Abstract:
A tank lifting attachment ( 10 ) fork allowing a tank, such as a wine press tank ( 12 ) to be lifted by a conventional lifting device ( 100 ) such as a crane or block and tackle. A center section ( 16 ) has a air of inside grip plates ( 26 ) to abut the inner walls of the wine press tank ( 12 ). A first outside grip plate ( 28 ) and a second outside grip plate ( 42 ) are slidably affixed to the center section ( 16 ) such that the weight of the wine press tank ( 12 ) will cause a pair of under lip projeci 6 tons ( 38 ) affixed thereto to be secured under a portion of a lip ( 14 ) on the wine press tank ( 12 ). In an, embodiment of the invention the tank lifting attachment ( 10 ) is secured to the lifting device ( 100 ) by a plurality of lifting straps ( 94 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of mechanical attachment apparatus, and more particularly for an apparatus used for attachment to tanks and other such containers which lack intrinsic handles or other lifting points. The predominant current usage of the present inventive tank lifting apparatus is for attachment to and lifting thereby of wine press tanks, which are large and heavy vessels that must be lifted into position, but which lack a convenient lifting handle or lift attachment means.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0002]    Wine press tanks are large, heavy, containers, shaped much like very large cooking pots. They are much too large and heavy to be moved by hand, and there is no readily apparent way to attach a lifting apparatus to the tanks. The tanks can, and are, occasionally moved by fork lift or other such means. However, this is a less than ideal solution to the problem. An overhead crane, or the like, could be used to move the tanks, when necessary. However, there has been no convenient, safe, and easy way to attach an overhead lifting device to the tanks in the prior art.  
           [0003]    Because the tanks are very heavy, safety is an important concern. Any lifting means which would not securely hold the tanks and prevent them from falling on people and equipment would be unacceptable. On the other hand, a desirable lifting means would be easy and quick to attach, such that time and expense in the industrial environment would be conserved.  
           [0004]    It would be beneficial to have a method and/or means for attaching a lifting apparatus to wine press tanks which would be both safe and easy to use. However, to the inventor&#39;s knowledge, no such method or means has existed in the prior art.  
         DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for attaching a lifting means to a large container.  
           [0006]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a means for lifting a wine press tank.  
           [0007]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means for securely affixing a tank to a lifting device.  
           [0008]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and means for securing a lifting mechanism to a wine press tank.  
           [0009]    Briefly, a known embodiment of the present invention is a lifting bracket apparatus for attaching to a lip of a wine press tank. The bracket has a center section and two sliding end sections. A pair of inner stops abuts the inner walls of the tank, and a pair of outer lip catches, affixed to the sliding sections, catch under a lip of the tank to securely affix the lifting bracket apparatus to the tank. A hoist harness is affixed to the sliding sections, such that when the lifting bracket apparatus is lifted by the hoist harness, inward pressure is applied to the sliding sections to secure the lip catches firmly under the lips of the tank.  
           [0010]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art in view of the description of modes of carrying out the invention, and the industrial applicability thereof, as described herein and as illustrated in the several figures of the drawing. The objects and advantages listed are not an exhaustive list of all possible advantages of the invention. Moreover, it will be possible to practice the invention even where one or more of the intended objects and/or advantages might be absent or not required in the application.  
           [0011]    Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that various embodiments of the present invention may achieve one or more, but not necessarily all, of the above described objects and advantages. Accordingly, the listed advantages are not essential elements of the present invention, and should not be construed as limitations.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wine press tank with a lifting attachment apparatus affixed thereto, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lifting attachment apparatus, similar to that shown in the view of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is perspective view of a portion of the lifting attachment of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional elevational view of an example of the inventive lifting attachment;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevational view of a portion of another embodiment of the inventive lifting attachment;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of the inventive lifting attachment with a lifting apparatus affixed thereto; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side elevational view of a wine press tank being lifted according to the present inventive method. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    The embodiments and variations of the invention described herein, and/or shown in the drawings, are presented by way of example only, and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specifically stated, individual aspects and components of the invention may be omitted or modified, or may have substituted therefore known equivalents, or as yet unknown substitutes such as may be developed in the future or such as may be found to be acceptable substitutes in the future. The invention may also be modified for a variety of applications while remaining within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, since the range of potential applications is great, and since it is intended that the present invention be adaptable to many such variations.  
         [0020]    A known mode for carrying out the invention is a tank lifting attachment apparatus. The inventive tank lifting attachment apparatus is depicted in a perspective view in FIG. 1, and is designated therein by the general reference character  10 . The tank lifting attachment apparatus  10  is shown affixed to a wine press tank  12 . The wine press tank  12  has a lip  14  around the upper rim thereof, whereby the talk lifting attachment apparatus  10  can be affixed.  
         [0021]    The tank lifting attachment  10  has a center section  16 , a first end section  18  and a second end section  20 . In the embodiment of the invention described, the center section  16  has two stretcher tubes  22 , two cross braces  24 , and two inside grip plates  26 , all of which are rigidly affixed together, by welding in this example. The first end section  18  and the second end section  20  are movably affixed in relation to the center section  16 , as will be described in more detail hereinafter.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an example of the tank lifting attachment  10 . As can be seen in the view of FIG. 2, the first end section  18  has an outside grip plate  28  for catching the lip  14  of the wine press tank  12 . The first outside grip plate  28  is rigidly affixed to a pair of first end section slider tubes  30 . The first end section slider tubes are slidably inserted within the stretcher tubes  22  such that the first outside grip plate  28  is free to move inward and outward in relation to the wine press tank  12 , as indicated by directional arrow  32 . A latching rod  34  is provided for latching the tank lifting attachment  10  in an open position, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. A latching hook  36  is movably affixed to the first outside grip plate  28  for hooking over the latching rod  34 . As can be seen in the view of FIG. 2, the first outside grip plate  28  has an under lip projection  38  for catching under the lip  14  of the wine press tank  12 .  
