Hoisting device with stressing indicia

• US 5,452,679 A
• Filed: 01/26/1994
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Columbus Mckinnon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Columbus Mckinnon Corporation
• Inventors: Eckley, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIRSHFELD, ANDREW HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/188,389
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 116/208, 116/200, 116/212, 116/DIG. 63, 116/DIG. 34, 294/82.1, 73/760, 73/761, 73/762, 73/862.621, 73/862.636, 73/862.637, 411/8, 411/14, 411/400, 411/401, 411/9
• US Class Current: 116/200
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/34 Crane hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 13/18 Chains having special overall characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 15/06 Shackles designed for attachment by joint pins to chain elements, e.g. D-shackles so called harp links; the D-chain links are classified according to the corresponding kind of chain
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 17/00 Hooks as integral parts of chains hooks for cranes B66C1/34; hooks in general F16B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/30 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. mechanical strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/047 Specific indicating or recording arrangements, e.g. for remote indication, for indicating overload or underload
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/34 Tension indicating

Abstract

An improved hoisting device, such as a hook, shackle, ring, link, or the like, includes indicia for determining deformation damage to the device from overstressing. The indicia includes components which assume a predetermined geometrical configuration, such as a line segment co-linearly aligned with another line segment or dot, as the device is in an unstressed and undeformed state, and which do not assume the predetermined configuration if the device have been damaged from over-stressing. The indicia also includes cooperating components for dynamically indicating the magnitude of stressing relative to the maximum design stress of the device. The indicia is adapted for both close proximity and remote stressing determinations.

Claims

1. A device for binding or hoisting loads with a connecting member, said device comprising:

a) a body having structure for operably connecting said body to the connecting member; and

b) indicia affixed to said body, said indicia comprising first components that are not colinearly aligned as said device is in an undeformed and unstressed state and that are colinearly aligned when a portion of said body of said device is partially deflected but not deformed.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a hook.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a shackle.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a ring.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a link.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said indicia protrudes from said body.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said indicia is engraved in said body.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said indicia further comprise second components that are colinearly aligned as said device is in said undeformed state.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first components comprises a line segment.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein one of said first components comprises a dot.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first components comprise a pair of corresponding line segments.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first components comprise a line segment and a corresponding dot.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said indicia further comprise cooperating second components that are colinearly aligned as said device is subjected to its maximum design stress.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said second components comprises a line segment.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein one of said second components comprises a dot.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein said second components comprise a pair of corresponding line segments.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein said second components comprise a line segment and a corresponding dot.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein said indicia further includes second components that are aligned as said device is in an undeformed and unstressed state and that are not aligned as said device is in a deflected state.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein said first components and said second components each comprise at least one line segment.

20. The device according to claim 18 wherein said first components and said second components each comprise a pair of cooperating line segments.

21. A device for hoisting a load with a connecting member, said device comprising:

a) a body having structure for connecting to the connecting member, said body having a hook-shaped configuration; and

b) indicia affixed to said body, said indicia including a first set of components, at least one of which is a line segment, that are colinearly aligned as said device is in an undeformed and unstressed state and that are not colinearly aligned as said device is in a deflected state;

said indicia further including a second set of components, at least one of which is a line segment, that are not colinearly aligned as said device is in an undeformed and unstressed state and that are colinearly aligned as said device is in an undeformed state and is subjected to its maximum design stress; and

(c) wherein the presence of said colinear and non-colinear alignments of said first and second sets of components are ascertainable by comparing respective said first and second sets of components with a straightedge.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said colinear and non-colinear alignments of said first and second sets of components are remotely observable.