Abstract:
An apparatus for the storing and management of a plurality of wire rope slings is presented, such slings being those typically comprised of a length of wire rope having at least one end loop. The apparatus has a base frame upon which is rotatably mounted a sling storage bin. The storage bin has a plurality of arm members that extend from the storage bin for engaging and holding an end loop of a selected wire rope sling. Rotation of the storage bin causes the selected wire rope sling to be coiled around said projecting arms within the storage bin. The apparatus may be provided with pad eyes and forklift tine guides to facilitate its transportation.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to the field of wire rope sling storage and management. More particularly, it provides an improved method and apparatus for managing and transporting wire rope slings used in the shipping and oil and gas industries for hoisting, lifting, and transporting goods and materials. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     A typical metal wire rope lifting sling is comprised of a length of wire rope having a loop at each end formed by inserting or fitting the rope ends into a sleeve which is then swaged to bind the rope ends into a loop. These wire rope slings are commonly utilized as rigging for lifting and securing heavy loads. In the oil and gas industry, such slings are typically utilized for transporting, hoisting, and lifting shipping containers, pipe, materials, and equipment that are used in the drilling and production of oil and gas to and from well locations. 
     In the oil and gas industry wire rope slings are typically leased or rented for a particular job and returned to their supplier for inspection and certification before they are reused. Because the slings are used in the lifting of heavy loads, care must be taken to monitor any damage of the slings whether caused by their use or by shipping or storing the slings before and after their use. The wire rope slings used in the oil and gas industry are heavy and cumbersome and difficult to manage, store and transport because of their length, weight, and flexible nature. Storage and transportation of groups of slings can present a particular problem due to the space limitations typically associated with oil and gas drilling and production platforms. 
     There is an ongoing need for improved equipment for and methods to manage, store and transport wire rope slings to and from a well location to alleviate the time and expenses associated with such functions. The present invention provides an effective and efficient apparatus and method for conveniently managing, storing, and transporting wire rope slings will substantially reduce the inconvenience, time, and expense now currently associated with such efforts. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for managing, storing, and transporting wire rope slings comprised of a length of wire rope having a loop at each end. It is contemplated that the method and apparatus described herein will reduce the risks and disadvantages currently associated with managing, storing, and transporting such wire rope slings. 
     The apparatus and method of the present invention provides a storage spool for the wire rope slings that utilizes a rotating sling storage plate. The rotating storage plate may be mounted on a transportable frame. The sling storage plate may have upwardly extending sidewalls to form a bin for holding the stored slings in place on the sling spool. 
     The apparatus is provided with a means for holding a wire rope sling. The sling storage plate has at least one and preferably two pair of substantially vertically projecting posts or sling retainers for holding the loops of a typical wire rope sling. The sling storage plate may be placed on casters or rollers and it may have a centrally positioned bearing assembly to provide for ease in its spinning or rotating. 
     Each projecting retainer in each pair is positioned on the sling storage plate at a location opposite from the other projecting retainer in each pair. The projecting sling retainers are positioned and configured to slidably receive and hold an end loop of a typical wire rope sling. 
     Wire rope slings are loaded on the sling spool for storage, one sling at a time, by placing the end loops of each sling over a selected sling retainer to retain the end lop on the sling retainer. To start the loading process, one of the end loops of the first sling is placed over one of the extending sling retainers. Then the sling spool is rotated as a worker walks or wraps the length of wire rope on the sling around the extending sling retainers onto the sling storage plate. 
     Subsequent slings are added to the storage spool in a like manner. It is preferable but not required that each subsequent sling be placed on the storage spool so that the first end loop of each subsequent sling is placed over the sling retainer on the opposite side from the sling retainer where the first loop of the previous sling was started. The process is repeated until the desired number of slings is placed on the sling spool. Slings of different lengths can be stored on the sling on the sling spool in this manner. 
     Slings are removed from the sling spool one at a time in a manner opposite to that utilized in placing the slings on the sling spool. A loop from the top sling on the sling spool is removed from its corresponding retainer and pulled to spin the spool to unwind and remove the stored sling from the spool. 
     Typically at least two workers are utilized to place and remove slings from the sling spool, one to spin the sling spool and one to handle the sling. The workers may rotate the jobs as slings are added or removed from the sling spool. 
     The rotating sling storage plate or bin may be placed on a base plate or frame. The frame may have pad eyes for placement of slings to facilitate lifting the sling spool for transportation. The frame may also have a guide system or pathway such as spaces between framing members for receiving the tines of a forklift to further facilitate lifting the sling spool for transportation. The sling spool as contemplated and described is simple to operate and should have a compact design and “footprint” to minimize the space required for transporting and storing the sling spool as such space is limited on many work boats and drilling rigs. 
