Lifting Apparatus

The present invention relates to a lifting apparatus capable of shifting a load from one support means to another.

There are needs in many contexts for a lifting apparatus which is arranged so that, while carrying a load, it may be moved from a first suspension device to a second suspension device. There are also often needs in this art to be able to move a load from one level to another.

Examples of practical applications where this need exists are where goods are to be moved through an intake or discharge opening in a wall, when the opening is located above ground level and the wall above the opening separates an outer suspension device from a suspension on device located inside the opening. It is obvious that a corresponding need exists when a load is to be moved from one loading apparatus to another, for example from a conveyor path suspended in a ceiling to a mobile hoist or crane, transfer of a patient sitting in a harness from one conveyor path to another conveyor path, to a bed, to a wheelchair, etc.

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus which satisfies the above-disclosed needs. According to the invention, such apparatus comprises a frame supporting a carrier for a load, two rotary drums carried by the frame to which are secured respective flexible lines each having an end for suspension from an overhead support. The drums are each rotatable in opposite directions to wind up or pay out the respective line to raise or lower the load. A switching device is supported by the frame for each respective drum to switch the drum to a first position in which the drum is interconnected with a prime mover to rotate the drum in one direction or the other. When one drum is engaged with the prime mover the other drum can be disengaged to effect a switching operation and transfer of the frame from one overhead support to the other.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a is a vertical section taken along the line 1a-1a in FIG. 1b through one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention in a first working position;

FIG. 1b is a horizontal section taken along the line 1b-1b in FIG. 1a of the apparatus according to FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2a is a vertical section taken along the line 2a-2a in FIG. 2b with the apparatus in a second working position;

FIG. 2b is a horizontal section of the apparatus taken along the line 2b-2b in FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a is a vertical section taken along the line 3a-3a in FIG. 3b, but with the apparatus in a third working position;

FIG. 3b is a horizontal section of the apparatus taken along the line 3b-3b in FIG. 3a;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are vertical sections and horizontal sections, respectively, of the apparatus corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 1a-b, but with the left- and right-hand sections of the Figures separated and with the right-hand section of Figures partly cut away;

FIGS. 5a and b are vertical sections and horizontal sections, respectively, corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 4a-b but with the apparatus in the second working position; and

FIGS. 6a and b are vertical sections and horizontal sections, respectively, corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 4a-b, but with the apparatus in the third working position.

The Figures of the drawings show a lifting apparatus 1 carrying a load 2 and arranged to be connected to coupling devices 4a,b which, in the Figures, are shown as secured to a ceiling 3 on either side of a wall 5 located beneath the ceiling. The space located beneath the walls example, correspond to a door opening.

The lifting apparatus 1 includes a frame 30, a carrier device 12 for carrying the load 2 and two separate suspension devices 11a,11b. The suspension devices are arranged so as to be able to be interconnected with the coupling devices 4a,b. In the Figures, the coupling devices 4a,b are shown as hooks, and the suspension devices 11a,b are shown as lugs.

In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 30 is composed of two opposing end plates 31a,31b which are connected by cross-stays 33a,33b. A housing 10 surrounds the frame, together with substantially all of those devices which are included in the apparatus.

A first drum 14a and a second drum 14b are each suspended by means of journals 17a,17b in bracket devices (holders) 24a,24b, hereinafter also referred to as first bracket 24a and second bracket 24b. The drums are rotatable in the journals 17a,b and have mutually parallel axes of rotation or shafts 18a,18b. In their turn, the brackets 24a,b are rotatably journalled via journals 29a,29b in the frame 30 (cf. the arrows A and B) for displacement of each respective drum 14a,b between a first (upper) position and a second (lower) position. In the Figures, the journals 29a,b of the brackets are disposed on the cross-stays 33a,b, but it will be obvious to the skilled artisan that the journals, in other embodiments, can be arranged on special devices which are connected to the frame.

