Double-reeved lifting device with a rotary locking mechanism

A double-reeved lifting device for a lifting machinery, the lifting device comprising two reeve blocks including a lower reeve block secured to a lifting hook and an upper reeve block, wherein the two reeve blocks comprise reversible connection means adapted to be reversibly configured between:

• a connected configuration in which the upper reeve block is connected to the lower reeve block so as to be able to accompany the lower reeve block in ascending/descending movements, and
• a disconnected configuration in which the upper reeve block is disconnected from the lower reeve block so as to be able to remain hanging above the lower reeve block such that the lower reeve block is configured to perform descending/ascending movements without the upper reeve block,
• wherein the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration respectively correspond to a double-reeved configuration and to a simple-reeved configuration, or vice versa, of the double-reeved lifting device,
• wherein the reversible connection means comprise a locking mechanism mounted on one of the two reeve blocks, and a complementary locking structure mounted on the other one of the two reeve blocks and adapted to cooperate with the locking mechanism;
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a set forming a striker having at least one striker orifice, and the locking mechanism comprises a bolt mounted slidably movable along a spindle along a main axis and comprising at least one locking finger, wherein the bolt is also pivotally movable around the spindle and the main axis between:
• a locking state, applied in the connected configuration, with the at least one locking finger inside the at least one striker orifice, and
• an unlocking state, applied in the disconnected configuration, with the at least one locking finger out of the at least one striker orifice so as to enable a relative approach and a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks, and
• wherein the locking mechanism and the complementary locking structure comprise respective guide elements cooperating together so as to convert a relative approach and a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks into concomitant slidings and rotations of the bolt,
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a catch against which the bolt is configured to abut during a relative approach between the two reeve blocks for a sliding of the bolt in a first sliding direction, and the locking mechanism comprises an elastic biasing element, urging the bolt to slide in a second sliding direction, opposite to the first sliding direction,
• wherein the respective guide elements comprise complementary guide elements provided on the locking mechanism so as to cooperate in sliding bearing in order to convert a sliding of the bolt in the first sliding direction into a concomitant first rotation of the bolt, and a sliding of the bolt in the second sliding direction into a concomitant second rotation of the bolt, and
• wherein a sequence of the concomitant first rotation and of the concomitant second rotation leads to an overall rotation of the bolt at an overall angular amplitude that is equivalent to 90 degrees or to 90 degrees plus N times 180 degrees, N being an integer other than zero.

A double-reeved lifting device for a lifting machinery, the lifting device comprising two reeve blocks including a lower reeve block secured to a lifting hook and an upper reeve block, wherein the two reeve blocks comprise reversible connection means adapted to be reversibly configured between:

• a connected configuration in which the upper reeve block is connected to the lower reeve block so as to be able to accompany the lower reeve block in ascending/descending movements, and
• a disconnected configuration in which the upper reeve block is disconnected from the lower reeve block so as to be able to remain hanging above the lower reeve block such that the lower reeve block is configured to perform descending/ascending movements without the upper reeve block,
• wherein the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration respectively correspond to a double-reeved configuration and to a simple-reeved configuration, or vice versa, of the double-reeved lifting device,
• wherein the reversible connection means comprise a locking mechanism mounted on one of the two reeve blocks, and a complementary locking structure mounted on the other one of the two reeve blocks and adapted to cooperate with the locking mechanism;
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a set forming a striker having at least one striker orifice, and the locking mechanism comprises a bolt mounted slidably movable along a spindle along a main axis and comprising at least one locking finger, wherein the bolt is also pivotally movable around the spindle and the main axis between:
• a locking state, applied in the connected configuration, with the at least one locking finger inside the at least one striker orifice, and
• an unlocking state, applied in the disconnected configuration, with the at least one locking finger out of the at least one striker orifice so as to enable a relative approach and a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks, and
• wherein the locking mechanism and the complementary locking structure comprise respective guide elements cooperating together so as to convert a relative approach and a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks into concomitant slidings and rotations of the bolt,
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a catch against which the bolt is configured to abut during a relative approach between the two reeve blocks for a sliding of the bolt in a first sliding direction, and the locking mechanism comprises an elastic biasing element, urging the bolt to slide in a second sliding direction, opposite to the first sliding direction,
• wherein the respective guide elements comprise complementary guide elements provided on the locking mechanism so as to cooperate in sliding bearing in order to convert a sliding of the bolt in the first sliding direction into a concomitant first rotation of the bolt, and a sliding of the bolt in the second sliding direction into a concomitant second rotation of the bolt, and
• wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
• the spindle extending along the main axis and provided with a free end having a stop for the bolt;
• the bolt mounted rotatably and slidably movable around the spindle along the main axis, the bolt comprising the at least one locking finger extending transversely with respect to the main axis, wherein the bolt has a distal end facing the stop, and a proximal end opposite to the distal end;
• and
• the elastic biasing element mounted on the spindle and bearing on the proximal end of the bolt to slidably urge it in the direction of the stop in the second sliding direction;
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a locking housing in which are provided:
• the catch against which the distal end of the bolt is configured to abut upon a relative approach between the two reeve blocks, urging the bolt to slide in the direction of at least one complementary proximal guide element in the first sliding direction, against the elastic biasing element;
• and
• the set forming the striker having the at least one striker orifice;
• and wherein the complementary guide elements comprise:
• at least one proximal guide element provided on the proximal end of the bolt and the at least one complementary proximal guide element provided on the spindle so as to cooperate in sliding bearing with the at least one proximal guide element in order to convert a sliding of the bolt in the direction of the at least one complementary proximal guide element in the first sliding direction into the concomitant first rotation of the bolt, upon a relative approach between the two reeve blocks;
• at least one distal guide element provided on the distal end of the bolt and at least one complementary distal guide element provided on the spindle so as to cooperate in sliding bearing with the at least one distal guide element in order to convert a displacement of the bolt in the direction of the stop and of the at least one complementary distal guide element in the second sliding direction into the concomitant second rotation of the bolt, by the effect of the elastic biasing element upon a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks.

