Drum lifters

Claim 2

A drum-lifter suitable for lifting drums made of thermoplastics material having barrelled lower portions comprising a first part adapted to support a drum and having a support member for fitting against the lower portion of barrelled drum, a drum-embracing member movable relative to said support member from an inoperative position to an operative position, said drum-embracing member being adapted to engage the lower portion of the barrelled drum which is fitted against said support member and extending around the lower portion of said fitted drum, a second part adapted to be attached to a lifting means, said first and second parts being interconnected and movable relative to each other between a first unloaded position and a second loaded position, resilient means connected to bias said first and second parts towards said first, unloaded position, and actuation means arranged to move said drumembracing member to its operative position in response to relative movement between said first and second parts from the unloaded position towards the loaded position against said resilieint bias caused by lifting said second part with a load on said first part.

Claim 3

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 adapted in said loaded position, to extend support around at least 270* of said lower portion of said fitted drum.

Claim 4

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 wherein said drum-embracing member comprises an arcuate member mounted for circumferential movement relative to said support member between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended operative position.

Claim 5

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 wherein said drum-embracing member has a curved, drum-embracing edge which is mounted in said inoperative position to curve, tusk-like, in a substantially vertical plane and to project forwardly from one side of said support member said drum-embracing member, in said operative position, turning inwardly towards a drum fitted against said support member.

Claim 6

A drum-lifter according to claim 4 wherein said drum-embracing edge turns inwardly to its operative position to extend in a plane which is at not more than 25* to the horizontal.

Claim 7

A drum-lifter according to claim 4 wherein said drum-embracing edge is mounted for rearward displacement towards a drum during loading to press said drum between said drum-embracing edge and said support member.

Claim 8

A drum-lifter according to claim 6 wherein said curved drum-embracing edge is mounted on the end of a longitudinally extending arm which is mounted free to rotate about its longitudinal axis and to move in the longitudinal direction and is connected to said actuation means at its rear end portion.

Claim 9

A drum-lifter according to claim 7 wherein the forward end of the arm is pivoted about a vertical axis and said rear end is moved outwardly during loading to move said drum-embracing edge inwardly and rearwardly to press against a drum.

Claim 10

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 wherein said actuation means comprises a driving hydraulic cylinder and piston responsive to said relative movement and a driven hydraulic cylinder and piston hydraulically connected to said driving hydraulic cylinder and piston.

Claim 11

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 wherein said actuation means comprises a mechanical linkage between said first part and said second part of said drum-lifter.

Claim 12

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 wherein only a portion of a drum weight is needed to move said drum-embracing member into said operative position and the remaining portion of the drum weight serves to tighten the grip of said drum-embracing member and said support member on a drum.

Claim 13

A drum-lifter according to claim 11 wherein a weight of about 50 pounds is needed to move said drum-embracing member into said operative position.

Claim 14

A drum-lifter according to claim 1 including two of said drum-embracing members mounted one on each side of said support member.

Claim 15

A drum-lifter, provided with a lifting means, and suitable for lifting drums having a barrel shape and made of thermoplastic material which comprises a base element for supporting the drums, said base element provided at one side with two semi-circular support elements, an arcuate drum-embracing member housed by each of said semi-circular support elements, actuating means operatively associated with said drum-embracing members for extending and retracting said members from the semi-circular support members, said drum-embracing members, in their extended position, being adapted to engage and extend around the lower portion of the drums, a connecting element connected to the lifting means, means for connecting the base element with the connecting element, said base element and said connecting element being movable, relative to each other between a first unloaded position and a second loaded position, and resilient means connected to bias said base element and said connecting element toward said first, unloaded position, said actuating means moving said drum-embracing members to their extended, operative position in response to relative movements between said base element and said connecting element from the unloaded position towards the loaded position against said resilient bias caused by lifting said connecting element with a load on said base element.

Claim 16

A drum-lifter, provided with a lifting means, and suitable for lifting drums having a barrel shape and made of thermoplastic material which comprises a base element for supporting the drums, said base element provided at one side with two semi-circular support elements, an arcuate drum-embracing member housed by each of said semi-circular support elements, actuating means operatively associated with said drum-embracing members for extending and retracting said members from the semi-circular support members, said drum-embracing members, in their extended position, being adapted to engage and extend around the lower portion of the drums, a connecting element connected to the lifting means, means for connecting the base element with the connecting element, said base element and said connecting element being movable, relative to each other between a first unloaded position and a second loaded position, and resilient means connected to bias said base element and said connecting element toward said first, unloaded position, said actuating means moving said drum-embracing members to their extended, operative position in response to relative movements between said base element and said connecting element from the unloaded position towards the loaded position against said resilient bias caused by lifting said connecting element with a load on said base element.