Vacuum lifting device
AssigneeComalco Aluminium Limited
InventorsChristopher Luke Crozier, Brian Joseph Liston, Karl William Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum lifting device that is particularly suitable for lifting refractory slabs used to line aluminum smelting cells incudes suction cups which engage the object to be lifted. A plurality of mechanical supports can be moved so that they extend at least partly underneath the object being lifted when the object is raised from the ground. The mechanical supports can hold the object in case of vacuum failure and improve the safety of the device. An optional automatic override can ensure that the mechanical supports are in the down position in the case of vacuum failure.
Claims40
A vacuum lifting device for lifting heavy objects comprising a first set of suction cups connected to a source of vacuum, said first set of suction cups adapted to be placed in engagement with a surface of an object to be lifted and to releasably connect to the object when vacuum is applied to the first set of suction cups, a plurality of mechanical supports operable in use to move from a first position wherein said mechanical supports are clear of the object being lifted to a second position wherein said mechanical supports extend at least partly underneath the object when said object is lifted, said mechanical supports being capable of holding said object in the event of vacuum failure, mechanical support control means to operate said mechanical supports from the first position to the second position after said object is lifted and to retract the mechanical supports prior to releasing the object, safety control means including monitoring means for monitoring the level of vacuum in the suction cups and automatic position control means to position the mechanical supports in the second position if the monitored level of vacuum in the suction cups falls below a predetermined level said device being adapted to be connected to or being operatively connected to lifting means.
A vacuum lifting device for lifting heavy objects comprising a first set of suction cups connected to a source of vacuum, said first set of suction cups adapted to be placed in engagement with a surface of an object to be lifted and to releasably connect to the object when vacuum is applied to the first set of suction cups, a second set of suction cups connected to a second source of vacuum, said second set of suction cups being adapted to be placed in engagement with a surface of the object to be lifted and to releasably connect to the object when vacuum is applied to the second set of suction cups, a plurality of mechanical supports operable in use to move from a first position wherein said mechanical supports are clear of the object being lifted to a second position wherein said mechanical supports extend at least partly underneath the object when said object is lifted, said mechanical supports being capable of holding said object in the event of vacuum failure, mechanical support control means to operate said mechanical supports from the first position to the second position after said object is lifted and to retract the mechanical supports prior to releasing the object, said device being adapted to be connected to or being operatively connected to lifting means.
A vacuum lifting device for lifting heavy objects comprising a first set of suction cups connected to a source of vacuum, said first set of suction cups adapted to be placed in engagement with a surface of an object to be lifted and to releasably connect to the object when vacuum is applied to the first set of suction cups, a plurality of mechanical supports operable in use to move from a first position wherein said mechanical supports are clear of the object being lifted to a second position wherein said mechanical supports extend at least partly underneath the object when said object is lifted, said mechanical supports being capable of holding said object in the event of vacuum failure, drive means for moving the mechanical supports from the second position to the first position, wherein said drive means comprises one or more air actuators or pneumatic cylinders connected to an air supply line including an air reservoir, mechanical support control means to operate said mechanical supports from the first position to the second position after said object is lifted and to retract the mechanical supports prior to releasing the object, said device being adapted to be connected to or being operatively connected to lifting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.