Platform lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053333-B2
Application number	US-201615277437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2016
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A platform lift configured for supporting the movement of items between a floor-level area and an elevated area includes a rigid, floor-level platform with two opposed sides, an above-floor mast arranged at each of the opposed sides of the platform, and a knuckle assembly coupling each mast to its respective side of the platform. The masts together support the platform for movement in a lifting direction normal to the platform, and each include an actuator coupled to its respective side of the platform that is selectively operable to impart lifting movement thereto in the lifting direction. The knuckle assemblies together permit the platform's rotation towards and away from the masts when their respective actuators impart different amounts of lifting movement to the opposed sides of the platform in the lifting direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A platform lift for supporting the movement of items between a floor-level area and an elevated area, comprising:
a rigid, floor-level platform with two opposed sides;
an above-floor mast arranged at each of the opposed sides of the platform, the masts together supporting the platform for movement in a lifting direction normal to the platform, and each including an actuator coupled to its respective side of the platform that is selectively operable to impart lifting movement thereto in the lifting direction; and
a knuckle assembly coupling each mast to its respective side of the platform, the knuckle assemblies together permitting the platform's rotation towards and away from the masts when their respective actuators impart different amounts of lifting movement to the opposed sides of the platform in the lifting direction.

2. The platform lift of claim 1 , wherein the platform has, in addition to the two opposed sides at which the masts are arranged, at least one side open to the transfer of items to and from the platform.

3. The platform lift of claim 1 , wherein each mast includes a linear slide assembly coupled to its respective side of the platform, with the linear slide assemblies together supporting the platform for movement in the lifting direction.

4. The platform lift of claim 1 , wherein each mast includes two linear slides coupled to its respective side of the platform, with the linear slides together supporting the platform for movement in the lifting direction.

5. The platform lift of claim 4 , wherein, in each mast, a point at which the actuator is coupled to its respective side of the platform is between two points at which the two linear slides are respectively coupled to its respective side of the platform.

6. The platform lift of claim 1 , wherein, in each mast, the actuator is a linear actuator having a body and a guide rod, with one of the body and the guide rod mounted to the remainder of the mast, and the other of the body and the guide rod coupled to the mast's respective side of the platform, and with the linear actuator being selectively operable to progressively extend and retract the guide rod to impart lifting movement to the mast's respective side of the platform in the lifting direction.

7. The platform lift of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the knuckle assemblies is permissive of the platform's movement in a direction between the masts.

8. An assembly plant, comprising:
a floor-level area;
an elevated area; and
a platform lift for supporting the movement of items between the floor-level area and the elevated area, the platform lift including:
a rigid, floor-level platform with two opposed sides;
an above-floor mast mounted to the floor at each of the opposed sides of the platform, the masts together supporting the platform for movement in a lifting direction normal to the platform, and each including an actuator coupled to its respective side of the platform that is selectively operable to impart lifting movement thereto in the lifting direction; and
a knuckle assembly coupling each mast to its respective side of the platform, the knuckle assemblies together permitting the platform's rotation towards and away from the masts when their respective actuators impart different amounts of lifting movement to the opposed sides of the platform in the lifting direction.

9. The assembly plant of claim 8 , wherein, in the platform lift, the platform has, in addition to the two opposed sides at which the masts are arranged, at least one side open to the transfer of items to and from the platform.

10. The assembly plant of claim 8 , wherein, in the platform lift, each mast includes a linear slide assembly coupled to its respective side of the platform, with the linear slide assemblies together supporting the platform for movement in the lifting direction.

11. The assembly plant of claim 8 , wherein, in the platform lift, each mast includes two linear slides coupled to its respective side of the platform, with the linear slides together supporting the platform for movement in the lifting direction.

12. The assembly plant of claim 11 , wherein, in the platform lift, in each mast, a point at which the actuator is coupled to its respective side of the platform is between two points at which the two linear slides are respectively coupled to its respective side of the platform.

13. The assembly plant of claim 8 , wherein, in the platform lift, in each mast, the actuator is a linear actuator having a body and a guide rod, with one of the body and the guide rod mounted to the remainder of the mast, and the other of the body and the guide rod coupled to the mast's respective side of the platform, and with the linear actuator being selectively operable to progressively extend and retract the guide rod to impart lifting movement to the mast's respective side of the platform in the lifting direction.

14. The assembly plant of claim 8 , wherein, in the platform lift, at least one of the knuckle assemblies is permissive of the platform's movement in a direction between the masts.

15. A platform lift for supporting the movement of items between a floor-level area and an elevated area, comprising:
a rigid, floor-level platform with two opposed sides;
a pair of above-floor masts arranged at the opposed sides of the platform, each mast including:
a floor-mountable base;
an upright portion extending from the base;
a linear slide assembly mounted to the upright portion;
a lift plate carried by the linear slide assembly for movement in a lifting direction normal to the platform; and
an actuator mounted between the lift plate and the remainder of the mast that is selectively operable to impart lifting movement to the lift plate in the lifting direction; and

a knuckle assembly coupling the lift plate in each mast to its respective side of the platform, the knuckle assemblies together permitting the platform's rotation towards and away from the pair of masts when their respective actuators impart, via their respective lift plates, different amounts of lifting movement to the opposed sides of the platform in the lifting direction.

16. The platform lift of claim 15 , wherein the platform has, in addition to the two opposed sides at which the pair of masts is arranged, at least one side open to the transfer of items to and from the platform.

17. The platform lift of claim 15 , wherein each mast includes two linear slides mounted to the upright portion, with the lift plate being carried by the two linear slides for movement in the lifting direction.

18. The platform lift of claim 17 , wherein, in each mast, a point at which the actuator is mounted to the lift plate is between two points at which the lift plate is respectively carried by the two linear slides.

19. The platform lift of claim 15 , wherein, in each mast, the actuator is a linear actuator having a body and a guide rod, with one of the body and the guide rod mounted to the remainder of the mast, and the other of the body and the guide rod mounted to the lift plate, and with the linear actuator being selectively operable to progressively extend and retract the guide rod to impart lifting movement, via the lift plate, to the mast's respective side of the platform in the lifting direction.

20. The platform lift of claim 15 , wherein:
the knuckle assemblies each include at least one knuckle having one or more mast-side fingers at the lift plate to which the knuckle assembly is coupled, one or more interleaved platform-side fingers at

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Wells Keith J
• Mcclain Robert D

Classifications

• B66F7/20 Primary

  by several jacks with means for maintaining the platforms horizontal during movement · CPC title

• B66B9/00 Primary

  Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) · CPC title

• B66B7/02

  Guideways; Guides (arrangements in mine shafts E21D7/02) · CPC title