Coupling systems and male parts for lifting heavy loads

Abstract

A coupling system for lifting heavy loads includes male and female parts lockable relative to one another. The male part has a frame, a locking pin connected to the frame, the locking pin movable relative to the frame along a longitudinal axis of the locking pin, and a plurality of latches movably connected to the frame and disposed about the longitudinal axis of the locking pin. The outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of the latch cooperate with one another such that, upon movement of the locking pin along the inner side of the latch in the locking direction, the locking pin pushes the latch outwardly transverse to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin from a retracted position to an extended position. The female part has a hole surrounded by a rim through which the latch can be inserted in the retracted position, and the latches latch against the rim in the extended position, thereby locking the male and female parts to one another.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling system for lifting heavy loads. [Background technology]

[0002] Such a coupling system is known from WO2018 / 139931. The known coupling system has a male part and a female part that are lockable relative to each other. The male part has an attachment eye for the hoisting cable of the crane and the female part is part of the weight to be hoisted by the crane. The male part has a cylindrical main body with a number of latches evenly distributed around its circumference. The latches are pivotable about an axis that extends horizontally and tangentially through the lower end of the latch, so that they deflect inwards when the male part is inserted into the hole of the female part. When the male part is inserted into the hole of the female part, the latches are moved outwards and latch against the recess of a rim around the hole of the female part. A hydraulic actuator is arranged inside the main body to actively move the latches to lock and unlock the male and female parts relative to each other. Due to the presence of the hydraulic actuator, the dimensions of the male part of the known coupling system are relatively large. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] WO2018 / 139931 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling system which is compact and robust. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object is achieved by a coupling system according to the invention, comprising a male part and a female part lockable relative to one another, the male part having a frame, a locking pin connected to the frame and movable relative to the frame along the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, and a number of latches movably connected to the frame and arranged about the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the locking pin pushing the latch outwardly transversely of the longitudinal axis of the locking pin from a retracted position to an extended position when the locking pin is moved in the locking direction along the inner side of the latch by mutual cooperation of the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of the latch, the female part having a hole surrounded by a rim through which the latch can be inserted in the retracted position and the latch locking the male and female parts to one another by latching against the rim in the extended position.

[0006] One advantage of the coupling system according to the invention is that a single locking pin moves multiple latches from their retracted to their extended positions, resulting in a relatively compact coupling system. When the latches are hooked back into the rim, the male and female parts are locked relative to each other in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, but the locking pin supports the latches such that they cannot return to their retracted position.

[0007] At least a portion of the outer side of the locking pin may be cylindrical, and the distance between the inner side of the latch and the longitudinal axis of the locking pin may be uniform.

[0008] The latches may be evenly distributed about the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, and at least when the latches are in the extended position, they surround the locking pin with their inner sides facing the outer sides of the locking pin, and the latches may also surround the locking pin in the retracted position.

[0009] In one practical embodiment, each of the latches has a locking surface that contacts a bearing surface of the female part adjacent the rim when the male and female parts are locked relative to each other, the locking surface being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the locking surface may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, but may also taper towards the axial direction of the locking pin.

[0010] The locking surface may be oriented in a direction opposite to the locking direction of the locking pin.

[0011] In one embodiment, each of the latches is tiltable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin and extends away from the locking surface.

[0012] Each latch has a concave contact surface that is supported by a fulcrum on the frame, allowing the latch to tilt relative to the frame. These fulcrums and concave contact surfaces may be shaped to provide a small amount of pivot movement during the tilting movement of the latch.

[0013] In one particular embodiment, the fulcrum is formed by an annular projection located on the frame, in which case the respective axis of rotation may be tangential to the annular projection.

[0014] The locking surface of the latch may be located beyond the corresponding axis of rotation when viewed in the locking direction of the locking pin.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of the latch are configured such that moving the locking pin in an unlocking direction opposite to the locking direction causes the locking pin to bias the latch from the extended position to the retracted position, allowing the latch to pass through the rim of the female part hole to decouple the coupling system after a roll-up operation.

