Abstract:
An apparatus and method for lifting, rotating, and positioning heavy objects using a toggle device attached to a prime mover. The toggle is vertical at rest and can be inserted into the opening in the side of a pipe. The toggle is rendered horizontal inside the pipe by the activation of a solenoid and the pipe can then be lifted by the prime mover. The pipe can be rotated to any desired fixed position by a hydraulic cylinder moving a piston through a piston sleeve having spiral grooves. The entire lifting and positioning of a heavy object with the toggle device can be completed by a single user operating from within the prime mover. The present invention eliminates the hazards of workers getting buried in ditches and/or having their hands and fingers injured

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus and method for lifting pipes and related objects. More particularly, the invention relates to a magnetically activated toggle device which can be mounted on a prime mover, can raise and lower heavy objects, and can rotate or hold the objects in a fixed position. 
     2. Technical Background 
     Heavy, large pipes are used to transport fluids such as, for example, water, sewage, and gasoline. These pipes are usually lifted from trucks and lowered into ditches and removed in a similar fashion. Often these pipes are precast in concrete sections and have a hole in the side of the pipe at the lengthwise center of the section. A common method for lifting and lowering these pipes is to use a cable with a loop and a pin inserted through the loop. The cable is attached at one end to a crane and the loop is at the opposite end of the cable. The loop is passed through the hole in the pipe and advanced into the interior of the pipe. A person outside the pipe is required to pass the loop through the hole into the pipe and another person is required inside the pipe to insert a pin (such as a crowbar) through the loop, forming a toggle. The cable is then lifted until the pin engages the inside surface of the pipe. The pipe can then be lifted. This procedure is relatively dangerous to the person inside the pipe. The person inside the pipe usually has to hold the pin until the slack in the cable is taken up and to orient the pin along the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Accordingly, injuries to fingers and hands have been common using this method. 
     In order to overcome the problems associated with a person having to enter the interior of these pipes and manually place a pin, several toggle devices have been created. The toggle is attached pivotally to the end of a vertical shaft. The toggle is in a vertical position as it is passed through the hole in the pipe. Once inside the pipe, the toggle is switched to the horizontal position, extending beyond the diameter of the hole, so the pipe can be lifted. In most cases the toggle is weighted on one end so that it is maintained in a vertical position by gravity. Most of these toggles have a shaft, chain, or cable to pull them to a horizontal position. Others are pushed or pulled to a vertical position, being constructed to assume a horizontal position by the action of gravity. Yet others are constructed without shafts, chains, or cables and need to be rotated, swung, or shaken inside the pipe to get the toggle to deviate from vertical while pulling up on the cable. Further, known toggle devices rotate freely so that it is difficult to orient them properly inside the pipe and, once engaged with the pipe, the entire pipe can rotate freely. In practical use, more than on e per son is probably required to use these toggles for proper insertion and orientation. Once in place, the pipe has to be constrained, from rotation or guided for proper orientation. 
     What is needed, but not provided by know n toggle devices, is a toggle device that can be attached to a prime mover, that can be used by the operator of the prime mover without the need for assistance from other persons, and that can raise, lower, rotate, hold-fixed, and move the pipe forward or backward longitudinally. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a toggle device constructed for insertion in to large pipes, tanks, reels, and the like, in order to safely lift, rotate, lower, and position these objects. The device has a shaft having a first end and an opposite end. The toggle is pivotally attached to the opposite end so as to be maintained in a vertical position by gravity. An arm is attached to the toggle so that when the arm is pulled towards the first end of the shaft, the toggle is pivoted to a horizontal position. The arm is pulled towards the first end of the shaft magnetically by activating a solenoid. The first end of the shaft is attached to a piston of a hydraulic cylinder and the piston has a pin or bolt perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the piston. This pin fits in spiral grooves of a sleeve attached to the hydraulic cylinder. As the piston moves in and out of the hydraulic cylinder, the piston and the shaft rotate to any desire d position and can be maintained in that position by the hydraulic cylinder. In operation, the toggle in the vertical position is inserted into a pipe through a hole in the side of the pipe. An operator rotates the toggle with the hydraulic cylinder so the toggle will be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The operator activates the solenoid to render the toggle horizontal and then lifts the toggle device with a prime mover to which the toggle device is attached. The toggle is then in contact with the inside wall of the pipe, across the hole in the pipe, and the pipe can be lifted, rotated, and lowered. Once lowered to the ground, the pipe can be moved forward or backward along its longitudinal axis by the prime mover pushing or pulling the toggle device. To remove the toggle device from the pipe, it is advanced into the pipe sufficiently for the toggle to assume a vertical position by gravity. The toggle device is then removed through the hole in the pipe. 
