Pipe lifter

Abstract

A pipe lifter for carrying one or more pipes including a slidably extendable elongate member and two sets of two laterally extending arms on each side of the elongate member. Each set of the two laterally extending arms are opposed to each other. Each of the laterally extending arms is pivotally fixed to the elongate member and moveable between a folded position where the arm is adjacent and parallel with the elongate member and an operational position where the arm extends laterally substantially at ninety degrees with respect to the elongate member. There are two or more L-shaped support members attachable to the laterally extending arms. There is also a hydraulic or pneumatic ram operationally configured to extend and shorten the length of the elongate member. In use, the L-shaped support members attached to the opposing laterally extending arms are positioned to be substantially opposing each other and the length of the elongate member is adjusted so that the outwardly extending section of the L-shaped support pipe is locatable within each open end of the pipe to secure the pipe to the pipe lifter.

Claims

1. A pipe lifter for carrying one or more pipes including an extendable elongate member; two sets of two laterally extending arms on each side of the elongate member, each of the laterally extending arms is pivotally fixed to the elongate member and moveable between a folded position where the arm is adjacent and parallel with the elongate member and an operational position where the arm extends laterally substantially at ninety degrees with respect to the elongate member; two or more support members attachable to the laterally extending arms, each of said support members is shaped to be positionable within an end of the one or more pipes; and a hydraulic or pneumatic ram operationally configured to extend and shorten the length of the elongate member, wherein in use the support members attached to opposing laterally extending arms are positioned to be substantially opposing each other and the length of the elongate member is adjusted so that the pipe is secured with the support members in each end of the pipe.

2. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the laterally extending arms has a series of recesses or slots along the edge that faces the opposing laterally extending arm to locate the support member in a position that is substantially opposed to a support member on the opposing laterally extending arm.

3. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members can be added or removed as needed so that a single pipe lifter can carry one, two or more pipes at any one time.

4. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members are spaced apart on the laterally extending arms in positions that accommodates pipes of different diameters.

5. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members can be removed or arranged upside down so as not to interfere with the pipes when they are not in use.

6. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member is L-shaped and the outwardly extending section of the support member is positionable within the end opening of the pipe.

7. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate member is slidably extendable.

8. A pipe lifter for carrying one or more pipes including a slidably extendable elongate member; two sets of two laterally extending arms on each side of the elongate member, each set of two laterally extending arms are opposed to each other, each of the laterally extending arms is pivotally fixed to the elongate member and moveable between a folded position where the arm is adjacent and parallel with the elongate member and an operational position where the arm extends laterally substantially at ninety degrees with respect to the elongate member; two or more L-shaped support members attachable to the laterally extending arms, an outwardly extending section of the L-shaped support member is positionable within the end opening of the pipe; and a hydraulic or pneumatic ram operationally configured to extend and shorten the length of the elongate member, wherein in use the L-shaped support members attached to opposing laterally extending arms are positioned to be substantially opposing each other and the length of the elongate member is adjusted so that the outwardly extending section of the L-shaped support pipe is located within each open end of the pipe to secure the pipe to the pipe lifter.

9. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pipe lifter can carry two or more pipes.

10. The pipe lifter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pipe lifter can carry two or more pipes of different diameters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the pipe lifter of the preferred embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top view of the pipe lifter (without hydraulic hoses and coupling);

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the pipe lifter (without hydraulic hoses and coupling);

(5) FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the pipe lifter in a folded position and without hydraulic hoses and coupling;

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the pipe lifter (without hydraulic hoses and coupling) and carrying a single pipe;

(7) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the folded pipe lifter (without hydraulic hoses and mounting) and carrying a pipe;

(8) FIG. 7 is an end view of the pipe lifter (without hydraulic hoses and mounting) where the pipe lifter is carrying five pipes;

(9) FIG. 8 is a photograph of the pipe lifter carrying five pipes; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a photograph of the pipe lifter carrying three pipes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(11) With reference to the FIGS. 1 to 9, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the pipe lifter 10. The pipe lifter 10 included a slideable elongate member 11 with laterally extending arms 12 pivotally attached to each end of the elongate member 11. The elongate member 11 comprises three parts where there is an outer sleeve 13 and two inner sleeves 14. The inner sleeves 14 are slideably retained within the outer sleeve 13. Each free end of the inner sleeve 14 is attached to the pivotally attached lateral arms 12. The lateral arms 12 are attached to a connecting plate 17 which is fixed to the free end of the inner sleeves 14. A hydraulic ram 20 is connected to the connecting plate 17 and the outer sleeve 13. When the hydraulic ram 20 is actuated it pushes the connecting plate 17 away from the outer sleeve 13 or draws the connecting plate 17 towards the outer sleeve 13. As there are two hydraulic rams 20 operationally associated with the inner sleeves 14 at each end of the elongate member 11, the actuation of the hydraulic ram 20 controls the movement of both inner sleeves 14 relative to the outer sleeve 13. In other embodiments there may be only one inner sleeve and only one end of the elongate member extends and contracts.