[0016] When the latches are in the retracted position, the locking pin can contact each of the latches at a position beyond the axis of rotation when viewed from the locking surface towards the axis of rotation, meaning that the locking pin can tilt the latch so that it can return from the extended position to the retracted position. In practice, these latches are formed as rocker arms or levers.

[0017] In one embodiment, one of the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of each latch has protrusions that fit into cooperating grooves in the other of the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of each latch. The depth of each of these grooves decreases toward the axial direction of the locking pin, such that the protrusions and grooves are biased to move outwardly toward one another when the locking pin moves in the unlocking direction. For example, if the inner side of each latch has protrusions that fit into cooperating grooves in the outer side of the locking pin, the protrusions will be biased outwardly of the grooves when the locking pin moves in the unlocking direction, causing the latches to tilt back from the extended position to the retracted position.

[0018] The frame may include a linear actuator, for example a hydraulic cylinder, for moving the locking pin.

[0019] The invention further relates to a male part for such a coupling system, comprising a frame, a locking pin connected to the frame, the locking pin being movable relative to the frame along its longitudinal axis in a locking direction, and a number of latches movably connected to the frame and arranged about the longitudinal axis of the locking pin, the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of the latch co-operate with each other such that, when the locking pin is moved in the locking direction along the inner side of the latch, the locking pin pushes the latch outwardly transverse to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin from a retracted position to an extended position of the latch. The male part is fixed to a cable of a crane and may be used to couple to a female part which is part of a heavy load, for example a nacelle of a wind turbine.

[0020] In one embodiment, each of the latches has a locking surface for contacting a bearing surface of the female component, the locking surface being angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin.

[0021] Each of the latches may be tiltable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin and extends away from the locking surface.

[0022] In one embodiment, the locking surface of the latch is located beyond the corresponding axis of rotation when viewed in the locking direction of the locking pin.

[0023] The locking surface may be oriented in a direction opposite to the locking direction of the locking pin.

[0024] In one embodiment, the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of the latch are configured such that moving the locking pin in an unlocking direction opposite the locking direction causes the locking pin to bias the latch from the extended position to the retracted position.

[0025] When the latches are in the retracted position, the locking pin may contact each of the latches at a location beyond the axis of rotation when looking from the locking surface towards the axis of rotation.

[0026] In one embodiment, one of the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of each latch has protrusions that fit into cooperating grooves in the other of the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of each latch, the depth of each of these grooves decreasing in the axial direction of the locking pin, such that when the locking pin is moved in the unlocking direction, the protrusions and grooves are biased to move outward toward each other.

[0027] The invention will now be described with reference to schematic drawings which show, by way of example, one embodiment of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a coupling system according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 showing the coupling system in an unlocked state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 showing the coupling system in an unlocked state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3, but showing the coupling system in a locked state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Figures 1 to 6 show an embodiment of a coupling system 1 according to the invention. The coupling system 1 is intended for lifting heavy loads. The coupling system 1 comprises a male part 2 and a female part 3 which can be locked to each other. The male part 2 is supported by a sling 4 suspended from a crane (not shown) and the female part 3 is part of a heavy load (not shown), for example a nacelle of a wind turbine, which is to be lifted by the crane. Figures 2 to 4 show the sequence of steps for locking the male part 2 and the female part 3 to each other.

[0030] The male part 2 comprises a tubular frame 5, also called a bucket, a locking pin 6, a hydraulic cylinder 7 with a piston rod 8 and a number of latches 9. The locking pin 6 is arranged inside the frame 5 and is slidable relative to a cylindrical locking pin guide 10 along a center line CL of the locking pin 6. The locking pin guide 10 is fixed inside the frame 5. The piston rod 8 of the hydraulic cylinder 7 is coupled to the locking pin 6 so as to be able to move the locking pin 6 up and down relative to the frame 5. Figure 1 shows that a hoist pin 11 passes through the frame 5 in a direction perpendicular to the center line CL of the locking pin 6. This hoist pin 11 forms projections on both sides of the frame 5 around which the respective slings 4 engage.

