CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/539,448, titled "BARREL LIFTING DEVICE," filed on July 31, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The subject matter described herein relates to a barrel lifting device and associated methods.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Wines and spirits may be fermented, aged and/or stored in barrels that may be too heavy to move by hand. For example, a 60 gallon barrel that weighs 120 pounds when empty may weigh over 700 pounds when full. Therefore, barrel handling may not be a manual operation and typically requires the assistance of lifting equipment. For example, barrel handling may involve the use of various lifting equipment, such as forklifts, drum handlers, stacker trucks, overhead hoists and gantry cranes, pallet trucks, and/or highlifters. Some of these lifting equipment may be equipped with crane arm attachments to facilitate overhead hoisting. However, such lifting equipment may require various additional components to secure the barrel to one or more parts of the lifting equipment. Use of such lifting equipment may be cumbersome and time consuming.

SUMMARY

[0004] Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided for barrel lifting and handling. In one aspect, a barrel lifting device is described for lifting a barrel that includes a bunghole. Additionally, the barrel lifting device may include a load chain having a first end and a second end. The first end may include a first connector. The barrel lifting device may include a lift bar pivotably coupled to the load chain by the first connector. The lift bar may have a curved upper surface corresponding to a curvature of an inner surface of the barrel adjacent to the bunghole.

[0005] In optional variations one or more additional features, including but not limited to the following, can be included in any feasible combination. For example, the barrel lifting device may further include a second connector configured to couple the lift bar to a leash. A distal end of the lift bar may include the second connector. The barrel lifting device may further include a first end of the leash coupled to the lift bar via the second connector. The barrel lifting device may further include a stopper connected to a second end of the leash. The load chain may be configured to allow a length of the leash to extend therethrough. At least a portion of the stopper may include a first diameter that is larger than a second diameter of the bunghole. A length of the leash may be less than a diameter of the barrel. A length of the leash may be substantially equal to a diameter of the barrel. The stopper may be configured to secure to the bunghole for preventing fluid from passing therethrough. The barrel lifting device may include a third connector attached to the second end of the load chain. The third connector may be configured to releasably couple to a lifting equipment.

[0006] Another aspect is a method for lifting a barrel having a bunghole. The method may include pivoting a lift bar of a barrel lifting device into a substantially vertical position. The barrel lifting device may include a load chain, the lift bar, and a leash. The load chain and the lift bar may be pivotably coupled by a first connector. The lift bar may have a curved upper surface corresponding to a curvature of an inner surface of the barrel adjacent to the bunghole. The method may further include lowering the lift bar in the substantially vertical orientation into the barrel via the bunghole of the barrel until the lift bar is positioned completely within the barrel. The method may further include allowing the lift bar to rotate into a substantially horizontal position. The method may further include raising the lift bar until the curved upper surface of the lift bar contacts the inner surface of the barrel adjacent the bunghole. The method may further include lifting the barrel by transferring an upward force on the load chain, thereby applying a lifting force along the interior surface of the barrel.

[0007] In optional variations one or more additional features, including but not limited to the following, can be included in any feasible combination. For example, the method may further include lowering the barrel to a resting position on a flat surface. The method may further include reducing tension on the load chain. The method may further include lowering the lift bar further into the interior of the barrel. The method may further include raising the leash until the lift bar is oriented in the substantially vertical position. The method may further include raising the lift bar through the bunghole and out of the barrel. The method may further include releasably attaching the load chain to a lifting equipment via a second connector.

[0008] The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barrel lifting device including a lift bar coupled to a load chain; [0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation showing the lift bar of the barrel lifting device of FIG. 1 positioned in a substantially vertical position for insertion through a bunghole into a barrel;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in elevation showing the lift bar of the barrel lifting device of FIG. 1 positioned in a substantially horizontal position in the barrel of FIG. 2, after insertion into the barrel as shown in FIG. 2, rotation from a vertical position to a horizontal position, and raising of the lift bar towards an upper inner surface of the barrel;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in elevation showing the lift bar of the barrel lifting device of FIG. 1 positioned in a substantially horizontal position in contact with the upper inner surface of the barrel after raising the lift bar to the upper inner surface of the barrel, as shown in FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the barrel lifting device of FIG. 1 after the lift bar is inserted into the barrel, as shown in FIG. 2, the lift bar is raised, as shown in FIG. 3, and the upper surface of the lift bar comes into contact with the upper inner surface of the barrel, as shown in FIG. 4; and

[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view in elevation showing a broken load chain, with the lift bar tethered to a stopper by a retrieval leash. The stopper is larger than the bunghole, which prevents it from falling through the bunghole into the barrel.

