Lifting and shifting apparatus

An apparatus for lifting and substantially linearly displacing or shifting an upper body (6) in relation to a lower body (2), particularly for lifting and shifting the upper sweep portion (6) of a cistern in relation to its lower sweep (2) in the construction of a cylindrical cistern, comprising

• (a) a support member (1) resting against said lower body (2) and having an upwardly facing track (19) extending substantially horizontally in the direction of the shifting motion;
• (b) a lift member (32) for coaction with said upper body (6) having a downwardly facing track (31) sloping forwardly and downwardly in the direction of the shifting motion, said lift member (32) being movable vertically as well as in the direction of the shifting motion in relation to said support member (1);
• (c) a shift member (24) movably arranged with respect to said support member (1) and lift member (32) and comprising two tracks (23,25), each arranged parallel to, and coacting with the respective one of said tracks (19,31);
• (d) a shifting mechanism (22,30), acting between said support member (1) and shift member (24), for imparting to said shift member (24) reciprocating motion relative to said support member (1);
• (e) means (.beta.) which, under a first phase (b) of the forward travel of the shift member (24) in the shifting direction of said upper body (6), prevents said lift member (32) from participating in this movement, whereby the lift member is given a lifting movement (c);
• and
• (f) means (36) for also shifting said lift member (32) under continued motion (d) forwards of said shift member (24) and during return motion of said shift member (24) to shift said lift member (32) only during a terminating portion of its movement, whereby said lift member is first allowed to lower said upper body (6) in its shifted position.