Intrinsically Safe Battery Lifting Device
AssigneeTextron Inc.
InventorsDavid Jones, Walton R. Jeffcoat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various embodiments, a battery lifting device is provided that includes an expandable retention subassembly, a shaft and a handle. The expandable retention subassembly is adapted to engage lifting tabs of a battery to be lifted and the shaft is pivotally coupled to the retention subassembly. The handle is connected to the shaft such that a lifting force applied to the handle utilizes the weight of the battery to expand the retention subassembly. Expansion of the retention subassembly, via the weight of the battery as the battery is lifted, firmly engages the retention subassembly with the battery lifting tabs such that the battery will not become dislodged or disconnected until the lifting force is removed.
Claims26
A battery lifting device comprising
- an expandable retention subassembly adapted to engage lifting tabs of a battery to be lifted;
- a shaft pivotally coupled to the retention subassembly;
- and
- a handle connected to the shaft such that a lifting force applied to the handle utilizes the weight of the battery to expand the retention subassembly and engage the retention subassembly with the battery lifting tabs until the lifting force is removed.
A battery lifting device comprising:
- an expandable retention subassembly including a pair of A-frame linkages, each A-frame linkage comprising a pair of legs having proximal ends pivotally coupled at a vertex joint, and distal ends including a tab catch for engaging a respective one of a plurality of battery lifting tabs of a battery to be lifted;
- a shaft pivotally coupled to the retention subassembly;
- and
- a handle connected to the shaft such that a lifting force applied to the handle utilizes the weight of the battery to exert an expansion force on the A-frame linkages to engage the tab catches with the battery lifting tabs until the lifting force is removed.
A battery lifting device comprising:
- an expandable retention subassembly comprising at least one A-frame linkage including:
- a pair of legs having proximal ends pivotally coupled at vertex joint, and distal ends, each distal end including a tab catch for engaging a respective one of a plurality of battery lifting tabs of a battery to be lifted;
- and
- a pair of cross-arms having proximal ends pivotally linked at a lift joint, and distal ends pivotally coupled to a respective one of
- the legs at a respective lever joint.
- a shaft pivotally joined with the cross-arms at the lift joint;
- and
- a handle connected to the shaft such that a lifting force applied to the handle utilizes the weight of the battery to expand the retention subassembly and firmly maintain engagement of the retention subassembly with the battery lifting tabs until the lifting force is removed.
The device of claim 211 wherein the biasing device comprises one of a spring positioned around the shaft, a pneumatic piston integrally formed with the shaft, and a hydraulic piston integrally formed with the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.