The present invention relates to a lifting system for lifting a pallet with a heavy load, such as, for instance, tools and materials at construction sites where high security standards are requi red. Furthermore, the invention relates to a carrier member for such a lifting system.

Background of the invention When heavy objects on pallets are to be lifted, it is a normal procedure to do so by means of slings, typically by mounting two slings transversely through the pallet under its "load layer", after which the pallet and what is on it, is lifted in these slings by means of a crane of one type or another. In most cases, this goes wel I . Si nee the upward pull of the slings only affects the outermost board in either side of the pallet's load layer, however, there is a risk that the outer edge of both or perhaps just one of these outer boards can be flipped upwards when the pallet is lifted. T his is, of course, primarily a problem when the pallet is heavily loaded, and the load does not fill the pallet surface completely.

In such cases, even very dangerous situation can occur because the position of the pallet relative to the slings and, thus, the balance point of the pallet may be dislocated which, in extreme cases, can lead to the entire pallet tilting in its suspension and parts of the load or even the entire load falling off the pallet. If a pal let frame is used to keep together the many small items on the pallet, it is also a risk that this pallet frame is lifted in one or both sides if the outer boards are ti Ited, whereby the items can fall out between the pal I et frame and the pal I et.

A nother problem related to the known lifting techniques with the use of slings is that it is very important that the positioning of the sli ngs relative to the pallet is adjusted before lifting it so that the slings are optimally positioned and a good balance is achieved, when the pallet is lifted. T his means that it may be difficult or at least troublesome to handle such a lift, if there is only a single person available for this task. Brief description of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lifting system, which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages related to the prior art within this technical field. T he present i nventi on rel ates to a I ifti ng system for I ifti ng a pal I et with a heavy I oad, said lifting system comprising two or more carrier elements and a suspension device i n the form of a chai n si i ng or a strap si i ng with doubl e as many f asteni ng ends as the number of carrier elements, wherein each of the carrier elements comprises a stiff supporti ng beam and a distance element and is arranged so that two of the fasteni ng ends of the suspensi on devi ce can be fastened to the supporti ng beam i n opposite ends thereof, and wherein the distance element is dimensioned and mounted onto the supporting beam in such a way that it prevents displacement of the carrier element relative to a pallet in the longitudinal direction thereof, when the carrier element is mounted transversely through the pallet.

The invention is, inter alia, advantageous in that the stiffness of the supporti ng beams means that the load surface of the pal let is supported over its enti re width, when the pallet is lifted by means of such a lifting system, whereby the risk that the outer edge of the outer boards can be flipped upwards is elimi nated.

Furthermore, the distance element means that the carrier element can be positioned opti mal ly rel ative to the pal I et without adj ustment, thereby maki ng it much easi er for a single person to handle a lift, than is the case with the prior art as described above. In an embodiment of the invention, the supporting beams are provided with a lifting bolt i n each of thei r ends, and each of the fasteni ng ends of the suspension device is provided with a hook, which is designed to engage with such a lifting bolt. T he use of a hook engagi ng with a I ifti ng bolt ensures a both si mpl e and safe connection between the suspension device and the carrier element.

In an embodiment of the invention, the suspension device is dimensioned to be able to carry a load of at least 500 kg, preferably at least 1.000 kg, most preferably at least 2.000 kg.

In an embodiment of the invention, the lengths of the chains or straps are adjustable.

Such an adjustability enables for opti mising the suspension device dependi ng on the load to be lifted.

In an aspect of the invention, it relates to a carrier element for a lifting system according to any of the preceding claims, said carrier element comprisi ng a stiff supporting beam and a distance element and being arranged so that two fastening ends of a suspension device in the form of a chain sling or a strap sling can be fastened to the supporti ng beam i n opposite ends thereof, wherei n the distance element is dimensioned and mounted onto the supporting beam in such a way that it prevents displacement of the carrier element relative to a pallet in the longitudinal direction thereof, when the carrier element is mounted transversely through the pallet.

