Patent Number: 047117559
Section: claims

1. A handling tool comprising: an elongated frame defining a generally vertical axis and comprising a generally elongated and horizontally extending bar and a pair of support plates connected thereto and extending downwardly therefrom in parallel relationship to each other and the vertical axis;  guide means connected to said frame and comprising at least first and second guide fingers, extending radially from said frame axis at angularly displaced positions thereabout and selectively movable between retracted and extended positions, and means for selectively actuating said guide fingers between said retracted and extended positions; and  clamping means connected to said frame and extending parallel-axially downwardly therefrom and comprising a pair of mounting arms pivotally connected to said parallel support plates for common, complementary, pivotal movement and including respective actuating slots therein, a pair of clamping shoes respectively pivotally connected to said pair of mounting arms, and means for selectively actuating said clamping means comprising an air cylinder secured to said frame and disposed between said parallel, downwardly extending support plates, said air cylinder having a piston rod extending axially downwardly therefrom, a clevis mounted on the free end of the piston rod, and a pin extending through said slots of said mounting arms and said clevis and said air cylinder being selectively actuable to drive said piston rod in corresponding axial translation and to produce corresponding, oppositely directed complementary pivotal movement of said mounting arms and thereby to move said clamping shoes between radially outwardly, disengaged and radially inwardly, engaged positions relative to the frame axis.  said frame further comprises a mounting bar of generally rectangular configuration secured at a central portion thereof to said pair of support plates and extending therefrom in a generally horizontal direction transverse to the frame axis; and  said guide means further comprises first and second guide fingers including corresponding first and second shank portions, said shank portions being received in corresponding, longitudinally extending recesses in opposite ends of said mounting bar so as to be oriented in alignment with each other, and said means for selectively actuating said guide fingers further comprises first and second air cylinders mounted on said corresponding first and second support plates and having respective first and second piston rods, first and second laterally extending recesses in the corresponding first and second ends of said mounting bar receiving said shank portions of said corresponding first and second guide fingers in laterally sliding relationship therein, first and second brackets mounted to said ends of said piston rods of said first and second air cylinders and having angularly oriented, corresponding slots therein, and first and second pins received through said angularly oriented slots of said corresponding first and second brackets and engaging said respective first and second shanks of said guide fingers, selective actuation of said first and second air cylinders moving the corresponding piston rods thereof between first and second vertically displaced positions and correspondingly moving said brackets and, through the slots thereof, the shanks of said first and second guide fingers between the extended and retracted positions thereof.  providing a handling tool having an elongated frame defining an axis, guide means connected to said frame and comprising at least first and second guide fingers extending radially from said axis and angularly displaced thereabout and selectively moveable between retracted and extended positions, and clamping means mounted to said frame and extending axially outwardly therefrom, said clamping means comprising a pair of clamping shoes selectively moveable in complementary directions relatively to the frame axis, radially inwardly to engaged positions and radially outwardly to disengaged positions, the radially outward and disengaged positions thereof being of lesser extent than the radially outward extent of said first and second guide fingers in either of said retracted and extended positions thereof;  positioning said tool, with said clamping shoes in said disengaged positions, in axial alignment with and disposed radially outwardly about the central housing of a removable cruciform of said resiliently compressible type;  selectively actuating said clamping means to said engaged positions of said clamping shoes for engaging and compressing the central housing of the cruciform and retracting the legs thereof;  lowering the tool with the cruciform engaged thereby, axially downwardly through the ice basket to a desired elevation;  selectively actuating said guide fingers of said tool to the extended positions thereof for engaging said guide fingers on a stiffening ring of the ice containment structure at the desired elevation;  selectively actuating the clamping means for moving said clamping shoes to the disengaged positions thereof to enable the central housing of the cruciform to expand and project the legs thereof radially outwardly for engaging the stiffening ring at the desired elevation;  selectively actuating said guide fingers to the retracted position thereof for releasing same from the stiffening ring; and  vertically axially withdrawing the tool from within the ice containment structure.  