[0016] When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures, features, or elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Aspects of the current subject matter include various embodiments of a barrel lifting device and associated methods of use. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. The features illustrated are described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0018] The methods and devices disclosed herein can provide a number of advantages. For example, in some embodiments, barrels may be lifted and moved with a barrel lifting device without needing to secure a sling or harness with strapping or webbing around a barrel and thereafter attaching the strapping to a lifting hook. A further advantage is that barrels with bungholes may be lifted and or moved without further modification of the barrels, or the use of claims, slings, or harnesses. Moreover, barrels with bungholes are commonly used for wine and/or spirit production to allow for the addition of liquid or other material to the barrel, and for sampling the wine or spirit for analysis as it ferments and ages.

[0019] The various embodiments and associated methods of the lifting device described herein provide a compact and efficient device for reducing cost and time associating with lifting barrels, such as wine or spirit aging barrels. The lifting devices described herein may be used with barrels having at least one port of entry into the barrel, such as a bunghole, and may have a variety of contents and fill-levels (e.g., empty, full, partially filled). Furthermore, although the lifting devices described herein are described with respect to coupling to and uncoupling from barrels, as well as lifting barrels, the lifting devices described herein can be used in a variety of additional actions associated with the barrels, such as moving the barrels from a first location to a second location, aligning the barrels with respect to a barrel rack, etc. Moreover, the lifting devices described herein can be used with any number of a variety of barrels, such as barrels having a variety of volumes (e.g., 43 gallons, 53 gallons, 60 gallons, 79 gallons) and made out of a variety of materials (e.g., oak, high-density polyethylene (ffDPE), or steel). [0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a barrel lifting device 10 configured to lift a barrel, such as for moving the barrel from a first position to a second position. As shown in FIG. 1, the barrel lifting device 10 can include a lift bar 20 coupled to a load chain 14. The lift bar 20 can be configured to couple to the barrel. The load chain can be configured to couple the lift bar 20 to a lifting equipment (e.g., overhead crane, gantry crane, boom, or hoist). For example, the lifting equipment can provide a lifting or pulling force on the load chain, thereby causing the lift bar 20 to lift or push up on an inner wall of the barrel, thereby lifting the barrel, as will be describe in greater detail below. Additionally, the lifting equipment can lower the load chain thereby allowing the barrel to be lowered by the lifting device 10. Methods of coupling and uncoupling the lifting device 10 to the barrel is also described in greater detail below.

[0021] In some embodiments, the load chain 14 includes an extension 15 extending between a first, upper end 18 and a second, lower end 22. The extension 15 may include chain links to form a flexible chain with sufficient tensile strength to support a barrel. The extension 15 may be formed of metal links, such as stainless steel links. The extension 15 may include any of a variety of features and materials that provide sufficient tensile strength to lift a barrel. For example, the load chain 14 be formed of stainless steel (food grade), and may have a lifting capacity of at least 800 pounds. In some embodiments, the extension 15 may include one or more openings through which a leash may pass through, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end 18 of the load chain 14 is coupled to a hook-to-chain connector 16 that is configured to couple with a hook that is attached to a winch, hoist, or other lifting equipment. In some embodiments, the hook-to-chain connector 16 can be in the form of a carabiner or other coupler that may be coupled to the upper end 18 of the load chain 14, and which includes an opening or loop through which a connecting element of a lifting equipment can couple to (e.g., the hook 12 of FIG. 5).