In an embodiment of the invention, the distance element is designed as a distance bracket mounted onto the supporti ng beam. In an embodi ment of the i nvention, the supporti ng beam and/or the distance element are substantially made from a metal. The use of metal ensures a robust carrier element, which is easily maintained without complicated maintenance checks of any art. In an embodi ment of the i nvention, the metal withi n the supporti ng beam and/or the distance element is hot-galvanized.

Hot galvanizing these elements significantly increases the expected lifetime of the carrier element.

In an embodi ment of the i nvention, the di mensions of the distance element are adjusted to the distance between two neighbouring supporting blocks of a standard E UR pallet, so that the carrier element can just be placed transversely through such a pallet.

E UR pal lets are the most used type of pal lets. T herefore, it is advantageous to have one or more sets of carrier elements, which are adapted to be used with pallets of exactly this standard. In an embodiment of the invention, the supporting beam is provided with a lifting bolt i n each end for engagement with a hook of one of the fasteni ng end of the suspension device.

In an embodi ment of the i nvention, the underside of the supporti ng beam is bevel led at both ends of the supporti ng beam.

B evel I i ng the undersi de of the supporti ng beam at its ends faci I itates the mounti ng of the carrier element within the pallet. T he drawi ngs

In the fol lowi ng, a few exemplary embodi ments of the i nvention are descri bed i n more detail with reference to the drawings, of which

F ig. 1 ill ustrates a I ifti ng system accordi ng to an embodi ment of the i nventi on carrying a pallet with a load,

F ig. 2 ill ustrates the same I ifti ng system without the pal I et and the I oad,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the lifting system with pallet and load shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an end view of the lifti ng system with pallet and load shown in

Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the lifting system with pallet and load shown in Fig. 1,

F ig. 6 ill ustrates a carri er el ement of a I ifti ng system accordi ng to an

embodi ment of the i nventi on,

Fig. 7 is a top view of the same carrier element, and

Fig. 8 illustrates partly a carrier element according to another embodiment of the invention being mounted within a pallet with a load.

Detailed description of the invention

F igs. 1 and 2 i 11 ustrate a I ifti ng system 1 accordi ng to an embodi ment of the invention, with and without a pallet 5 with a load 6, respectively.

In the illustrated embodiment, the suspension device 2 is constituted by a 4- part chain sli ng 2 with hooks 3 at the open ends of the chains. The two carrier elements 4 each consists of a distance bracket 8 and a supporting beam 7, at each end of which is mounted a transverse lifting bolt 9, with which the hooks 3 of the suspension device are in engagement.

As it can be seen, the lifting system 1 is used by mounting the carrier elements 4 transversely through the pallet 5 under the "load layer" thereof, after which the hooks 3 of the suspension device (2) are fastened to the ends of the supporti ng beams 7 of the carrier elements 4, and the pallet 5 with the load 6 can be lifted by means of a crane (not shown) having hold of the suspension device 2.

The distance brackets 8, which are arranged so that they are horizontal when the supporting elements 4 are mounted within the pallet 5, are dimensioned so that the carri er el ements 4 can j ust pass between the supporti ng bl ocks of the pal I et 5. T his means that the carrier elements 4 cannot be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the pallet 5 and, therefore, do not need any adjustment to be optimally positioned, as long as they are correctly orientated.

Figs 3-5 illustrate the lifting system 1 with more details as seen from different angles, whereas Figs. 6 and 7 show more details of the carrier element 4.

F ig. 8 i 11 ustrates partly a carri er el ement 4 accordi ng to another embodi ment of the invention being mounted within a pallet 5 with a load 6. In this embodi ment, the underside of the supporti ng beam 7 is bevel led 10 at both ends of the supporti ng beam 7 for faci litati ng the mounting of the carrier element 4 within the pallet 5. L ist of reference numbers

1. L ifti ng system

2. Chain sling

3. Hook

4. Carrier element

5. Pallet

6. L oad

7. Supporting beam

8. Distance bracket

9. L ifting bolt

10. Bevelled underside of supporting beam