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US 10,336,583 B2Granted
Lifter and method for moving traffic barriers
AssigneeVacuworx Global, LLC
InventorsWilliam J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.
Claims19
A method for lifting a traffic barrier, the method comprising:
- operating a rotator of a barrier lifter connected to a boom, the barrier lifter including
- at least one pinned connector configured for connecting the barrier lifter to the boom;
- the rotator located below and connected to the at least one pinned connector, the rotator capable of rotating said lifter relative to the boom;
- a pair of opposing axes located below the rotator and running parallel to one another;
- a pair of opposing arms, each arm connected at an upper end to a respective axis of the pair of opposing axes, the arms rotatable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a cross-member pivotally connected to a respective lower end of each arm of the pair of opposing arms, the cross-member including a gripping surface;
- operating the pair of opposing arms into the open position;
- operating the rotator to align the arms with a traffic barrier;
- lowering the boom and lifter onto the traffic barrier;
- operating the pair of opposing arms into the closed position wherein the gripping surface of each arm is in contact with and applying pressure to a respective opposing surface of the traffic barrier;
- lifting the boom, lifter and traffic barrier;
- placing the traffic barrier over a desired location;
- lowering the boom, lifter and traffic barrier wherein the traffic barrier is placed on the desired location;
- and
- operating the pair of arms to return into the open position.
13 more elements
A traffic barrier lifter comprising:
- at least one pinned connector configured for connecting said lifter to a boom;
- a rotator located below and connected to the at least one pinned connector, the rotator capable of rotating said lifter relative to the boom;
- a pair of opposing axes located below the rotator and running parallel to one another;
- a pair of opposing arms, each arm connected at an upper end to a respective axis of the pair of opposing axes, the arms rotatable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;
- a cross-member pivotally connected to a respective lower end of each arm of the pair of opposing arms, the cross-member including a gripping surface;
- and
- a block of resilient material located on each side of the at least one pinned connector.
4 more elements
A traffic barrier lifter comprising:
- at least one pinned connector configured for connecting said lifter to a boom;
- an hydraulically powered rotator located below and connected to the at least one pinned connector, the rotator capable of rotating said lifter relative to the boom;
- a pair of opposing axes located below the rotator and running parallel to one another;
- an hydraulically powered pair of opposing arms, each arm connected at an upper end to a respective axis of the pair of opposing axes, the arms rotatable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;
- a cross-member pivotally connected to a respective lower end of each arm of the pair of opposing arms, the cross-member including a gripping surface;
- and
- a block of resilient material located on each side of the at least one pinned connector.
4 more elements
A traffic barrier lifter comprising:
- at least one pinned connector configured for connecting said lifter to a boom;
- a rotator located below and connected to the at least one pinned connector, the rotator capable of rotating said lifter relative to the boom;
- a pair of opposing axes located below the rotator and running parallel to one another;
- a pair of opposing arms, each arm connected at an upper end to a respective axis of the pair of opposing axes, the arms rotatable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a cross-member pivotally connected to a respective lower end of each arm of the pair of opposing arms, the cross-member including a gripping surface, the gripping surface including a vacuum pad.
3 more elements
A traffic barrier lifter comprising:
- at least one pinned connector configured for connecting said lifter to a boom;
- an hydraulically powered rotator located below and connected to the at least one pinned connector, the rotator capable of rotating said lifter relative to the boom;
- a pair of opposing axes located below the rotator and running parallel to one another;
- an hydraulically powered pair of opposing arms, each arm connected at an upper end to a respective axis of the pair of opposing axes, the arms rotatable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a cross-member pivotally connected to a respective lower end of each arm of the pair of opposing arms, the cross-member including a gripping surface, the gripping surface including a vacuum pad.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.