Arm with two or more hooks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11745986-B2
Application number	US-202016931776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2020
Priority date	Jul 25, 2019
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

The arm with two or more hooks 1 comprises: a supporting beam 1) designed to be connected to an operating arm 20 of a telehandler 2 or another self-propelled operating machine and a plurality of hooks 11, 12, 13, distributed along the beam 10, each designed for supporting a respective load. One or more hooks 11, 12, 13 are connected to a load sensor 31, 32, 33.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coupling system comprising an arm ( 1 ) comprising a supporting beam ( 10 ) designed to be connected to an operating arm ( 20 ) of a telehandler ( 2 ) or another self-propelled operating machine, the arm comprising a plurality of hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ), distributed along said beam ( 10 ), each designed for supporting a respective load, characterised in that one or more of the hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) is connected to a load sensor ( 31 , 32 , 33 ) designed to produce a load signal as a function of the weight of the load supported by the respective hook, the load sensors are connected to an electronic processing unit ( 4 ) comprising a threshold module ( 42 ) configured for checking whether the load carried by the one or more of the hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) exceeds or not a respective risk threshold as a function of the maximum weight value which they are designed to support.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each hook ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) is connected to a respective load sensor ( 31 , 32 , 33 ).

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) includes: at least one memory module ( 43 ) in which is recorded a plurality of loading diagrams and a selection module ( 45 ) configured for selecting from the memory module ( 43 ) a loading diagram based on signals acquired from sensors ( 31 , 32 , 33 ); a control module ( 44 ) being configured for limiting the operational possibilities of a control apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ), based on the loading diagram selected.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) comprises an identification module, configured to determine which hook(s) is/are stressed by respective loads as a function of the signals produced by the respective load sensors ( 31 , 32 , 33 ), said selection module being designed to select a relative load diagram from the memory module ( 43 ) on the basis of which hook(s) ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) is/are stressed.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) comprises a weight module ( 47 ) configured for calculating the weight values supported by the hooks as a function of the signals acquired from the load sensors ( 31 , 32 , 33 ), the selection module ( 45 ) being designed to select a load diagram from the memory module ( 43 ), based on the weight values measured, and
wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) includes a barycentre module ( 48 ) configured to calculate a position of the barycentre of a load hanging from the hooks as a function of which the hook(s) are stressed by respective loads and weight values supported by the hooks, the selection module ( 45 ) being designed to select a load diagram from the memory module ( 43 ), based on said position of the barycentre.

6. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) comprises a weight module ( 47 ) configured for calculating the weight values supported by the hooks as a function of the signals acquired from the load sensors ( 31 , 32 , 33 ), the selection module ( 45 ) being designed to select a load diagram from the memory module ( 43 ), based on the weight values measured.

7. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the arm ( 1 ) is movable between a plurality of configurations, and the system includes at least one position sensor designed to detect the current configuration of the arm ( 1 ) and to transmit to the processing unit ( 4 ) a position signal, wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) includes a position module ( 49 ) designed for detecting the configuration of the arm ( 1 ) as a function of the position signal, the selection module ( 45 ) being designed to select a load diagram from the memory module ( 43 ), based on the configuration of the arm ( 1 ) detected.

8. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a communication device ( 5 ) connected to the processing unit ( 4 ) and designed to supply to an operator of said telehandler ( 2 ) information on the load(s) supported by the arm ( 1 ), wherein said processing unit ( 4 ) comprises an information module ( 41 ) configured to produce information signals designed to control the device in such a way that it shows the operator load information as a function of the measurements taken by the load sensors ( 31 , 32 , 33 ).

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said information module ( 41 ) is subject to said threshold module ( 42 ) and is configured for producing information signals designed to produce alarm warnings directed to the operator in an information device ( 5 ), following the verification that the weight carried by one or more hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) has reached or exceeded a respective risk threshold.

10. The system according to claim 1 , comprising an apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) for controlling the above-mentioned operating arm ( 20 ), wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) includes a control module ( 44 ) configured for producing a control signal designed to adjust the operation of said control apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) as a function of the inspections performed by the threshold module ( 42 ).

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the control module ( 44 ) is configured for producing a control signal designed to block movements of the arm ( 20 ) by the control apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ).

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the control module ( 44 ) is configured for producing a control signal designed to make the arm ( 20 ) perform retraction and/or lowering movements by the control apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ).

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the control apparatus includes an electro-hydraulic distributor ( 25 ) designed to control hydraulic cylinders ( 26 , 27 ) for moving the arm as a function of control signals received.

14. A telehandler ( 2 ) equipped with a system according to claim 1 .

15. A method for using an arm with several hooks ( 1 ) mounted on or to be mounted on an operating arm ( 20 ) of a telehandler ( 2 ), comprising the following steps:
suspending one or more loads from one or more hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) of said arm ( 1 );
detecting the weight of the suspended load or loads; checking for one or more hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) whether the load carried by them exceeds or not a respective risk threshold as a function of the maximum weight value which they are designed to support.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein an operator is supplied with information representing said weight of the load or loads.

17. The method according to claim 16 , comprising the step of producing an alarm warning directed to the operator, following the verification that the weight carried by one or more hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) is equal to or greater than the respective above-mentioned risk threshold.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein a device is provided for controlling the above-mentioned operating arm ( 20 ), the method comprising the step of adjusting the operation of a control apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ) of the arm ( 20 ) according to whether the load carried by one or more hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) reaches or exceeds the respective risk threshold.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the movements of the arm ( 20 ) are blocked by the control apparatus ( 25 , 26 , 27 ), when the load carried by one or more hooks ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) has reached or exceeded the respective risk threshold.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the operating arm ( 20 ) is made to perform retraction and/or lowering movement, when the load carried by one or more

Assignees

• Manitou Italia Srl

Inventors

• Iotti Marco

Classifications

• B66C1/40 Primary

  formed or fitted with load measuring or indicating devices · CPC title

• B66C1/34

  Crane hooks · CPC title

• B66C1/36

  with means, e.g. spring-biased detents, for preventing inadvertent disengagement of loads · CPC title

• B66C13/16 Primary

  Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices (in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08) · CPC title

• B66C1/105 Primary

  Lifting beam permitting to depose a load through an opening · CPC title