HK1065523B - System for lifting and moving an object - Google Patents

Description

System for lifting and moving objects

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for lifting and moving objects from one location to another.

Background

Many systems are known for lifting and moving objects from one location to another. However, these systems are cumbersome and awkward and are expensive to manufacture.

Summary of The Invention

The main aspect and advantage of the invention is "operation of the counterweight".

1. The lifting motion of the present invention can be accomplished with a low air pressure of four pounds per square inch.

2. The sealing principle of the counterweight (piston) is that air friction is used as it moves through the small slit. This principle allows the air pressure to be generated below the piston with little air.

3. Another advantage of using this principle is that a small air leak causes the piston to stop at the centre of the pipe and eliminates the effect of friction between the counterweight and the inside of the vertical rod.

4. In addition to ensuring a guiding and sealing action, the use of a leakage system eliminates the need to pressurize the piston top or use an exhaust valve. This system only requires a reduction in the air intake or seal so that the counterweight can be lowered by gravity alone to raise the object.

5. Since the present system uses only 99% of the weight mass to lift the object, it is not possible to abuse the equipment or damage it. The friction of the mechanical parts is responsible for the 1% loss.

6. A 360 degree continuous motion is possible using the support columns as compression chambers.

7. Due to the local inclination provided for each pulley to the cable between the object connecting parts, in case the operator tries to lift the object too high, the proximity of the two pulleys of the carriage supporting the object connecting parts by the cable results in a braking effect.

8. The counterweight can have different weights and it is a container with a valve at the bottom for quick emptying:

a) the top of the container is open. The tank provided at the top of the apparatus may be filled with a granular substance or fluid using static torque. The bottom valve is used to fill the weight container as needed.

b) The method of carrying particulate matter or fluid can be achieved in continuous motion by using an 1/4HP mini-conveyor system with a tank.

c) The management of the weights can be performed with fluids (water, oil, mercury) or granular substances (sand, steel balls, polymer beads).

d) If mercury is used, all movements must be performed in a closed loop in order to avoid possible environmental pollution. It must be noted that mercury has the advantage of being very compact, despite its high price.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for lifting and moving an object from one location to another, comprising:

a. a partially hollow stem having a substantially vertical axis;

b. a counterweight disposed within the vertical post and forming a post chamber therebelow, the post chamber being fillable with a compressed fluid;

c. a weight movement system capable of moving the weight longitudinally upward relative to the vertical pole, the weight movement system controlling the pressure within the vertical pole chamber to selectively position the weight along the vertical pole;

d. a cross arm rotatably connected to the vertical post for rotation about a vertical axis and including a proximal longitudinal end proximal to the vertical post and a distal longitudinal end distal from the vertical post;

e. one end of the cable is connected with the counterweight, and the other end of the cable is connected with the far end of the cross arm;

f. a bracket connected with the cable and mounted on the cross arm; and

g. an object attachment member coupled to the cable for attaching an object to the cable;

wherein the object is raised by the cable when the counterweight moves downwardly relative to the vertical pole under the influence of gravity and lowered when the counterweight moves upwardly relative to the vertical pole under the influence of the pressurized fluid in the vertical pole chamber. And the system also comprises at least one elongated support member, one end of which is movably connected with the vertical rod and the other end of which is fixed on the cross arm.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a lift system according to the present invention;

FIG. 1b is a top view of the system shown in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1c is a detailed view of section "D" in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of portion "B" of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3a is a partial cross-sectional view of the system taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 b;

FIG. 3b is a detailed cross-sectional view of section "C" of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 3c is a partial cross-sectional side view of the base of the system of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of a lift system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of portion "E" of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another partial view of portion "E" of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pulley subsystem of a cradle for use with the system of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the pulley subsystem of FIG. 7 with the pulley chamber portion connecting the pulleys removed;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an arm subsystem for use with the system of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cable subsystem used in conjunction with the system of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a pulley subsystem used in conjunction with the system of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is another partial perspective view of an arm swivel for use with the system of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The apparatus as a whole, viewed in the transverse direction, comprises a 12 foot long rail 38 attached to the top of a 8 inch diameter vertical post 2 that is 8 to 12 feet high.

The guide rail 38 is fixed to the vertical bar 2, or to the arm connecting system, by means of a swivel joint 40, which allows the guide rail to be rotated continuously through 360 degrees, and in particular around the vertical bar axis, without restriction and hindrance.

A hole is provided in the swivel 40 to allow the cable 29 to move freely while the counterweight is raised or lowered. As shown in fig. 2, 10, 11 and 12, the swivel joint 40 is located at the center of the cover 35 attached to the top of the vertical post. Cable 29 passes through guide 24 and around pulley 41, pulley 41 rotating about horizontal axis 20. Bearings 42 are provided between the guide 24 and the support cylinder 21, and the support cylinder 21 is fixed to the guide rail 38 by bolts 23 or other known means. A spacer 22 is provided between the cover 35 and the support 21.

The ports in the swivel joint 40 allow the cable 29 to move freely while the counterweight is being raised or lowered.

The guide rail 38 is supported by two 1 inch square elongated supports or posts 26 having longitudinal ends secured thereto, the opposite longitudinal ends being bolted to the rolling shoes 27, and the vertical post 25 also being connected to the rolling shoes 27 by the same bolt 28.

By means of the two bearings 12', the rolling block 27 can be displaced transversely in the tangential direction on the outer side of the vertical rod 2.

