Four cable operated scissors

Abstract

A four cable operated scissors grab, comprising a pair of scissor levers that are connected via a pivot joint to pivot about a pivoting axis, which scissor levers each include a grab shell and a hoist cable connection situated on a first side of the lever with respect to the pivot joint, and a closing cable connection situated on a second side of the lever that is opposite with respect to the pivot joint, so that in use a dedicated hoisting cable is fastened to each lever on the first side of the lever, and a dedicated closing cable is fastened to each lever at the second side of the lever. The scissor levers each include a sheave on the second side of the lever, and said sheaves are each arranged as a first and final closing sheave, so that in use each of the two closing cables extend in a single pass from a closing cable connection on the second side of one lever via the closing sheave on the second side of the other lever to depart from the grab and continue upward to a crane carrying the grab.

Claims

1. A four cable operated scissors grab, comprising a pair of first and second scissor levers that are connected via a pivot joint to pivot about a pivoting axis, which first and second scissor levers each include a respective first and second grab shell and a respective first and second hoist cable connection situated on a first side of each of the first and second scissor levers with respect to the pivot joint, and a respective first and second closing cable connection situated on a second side of each of the first and second scissor levers that is opposite with respect to the pivot joint, so that in use a respective first and a second dedicated first and second hoisting cable is fastened to each of the first and second scissor lever on the first side of the respective scissor lever at respective first and second hoist cable connections, and a respective first and a second dedicated closing cable is fastened to each respective first and second scissor lever at the respective first and second closing cable connection at the second side of each of the first and second scissor lever, wherein each of the first and second scissor levers each include only a single respective first and second closing sheave on the second side of the first and second scissor lever and no other closing sheave, so that in use the first closing cables extends in a single pass from the first closing cable connection on the second side of the first scissor lever via the second closing sheave on the second side of the second scissor lever to depart from the scissors grab and continue upward to a crane carrying the scissors grab and the second closing cable extends in a single pass from the second closing cable connection on the second side of the second scissor lever via the first closing sheave on the second side of the first scissor lever to depart from the scissors grab and continue upward to the crane carrying the scissors grab.

2. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which each of the first and second closing sheave is situated at or near an end of the second side of the respective first and second scissor lever that faces away from the pivot joint.

3. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which apart from any rotational cable connections, the scissor grab includes rotational connections at only the first and second closing sheaves and at the pivot joint.

4. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which for each of the first and second scissor lever, the first and second sides of the first and second scissor lever extend continuously at the pivot joint.

5. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which the first and second scissor levers each include two lever plates that extend in interspaced relation.

6. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which the first and second scissor levers each include stiffening profiles on the first sides extending parallel to the pivoting axis.

7. The scissors grab of claim 6, wherein stiffening profiles are arranged to form a cross stiffener that continues from one side of the first and second grab shell to another side of the first and second grab shell.

8. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which each of the first and second scissor levers of the pair are substantially identical and are connected via the pivot joint in a mirrored arrangement.

9. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which each of the first and second closing cable connection is situated at or near an end of the second side of the first and second scissor lever that faces away from the pivot joint.

10. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which each of the first and second closing sheaves are each provided with a respective first and second cable guide that covers part of the circumference of the first and second closing sheave to hold the respective second and first closing cable on the first and second closing sheave.

11. The scissors grab of claim 10, in which the first and second cable guide is movably disposed relative to the first and second closing sheave.

12. The scissors grab of claim 11, in which each of the first and second cable guide includes the first and second closing cable connection so as to allow movement relative to the first and second closing sheave.

13. The scissors grab of claim 10, in which the first and second closing cable connection and the first and second cable guide are integrated.

14. The scissors grab of claim 13, comprising a first carrier and a second carrier, rotatably connected to the second side of each of the respective first and second scissor lever, which each first carrier and second carrier includes a first portion to which the respective first or second closing cable connects that extends from a rotational joint in a first direction, and that further includes a second portion that is provided with a cable guide that extends from the rotational joint in a second, opposite direction, and that covers part of a circumference of the respective first and second closing sheaves to hold the respective second and first closing cable on the first and second closing sheave.

15. The scissors grab of claim 14, wherein the rotational joint of the first carrier and the second carrier is carried on a pivot axle of the respective first and second closing sheave.

16. A cable connection with integral cable guide for the scissors grab in accordance with claim 15, comprising a carrier rotatably connected to the scissors grab, including a first portion to which the closing cable connects that extends from a rotational joint in a first direction, and further including a second portion that is provided with a closing cable guide that extends from the rotational joint in a second, opposite direction, and which closing cable guide covers part of a circumference of the closing sheave of the scissors grab to hold the closing cable on the circumference of the closing sheave.

17. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which each of the first and second closing cable connection is rotatable relative to respective first and second scissor lever.

18. The scissors grab of claim 1, in which the first and second scissor levers are arranged to pivot about the pivot axis between a closed position of the scissors grab in which side and bottom edges of the first and second grab shells are adjacent each other and the first and second grab shells cooperate to form a bucket that can hold material to be handled, and a fully opened position of the scissors grab in which the side and bottom edges are spaced apart and define a maximum opening there between through which material to be handled can pass.

19. The scissors grab of claim 18, in which when the scissors grab moves from the closed position to the fully opened position, a plane through the pivot axis and the side and bottom edges of the first and second grab shells has an angular displacement about the pivot axis that is included in the range of 50-70 degrees.

20. The scissors grab of claim 1, including a set of first and second hoisting cables that are connected to the respective first and second hoist cable connections.

21. The scissors grab of claim 1, including a set of first and second closing cables that are connected to the respective first and second closing cable connections.

22. The scissors grab of claim 21, in which the first and second closing cables are interconnected via a connecting piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of non-limitative exemplary embodiments represented in the drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a grab in accordance with the invention in a closed position;

(3) FIG. 2A shows a schematic front view of the grab of FIG. 1 in closed position;

(4) FIG. 2B shows a schematic top view of the grab of FIG. 1 in closed position;

(5) FIG. 3A shows a schematic front view of the grab of FIG. 1 in fully opened position;

(6) FIG. 3B shows a schematic top view of the grab of FIG. 1 in fully opened position;

(7) FIG. 4A shows a schematic front view of the grab of FIG. 1 in closed position attached to a crane;

(8) FIG. 4B shows a schematic side view of the grab of FIG. 4A;

(9) FIG. 4C shows a schematic top view of the grab of FIG. 4A;

(10) FIG. 4D shows a schematic front view of the grab of FIG. 4A in fully opened position;

(11) FIG. 4E shows a schematic top view of the grab of FIG. 4D;

(12) FIG. 5A-B show two schematic front views of the grab according to the invention with the closing cables on the outside and inside of the final closing sheaves respectively;

(13) FIG. 6 shows schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a closing cable connector with integral cable guide;

(14) FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a closing cable connector with integral cable guide;

(15) FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a grab in accordance with the invention in a closed position;

(16) FIG. 9A shows a schematic front view of the grab of FIG. 8;

(17) FIG. 9B shows a schematic side view of the grab of FIG. 8;

(18) FIG. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the grab of FIG. 8 in fully opened position;

(19) FIG. 11A shows a schematic front view of the grab of FIG. 10,

(20) FIG. 11B shows a schematic top view of the grab of FIG. 10, and

(21) FIG. 12 shows a schematic cross section of a gaff section of the grab of FIG. 8.

(22) It should be noted that the figures are merely schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention. In the figures, identical or corresponding parts are represented with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(23) Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a four cable operated scissors grab 1 is shown. The grab 1 comprises a pair of scissor levers 2a, 2b. The scissor levers 2a, 2b are connected via a conventional pivot joint 3 and are arranged to pivot about a pivoting axis 4 central to the pivot joint.

(24) The scissor levers 2a, 2b each include a grab shell 5a, 5b, and a hoist cable connection 6a, 6b situated on a first side 7a, 7b of the first and second levers 2a, 2b respectively. The scissor levers 2a, 2b of the grab 1 further include a closing cable connection 8a, 8b on a second side 9a, 9b of the first and second levers 2a, 2b respectively. As may be seen best in FIGS. 2A and 3A, in use a dedicated hoisting cable 10a, 10b is fastened to the first side 7a, 7b of the levers 2a, 2b respectively, and a dedicated closing cable 11a, 11b is fastened to the second side 9a, 9b of the first and second levers 2a, 2b respectively. The scissor levers 2a, 2b each include a sheave on the second side 9a, 9b of the levers 2a, 2b respectively, which sheaves are arranged as first and final closing sheave 12a, 12b for the closing cable 11a, lib.

(25) In use each of the two closing cables 11a, 11b extend in the single pass from a respective closing cable connection 8a, 8b on the second side 9a, 9b of one lever 2a, 2b via the closing sheave 12a, 12b on the second side 9a, 9b of the other lever 2a, 2b. The closing cables 11a, 11b depart the grab 1, and continue upward to a crane 13 carrying the grab 1.

(26) Each final closing sheave 12a, 12b is situated at an end 14a, 14b of the second side 9a, 9b of the respective lever 2a, 2b that faces away from the pivot joint 3. The scissor levers 2a, 2b each include only one closing sheave, which is embodied as a final closing sheave 12a, 12b. No further or auxiliary closing sheaves are present. The grab 1 includes rotational connections at only the two final closing sheaves 12a, 12b and at the pivot joint 3.

(27) For each scissor lever 2a, 2b the first sides 7a, 7b and second sides 9a, 9b of the levers 2a, 2b extend in the same plane. The levers 2a, 2b each extend continuously at the pivot joint. The levers 2a, 2b each include two steel lever plates 16 that continuously extend with interspace from each other from the grab shell 5a, 5b respectively to the final closing sheave 12a, 12b.

(28) The final closing sheaves 12a, 12b are provided on the second sides 9a, 9b of the levers 2a, 2b respectively via rotational connections 15a, 15b. The rotational connections are formed by pivot axles 28 on which the final closing sheaves 12a, 12b are bearing mounted.

(29) The scissor levers 2a, 2b each include stiffening profiles 17 on the first sides 7a, 7b that extend parallel to the pivoting axis 4. The profiles 17 are embodied by sections that extend between the lever plates 16 and between the lever plates 16 and the sides 19 of the grab shells 5a, 5b to form a cross stiffener that continues from one side of the shell to another. The profiles extend with interspace along the bottom 31 of the grab shells 5a, 5b.

(30) The scissor levers 2a, 2b are substantially identical and are connected via the pivot joint 3 in mirrored arrangement, so that an symmetrical construction is achieved.

(31) The closing cable connection 8a, 8b respectively is situated at the end 14a, 14b of the second side 9a, 9b of the respective first and second levers 2a, 2b. As shall be discussed more in detail with respect to FIG. 6, the final closing sheaves 12a, 12b are each provided with a cable guide 20a, 20b that covers part of the circumference 21a, 21b of the final closing sheaves 12a, 12b to hold the closing cable 10a, 10b on the final closing sheave 12a, 12b. This is particularly useful when during operating, the closing cable becomes slack. The cable guide 20a, 20b is rotatably disposed relative to the final closing sheave 12a, 12b. The cable guide 20a, 20b includes the closing cable connection 8a, 8b to allow movement of the cable guide 20a, 20b relative to the final closing sheave 12a, 12b during operation. The closing cable connection 8a, 8b is rotatably disposed relative to the lever 2a, 2b. In this example the closing cable connection 8a, 8b and the cable guide 20a, 20b are integrated and form a closing cable connector with integral cable guide 32. This shall be discussed more in detail further on with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7.

(32) The scissor levers 2a, 2b are arranged to pivot about the pivot axis 4 between a closed position I of the grab 1 in which side edges 29a, 29b and bottom edges 30a, 30b of the shells 5a, 5b are adjacent each other and the shells cooperate to form a bucket that can hold material to be handled, and a fully opened position II of the grab 1. In the fully opened position II of the grab 1, the side edges 29a, 29b and bottom edges 30a, 30b of the shells are spaced apart and define a maximum opening there between through which material to be handled can pass. The fully opened position II is shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4d, 4e. When the grab 1 moves from the closed position I to the fully opened position II, a plane through the pivot axis and the side edges 29a, 29b and bottom edges 30a, 30b has an angular displacement a about the pivot axis 4 that is 65 degrees. The angle as depicted is also known to the skilled person as the maximum opening angle of the shell of the grab.

(33) In FIG. 4 it is shown that the grab is suspended from a crane 13, from which structure only its sheaves 37 are shown. The crane 13 includes a set of two hoisting cables 10a, 10b that are connected to the hoisting cable connections 6a, 6b. The grab 1 also includes a set of two closing cables 11a, 11b that are connected to the closing cable connections 8a, 8b.

(34) The closing cables 11a, 11b are interconnected via a connecting piece 35, embodied as a chain. The connecting piece 35 is affixed to the closing cables 11a, 11b near the grab 1 to move along with the closing cables on the opening and closing stroke S of the grab 1 when it moves between the closed position I and the fully opened position II.

(35) Also the hoisting cables 10a, 10b may be interconnected via a connecting piece 36. The connecting piece 36 may be separate, and can be affixed to the hoisting cables 10a, 10b near the grab 1 to move along with the opening cables on the opening and closing stroke S of the grab 1 when it moves between the closed position I and the fully opened position II. A portion of such a connecting piece 36 for the hoisting cables 10a, 10b is shown in FIG. 4d in dotted lines. Here it can be seen that a connecting piece may also assist to provide a correct fleet angle of the cable with respect of the sheaves 37 of the crane 13 carrying the grab 1.