     The rotating sling spool allows the slings to be conveniently coiled around the sling retainers and stacked for stored on the rotating storage plate. This apparatus and method provides a convenient method to coil the slings, keeps them organized, readily transportable, and eliminates clutter on a drilling platform. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the sling spool system of Applicants&#39; invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the sling spool bin depicted in  FIG. 1  with slings in place; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the embodiment of the sling spool base depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the embodiment of the sling spool bin depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the embodiment of the sling spool base depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the embodiment of the sling spool base depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the base and bin combination of the sling spool system depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sling spool system of Applicants&#39; invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of the sling spool system depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a sling spool system of Applicants&#39; invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-section view of the sling spool system depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded perspective view of sling spool apparatus ( 10 ) for managing, storing, and transporting conventional wire rope slings ( 50 ). It is contemplated that the wire rope slings ( 50 ) would be those comprised of a length of wire rope having a loop ( 52 ) at each end as shown though other sling configurations such as those with a loop ( 52 ) only at one end of the sling ( 50 ) or those with a clevis or hooked end at the ends of the sling ( 50 ) rather than a loop might also be utilized with the apparatus ( 10 ). 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , again in  FIG. 2 , and in cross-section in  FIG. 7 , a substantially horizontally orientated sling storage plate ( 20 ) is rotatably mounted upon a substantially horizontally orientated base frame ( 30 ) to form a bin assembly ( 21 ). As can be seen in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , the sling storage plate ( 20 ) has at least one and preferably two pair of substantially vertically projecting posts or sling retainers ( 22 ). Each projecting sling retainer ( 22 ) in each pair of retainers ( 22 ) is preferably positioned on the sling storage plate ( 20 ) at a location substantially opposite from the other projecting retainer ( 22 ) in each pair. 
     The projecting sling retainers ( 22 ) are positioned and configured to slidably receive and hold the end loops of a typical wire rope sling ( 50 ). The sling storage plate ( 20 ) may have upwardly extending sidewalls ( 24 ) extending around the periphery of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) to form a bin area ( 26 ) for retaining the stored slings ( 50 ). 
     The sling storage plate ( 20 ) may also have a substantially centrally orientated bushing ( 32 ) for receiving a vertically extending axle post ( 34 ) mounted substantially centrally on the base frame ( 30 ) about which sling storage plate rotates. A bearing assembly ( 36 ), such a ball thrust bearing, is positioned between the based frame ( 30 ) and the sling storage plate ( 20 ) to facilitate such rotation. The sling storage plate ( 20 ) is may also be further supported on the base frame ( 30 ) by a plurality of casters or rollers ( 28 ), shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7  to further provide means for facilitating the spinning or rotating of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) about the axle post ( 34 ) on the base frame ( 30 ). The sling storage plate may also be provided with lifting eyes ( 46 ) for inserting a hook or clevis to provide means for lifting the sling storage plate for its placement onto or off of the base frame ( 30 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an elevation view of the base frame ( 30 ), pad eyes may be mounted to the base frame, here depicted as a single pad eye ( 42 ) mounted to on the end of the axle post ( 34 ), to allow for the ready lifting of the sling spool ( 10 ) for transportation. It is thought that pad eyes ( 42 ) could be mounted on the base frame ( 30 ) at other convenient locations to facilitate the ready transportation of the sling spool. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base frame ( 30 ) may also be provided with slotted openings or spaces ( 44 ) for receiving forklift tines ( 45 ) of a forklift to afford additional means for lifting the sling spool ( 10 ) for transportation. 
     Wire rope slings ( 50 ) such as those depicted in  FIG. 1  and in  FIG. 2  are loaded on the sling spool for storage, one sling at a time, by placing a selected end loop ( 52 ) of each sling ( 50 ) over a selected sling retainer ( 22 ). The sling ( 50 ) is then retained or held on the sling retainer by means of the end loop ( 52 ) and the retainer ( 22 ). 
     To start the loading process, one of the end loops ( 52 ) of a first sling ( 50 ) is placed over one of the extending sling retainers ( 22 ). Then the sling storage plate ( 20 ) is rotated as a worker “walks” or wraps the length of wire rope on the sling ( 50 ) around the other extending sling retainers ( 22 ). The remaining end of the first sling is then positioned on the storage plate ( 20 ) within the bin ( 26 ) to complete the storage of that sling ( 50 ). The next sling ( 50 ) to be stored is preferably then be started so that its first end loop ( 52 ) is placed over the sling retainer ( 22 ) on the opposite side from the sling retainer ( 22 ) where the first loop of the previous sling was started with the above rotating process repeated for this second and any subsequent sling ( 50 ). The process is repeated until a desired quantity of slings ( 50 ) is placed on the sling spool ( 10 ). 
