Device for turning over heavy and/or bulky loads

A device (1) for turning over heavy and/or bulky loads works by suspending the load to be turned over in two straps or the like, arranged as loops, and driving these straps in order to pivot the load. The device (1) is constructed of a body (2) that has a shackle (20) for suspending device (1) from the hook of lifting gear, and through which there passes a tube (3). At each end (30) of tube (3) there is a drive pulley (4) and an individual strap (5) arranged as a loop passes over each pulley (4). It is possible for tube (3) to be rotated by motor (24) contained within body (2) and connected to tube (3) by transmission chain (31). The distance between drive pulleys (4) is a function of the length of tube (3).

The subject of the present invention is a device for turning over heavy 
and/or bulky loads. 
Devices for turning over heavy and/or bulky loads which work by suspending 
the load to be turned over in two straps or the like, arranged as loops, 
then in driving these straps in order to pivot said load are already 
known. 
Such a turning-over device thus comprises a body which has means for 
suspending it from a hook and which contains a motor which simultaneously 
rotates two drive pulleys, placed one on each side of said body, and over 
each of which a strap passes. 
In order to ensure perfect stability of the load that is to be turned over, 
the distance between the drive pulleys must be in proportion with the 
length of said load. 
Thus, there are various designs of turning-over device which differ, apart 
from in terms of the power of the motor and the robustness of their 
design, essentially in the distance separating the two drive pulleys. 
Now, the design of the existing turning-over devices does not allow for 
easy manufacture of appliances with different separations. 
This is because these devices comprise two shafts mounted in bearings and 
placed one on each side of the motor, coaxial with this motor, one end of 
each said bearings being connected to said motor, while the other carries 
a drive pulley. 
To change the distance between the drive pulleys therefore requires the 
production of special-purpose shafts, and this leads to an additional 
cost. 
Furthermore, such a device, specially the framework of the body, needs to 
be a very robust and therefore heavy design, in order to guarantee perfect 
alignment of the bearings and of the motor. 
Furthermore, a turning-over device of the conventional type allows only 
objects whose length lies within two limiting values, but depends on the 
distance between the drive pulleys, to be turned over. Now, it may often 
be necessary to turn over objects of very different lengths, something 
which can then be achieved only by using another turning-over device with 
an appropriate distance between pulleys. 
Nonetheless, turning-over devices are known in which the pulleys are each 
carried by a bearing that can move along a beam, while said pulleys are 
driven via two shafts rotated by a motor secured to said beam. 
These devices are, however, more complicated to manufacture, something 
which is not conducive to greater standardization. 
The object of the present invention is to propose a device for turning over 
heavy and/or bulky loads, that makes it possible to overcome these various 
drawbacks. 
The device for turning over a load according to the invention, is 
essentially one which comprises a body that has means for suspending it 
from the hook of lifting gear, and through which there passes a tube which 
at each of its ends carries a drive pulley over which there passes a strap 
arranged as a loop, it being possible for said tube to be rotated by a 
motor contained in said body and connected to said tube by transmission 
means, the distance between the drive pulleys being a function of the 
length of the tube. 
The turning-over device according to the invention is therefore of a simple 
design, the distance separating the two drive pulleys can be changed 
merely by altering the length of the tube, which is of a very much lower 
cost than the existing turning-over devices. 
According to an additional feature of the device according to the 
invention, the tube is mounted so that it can pivot in a bearing via 
anti-friction means. 
According to an alternative form of the device according to the invention, 
the drive pulleys are mounted so that they can be shifted along the tube, 
with the possibility of immobilizing them in the longitudinal direction, 
and preventing them from rotating. 
In this configuration, it is possible to alter the distance separating the 
two drive pulleys to suit the dimensions of the load that is to be turned 
over. 
According to another additional feature of the device according to the 
invention, it comprises a skew detector connected to the motor-control 
means, capable of stopping this motor if the assembly becomes inclined by 
more than a predefined value that is determined on the basis of the 
equilibrium position. 
The advantages and features of the present invention will emerge more 
clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the 
appended drawing, which depicts one nonlimiting embodiment.

If reference is made to FIG. 1, it is possible to see that a turning-over 
device 1 according to the invention comprises a body 2 equipped, at the 
top, with a suspension means, in this case a lifting shackle 20, and 
through the lower part of which a tube 3 passes transversely. 
The ends 30 of the tube 3 are each fitted with a drive pulley 4 covered by 
a casing 40, and through which there passes a strap 5 arranged as a loop, 
while a load 6 rests in the straps 5 with a view to being turned over. 
If reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is possible to see that, in 
the body 2, the tube 3 is mounted so that it can pivot in a bearing 21 
lined with anti-friction means which consist of two bushes 22 made of a 
polymer. 
The use of polymer bushes has numerous advantageous over the 
rotational-guidance means used in existing turning-over devices, namely 
rolling bearings; firstly, they are less complicated to fit, secondly, 
they require no lubrication, and thirdly, they are lighter. 
It will, however, be noted that for a turning-over device according to the 
invention that is intended for turning over very heavy loads, this device 
will need to be fitted with rolling bearings. 
The tube 3 is rotated via a chain 31 which meshes with a chain wheel 32 
keyed onto the tube 3, and with the pinion 23 of a braked gear motor unit 
24. 
The distance between the drive pulleys 4 can be altered simply by choosing 
the length of the tube 3, which simplifies manufacture. 
Furthermore, the turning-over device according to the invention requires 
just one bearing, and its weight is less than that of an existing device 
of equivalent capacity. 
If reference is now made to FIG. 4, it is possible to see an alternative 
form of the turning-over device according to the invention, making it 
possible to vary the distance between the drive pulleys 4, something that 
cannot be achieved in existing turning-over devices. 
This figure shows two different positions of a drive pulley 4 on the tube 
3. 
The drive pulley 4 is immobilized in terms of rotation by means of a key 33 
which extends longitudinally over each of the parts of the tube 3 that are 
outside the body 2, not visible, and which nonetheless allows the drive 
pulley 4 to be moved longitudinally. 
Furthermore, the drive pulley 4 is equipped with a locking means 41, 
allowing it to be immobilized longitudinally along the tube 3. 
In this embodiment, the locking means 41 comprises a ring 42 slipped over 
the tube 3 and secured to the drive pulley 4, and an indexing means, not 
visible. 
If reference is also made to FIG. 5, which depicts a cross section of the 
locking means 41, it is possible to see that the key 33 has notches 34, 
just one of which is visible in the figure, which are uniformly spaced and 
intended to accommodate an indexing peg 43 which can move in radial 
translation in the ring 42, by screwing, for example, under the action of 
an operating means 44, and allowing the ring 42, and therefore the drive 
pulley 4 to be immobilized in the longitudinal direction along the tube 3. 
This alternative version makes it possible, using one and the same 
turning-over device, for objects of very different lengths to be turned 
over. 
The turning-over device according to the invention may be fitted with a 
known skew-detection means capable, if one side of the assembly or the 
other becomes too steeply inclined, and according to a predetermined 
value, of stopping the motor, thus preventing the turning-over operation 
from continuing.