GRIPPER AND CROSS-MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE GRIPPER

Abstract

A C-gripper for arranging at a cross-member or at a suspension element and a cross-member having at least one such C-gripper for transporting loads. The height of the C-gripper is adjustable.

Claims

1. A C-gripper (1) for handling a load (14), including an upper strut (2), a vertical strut (3) and a support strut (4), on or at which the load (14) can be arranged, wherein the upper strut (2) and the vertical strut (3) are rigidly connected to one another; the support strut (4) is connected in a rotatably mounted manner to the vertical strut (3), so that a clear dimension (h) of a mouth (5) of the C-gripper (1) can be modified; the vertical strut (3) is telescopable; the telescopable vertical strut (3) is locked by means of a holding device (6); and the rotatably mounted support strut (4) is locked by means of at least one non-rigid loading means (7) which, displaced relative to the vertical strut (3) in the direction of the mouth (4) of the C-gripper (1), is arranged at the upper strut (2) and the support strut (4).

2. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-rigid loading means (7) which, displaced parallel to the vertical strut (3) in the direction of the mouth (5) of the C-gripper (1), is arranged at the upper strut (2) and the support strut (4).

3. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-rigid loading means (7) is a sling having rotatably mounted receptacles (8) at the upper strut (2) and the support strut (4).

4. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the length of the at least one non-rigid loading means (7) is adjustable.

5. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support strut (4) is arranged at a right angle to the telescopic strut (3).

6. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support strut (4) has multiple height-adjustable support segments (9) in order to adapt to the outer geometry of the load (14), which support segments extend into the mouth (5) of the C-gripper (1).

7. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper strut (2) has a clamping device (10) which can be displaced relative to the support strut (4) and which points into the mouth (5) of the C-gripper (1), in order to lock a load (14).

8. The C-gripper (1) according to claim 7, wherein the clamping device (10) is arranged offset to the vertical strut (3) in the direction of the mouth (5) and to the at least one non-rigid loading means (7) at the upper strut (2), and can be displaced in the direction of the support strut (4).

9. A cross-member (11) for handling a load, wherein the cross-member (11) has at least one C-gripper (1) according to claim 1.

10. The cross-member (11) according to claim 9, wherein the cross-member (11) has two C-grippers (1) at its free ends.

11. The cross-member (11) according to claim 9, wherein the cross-member (11) is composed of at least two segments (12) which are rotatably mounted with respect to one another.

12. The cross-member (11) according to claim 11, wherein the at least two segments (12) are each connected to one another in a rotatably mounted manner at narrow sides (13) are adapted to be folded.

Description

[0020] The invention will be explained in greater detail below on the basis of an embodiment example, with reference to the figures. Further advantages, features and configurations of the invention are set out, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a C-gripper according to the invention in an oblique perspective, having a load in the open position,

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a C-gripper according to the invention in a lateral view, having a load in the locking position,

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a C-gripper according to the invention in a lateral view, telescoped in a transport position,

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a cross-member according to the invention, having two C-grippers arranged at the edge in an oblique perspective.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a C-gripper 1 which can be arranged at a cross-member 11. The C-gripper 1 consists of an upper strut 2, a vertical strut 3 and a support strut 4. The support strut 4 has multiple support segments 9 and forms a so-called hook base, onto which the load 14 can be placed. The upper strut 2 and the vertical strut 3 are, as with conventional constructions, rigidly connected to one another and are arranged at right angles to one another. The support strut 4 is not rigid, but connected to the vertical strut 3 in a rotatably mounted manner and, indeed, in such a manner that a clear dimension (h) of a mouth 5 of the C-gripper 1 can be modified, that is to say it can be increased or decreased. The support strut 4 can consequently be swiveled, which is characterized in FIG. 2 by the arrows. Moreover, the vertical strut 3 can be telescoped, in the embodiment example it can be telescoped twice.

[0026] The telescopable vertical strut 3 is locked by means of two holding devices 6, that is to say by one bolt per segment. According to the invention, the rotatably mounted support strut is locked, that is to say the clear dimension (h) of the mouth is adjusted, by means of a non-rigid loading means 7 which, displaced relative to the vertical strut 3 in the direction of the mouth 5 of the C-gripper 1, is fastened at the upper strut 2 and the support strut 4 by means of rotatable receptacles 8. The non-rigid loading means 7 which, in this case is displaced parallel to the vertical strut 3 in the direction of the mouth 5 of the C-gripper 1, is fastened at the upper strut 2 and the support strut 4. The non-rigid loading means 7 is, in the embodiment example, a sling and is arranged at rotatably mounted receptacles 8, namely pulleys, at the upper strut 2 and the support strut 4.

[0027] Its length can be modified. The support strut and vertical strut are, however, arranged at a right angle to one another in the embodiment example.

[0028] The upper strut 2 has a known clamping device 10 which can be displaced relative to the support strut 4 and which points into the mouth 5 of the C-gripper 1, in order to be able to lock the load 14. The clamping device 10 itself is arranged offset to the vertical strut 3 and to the non-rigid loading means 7 in the direction of the mouth 5 at the upper strut 2 and can be displaced in the direction of the support strut 9, so that in the locking position a force can be exerted onto the load 14, which prevents or respectively minimizes a slippage of the same. During use, the non-rigid loading means 7 is likewise tensed in the locking position. It then absorbs the tensile forces acting on the C-gripper 1, that is to say the support strut 4 and the vertical strut 3, FIG. 2. The non-rigid loading means 7 is, however, tensed as it were, if the load 14 with its dead weight simply rests on the support strut 4 and, consequently, a tensioning of the non-rigid loading means 7 is produced because of the dead weight of the load 14, FIG. 1.

[0029] In a volume-minimized state of the C-gripper 1, elements of the vertical strut 3 are pushed together. In addition, the non-rigid loading means 7 is removed. The support cross-member is then locked by means of a rigid strut 15, FIG. 3.

[0030] In FIG. 4, a cross-member 11 consisting of three segments 12 is illustrated, which is arranged by means of lifting straps at a suspension element of a crane for handling a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The segments are arranged swivelably with respect to one another on respective narrow sides 13. The cross-member 11 has respectively a C-gripper 1 at its free ends. These can be removed, in order to be able to stow the cross-member 11 having the C-grippers 1 according to the invention in a standard container. In such a case, the cross-member 11 composed of the three segments 12, which are rotatably mounted with respect to one another, can be folded. This guarantees a space-saving storage of the cross-member. The cross-member 11 having its two C-grippers 1 is suitable for transporting elongated loads like, for instance, tower segments or rotor blades of wind turbines.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] 1. C-gripper

[0032] 2. Upper strut

[0033] 3. Vertical strut

[0034] 4. Support strut

[0035] 5. Mouth

[0036] 6. Holding device

[0037] 7. Non-rigid loading means

[0038] 8. Receptacles

[0039] 9. Support segments

[0040] 10. Clamping device

[0041] 11. Cross-member

[0042] 12. Segments

[0043] 13. Narrow sides

[0044] 14. Load

[0045] 15. Strut