     Slings ( 50 ) are removed from the sling spool ( 10 ) one at a time in a manner opposite to that utilized in placing the slings on the sling spool. A loop from the top sling ( 50 ) on the sling spool ( 10 ) is removed from its corresponding retainer ( 22 ) and pulled to rotate the sling storage plate ( 20 ) to unwind the sling ( 50 ) from around the extending sling retainers ( 22 ) on the sling spool ( 10 ). The remaining loop of the sling ( 50 ) is then removed from its corresponding retainer ( 22 ) and the process is repeated until the desired numbers of slings ( 50 ) is removed. 
     Only two workers are typically utilized to place and remove slings ( 50 ) from the sling spool ( 10 ), one to spin the sling storage plate ( 20 ) and one to handle the sling ( 50 ). The workers may rotate the jobs as slings ( 50 ) are added or removed from the sling spool ( 10 ). However, the device may be utilized with only one worker if necessary. 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  depict an alternate embodiment of the sling spool apparatus of Applicants&#39; invention. In this alternative embodiment, the sling spool apparatus ( 10 A) as shown also has a substantially horizontally orientated rotatable sling storage plate ( 20 ) forming bin assembly ( 21 ). As illustrated, the sling storage plate ( 20 ) has at least one and preferably two pair of substantially vertically projecting posts or sling retainers ( 22 ). Each projecting sling retainer ( 22 ) in each pair of retainers ( 22 ) is positioned on the sling storage plate ( 20 ) at a location opposite from the other projecting retainer ( 22 ) in each pair. 
     The projecting sling retainers ( 22 ) are positioned and configured to slidably receive and hold the end loops ( 52 ) of a typical wire rope sling ( 50 ). The sling storage plate ( 20 ) may also have upwardly extending sidewalls ( 24 ) extending around the periphery of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) to form a bin area ( 26 ) for retaining the stored slings ( 50 ). 
     A bearing assembly ( 36 A), such a ball thrust bearing, is positioned below the sling storage plate ( 20 ) between a substantially horizontal and stationary bearing floor plate ( 35 ) to facilitate rotation of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) and the accompanying sling retainers ( 22 ) about the bearing plate ( 35 ). The sling storage plate ( 20 ) and bin ( 26 ) may also be further supported in its rotation by a plurality of casters or rollers ( 28 A) to further provide means for facilitating the spinning or rotating of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) about the bearing floor plate ( 35 ). A plurality of pad eyes ( 42 A) may be mounted on the walls ( 22 ) of storage bin ( 26 ) to facilitate the transportation of the sling spool ( 10 A). Slings ( 50 ) are added to and removed from the sling spool apparatus ( 10 A) in the same manner as described above for sling spool apparatus ( 10 ). 
       FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  depict still another alternate embodiment of the sling spool apparatus of Applicants invention. In the alternative embodiment, the sling spool apparatus ( 10 B) as shown also has a substantially vertically oriented rotatable sling storage plate ( 20 ) forming bin assembly ( 21 ). As illustrated, the sling storage plate ( 20 ) has at least one and preferably two pair of substantially horizontally projecting posts or sling retainers ( 22 ). Each projecting sling retainer ( 22 ) in each pair of retainers ( 22 ) is positioned on the sling storage plate ( 20 ) at a location opposite from the other projecting retainer ( 22 ) in each pair. 
     The projecting sling retainers ( 22 ) are positioned and configured to slidably receive and hold the end loops ( 52 ) of a typical wire rope sling ( 50 ). The sling storage plate ( 20 ) may also have upwardly extending sidewalls ( 24 ) extending around the periphery of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) to form a bin area ( 26 ) for retaining the stored slings ( 50 ). 
     A frame ( 30 B) having a vertically orientated support bracket ( 35 ) is provided to support the storage plate ( 20 ). The storage plate ( 20 ) is mounted on the bracket ( 35 ) by means of a substantially centrally orientated bushing ( 32 ) position on the storage plate and a horizontally extending axle ( 34 B) that extends from the bracket ( 35 ) about which the sling storage plate ( 20 ) rotates. A bearing assembly ( 34 B) may be provided to facilitate rotation of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) and the accompanying sling retainers ( 22 ) about the extending axle ( 34 B). Slings ( 50 ) are added to and removed from the sling spool apparatus ( 10 B) in substantially the same manner as described above. 
     A pad eye ( 42 B), or multiple pad eyes ( 42 B), may be mounted on the sling spool apparatus ( 10 B), such as shown bin wall ( 24 ) to facilitate the lifting and transportation of the sling spool ( 10 B). A braking means ( 37 ) such as an arrangement of lugs ( 39 ) and chains ( 41 ) may also be provided to prevent the rotation of the sling storage plate ( 20 ) and bin ( 26 ) during transportation. The frame ( 30 B) may also be provided with slotted openings or spaces ( 44 ) for receiving the tines of a forklift to afford additional means for lifting the sling spool ( 10 B) for transportation. 
     It is thought that the wire rope sling spool management, storage, and transporting apparatus and methods described herein and many of their intended advantages will be understood from the foregoing description. It is also thought that various changes in form, construction, and arrangement of the parts of the proposed apparatus and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions described herein.