     An advantage of the present invention is a toggle device to lift heavy objects which can be operated by a single user. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is a toggle device that can be automatically operated by a user from a prime mover without the user contacting the toggle device. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is a toggle device that has a power-operated toggle. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is a power driven rotating mechanism that will rotate the lifted object to any fixed position and will align the object to mate with another object. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be attached to any suitable prime mover, such as, for example, a bucket, excavator, track-hoe, or back-hoe. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the toggle device of the present invention, with the toggle in the horizontal position. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the lower portion of the toggle device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the toggle being inserted into a pipe through a hole, viewed from the end of the pipe, with the toggle in a vertical position. 
     FIG. 4 shows a front view of the toggle inserted into the pipe, viewed from the side of the pipe, with the toggle in a horizontal position. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the toggle pulled against the inner wall of the pipe bridging across the hole, in position for lifting the pipe. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the toggle being lowered back into the pipe, after the lifting procedure, so that the toggle may assume a vertical position and be removed from the pipe through the hole. 
     FIG. 7 shows the toggle device of the present invention attached to a prime mover, and the prime mover lifting a pipe with the toggle inserted into the pipe. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the piston sleeve with the piston bolt positioned within the spiral grooves of the piston sleeve. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the following description details the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of the toggle lifting device  10  of the present invention, with toggle  11  in the activated horizontal lifting position. In the context of the present invention, a toggle  11  is a blade-like structure which bridges an insertion opening from within an object in order to allow the object to be lifted. Toggle device  10  has a hollow shaft  12  having a first end  13  and an opposite end  14 . Toggle  11  is pivotally attached to opposite end  14  by pivot bolt  15 . Toggle  11  has a first end  16  and an opposite end  17 , first end  16  being heavier than opposite end  17 . Since first end  16  is heavier than opposite end  17 , it will spontaneously rotate downward in response to gravity so that toggle  11  assumes a vertical position parallel to shaft  12 . 
     Toggle  11  will remain vertical until it is activated by a force to become horizontal and perpendicular to shaft  12 , as shown in FIG.  1 . In order to activate toggle  11  an arm  20  is attached to toggle  11  at a point  21  distant from pivot bolt  15  towards the heavy end  16  of toggle  11 . As arm  20  is pulled upward, heavy end  16  rotates upward to the horizontal position as shown in FIG.  1 . If no force is applied to arm  20 , end  16  will rotate downward and end  17  will rotate upward, as shown by the dashed arrows. Arm  20  is constructed of metal, preferably, a metal rod, and end  23  opposite attachment point  21  is inserted into a solenoid  22  which is positioned at first end  13  of shaft  12 . When solenoid  22  is turned on it draws arm  20  upward, by magnetic force, towards first end  13  of shaft  12 , pulling toggle  11  to the horizontal position. When solenoid  22  is turned off, toggle  11  will assume a vertical position, as arm  20  moves downward away from first end  13 . 
     Shaft  12  has a piston  30  attached at first end  13 . Piston  30  is part of a hydraulic cylinder  31  assembly. Hydraulic cylinder  31  has a prime mover attachment  32  for pivotal attachment to a prime mover by means of pivot bolt  33 . Hydraulic cylinder  31  also has a piston sleeve  35  with spiral grooves  36 . Spiral grooves  36  engage a piston bolt  37  fixed to piston  30 . As piston  30  is drawn inward or pushed outward by hydraulic cylinder  31  through piston sleeve  35 , piston bolt  37  engages spiral grooves  36  causing piston  30  to rotate, which in turn causes shaft  12  to rotate, and which causes an object engaged by toggle  11  to also rotate. Piston sleeve  35  is reinforced with brackets  60 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of toggle lifting device  10  illustrating the attachment of toggle  11  to shaft  12 . Shaft  12  is constructed, preferably, of hollow pipe with the lower portion cut open to accommodate toggle  11  vertically within shaft  12 . When shaft  12  is so constructed it forms forks or legs  24  and  25  for the insertion of pivot bolt  15  through legs  24 ,  25 , and toggle  11  at end  14  of shaft  12 . Toggle  11  is shown in the vertical position within shaft  12  between legs  24  and  25 , with end  23  of arm  20  pulled away from end  13  of shaft  12 . When solenoid  22  is turned on, end  23  of arm  20  will be pulled toward end  13  of shaft  12 , causing toggle  11  to pivot to the horizontal position, as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the insertion of toggle  11  into an opening  40  of a pipe  41 , viewed from the end of the pipe  41 . Shaft  12  and toggle  11  are inserted through opening  40  while toggle  11  is in the vertical position between legs  24  and  25  of shaft  12 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of toggle  11  and shaft  12  in pipe  41 . Shaft  12  is inserted far enough into pipe interior  42  of pipe  41  so that when solenoid  22  is turned on toggle  11  can be rotated to the horizontal position as end  23  of arm  20  is pulled magnetically towards end  13  of shaft  12 . Toggle  11  can be oriented along the longitudinal axis of pipe  41  by rotating it into position using hydraulic cylinder  31 , shown in FIG.  1 . Toggle lifting device  10  is then pulled by a prime mover upward, shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, so that toggle  11  engages the inner wall  43  of pipe  41 . The length of toggle  11  is longer than the diameter of hole  40  so that it will bridge hole  40 . Solenoid  22  is depicted as still turned on in FIG. 5, but when toggle  11  makes contact with inner wall  43  solenoid  22  can be turned off. In use, solenoid  22  need be turned on only for a few seconds while raising toggle lifting device  10 . Pipe  41  can now be lifted (shown by the solid arrow) with toggle lifting device  10  attached to a prime mover. 
