Truck-Mounted Vacuum Material Handler and Quick Disconnect

Abstract

A truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect for use on a truck with a with a boom for handling plate steel. The handler includes a coupler [32] that has a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] with a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier. A locking mechanism [66] located in the base is arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. In the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the base. In the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another. The removable carrier may include a rotator-receiving recess [42] or a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.

Claims

1. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter comprising: a coupler [32] including a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] including a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier; a locking mechanism [66] located in the base and arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector; wherein in the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the base and in the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another.

2. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising the removable carrier including a rotator-receiving recess [42] arranged opposite the carrier connector, the rotator-receiving recess being shaped complementary to a rotator [30] connected to a frame [92] of the truck-mounted vacuum lifter.

3. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising the removable carrier including a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.

4. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising the base including a landmark [52] and the removable carrier including a complementary shaped opening [56] to the landmark, the landmark and opening arranged so the base and removable carrier can connect to one another in only one orientation.

5. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising the base including an opening [68] shaped complementary to the carrier connector and arranged to receive the carrier connector.

6. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 5 further comprising the locking mechanism including a race [70] with balls [74] and a locking ring [76) surrounding the race and arranged to move the balls into a groove [64] of the opening.

7. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 6 further comprising a biasing means arranged to urge the locking ring toward the groove.

8. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising the base and removable carrier including one or more fluid passageways [58], the one or more fluid passageways being aligned and in communication with one another when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

9. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid power source [58, 84] in communication with the means arranged to move the locking mechanism between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector.

10. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 8 wherein the fluid power source is contained within a frame of the truck-mounted vacuum lifter.

11. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 1 further comprising the boom connector is arranged to pivot.

12. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter comprising: a coupler [32] including a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] including a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier; the base including: an opening [68] shaped complementary to the carrier connector and arranged to receive the carrier connector; and a spring-biased locking ring [76] arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector; wherein in the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the opening and in the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another.

13. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 12 further comprising the removable carrier including a rotator-receiving recess [42] arranged opposite the carrier connector, the rotator-receiving recess being shaped complementary to a rotator [30] connected to a frame [92] of the truck-mounted vacuum lifter.

14. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 12 further comprising the removable carrier including a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.

15. A truck-mounted vacuum lifter according to claim 12 further comprising the base including a landmark [52] and the removable carrier including a complementary shaped opening [56] to the landmark, the landmark and opening arranged so the base and removable carrier can connect in one orientation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a coupler to connect a boom to a vacuum material handler.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coupler's base.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first removable carrier used to secure the vacuum lifter to the coupler's base.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second removable carrier used to provide an eyelet for use with other rigging hardware such as a hook, chain or cable.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the coupler in the open position.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross section of the coupler in the locked position;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the coupler connected to the boom and a vacuum lifter.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the frame of the vacuum lifter of FIG. 7.

ELEMENTS USED IN THE DRAWINGS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] 20 Vacuum material handler or lifter

[0024] 22 Boom

[0025] 24 Truck

[0026] 26 Base of 22

[0027] 28 End of 22

[0028] 30 Rotator

[0029] 32 Coupler

[0030] 34 Base

[0031] 36 First removable carrier

[0032] 38 Second removable carrier

[0033] 40 Eyelet

[0034] 42 Recess

[0035] 44 Connector to 28

[0036] 46 Pin

[0037] 48 Mating surface or face of 34

[0038] 50 Mating surface or face of 36

[0039] 52 Landmark

[0040] 54 Pin

[0041] 56 Opening to receive 54

[0042] 58 Hydraulic connections

[0043] 60 Connector (e.g. cylinder)

[0044] 62 Mating surface or face of 38

[0045] 64 Groove

[0046] 66 Locking mechanism

[0047] 68 Opening shaped complementary to 60

[0048] 70 Race

[0049] 72 Holes

[0050] 74 Ball

[0051] 76 Locking ring

[0052] 78 Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder

[0053] 80 Biasing means

[0054] 82 Onboard hydraulic motor

[0055] 84 Vacuum pump

[0056] 86 Alternator

[0057] 88 Vacuum pads

[0058] 90 Legs

[0059] 92 Frame

[0060] 94 Vertical plate

[0061] 96 Horizontal flanges

[0062] 98 Foundation

[0063] 100 Eyelets

SUMMARY

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Referring first to FIGS. 1 & 7, a preferred embodiment of a coupler 32 for use with a truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect secures a vacuum handler or lifter 20 to the end 28 of a telescopic boom 22 (mounted on a flatbed truck 24). A removable carrier 36 connects the vacuum lifter 20 to the coupler 32. The coupler 32 is attached to the end 28 of the boom 22 by a pivotal connection 44 that includes a pin 46. (Other types of joints could be used.) Once connected, the boom 22 rotates about its base 26 to position the vacuum lifter 20 in various places relative to the truck 24, tilts the boom 22 up or down, or extends and retracts the boom 22. The vacuum lifter 20 can be rotated about the end 28 of the boom 22 via operation of a rotator 30.