(12) The hydraulic ram 20 includes hydraulic hoses 21 and coupling 22. Coupling 22 connects the pipe lifter 10 to the excavator or crane arm. This is shown more clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9.

(13) Along the lateral arms 12 are L-shaped hooks 25. The L-shaped hooks 25 comprise of a leg section 26 and a foot section 27. The leg section 26 serves to attach the L-shaped hook 25 to the lateral arm 12 while the foot section 27 is positionable within the open end of a pipe in order to retain and secure the pipe to the pipe lifter 10. The L-shaped hooks 25 are fixed to the lateral extending arms 12 via a fastener 30. The lateral arm 12 has a series of slots or recesses 31 to assist in the positioning of the L-shaped hooks 25. The series of slots or recesses 31 along the lateral arms 12 face the opposing lateral arms 12 at the other end of the elongate member 11.

(14) The L-shaped hooks 25 can be removed or repositioned along each of the lateral arms 12 providing the corresponding L-shaped hook 25 on the opposing lateral arm 12 is substantially aligned so that the pipes can be secured substantially parallel with each other and the elongate member 11.

(15) FIG. 1 shows five L-shaped hooks 25 at each end and they are in alignment with the corresponding L-shaped hooks 25 on the opposing lateral arms 12. In contrast, FIGS. 6 and 9 show one and three L-shaped hooks 25 on each end respectively. The L-shaped hooks 25 can be removed when not needed or when larger diameter pipes are being carried and thus require more space. With reference to FIG. 9 there is shown three L-shaped hooks 25 in opposing positions and two other L-shaped hooks 25 rearranged in an upside down position to remove them from interfering with the pipes being carried.

(16) With the preferred embodiment, pipes with a diameter of 600 mm or larger can be carried singly, in pairs or in threes by the pipe lifter 10. Where the pipes have a diameter of 450 mm, up to four pipes can be carried by the pipe lifter 10. Where the pipes have a diameter of 300 mm, then up to five pipes can be carried at a single time by the pipe lifter 10. Where the pipes have a very large diameter of up to 1800 mm, such as shown in FIG. 6, the lateral arms 12 are in a folded position to avoid interfering with the large pipe.

(17) In use, a number of L-shaped hooks 25 will be mounted and fixed in position along the lateral arms 12 depending on the diameter size of the pipes being moved. The pipe lifter 10 is then positioned over the pipes to be carried and the L-shaped hooks 25 are adjusted so that the foot section 27 of each L-shaped hook 25 is located within the opening of each pipe and the pipe end periphery is adjacent or abuts the L-shaped hook 25. In this way the pipe is captured and retained at each end by the L-shaped hook 25 and there is no longitudinal movement of the pipe thereby preventing it from falling from the secured position. When all the pipes are secured to the pipe lifter 10, the pipe lifter 10 is then maneuvered by the excavator or crane arm to a desired position and the pipes are released when the hydraulic rams 20 extend the inner sleeves 14 so that the foot section 27 of each of the L-shaped hooks 25 withdraws from within the pipe end.

ADVANTAGES

(18) The advantages of the preferred embodiment of the present invention include the ability to move a plurality of pipes at any one time. Furthermore the pipe lifter can lift and carry pipes of different diameters or a mixture of pipes with different diameters in any one load.

(19) The number of pipes and the size of pipes (both in diameter and in length) can be adjusted per load using the preferred embodiment of the pipe lifter.

(20) The pipe lifter of the preferred embodiment is easy to use and relatively quick to set up without placing any unnecessary force on the pipe itself.

(21) The pipe lifter of the preferred embodiment also provides the advantage that it complies with the health and safety requirements for the loading, unloading and moving of pipes from one location to another.

(22) Without the preferred embodiment of the pipe lifter, a person must continually climb up and jump down from the back of the truck to attach and unhook the load of pipes. With the repetitive movement, a person can fall and cause themselves an injury. With the preferred embodiment of the pipe lifter, there is no need for a person to repetitively climb up and jump down from the back of the truck thereby avoiding the risk of injury.

VARIATIONS

(23) It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

(24) Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word comprise and variations of that word such as comprises and comprising, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.