Mobile laboratory for on-site testing of industrial sling

• US 5,216,923 A
• Filed: 02/06/1992
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles W. Brett
• Original Assignee: Charles W. Brett
• Inventors: Brett, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US07/832,671
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 73/826-835, 73/837, 73/104, 73/821, 73/852
• US Class Current: 73/827
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/00 Safety gear for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/54
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0033 applying a pulling force
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0244 Tests performed "in situ" or after "in situ" use
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/08 by applying steady tensile or compressive forces G01N3/28 takes precedence

Abstract

The procedure heretofore of transporting industrial slings annually to and from the industrial site where the sling is used and a test facility for stress testing the sling, and the concomitant withdrawal of the sling from industrial use for a day or more, are avoided by mounting the stress testing equipment on a motorized vehicle to enable such testing at the industrial site.

Claims

1. A self-contained mobile laboratory for on-site testing and certification of industrial slings comprising the combination of

a) an operator driven motor vehicle having an enclosed housing, said housing having a floor, a roof, sidewalls, and a seat for said operator,

b) a pull-test means within said housing comprisinga stress resisting pull-test bed mounted on said floor adjacent to one of said sidewalls, said bed extending horizontally in a direction from front to rear linearly of said vehicle,

a pair of attachment means spaced in said direction for attaching to linearly spaced portions of a sling component to be tested, said attachment means being movable relative to each other linearly of said bed, andforce exerting means actuatable for moving said attachment means linearly of said bed and away from each other for pull testing said sling component when attached thereto,

c) said floor having a floor space adjacent to and extending the length of said bed, said floor space and housing being dimensioned to enable movement of test personnel and observers therealong without crouching,

d) storage means and desk means within said housing for storing test records and for enabling the recording of test data, respectively,

e) magna flux means within said housing for rendering visible minute flaws in a component of said sling when said component is coated with a fluid sensitive to ultraviolet light and exposed to said light, said magna flux means comprisingelectrically powered means selectively operable for magnetizing said component, and

electrically powered means selectively operable for illuminating said component with ultraviolet light, and

f) electrical circuit means within said housing for receiving electrical power and for selectively distributing power to said force exerting means for actuating the later and also for distributing power to said means for magnetizing and illuminating for operating the same.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said bed comprising a pair of load sustaining beams supported above said floor and extending side by side in said direction linearly of said housing, said beams providing a space therebetween for a sling component being tested in said bed between said beams, a protective cover for said bed having an outer edge adjacent to said one side wall and having an inner edge opposite said outer edge, said cover overlying said beams, and hinge means securing said outer edge adjacent to said one wall for swinging said inner edge upwardly from said bed to permit access thereto.

3. A self-contained mobile laboratory for on-site testing and certification of industrial slings comprising the combination ofan operator driven motor vehicle having an enclosed housing defined by a floor having floor space for test and observer personnel to walk on, sidewalls and endwalls, a roof spaced above said floor space to enable said personnel to walk thereon without crouching, and a seat for a vehicle operator,essential equipment mounted in said housing in assembled operative condition to enable on site testing of industrial slings within said housing, said equipment including

A) a pull-test bed mounted on said floor adjacent to said floor space and equipped with power operated apparatus for pull-testing sling components,

B) electrically actuated power means for actuating said apparatus

C) a work bench, a desk, and record storage space,

D) magna-flux means for enabling visual detection of minute defects in a sling component, said magna-flux means including electrical means for magnetizing a sling component and electrical means for illuminating a sling component with ultraviolet light,

E) electrical power reception and distribution means for receiving electrical power and for selectively distributing electrical power to said power means for actuating said apparatus, to said magnetizing means for magnetizing a sling component, and to said means for illuminating a sling component.

4. A mobile laboratory according to claim 3 wherein said pull-test bed extends horizontally within said housing, and comprising in addition a protective cover for said bed, said cover having an outer edge adjacent to one of said sidewalls and having an opposite inner edge, and hinge means securing said outer edge adjacent to said one wall for swinging said inner edge vertically to and from a protective position overlying said bed.

5. The method of on-site testing and certification of an industrial sling at the industrial site where the sling is used and of avoiding transportation of the sling to and from a remote test facility and the consequence cost and extended down time required for such transportation, the steps ofproviding an operator driven motor vehicle having an enclosed housing defined by a floor having a floor space for test and observer personnel to walk on, sidewalls, a roof spaced above said floor space to enable said personnel to walk on said floor space without crouching, and a seat for a vehicle operator,mounting within said housing equipment in assembled condition to provide a self-contained mobile laboratory for on-site testing and certification of sling components, said equipment including

A) pull-test means including a pull-test bed mounted horizontally on said floor between said floor space and one of said sidewalls, and also including power actuated apparatus cooperable with said bed for pull-testing sling components,

B) electrical power means for actuating said apparatus,

C) a work bench and record storage space,

D) magna-flux means for rendering visible minute flaws in a sling component, said magna-flux means including first electrical means for magnetizing a sling component, and a second electrical means for illuminating a sling component with ultraviolet light, and

E) electric power reception and distribution means for receiving electrical power and for distributing electrical power to said electrical power means and to said first and second electrical means,

transporting said vehicle to an industrial site where industrial slings are used,utilizing said equipment within said vehicle to test a sling at said site and in the presence of its custodian standing on said floor space,certifying the tested sling according to its safe usable load, andmaintaining in said storage space a record for the tested sling.