# US 11,897,732 B2 · System and method for controlling the lifting and handling of a load > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,732 B2 - Document ID: US11897732B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/178,698 - Filed: 2023-03-06 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-24 - Assignees: Helmerich & Payne Technologies UK Limited - Applicants: Helmerich & Payne Technologies UK Limited - Inventors: Angus Lamberton Jamieson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897732B2 ## CPC - B66C 1/10: by mechanical means - B66C 3/005: {Grab supports, e.g. articulations; Oscillation dampers; Orientation (B66C3/16 takes precedence)} - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) ## Abstract Described is a system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted. The system includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member includes at least one pin. The second connector member includes an indexer mechanism defining a track that includes at least one track opening. At least a portion of the second connector is receivable in at least a portion of the first connector. At least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in the track via the at least one track opening. The first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted; the system comprising: a first connector member, the first connector member comprising at least one pin; and a second connector member, the second connector member comprising an indexer mechanism defining a track; wherein at least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in and moveable out of the track; wherein the pin is movable along the track between a lock position and an unlock position; wherein the first connector member is reversibly coupleable to the second connector member via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the first or second connector members; and wherein the first connector member and the second connector member are separable in the unlock position during use for connecting the lifting device to the load to be lifted. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the pin is located on an inner surface of a body of the first connector member, and the indexer mechanism is located on an outer surface of a body of the second connector member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the pin is movable along the track from the lock position to the unlock position due to a gravitational force. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the pin is located in a load bearing slot of the track in the lock position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the track comprises a plurality of load bearing slots and a plurality of track openings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second connector member is insertable into the first connector member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the indexer mechanism is integrally formed with the second connector member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the indexer mechanism is positioned in a first section of the second connector member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first section and a second section of the second connector member are independently rotatable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second connector member further comprises a clutch mechanism that rotationally couples the first section and a second section of the second connector member in a first state and permits independent rotation of the first section and the second section in a second state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the clutch mechanism comprises: a shaft; an upper clutch portion located at an upper end of the shaft and comprising a plurality of teeth; a lower clutch portion located at a lower end of the shaft and comprising a plurality of teeth; and a spring positioned around the shaft and extending between the upper clutch portion and the lower clutch portion; wherein the upper clutch portion is engageable with the lower clutch portion in the second state. ### Claim 12 A method of connecting a load to a lifting device and lifting the load, the method comprising: coupling a first connector member to a load, the first connector member comprising at least one pin; coupling a second connector member to a lifting device, the second connector member comprising an indexer mechanism defining a track; inserting the at least one pin into the track; coupling at least one portion of the second connector member to at least one portion of the first connector member by moving the first connector member, the second connector member, or both, in a first series of longitudinal movements relative to each other to reversibly couple the first connector member and the second connector member; removing the at least one pin from the track; and lifting the first connector member, the load, and the second connector member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising; decoupling and separating the at least one portion of the first connector member and the at least one portion of the second connector member by moving the second connector member in a second series of longitudinal movements relative to the first connector member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein coupling the at least one portion of the second connector member to the at least one portion of the first connector member comprises lowering the at least one portion of the second connector member into or around the at least one portion of the first connector member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the at least one pin along the track from a lock position to an unlock position using a gravitational force, wherein the first connector member and the second connector member are decouplable in the unlock position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein decoupling the at least one portion of the first connector member and the at least one portion of the second connector member comprises supporting the load on a surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first series and the second series of longitudinal movements comprise a predetermined sequence of downward and upward longitudinal movements of the second connector member relative to the first connector member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the second connector member in the first series of longitudinal movements to position the pin in a load bearing slot of the track. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the second connector member comprises a first section and a second section that are independently rotatable in a first state and are rotationally coupled in a second state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising applying a lifting force to the second connector member to move the first section and the second section to the second state. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the track comprises a plurality of load bearing slots and a plurality of track openings. ### Claim 22 A system for connecting a lifting device to a load to be lifted; the system comprising: a connector adapted to be removably coupled to a mating piece; wherein the connector comprises an indexer mechanism defining a track; wherein the mating piece comprises at least one pin; wherein at least a portion of the at least one pin is receivable in and moveable out of the track; wherein the pin is movable along the track between a lock position and an unlock position; wherein the connector is adapted to be removably coupled to the mating piece via the pin and the indexer mechanism in response to a first series of longitudinal movements of the connector or the mating piece; and wherein the connector and the mating piece are decouplable and separable in the unlock position during use for connecting the lifting device to the load to be lifted. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the pin is located on an inner surface of a body of the mating piece, and the indexer mechanism is located on an outer surface of a body of the connector. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the pin is movable along the track from the lock position to the unlock position due to a gravitational force. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the pin is located in a load bearing slot of the track in the lock position. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the track comprises a plurality of load bearing slots and a plurality of track openings. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the connector is insertable into the mating piece. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the indexer mechanism is integrally formed with the connector.