(36) When suspended from the crane 13 as shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the grab is a follows. The grab 1 can move from the closed position I to the fully opened position II under the influence of gravity when the closing cables 11a, 11b are reeled off. The crane 13 then 1 reels the closing cables 11a, 11b off via its sheaves to make an opening stroke S. The crane 13 winches the closing cables 11a, 11b back up on a closing stroke S to move the grab 1 from the fully opened position II to the closed position I. The crane 13 can lift the grab 1 without moving it between the closed and opened positions I, II by winching both the hoisting cables 10a, 10b and the closing cables 11a, 11b up via its sheaves 37, and can lower the grab 1 again by reeling the hoisting cables 10a, 10b and closing cables 11a, 11b off.

(37) FIGS. 5A-B show two schematic front views of the grab according to the invention, to illustrate reeving of the closing cables 11a, 11b. FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b show alternative reeving patterns. In both patterns, each closing cable 11a, 11b extends only in a single reeve between its point of connection 8a, 8b on the lever 2a, 2b and the final closing sheave 12a, 12b, then extends around a part of the circumference of the final closing sheave 12a, 12b to a point of departure 23a, 23b on the circumference 21a, 21b of the final closing sheave 23a, 23b, to depart from the grab 1 and continue upward to the crane 13. In use, the closing cable 11a, 11b extends around about 90 degrees of the circumference of the final closing sheave 12a, 12b. No further or auxiliary closing sheaves 12a, 12b need be provided. As is illustrated in FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b, the point of departure 23a, 23b may be located on the outside or inside of the grab 1 respectively. When located on the inside, the closing cable 11a, 11b extends around about 270 degrees of the circumference of the final closing sheave 12a, 12b.

(38) Due to the closing sheaves on the grab 1 being arranged as final closing sheaves 12a, 12b, the closing cables 11a, 11b in the closed position I of the grab 1 typically extend upward to the crane 13 spaced apart and mirrored from an upright center plane A of the grab 1 passing through or including the rotation axis of the grab. After leaving the final closing sheave 12a, 12b, the closing 11a, 11b cables extend to the crane 13 without passing over the center of the grab, and in particular without being guided back through the upright center plane A to the lever arm that carries its cable connection.

(39) In FIG. 6, the closing cable connector with integral cable guide 32 is shown more in detail. It comprises a carrier 24 that is rotatably connected to the second side 9a, 9b of the first and second lever 2a, 2b respectively. The carrier 24 comprises a first portion 25 with a cable connecting part 33 to which the closing cable 10a, 10b connects, and that extends from a rotational joint 26 in a first direction. The carrier 24 further includes a second portion 25 that is provided with a cable guide part 34 and that extends from the rotational joint in a second, opposite direction. The rotational joint 26 of the carrier 24 is carried on the pivot axle 28 of the final closing sheave 12a, 12b, and is independently rotatable.

(40) The cable guide part 34 covers a part of the circumference 21a, 21b of the final closing sheave 12a, 12b. During operation, it holds the closing cable 10a, 10b on the circumference 21a, 21b of the closing sheave 12a, 12b. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the cable connector with integral guide 32 is embodied to only guide at the point on the circumference 21a, 21b. The closing cable connecting part 33 on the first portion 25 of the carrier 24 is embodied as a so called rope wedge socket.

(41) In a second embodiment which is shown in FIG. 7, the cable guide part 34 is arranged to guide the closing cable about an arc section of the circumference 21a, 21b of the closing sheave 21a, 21b, e.g. about 90 degrees. In this embodiment, the cable connecting part 33 includes a cable pear.

(42) Referring to FIGS. 8-12, a further embodiment of a grab 1 in accordance with the invention is shown. In this further embodiment, the second sides 9a, 9b of the scissor levers 2a, 2b are curved outwardly, and the final closing sheaves 12a, 12b are located in gaff sections 38a, 38b that form the ends 14a, 14b of the second sides 9a,9b of the scissor levers 2a, 2b. The gaff sections 38a, 38b include parallel planar gaff plates 40 that are non-rotatably affixed to a transverse stiffener, here embodied as a tube 39. The two parallel planar plates 40 of each gaff house a final closing sheave 12 between them. Each final closing sheave 12 is bearing mounted on an axle so as to form a rotational connection 15. The closing cable connections 8 are here formed by a conventional rope wedge socket that is rotatably carried a the gaff plate 40. Stationary cable guides 42 formed as a curved skirt extend along a part of the final closing sheave, as can be seen in FIG. 12. The gaff guides 42 are mounted with the base of the skirt on one of the gaff plates 40, and along their height extend transversely toward the facing gaff plate 40.