Each drum 14a,b is defined in the axial direction at each end by a guide flange 34a,b which guides the winding onto the drum of an elongate and flexible device 13a,13b, for example a strap or a line. The peripheral edge of one guide flange is, in the illustrated embodiment, provided at each drum with teeth whereby the guide flange forms a circumferential gear rim 19a,19b. In the illustrated embodiment, the teeth are disposed on that flange which, in both drums, is turned to face in the same direction, in addition to which the teeth are generally axially oriented. In certain embodiments, obliquely cut teeth are also employed.

A prime mover or drive means 16 is connected to the frame and, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, comprises an electric motor 28, a gear 21 and a gear wheel 20. The gear wheel 20 is placed and disposed such that its teeth are parallel with the teeth 19a,b of the drums 14a,b and disposed adjacent thereto. Thus, the gear wheel 20 has a fixed position in relation to the frame but is rotatable about its center axis. The motor 28 drives the gear wheel 20 via the gear 21 which is connected to gear wheel 20 by shaft 20a. The motor 28 drives the gear 21 in a conventional manner such as, by a worm gear 16a on the output shaft of the motor 28.

Switching devices 15a and 15b, respectively, are provided for each respective drum 14a,b. The switching devices 15a,b are interconnected with one another by means of a mechanical element 27. Each switching device 15a,b is rotatably journalled in a journal 36a and 36b, respectively, of the mechanical element 27. In the Figures, the mechanical element is shown in one embodiment in which it is designed as a shaft 27 which, in turn, is rotatably journalled in the frame 30. Each respective switching device is provided with a guide surface 37a,37b which, in a first end region, is provided with a first retainer member 38a,38b and, in its other end region, with a second retainer member 39a,39b. In the Figures, the retainer members are shown as recesses or depressions in the guide surface of a configuration adapted to the shape of a guide member 35a,35b shown in the Figures as a pin disposed on each of the bracket devices 24a,b. The pin is disposed on the same side of the journals 29a,b of the brackets 24a,b as the journals 17a,b of the drum and, as a rule, further away from the journal of the bracket device than the center shafts 18a,b of the drums. Each retainer member 38a,b and 39a,b of guide surface 37a,b is of concave configuration and the distance to the journal 36a,b of the switching device 15a,b is greater at the first retainer member 38a,b than at the second retainer member 39a,b. Outside the second retainer member, the switching devices merge into respective abutment surfaces 32a,b. The abutment of the switching devices 15a,b are, thus, disposed a greater distance from the journals 17a,b of the drums than the second retainer members 39a,b.

The mechanical element (the shaft) 27 is rotatable about its center axis between two rotary end positions which are offset 180.degree. in relation to one another. In the Figures, one embodiment is shown of manual operating devices 26a,26b each at an end of the shaft 27 for switching the shaft between its two end positions. The switching devices 15a,b have substantially identical configuration of their guide surfaces 37a,b and the devices are mounted in mirror-reversed relationship on the shaft 27 and angularly offset by 180.degree. in relation to one another. The switching devices 15a,b are mounted on the shaft 27 such that, when the first retainer member 38a of one switching device 15a is located adjacent to the guide member 35a (the guide pin) of the first bracket 24a, the first retainer member 38b of the second switching device 15b is located furthest away from the guide member 35b (the guide pin) of the second bracket 24b. Each respective switching device 15a,b is returnably rotatable on the shaft 27 from one end position constituting substantially the position of rotation in relation to the shaft 27 in which the switching device 15a,15b, respectively, is located when the second retainer member 39a,bof the guide surface 37a,b of the switching device 15a,b is located most proximal the guide pin 35a,b. A spring 22a,b is secured in a pretensioned manner to a radially directed arm 23a,b fixedly connected with the shaft 27 and to each respective switching device 15a,b so as to apply a torque on the switching device for returning the switching device to the end position.

In the separated sections shown in FIGS. 4-6, the sections are partly cut away in FIGS. 4a,5a and 6a so as to show the positions of the switching device 15b on switching of the second (right-hand) drum 14b between its first and second (upper and lower, respectively) positions.

