Load Lifting Clamp for Horizontal-to-Vertical Workpiece Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine shops face difficulties in loading large and heavy work pieces from a horizontal stack onto a tombstone of a horizontal milling machine, as conventional methods struggle to efficiently lift and reorient them vertically for machining.
Innovation Solution
A load lifting device comprising a primary plate with a clamping system and lifting attachment that allows for the secure lifting and rotation of work pieces from a horizontal to a vertical orientation, utilizing an overhead suspender to suspend the load and facilitate easy alignment with the milling machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional vertical milling machines are used to machine work pieces, then loading of material is easy, but swarf builds up on the top surface of the material
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional machining approach by using a horizontal milling machine instead of a vertical one. This inversion changes the orientation of the work piece from horizontal to vertical, allowing swarf to fall away naturally due to gravity rather than accumulating on the surface, thus resolving the swarf buildup problem while maintaining ease of loading through the tombstone fixture system
2Object-generated harmful factors
If horizontal milling machines with tombstones are used, then swarf falls downward out of the way, but loading large and heavy work pieces from horizontal stack is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary device - a specialized loading fixture with a U-shaped cradle and positioning mechanisms - that mediates between the horizontal stack storage and the vertical tombstone loading. This intermediary fixture enables easy transfer of large heavy work pieces from horizontal to vertical orientation while maintaining the benefits of horizontal milling for swarf removal
3Quantity of substance
If work pieces are stored in horizontal stack, then storage is efficient, but lifting and reorienting to vertical position is problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-positioning work pieces in a horizontal stack using a specialized fixture that maintains their orientation and alignment. The fixture includes features like positioning pins and support surfaces that prepare the work pieces for easy transfer to the vertical tombstone, eliminating the difficulty of manual lifting and reorienting while preserving efficient horizontal stack storage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and safe handling of heavy work pieces by securely lifting and reorienting them vertically, reducing the accumulation of swarf and improving machining efficiency by keeping swarf out of the milling cutter's path.
Implementation Method 1
A lifting attachment on the first end portion of the plate is configured to couple to an overhead suspender to suspend the load lifting device from the overhead suspender such that the axis of the primary plate extends generally vertically
Implementation Method 2
A clamping system comprises first and second jaws configured to be connected to the primary plate in spaced apart relation along the axis of the primary plate such that the first jaw grips the first end portion of the load and the second jaw grips the second end portion of the load to clamp the load between the first and second jaws
Implementation Method 3
A vertical force is imparted on an end portion of the load lifting device, whereby the load lifting device rotates from the horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation and suspends the load
Data Source
AI summary
A load lifting device for lifting a load. The load lifting device includes a primary plate, a lifting attachment that receives a hook of an overhead suspender, and a clamping system that can clamp a load onto the lifting device between two jaws. The clamping system can have a coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment. The coarse adjustment selectively connects a jaw to the primary plate at a plurality of discrete connection points, and the fine adjustment mechanism selectively moves a contact point of the first jaw toward a first end portion of the load. A method for lifting a load includes positioning the load lifting device horizontally above a load, clamping the load with a clamping system, and imparting a vertical force on an end portion of the load lifting device to rotate it from horizontal to vertical.