selectively actuating said guide fingers to the retracted positions thereof and said clamping shoes of said clamping means to said disengaged positions thereof;  lowering said tool axially downwardly within the interior of an ice containment structure so as to dispose the clamping shoes radially outwardly about and in surrounding relationship with respect to the central housing of an expansible cruciform disposed therein and with said frame received on the cruciform;  actuating said clamping shoes of said clamping means to engage and compress the central housing of the removable cruciform and retract the legs thereof from engagement with the stiffening ring of the ice containment structure; and  axially withdrawing said tool with said engaged cruciform vertically upwardly through the open, upper end of the ice containment structure.  an elongated frame defining an axis;  guide means connected to said frame and comprising at least first and second guide fingers extending radially from said axis and angularly displaced thereabout and selectively moveable between retracted and extended positions;  clamping means mounted to said frame and extending axially outwardly therefrom, said clamping means comprising a pair of clamping shoes selectively moveable in complementary directions relatively to the frame axis, radially inwardly to engaged positions and radially outwardly to disengaged positions, the radially outward and disengaged positions thereof being of lesser extent than the radially outward extent of said first and second guide fingers in either of said retracted and extended positions thereof;  means for selectively moving said tool in a vertical axial direction to a desired elevational position within a vertically oriented and confining, generally cylindrical structure having a common vertical axis;  said guide means, with said guide fingers in said retracted positions thereof, permitting the selective moving of said handling tool in the common vertical axial direction through the vertically oriented and confining, generally cylindrical structure to and from a desired elevational position therewithin, the cylindrical structure having an interior diameter greater than the diameter defined by said first and second guide fingers in said retracted positions thereof and substantially the same as the diameter defined by said first and second guide fingers in said extended positions thereof;  means for remotely actuating said first and second guide fingers of said tool, when in the desired elevational position, to said extended positions thereof to engage the interior sidewall of the confining cylindrical structure at the desired elevational position therein, thereby to guide said clamping means to a common axial position within the cylindrical structure; and  means for remotely actuating said clamping means of said tool, when at the desired elevational position within the cylindrical structure, for selective movement in the complementary, radially inward and radially outward directions to the respective engaged and disengaged positions thereof.  a removable cruciform comprising a resiliently compressible central housing defining an axis of compression and expansion, means normally biasing said housing in the direction of expansion, legs extending from said housing in a generally radially oriented direction and means on the outer edges of said legs for engaging a stiffening ring rigidly secured on the interior of the cylindrical sidewall of the ice containment structure; and  a handling tool comprising:  a frame comprising a generally elongated and horizontally extending bar and a support connected thereto and extending axially downwardly therefrom;  guide means connected to said frame and comprising at least first and second guide fingers, selectively movable between retracted and extended positions;  means for selectively actuating said guide fingers to the retracted positions thereof for movement of the tool axially through the ice containment structure, and to the extended positions thereof for engaging said guide fingers on a stiffening ring of the ice containment structure at a desired elevation within the ice containment structure at which the tool is positioned;  clamping means connected to said frame and extending downwardly therefrom and comprising a pair of mounting arms pivotally connected to said downwardly extending support for common, complementary, pivotal movement and including respective actuating slots therein, and a pair of clamping shoes respectively, pivotally connected to said pair of mounting arms; and  means for selectively actuating said clamping means along an axis of movement between engaged and disengaged positions thereof and comprising an air cylinder secured to said downwardly extending support of said frame, said air cylinder having a piston rod extending axially downwardly therefrom, a clevis mounted on the free end of the piston rod, and a pin extending through said slots of said mounting arms and said clevis; said air cylinder being selectively actuable to drive said piston rod in reciprocating axial translation and to produce corresponding, oppositely directed complementary pivotal movement of said mounting arms and thereby to move said clamping shoes between the disengaged and engaged positions thereof, said clamping means, when disposed about a central housing in a cruciform with the axis of movement thereof aligned with the axis of compression and expansion of the cruciform and when actuated to said engaged position, compressing the central housing of the cruciform and retracting the legs thereof sufficiently to permit the cruciform to be moved axially through the ice containment structure in a horizontal orientation, and, when actuated to the disengaged position, enabling said central housing of the cruciform to expand along the axis of expansion and compression thereof and project the legs thereof radially outwardly for engaging a stiffening ring at the corresponding elevation thereby to install the cruciform at the corresponding elevation within the ice containment structure; and  connection means rigidly secured to said frame and adapted for engagement, for supporting therewith said guide means, said clamping means and the respective said means for selectively actuating said guide fingers of said guide means and said clamping means, and for selectively lowering and raising the same to and from any desired elevation in an ice containment structure.  