[0031] The locking pin 6 has a cylindrical shape and a tapered free end portion that converges towards the free end of the locking pin 6. The latches 9 are arranged around the locking pin 6. These latches 9 are attached to the frame 5 and are tiltable relative to the frame 5 around respective fulcrums, which are in this case formed by annular projections 12 around a circular through hole 13 in the bottom of the frame 5. The concave contact surface of each latch 9 rests on the annular projections 12 and thus forms respective axes of rotation about which the latches 9 can be tilted. These axes of rotation extend tangentially at the annular projections 12. It should be noted that the annular projections 12 and the concave contact surfaces of each latch 9 are shaped such that the latches 9 also slide slightly on the annular projections 12 during the tilting movement. This means that when the latches 9 are tilted, their axes of rotation of tilt are also slightly displaced. In the embodiment as shown in the drawings, the male part 2 has eight latches 9, but in an alternative embodiment the number may be different.

[0032] The frame 5 further comprises a latch guide 14 along which the upper side of each latch 9 slides during their tilting movement. The latch guide 14 protrudes from the inner wall of the frame 5 and is oriented towards the locking pin 6.

[0033] Each latch 9 includes a locking surface 15 that is angled with respect to the centerline CL of the locking pin 6. Figures 1, 4 and 6 show the coupling system 1 in a locked state, with the locking surface 15 engaging a bearing surface 16 of the female part 3 that extends around the rim of a bore 17 in the female part 3. The bearing surface 16 tapers towards the axial direction of the locking pin 6, but in an alternative embodiment may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the locking pin 6. The locking surface 15 may be correspondingly shaped to provide proper contact when the male and female parts 2, 3 are coupled to one another.

[0034] The outer side of the locking pin 6 and the inner side of the latch 9 oriented towards the center line CL of the locking pin 6 are configured such that when the locking pin 6 is moved along the inner side of the latch 9 in the locking direction, the locking pin 6 pushes the latch 9 and tilts them from their retracted position to their extended position. This means that the locking surface 15 is moved outwardly transverse to the center line CL of the locking pin 6. In this case, the locking direction is downward, i.e., from the proximal end of the locking pin 6 towards the distal or free end. The locking surface 15 in the illustrated embodiment is oriented in a direction opposite to the locking direction of the locking pin 6. The locking surface 15 is located beyond the corresponding rotation axis of the latch 9 when viewed in the locking direction of the locking pin 6. When the locking pin 6 is moved upward relative to the frame 5, i.e., in the unlocking direction opposite to the locking direction, the latch 9 is tilted and the locking surface 15 is moved inwardly from the extended position to the retracted position. It should be noted that the annular projection 12 is oriented in the unlocking direction of the locking pin 6 .

[0035] 2 and 3 show that the tapered end portion of the locking pin 6 allows the latch 9 to be moved from the extended position to the retracted position, while FIG. 4 shows that the cylindrical portion of the locking pin 6 contacts the inner side of the latch 9 when the latch 9 is in the extended position.

[0036] Figures 2 to 4 show the sequence of steps when the male part 2 is coupled and locked to the female part 3. Figure 2 shows that the locking pin 6 is in an upper or retracted position relative to the frame 5. In this state, the latch 9 is in the retracted position. The hole 17 in the female part 3 is configured so that the part of the latch 9 consisting of the locking surface 15 can penetrate into the hole 17. This is shown in figure 3. In this state, it can be seen that the locking pin 6 is still in the retracted position relative to the frame 5. After the frame 5 has reached a predetermined position above the female part 3, the hydraulic cylinder 7 is operated and the piston rod 8 pushes the locking pin 6 in the locking direction. This is shown in figure 4. As a result, the latch 9 is tilted and the locking surface 15 comes into contact with the bearing surface 16, i.e. the latch 9 hooks against the back of the rim of the hole 17. As a result, the male part 2 and the female part 3 are locked to each other and the crane can lift the load fixed to the female part 3.

[0037] To unlock the male and female parts 2, 3 from each other, the locking pin 6 is moved from a lowered position to an upper position by the hydraulic cylinder 7. As a result, the latch 9 is tilted back from the extended position to a retracted position, as will be explained hereinafter. This allows the portion of the latch 9 consisting of the locking surface 15 to pass through the hole 17 in the female part 3, so that the male part 2 can be raised relative to the female part 3.

[0038] 5 and 6, each latch 9 includes a latch protrusion 18 that protrudes from its inner side to the locking pin 6 and fits into a cooperating pin groove 19 of the locking pin 6. The pin groove 19 extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the locking pin 6 and terminates at a distance from the tapered end of the locking pin 6. At the lower end portion of each pin groove 19, the depth of each pin groove 19 decreases from the proximal end to the distal end of the locking pin 6. This means that when the locking pin 6 is moved in the unlocking direction, the latch protrusion 18 is biased outwardly of the pin groove 19, causing the latch 9 to tilt from its extended position to its retracted position. FIGS. 2-4 show that at the lower end portion of each pin groove 19, it is tilted in the circumferential direction of the locking pin 6 with respect to the center line CL of the locking pin 6. This is because the latch protrusions 18 are located on the outer side of each latch 9 in the circumferential direction around the locking pin 6, i.e., eccentrically relative to a plane extending perpendicular to each rotation axis of the latch 9 on the annular protrusion 12.

[0039] 5 and 6 show that the inner side of each latch 9 includes a latch groove 20 for receiving a cooperating pin ridge 21 of the locking pin 6. These pin ridges 21 extend from the proximal end to the distal end of the locking pin 6 and receive corresponding latch grooves 20 in both the retracted and extended states of the locking pin 6. This prevents the latch 9 from moving relative to the locking pin 6 in the circumferential direction of the locking pin 6. The pin ridges 21 slide within the latch grooves 20 when the locking pin 6 moves along the centerline CL in either the locking or unlocking direction.

[0040] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described herein above, but may be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the latch may be translated laterally of the locking pin, or may be flexible to move the locking surface between retracted and extended positions, or may be pivotally mounted to the frame via respective pivots with fixed rotation axes. Furthermore, the outer side of the locking pin and the inner side of the latch may have alternative shapes that still allow a similar tilting movement of the latch. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Combined System 2 Male parts 3 Female parts 4 Sling 5 Tubular Frame 6 Locking pin 7 Hydraulic Cylinder 8 Piston rod 9 Latch 10 Cylindrical locking pin guide 11 Hoist pin 12 Annular protrusion 13 Circular through hole 14 Latch guide 15 Locking Surface 16 Bearing Surface 17 holes 18 Latch protrusion 19 Cooperative pin groove 20 Latch groove 21 Collaborative Pinridge

Claims

1. A coupling system (1) for lifting a heavy load, comprising a male part (2) and a female part (3) that are lockable relative to each other, the male part (2) having a frame (5), a locking pin (6) connected to the frame (5), the locking pin (6) being movable relative to the frame (5) along a longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6) in a locking direction, and a number of latches (9) movably connected to the frame (5) and arranged about the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6), the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of the latches (9) cooperating with each other. Thus, when the locking pin (6) is moved in the locking direction along the inner side of the latch (9), the locking pin (6) pushes the latch (9) outwardly laterally of the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6) from the retracted position to the extended position of the latch (9), the female part (3) has a hole (17) surrounded by a rim, the rim being capable of inserting the latch (9) into the hole (17) in the retracted position, and the latch (9) engages against the back of the rim in the extended position, thereby locking the male part (2) and the female part (3) to each other.

2. 2. The coupling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the latches (9) are evenly distributed about the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6).

3. 3. The coupling system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the latches (9) has a locking surface (15) which contacts a bearing surface (16) of the female part (3) adjacent to the rim when the male part (2) and the female part (3) are locked relative to each other, the locking surface (15) being angled with respect to the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6).

4. 4. The coupling system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the locking surface (15) is oriented in a direction opposite to the locking direction of the locking pin (6).

5. 5. The coupling system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the latches (9) is tiltable relative to the frame (5) about an axis of rotation that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6) and extends away from the locking surface (15).

6. 6. The coupling system (1) according to claim 5, wherein each of the latches (9) has a concave contact surface supported by a fulcrum (12) of the frame (5), thereby allowing the latches (9) to tilt relative to the frame (5).

7. The coupling system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the support point is formed by an annular projection (12) located on the frame (5).

8. 8. The coupling system (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the locking surface (15) of the latch (9) is located beyond the corresponding axis of rotation when viewed in the locking direction of the locking pin (6).

9. 9. The coupling system (1) of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of the latch (9) are configured such that, when the locking pin (6) is moved in an unlocking direction opposite to the locking direction, the locking pin (6) biases the latch (9) from the extended position to the retracted position.

10. 10. The coupling system (1) according to claim 9, wherein when the latches (9) are in the retracted position, the locking pin (6) contacts each of the latches (9) at a position beyond the axis of rotation when viewed from the locking surface (15) towards the axis of rotation.

11. 11. The coupling system (1) according to claim 10, wherein one of the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of each of the latches (9) has a protrusion (18) that fits into a cooperating groove (19) in the other of the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of each of the latches (9), the depth of each of the grooves (19) decreasing in the axial direction of the locking pin (6), whereby when the locking pin (6) is moved in the unlocking direction, the protrusion (18) and the groove (19) are urged to move outward relative to each other.

12. 12. The coupling system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (5) comprises a linear actuator (7), e.g. a hydraulic cylinder, for moving the locking pin (6).

13. 13. A male part (2) for a coupling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: a frame (5); a locking pin (6) connected to the frame (5), the locking pin (6) being movable relative to the frame (5) along a longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6); and a plurality of latches (9) movably connected to the frame (5) and arranged about the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6), wherein an outer side of the locking pin (6) and an inner side of the latches (9) cooperate with each other such that, upon moving the locking pin (6) along the inner side of the latches (9) in the locking direction, the locking pin (6) pushes the latches (9) outwardly transverse to the longitudinal axis (CL) of the locking pin (6) from a retracted position to an extended position of the latches.

14. 14. The male part (2) according to claim 13, wherein each of said latches (9) has a locking surface (15) for contacting a bearing surface (16) of said female part (3), said locking surfaces (15) being angled with respect to said longitudinal axis (CL) of said locking pin (6).

15. 15. The male part (2) according to claim 14, wherein each of said latches (9) is tiltable relative to said frame (5) about an axis of rotation that is angled relative to said longitudinal axis (CL) of said locking pin (6) and extends away from said locking surface (15).

16. 16. The male part (2) according to claim 15, wherein the locking surface (15) of the latch (9) is located beyond the axis of rotation corresponding to the locking direction of the locking pin (6), and the locking surface (15) can be oriented in the opposite direction to the locking direction of the locking pin (6).

17. 17. The male part (2) according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of the latch (9) are configured such that, when the locking pin (6) is moved in an unlocking direction opposite to the locking direction, the locking pin (6) biases the latch (9) from the extended position to the retracted position.

18. 18. The male part (2) according to claim 17, wherein when the latches (9) are in the retracted position, the locking pin (6) contacts each of the latches (9) at a position beyond the axis of rotation when viewed from the locking surface (15) towards the axis of rotation.

19. 19. The male part (2) according to claim 18, wherein one of the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of each of the latches (9) has a protrusion (18) which fits into a cooperating groove (19) in the other of the outer side of the locking pin (6) and the inner side of each of the latches (9), the depth of each of the grooves (19) decreasing in the axial direction of the locking pin (6), whereby when the locking pin (6) is moved in the unlocking direction, the protrusion (18) and the groove (19) are urged to move outward relative to each other.

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