In FIGS. 1a and 1b and 4a and 4b, the first switching device 15a is shown oriented with its first retainer member 38a cooperating with the guide pin 35a of the first bracket 24a. Since the first retainer member 38a is located furthest away from the journal 36a of the switching device, the bracket 24a is displaced to and retained by the switching device 15a in its upper position. This means that the gear rim 19a of the first drum 14a is in mesh with the gear wheel 20 of the prime mover 16. When the prime mover rotates the gear wheel 20 in the direction of the arrow C, the first drum 14a rotates in the direction of the arrow D and the strap 13a is wound on the first drum 14a. Hereby, the lifting apparatus i and therewith its load 2 is lifted upwardly. When the motor is stopped, the lifting apparatus is retained at an unchanged level by a brake integrated into the prime mover, for example an electric or mechanical brake. When the motor drives the gear wheel 20 in the opposite direction, the strap is unwound from the drum 14a.

As is particularly apparent from FIG. 4a, the second switching device 15b is located in a position in which its second retainer member 39b cooperates with the guide pin 35b of the second bracket device 24b. Since the distance between the guide surface 37b and the journal 36b of the second switching device 15b is at its smallest here, the bracket 24b is located in its lowest position, and the gear rim 19b of the drum is disengaged from the gear wheel 20. It is thereby possible, for example manually to draw out the strap 13b from the second drum 14b.

In FIGS. 2a and 2b, as well as in 5a and 5b, it is shown how the second strap 13b is connected to the second coupling device 4b. The operating device 26a,b has been switched from the position illustrated in FIGS. 1a,b and 4a,b to its opposite position and the second switching device 15b has thereby been switched so that its second retainer member 38b cooperates with the guide pin 35b of the second bracket 24b. The second bracket 24b has thereby, on the rotation of the switching device 15b, been displaced by the guide surface 37b of the device 15b to its highest position and, thereby, the drum 14b has been moved to a position in which its gear rim 19b is in engagement with the gear wheel 20.

The first switching device 15a has also accompanied the operating shaft 27 in its rotation, as a result of which it has been moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 1a to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 5a. The gear rim 19a of the first drum 14a is, however, still located in mesh with the gear wheel 20. The reason for this is that the first strap 11a still takes up the entire load and, thereby, retains the first drum 14a in its uppermost position. The second retainer member 39a of the guide surface 37a will not, therefore, reach the guide pin 35a. The abutment surface 32a of the switching device 15a located outside the second retainer member 39a abuts, under spring action against the guide pin 35a of the first bracket 24a. The switching device 15a is, thereby, rotated out of its end rotary position and the spring 22a has been further extended. When the gear wheel 20 is rotated by the prime mover 16 in the direction of the arrow G, the second strap 13b is tensioned due to rotation of the second drum 14b in the direction of the arrow E. At the same time, the gear wheel 20 rotates the first drum 14a in the direction of the arrow F. On rotation of the drums 14a,b, the strap 13a is paid out from the first drum 14a, at the same time as the strap 13b is drawn in on the second drum 14b. The load will thereby be progressively transferred to the second strap 13b. Since approximately the same amount of strap is paid out from the first drum as the second drum draws in, the lifting apparatus will, when the load has been wholly transferred to the second strap 13b, be located on approximately the same level as when the first strap 13a carried the entire load.

When the first strap 13a no longer carries any load, the force of gravity displaces the first bracket 24a downwardly in Figure 1a. Since the abutment surface 32a of the first switching device 15a no longer abuts against the guide pin 35a, the spring 22a draws the switching device to the position illustrated in FIG. 6a, i.e. to that position in which the second retainer member 39a of the first switching device 15a is in engagement with the guide pin 35a. The first drum 14a is thereby locked in its lower position (cf. FIG. 6a). The entire load has now been transferred to the second band or strap 13b. The first drum 14a is now wholly disengaged. The desired length of the first band 13a can now be drawn out from the first drum and the desired position of the load be obtained by allowing the prime mover 16 to rotate the second drum 14b in a direction which either draws in the band or line 13b or pays out the line in order to raise or lower the load.

In one preferred embodiment, the drums 14a,b are provided with torsion springs which reverse each respective drum for drawing in the strap 13a,b when the drum is no longer in engagement with the gear wheel 20 and the strap has been disengaged from the relevant coupling device 4a,b.

The above detailed description has referred to but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, but it will be readily perceived by a person skilled in the art that the present invention encompasses a large number of embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.