Lifting hook with remote-controlled latch

Abstract

A lifting hook apparatus with remote-controlled latch. The apparatus includes a latch housing with a hinging member and a hook member located away from the hinging member. A latch member is hingeably connected to the hinging member and is located to permit hingeable movement of the latch member relative to the latch housing. A powered linear actuator is hingeably connected to the latch housing to move the latch member relative to the latch housing between an open configuration, in which the latch member is located snuggly in the latch housing, and a closed configuration in which the latch member is hinged away from the latch housing. A receiver is connected to the linear actuator and located to receive a wireless signal from a remote controller.

Description

[0001] LIFTING HOOK WITH REMOTE-CONTROLLED LATCH

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present generally concerns lifting hooks used on cranes trucks, and more particularly to lifting hooks useful to lift cages and the like.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Lifting hooks are an essential piece of apparatus that are regularly used on construction sites to move loads, such as cages and the like, between locations. The hook is designed to quickly pull upwardly the load by simply engaging a ring connector to the hook. However, in some cases, if an emergency occurs and the hook needs to be quickly disengaged from the ring connector, the process generally involves setting the load on a surface, reducing the tension in the chain, and then unhooking the hook.

[0006] A number of designs currently exist which address at last some of the inherent problems encountered using lifting hooks. The following are examples:

[0007] • US Patent Number US 4,073,531 for “Remote Controlled Safety Hook”;

[0008] • US Patent Number US 5,609,378 for “Automatic Crane Hook Safety Latch”;

[0009] • US Patent Number US 5, 636,888 for “Auto Latch”;

[0010] • US Patent Number US 9,725,284 for “Remote Sling Release For Crane”;

[0011] • US Patent Number US 10,994,969 for “Remote Operated Latch Assembly And Lifting Hook”; and

[0012] • Published US Patent Application Number US 2005 / 0242602 for “Crane Hook With Remotely Operated Safety Latch Release”.

[0013] Disadvantageously, some of the systems described include a device that attaches to a cable crane hook, but it cannot be attached to a hydraulic truck crane or a hydraulic rotor. Furthermore, the mechanism is not hidden and thus it is not fully protected. Indeed, the device is attached to the outside of the hook.

[0014] Thus, there is a clear need for an improved lifting hook.

[0015] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0016] We have significantly reduced, or essentially eliminated, the problems associated with the aforesaid designs by designing a lifting hook that is equipped with a remote- controlled latch. Our apparatus advantageously uses a hook as a standard lifting hook with or without the safety hook. Existing remote-control releases are not standard lifting hooks. It pushes the slings out of the hook opening but you cannot use it as a standard hook to grab load or times. The battery of our hook apparatus is a battery used on most tools on a construction site which makes battery changes simple. The mechanism is very simple and therefore durable. The safety latch mechanism can be readily removed in a few seconds then you can put continue to use the hook as a standard lifting hook. The electronic components of the hook are all waterproof. The safety latch battery and electronic components are all hidden in the hook to protect them from collisions. Advantageously, our lifting hook does not require any electrical or hydraulic modifications to the cranes for installations and use. which makes the costs less expensive and more accessible. The hook can be removed and switch on other lifting equipment easily. No permanent modification is required.

[0017] Accordingly, in one embodiment there is provided a lifting hook apparatus with remote-controlled latch, the apparatus comprising: a latch housing having a hinging member and a hook member located away from the hinging member; a latch member hingeably connected to the hinging member, the latch member being located to permit hingeable movement of the latch member relative to the latch housing; a powered linear actuator hingeably connected to the latch housing to move the latch member relative to the latch housing between an open configuration, in which the latch member is located snuggly in the latch housing, and a closed configuration in which the latch member is hinged away from the latch housing; and a receiver connected to the linear actuator and located to receive a wireless signal from a remote controller.

[0018] In one example, a power source is connected to the linear actuator. The power source is a 20-volt DC battery and protected by a low voltage device.

[0019] In one example, the remote controller includes first and second buttons located to operate the latch member.

[0020] In one example, a voltage converter is connected to the linear actuator.

[0021] In one example, the linear actuator is hingeably connected to the latch housing and disposed rearwardly from the hook member, the linear actuator having a piston and a hinged pushing plate, the pushing plate being located to push the latch member about the hinge portion.

[0022] In one example, the latch member, when moved to the closed configuration, abuttingly engages the hook member.

[0023] BRIED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] These and other features of that described herein will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

[0025] Fig. i is a perspective side view of a safety latch in an open configuration;

[0026] Fig. 2 is a side-view of a safety latch in the open configuration;

[0027] Fig. 3 is a top view of the safety latch of Fig. i;

[0028] Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view take along line 4-4’;

[0029] Fig. 5 is a perspective side view of the safety latch in a closed configuration;

[0030] Fig. 6 is a side-view of the safety latch in the closed configuration; Fig. 7 is a top view of the safety latch of Fig. 5; and

[0031] Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view take along line 8-8’.