A lifting machinery comprising:

• a jib;
• and
• a double-reeved lifting device comprising two reeve blocks including a lower reeve block secured to a lifting hook and an upper reeve block, wherein the two reeve blocks comprise reversible connection means adapted to be reversibly configured between:
• a connected configuration in which the upper reeve block is connected to the lower reeve block so as to be able to accompany the lower reeve block in ascending/descending movements, and
• a disconnected configuration in which the upper reeve block is disconnected from the lower reeve block so as to be able to remain hanging above the lower reeve block such that the lower reeve block is configured to perform descending/ascending movements without the upper reeve block,
• wherein the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration respectively correspond to a double-reeved configuration and to a simple-reeved configuration, or vice versa, of the double-reeved lifting device,
• wherein the reversible connection means comprise a locking mechanism mounted on one of the two reeve blocks, and a complementary locking structure mounted on the other one of the two reeve blocks and adapted to cooperate with the locking mechanism;
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a set forming a striker having at least one striker orifice, and the locking mechanism comprises a bolt mounted slidably movable along a spindle along a main axis and comprising at least one locking finger, wherein the bolt is also pivotally movable around the spindle and the main axis between:
• a locking state, applied in the connected configuration, with the at least one locking finger inside the at least one striker orifice, and
• an unlocking state, applied in the disconnected configuration, with the at least one locking finger out of the at least one striker orifice so as to enable a relative approach and a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks, and
• wherein the locking mechanism and the complementary locking structure comprise respective guide elements cooperating together so as to convert a relative approach and a relative distancing between the two reeve blocks into concomitant slidings and rotations of the bolt,
• the double-reeved lifting device formed so as to lift/lower a load along the jib, wherein the lower reeve block hangs from the jib by a lifting rope connected to a lifting winch to make the lower reeve block ascend/descend, the lifting rope passing through the upper reeve block, and wherein:
• starting from the disconnected configuration with the upper reeve block hanging above the lower reeve block and with the bolt in the unlocking state, the lower reeve block is configured to be displaced so that the respective guide elements cooperate together so as to make the bolt slide and pivot concomitantly in order to set the bolt into the locking state to reach the connected configuration;
• and
• starting from the connected configuration with the bolt in the locking state, the lower reeve block could be displaced so that the respective guide elements cooperate together so as to make the bolt slide and pivot concomitantly in order to set the bolt into the unlocking state to reach the disconnected configuration,
• wherein the complementary locking structure comprises a catch against which the bolt is configured to abut during a relative approach between the two reeve blocks for a sliding of the bolt in a first sliding direction, and the locking mechanism comprises an elastic biasing element, urging the bolt to slide in a second sliding direction, opposite to the first sliding direction,
• wherein the respective guide elements comprise complementary guide elements provided on the locking mechanism so as to cooperate in sliding bearing in order to convert a sliding of the bolt in the first sliding direction into a concomitant first rotation of the bolt, and a sliding of the bolt in the second sliding direction into a concomitant second rotation of the bolt, and
• starting from the disconnected configuration, the lower reeve block is configured to be raised for a relative approach between the two reeve blocks until the upper reeve block reaches a high stop on the jib and the bolt abuts against the catch in order to make the bolt slide in the first sliding direction and make the bolt pivot concomitantly into the concomitant first rotation of the bolt, and then the lower reeve block could be lowered so that the bolt slides in the second sliding direction urged by the elastic biasing element and concomitantly pivots into the concomitant second rotation of the bolt, thereby setting the bolt in the locking state;
• and
• starting from the connected configuration, the lower reeve block is configured to be raised until the upper reeve block reaches the high stop on the jib and the bolt abuts against the catch in order to make the bolt slide in the first sliding direction and make it pivot concomitantly into the concomitant first rotation of the bolt, and then the lower reeve block is configured to be lowered so that the bolt slides in the second sliding direction urged by the elastic biasing element and concomitantly pivots into the concomitant second rotation of the bolt, thereby setting the bolt in the unlocking state.