     After the lifting procedure is completed, toggle lifting device  10  can be removed from pipe  41  as depicted in FIG.  6 . Toggle lifting device  10  is lowered (shown by the solid arrow) into the interior  42  of pipe  41  by the prime mover so that toggle  11  is free to pivot, and so that heavy end  16  of toggle  11  will automatically rotate downward, and opposite end  17  upward, as shown by the dashed arrows. Arm  20  also moves downward, away from end  13  of shaft  12 . When toggle  11  is again in between legs  24 ,  25 , toggle  11  and shaft  12  can be withdrawn from pipe  41  through opening  40  by the prime mover. 
     FIG. 7 shows the toggle lifting device  10  of the present invention attached pivotally to a bucket  50  on a prime mover  51  with attachment  32  and pivot bolt  33 . Shaft  12  and toggle  11  are inserted into pipe  41  through opening  40  and prime mover  51  has lifted pipe  41  off the ground. Pipe  41  can be rotated clockwise or counter clockwise, about the axis formed by shaft  12 , by activating hydraulic cylinder  31  to extend or withdraw piston  30  through piston sleeve  35 . Spiral grooves  36  in piston sleeve  35  and piston bolt  37  are shown in greater detail in FIG.  8 . Spiral grooves  36  will cause piston  30  to rotate as the spiral grooves  36  encounter piston bolt  37  on piston  30  as piston  30  is extended into or withdrawn from hydraulic cylinder  31 . Piston sleeve  35  is reinforced with brackets  60 . Prime mover  51  can advance pipe  41  forward or backward along the longitudinal axis of pipe  41 , shown by the solid arrows, by pushing or pulling the toggle. 
     In the application of toggle lifting device  10 , attached to bucket  50  of prime mover  51 , a user can be seated in the cab of the prime mover and perform all the operations necessary to lift, orient, and lower a pipe or similar object, without having to directly contact toggle lifting device  10  and without needing the assistance of another worker. For example, the user in the cab of the prime mover  51  would first rotate shaft  12  to properly align toggle  11  along the longitudinal axis of pipe  41  by turning on hydraulic cylinder  31 . After alignment, the user would lower toggle  11  and shaft  12  into opening  40  by lowering toggle lifting device  30  with prime mover  51 . Once toggle  11  and shaft  12  are within pipe  41  the user would turn on solenoid  22  to place toggle  11  into a horizontal position and then lift toggle lifting device  10  until toggle  11  engages the inner wall  43  of pipe  42 . Solenoid  22  is then shut off. The user then lifts the pipe  41  with prime mover  51 . The user can then rotate pipe  41  as needed by activiating hydraulic cylinder  31 . The pipe  41  is then lowered into a ditch, for example, and pipe  41  can be aligned by rotation as described above and positioned forward or backward as needed, for example, to mate the pipe with another pipe in the ditch, by the prime mover pushing or pulling the toggle. The user then removes toggle  11  and shaft  12  from pipe  41  by lowering toggle  11  and shaft  12  into the interior  42  of pipe  41  until toggle  11  is free to assume a vertical position in shaft  12  automatically in response to gravity. Toggle  11  and shaft  12  are then removed from pipe  31  through opening  40  by lifting the toggle lifting device  10  with prime mover  51 . 
     The use of the present invention eliminates the need for a worker to get into the ditch to align the pipe for mating with another pipe or to disconnect a cable from a pipe. The present invention also reduces the amount of excavation required because there is no need to slope the banks of the ditch or to use a trench box to protect workers who would otherwise need to get into the ditch to align and release the pipe. The present invention, thus, eliminates the hazards of workers getting buried in ditches and/or having their fingers and hands injured. 
     The foregoing description has been limited to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, with the attainment of some or all of its advantages and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the lifting device of the present invention can be used with tanks and reels. The prime mover can also be an excavator, track hoe, or back hoe. The solenoid and hydraulic cylinder can be powered by the prime mover. An electric motor or pneumatic pump can be used instead of a hydraulic cylinder. 
     It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.