CA1112231A - Hoisting gear - Google Patents

Abstract

INVENTOR
HANS ARNE VALENTIN JOHANSSON

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a hoisting gear for hoisting or lifting, at least one object, such as a bath tub, such object being awkwardly connected to at least one fixedly mounted power actuator, such as a pressure-cylinder and piston device, through a coupling or carrier unit cooperating with, at least one fixedly mounted guide member.

Description

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The present inven-tion relates to a hoisting year for hoisting or lift1ng, at lea~t one object, such a~ ~ bath tub, such ob~ect being opera-tively connected to at leaqt one ~ixedly mounted power actuator, such as a pressure-cylinder and piston device, through a coupling or carrier uni-t cooperating with at least one fixedly mounted guide member.
In hoisting gear~ of the type disclosed in the opening paragraph, a problem is frequently encountered which resides in that, under high-load condit:ions, movable parts tend to cant relative to adjacent fixed parts, accompanied by the risk of wedging of the movable parts. Particularly where the hoisting gear is intended to execute great lifting movements, the wedging problem may become serious, so that the risk of substantial deformations or breakages of load-carrying parts cannot be excluded.
Efforts made with a view to solve the guiding function in hoisting gears have resulted in complex and, first and foremost, heavy, unwieldy and expensive constructions.
The present invention has for its object to eliminate said drawbacks and to provide a hoisting gear which is extremely sirnple, stable and well-functioning, at the same time eliminating and tendencies of wedging. This result, according to the invention, is substantially accomplished by the fact that the hoisting gear comprises at least one guiding sleeve forming part of the coupling unit and being positively guided to move along the guide by embracing the latter, said guiding sleeve being arranged, on one hand, to control at least one device connecting the connecting unit with the power actuator, and, on the other hand, to control at leas-t one connecting member forrning par-t of the connecting unit.

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The inven-tion will be described more in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying draw:ings, in which:
Figure 1 is a ~rontal view of the inventive hoisting gear, Figure 2 is a view in cross section taXen along line II - II in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side-eleva-tional view of the hoisting gear;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the hoisting gear;
Figure 5 is an enlarged side-view of a portion of the hoisting gear; and Figure 6 is a plan-view of the portion illustrated in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a side view of the hoisting gear according to the invention;
Figure 8 is a rear-end view of the hoisting gear;
Figure 9 is a side-view of the hoisting gear and illustrates the mounting arrangement according to the invention; and Figure 10 is a plan-view of the hoisting gear.

The hoisting gear illustrated in the drawings is intended to be used for hoisting or li~ting an object or load disposed alongside the gear. The principal components of the hoisting gear are a frame 1, at least one power actuator 2 mounted on the frame 1, guiding means disposed on the frame 1 and including at least one guide member 3, a connecting unit 4 cooperating with the guide member 3 and carrying the object to be lifted, for instance a bath tub 6, and a connecting dev.ice 5 connecting the power actua-tor unit 2 with said coupling unit 4.

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The frame 1 illustrated in the drawinys is intended to be cast into a floor for stationary installation. the frame 1 in principle, is boxlike in structure and comprised a base plate la adapted to be cast into -the floor, while an upper portion lb forming the top of the frame is adapted to lie flush with the floor surface.
Projecting upward from the upper frame-portion lb are side-flanges lc serving as reinforcements for the frame and, in addition, as mounting flanges for the guide members 3.
As an alternative to a stationary, cast-in ~ram~, it would be possible, of course, to use a frame free-standing on the floor (not illustrated) for carrying the inventive hoisting gear.
As the power actuator 2, a device is preferably used which comprises a pressure cylinder 2a and a piston 2b displaceable therein and having a piston rod 2c projecting upwardly from said cylinder 2a. In order to obtain a water-driven (so-called water-hydraulic) power actuator, the chamber 2d for receiving the operating fluid of the cylinder 2a may be connected to the domestic water mains or to a separate pump. As alternatives to water-driven power actuators, electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulical devices may be employed.
In order to obtain a simple and stable design of this hoisting gear and to avoid any risk of wedging of movable parts, according -to the present invention, at least one guiding sleeve 4a forming part of the coupling unit 4 is positively controlled to move along the guide member 3 by embracing the same, said guiding sleeve 4 a being adapted, on one hand, to control the connecting device 5 connecting the coupling unit 4 with the power actuator 2 and, on the other hand, to control at least one coupling member 4b ` ~E .;, ~h~;223.~
~orming part of sai~ ~nit ~.
To ensure a stable and forceful connection between the power actuator 2 and the coupling members 4b of the coupling unit 4, the connecting device 5 and -the coupli.ng members 4b are both individually mounted on the guide sleeve 4a, that is to say, the guiding sleeve 4a interconnects the connecting device 5 with the coupli~g members 4b.
Especially stable the combination of the connecting device 5 with the coupling unit 4 will be if, as seen in plan view, the guiding sleeve 4a forms a corner piece between a portion 5a of the connecting device 5 and the coupling member 4b.
An advantageous symmetry of load transmission will be obtained in particular if the coupling member 4b projects from the guiding sleeve 4a in such a way that an imaginary extension of the coupling member 4b would intersect the guide column 3. In this connection, it would be advantageous to connect the coupling device 5 to the guiding sleeve 4a in a manner to cause an imaginary extension of the portion 5a to intersect the guide ~olumn 3.
In order to provide a rigid and forceful guide member 3 and guiding sleeve 4a without any necessity of over-dimensioning these parts, the guide member 3 may be designed with a four-sides, preferably rectangular, tubular cross-section, and the guiding sleeve may be a four-sided, preferably rectangular part. The guide member 3 preferably includes sheet-metal angular corner plates 3a made of stainless steel, for example, and formed with sliding surfaces, and the guiding sleeve 4a cooperates with these corner plates 3a through the intermediary of bearing elements 4e, made of plastic material, for e~ample. l'he corner plates 3a and bearing elements 4e enable sliding movement of the guiding sleeve 4a, prevent bindin~ through :, : . , .

