Lifting tool for bodies with inner flange

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a lifting mechanism comprising a body (8) of a rigid support structure, means (19) for ensuring the rotation of a lever (10), and means (10) for moving a rod (9), said means (10) being arranged to rotate on a pin (19) by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder (14), said at least one hydraulic cylinder (14) being connected to said lever (10) by a hinge (13) and to said body (8) by a hinge (11), said means (14) for moving the lever (10), and a pin (19). means (9) for pushing the petals (5) radially outwards, these means consisting of a rod (9) for each petal (5), said rod (9) being connected to the lever (10) by a hinge (12) and to the petal (5) by a hinge (20); and means (5) for ensuring the centering of the body (8) with respect to the pipe (2); and also for ensuring the lifting of said pipe (2) by engaging a flange (3) welded to the pipe (2), such means consisting of a rod (9) for each petal (5), said rod (9) being connected to the lever (10) by a hinge (12) and to the petal (5) by a hinge (20). Means (5) consisting of at least three petals (5) whose movement is constrained by at least one sliding block (16) for the petals (5), each of said sliding blocks (16) being slidable in a guide slot (15) machined in the body of the petals (5); and means (16) for ensuring radial movement of the petals (5) relative to the geometric axis of the body (8), said means consisting of at least one sliding block (16) for each petal (5), each of said sliding blocks being slidable in a guide slot (15) machined in the body of the petals (5). The lifting tool (1) for an inner flanged body comprises: means (16) for sliding against the petals (5) in guide slots (15) machined in the body of the petals (5) themselves; and means (6) for ensuring that the petals (5) do not leave their seats during lifting of the petals (5), said means (6) consisting of supports (6) capable of resisting the upward forces generated on the rear faces of the petals (5) during the lifting operation.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] <Description> The present patent relates to the technical field related to lifting tools, in particular those used to lift bodies having an internal flange. As is known, currently in the field of lifting tools there exist different types of terminals for lifting objects with internal flanges, based on bolted connections or on openable elements that fit under the flange itself. [Background technology]

[0002] Bolted connections require a long time and are less secure, while those on the market so far with releasable elements have the drawback of not guaranteeing perfect centering, and moreover they are placed in a non-optimal position under the flange with regard to the stresses on the flange itself, risking damaging the flange. Furthermore, the active rest angle is often limited, again compromising the stresses on the body to be lifted. DISCLOSURE OF THEINVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other disadvantages by providing a simple and economical system for forming a low-cost and durable lifting tool, which at the same time allows the flanged body to be lifted in a centered and balanced manner, with the least possible stresses to avoid damage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] All this is subject to the characteristics set forth in the independent claims. Further characteristics of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] The advantages arising from the present invention essentially consist of: the lifting tool is provided with support means which synchronously engage under the flange by moving radially until it reaches the inside diameter of the pipe with sufficient force to move the tool (1) itself until perfect centering is achieved, thus allowing the body to be lifted to be perfectly centered; In this way, the flange is raised by applying pressure to the surface portion at a location that ensures that stress is minimized, and the support angle is very large to minimize stress on the flange, A sufficiently deformable material is interposed between the flange and the lifting petal to ensure the greatest possible uniformity of contact pressure between the lifting tool and the flange; All this is achieved in a simple and economical manner.

[0006] The originality and functionality of the present invention will be better understood by any person skilled in the art from the following description, using the accompanying drawings which show non-exhaustive or non-limiting implementation solutions: FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts not shown for simplicity, of a first preferred embodiment of a lifting tool (1): it consists of a structure mainly made of steel and preferably lifted by a cable (17).

[0007] There is seen the body (8), the petals (5) shown in a closed configuration, the supports (6) that bear the upward vertical thrust of the petals during lifting, the pipes (2) structurally connected to the flanges (3) by welding or mechanical connections, the points of greater stress (4) on the flanges (3) during lifting, the inner surface (18) of the pipes (2), and the sectors (7) made of a deformable material to make the contact pressure between the tool and the underside of the flange as uniform as possible.

[0008] FIG. 2 also shows the lifting tool (1) in plan view, with parts not shown for simplicity.

[0009] It can be seen that there is a petal (5) shown in a closed configuration, a support (6) which supports the upward vertical thrust of the petal during lifting, a flange (3), a sector (7) made of a deformable material, a pin (19) about which a lever (10) rotates which is rotatably placed (or placed in rotation) by a jack (14) to move a rod (9), the rod being hinged to the lever at pin (12) and to the petal (5) at pin (20), the displacement of the rod (9) causing a radial movement of the petal (5) down to the flange (3), the movements being synchronized as the rods (9) have the same length and are all hinged to the same lever (10) with the same radius of rotation.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows the lifting tool (1) again in plan view, with parts not shown for simplicity.

[0011] It can be seen that the petal (5) is now shown in an open configuration, the support (6) that bears the upward vertical thrust of the petal during lifting, the flange (3), the sector (7) made of a deformable material, the pin (19) about which the lever (10) rotates, which is placed in rotation by the jack (14) to move the rod (9), which is hinged to the lever at pin (12) and to the petal (5) at pin (20), the displacement of the rod (9) causes a radial movement of the petal (5) down to the flange (3), the movements being synchronized, since the rods (9) have the same length and are all hinged to the same lever (10) with the same radius of rotation. Also visible are the pin (13) that attaches the jack (14) to the lever (10) and the pin (11) that attaches the jack (14) to the body (8).

[0012] FIG. 4 shows the petal (5) in a perspective view, with a guide slot (15) at the bottom for allowing the petal (5) itself to slide radially.

[0013] In figure 5 a cross-section of the lifting tool (1) is shown, in which the body (8), the pipe (2) connected to the flange (3), the inner surface (18) of the pipe (2), the sector (7) made of a deformable material, the pedal (5), the pivot pin (19) of the lever (10), the sliding block (16) guiding the pedal (5) and the lifting cable (17) of the lifting tool (1) can be seen.

[0014] FIG. 6 shows, in a cross-sectional view, the pipe (2) connected to the flange (3), the inner surface (18) of the pipe (2), the sector (7) made of deformable material, the petal (5), the sliding block (16) guiding the petal (5) and the sliding block engaging in the slot (15). Also visible is the point (4) where the stress on the flange (3) is greater during lifting. In this configuration, which is a lifting configuration, the sector (7) made of deformable material is pressed up to the inner cylindrical surface (18) of the pipe (2) so as to minimize the bending moment and therefore the stress acting on the point (4) of the flange (3), and for the same purpose, the shape of the sector (7) made of deformable material is adapted to the shape of the connection radius between the flange and the inner cylindrical surface (18) of the pipe (2), so as to minimize the bending moment and therefore the stress acting on the point (4) of the flange (3) with the same area of ​​contact surface (or with the same area of ​​contact surface).

[0015] FIG. 7 shows a cutaway of the lifting tool (1) in a perspective view, with parts not shown for simplicity.

[0016] One can see the petals (5) shown in an open configuration, the supports (6) that support the vertical upward thrust during lifting, the wear elements (23) interposed between the petals (5) and the supports (6), the sectors (7) made of a deformable material, and the pins (19) about which the levers (10) rotate, which are arranged in rotation by the jacks (14) to move the rods (9), which are hinged to the levers at the pins (12) and to the petals (5) at the pins (20); it can then be seen that the elements (21) and (22) that move together with the levers (10) and carry the hinges (12) for attaching the rods (9) are, for spatial reasons, arranged in two different planes in this configuration.

[0017] However, it should be emphasized that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the drawings attached hereto. The purpose of these drawings is only to clarify and illustrate the operation of the present invention in a quick and understandable manner, and therefore they do not claim to show the details of the configuration, and in fact may be updated, implemented or modified while remaining entirely within the spirit of the invention itself. Also, the terms "upper", "lower", "upper", "lower", "parallel", "vertical", and generally all terms indicating positioning and direction are referred to only as a function of the drawings and descriptions in this specification, and do not include any constraints or any limitations on the final configuration of the present invention.

