housing 12.

[0019] The handle 19 may alternatively be integrated as part of the cover 18 and manufactured together with the cover 18 as a single part. This allows the additional manufacturing steps for the handle 19 and the additional fastening steps for attaching the handle 19 to the cover 18 to be omitted. The integrated part can be manufactured in the same manner as the ordinary cover 18, for example, using die casting or injection molding.

[0020] The handle 19 can be arranged to absorb shock waves during an impact. If the handle 19 is made of a material that is too brittle, it may break under impact. However, if the handle 19 is made of a material that is too stiff, it may cause the load that can be lifted or the surrounding structure to break. Therefore, preferably, the handle is made of an impact-resistant material that is strong enough to withstand minor impacts without damaging the handle 19 or surrounding objects. The handle 19 may have a damping effect, for example, in the form of an additional pad 25 arranged at least partially on the outer surface of the handle 19, or the handle 19 itself may function as a damper. The pad 25 may be made of a material different from the rest of the handle 19, such as a less stiff and more flexible material, such as rubber or silicone or foam.

[0021] The cross-section of the handle 19 may vary; for example, the middle portion of the handle 19 may be the thinnest, and the cross-section may increase towards the end portion of the handle 19, where the handle is attached to the cover 18 or the housing 12. The longitudinal cross-section of the handle 19 may also vary, for example, the upper edge of the handle 19 may be the thickest at the top portion and thin towards the bottom portion. The top edge of the handle 19 may have a convex shape, such that the middle portion of the top edge is lower than the end portion.

[0022] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the handle 19 can be formed as a horizontal bar protruding from the housing surface and having a hole (not visible) in the lower portion of the cover 18. For safety reasons, it is preferable that the user grips the handle 19 from the top, with fingertips pointing downwards. This allows the hook assembly 1 to be held stably. The hole in the handle 19 can be formed as a truncated cone shape, such that the bottom portion is smaller than the upper portion. An additional barrier can even be included to prevent the user from gripping the handle 19 from the bottom portion. The bottom portion can also be closed, thus forming a cup-like shape for the handle 19.

[0023] The integrated cover 18 may include a slightly protruding sidewall 20 formed as an extension at the end of the handle. The sidewall 20 may be hollow or concave from the other side, such that the thickness of the sidewall 20 remains constant. This facilitates the manufacture of the handle 19 and provides greater rigidity to the handle 19.

[0024] The handle 19 may be located in the lower half of the housing 12, specifically, the lower third of the housing 12, and more specifically, the lower quarter of the housing 12. The handle 19 may be located at the bottom edge of the cover 18. This allows the user to grip the handle 19 in the most ergonomic position without having to excessively raise their arm above their head. The bottom portion of the housing 12 also prevents the user from accidentally contacting the lifting rope 5, which could lead to hand abrasions, or, in the worst case, fingers being squeezed between the rope pulley 14 and the lifting rope 5.

[0025] The housing 12 may also include finger guards 21 that can be attached to the housing 12. The finger guards 21 may have two protective sections or walls for each rope segment, or the housing 12 may include two finger guards 21, one for each rope segment. As the rope pulley 14 rotates within the housing 12, the finger guards 21 allow the lifting rope 5 to move freely in and out of the housing 12, but prevent the user's fingers from contacting the area between the rope pulley 16 and the lifting rope 5.

[0026] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The finger guard 21 shown is capable of sliding along the periphery of the housing 12 during lifting. When the hook assembly 1 is in its lowest position, the lifting rope 5 is almost vertical. When the hook assembly 1 is in its highest position, i.e., close to the lifting mechanism 2, the angle of the lifting rope 5 differs from the vertical axis by approximately 35 degrees. By arranging the sliding finger guard 21, which follows the rope angle, the gap between the housing 12 and the lifting rope 5 never becomes too wide. Changes in the rope angle guide and move the sliding finger guard 21.

[0027] The finger guard 21 may be curved and have a slightly curved first edge 22, which is arranged to slide beneath and follow the curvature of the flange 16 of the housing 12. The finger guard 21 may have a second curved edge 23 opposite to the first edge 22, which is also arranged to slide beneath and follow the curvature of the flange 16 of the housing 12. A slit 24 may be included between the first edge 22 and the protected section to accommodate the flange 16 when the lifting rope 5 is nearly vertical.

[0028] The finger protector 21 can be made of two identical parts that can be attached to each other, for example, with screws. To save on material costs and provide a lighter weight, the finger protector 21 can have a honeycomb structure.

[0029] The finger protector 21 may be made of the same material as the cover 18, and specifically, ABS, which has good machinability, surface quality, and chemical resistance. It is a sufficiently rigid material that retains its shape and can withstand impacts well. Die casting or injection molding may also be preferred.

Claims

1. A hook assembly for a hoist, the hook assembly comprising: At least one housing, said at least one housing at least partially covering a rope pulley, A load hook, used for lifting loads. A crossbar, which connects the at least one housing and the load hook, The housing includes a handle for guiding the hook assembly.

2. The hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two covers capable of being fastened to each other, and the handle is disposed on the cover opposite to the crossbar.

3. The hook assembly of claim 2, wherein the handle is integrated as part of the cover and manufactured as a single component.

4. The hook assembly of claim 3, wherein the cover includes a protruding sidewall.

5. The hook assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle is located in the lower half of the housing, specifically, the lower third of the housing, and more specifically, the lower quarter of the housing.

6. The hook assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the handle is formed as a horizontal bar protruding from the housing surface and having a hole.

7. The hook assembly of claim 6, wherein the bottom portion of the hole is narrower than the top portion of the hole.

8. The hook assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the handle is made of an impact-resistant material configured to absorb shock waves during impact.

9. The hook assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the handle includes an additional pad disposed at least partially on the outer surface of the handle.

10. The hook assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the cover includes a protruding sidewall.

11. The hook assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing further includes a finger guard that can be attached to the housing.

12. The hook assembly of claim 11, wherein the finger guard is slidable along the periphery of the housing during lifting.

Images