US 8,747,021 B1 · Transport apparatus and method for the transport, orientation and installation of a unit of paving blocks

Abstract

A transport apparatus for the engagement, orientation and installation of a unit of paving blocks is comprised of a support frame having a pair of spaced-apart aligned pivot connections. Support arms are pivotally connected to each pivot connection under the support frame. Two or more spaced-apart parallel block engaging arms are displaceably secured by connecting posts to the pair or parallel support arms. A piston simultaneously displaces the parallel support arms and the block engaging arms. The block engaging arms each have two or more suction cups for releasable securement to a top face of respective ones of paving blocks in the unit of paving blocks. When the piston rod of the piston is at a first position all of the suction cups are aligned on transverse parallel axis and when at a predetermined second position they are disposed in alignment on parallel angulated axis. The method of installation is also described.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A transport apparatus for the engagement, orientation and installation of a unit of paving blocks, said transport apparatus comprising a support frame having a pair of spaced apart aligned pivot connections, a pair of parallel support arms each support arm being pivotally connected to a respective one of said pair of pivot connections under said support frame, two or more spaced-apart parallel block engaging arms each displaceably secured by connecting means to said pair of parallel support arms, operable displacement means for simultaneously displacing said parallel support arms and said block engaging arms, said block engaging arms each having two or more block surface engagements means for releasable securement to a top face of respective ones of paving blocks in said unit of paving blocks, said operable displacement means when at a first position aligning said surface engagements means on transverse parallel axes and when at a predetermined second position aligning said surface engagement means and said block engaging arms offset on parallel angulated axes with respect to said support frame.

A method of installing a unit of paving blocks with rows of adjacent paving blocks sequentially offset on parallel angulated axes, said method comprising the steps of:

i) positioning a transport apparatus having block engaging arms supported parallel in end-to-end alignment over a unit of paving blocks having a plurality of rows of paving blocks disposed side-by-side wherein said unit of paving blocks defines opposed transverse parallel side edges, said block engaging arms being aligned with respective ones of said rows of paving blocks, each block engaging arm supporting suction cups disposed for surface engagement with respective ones of said blocks in said rows of paving blocks,
ii) lowering said transport apparatus to position said suction cups on an upper surface of their respective paving blocks,
iii) applying a suction to each said suction cups,
iv) lifting said transport apparatus to lift said unit of paving blocks,
v) actuating operable displacement means to displace said rows of adjacent paving blocks sequentially offset on said parallel angulated axis,
vi) positioning said sequentially offset rows of blocks in said unit of paving blocks on a ground support bed,
vii) removing said suction from said suction cups, and
viii) displacing said transport apparatus away from said ground support bed.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Transport apparatus and method for the transport, orientation and installation of a unit of paving blocks

Life of this patent

Transport apparatus and method for the transport, orientation and installation of a unit of paving blocks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30