Dual-function, sequential-task, lug-registry, pick and stack-align building-component handling system

A system employable during the construction of a building for enabling dual-task handling of structural building components having tops, and upright, central axes that extend centrally through such tops, said system comprising

• an elongate, dual-mode, sequential-task-operational, pick and stack-registry lug, having a body of revolution with a central axis, and a longitudinal grasp-and capture profile defined within said body by (1) an included head having one, maximum outside diameter, (2) a longitudinally central, radially-inset, circumsurrounding, annular channel portion joined to and disposed below said head having a smaller, longitudinally central, outside diameter, and (3) a radially outwardly flared base joined to and disposed below said channel portion having another, maximum outside diameter which is larger than said central, outside diameter in said channel portion,
• said lug being anchorable, through its said base, to the top in a first, selected, structural building component in a disposition relative to that top with the lug's, central axis substantially aligned with the central axis of the selected, anchored-to, building component, thus to enable, when so anchored, both (a) picking and transporting of the component, and (b), selectively, and subsequently, overhead stack-registry, for accommodating overhead-stacked connection to the top of the first-mentioned component of a second, overhead structural building component, to whose top is also similarly anchored another sequential-task, pick and stack-registry lug.

A combined building-frame construction project and an associated, structural-component handling system which is functionally involved in the project, in operative conditions with respect to one another, and relative to a particular fabrication stage in the project, comprising

• a ground-supported structural building frame assembly having a portion possessing a defined pattern of elongate, upright columns with tops and central, upright axes, readied to have lowered to and stack-mounted on it a preassembled, overhead frame module,
• a dual-function, pick and stack-registry lug having a central axis anchored to the top of each column in the ground-supported frame portion with the lug's central axis aligned with the central axis in the column to whose top it is anchored, poised to function for promoting stack registry in the project with respect to a lowered-for-mounting preassembled, overhead frame module,
• a preassembled frame module intended for overhead mounting on the ground-supported frame portion possessing a pattern of elongate, upright columns exactly matching the column pattern present in the ground-supported frame portion, with the columns in the frame module having bases and tops, and respective, central, upright axes, and with the frame module, in relation to the mentioned, particular fabrication stage in the project, poised overhead the ground-supported frame portion,
• a pick and stack-registry lug-reception guide socket furnished in the base of each column in the frame module, having a body of revolution with a central axis centered on the long axis of that column, and adapted guidingly to receive a pick and stack-registry lug anchored to the top of an underlying column in the ground-supported frame portion on appropriate lowering of the frame module toward the ground-supported frame portion,
• an elongate, pick and stack-registry lug of the type described above anchored to the top of each column in the frame module, employed to function for picking in the project with respect to accommodating holding and maneuvering of the frame module,
• associated with each lug which is anchored to the top of a column in the frame module, a clamshell-style, releasably lockable clasp positively, securely, and releasably clasping the lug for cooperative pick handling of both the associated column and the overall frame module containing the column, and
• maneuverable cable suspension structure, appropriately and operatively connected to each clasp, operable to maneuver the frame module to a position overhead the ground-supported frame portion wherein the columns in the frame module are all precisely aligned with the columns in the ground-supported frame portion, and with such alignment achieved, to lower the frame module to a condition of gravity-sealed stack registry relative to the ground-supported frame portion through stack-registry engagement between the lugs associated with the latter and the lug-reception sockets associate with the former.