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any formation o~ rust, and, in addition, enable a well-guided sliding of the guidiny sleeve 4a along the guide member 3.
In the embodimen~ shown, t'he 'hoisting gear is particularly well equalised as to loads by the power actuator 2 being carried between the guidé members 3 so that the guiding sleeves 4a are rigidly connected with each other by the member 5a of the coupling device 5 disposed between the guide members 3. As seen from the drawings, the member 5a in its turn is secured to the lifting part of the power actuator 2, i.e. to the piston rod 2c.
As an additionally stabilising factor, the guide columns 3 may have their outwardly facing'sides welded into the inwardly facing sides of the frame flanges lc, which would enable the guide members to take up high bending stress in the forward direction.
The hoisting gear according to the invention is adapted to carry a plurality of coupling members 4b, which is enabled by the expedient that each member 5b forming part of the coupling device 5 and extending vertically inwardly of the guide members 3 forms a carrier for at least two vertically aligned guiding sleeves 4a having coupling members 4b. Owing to the side-by-side arrangement of the power actuator 2, guide members 3 and coupling device 5, a very rigid "power pack" for lifting great loads is obtained.
It is possible, within the scope of the appended claims, to vary the number of elements from which the hoisting gear is assembled, and also to vary the design of elements forming part thereof. Thus, for example, although at least one guide member or column 3 is required, it would be possible optionally to employ two, thxee or more guide members. To limit the li~ting stroke, -the guide column 3 may ~5-,~ .

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be provided with a stop abutment 3b at its top en~.
Further, the number of gui~ing sleeves can be varied, too, as well as the number of coupling devices 4b. To conceal or protect the hoisting gear, it may be encased in a casing 7 carried by the ~rame, and outside this casing 7 a panel 8 may be disposed which is mounted in the guiding sleeves 4a and is intended to carry various equiprnent articles, such as any required sanitary equipment.
The hoisting gear illustrated in the drawings is adapted for lifting at least one object 6 disposed beside the same. The principal components of the hoisting gear are a framework 1, at least one power actuator or unit 2 mounted on the framework 1, guiding means mounted on the framework 1 and comprising at least one guide member 3, a coupling unit 4 cooperating with the guide member 3 and carrying the object 6 to be lifted, such as a bath tub, and a connecting device 5 which connects the power unit 1 with the coupling unit 4.
With a view to make this hoisting gear structurally simple and stable and devoid of any risk of wedging of movable parts, according to the present invention, at least one guiding sleeve 4a forming part of the coupling unit 4 is positively guided to move along the guide member 3 by embracing the latter, whereby the guiding sleeve 4a is adapted~ on one hand, to guide the connecting device 5 connecting the coupling unit 4 with the power unit 2, and, on the other hand, to guide at least one coupling member 4b forming part of said unit 4, The hoisting gear and the object to be lifted comprise a mounting arrangment which, according to the invention, substantially comprises at least one (preferably two) upper coupling elernent~ 4c for taking up tensile ,, :: , . i"

