Lifting and leveling apparatus and method

Abstract

A lifting and leveling apparatus and method improves the handling and transportation of a burial vault and monument. A lift mechanism is attached by pivot pins to both the transport (lower) portion of the structure and the vault handling (upper) portion of the structure, thereby allowing the vault or monument to be lifted on a straight vertical axis or to be tilted side to side to balance the load, while the entire load and equipment remains on the transport tires. The deck, comprising the vault or monument and lid, the frame structure for positioning the vault or monument, and the lift mechanism, can lift and pivot independent of the transport vehicle, to adjust the center of gravity of the deck and maintain the load in a level orientation, while in the transport mode and while stationary. The lift/tilt mechanism is located so as to adjust the center of gravity of the deck independent of the transport vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.