Loading Devices and Methods of Loading Pipe Fusion Machines

Abstract

A loading device for lifting an elongated object having an elongate axis includes a frame having a first fulcrum surface and a second fulcrum surface, a first effector arm that pivots about the first fulcrum surface, a second effector arm that pivots about the second fulcrum surface, and an actuator moving the first effector arm and the second effector arm between a retracted position and a deployed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A loading device for lifting a pipe, the loading device comprising:
 a pair of end effectors, each end effector rotatable about an end effector axis, and   a pair of effector arms pivotally connected to a frame such that the arms pivot laterally and vertically with respect to the frame, each effector arm having a central longitudinal axis,   wherein each end effector is coupled with one of the effector arms such that the end effector axis is perpendicular to and intersects with the central longitudinal axis of the effector arm.   
     
     
         2 . The loading device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the effector arms are coupled with the frame by means of one of a pair of fulcrum surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The loading device of  claim 1 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of each of the effector arms does not intersect with a lifting surface of the end effectors. 
     
     
         4 . The loading device of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator moving the effector arms between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the effector arms move in opposing directions when moving from the retracted position to the deployed position. 
     
     
         5 . The loading device of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The loading device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end effectors comprise a conical drum. 
     
     
         7 . The loading device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end effectors comprise a body tapered longitudinally along the end effector axis. 
     
     
         8 . The loading device of  claim 1 , wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, the effector arms are located in the deployed position and the end effector axes are transverse to an elongate axis of the pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The loading device of  claim 8 , wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, the end effectors contact the pipe below the elongate axis of the pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The loading device of  claim 9 , wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, each of the end effectors cross the central elongate axis of the pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The loading device of  claim 9 , wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, a lifting surface of each of the end effectors is inclined to a ground surface. 
     
     
         12 . The loading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of roller elements coupled to the frame, each roller element having a roller element axis, wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, each of the roller element axes are transverse to the elongate axis of the pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The loading device of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of upright arms, each upright arm coupled with one of the effector arms. 
     
     
         14 . A loading device for lifting a pipe, the loading device comprising a pair of end effectors and a pair of effector arms, wherein the effector arms are pivotally connected to a frame such that the arms pivot laterally with respect to the frame, each effector arm having an upright arm coupled with the effector arm, and wherein each end effector is coupled with one of the effector arms such that an axis of the end effector is perpendicular to and intersects with a central longitudinal axis of the effector arm. 
     
     
         15 . The loading device of  claim 14 , wherein the effector arms further pivot vertically with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The loading device of  claim 14 , wherein each end effector is rotatable about an end effector axis. 
     
     
         17 . The loading device of  claim 14 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of each of the effector arms does not intersect with a lifting surface of the end effectors. 
     
     
         18 . The loading device of  claim 14 , further comprising an actuator moving the effector arms between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the effector arms move in opposing directions when moving from the retracted position to the deployed position. 
     
     
         19 . The loading device of  claim 14 , wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, the end effectors contact the pipe below the elongate axis of the pipe, and each of the end effectors cross the central elongate axis of the pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The loading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of roller elements coupled to the frame, each roller element having a roller element axis, wherein when the loading device lifts the pipe, each of the roller element axes are transverse to the elongate axis of the pipe.