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stresses and at least one (preferably two) Iower coupling elements 4d for taking up compressive stresses. ~urther, the bath tub 6 comprises at least one fitting 6a cooperating with the upper coupling element 4c and at least one support 6b cooperating with the lower coupling element 4d, said coupling elements 4c, 4d and associated fitting 6a and support 6b, on one hand, being entirely disposed between the power unit and the side 6c of the bath tub 6 facing the power unit, and, on the other hand, being designed as interconnectible coupling devices which carry the bath tub 6 as a cantilever supported unit adjacent the hoisting gear.
The advantages of this arrangement, in the first place, reside in the obtainment of a very simplified and stable construction which, owing to its simple design, will substantially reduce the manufacturing cost as compared to prior-art arrangements of the corresponding type.
Furthermore, the interior of the bath tub 6 and/or the occupant of the bath tub 6 will become more easily accessible, since three of the bath tub sides are completely free from connecting arrangments. This will also involve increased possibilities of utilizing a transfer device for transferring patients into and out of the bath tub 6. In addition, the entire equipment can easily be kept neat and clean, a factor of particular importance when the equipment is to be used in sanitary installations. Since both hoisting gear and bath tub 6 are devoid of lengthy carrier arms projecting therefrom, the mounting and assembly operation is simple, and the units will not be bulky and -;
unwieldy during transportation and internal handling thereof.
In order to provide a particularly safe and also simple mounting arrangement, the upper coupling element ~c, ~ f~Z~.~at least, may include a coupling p:Late (not shown) and the fitting 6a may include a coupling plate 6d (the support 6b may include a coupling plate 6e cooperating with the lower coupling element 4d), the coupling plates being interconnected by bolts 7' or the like.
In order to obtain a forceful attachment of the fittings 6a to the bath tub 6, these fittings, on one hand, are attached to the ou-ter surface of the bath-tub wall, and, on the other hand, to the underside of a flange 6 projecting from the top-edge of the bath-tub wall.
To make the bath tub 6 less unwieldy during transportation and also easily attachable to the hoisting gear, the fitting 6a and support 6b may be disposed entirely inwardly of a vertical plane extending through the edge 6g of the projecting flange 6f so that the engagement surfaces of the fitting 6a and support 6b will lie substantially in said vertical plane.
The region of attachment between fitting/support and bath tub 6 will be very rigid if each fitting 6a and/or support 6b is connected to a reinforcement (not shown) exten~ing both along, and attached to, a portion of the side 6c of the bath tub 6 facing the hoisting gear, and along, and attached to, a portion of another side of the bath tub 6.
As will be seen from the arrangement exemplified in the drawings, the inventive arrangement includes two upper coupling elements and fittings cooperating therewith, and two lower coupling or supporting elements and supports cooperating therewith. The upper coupling elements and fittings are interconnected by being screwed or hooked together. The lower coupling elements and supports may be interconnected in a similar way, it being, however, simpler . ~

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and frequently enough to let the supports rest on the lower coupling elements.
In addition to the inventive arrangement here described and its advantages, structural modifications and features not illustrated are possible wi-thin the scope of the appendant claims. In connection with the arrangement here described, it may be mentioned that the bath-tub outlet 8 may have connected to it a spirally coiled discharge hose (not shown) the terminal end of which is immersed into a draining gutter (not shown). This will ensure a non-splashing discharge of the bath tub 6 even if the tub is disposed at a high level above the floor.

Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hoisting apparatus for hoisting or lifting an object disposed beside the apparatus and including:
a frame;
two substantially vertical guide members fixedly mounted on the frame in spaced, parallel relationship;
a vertically extendable power actuator device mounted on said frame between said guide members, and including a vertically movable shaft;
at least two guide sleeves slidably received on and encircling each guide member, said guide sleeves being positively guided for movement along their respective guide members and being spaced vertically apart;
a coupling member carried by each guide sleeve on the front side thereof for coupling to the object to be hoisted or lifted;
a pair of vertical elements, one secured to the inner portion of the guide sleeves on each guide member;
and, a bridging element connecting the upper end portions of said vertical elements and extending horizontally therebetween, said vertical elements and said bridging element lying generally in a plane passing through the longitudinal axes of said vertical guide members, the guide sleeves on one guide member being positioned opposite and at the same level as the corresponding guide sleeves on the other guide member, and said briding element being connected with the upper end of said shaft.

2. A hoisting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said power actuator device is a hydraulic cylinder.

3. A hoisting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said guide members have a rectangular cross-section, and said guide sleeves have a corresponding rectangular cross-section.

4. A hoisting apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said rectangular guide members are provided with corner pieces forming sliding surfaces, and wherein said guide sleeves carry bearing elements on the interior thereof arrranged to slidingly engage said corner pieces.