US 4,943,099 AGranted

Tongs-like cargo hook device with automatic loading and unloading capability

OwnerEdwin Z. Gabrielinventor

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Abstract

This is a cable-scooping cargo hook device, pivoted near its center and weighted on top to help force its lower portions to automatically separate upon touchdown on a platform to discharge its load cable. By having the device sit on one of its jaws, the device can be made to avoid rescooping a discharged cable, in its simplest version. Also to assist in discharging its load cable are two inwardly protruding extensions with hammerheads, located above the pivot pin. These hammerheads have magnets of like polarity facing each other to produce a repulsive force and cause the device's jaws to open immediately when the hoist cables slacken, a feature to assist in the jaws straddling and scooping up a load cable. Also an electromagnet to perform the same function as the permanent magnets is described. Then a technique involving additional electromagnets enables the device not only to discharge a loaded cable while suspended, but also to improve its automatic loading ability. In addition to the use of one or more electromagnets for achieving positive load retention, positive load retention techniques are shown which are completely mechanical, requiring no electrical energy source.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A cargo hook device for quickly scooping up and releasing suspended cargo remotely and automatically, comprising a tongs-like part A, having two elongated members, pivoted near their mid-section by a central pivot pin, and having hammerheads with exterior faces, for use with a load cable and hoist cables, each cable being adapted for attachment to said part A, said members having upper and lower portions, each said upper portions having a weight for automatically separating said portions upon touchdown of said cargo, said lower portions having complementary-shaped, sharp-edged beveled jaw ends having upper and lower surfaces, which close against each other end-to-end to form a smooth continuous contour between said engaging ends when supporting said load cable, because of the tension on said hoist cable;

said upper portions having inside surfaces with a primary rod fastened horizontally to each of said inside surfaces, with said device in an upright position, and each rod having said hammerhead at one end and each said hammerhead extending inward and containing a permanent magnet, said magnet's exterior having the same polarity as the polarity of the magnet contained in the opposing hammerhead, so that the two magnets when coming together tend to repel with a force of sufficient intensity to assist in said ends separating from each other the moment said hoist cables slacken upon touchdown of said cargo;
said magnets enabling said ends to disengage automatically with less magnitude of said weight, thereby reducing said device's weight;
said magnets also preventing said exterior faces when abutting from sticking together and hindering the separation of said jaw ends due to high compressive forces;
said beveled ends, one beveled at its lower and the other at its upper surface, shaped so as to automatically scoop up a load cable lying between said ends, when said device is lifted.

1 more element

A cargo hook device for quickly scooping up and releasing suspended cargo remotely, comprising a tongs-like part A, having two elongated members, pivoted near their midsection by a central pivot pin and having hammerheads with exterior faces, for use with hoist cables and a load cable, each cable being adapted for attachment to part A, said members having upper and lower portions and jaws, each said upper and lower portions having an exterior surface, each said upper portions having a weight for automatically separating said portions upon touchdown of said cargo;

said lower portions haivng complementary-shaped ends, having sharp-edged beveled ends which close against each other end-to-end to form a smooth continuous contour between said engaging ends when supporting said cargo via said load cable, because of the tension on said hoist cables;
said upper portions having inside surfaces with a primary rod fastened horizontally to each of said inside surfaces, with said device in upright position, and each rod having a hammerhead at one end, and each said hammerhead extending inward, and wherein at least one electromagnet, part B, having two ends and an excitation coil, is added to said device, one of szaid ends of part B being pivoted to the exterior surface of one of said upper portions and the other of said ends being pivoted to the exterior surface of one of said lower portions, both pivots being on the same side of said device, one of said two ends of said part B being plunger whose end has provision for being pivoted to said lower exterior surface, and said plunger having an air gap G when extended;
said part B, when electrically excited, enabling the separation of said lower portions by said plunger retracting distance G, so that when said device suspends a light load, said load cable can be released from said device, overcoming said tension on said hoist cables.

A cargo hook device for quickly scooping up and releasing suspended cargo remotely, comprising a tongs-like part A, having two elongated members pivoted near their center by a pivot pin for use with a hoist and a load cable, each being adapted for attachment to said part A, said members having upper and lower portions, each said upper portions having a weight for automatically separating said portions upon touchdown of said cargo, said lower portions having complementary-shaped ends which engage when supporting said cable;

said upper portions having inside and exterior surfaces with a primary rod fastened horizontally to each of said inside surfaces, and each rod having a hammerhead at one end extending inward;
and wherein a hoist mechanism supports said device and wherein a pivoted, spring-loaded, off-setted lever is added to one of said upper portions, said lever having inward and outward portions, and wherein said pivot pin has a hub;
said lever being pivoted at one of said hammerheads, to prevent said hammerheads from separating from each other when each said hammerhead is abutting against the other;
the outward portion portion of said lever having a cord attached to be pulled upward by the operator of said hoist mechanism for decoupling and allowing said lower portions to separate and permit release of said load cable, said lever normally being held in position by a compression spring on top and a stop means underneath, said cord being pulled just prior to said cargo making contact with rigid surface below;
said upper portion of said hub having a magnet attached thereto sufficient strength to keep said inward portion of said lever in an unlatched position momentarily by being attracted to said magnet, until said hammerheads, including said upper and lower portions, are separated, allowing said load cable to be released;
once separated, said weight on each said upepr portions keeping said portions apart;
said hub being magnetizable to enable said magnet to be effective in momentarily keeping said lever in an unlatched position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.