Lifting devices positionable in high range positions and low range positions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12447080-B2
Application number	US-202218060841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2022
Priority date	Nov 21, 2019
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

Lifting devices for positioning a lift actuator in a high range position and a low range position are disclosed. The lifting devices may include a lift mast, a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, a lift actuator having a first end and a second end, and a linkage member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the lift actuator is pivotally coupled to the lift mast. The first end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the lift arm and the second end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the lift actuator such that the lift actuator includes a high range position relative to the lift arm and a low range position relative to the lift arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting device comprising:
a lift mast;
a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, the lift arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a lift actuator having a first end and a second end, the first end of the lift actuator pivotally coupled to the lift mast;
a linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the linkage member pivotally coupled to the lift arm and the second end of the linkage member pivotally coupled to the second end of the lift actuator such that the lift actuator is positionable between a high range position relative to the lift arm and a low range position relative to the lift arm; and
a pair of spaced apart stabilizers extending from the lift arm for preventing lateral separation of the linkage member from the lift arm, a first stabilizer of the pair of spaced apart stabilizers located a first distance from the first end of the lift arm, a second stabilizer of the pair of spaced apart stabilizers located a second distance from the first end of the lift arm greater than the first distance,
wherein the lift actuator is selectively positionable in the high range position and the low range position.

2. The lifting device of claim 1 , wherein each stabilizer comprises a pair of side walls extending perpendicular to a lower wall of the lift arm, the pair of side walls defining a channel for receiving the linkage member.

3. The lifting device of claim 2 , wherein, when the lift actuator is in the high range position, a first surface of the linkage member faces a lower wall of the lift arm and wherein, when the lift actuator is in the low range position, an opposite second surface of the linkage member faces the lower wall of the lift arm.

4. The lifting device of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart retaining members for preventing lateral and longitudinal separation of the linkage member from the lift arm, each retaining member having a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end being removably attachable to the linkage member.

5. The lifting device of claim 4 , wherein each retaining member is a strap having a first end and second end, the first end of each strap removably attached to a first side of the lift arm and the second end of each strap removably attached to a second side of the lift arm.

6. The lifting device of claim 1 further comprising a linkage bracket extending from a lower wall of the lift arm, the second end of the linkage member pivotally connected to the linkage bracket.

7. The lifting device of claim 1 , wherein the high range position is defined by a first height relative to a base of the lifting device and a second height relative to the base of the lifting device, and the low range position is defined by a third height relative to the base of the lifting device and a fourth height relative to the base of the lifting device, wherein the first height is greater than the third height and the second height being greater than the fourth height.

8. A lift arm assembly for a lifting device including a lift mast and a lift actuator, the lift arm assembly comprising:
a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, the lift arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the linkage member pivotally coupled to the lift arm, the second end of the linkage member pivotally connectable to the lift actuator such that the lift actuator can be selectively positioned in a high range position relative to the lift arm and a low range position relative to the lift arm; and
a pair of spaced apart stabilizers extending from the lift arm for preventing longitudinal separation of the linkage member from the lift arm, a first stabilizer of the pair of spaced apart stabilizers located a first distance from the first end of the lift arm, a second stabilizer of the pair of spaced apart stabilizers located a second distance from the first end of the lift arm greater than the first distance.

9. The lift arm assembly of claim 8 , wherein each stabilizer comprises a pair of side walls extending perpendicular to a lower wall of the lift arm, the pair of side walls defining a channel for receiving the linkage member.

10. The lift arm assembly of claim 9 , wherein, when the lift actuator is in the high range position, a first surface of the linkage member faces a lower wall of the lift arm and wherein, when the lift actuator is in the low range position, an opposite second surface of the linkage member faces the lower wall of the lift arm.

11. The lift arm assembly of claim 8 , wherein the high range position is defined by a first height relative to a base of the lifting device and a second height relative to the base of the lifting device, and the low range position is defined by a third height relative to the base of the lifting device and a fourth height relative to the base of the lifting device, the first height being greater than the third height and the second height being greater than the fourth height.

12. A method comprising:
positioning a lift actuator of a lifting device between a high range position and a low range position, the lifting device comprising:
a lift mast;
a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, the lift arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
the lift actuator having a first end and a second end, the first end of the lift actuator pivotally coupled to the lift mast;
a linkage member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the linkage member pivotally coupled to the lift arm and the second end of the linkage member pivotally coupled to the second end of the lift actuator; and

a pair of spaced apart stabilizers extending from the lift arm for preventing lateral separation of the linkage member from the lift arm, a first stabilizer of the pair of spaced apart stabilizers located a first distance from the first end of the lift arm, a second stabilizer of the pair of spaced apart stabilizers located a second distance from the first end of the lift arm greater than the first distance,
wherein in the high range position, the linkage member is in a first position,
wherein in the low range position, the linkage member is in a second position.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein in the first position, a first surface of the linkage member faces a lower wall of the lift arm and wherein in the second position, a second surface of the linkage member opposite the first surface faces the lower wall of the lift arm.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each stabilizer comprises a pair of side walls extending perpendicular to the lower wall of the lift arm, the pair of side walls defining a channel for receiving the linkage member.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein a pair of spaced apart retaining members prevent lateral and longitudinal separation of the linkage member from the lift arm, each retaining member having a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end being removably attachable to the linkage member.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each retaining member is a strap having a first end and second end, the first end of each strap removably attached to a first side of the lift arm and the second end of each strap removably attached to a second side of the lift arm.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising a linkage bracket extending from the lower wall of the lift arm, the second end of the linkage member pivotally connected to the linkage bracket.

Assignees

• Liko Res & Dev Ab

Inventors

• Linde Marcus

Classifications

• A61G7/1046

  Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels · CPC title

• A61G7/1061

  Yokes · CPC title

• A61G7/1017 Primary

  Pivoting arms, e.g. crane type mechanisms · CPC title