Truck-Mounted Vacuum Material Handler and Quick Disconnect

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.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to hydraulic disconnect systems designed to attach a vacuum plate handler or lifter to a truck-mounted boom.

Thick steel plates are commonly used on construction projects to cover hazards that range from 10-foot deep trenches across a road to a 6-inch difference in a sidewalk. Plate thicknesses in the neighborhood of one inch are not uncommon to support the weight of a car or truck as it crosses one of these openings.

These plates are typically delivered to the worksite by truck and their footprint is sized accordingly, typically 8- to 10-feet wide by 10- to 40-feet long. This size also provides sufficient weight and friction with the road surface to ensure it is not moved from its installed position by a braking or accelerating vehicle driving over the plate. Given these dimensions the plates typically range from 2,000 to 6,000 pounds.

Moving these plates has traditionally been accomplished by using a boom mounted on a flatbed truck. The plate is loaded and unloaded off the flatbed by a spring-loaded mechanism that is raised and lowered by a cable from the boom. The spring-loaded mechanism is extended through a rectangular hole in the center of the plate. Once the mechanism is inserted in this hole it expands to grab the sides of the hole. The plate can then be lifted. The spring-loaded mechanism and its use is well known in the field.

The prior art system for moving and lifting the plates has some significant problems. As the spring-loaded mechanism gets worn it can develop problems deploying to grab the hole in the plate. The hole in the plate can also become worn or blocked with debris that makes the connection between the spring loaded mechanism and the hole questionable. When the spring-loaded mechanism fails the plate will fall, presenting a risk for extreme personal injury and property damage.

The prior art system also suspends the spring-loaded mechanism and plate from the boom by a cable. This means the plate must be manually rotated about the cable by an operator next to the plate as it is being maneuvered into place. If the spring-loaded mechanism fails at this point it can land on the operator causing severe injury.

Even for an experienced operator, there are limits to how much a 6,000 pound plate suspended from a cable can be maneuvered. Therefore, the prior art system has limitations as to its ability to place the plate in confined locations.

The trucks used to deliver the plates also deliver other items such as trench cribbing and miscellaneous excavation and safety equipment. Because different lifting equipment or attachments must be used, the trucks material handler or lifter attachments must be changed over to lift and place this equipment.

What is needed, therefore, is a system and method for safely picking up and placing a steel plate, precisely maneuvering a steel plate into confined locations, and adaptable for lifting and placing other items.

SUMMARY

Preferred embodiments of a truck-mounted vacuum lifter include a coupler that has a boom connector, a removable carrier that has a carrier connector, and a base located between the boom connector and the removable carrier. A locking mechanism located in the base is arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. The base may include an opening shaped complementary to the carrier connector and arranged to receive the carrier connector.

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 of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another. The base has a landmark and the removable carrier has a complementary shaped opening to the landmark so that base and removable carrier can connect to one another in only one orientation.

The removable carrier may include a rotator-receiving recess arranged opposite the carrier connector and shaped complementary to a rotator connected to a frame of the truck-mounted vacuum lifter. Alternatively, the removable carrier may include a rigging hardware eyelet arranged opposite the carrier connector.

A fluid power source, which may be located on or within the frame of the vacuum lifter, is in communication with the means arranged to move the locking mechanism between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. The base and removable carrier have one or more fluid passageways that are aligned and in communication with one another when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. The locking mechanism can be a race with balls and a locking ring that surrounds the race and urges the balls into a groove of the base's carrier connector opening.

ELEMENTS USED IN THE DRAWINGS AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION

20Vacuum material handler or lifter

48Mating surface or face of34

50Mating surface or face of36

62Mating surface or face of38

78Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder

SUMMARY

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first toFIGS. 1 & 7, a preferred embodiment of a coupler32for use with a truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect secures a vacuum handler or lifter20to the end28of a telescopic boom22(mounted on a flatbed truck24). A removable carrier36connects the vacuum lifter20to the coupler32. The coupler32is attached to the end28of the boom22by a pivotal connection44that includes a pin46. (Other types of joints could be used.) Once connected, the boom22rotates about its base26to position the vacuum lifter20in various places relative to the truck24, tilts the boom22up or down, or extends and retracts the boom22. The vacuum lifter20can be rotated about the end28of the boom22via operation of a rotator30.

