# US 11,078,061 B2 · Lifting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,061 B2 - Document ID: US11078061B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/565,358 - Filed: 2016-04-08 - Published: 2018-04-26 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-09 - Assignees: Grey Orange Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: Grey Orange Pte Ltd. - Inventors: Wolfgang Kurt Hoeltgen; Akash Gupta; Samay Kohli; Naveen Boppana; Akshay Bhagat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078061B2 ## CPC - B66F 9/063: {Automatically guided} - B65G 1/0492: {with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles} - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract Described herein is a lifting device for raising and lowering a contact member. The lifting device includes an actuator configured to move the contact member between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein in a first mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator moves the contact member from the lowered position to the raised position without rotating the contact member about a reference axis, and in a second mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator permits rotational motion of the contact member about the reference axis from the raised position to a modified raised position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lifting device for raising and lowering a contact member, the lifting device comprising: an actuator configured to move the contact member between a lowered position and a raised position; and an engagement member including a shaft connected at a first end to a nut portion of the actuator and having a bearing rotatably mounted on a second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being away from the first end and being disposed in a first channel that permits in a first mode of operation of the lifting device, a movement of the shaft along a length of the first channel and restricts movement of the shaft in a direction that is perpendicular to the length of the first channel, wherein in the first mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator moves the contact member from the lowered position to the raised position without rotating the contact member about a reference axis, and wherein in a second mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator permits rotational motion of the contact member about the reference axis from the raised position to a modified raised position, and the actuator restricts linear movement of the contact member in a direction that is parallel to the reference axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is connected to the nut portion of the actuator and a linear movement of the shaft along the first channel induces the linear movement of the contact member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lifting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotational member that includes a second channel designed to receive the shaft from the first channel when the contact member is in the raised position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lifting device of claim 3, wherein the rotational member permits only rotational movement of the shaft about the reference axis, in the second mode of operation of the lifting device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The lifting device according to claim 3, wherein the rotational member is substantially annular in structure and is affixed to the nut portion of the actuator by a ledge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the reference axis is substantially parallel to the length of the first channel. ### Claim 7 A transportation vehicle comprising: a body portion; and a lifting device disposed on the body portion, the lifting device including: an actuator configured to move a contact member between a lowered position and a raised position, and an engagement member including a shaft connected at a first end to a nut portion of the actuator and having a bearing rotatably mounted on a second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being away from the first end and being disposed in a first channel that permits in a first mode of operation of the lifting device, a movement of the shaft along a length of the first channel and restricts movement of the shaft in a direction that is perpendicular to the length of the first channel, wherein in the first mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator moves the contact member from the lowered position to the raised position without rotating the contact member about a reference axis, and wherein in a second mode of operation of the lifting device, the actuator permits rotational motion of the contact member about the reference axis from the raised position to a modified raised position, and the actuator restricts linear movement of the contact member in a direction that is parallel to the reference axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The transportation vehicle of claim 7, wherein the contact member is connected to the nut portion of the actuator and a linear movement of the shaft along the first channel induces the linear movement of the contact member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The transportation vehicle according to claim 7, the lifting device further comprising: a rotational member that includes a second channel designed to receive the shaft from the first channel when the contact member is in the raised position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The transportation vehicle of claim 9, wherein the rotational member permits only rotational movement of the shaft about the reference axis, in the second mode of operation of the lifting device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The transportation vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the rotational member is substantially annular in structure and is affixed to the nut portion of the actuator by a ledge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The transportation vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the reference axis is substantially parallel to the length of the first channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The transportation vehicle of claim 7, further comprising: a motor configured to rotate the body portion of the transportation vehicle about the reference axis in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the contact member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The transportation vehicle of claim 13, wherein rotating the body portion of the transportation vehicle in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the contact member does not change an absolute orientation of the contact member with respect to the body portion of the transportation vehicle.