Multi-lashing point

Abstract

A lashing point 100 for attachment to the chassis of material handling apparatus comprises a main body with a through-hole 40 at least 125mm in diameter. The main body includes a lashing portion 10 fo

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in lashing points for mounting onto the chassis of a material handling apparatus for transport thereof, in particular to a lashing point with multiple fixture points. Background to the Invention When transporting material handling apparatus such as shredders, screeners and stackers either by road or sea, the machine must be secured to the transport device, e.g., lorry trailer or marine deck, via chains. These material handling machines are heavy, often more than 20 ton in weight and can slip around on the transport vehicle if not secured properly. Different transport companies use different apparatus and methods to secure loads like material handling apparatus, no standard equipment is currently used. Whilst lifting points are often present on parts of a machine, often other than the chassis, these are provided for use during manufacture of the machine and are not suitable or tested for load applied during transport. During transport, chains are often wrapped around the material handling apparatus chassis to secure the machine to the transport vehicle; however, it can be awkward to access suitable parts of the chassis and, at best, the chains always scratch the machine paintwork prior to delivery to the customer, at worst also causing damage to the machine if secured to a point unfit for the force applied by the load. To avoid these problems, one or more lashing points may be welded to the chassis of the material handling apparatus for acceptance of hooks. The term lashing point is intended to encompass lashing plates, lashing eye plates, securing points, D-rings and the like. Known lashing points for heavy machinery do not accept securing means of differing size and shape and may result in the use of untested workarounds by the operator of the transport vehicle. Fixing chain hooks to lifting points or fixing chain hooks to the chain itself instead of to a lashing point are examples of common unadvised workarounds. These workarounds can result in slack chains and machinery that is not optimally secured. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lashing point to be mounted onto the chassis of material handling apparatus which overcomes the drawbacks of known solutions or at least provides a suitable alternative. Summary of the Invention The present invention addresses the problem of safely securing material handling machinery during transport. This problem is solved by providing one or more multi-purpose lashing points for attachment to material handling apparatus to be transported. The present invention relates to a lashing point with multiple fixture points to enable a plurality of securing means to be accepted, wherein the securing means may be of identical or of differing size and shape. The invention is set out in the claims. Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is a lashing point for attachment to the chassis of material handling apparatus, the lashing point comprising a main body with a through-hole having a diameter of at least 125mm, wherein the main body displays a lashing portion adapted to face the chassis of the apparatus to be tied down and a protruding portion on which one or more receivers are located, the lashing portion and protruding portion together surrounding the through-hole to provide means for accepting one or more forged steel lifting components, and each receiver independently being adapted for acceptance and securing of known securing means. Advantageously, this enables material handling apparatus to be secured in multiple different ways and reduces the number of chains and hooks required to secure material handling apparatus during transport thereof. For example, existing hooks and chains selected from an eye hook, grab hook, chain link, claw hook, shackle, turnbuckle, D-Link, connect link and the like may be passed through the through-hole or attached to one of the receivers, or both. The lashing point may be attached to the chassis such that the lashing point is fixedly mounted, i.e., static with respect to the chassis. Alternatively, the lashing point may be attached to the chassis such that the lashing point is adapted to swivel with respect to the chassis. The main body of the lashing point is preferably substantially D-shaped. The protruding portion of the main body may be curved or angular and preferably tapers away from the lashing portion such that when the lashing point is attached to the chassis of a material handling apparatus, the protruding portion is wider closer to the material handling apparatus and narrower further away. The protruding portion of the main body preferably tapers away from the lashing portion such that the protruding portion is 90mm at its widest and 38mm at its narrowest. The diameter of the through-hole is preferably in the range of from about 125mm to about 180mm, preferably about 140mm. The through-hole may be any suitable shape for a hook of 125mm diameter to pass through, for example, circular, square, rectangular, pear shaped, oval or an irregular shape. In a preferred embodiment, the through-hole is substantially D-shaped. In a preferred embodiment, the main body lashing portion comprises a flat plate for attachment to the chassis of material handling apparatus to be lashed down. Additionally, or alternatively, the lashing portion of the lashing point is preferably substantially rectangular, particularly preferably in the range of from 50mm to 100mm wide, e.g., 90mm wide and in the range of from 160mm to 300mm long, e.g., 240mm long. In some embodiments, the lashing point comprises a plurality of receivers for various alternate