Roll-handling attachment for lifter

An apparatus for moving an object having a bore therein defined by walls of the object from a first position to a second position, comprising:

• a) a support mandrel for being positioned in the bore at the first position in advance of moving the object, wherein said support mandrel comprises a hollow cylinder having an interior and exterior;
• b) an expansion assembly cooperating with said support mandrel for varying a lateral dimension of the support mandrel while positioned in the bore between a bore insertion dimension at which the support mandrel may be inserted into and withdrawn from the bore, and a bore engaging dimension at which the support mandrel engages the walls of the object defining the bore and locks the support mandrel and the object together against relative movement, wherein said expansion assembly includes a center divider positioned within the interior of said support mandrel and extending longitudinally therethrough, said center divider having a top and a base, and further wherein said expansion assembly includes a first roller longitudinally positioned in the top of said center divider for facilitating insertion of said support mandrel into said bore and withdrawal therefrom;
• and
• (c) a swivel assembly which the support mandrel is connected for movement from the first position to the second position whereby the object carried by the support mandrel is moved in unison with the movement of the support mandrel and is released by the support mandrel at the second position.

An apparatus for moving an object having a bore therein defined by walls of the object from a first position to a second position, comprising:

• (a) a support mandrel for positioned in the bore at the first position in advance of moving the object;
• (b) an expansion assembly cooperating with said support mandrel for varying a lateral dimension of the support mandrel while positioned in the bore between a bore insertion dimension at which the support mandrel may be inserted into and withdrawn from the bore, and a bore engaging dimension at which the support mandrel engages the walls of the object defining the bore and locks the support mandrel and the object together against relative movement, said expansion assembly comprising two semi-cylindrical plates connected to a pivot rod wherein said expansion assembly varies said lateral dimension of said support mandrel from said bore insertion dimension to said bore engaging dimension by urging said semi-cylindrical plates to pivotally move outward to frictionally engage said walls defining said bore, and wherein said expansion assembly further includes:
• (i) a center divider positioned within the interior of said support mandrel and extending longitudinally therethrough, said center divider having a top and a base,
• (ii) a guiding member positioned longitudinally within the interior of said support mandrel and attached to one of said semi-cylindrical plates, said guiding member having an inclined surface,
• (iii) a sliding member contained within said center divider for longitudinally moving within said support mandrel,
• (iv) a roller attached to said sliding member, said roller positioned within said support mandrel in axial alignment with said guiding member such that said second roller contacts said guiding member and urges said semi-cylindrical plate to pivotally move outward as said sliding member moves in a direction of increased inclination of said guiding member whereby said semi-cylindrical plate contacts and frictionally engages said wall defining said bore, and
• (v) a cam mounted to the exterior of said support mandrel and connected to said sliding member whereby said sliding member is responsive to movement of said cam;
• and
• (c) a swivel assembly to which the support mandrel is connected for movement from the first position to the second position whereby the object carried by the support mandrel is moved in unison with the movement of the support mandrel and is released by the support mandrel at the second position.

A method for moving an object having a bore therein defined by walls of the object from a vertical position on a surface to a horizontal position at a predetermined height comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an apparatus comprising:
• (i) a support mandrel comprising two semi-cylindrical plates connected to a pivot rod, and guiding members positioned longitudinally within the Interior of said support mandrel and attached to said semi-cylindrical plates, said guiding members having an inclined surface,
• (ii) an expansion assembly comprising a center divider having a top and a base positioned within said support mandrel and extending longitudinally therethrough, a first plurality of rollers longitudinally positioned in the top of said central member, said first plurality of rollers for facilitating insertion of said support mandrel into said bore defined by said object and removal therefrom, a sliding member contained within said center divider, and a second plurality of rollers attached to said sliding member, said second plurality of rollers positioned in axial alignment with said guiding members such that said second plurality of rollers contacts said guiding members and urges said semi-cylindrical plates to pivotally move outward when said sliding member is moved in a direction of increasing inclination of said guiding members,
• (iii) a swivel assembly for mounting said support mandrel and moving said support mandrel about an angle of rotation of approximately ninety degrees, and
• (iv) a stanchion for mounting said swivel assembly, said swivel assembly vertically moveable along said stanchion;
• (b) inserting said support mandrel into said bore defined by said object positioned vertically on a surface;
• (c) engaging said object with said support mandrel by moving said sliding member in the direction of increasing inclination of said guiding members to urge said semi-cylindrical plates to pivotally move outward and frictionally engage said walls of said object;
• (d) lifting said object off of said surface up to a predetermined height by moving said swivel assembly upward along said stanchion;
• and
• (e) moving said object from a vertical position to a horizontal position by moving said swivel plate to rotate said support mandrel about said angle of rotation.