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US 2024/0301710 A1Published application
System and method for structure lifting
OwnerMonty Wensel, Eric Jonasson +1inventors
InventorsMonty Wensel, Eric Jonasson, Shawn Christopher Fulton
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Abstract
A lifting tower for use in the adjustment of the height of an attached structure. The tower uses rotational power means to raise and lower a lift, and an attached lifting beam, within the entire travel zone defined by vertical columns of the tower in a single stroke without the need for any intermediate recalibration of the tower. A system comprising a plurality of towers and a controller, as well as a method of use, are also disclosed.
Claims22
1:
- A lifting tower for use in the adjustment of the height of an attached structure, said tower comprising:
- a) a ground-engaging base;
- b) a left column having a base end and a top end, the base end being attached to the base and extending axially upwards therefrom;
- c) a right column having a base end and a top end, the base end being attached to the base and extending axially upwards therefrom and parallel to the left column such that the left column and right column define a travel zone between them and therealong extending from the base to the top ends thereof;
- d) a threaded left lifting rod of at least the same length as the left column, rotatably attached in parallel axial relation to the left column;
- e) a threaded right lifting rod of at least the same length as the right column, rotatably attached in parallel axial relation to the right column;
- f) a travelling lift positioned between and engaging the left and right columns and capable of travel therealong within the travel zone, said lift comprising:
- a. a left column engagement means extending outside of the left column and comprising a left threaded collar aligned parallel to the base with the left threaded rod extending therethrough;
- b. a right column engagement means extending outside of the right column and comprising a right threaded collar aligned parallel to the base with the right threaded rod extending therethrough;
- and
- c. an engagement interface for engagement of the lift to an engagement point of the structure via which tower-generated vertical movement will be applied to the structure;
- and
- g) bidirectional rotational power means for application of mirrored rotational power to the left and right lifting rods;
- wherein actuation of the rotational power means will on rotation of the left and right threaded rods result in the application of lifting or lowering force to the lift and any attached structure;
- wherein the rotational power means is locked when not actuated, eliminating gravitational movement of the lift;
- and
- wherein the lift can travel within the entire travel zone defined by the columns in a single stroke without the need for any intermediate recalibration of the tower.
14 more elements
2:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 further comprising an upper terminating member joining the top ends of the columns and maintaining the parallel spacing of the columns and the width of the travel zone therebetween.
3:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the rotational power means comprises left and right motors attached in relation to the left and right threaded rods and having mirrored control.
4:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the rotational power means comprises a single motor with a means of providing mirrored rotational power from the single motor to both the left and right threaded rods.
5:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the engagement interface comprises a saddle for the engagement of a lifting beam placed underneath the structure.
6:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the engagement interface comprises engagement hardware for attachment to a structural engagement point of the structure itself.
7:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the rotational power means is located at the top end of the tower.
8:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the rotational power means is located at the base of the tower.
9:
- The lifting tower of claim 1 wherein the left column and right column are adjustable in length to permit adjustment of the length and travel distance of the travel zone.
10:
- The lifting tower of claim 9 wherein the left column and right column comprise telescoping sections to permit adjustment of the length thereof.
11:
- The lifting tower of claim 10 further comprising powered extension means to mechanically telescope the length of the columns without the need for detachment of the tower from the structure.
12:
- A system for use in the lifting of a structure by applying lifting force to a plurality of engagement points of the structure, said system comprising:
- a. a plurality of lifting towers corresponding to the number of engagement points of the structure to which lifting or lowering force is to be applied, each lifting tower comprising:
- i. a vertical tower body;
- ii. a lift for engagement of a corresponding engagement point of the structure and being attached to the vertical tower body for vertical movement within a travel zone defined by the tower body, wherein the lift can travel within the entire travel zone in a single stroke without the need for any intermediate recalibration of the tower;
- and
- iii. power means capable of applying lifting or lowering movement to the lift when actuated, and being locked to restrict gravitational movement of the lift when not actuated;
- and
- b. a controller connected to the power means of each lifting tower and capable of independently controlling the lifting movement applied to the structure by each tower.
5 more elements
13:
- The system of claim 12 wherein the lifting towers are of a fixed height.
14:
- The system of claim 12 wherein the lifting towers are adjustable in height.
