Air Hose Arrangement And Method For Supplying Pressurized Air To A Movable Hoist

Abstract

An arrangement of pressurized air hoses and method for supplying pressurized air to pneumatically separated equipment such as hoists as the hoist is moved along a support rail. A series of pairs of lengths of air hoses are connected together at either end which are initially vertically oriented and packed together. As the hoist is manually moved along it causes the upper ends of the lengths to be swung apart from each other eventually becoming substantially horizontal. This movement causes the overall length of the series to be substantially lengthened allowing the hoist movement to occur while its need for pressurized air being maintained all along its range of movement.

Claims

1. An arrangement of air hoses for supplying pressurized air to a movable hoist as said hoist is moved away from a fixed source of pressurized air, comprising: at least one pair of hose lengths, being connected together at bottom ends thereof by a dual axis pneumatic air swivel to allow pressurized air to flow from the bottom end of one hose and into the bottom end of the other hose with both of said hoses extending upwardly from said connected lower ends; at least two trolleys for said at least one pair of hose lengths, each trolley rollable on a respective trolley rail, each trolley having a pipe mounted thereto extending crosswise to said trolley rail to thereby have an end on each side of each of said trolleys; one end of each pipe connected to an upper end of one of said hose lengths by a pneumatic air swivel and the other trolley pipe end connected to a hose, one of a first end pair of hose lengths, the other hose of said end pair of hoses connected to a movable hoist to supply pressurized air thereto and the other end of said other trolley pipe connected to a one hose of a second end pair of hoses having the other end pair of hoses connected to a pressurized air source to supply pressurized air to said arrangement of air hoses and thence to said movable hoist.

2. A method of maintaining a connection from a source of pressurized air to a movable hoist as it moves away from said fixed source of pressurized air, comprising: providing at least one intermediate pair of air hose lengths connecting each pair of said intermediate pair of hose lengths at bottom ends thereof by a dual axis pneumatic air swivel so as to allow pressurized air to flow from the bottom end of one hose and into the bottom end of the other hose; extending both of said hoses upwardly from said connected lower ends; providing at least two trolleys, each trolley rollable on a provided respective trolley rail, mounting a pipe on each trolley so as to extend crosswise to said respective trolley rail so that a respective end of each pipe is located on a respective side of each of said trolleys; connecting one end of each pipe to an upper end of one of said at least one intermediate pair of hose lengths by a pneumatic air swivel and connecting the other end of one of said trolley pipes to one hose of a first end pair of hoses also connected together at their lower ends thereof, the other end of one of said pipes able to be connected to said movable hoist to supply pressurized air thereto and said other end of said other pipe connected to an upper end of an upper end of one hose of a second end pair of hoses, an upper end of a second hose of said second pair of hoses available to be connected to said fixed pressurized air source to supply pressurized air to said air hoses and thereby to said movable hoist.

3. A method of maintaining the connection of a source of pressurized air to a hoist able to be moved along a support rail toward and away from said source of pressurized air including the steps of connecting said hoist with said source by at least one intermediate pair of lengths of air hoses pivotally connected together at lower ends thereof; causing said lengths of hoses to pivot so as to assume an upright orientation when said hoist is moved sufficiently close to said source of pressurized air, with said air hose length closest to said source connected at an upper end to said source of pressurized air; causing said lengths of air hose to be swung apart by pivoting of about said lower end pivotal connections by manually pulling said hoist away from said source while maintaining a fluid connection therebetween so that said lengths of air hoses become more horizontal with continued movement caused by manual pulling of said hoist or away from said source until becoming substantially horizontal at a maximum extent of movement of said hoist away from said source of pressurized air.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1 is a side view of an air hose arrangement according to the present invention in a partially lengthened state which can be associated with a movable pneumatically operated hoist or other piece of equipment and a fixed source of pressurized air as shown.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the trolleys incorporated in the hose arrangement shown in FIG. 1, along with portions of trolley guide rails shown in broken lines.

[0022] FIG. 3 is an end view of the two of the trolleys and associated support rails as incorporated in an air hose arrangement including the two trolley version shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIGS. 4-6 are diagrammatic depictions of the air hose arrangement according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, but with four trolleys instead of two, in the completely shortened state (FIG. 4), a partially lengthened state, (FIG. 5), and a completely lengthened state (FIG. 6).

[0024] FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic depictions of a shorter reversible hose arrangement which can be deployed on either side of a centered pressurized air source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

[0026] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of air hoses 8 comprised at least one intermediate pair 10A comprised of hoses 12B, 12C and first and second end pairs of hoses 20A, 12A and 12D, 20B.

[0027] The intermediate pair of air hoses 12B, 12C are associated with respective trolleys 14A, 14B movably mounted on respective spaced apart rails 16A, 16B shown in fragmentary view for movement along the length of the rails in either direction.

[0028] The rails 16A, 16B are supported by mount sets 18A, 18B.

[0029] An end pair of hoses 20A connected to hose 12A is able to be connected to a hoist 22 movable on a hoist 30 support rail 32. This movement is produced by manually pulling on a chain 31 in the well known practice. The other pair of end hoses comprised of end hoses 12D, 20B is associated with a non-moveable source of pressurized air 24.

[0030] The lower ends of hoses 20A, 12A are connected together by a dual axis air line fitting 26A mentioned above.

[0031] Another dual axis air line fitting 26B, connect the lower ends of air hose 12B and 12C.

[0032] Air hoses 12D, 20B are connected together by a third dual axis air line fitting 26C.

[0033] Such swivel fittings 26 are well known in the art and allow air flow from source 24 to hoist 30 flowing from one hose to the other.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an enlarged perspective view of one of the trolleys 14A, 14B is shown, trolley 14B being the same, as well as a fragmentary portion of connected hoses 12A, 12B, hoses 12C, 12D being identical.

[0035] The trolleys 14A, 14B each include a main plate 36 mounting two sets of running wheels 38 resting on support surfaces 40 (FIG. 3) defined within each trolley rail 16A, 16B. Trolley rails 16A, 16B are commercially available as a standard product from Knight Global of Auburn Hills, Mich., No. TR2000 Rail.

[0036] A set of kick up wheels 42 mounted on the plate 30 prevent excessive bounce up of the trolleys 14A, 14B.

[0037] Side guide rollers 44 are also provided.

[0038] A pipe 46 extends through the plate 30 having an end on either side of the plate 30.

[0039] Hose 12A is connected to the pipe end closest to the viewer, preferably by means of a single axis air line swivel fitting 48A, while the end of the pipe 46 passes through the plate 30 in FIG. 2 and on the right in FIG. 3.

[0040] A clamp 50 allows positioning and fixing of the pipe 46 with respect to the plate 30.

[0041] Hose 12B is attached to the end of the pipe 46 on the far side of plate 30 as best seen in FIG. 3.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, these Figures depict the basic motions of the hose lengths when the hoist or other equipment, etc., is being advanced by being pulled by the chain 31.

[0043] Pressurized air remains available for operation of the hoist (not shown) all along the way as he hoist is pulled further away from fixed pressurized source (not shown).

[0044] Thus, in FIG. 5, the leading trolley A has been moved a substantial distance. This causes the trailing trolleys B-C to also be moved since movement of the leading trolley A causes substantially the same movement to occur by the remaining trolleys B and C due to the nature of the mechanical connection.

[0045] When there is further movement to the maximum extent, the maximum spacing distance is reached when the hose lengths are nearly horizontal, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0046] FIGS. 7 and 8 show movement when a pressurized source of air 24A is located in the middle of a span and a shortened hose arrangement is operated by pulling in either direction.