[0023] The hook-to-chain connector 16, and load chain 14 need to have sufficient tensile strength to bear the load of the barrel 100, as shown in FIGs. 2-6, and its contents. Each of the hook-to-chain connector 16 and load chain 14 may be constructed of stainless steel (food grade), or other material to bear a load of, for example, 100 pounds, 200 pounds, 400 pounds, 800 pounds, 1000 pounds, 2000 pounds, or more. The load chain 14 can be constructed with links, as shown in FIG. 1, or at least a portion of the load chain 14 can be in the form of a cable or other linear support.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the lift bar 20 includes a chain-to-bar connector 26, which affixes the lower end 22 of the load chain 14 to the lift bar 20. The chain-to-bar connector 26 may be positioned on the top surface of the lift bar 20, in substantially the center of the lift bar 20. The chain-to-bar connector 26 may be in the form of a loop, as shown in FIG 1, that allows the lift bar 20 to pivot between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position while affixed to the load chain 14. This freedom of movement enables the lift bar 20 to enter a barrel 100 via a bunghole 110, as shown in FIGs. 2-6, while the lift bar 20 is in a substantially vertical position, and then rotate to a substantially horizontal position once the lift bar 20 has completely passed through the bunghole 110 and is positioned within the barrel 100.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the lift bar 20 may have an upper surface 24 and a lower surface 28. The upper surface 24 of the lift bar 20 may be proximate to both the load chain 14 and chain-to-bar connector 26. The upper surface 24 of the lift bar 20 may have a convex shape, with a curve that corresponds to the curvature of the inner surface of the barrel 100, so that the upper surface 24 of the lift bar 20 may contact the inner surface of the barrel 100 over substantially all of the length of the upper surface 24 of the lift bar 20. This makes it possible to distribute the weight of the barrel 100 and its contents over the length of the lift bar 20. The lower surface 28 of the lift bar 20 may have a concave surface. For example, the lift bar 20 may have a substantially constant thickness, with a convex upper surface 24 and a concave lower surface 28. The lift bar 20 may be formed of a metal, such as stainless steel (food grade). The lift bar 20 may have a length that is approximately the distance between barrel hoops 130 along a stave 120 (see, for example, FIG. 5), thereby allowing the barrel hoops 130 (e.g., formed of steel) to at least partially support the weight of the barrel. Such a configuration may put less strain on the staves 120. The dimensions of the lift bar 20 may vary with the size of the barrel 110. For example, for a 60 gallon wine barrel, the lift bar 20 may be approximately 10 inches long, 1 inch wide, and 3/8 inch thick. A thicker, wider, and/or longer lift bar 20 may be used for larger barrels. A thinner, narrower, and/or shorter lift bar 20 may be used for smaller barrels.

[0026] In some embodiments, the lift bar 20 may have a first end 30 of the lift bar and a second end 32 of the lift bar 20. In some embodiments, the first end 30 and the second end 32 may be rounded. In some embodiments, a leash-to-bar connector 34 may be affixed to the second end 32 of the lift bar 20. The leash-to-bar connector 34 may be in the form of a loop or link, to which the end of a retrieval leash 36 may be attached.

[0027] The retrieval leash 36 may be a linear cable or string that is tied to, or affixed, to the leash-to-bar connector 34 on one end. The retrieval leash 36 may be thread through a link or opening of the load chain 14. The retrieval leash 36 may be attached to a stopper 38 or bung at the end of the retrieval leash 36 that is not affixed to the leash-to-bar connector 34. The retrieval leash may be formed of a small, stainless steel (food grade) chain.

[0028] The stopper 38 may be sized so that it does not fit through the bunghole 110. The stopper 38 may have a circular cross section with an increasing diameter that is smallest at the cross section closest to the retrieval leash 36, and largest at the cross section farthest from the retrieval leash 36. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bunghole 110 is larger than the smallest diameter of the stopper 38, but smaller than that largest diameter of the stopper 38. Therefore, a portion of the stopper 38 proximal to the retrieval leash 36 fits within the bunghole 110, but a portion of the stopper 38 distal to the retrieval leash 36 does not fit within the bunghole 110, causing the stopper 38 to only be able to partially enter the barrel 100.

[0029] FIGs. 2-3 illustrate an example method of use of the lifting device 10, including coupling the lifting device 10 to a barrel, lifting the barrel, and employing a failsafe feature of the lifting device, as described in greater detail below.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates the lift bar 20 positioned in a substantially vertical position for insertion through a bunghole 110 into a barrel 100. In FIG. 2, the bunghole 110 is at the top and center of the cross section of the barrel 100, however the bunghole 110 (or any port of entry) can be positioned in a variety of positions along the barrel 100 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. A straight arrow 40 pointing down illustrates the direction of travel of the lift bar 20 into the barrel 100, while attached to load chain 14, and tethered to the stopper 38 with retrieval leash 36. The lift bar 20 is lowered into the barrel 100, to a vertical position within the barrel 100. After the lift bar 20 can been positioned within the barrel, the lift bar 20 may rotate from a vertical position to a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the lift bar 20 positioned in a substantially horizontal position in the barrel 100 after insertion into the barrel 100 and rotation from a vertical position to a horizontal position (as shown by the curved arrow 44). The vertical arrow 46 pointing up above the barrel 100 illustrates that the load chain 14 is being lifted up, so that the load chain 14 is being raised towards an upper inner surface of the barrel 100. The stopper 38 remains tethered to the lift bar 20, and is off to the side of the bunghole 110. [0032] FIG. 4 shows the lift bar 20 positioned in a substantially horizontal position in contact with the upper inner surface of the barrel 100 after raising the lift bar 20 to the upper inner surface of the barrel 100, as shown in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the upper surface 24 of the load bar has a curvature that is substantially complementary to the curvature of the upper inner surface of the barrel 100, in proximity to the bunghole 110. Once the lift bar 20 is in contact with the barrel 100, further raising of the lift bar 20 causes the barrel 100 to be lifted, supported by the load chain 14.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the barrel lifting device 10 lifting the barrel 100, such as to move the barrel 100 from a first location to a second location. The barrel may be formed of staves 120 and barrel hoops 130. The staves 120 may be formed of wood, and the barrel hoops 130 may be formed of steel. As shown in FIG. 5, the load chain 14 is attached to a hook 12 by a hook-to-chain connector 16. The hook 12 may be attached to a number of mechanical lifts, such as overhead cranes, gantry cranes, forklifts, logitrans, drum handlers, stacker trucks, and pallet trucks, highlifters, and the like. Such mechanical lifts may be equipped with a lift attachment, such as a crane arm, boom, lift frame, or other overhead lift structure capable of supporting a hoist or winch, or which may itself have a hook 12 to which a load chain 14 or cable may be attached.