a frame comprising a generally elongated and horizontally extending bar, an elongated support connected thereto and extending axially downwardly therefrom and a mounting bar of generally rectangular configuration secured at a central portion thereof to said elongated support and extending therefrom in a traverse, generally horizontal direction, said mounting bar having first and second laterally extending recesses in the corresponding, opposite ends thereof and disposed to correspond to a diameter of an ice containment structure when said tool is positioned therein;  guide means connected to said frame and comprising at least first and second guide fingers, selectively movable between retracted and extended positions;  means for selectively actuating said guide fingers to the retracted positions thereof for movement of the tool axially through the ice containment structure, and to the extended positions thereof for engaging said guide fingers on a stiffening ring of the ice containment structure at a desired elevation within the ice containment structure at which the tool is positioned;  clamping means connected to said frame and extending downwardly therefrom;  means for selectively actuating said clamping means along an axis of movement between engaged and disengaged positions thereof, said clamping means, when disposed about a central housing of a cruciform with the axis of movement thereof aligned with the axis of compression and expansion of the cruciform and when actuated to said engaged position, compressing the central housing of the cruciform and retracting the legs thereof sufficiently to permit the cruciform to be moved axially through the ice containment structure in a horizontal orientation, and, when actuated to the disengaged position, enabling said central housing of the cruciform to expand along the axis of expansion and compression thereof and project the legs thereof radially outwardly for engaging a stiffening ring at the corresponding elevation thereby to install the cruciform at the corresponding elevation within the ice containment structure; and  said first and second guide fingers further comprising corresponding first and second shank portions, said shank portions being received in laterally sliding relationship in the corresponding, laterally extending recesses in the opposite ends of said mounting bar so as to be oriented in alignment with each other and with a diameter of an ice containment structure on which said tool is disposed; and  said means for selectively actuating said guide fingers further comprise: 2. A tool as recited in claim 1, wherein: 3. A method for selectively installing and removing a removable cruciform of a resiliently compressible type, in and from the interior of a generally cylindrical, elongated and vertically oriented ice containment structure, which interior is accessible from an open, upper end thereof, each such removable cruciform comprising a central housing defining an axis of compression and expansion, means normally biasing said housing in the direction of expansion, legs extending from said housing in a generally radially oriented direction and means on the outer edges of said legs configured to engage a corresponding stiffening ring rigidly secured on the interior of the cylindrical sidewall of the ice basket, comprising: 4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising: 5. A handling tool comprising: 6. A system for selectively installing and removing a removable cruciform in and from the interior of a generally cylindrical, elongated and vertically oriented ice container structure having stiffening rings rigidly secured to, and on the interior of, the cylindrical sidewall of the ice containment structure, which interior is accessible from an open, upper end of the ice containment structure and has a predetermined interior diameter, comprising: 7. A removable cruciform handling tool for selectively installing and removing a removable cruciform of a resiliently compressible type, in and from the interior of a generally cylindrical, elongated and vertically oriented ice containment structure and which interior is accessible from an open, upper end of said ice containment structure, each such removable cruciform comprising a central housing defining an axis of compression and expansion, means normally biasing said housing in the direction of expansion, legs extending from said housing in a generally radially oriented direction and means on the outer edges of said legs for engaging a corresponding stiffening ring rigidly secured on the interior of the cylindrical sidewall of the ice containment structure, comprising: 8. A removable cruciform handling tool for selectively installing and removing a removable cruciform of a resiliently compressible type, in and from the interior of a generally cylindrical, elongated and vertically oriented ice containment structure and which interior is accessible from an open, upper end of said ice containment structure, each such removable cruciform comprising a central housing defining an axis of compression and expansion, means normally biasing said housing in the direction of expansion, legs extending from said housing in a generally radially oriented direction and means on the outer edges of said legs for engaging a corresponding stiffing ring rigidly secured on the interior of the cylindrical sidewall of the ice containment structure, comprising: