US 4,730,742 AGranted

Apparatus for lifting an elongate member

AssigneeCore Industries, Inc.

InventorLeon G. Feterl

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Abstract

An apparatus for supportably elevating and lowering material handling apparatus having an elongate member includes two arms radiating upwardly from a base. A lower undercarriage arm is pivotably attached to the elongate member, and the lift arm is attached to a roller support which moves along a rail on the elongate member. The roller support and attached lift arm arm moved by a winch-drawn cable. At least one pair of spaced support sheaves is mounted on the elongate member, and the cable passes under the sheaves. At least one riser post extends upwardly from the base and is attached to the lower undercarriage arm so that it intersects the cable between the spaced support sheaves. A sheave mounted on the riser arm intersects and supports the cable when the elongate member is lowered. As the elongate member is lowered, the riser post supports an increasing portion of the downward load. The net load on the cable is reduced and the elongate member can be elevated from a horizontal or near horizontal position with much less force.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In combination with an elongate member movable upwardly and downwardly between a lowered position and an elevated position and having first and second ends, an apparatus for supportably elevating and lowering said elongate member between said lowered and elevated positions, comprising:

longitudinal rail means attached to said elongate member and generally coextending with a portion thereof;
an undercarriage for supporting said elongate member, comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a lower undercarriage arm having an inner end attached to said base, and having an opposite, outer end pivotably mounted on said elongate member;
(c) roller support means movably supporting said elongate member along said coextending rail means;
(d) a load-bearing undercarriage lift arm having an inner end attached to said base and an opposite, outer end attached to said roller support means;
(e) riser post means attached to said lower undercarriage arm and extending generally upright from said base for supporting said elongate member while elevating said elongate member from said lowered position and lowering said elongate member to said lowered position;
and
(f) riser post sheave means mounted to the upper portion of said riser post means;
a winch cable operatively associated with said roller support means to mechanically coact therewith;
a winch having said cable wound thereon for alternately retracting and extending said winch cable to move said roller support means along said generally coextending rail means;
and
central sheave means mounted on said elongate member to guide said cable, said cable being guided on said central sheave means and supportably on said riser post sheave means when said elongate member is in said lowered position whereby said elongate member is supported on said riser post sheave means for supportably elevating and lowering said elongate member between said lowered position and said elevated position.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.