Lifting apparatus and method of lifting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9394148-B2
Application number	US-201414525972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A collapsible and mobile lifting apparatus. The apparatus includes a mobile base, a lifting mechanism mounted to the mobile base, suspension members extending from the lifting mechanism for operatively engaging an object to be lifted, and a counterweight system that is automatically moveable relative to the mobile base. Helical band actuators provide the lifting force. A lower counterweight at the base is moveable to variable positions in response to the load of an object on the suspension members. An upper counterweight is mounted proximate to the upper end of the lifting mechanism to resist the load on the suspension members as well. A tension cable extending from the base proximate to the upper end of the lifting mechanism provides additional force to balance the load of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting apparatus, comprising:
a mobile base adapted to be supported by and moveable relative to a floor surface;
a lifting mechanism mounted to the mobile base;
suspension members for operatively engaging an object to be lifted, the suspension members extending from the lifting mechanism;
a counterweight system that is automatically moveable relative to the mobile base; and
a controller that receives load information based on a load of the object being lifted and adjusts the counterweight system in response to the load information.

2. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight system includes a lower counterweight moveably mounted to the mobile base, the lower counterweight having a first position when there is no load on the suspension members and a variable second position to which the lower counterweight may move when there is a load on the suspension members.

3. The lifting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second position of the lower counterweight is automatically adjusted in response to the load on the suspension members.

4. The lifting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the lower counterweight is actuated with an actuator for linear movement.

5. The lifting apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the actuator comprises one of a motor and a hydraulic cylinder.

6. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the counterweight system includes an upper counterweight proximate to the suspension members and a lower counterweight moveably mounted to the mobile base.

7. The lifting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a cable is connected at a first end at or proximate to an upper end of the lifting mechanism and is operably connected at a second end to the mobile base, and the cable has an initial tension, and the tension of the cable may be adjusted by a motor.

8. The lifting apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the cable is operably connected to the mobile base through being held by the motor, and the motor is mounted to the lower counterweight.

9. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller uses a feedback loop to continuously adjust the counterweight system in response to movement of the load.

10. The lifting apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the counterweight system comprises an upper counterweight proximate to the suspension members, a lower counterweight moveably mounted to the mobile base, a cable, and a motor, wherein the lower counterweight is moveably mounted to the mobile base and has a first position when there is no load on the suspension members and a variable second position when there is a load on the suspension members, and wherein the cable is connected at a first end at or proximate to an upper end of the lifting mechanism and is operably connected at a second end to the mobile base and is operably connected at a second end to the mobile base, the cable having a certain tension that may be adjusted by the motor.

11. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a helical band actuator.

12. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises at least one scissor mechanism that contributes to lateral support of the helical band actuator.

13. The lifting apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one scissor mechanism comprises two scissor mechanisms that are disposed in planes perpendicularly oriented relative to one another.

14. The lifting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the suspension members comprise cantilevered beams each rotatably coupled to the lifting mechanism at a first end and extending to a free second end.

15. The lifting apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the beams are remotely controlled to rotate in response to an input.

16. A method of lifting an object using a mobile base adapted to be supported by and moveable relative to a floor surface, a lifting mechanism mounted to the mobile base, and suspension members for operatively engaging the object to be lifted, the suspension members extending from the lifting mechanism, the method comprising:
positioning the mobile base proximate to the object to be lifted;
actuating the lifting mechanism and the suspension members to be above the object;
operatively engaging the object with the suspension members;
lifting the object to apply a load to the suspension members; and
as the load is applied, measuring the load and automatically adjusting a counterweight system that is moveable relative to the base to offset the load.

17. The method of lifting an object of claim 16 , wherein the counterweight system includes a lower counterweight moveably mounted to the mobile base that has a first position when there is no load on the suspension members and a variable second position when there is a load on the suspension members, and adjusting the counterweight system includes moving the lower counterweight relative to the base.

18. The method of lifting an object of claim 17 , wherein the counterweight system includes an upper counterweight proximate to the suspension members, a cable is connected at a first end to the upper counterweight and is operably connected at a second end to the mobile base, the cable has an initial tension, and adjusting the counterweight system includes changing the tension of the cable with a motor.

19. The method of lifting an object of claim 18 , wherein automatically adjusting the control system comprises receiving load information with a control system based on the load of an object being lifted and using a feedback loop to adjust the counterweight system in response to the load information.

20. A lifting apparatus, comprising:
a mobile base adapted to be supported by and moveable relative to a floor surface;
a lifting mechanism mounted to the mobile base;
suspension members for operatively engaging an object to be lifted, the suspension members extending from the lifting mechanism; and
a counterweight system that is movable relative to the mobile base to offset a load of the object, the counterweight system being adjusted in response to measuring the load of the object as the object is being lifted.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Biondich Kyle Steven
• Oberst Kyle L
• Talus Zachary D
• Hansen Brian M

Classifications

• B66F9/06 Primary

  movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks (vehicle aspects B60 - B62; vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading or unloading B60P1/00; low-lift hand trucks for transporting goods B62B3/06) · CPC title

• B66F9/07554

  Counterweights · CPC title

• B66F11/00

  Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for (ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting or manoeuvring the vehicle B60S9/00) · CPC title

• B66C5/00

  Base supporting structures with legs · CPC title

• B66C5/10

  Portals, i.e. essentially circular or square platforms with three or more legs specially adapted for supporting slewing jib cranes · CPC title