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US 4,715,574 AGranted
Safety lock for materials handling system
AssigneeinTEST Corporation
InventorsAlyn R. Holt, Robert E. Matthiessen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A materials handling system in which a load is maintained in a substantially weightless condition for easy and accurate positioning. A safety lock is introduced to prevent unlocking of the system if a condition of imbalance takes place while the system is locked.
Claims16
A system for positioning and locking in-place a load in a substantially weightless condition, said system comprising:
- support means including a vertical shaft;
- a load carrying unit adapted to receive said load and movable along said shaft to position said load at a desired height;
- counterbalancing means coupled to said load carrying unit for placing said load carrying unit and said load in a substantially weightless condition;
- a lock block having a bore through which said shaft extends and movable along said shaft;
- locking means projecting through the wall of said bore for engaging said shaft to lock said lock block against vertical movement along said shaft;
- rotatable means coupled to said locking means for engaging said shaft with said locking means upon rotation in one direction and for disengaging said locking means from said shaft upon rotation in an opposite direction;
- and safety locking means movable with said load carrying unit for preventing rotation of said rotatable means upon a preselected movement of said load carrying unit relative to said lock block.
4 more elements
A safety lock system for preventing unlocking of a balanced loaded unit mounted on and locked to a vertical shaft when said loaded unit becomes unbalanced, said safety lock system comprising:
- a lock block having a bore adapted for mounting said lock block on said shaft for movement of said lock block along said shaft;
- locking means projecting through the wall of said bore for engaging said shaft to lock said lock block against vertical movement along said shaft;
- a rotatable handle coupled to said locking means for engaging said shaft with said locking means upon rotation of said handle in one direction and for disengaging said locking means from said shaft upon rotation of said handle in an opposite direction;
- and safety locking means adapted to be secured to said loaded unit and movable with said loaded unit for preventing rotation of said handle upon a preselected movement of said loaded unit relative to said lock block.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.