15:
- The system of claim 12 wherein the lifting towers each comprise:
- a. a ground-engaging base;
- b. a left column having a base end and a top end, the base end being attached to the base and extending axially upwards therefrom;
- c. a right column having a base end and a top end, the base end being attached to the base and extending axially upwards therefrom and parallel to the left column such that the left column and right column define a travel zone between them and therealong extending from the base to the top ends thereof;
- d. a threaded left lifting rod of at least the same length as the left column, rotatably attached in parallel axial relation to the left column;
- e. a threaded right lifting rod of at least the same length as the right column, rotatably attached in parallel axial relation to the right column;
- f. a travelling lift positioned between and engaging the left and right columns and capable of travel therealong within the travel zone, said lift comprising:
- a. a left column engagement means extending outside of the left column and comprising a left threaded collar aligned parallel to the base with the left threaded rod extending therethrough;
- b. a right column engagement means extending outside of the right column and comprising a right threaded collar aligned parallel to the base with the right threaded rod extending therethrough;
- and
- c. an engagement interface for engagement of the lift to an engagement point of the structure via which tower-generated vertical movement will be applied to the structure;
- and
- g. bidirectional rotational power means for application of mirrored rotational power to the left and right lifting rods;
- wherein actuation of the rotational power means will result in the application of lifting or lowering force to the lift and any attached structure;
- wherein the rotational power means is locked when not actuated, eliminating gravitational movement of the lift;
- and
- wherein the lift can travel within the entire travel zone defined by the columns in a single stroke without the need for any intermediate recalibration of the tower.
14 more elements
(canceled)
17:
- A method of lifting of a structure by applying lifting force to a plurality of engagement points of the structure, said method comprising:
- a. positioning a plurality of lifting towers each to an engagement point of the structure to which lifting or lowering force is to be applied, each lifting tower comprising:
- i. a vertical tower body;
- ii. a lift for engagement of a corresponding engagement point of the structure and being attached to the vertical tower body for vertical movement within a travel zone defined by the tower body, wherein the lift can travel within the entire travel zone in a single stroke without the need for any intermediate recalibration of the tower;
- and
- iii. power means capable of applying lifting or lowering movement to the lift when actuated, and being locked to restrict gravitational movement of the lift when not actuated;
- b. connecting a controller to the power means of each lifting tower and capable of independently controlling the lifting movement applied to the structure by each tower;
- and
- c. using the controller, actuating the power means of one or more of the towers to lift the structure to the desired height.
6 more elements
18:
- The method of claim 17 wherein the lifting towers are of a fixed height.
19:
- The method of claim 17 wherein the lifting towers are adjustable in height.
20:
- The method of claim 17 wherein the lifting towers each comprise:
- a. a ground-engaging base;
- b. a left column having a base end and a top end, the base end being attached to the base and extending axially upwards therefrom;
- c. a right column having a base end and a top end, the base end being attached to the base and extending axially upwards therefrom and parallel to the left column such that the left column and right column define a travel zone between them and therealong extending from the base to the top ends thereof;
- d. a threaded left lifting rod of at least the same length as the left column, rotatably attached in parallel axial relation to the left column;
- e. a threaded right lifting rod of at least the same length as the right column, rotatably attached in parallel axial relation to the right column;
- f. a travelling lift positioned between and engaging the left and right columns and capable of travel therealong within the travel zone, said lift comprising:
- d. a left column engagement means extending outside of the left column and comprising a left threaded collar aligned parallel to and fixedly attached to the base with the left threaded rod extending therethrough;
- e. a right column engagement means extending outside of the right column and comprising a right threaded collar aligned parallel to and fixedly attached to the base with the right threaded rod extending therethrough;
- and
- f. an engagement interface for engagement of the lift to an engagement point of the structure via which tower-generated vertical movement will be applied to the structure;
- and
- g. bidirectional rotational power means for application of mirrored rotational power to the left and right lifting rods.
10 more elements
21:
- The method of claim 17 wherein a plurality of beams is temporarily installed under the structure to lift same, the engagement interfaces comprise saddles for engaging the beams, and the engagement points of the structure are surfaces of the beams engaging the saddles.
22:
- The method of claim 19 wherein the height of the towers is mechanically adjusted during the lifting of the structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.