DEVICE FOR LIFTING A LOAD

The present invention relates to a device for lifting a load. More in particular, the present invention relates to a device for lifting a load for manoeuvring, like a sling for arranging around or on the load. Such devices in the prior art are well known. For instance, metal chains and woven cables are sometimes used.

It is also known to have a prior art example of such a device, which comprises a fibre core and a protection around the core. By way of fibre materials in the fibre core, according to the prior art, some materials are most often used. For instance, materials are used, like polyester, polyamide and polypropylene. These materials exhibit some desirable properties, but in general use thereof is inhibited by the fact, that such materials are often insufficiently resistant against cutting and/or abrasion. More in particular, such materials have a relatively long elongation to break property. Abrasion and cutting of assemblies formed by a fibre core and a protection around the core can, in accordance with the present invention, be decreased or even mitigated, by providing a sleeve on the assembly. Such a sleeve can be arranged on the assembly, having desired properties, which are open choices to the skilled person, after having realised that such a sleeve is beneficial in accordance with the present invention.

From CA 2135825 a sling is known of a tubular core and covering over which an abrasion resistant sleeve is provided.

Moreover, it is beneficial when such a sleeve is arranged loosely on the assembly, thus enabling movement thereof along the length of the assembly. When a sleeve is allowed to slide along the core and protection assembly,

while friction is low between the core and protection assembly on the one hand and a sleeve on the other, with a product having sharp edges being lifted by the device, cutting and abrasion will be decreased even further. The sleeve will remain essentially stationary relative to the product, while the core and protection assembly may slide through the sleeve, allowing the lifted product to stably settle when suspended from or in the device. Moreover, movements will hardly be as jerky or abrupt, when the sleeve is loosely arranged around the core and protection assembly.

DE 10 2004 045905 A, relates to a sleeve for surrounding straps. The sleeve is provided with two layers G and H, wherein the latter provides a lowering of the resistance for moving the sleeve over a strap when in operation.

According to the invention, the core or the protection comprises high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibres, and the same can be said about the sleeve also. As an example of HMPE fibres reference is made here to a known product obtainable from Royal DSM N. V., of which the trademark name is Dyneema.

Such a high modulus polyethylene fibre material is extremely strong and exhibits hardly any elongation at break. Moreover, with HMPE fibres, in particular Dyneema fibres in the sleeve, it is beneficial when the fibres in the sleeve are woven. Thus, a very tight cohesion of the fibres within the sleeve can be achieved. Also another material known as Spectra could be employed.

It is possible in a specific embodiment, that the protection and the sleeve are manufactured from essentially the same material. This would make the production process relatively easy, and in particular stocking intermediate products in relation to the production process of a device according to the invention will be facilitated considerably,

when using the same basic materials for the sleeve and the protection. Moreover, the use of one basic material imparts to the product to be produced, which comprises distinct components, a chemical resistance that is at least uniform for the components of the device and thus for the device in its entirety.

Nonetheless, in a specific embodiment it may be possible, that the sleeve is thicker than the protection to provide a higher cutting resistance to the sleeve, and thus to the device as a whole. In yet another preferred embodiment, to which the present invention is not strictly limited, the assembly has an effective length and the sleeve extends over the most part of the effective length of the assembly. In such an embodiment it is possible for the sleeve to "slide" along the length of the core and protection assembly, but only over a limited distance. Thus, as explained above, it is possible for a load to stabilise when being suspended from a device, or therein, in accordance with the present invention. Further features, considerations, advantages and assemblies will become apparent from the description herein above, which is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the like or similar elements, components and features are identified with the same reference numbers, and wherein: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the present invention, in use; fig. 2 shows the device of fig. 1 in rest; and fig. 3 shows a partially cutaway view of the device in fig. 2; and fig. 4 shows a perspective view of how a load is allowed to stabilise within the device without causing harm to the device itself.

In fig. 1 a device according to the present invention is shown. The device is a sling 1, suspended from a hook 2 for engaging a steel coil 3. By lifting the hook 2, the steel coil is hoisted and manoeuvred. The device 1 comprises two loops 4, which are arranged on the hook 2. The loops 4 can be separate, or can be both a part of a single loop.

As shown in fig. 3, the device 1 comprises a fibre core 5, which is preferably manufactured from HMPE (high modulus polyethylene) fibres, for instance Dyneema®. Around the core, a protective covering or protection 6 is provided. The protection 6 can itself also be manufactured from the same fibre material as the core 5, for instance Dyneema. Further, a sleeve 7 is loosely arranged around the assembly, which is formed by the core 5 and the protection 6. The sleeve 7 is not attached or sewn to the assembly formed by the core 5 and the protection 6 and is able to shift or move in the direction of arrow A.

As shown in fig. 2, a break indicator 8, which is at least capable of indicating excessive elongation, is provided, although such an indicator may be omitted in the device 1 according to the present invention. However, for safety purposes, such an indicator 8 may still be useful and employed. In fig. 4 a possible functioning of a device 1 according to the present invention is shown. In fig. 4A a load again in the form of a steel coil 3 is engaged by the device 1, but for self-evident reasons, it may occur, that the steel coil 3 is tilted or at an angle, when being engaged by the device 1. In such circumstances, the steel coil 3 would have a tendency to turn in the direction of arrow B, while being suspended in the device 1. The representation of fig. 4A is somewhat exaggerated for

clarification of the principle underlying the present invention .

In fig. 4B it is shown how the steel coil 3 will have righted itself, while suspended in the device 1. By making the movement in the direction of arrow B, the sleeve 7 is shifted along the length of the core and protection assembly to arrive at a position, of which the extreme points of the sleeve 7 are indicated with arrows C. Thus it will be evident, that the sleeve has shifted and slid along the length of the core and protection assembly. As a result of a much lower friction between the sleeve and the assembly than between the steel coil 3 and the assembly, abrasion and cutting will have been reduced by the provision of the loosely arranged sleeve. After having been confronted with the description herein above of the present invention, the skilled person will immediately realise that many additional and alternative embodiments are possible within the framework of the present invention, as defined in the accompanying claims, especially independent claim No. 1. All such modifications, adaptations, additions and alternatives are considered to be within the scope of protection of those claims, especially the single independent claim No. 1 unless such devices do not comply literally or in spirit with the requirements of the claims, especially claim No. 1. For instance, it is possible that a further lubricating layer may be provided between the sleeve and the core and protection assembly, to further promote the ability of the sleeve to be slid along the length of the core and protection assembly. The core and protection assembly can be manufactured from the same materials, as described herein above, for instance Dyneema. However, the sleeve, core and protection could also be manufactured from different materials. The core can form a single multiple loop of a

fibre wire, kept together by the sleeve and/or the protection. Alternatively, the loops 4 to be hung onto a hook 2 could also be provided by folding back an end portion of an elongate core and protection assembly to be attached onto itself for forming the loops. Other embodiments are also possible, whilst in the description above and the accompanying figures the impression is created, unintentionally, that the device according to the invention must be sling. Other configurations and purposes are also possible.