Rail-guided lifting device
OwnerChristopher Hartkeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lifting device is provided, the lifting device providing a cable and a powered winch which winds and unwinds the cable. Each end of the cable provides a slack-adjustable point of attachment to a load. The points of attachment may each be attached to an opposing end of a load, such that each point of attachment provides a counterweight to the other point of attachment. Slack between the points of attachment may be tensed by a bridging connector. The lifting device may lift a load by two lateral points of attachment such that the load may be elevated off a floor with minimal vertical clearance, and may be laterally actuated by casters hanging on a suspended rail.
Claims17
A lifting device, comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a winch;
- c. a cradle;
- d. casters;
- and
- e. a first pulley and a second pulley;
- f. wherein a cable is wound about the winch, the cable having a first free end hung about the first pulley and a second free end hung about the second pulley;
- and
- g. wherein the winch is operable to wind the cable and is operative to unwind the cable;
- h. wherein the casters are mounted to an upper side of the frame;
- and
- i. wherein a caster is pivotable relative to the frame about a vertical axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.