         [0023]    The second end section  20  has a second outside grip plate  42  which is rigidly affixed to a pair of second end section slider tubes  44 . The second end section slider tubes  44  are slidably inserted within the stretcher tubes  22  such that the second outside grip plate  42  is free to move inward and outward in relation to the wine press tank  12 , as indicated by directional arrow  46 . A pair of longitudinal sections  48  of the latching rod  34  extend through the stretcher tubes  22 , within the first end section slider tubes  30  and the second end section slider tubes  44 , and are rigidly affixed to the second end section slider tubes  44  by a pair of set screws  50 . Therefore, it can be seen that the latching rod  34  is free to side within the first end section slider tubes  34 , such that the first end section  18  is free to move as indicated by directional arrow  32  while the latching rod  34  remains stationary, unless the latching hook  36  is hooked over the latching rod. However, in normal operation, when the set screws  50  are tightened against the longitudinal sections  40  of the latching rod  34  (as they will be when the tank lifting attachment  10  is fully assembled and ready for operation), then the second end section  20  is rigidly affixed to the latching rod  34  such that the latching rod  34  and the second end section  20  can only move together as either moves in relation to directional arrow  46 . The second outside grip plate  42  also has an under lip projection  38  for catching under the lip  14  of the wine press tank  12 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of an example of the tank lifting attachment  10 , showing the first end section  18 . As can be seen in the view of FIG. 3, the latching hook  36  is movably affixed to the first outside grip plate  28  by a pin attachment plate  60  and pin  62  such that a hook portion  64  of the latching hook  36  can be hooked over the latching rod  34  by slightly rotating the latching hook  36  about the pin  62  in relation to the pin attachment plate. The latching hook  36  is held in place over the latching rod  34  by gravity until it is manually removed therefrom.  
         [0025]    Also visible in the view of FIG. 3 are two of four lifting device attachment apertures  70  (all four of which are visible in the view of FIG. 1), which will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional elevational view of an embodiment of the tank lifting attachment  10 . As can be seen in the view of FIG. 4, when the first outside grip plate  28  and the second outside grip plate  42  are pulled against the wine press tank  12 , the under lip projections  38  can be used to lift the wine press tank  12 . FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevational view of another embodiment of the tank lifting attachment  10   a,  showing an alternate first outside grip plate  28   a  and an alternate second outside grip plate  42   a.  As can be seen in the view of FIG. 5, both the first alternate grip plate  28   a  and the second alternate grip late  42   a  are angled inward somewhat, as compared to the first outside grip plate  28  and the second alternate grip plate  42  depicted in the example of FIG. 4.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of the first outside grip plate  28  showing a clevis  90  and clevis pin  92  affixed to the attachment aperture  70  such that a lifting strap  94  is securely affixed to the outside grip plate  28  by the clevis  90  and clevis pin  92 . In practice, an iteration of the clevis  90 , clevis pin  92  and lifting strap  94  can be affixed to each of the attachment apertures  70  (FIG. 1). The lifting straps  94  can then be secured to a conventional lifting device, such as a block and tackle, crane, or the like.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional elevational view of a wine press tank  12  being lifted using the tank lifting attachment  10   a  with four lifting straps  94  (two of which are visible in the view of FIG. 7). A generic lifting device (a crane, a lift truck, or the like, as discussed above) is depicted in block form and indicated by the numeric reference  100 . As can be appreciated in light of the example of FIG. 7, the weight of the wine press tank  12  will cause the first outside grip plate  28   a  and the second outside grip plate  42   a  to be pulled inward, toward the wine press tank  12 , as indicated by the inward directional arrows  102 . Thus, the weight of the wine press tank  12  will prevent the tank lifting attachment  10   a  from becoming detached from the wine press tank  12  while the wine press tank  12  is suspended from the lifting device  100  by the lifting straps  94 .  
         [0029]    Indeed, the greater the weight of tank  12 , the greater will be the inward force applied by first outside grip plate  28   a  and second outside grip plate  42   a.  Inside grip plates  26  are shaped similar to the wall of tank  12  (arcuate in this example), and are supported by stretcher tubes  22 , to support the wall of tank  12  against the inward force applied by outside grip plates  28   a,    42   a.  Thus, deformation of tank  12  is prevented.  
         [0030]    Various modifications may be made to the invention without altering its value or scope. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize that many alternative means for attaching the tank lifting attachment  10  to the lifting device  100  might be employed. For example, a chain could be used instead of the lifting straps  94  and/or hooks could be used instead of the clevis  90  and clevis pin  92 . Also, one skilled in the art will recognize that placement, position, and shape of many of the components of the embodiments described herein could readily be modified, eliminated and/or augmented without significantly deviating from the described functionality of the invention.  
         [0031]    All of the above are only some of the examples of available embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous other modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the disclosure herein is not intended as limiting and the appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the entire scope of the invention.  
       Industrial Applicability  
       [0032]    The inventive tank lifting attachment  10 ,  10   a  is intended to be widely used in the lifting of tank type containers such as the described wine press tank  12 . While the invention is now intended primarily for use with the wine press tanks  12 , the invention could readily be adapted for use with other types of containers or other such devices.  
         [0033]    Since the tank lifting attachment  10 ,  10   a  of the present invention may be readily produced and integrated with existing wine press tanks  12 , lifting devices  100 , and the like, and since the advantages as described herein are provided, it is expected that it will be readily accepted in the industry. For these and other reasons, it is expected that the utility and industrial applicability of the invention will be both significant in scope and long-lasting in duration.