METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING OVERLOAD DISTORTION

• US 20170341913A1
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tiger Lifting UK Limited
• Original Assignee: Tiger Lifting UK Limited
• Inventors: Inglis, David, Tsao, Charles, Tsao, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/40 formed or fitted with load measuring or indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/30 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. mechanical strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0071 Specific indicating arrangements, e.g. of overload
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/047 Specific indicating or recording arrangements, e.g. for remote indication, for indicating overload or underload

Abstract

Method and apparatus for detecting overload distortion A method and apparatus for detecting overload distortion in lifting and the like gear is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hook with two reference points thereon defining, in the undistorted state of the hook, a reference dimension. The hook also has a standard dimension provided on the hook and conveniently accessible for reference purposes. The standard dimension is also a pair of points and one of this pair is coincident with one of the reference points thereby forming a triangle of points on the hook.

Claims

1. A method for detecting overload distortion in lifting and the like gear comprising:

(i) providing a hook or the like quick-attach device which is susceptible to overload distortion;

(ii) providing said hook or the like quick-attach device with two reference points thereon defining, in the undistorted state of said hook or the like, a reference dimension in a. portion of said hook which is liable to dimensional increase in the case of overload; and

(iii) comparing the dimension of said reference dimension with known data after subjecting said hook or the like to possible overloading, in order to determine whether overload distortion has occurred; and

wherein said step of comparing the dimension of said reference dimension with known data after subjecting said hook or the like to possible overloading is performed by comparing said reference dimension with known data in the form of a standard dimension provided on said hook and conveniently accessible for reference purposes.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said reference dimension and said standard dimension being defined by formations provided on said hook at spaced locations thereon and defining the corners of an isosceles triangle, and said step of comparing being performed by establishing identity of dimension or not.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said step of comparison being performed by applying a piece of string or thread or the like across the pairs of formations defining said triangle-.

4. A method for detecting overload distortion in lifting and the like gear comprising:

(i) providing a hook or the like quick-attach device which is susceptible to overload distortion;

(ii) providing said hook or the like quick-attach device with three reference points, for example in the form of formations such as inwardly or outwardly-projecting (concave or convex, whether rounded or not) location-defining formations, at locations thereon defining, in the undistorted state of said hook or the like, an isosceles or equilateral triangle; and

(iii) comparing the dimensions of two sides of said isosceles or equilateral triangle, one of which includes the dimension of said hook or the like (such as the mouth of the hook) which is the more liable to dimensional increase in the case of overload distortion, after subjecting said hook or the like to possible overloading.

5. A hook or the like quick-attach device which is susceptible o overload distortion;

said hook or the like quick-attach device comprising two reference points thereon defining, in the undistorted state of said hook or the like, a reference dimension in a portion of said hook which is liable to dimensional increase in the case of overload;

said reference dimension being comparable with known data after subjecting said hook or the like to possible overloading, in order to determine whether overload distortion has occurred; and

said hook comprising, in addition to said reference points defining said reference dimension, at least one further reference point defining a standard dimension provided on said hook and conveniently accessible for reference purposes, and said step of comparing the dimension of said reference dimension with known data after subjecting said hook or the like to possible overloading is performed by comparing said reference dimension with said standard dimension.

6. A hook or the like according to claim 5 wherein said reference points defining said reference and said standard dimensions comprising three such points disposed at the corners of an isosceles triangle.

7. A hook or the like according to claim 6 characterised by said reference points being disposed at the corners of an equilateral triangle.

8. A hook or the like according to claim 5 wherein said reference formations being provided in the form of upstanding projections from the surface of the hook and formed integrally therewith and having side surfaces well-adapted for engagement with the blades of an adjustable tool, such as a calliper, adapted to be rapidly adjusted to the dimension of said reference dimension and for rapid disengagement therefrom and re-engagement with the formations defining said standard dimension for detection of any difference in dimension.

9. A lifting device comprising:

at least one attachment device for attaching the device to a fixture;

at least one suspension device for suspending from the at least one attachment device; and

at least one hook according to claim 5.

10-12. -12. (canceled)