Lifting appliance, especially for a patient lifting device

Lifting appliance, especially for a patient lifting device, said lifting appliance comprising:

• a column made up of two telescopically cooperating column elements,
• means for adjusting the position of said column elements relative to each other in order to change the length of said column, said adjusting means including a driving motor mounted on one of said column elements,
• a carriage movably mounted on one of said column elements,
• moving means for moving said carriage, said moving means including two belts each having a first end and a second end, said belts being attached to said carriage at said first ends,
• two belt attachments located on one of said column elements,
• said second ends of said belts attached to one of said belt attachments,
• belt tension sensing means for stopping said driving motor in case of insufficient belt tension in at least one of the belts, said belt tension sensing means comprises a belt tensioning element yieldably mounted on one of said column elements to yieldably engage both of said belts between said first ends and said second ends, and
• driving motor control means for controlling said driving motor in response to the position of said belt tensioning element of said belt tension sensing means,
• the belt tension sensing means further comprising a connecting arm operatively connected to both of the belts, the connecting arm being shifted in response to sufficient belt tension and the driving motor control means being responsive to shifting of the connecting arm to thereby stop driving of the driving motor.