[0065] For lifting a thick steel plate, the vacuum lifter 20 has a pair of vacuum pads 88, each in communication with their own vacuum reservoir. A first solenoid-operated valve opens and closes fluid communication between the vacuum pad 88 and its respective vacuum reservoir. A second solenoid-operated valve provides the ability to open the vacuum pad 88 to atmosphere and release the vacuum pressure between the pad 88 and the plate the pad is lifting.

[0066] The vacuum lifter 20 is provided with a set of retractable legs 90 which can be lowered to store the vacuum lifter 20 on a flat surface without the pads 88 coming in contact with the surface. In the embodiment shown, the retractable legs 90 are pivotally connected to the lifter 20 and can be secured in a deployed position or a stowed position. Other types of connections can also be used.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 8, the frame 92 of the vacuum lifter 20 is constructed from a vertical plate 94 with a plurality of horizontal flanges 96 to provide rigidity. The frame 92 has a foundation 98 for mounting the rotator 30 and an open bay (not numbered) for locating on board equipment such as a hydraulic motor, vacuum pump, alternator, and battery. A plurality of eyelets 100 on the bottom of the frame 92 provide a mounting point for the vacuum pads 88.

[0068] Turning now to FIGS. 1 to 6, the coupler 32 has a base 34 that can connect to a first removable carrier 36 or a second removable carrier 38. The first removable carrier 36 is used to secure the vacuum lifter 20 to the coupler's base 34. This carrier 36 includes a complementary shaped recess 42 to receive the rotator 30 and fastener holes (not numbered; see FIG. 3) to receive fasteners that connect the carrier 36 to the rotator 30. The second removable carrier 38 is used to provide an eyelet 40 for use with other rigging hardware such as a hook, chain or cable. Both carriers 36, 38 are arranged to quickly attach to and disconnect from the base 34.

[0069] The mating surface 48 of the base 34 is complementary to the mating surface 50 of the first carrier 36. A landmark 52 ensures the base 34 and first removable carrier 36 can only connect in one orientation. In a preferred embodiment, the landmark 52 is a pin 54 that extends from the mating face 48. When the base 34 is connected to the first carrier 36, the pin 54 extends into a complementary opening 56 in the mating surface 50. The mating surfaces 48 and 50 also include one or more hydraulic connections 58. These connections 58 provide hydraulic fluid supply and return that power the rotator 30 and an onboard hydraulic motor 82. The motor 82 can power other equipment on the vacuum lifter 20 such as a vacuum pump 84 or alternator 86 (see FIG. 7).

[0070] A locking mechanism 66 secures the removable carriers 36 and 38 to the base 34. The locking mechanism 66 has a cylinder 60 that extends from the mating surface 50, 62 of its respective carrier 36, 38. A groove 64 extends around the side of the cylinder 60. The locking mechanism 66 also has an opening 68 that is sized and located to receive the cylinder 60 when the first or second carrier 36, 38 is attached to the base 34.

[0071] The opening 68 has a race 70 with a plurality of holes 72 each carrying a ball 74. The race 70 extends around the interior periphery of the opening 68, such that the balls 74 extend into the opening 68 when the locking mechanism 66 is in the closed or locked position. In the locked position a locking ring 76 extends around the race 70 forcing the balls 74 to extend beyond the holes 72 in the race 70 and into the opening 68.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the locking ring 76 is a part of or connected to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 78. Operation of the cylinder 78 moves the locking ring 76 between the open and locked positions. In the embodiment shown, a biasing means 80, preferably one or more springs, holds the locking ring 76 in the locked position. The hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 78 can then be operated to overcome the force of the biasing means 80 and move the locking ring 76 to the open position.

[0073] When the locking mechanism 66 is in the locked position and the first or second carrier 36, 38 is in the opening 68, the carrier 36, 38 is secured to the base 34 by the balls 74 extending into the groove 64. When the locking mechanism 66 is in the open position, the locking ring 76 moves out of alignment with the race 70. This allows the balls 74 to roll radially outward away from the opening 68 and out of the groove 64 so the first or second carrier 36, 38 can removed from the opening 68.

[0074] The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. Changes may be made in the details of construction and the configuration of components without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the description is exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and the full range of equivalency to which each element of the claims is entitled.