[0018] The lifting tool (1) is formed in a first preferred embodiment from a body (8) adapted to be lifted by a cable (17). The body (8) carries, axially centered, a pin (19) around which a lever (10) rotates, which is arranged to rotate by at least one hydraulic jack (14) which is connected to the lever (10) at a hinge (13) and to the body (8) at a hinge (11). The rods (9) are also constrained to this lever (10) by a hinge (12), although they are all of equal length between them (or the distances between the hinges are all equal), and for reasons of space the hinges (12) may not lie in the same plane, but may be arranged in two planes parallel to each other. When the lever (10) rotates, the rod (9) moves according to a rod-crank type movement, causing a synchronized radial displacement of the petal (5) connected to the rod (9) by a hinge (20). The petal (5) is moved radially because it is constrained by a guide (16) that engages in a slot (15) machined in the petal (5) itself. The movement of the petal (5) is synchronized by geometry because the rods (9) have the same length and are all hinged to the same lever (10) with the same radius of rotation, and the hinges (12) lie in the same plane or in two planes symmetrical to a median plane that coincides with the plane of the hinges (20). When the petal (5) comes into contact with the inner wall (18) of the pipe (2) with the deformable sector (7) in between, the petal (5) moves radially to the same extent, and the lifting tool (1) moves until it is perfectly centered on the same pipe (2), since the thrust of the hydraulic jack (14) is sufficient for this purpose. At this point, lifting can begin with the deformable sector (7) engaging the underside of the flange (3) close to the point of maximum stress (4) in order to minimize the stress on the same.The deformable sector (7), which partially yields under the contact pressure due to lifting, ensures that a sufficient uniformity of the same contact pressure is achieved in order to generate as uniform a stress as possible along the contact arc and on the connecting radius of the flange and thus not to damage the flange, said deformable sector (7) having a surface such that it can withstand the weight of the lifting, but at the same time as narrow as possible in order to act close to the point of maximum stress (4). The upward thrust resulting from the lifting action and acting on the petal (5) is supported by the support (6), an intervening wear element (23) being mounted between said support (6) and the petal (5).

Claims

1. A lifting tool (1) for a body with an inner flange, comprising: - a body (8) made of a rigid supporting structure, preferably steel; - means (19) for ensuring the rotation of the lever (10), these means consisting of a pin (19) substantially coaxial with and supported by the body (8) of the structure; - means (10) for moving the rod (9), these means consisting of a lever (10) arranged in rotation on said pin (19) by at least one hydraulic cylinder (14), said at least one hydraulic cylinder being connected to said lever (10) by a hinge (13) and to said body (8) by a hinge (11); - means (14) for moving said lever (10), said means (14) consisting of at least one hydraulic cylinder (14) connected to said lever (10) by a hinge (13) and to said body (8) by a hinge (11); - means (9) for pushing the pedals (5) radially outwards, these means consisting of a rod (9) for each petal (5), said rod (9) being connected to said lever (10) by a hinge (12) and to said petal (5) by a hinge (20); - means (5) for ensuring the centering of said body (8) relative to said pipe (2) and for ensuring the lifting of said pipe (2) by engaging (butting?) said flanges, welded to said pipe (2), said means (5) consisting of at least three petals (5) constrained in movement by at least one sliding block (16) for each petal (5), each of said sliding blocks (16) being slidable in a guide slot (15) machined in the body of said petal (5); - means (16) for ensuring radial movement of said petals (5) relative to the geometrical axis of said body (8), these means consisting of at least one sliding block (16) for each petal (5), each such sliding block (16) being able to slide relative to said petal (5) in a guide slot (15) machined in the body of said petal (5) itself; - means (6) for ensuring that the petals (5) do not leave their seats during lifting of said petals (5), said means (6) consisting of supports (6) capable of resisting the upward forces occurring on the rear faces of the petals (5) during the lifting movement.

2. 2. A lifting tool (1) for bodies with internal flanges according to claim 1, characterized in that a deformable element (7), called a sector, is present between each petal (5) and the flange (3) in order to ensure uniform contact pressure between the petal (5) and the flange (3).

3. 2. A lifting tool (1) for a body with an inner flange according to claim 1, characterized in that the elements (21) and (22) integral with the lever (10), including the hinge (12) connecting the lever (10) and the rod (9), are arranged in two planes, which are symmetrical with respect to a central plane in which the hinge (20) connecting the rod (9) and the petal (5) is located.

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