Tilt-safe, high-capacity lift device
AssigneeGaither Tool Company, Inc.
InventorJason Thomas Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lifting device with a head cavity in the lifting member shaped to accept a removable lifting head. The head cavity in the lifting device—e.g., the piston of a bottle jack—may be provided with threads, or may have the threads removed. A yoke fitted on the lifting head provides registration, horizontal restraint, or both against a lifted object, component, or surface to prevent sliding off the lifting head while in use. In a smooth-walled-shaft embodiment, a set of risers (spacers, adjusters, trims, or shims) serves to adjust an extension height of the shaft, elevating the lifting head with respect to the piston prior to beginning to lift the hydraulic piston.
Claims14
An apparatus configured for use with a lifting device that includes a lifting member with a head cavity, the apparatus comprising:
- a lifting head configured to at least partially fit within the head cavity of the lifting member, wherein the head cavity is a multi-diameter head cavity with an upper portion characterized by an upper wide diameter and lower portion characterized by a lower narrow diameter;
- a lifting shaft configured as part of the lifting head, the lifting shaft having a round shaped cross-section and a length that exceeds its circumference, the lifting shaft being configured to fit at least partially within the head cavity and extend out of the head cavity in an upward direction;
- a yoke configured as part of the lifting head and connected to the lifting shaft, the yoke having a yoke width and a yoke depth, the yoke width being at least four times as long as the yoke depth;
- and
- a threaded bushing with an outside diameter slightly less than the upper wide diameter and wider than the lower narrow diameter;
- wherein the lifting shaft is retained at least partially within the head cavity by gravity, and is removable from the head cavity without tools, a load path passing from the lifting shaft to the lifting member.
A method of manufacturing a lifting apparatus having a head cavity formed within a lifting member, the method comprising:
- providing a lifting head configured to at least partially fit within the head cavity of the lifting device, wherein the head cavity is a multi-diameter head cavity with an upper portion characterized by an upper wide diameter and lower portion characterized by a lower narrow diameter;
- providing a threaded bushing with an outside diameter slightly less than the upper wide diameter and wider than the lower narrow diameter;
- providing a lifting shaft configured as part of the lifting head, the lifting shaft having a round shaped cross-section and a length that exceeds its circumference, the lifting shaft being configured to fit at least partially within the head cavity extending upward out of the head cavity in an upward direction;
- and
- providing a yoke configured as part of the lifting head and connected to the lifting shaft, the yoke having a yoke width and a yoke depth, the yoke width being at least four times as long as the yoke depth;
- wherein the lifting shaft is retained at least partially within the head cavity by gravity, and is removable from the head cavity without tools, a load path passing from the lifting shaft to the lifting member;
- and
- wherein the lifting member is controllable by a user to move up and down.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.