For lifting a thick steel plate, the vacuum lifter20has a pair of vacuum pads88, each in communication with their own vacuum reservoir. A first solenoid-operated valve opens and closes fluid communication between the vacuum pad88and its respective vacuum reservoir. A second solenoid-operated valve provides the ability to open the vacuum pad88to atmosphere and release the vacuum pressure between the pad88and the plate the pad is lifting.

The vacuum lifter20is provided with a set of retractable legs90which can be lowered to store the vacuum lifter20on a flat surface without the pads88coming in contact with the surface. In the embodiment shown, the retractable legs90are pivotally connected to the lifter20and can be secured in a deployed position or a stowed position. Other types of connections can also be used.

Referring toFIG. 8, the frame92of the vacuum lifter20is constructed from a vertical plate94with a plurality of horizontal flanges96to provide rigidity. The frame92has a foundation98for mounting the rotator30and an open bay (not numbered) for locating on board equipment such as a hydraulic motor, vacuum pump, alternator, and battery. A plurality of eyelets100on the bottom of the frame92provide a mounting point for the vacuum pads88.

Turning now toFIGS. 1 to 6, the coupler32has a base34that can connect to a first removable carrier36or a second removable carrier38. The first removable carrier36is used to secure the vacuum lifter20to the coupler's base34. This carrier36includes a complementary shaped recess42to receive the rotator30and fastener holes (not numbered; seeFIG. 3) to receive fasteners that connect the carrier36to the rotator30. The second removable carrier38is used to provide an eyelet40for use with other rigging hardware such as a hook, chain or cable. Both carriers36,38are arranged to quickly attach to and disconnect from the base34.

The mating surface48of the base34is complementary to the mating surface50of the first carrier36. A landmark52ensures the base34and first removable carrier36can only connect in one orientation. In a preferred embodiment, the landmark52is a pin54that extends from the mating face48. When the base34is connected to the first carrier36, the pin54extends into a complementary opening56in the mating surface50. The mating surfaces48and50also include one or more hydraulic connections58. These connections58provide hydraulic fluid supply and return that power the rotator30and an onboard hydraulic motor82. The motor82can power other equipment on the vacuum lifter20such as a vacuum pump84or alternator86(seeFIG. 7).

A locking mechanism66secures the removable carriers36and38to the base34. The locking mechanism66has a cylinder60that extends from the mating surface50,62of its respective carrier36,38. A groove64extends around the side of the cylinder60. The locking mechanism66also has an opening68that is sized and located to receive the cylinder60when the first or second carrier36,38is attached to the base34.

The opening68has a race70with a plurality of holes72each carrying a ball74. The race70extends around the interior periphery of the opening68, such that the balls74extend into the opening68when the locking mechanism66is in the closed or locked position. In the locked position a locking ring76extends around the race70forcing the balls74to extend beyond the holes72in the race70and into the opening68.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking ring76is a part of or connected to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder78. Operation of the cylinder78moves the locking ring76between the open and locked positions. In the embodiment shown, a biasing means80, preferably one or more springs, holds the locking ring76in the locked position. The hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder78can then be operated to overcome the force of the biasing means80and move the locking ring76to the open position.

When the locking mechanism66is in the locked position and the first or second carrier36,38is in the opening68, the carrier36,38is secured to the base34by the balls74extending into the groove64. When the locking mechanism66is in the open position, the locking ring76moves out of alignment with the race70. This allows the balls74to roll radially outward away from the opening68and out of the groove64so the first or second carrier36,38can removed from the opening68.

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.