existing securing means comprise a hook receiver for accepting one or more forged steel lifting components such as an eye hook, shackle, turnbuckle, D-Link and connect link and a first chain link receiver for accepting a chain link, a lifting hook receiver for accepting a forged steel lifting hooks with latch of Grade 8 according to ISO 7597:2013 such as an adjuster grab hook or a claw hook, or both. The hook receiver is adapted to accept one or more forged steel lifting components for use with Grade 8 chain according to ISO 8539:2009. However, this is not to be considered limiting and other hooks of similar size may be additionally or alternatively secured in the hook receiver. In some embodiments, the protruding portion is provided with a diagonal slot in the range of from approximately 40mm to approximately 80mm in length and with a diameter of approximately 10mm to approximately 25mm to afford the first chain link receiver. Additionally, or alternatively, the protruding portion is further provided with a section of reduced thickness to afford the lifting hook receiver, preferably wherein the protruding portion is at least 30mm wide, e.g., about 38mm wide, and the width of the section of reduced thickness is in the range of from about 8mm to about 16mm, e.g., 11mm. In some embodiments, the protruding portion comprises a top portion which extends substantially perpendicularly from the lashing portion of the main body, preferably wherein the top portion is provided with diagonal slot and a section of reduced thickness to afford the first chain link receiver and lifting hook receiver, respectively. In the embodiments wherein the protruding portion comprises a top portion which extends substantially perpendicularly from the lashing portion of the main body, the top portion is preferably about 160mm to 250mm long, e.g. 200mmm long, and the section of reduced thickness extends along the length of the protruding portion in the range of from about 50mm to about 70mm, e.g., about 60mm. In some embodiments, the multiple receivers comprise a second chain link receiver for accepting a chain link. In this embodiment, the protruding portion preferably tapers away from the lashing portion such that when the lashing point is attached to the chassis of material handling apparatus, the protruding portion is wider closer to the material handling apparatus and narrower further away and the second chain link receiver is located in the wider portion, particularly preferably wherein the second chain link receiver comprises a channel and a groove perpendicular to the channel. In this embodiment, the channel preferably has a length in the range of from approximately 40mm to approximately 70mm, e.g., approximately 53mm, and a diameter in the range of from approximately 15mm to approximately 25mm, e.g., approximately 20mm, and the groove preferably has a length in the range of from approximately 40mm to approximately 60mm, e.g., 46mm, with a depth in the range of from approximately 15mm to approximately 30mm, e.g., 23mm. The first and second chain link receivers are each independently adapted to accept the chain link of a straight short link chain of load rating between 3 to 12 tonne and between 30-350 grade steel. For example, the chain link may be selected from among a link of a medium tolerance sling chain of Grade 8 for general lifting purposes according to ISO 3076:2012, a link of Grade 8 for use with slings according to ISO 16798:2004, a round steel short link chains for lifting purposes according to ISO 4778:2019, a link of a chain sling assembled by methods other than welding according to ISO 7593:1986, and a short link chain for lifting purposes according to ISO 1834:1999. However, this is not to be considered limiting and other chain links of similar size may alternatively be secured in the first and second chain link receivers. In some embodiments, the lashing point is made of cast iron, machined steel or other suitable metal. In another aspect, the invention provides material handling apparatus comprising one or more lashing points attached to the chassis thereof. In some embodiments, a plurality of lashing points are attached to the chassis. Advantageously, this allows the material handling apparatus to be secured with a long single chain passing through multiple lashing points and fixed to at least one lashing point. The or each lashing point may independently be welded to the chassis, bolted to the chassis or mounted to swivel on the chassis, i.e., such that the protruding portion may be moved from left to right and right to left. The skilled person will understand that where the same feature has been referenced in different aspects of the invention, this feature comprises the same parts and operates in the same way unless otherwise stated. Brief Description of the drawings Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred lashing point according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the lashing point of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the lashing point of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the lashing point of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lashing point of Figure 1 shown accepting an adjuster hook, two 10-ton chain links and an eye-hook; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lashing point of Figure 1 shown accepting a shackle; Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a machine chassis with the lashing point of Figure 1 securing the machine to a transport vehicle; Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of a machine chassis with two lashing points of Figure 1 securing the machine to a transport vehicle; Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of a machine chassis to which multiple lashing points of Figure 1 are attached, accepting various securing means; Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative preferred lashing point according to the invention; Figure 11 is a side view of the lashing point of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a plan view of the lashing point of Figure 10; and Figure 13 is a perspective view of the lashing point of Figure 1 shown with a tow hook passing through the through-hole Detailed Description In overview, a lashing point for material handling machinery is provided, the lashing point enabling multiple methods of securing the machinery for transport via existing hooks and chains without damage to the chassis steelwork or paintwork. Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the several views. It will be appreciated that the invention should not be construed to be limited to the examples, which are now described; rather, the invention is construed to include any and all applications provided herein and all equivalent variations within the skill of the ordinary artisan. Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred lashing point according to the invention, generally referred to herein by reference numeral 100, for mounting on a machine chassis M so that machine may be secured to a vehicle V for transport and comprising flat plate 10 for attachment to the chassis of material handling apparatus to be lashed down, curved protruding portion 20 extending from flat plate 10 in a tapered fashion, and top portion 30 connecting the flat and curved portions such that portions 10, 20 and 30 surround through-hole 40. Flat plate 10 in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9 and 13 is 90mm wide and 240mm long. As can be seen in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9 and 13, lashing point 100 comprises a substantially D-shaped main body with top portion 30 provided with a section of reduced thickness to afford receiver 31 for accepting adjuster a forged steel lifting hooks with latch of Grade 8 according to ISO 7597:2013 such as grab hook G or claw hook CH. The width of receiver 31 in the preferred embodiment shown is 11mm. Top portion 30 in the preferred embodiment shown is about 200 mm long also provided with diagonal slot 32 for accepting a chain link CL of a 10-ton chain. In the preferred embodiment shown, slot 32 is 71mm in length and with a diameter of 20mm to afford a chain link receiver. As shown in the Figures, curved portion 20 is wider closer to flat plate 10 and narrows towards top potion 30 such that the narrowed part of curved portion 20 is 38mm wide and through-hole 40 afford receiver 33 for accepting one or more forged steel lifting components such as eye hook T, shackle S and D-Link D. Receiver 34 is located in the wider portion of curved portion 20 and comprises a channel 35 and groove 36 perpendicular to channel 35. In the preferred embodiment shown, the channel has a length of 53mm and a diameter of 20 mm and the groove is 46mm long with a depth of 23mm. Receivers 32, 34 are each independently adapted to accept the chain link of a straight short link chain of load rating between 3 to 12 tonne and between 30-350 grade steel. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a plurality of lashing points 100 may be attached to the chassis of a machine M, allowing the machine to be secured with a long single chain C passing 5 through multiple lashing points 100 as well as other alternatives. Figures 10 to 12 show an alternative lashing point according to the invention, generally referred to herein by reference numeral 200. Lashing point 200 differs from lashing point 100 only in portion 210 for mounting on a machine chassis M. Whereas flat portion 10 of lashing point 100 may be welded or bolted onto chassis M, as shown in Figures 10 to 12, portion 10 210 is mounted to swivel with respect to chassis M via swivel mount 90. In the preferred embodiments shown, curved portion 20 is 90mm at its widest point and 38mm at its narrowest point. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and additions are 15 possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lashing point for attachment to the chassis of material handling apparatus, the lashing point comprising a main body with a through-hole having a diameter of at least 125mm, wherein the main body displays a lashing portion adapted to face the chassis of the apparatus to be tied down and a protruding portion on which one or more receivers are located, the lashing portion and protruding portion together surrounding the through-hole to provide means for accepting one or more forged steel lifting components, and the or each receiver independently being adapted for acceptance and securing of known securing means.

2. The lashing point as claimed in claim 1 comprising a first chain link receiver for accepting a chain link, wherein the first chain link receiver is provided by a slot in the protruding portion.

3. The lashing point as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first chain link receiver is provided by a diagonal slot in the protruding portion.

4. The lashing point as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising a lifting hook receiver for accepting a forged steel lifting hook with latch of Grade 8 according to ISO 7597:2013.

5. The lashing point as claimed in claim 5, wherein lifting hook receiver is provided by a section of reduced thickness in the protruding portion.

6. The lashing point as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding portion may be curved or angular and tapers away from the lashing portion such that, when the lashing point is attached to the chassis of material handling apparatus, the protruding portion is wider closer to the material handling apparatus and narrower further away.

7. The lashing point as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein lashing point is made of cast iron or machined steel.

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