a trolley for setting concrete window cills

[biff]

hi folks,
         they say necessity is the mother of invention,how very true.in my own case i had 5 window cills,concrete,4 x6ft,6" and one 4ft.after the trouble i have had with the joints in the lower half of my body i could not face lifting these babies and getting my hands crushed laying them was not something i wished to repeat.
   so i devised a trolley,a yoke on 2 car wheels and tyres,which when balanced with the weight of the cill on one end could be managed with one hand pressing down on the other end,i guess you could call it a triangle with the peak attached to the axle and the long side(9ft) levelling off at 4ft,6".
   this means that when the cill is suspended on two straps above the window opening position ,it is easy managed and can be lowered exactly where you want it. no huffing and puffing or cussing and swearing about fingers, just lower into exact position,then take the counter balancing weights off, ondo the straps and on to the next cill.the heavest thing to lift are the counterbalancing weights,blocks on loops.
  in my case i already had the axle and the lengths of scaffolding poles,,(that stuff again) and bolted the lot together with scaffold clips in about an hour which included working out the sweep and weight ratio.
    of course it will not work in an area cluttered with block stacks,it needs an access the width of the axle, 39".but even though it looks ignornant and heavy,it is surprisingly manouverable and very safe.it is also very much quicker than by hand because it can lift of the deck and transport to the exact spot,no changing grip or having the 3rd man racing round getting in the road.
  i have not experimented with it very much but there is a sweep of 9" either side of the level position where it can lift a couple of hunderweights without the counterweights and very little effort.this would be ideal for someone who offloads from one van into another on a regular basis.just an idea which i hope someone will be able to make use off. if anyone is intrested in the one i used then i will post a pic before i dismantle it.
                                                                              biff

[clockmanFR]

Yes please biff, do post a pic, as you can see with my Shed restoration/creation i am not getting any younger. I have 5 houses, (classified by fitting a toilet and bath/shower) to restore/build and loads of lintels to fit. Any info is always helpfull.

[biff]

hi clockman,
         she will stride forth tomorrow,camera in hand and take pic of latest invention,she says if i post this on navitron they will change my name to fred flintstone. but it works and works really well,
                                                 biff

[clockmanFR]

Great biff,
As you can see from this pic, I have capping stones to put on top of the gate pillars. Their cast concrete but hollow and the design is a hybrid of the region.

Trouble is there delicate and yet heavy each of the 4 sections is about 70kg, now got to work out how to get them up and set them on a bed of cement, plus adjustment and levels etc.

I do have wide canvas lifting straps.

To high for local farmer tractor to get up, so might use your invention, or construct a scaffold tower (i have lots of scaffolding) and chainhoist, but probably take 2 days just scaffold erection.

[biff]

setting caps is not that bad,your height is 9ft and i believe that a single box of scaffold(quickstage) with an upright scaffold pole next to the pillar,with the scaffolds pole clamped to the quickstage in 2 places ,you can attach a swinging arm 3 ft in length,this should be able to travel from the scaffold across the top of the piller to carry your block and tackle.
  you would have to multiply the measurements of my machine x 2,to be able to reach the top of the pillar,however you would still need a couple of people to help you with the counterweights because of the height difference,so really it would be a lot safer with the scaffold,if you fit a couple of wood fillets in the grove of the caps and have them protruding an inch or so,so that the straps do not crumble the edges it will ensure a decent finish.
 using the block and tackle on the swinging arm will mean you can operate on your own safely and get the job done right. one other thing,,place 4 wooden pads,one on each corner of the brickword,level them nicely and bed the mortar so that it sinks to match the height of the pads,pull the pads back from the edge so that they cannot be seen and place cling film over the lot,the idea being that the cap stay put but do not stick to the mortar,this is important because when the delivery vans tip the caps(they always do) the caps will swing round without damaging the brigkwork and all you will have to do is push them back into place.
  anyhow i am told the pics will follow shortly.

[dhaslam]

Wouldn't a JCB lift them fairly easily? 

[clockmanFR]

Thanks biff, that's brilliant info and some very usefull tips.

dhaslam, sorry no JCB's around here, well there are but at £330 a day hire, plus transport, so not cost effective.

[biff]

sorry about the delay in posting pics.
                      we are waiting for the pic installation software to swing into action, .i have been out down the down and left herself to work it all out. he he he. .still she says it is almost complete,the download is appearently 5 mile long.
                                                                                biff

[biff]

eureka !!! we finally got registered,..
           a step nearer.

[biff]

you need to click twice to open the picture,,thanks,















 

[biff]

pic of a kind,but still pics as promised,
                            the counterweights ropes are different lengths so when the first block hits the ground it is no longer needed, the towing hitch is tied with white cord,this can slide back and forth on the scaffold bar, it can alter the level of the load by 3 inches either way,so its handy for lowering into place and letting an end down. the whole thing is a first time effort and just thrown together(obviously) and could easily be improved 100percent,however my cills are in situ and my next move is to dismantle it because it could be quite dangerous to walk into it in the dark .
   the counterweight blocks could be replaced by swinging arms with ballast on the end.it has its limits and can only be used on a good hard floor,otherwise the ground has to be planked in the lifting area.
                                                                  biff

[clockmanFR]

Looks good biff.

Many thanks.

Might have to keep the concept/machine away from the little devils here, as thoughts of a Trebuchet spring to mind as a 4 year old is launched into the air.