Panel handling device and method

Claim 2

A handling device for generally flat structural panels comprising generally horizontally extending separable connecting means on said device for cooperation with connecting means on the panel inwardly of the panel edges for carrying and manipulating the panel with its flat faces extending generally vertically, and power means for rotating said connecting means on said device about a generally horizontal axis for proper orientation of the panel carried thereby, said connecting means on said device comprising a projection having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and said connecting means on said panel comprising a similarly shaped socket having its axis extending substantially perpendicular to the flat panel faces for receiving said projection, and laterally extensible and retractable locking means carried by said projection for releasably locking the panel thereto.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a pair of fluid cylinders oppositely positioned within said projection and having rods extendIng through holes in opposite sides of said projection.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said rods are spring biased to extended positions and retraction of said rods is obtained by actuation of said fluid cylinders.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 further including means for pivoting said projection about a generally horizontal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said projection for tilting of said panel, said projection having a plate at its inner end of a size larger than the socket in said panel so that when said panel is tilted as aforesaid, one flat face of said panel around said socket will rest against said plate.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein the distance between the front surface of said plate and said locking means is slightly greater than the thickness of said panel to permit said locking means to extend radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said socket adjacent the other flat face of said panel when said one face is resting against said plate as aforesaid to lock said panel on said projection.

Claim 7

A handling device for generally flat structural panels comprising generally horizontally extending separable connecting means on said device for cooperation with connecting means on the panel inwardly of the panel edges for carrying and manipulating the panel with its flat faces extending generally vertically, and power means for rotating said connecting means on said device about a generally horizontal axis for proper orientation of the panel carried thereby, said connecting means on said device comprising a projection having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and said connecting means on said panel comprising a similarly shaped socket having its axis extending substantially perpendicular to the flat panel faces for receiving said projection, said power means for rotating said connecting means on said device about a generally horizontal axis for proper orientation of the panel carried thereby comprising a shaft mounted on a box beam for rotation, said projection being connected to one end of said shaft for rotation therewith, and a reversible motor coupled to the other end of said shaft for rotating said shaft in either direction.

Claim 8

A handling device for generally flat structural panels comprising generally horizontally extending separable connecting means on said device for cooperation with connecting means on the panel inwardly of the panel edges for carrying and manipulating the panel with its flat faces extending generally vertically, and power means for rotating said connecting means on said device about a generally horizontal axis for proper orientation of the panel carried thereby, said connecting means on said device comprising a projection having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and said connecting means on said panel comprising a similarly shaped socket having its axis extending substantially perpendicular to the flat panel faces for receiving said projection, said power means for rotating said connecting means on said device about a generally horizontal axis for proper orientation of the panel carried thereby comprising a shaft mounted on a box beam for rotation, said projection being connected to one end of said shaft for rotation therewith, and a reversible motor coupled to the other end of said shaft for rotating said shaft in either direction.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 further comprising means for pivoting said box beam about a generally vertical axis.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a cylindrical shaft mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said box beam being supported by the upper end of said cylindrical shaft for rotation therewith, and cylinder means for rotating said box beam about the axis of said cylindrical shaft.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8 further including means for pivoting said box beam about a generally horizontal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said projection for tilting of said panel.

Claim 12

The device of claim 9 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a plate mounted for pivotal movement about such generally horizontal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said projection, and another box beam secured to the front surface of said plate, said another box beam having an elongated bushing therein for rotatably receiving the lower end of said cylindrical shaft.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical shaft includes an enlarged diameter upper end portion to provide a stepped shoulder which bears against the upper end of said bushing, and a washer secured to the lower end of said cylindrical shaft extending radially outwardly beyond the lower end of said bushing to retain said cylindrical shaft within said bushing.

Claim 14

The device of claim 1 further including a vehicle having a raisable and lowerable rigid arm, said connecting means being mounted on said arm.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of pivoting the projection about a generally horizontal axis extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the projection for tilting of the panel, such projection having a plate at the inner end of a size larger than the socket in the panel so that when the panel is tilted as aforesaid, one flat face of the panel around the socket will rest against the plate.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein the distance between the front surface of the plate and the locking means is slightly greater than the thickness of the panel to permit the locking means to extend radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the socket adjacent the other flat face of the panel when one face of the panel is resting against the plate as aforesaid to lock the panel on the projection.