(43) In this further embodiment, the grab 1 has the same basic structure and functionality as the grab 1 of the first embodiment. However, the scissor levers 2a, 2b are configured differently than in the first embodiment. In particular, the scissor levers are each built up of parallel planar plates that are interspaced by transverse stiff elements. One scissor lever 2b extends continuously at the pivot axis 4, while the other scissor 2a lever is interrupted at the pivot axis 4. An inner portion of the crossing lever 2a, i.e. the second side 9a, includes an extension 43 that extends beyond a transverse tube 44 to partially overlap with an outer portion of the crossing lever 2a, i.e. first side 7a, up to a transverse stiffener 45 that is arranged in parallel to the pivot tube. In this embodiment, the transverse stiffener is embodied as a tube. Also, the ends 14a, 14b of the scissor levers 2a, 2b comprise transverse stiffeners 39, here also embodied as tubes, that carry gaff sections 38. The gaff sections 38 are again arranged as parallel planar gaff plates 40. Such arrangement of the scissor levers as parallel planar plates interspaced by transverse stiffening elements allows for a lightweight, yet stiff construction, with e.g. a relatively light pivot joint 3. The invention therefore also relates to a four cable operated scissors grab, comprising a pair of scissor levers that are pivotably connected via a pivot joint, which scissor levers each include a grab shell and a hoist cable connection situated on a first side of the lever with respect to the pivot joint, and a closing cable connection situated on a second side of the lever that is opposite with respect to the pivot joint, so that in use a dedicated hoisting cable is fastened to each lever on the first side of the lever, and a dedicated closing cable is fastened to each lever at the second side of the lever, in which the scissor levers are arranged to pivot about the pivot axis between a closed position of the grab in which side and bottom edges of the shells are adjacent each other and the shells cooperate to form a bucket that can hold material to be handled, and a fully opened position of the grab in which the side and bottom edges are spaced apart and define a maximum opening there between through which material to be handled can pass, wherein the scissor levers are arranged as parallel planar plates interspaced by transverse stiff elements.

(44) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments represented here, but includes variations. For example, the configuration of the sheaves on the crane may vary. The invention may also be defined in terms of the cable arrangement on the grab, and may then not be limited to the presence of only a single, final closing sheave. Additional auxiliary closing sheaves may then be present. In such terms, the invention relates to a four cable operated scissors grab, comprising a pair of scissor levers that are connected via a pivot joint to pivot about a pivoting axis, which scissor levers each include a grab shell and a hoist cable connection situated on a first side of the lever with respect to the pivot joint, and a closing cable connection situated on a second side of the lever that is opposite with respect to the pivot joint, a dedicated hoisting cable being fastened to each lever on the first side of the lever, and a dedicated closing cable being fastened to each lever at the second side of the lever, wherein the scissor levers each include a sheave on the second side of the lever, characterized in that in use each of the two closing cables extends in a single pass from the closing cable connection on the second side of one lever via the closing sheave on the second side of the other lever to depart from the grab and to continue upward to a crane carrying the grab. Such variations shall be clear to the skilled person and are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 1 grab 2a, 2b lever 3 pivot joint 4 pivot axis 5a, 5b grab shell 6a, 6b hoist cable connection 7a, 7b first side of first respective second lever 2a, 2b 8a, 8b closing cable connection 9a, 9b second side of respective first and second lever 10a, 10b hoisting cable 11a, 11b closing cable 12a, 12b final closing sheave 13 crane 14a, 14b end of second part of respective first and second lever 15a, 15b rotational connection final closing sheave 12a, 12b 16 lever plate 17 stiffening profile 18 cross stiffener 19 side of shell 20a, 20b cable guide 21a, 21b circumference final closing sheave 12a, 12b 22 not used 23 point of departure 24 carrier 25 first portion carrier 26 rotational joint 27 second portion carrier 28 pivot axle 29a, 29b side edges 30a, 30b bottom edges 31 bottom of shell 32 cable connector with integral cable guide 33 cable connecting part 34 cable guide part 35 connecting piece closing cables 36 connecting piece hoisting cables 37 crane sheave 38 gaff section 39 tube 40 gaff plate 41 rope wedge socket 42 cable guide 43 extension 44 pivot tube 45 tube I closed position grab II fully opened position grab maximum opening angle grab shell A center plane S stroke