Lifting system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for handling cargo, e.g. palletized cargo, with an overhead lifting appliance. The preferred embodiments are characterized by a tray member, on which palletized cargo is loaded, and a cage member, which attaches to the tray member, partially or fully surrounds the cargo, and provides lifting points for attachment to a crane, or other overhead lifting appliance. The cage member attaches to attachment members located on the tray and forms a cargo area. A preferable system provides a tray member sized to receive palletized cargo and a cage member of sufficient height to enclose multiple pallets of cargo stacked vertically.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly for lifting cargo comprising: 
 a lower member adapted to receive cargo;    an upper member that at least partially surrounds the cargo; and    one or more releasable attachment members connecting said upper member to said lower member.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said upper and lower members are disconnected following a lifting operation.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said releasable attachment members have a first position, during lifting, where said upper member is connected to said lower member and a second position, before and after lifting. where said upper member is disconnected from said lower member.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said upper member comprises a cage.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said upper member comprises a plurality of side portions connected to form an enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said upper member is constructed from a corrosion resistant material.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein said corrosion resistant material is stainless steel.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said enclosure at least partially surrounds the cargo.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein said side portions include wire mesh.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lower member is constructed from metal tubing.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lower member is stackable with other lower members.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said lower member comprises a tray.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said tray is stackable with other trays.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said releasable attachment members are manually released.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said releasable attachment members comprise a receptacle and a pin.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein said pin is engaged and released from said receptacle by actuating a lever.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cargo comprises two pallets of cargo stacked vertically.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly for lifting cargo comprising: 
 a lower member adapted to receive cargo;    an upper member that at least partially surrounds the cargo; and    wherein said upper member has a first position connected to said lower member and a second position disconnected from said lower member.    
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said upper member is in the first position during a lifting operation.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said upper and lower members are connected by one or more releasable attachment members.  
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20  wherein said releasable attachment members are manually released.  
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20  wherein said releasable attachment members comprise a receptacle and a pin.  
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein said pin is engaged and released from said receptacle by actuating a lever.  
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said upper member comprises a cage.  
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said upper member comprises a plurality of side portions connected to form an enclosure.  
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said upper member is constructed from a corrosion resistant material.  
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26  wherein said corrosion resistant material is stainless steel.  
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 25  wherein said enclosure at least partially surrounds the cargo.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 25  wherein said side portions include wire mesh.  
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said lower member is constructed from metal tubing.  
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said lower member is stackable with other lower members.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein said lower member comprises a tray.  
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32  wherein said tray is stackable with other trays.  
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein the cargo comprises two pallets of cargo stacked vertically.  
     
     
         35 . A system of handling cargo comprising: 
 a plurality of lower members adapted to receive cargo;    an upper member that at least partially surrounds the cargo; and    one or more releasable attachment members connecting said upper member to a single lower member during cargo handling.    
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said upper member and said single lower member are disconnected following handling.  
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said one or more releasable attachment members have a first position, during handling, where said upper member is connected to said lower member and a second position, before and after handling, where said upper member is disconnected from said lower member.  
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said releasable attachment members are manually actuated.  
     
     
         39 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said releasable attachment members comprise a receptacle and a pin.  
     
     
         40 . The assembly of  claim 39  wherein said pin is engaged and released from said receptacle by actuating a lever.  
     
     
         41 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said upper member comprises a cage.  
     
     
         42 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said upper member comprises a plurality of side portions connected to form an enclosure.  
     
     
         43 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said upper member is constructed from a corrosion resistant material.  
     
     
         44 . The assembly of  claim 43  wherein said corrosion resistant material is stainless steel.  
     
     
         45 . The enclosure of  claim 42  wherein said enclosure at least partially surrounds the cargo.  
     
     
         46 . The assembly of  claim 42  wherein said side portions include wire mesh.  
     
     
         47 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said lower member is constructed from metal tubing.  
     
     
         48 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said lower members are stackable.  
     
     
         49 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein said plurality of lower members are trays.  
     
     
         50 . The assembly of  claim 49  wherein said trays are stackable.  
     
     
         51 . The assembly of  claim 35  wherein the cargo comprises two pallets of cargo stacked vertically.  
     
     
         52 . A method for handling cargo comprising: 
 disposing a load of cargo on a lower member;    attaching an upper member to the lower member to form a lifting assembly that at least partially surrounds the load of cargo;    moving the lifting assembly from a first location to a second location using a lifting appliance;    detaching the upper member from the lower member.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the upper member is attached to the lower member by one or more releasable attachment members.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein said releasable attachment members have a first position, during handling, where said upper member is connected to said lower member and a second position, before and after handling, where said upper member is disconnected from said lower member.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  wherein said releasable attachment members are manually actuated.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53  wherein said releasable attachment members comprise a receptacle and a pin.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein said pin is engaged and released from said receptacle by actuating a lever.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said upper member comprises a cage.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said upper member is constructed from a corrosion resistant material.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein said corrosion resistant material is stainless steel.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said upper member comprises a plurality of side portions connected to form an enclosure.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein said enclosure at least partially surrounds the cargo.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61  wherein said side portions include wire mesh.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said lower member is constructed from metal tubing.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said lower member is stackable with other lower members.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said lower members comprise a tray.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66  wherein said tray is stackable with other trays.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the first location is a supply vessel and the second location is an offshore installation.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the load of cargo includes two pallets of cargo stacked vertically.