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates recovery of the barrel lifting device of FIG. 1 after the load chain breaks or detaches from a hook, and slips into the barrel. At least part of a load chain 14 and a lift bar 20 are within the barrel 100 because, for example, the load chain 14 broke, the hook broke, or the load chain 14 was not secured before the barrel lifting device 10 was lowered into the barrel 100. The lift bar 20 remains tethered to the stopper 38 by a retrieval leash 36. As noted with regard to FIG. 1, the stopper 38 may have a circular cross section with an increasing diameter that is smallest at the cross section closest to the retrieval leash 36, and largest at the cross section farthest from the retrieval leash 36. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bunghole 110 is larger than the smallest diameter of the stopper 38, but smaller than that largest diameter of the stopper 38. Therefore, a portion of the stopper 38 proximal to the retrieval leash 36 fits within the bunghole 110, but a portion of the stopper 38 distal to the retrieval leash 36 does not fit within the bunghole 110, causing the stopper 38 to only be able to partially enter the barrel 100. The stopper 38, tethered to the retrieval leash 36, can be raised in the direction of straight arrow 50 in order to retrieve at least part of the load chain 14 and the lift bar 20 from the barrel 100 through bunghole 110.

[0035] The retrieval leash 36 may be slack (without tension) when the lift bar 20 and load chain 14 are lowered into a barrel 100 through bunghole 110 as shown in FIG. 2, when the lift bar 20 rotates to a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2, when the lift bar 20 is raised to come into contact with an upper inner surface of the barrel 100 as shown in FIG. 3, and when the barrel 100 is lifted and moved, with the load chain 14 bearing the load of the barrel 100 and its contents as shown in FIG. 5. Consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, after a barrel 100 is lifted and/or moved to a desired position, the barrel lifting device 10 may be removed from the barrel 100. At that time, the load chain 14 may be lowered so that it no longer bears the load of the barrel 100 and its contents. At that time both the load chain 14 and the retrieval leash 36 may be slack, as the weight of the barrel 100 and its contents are no longer borne by the barrel lifting device 10.

[0036] The barrel lifting device 10 of FIG. 1 can be used to lift and move a barrel 100 with a hoist or other overhead lifting equipment, for example as illustrated in FIGs. 2-6.

[0037] It should be noted that any ordering of method steps implied by the drawings or description herein is not to be construed as limiting the disclosed methods to performing the steps in that order. Rather, the various steps of each of the methods disclosed herein can be performed in any of a variety of sequences. In addition, as the described methods are merely exemplary embodiments, various other methods that include additional steps or include fewer steps are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] Although the invention has been described by reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims.

[0039] In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as "at least one of or "one or more of may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term "and/or" may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the recited elements or features in combination with any of the other recited elements or features. For example, the phrases "at least one of A and Β;" "one or more of A and Β;" and "A and/or B" are each intended to mean "A alone, B alone, or A and B together." A similar interpretation is also intended for lists including three or more items. For example, the phrases "at least one of A, B, and C;" "one or more of A, B, and C;" and "A, B, and/or C" are each intended to mean "A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together." Use of the term "based on," above and in the claims is intended to mean, "based at least in part on," such that an unrecited feature or element is also permissible

[0040] The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail herein, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features further to those disclosed herein. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. The scope of the following claims may include other implementations or embodiments.