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Definitions

[0034] Unless otherwise specified, the following definitions apply:

[0035] The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include corresponding plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0036] As used herein, the term “comprising” is intended to mean that the list of elements following the word “comprising” are required or mandatory but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present.

[0037] As used herein, the term “consisting of’ is intended to mean including and limited to whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of’ indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory and that no other elements may be present.

[0038] Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, there is shown broadly at 10 a compact modular lifting hook apparatus in which a remote controller unit 12 is used to remotely operate the hook apparatus 10. Broadly speaking, the apparatus 10 includes a first elongate cuboid housing 14, a second cuboid housing 16, a hook member 18, a latch housing 20 and a remotely-controlled latch member 22 (also known as a “safety latch”).

[0039] As best seen in Figs. 1 and 5, when viewed in a perspective orientation, the first elongate cuboid housing 14 is connected to the second cuboid housing 16 and deposed rearwardly therefrom. The hook member 18 and the latch housing 20 are located beneath the second cuboid housing 16 and connected to the first elongate housing 14, The latch housing 20 includes a curved face 24 disposed towards the hook member 18. The latch housing 20 includes a hinging member 26 deposed away from the hook member 18. Turning now to Figs. 4 and 8, located at a lower end portion 28 of the first elongate housing 14 is a linear actuator 30. The linear actuator 30 is connected to the latch member 22. The linear actuator 30 is hingeably connected to the lower end portion 28 using a first hinge 32 and includes a piston 34 that is hingeably connected to a latch member pushing plate 36 using a second hinge 38.

[0040] Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8, the first elongate cuboid housing 14 also includes a power source 40 and a receiver 42. The power source 40 is typically a 20-Volt DC tools battery that is connected to the linear actuator 30 and to the receiver 36 and is protected by a low voltage device. The current is converted to 12-Volt DC using a voltage converter so as to power the linear actuator 30. The receiver 42 is located to wirelessly receive signals from the remote controller 12 when either button “A” or button “B” is pressed. The latch member 22 is hingeably connected to the hinging member 26 and permits hingeable movement of the latch member 22 relative to the latch housing 20. A protection module is used in case the battery voltage is too low. The battery is connected to the low voltage protection module to prevent damage to the battery. The battery is then converted to 12-Volt by the conversion module and powers the remote control module which then powers the linear actuator when the remote control is activated.

[0041] Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, a user contacts either a first control button A or a second control button B on the remote controller 12. This wirelessly signals the receiver 42 which then in turn power activates the linear actuator 30 to either open or close the latch member 22. Using the remote control 12, the user can open and close the safety latch 22. When button A is pressed, the receiver 42 powers the linear actuator 30 which extends to hinge the safety latch 22 to the open configuration, as best seen in Figs 1 and 2. When button B is pressed, the receiver 42 powers the linear actuator 30 which retracts to hingeably move the safety latch 22 to the closed configuration, as best seen in Figs, 5 and 6. Thus, the linear actuator 30 is hingeably connected to the latch housing 20 to move the latch member 22 relative to the latch housing 20 between an open configuration, in which the latch member22 is located snuggly in the latch housing 20, and a closed configuration in which the latch member 20 is hinged away from the latch housing 20. The latch member 20, when moved to the closed configuration, abuttingly engages the hook member 18 to fully enclose a workpiece in the hook apparatus 10.

[0042] Generally speaking, the hook apparatus 10 secures all types of lifting required. For example, when loads with slings are handled, the latch member 22 must absolutely be open so as to remove a sling ring or the shackle (not shown). Also, the hook apparatus 10 can be used to secure loads such as concrete bucket. The safety latch 22 significantly reduces or eliminates, the risk of falling loads that are handled by cranes or other lifting devices. Other Embodiments

[0043] From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is:

1. A lifting hook apparatus with remote-controlled latch, the apparatus comprising: a latch housing having a hinging member and a hook member located away from the hinging member; a latch member hingeably connected to the hinging member, the latch member being located to permit hingeable movement of the latch member relative to the latch housing; a powered linear actuator hingeably connected to the latch housing to move the latch member relative to the latch housing between an open configuration, in which the latch member is located snuggly in the latch housing, and a closed configuration in which the latch member is hinged away from the latch housing; and a receiver connected to the linear actuator and located to receive a wireless signal from a remote controller.

2. The apparatus, according to claim i, in which a power source is connected to the linear actuator.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, in which the power source is a 20-volt DC battery and protected by a low voltage device.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, in which the remote controller includes first and second buttons located to operate the latch member.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, in which a voltage converter is connected to the linear actuator.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, in which the linear actuator is hingeably connected to the latch housing and disposed rearwardly from the hook member, the linear actuator having a piston and a hinged pushing plate, the pushing plate being located to push the latch member about the hinge portion.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, in which the latch member, when moved to the closed configuration, abuttingly engages the hook member.

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