A small carriage 50 mounted in the guide rail 38, comprising a pulley 11 mounted on the axis 13, a wheel 12, a bearing 14 and a screw 16 mounted in the guide rail 38, allows the carriage to move freely along the guide rail using two substantially coaxial wheels 12.

The ends of the guide rails 38 are covered with a cover 19 for closing the opening and holding the ends of the cables 29 in place.

The bottom of the vertical bar 2 is welded to a triangular base 1 and filled with epoxy, and the base 1 is anchored to the ground at each angle by means of anchors 3, 34.

Two plastic rings 6 mounted on the top and bottom of the counterweight 5 form seals that prevent friction between the metal parts. The plastic ring is adjusted as necessary to leak a predetermined volume of air or other gas.

At the bottom of the vertical rod a counterweight moving system, such as a valve 33, is installed to control the suction air used to lift the counterweight.

Description of the apparatus

The rubber 7 is attached to the bottom of the weight by means of bolts 8 for impact relief when the weight is lowered.

Two black high-density steel strips 17 inside the guide rail 38 allow the carriage 5 to move smoothly.

The 5/8 inch bearing 15 ensures linear movement of the carriage on the guide rail 38.

The relatively small mass of the object-connecting component, such as the additional pulley 30, prevents the cable 29 from falling off the two substantially coplanar pulleys 11 by placing the cable 29 under tension.

Mechanical function of the apparatus

The device has three remarkable functions:

a) the weight is used, so that the mass of the lifted object is eliminated;

b) so that the operator can easily lift and lower the object; and

c) the object is moved 360 degrees within a radius of 2-12 feet.

Device operation program

The apparatus is a lifting arm that is easy to handle any solid object that can be held by suction cups, magnets, hooks or any other holding system. An operator can manipulate the object within a 24 foot diameter and control the raising and lowering of the object using a wireless or wired remote control. The stand on which the remote is mounted also serves as a handle for holding the operator on the base of the system.

The retention system may have any suitable shape. For example, using melamine coated laminates, the operator fills the air under the weights. As a result, the holding system (here the suction cups) is lowered to the top of the sheet. Once the lamella is properly sucked, the operator lets out air, the counterweight is lowered, lifting the lamella. The operator can then move the sheet to the desired position and inflate it again with air to lower it. Finally, the operator releases the sheet and prepares for another operation.

The apparatus is used to handle small loads between 50-150 pounds. The vertical rod is internally provided with a piston moving up and down, preferably under the pressure generated by the fluid or by the fluid, gas or granular material, and preferably inside such element and respectively under the action of gravity, such as air, inert gas, synthetic or natural oil, mercury, water or sand; the piston is held firmly by the cable on the carriage moving in or on the crossbar and forces the holding system to maintain the same distance from the carriage regardless of the position of the piston on the crossbar.

Claims (18)

1. A system for lifting and moving an object from one location to another, the system comprising:

a. a partially hollow stem having a substantially vertical axis;

b. a counterweight disposed within the vertical post and forming a post chamber therebelow, the post chamber being fillable with a compressed fluid;

c. a weight movement system capable of moving the weight longitudinally upward relative to the vertical pole, the weight movement system controlling the pressure within the vertical pole chamber to selectively position the weight along the vertical pole;

d. a cross arm rotatably connected to the vertical post for rotation about a vertical axis and including a proximal longitudinal end proximal to the vertical post and a distal longitudinal end distal from the vertical post;

e. one end of the cable is connected with the counterweight, and the other end of the cable is connected with the far end of the cross arm;

f. a bracket connected with the cable and mounted on the cross arm; and

g. an object attachment member coupled to the cable for attaching an object to the cable;

wherein, by means of the cable, the object is raised when the counterweight moves downwardly relative to the vertical pole under the action of gravity and the object is lowered when the counterweight moves upwardly relative to the vertical pole under the action of the pressurized fluid in the vertical pole chamber; and the system also comprises at least one elongated support member, one end of which is movably connected with the vertical rod and the other end of which is fixed on the cross arm.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an arm attachment system mounted at the proximal end of the cross arm for rotatably attaching the cross arm to a vertical post about a vertical axis of the vertical post.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the counterweight movement system comprises a valve connected to the vertical post chamber to control pressure therein.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve is mounted at the lower longitudinal end of the vertical rod.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the valve is connectable to a source of pressurized fluid for selectively increasing the pressure within the vertical post chamber.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pressure fluid is compressed air.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pressure within the vertical post chamber is equal to or less than four pounds per square inch (4 PSI).

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a piston is used as the counterweight and includes a seal between the piston and the vertical rod.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the seal has an opening extending therethrough, the opening having a predetermined area to allow pressurized fluid to flow from the stem chamber through the opening to at least partially reduce friction between the counterweight and the stem.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the cross-arm includes a rail attached thereto, the carriage being free to move along the rail.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the carriage is configured to maintain the object-connecting member at a relatively constant distance therefrom during movement of the carriage along the rail.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the support includes a plurality of pulleys freely rotatably mounted thereon and connected to the cable.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the cross-arm is oriented in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the vertical rod.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the cross-arm is rotatably connected to the vertical rod for unrestricted continuous movement about a vertical axis.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the end movably connected to the vertical post is movably mounted to the vertical post so as to move tangentially relative to the vertical post about a vertical axis.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the end movably connected to the vertical post is connected to a roller block that is in rolling engagement with the vertical post so as to roll tangentially relative to the vertical post about a vertical axis.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the bracket comprises two bearings engaged with the rail, the two bearings positioned relative to each other in a coaxial manner.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the bracket comprises two pulleys engaged by a cable, the two pulleys being positioned relative to each other in a coplanar manner.