Crane coupling

Abstract

Abstract A CRANE COUPLING PERMITTING RAPID INTERCHANGE OF CONNECTION BETWEEN A CRANE HOIST BLOCK OR OTHER LIFTING APPARATUS AND ONE OF A PLURALITY OF REMOTELY-ACTUATED SPREADERS OF DIFFERING SIZED, WHEREIN EACH SIZE OF SPREADER IS DESIGNED FOR HANDLING UNIFORMLY SIZED CARGO ARTICLES OR CONTAINERS OF COMMON DIMENSION. TO PERMIT RAPID CHANGE OF SUCH SPREADERS, THE LIFTING APPARATUS HOIST BLOCK AND SELECTED SPREADER EACH HAVE COMPLEMENTARY ATTACHMENT MEMBERS. THESE ATTACHMENT MEMBERS ARE ADAPTED FOR QUICKLY GATHERING AND ALIGNING THE HOIST BLOCK AND SPREADER SO AS TO GUIDE THEM INTO SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT TO A POSITION OF REGISTRY. IN THE POSITION OF REGISTRY, A PIN MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ONE OF THE ATTACHMENT MEMBERS PENETRATES THROUGH AN APERTURE DEFINED IN THE OTHER OF THE MEMBERS IN ORDER TO EFFECT THE DESIRED ATTACHMENT. AS ATTACHED TO THE LIFTING APPARATUS THE SPREADER IS REMOTELY ACTUATED BY NON-LOAD BEARING CONNECTIONS, WHICH CONNECTIONS ARE PROTECTED FORM INADVERTENT SEPARATION OR SEVERANCE. THIS PROTECTION IS AFFORDED BY AN INTERLOCK ATTACHED TO THE COUPLING AND INTEGRATED WITH THE LIFT APPARATUS THAT RESTRICTS MOVEMENT OF THE HOIST BLOCK WHEN THE PIN IS RETRACTED AND RESTORES HOIST MOVEMENT UPON MANUAL SEPARATION OF THESE NON-LOAD BEARING CONNECTIONS.

Inventors

• 👤 Lawrence A Wright

Bibliographic Details