Load adjusting device for a hoist

A load adjusting device for use with a single lift point hoisting unit for handling and biaxially rotating a load for aligning said load with an associated structure, said device comprising:

• a load leveling assembly having a load lifting device for supporting said load from said hoisting unit;
• a load spreader bar included in said load leveling assembly for adjustably supporting said load near both ends of said spreader bar;
• an alignment adjustment assembly carried near each end of said spreader bar having a lifting element, first and second transfer linkages operatively connected to each said lifting element at laterally spaced locations for connecting each said lifting element to said load near each end of said spreader bar for supporting said load at four independent supports;
• a first actuator for adjusting said load leveling assembly for controllably rotating said load with respect to a horizontal pitch axis perpendicular to said spreader bar;
• and
• a second acutator connecting each of said first and second transfer linkages to each of said lifting elements, each said second actuator including an adjustable load support;
• each said second actuator including a manually actuated load adjuster associated with said adjustable load support for further adjusting said load about said pitch axis and for independently controllably rotating said load about a horizontal roll axis parallel to said spreader bar so that said load is aligned with said associated structure.

A method for supporting a load from a hoisting unit with a single hoisting member to biaxially control a rotational attitude of the load for mating with an associated structure, said method including the steps of:

• providing a load leveling assembly which attaches to said hoisting member for adjusting a pitch attitude of said load;
• providing alignment adjustment assemblies carried near each end of said load leveling assembly for further adjusting said pitch attitude and for adjusting a roll attitude of said load;
• attaching said load to each said alignment adjustment assemblies at two independent spaced load supports by means of independent load adjusters for each load support for lifting and supporting said load about four independently adjustable load supports;
• hoisting said load by activating said hoisting unit for transporting said load;
• adjusting said load leveling assembly so that said load rotates about a horizontal pitch axis;
• adjusting said load supports of said alignment adjusting assemblies so that said load further rotates about said pitch axis and said load rotates about a horizontal roll axis normal to said pitch axis;
• and
• mating said load with said associated structure.

A load adjusting device for use with a hoisting unit for handling and biaxially aligning a load with an associated structure to which said load is to be mated, said device comprising:

• a load leveling assembly for adjusting a pitch attitude of said load about a horizontal pitch axis of said load;
• means for attaching said load leveling assembly to said hoisting unit for supporting said load from said hoisting unit;
• a load spreader included in said load leveling assembly to support said load for adjusting said pitch attitude;
• a plurality of alignment adjustment assemblies carried by said leveling assembly for connection to said load for further adjusting said pitch attitude and for adjusting a roll attitude of said load about a horizontal roll axis normal to said pitch axis;
• a plurality of load lifting elements for connecting said alignment adjustment assemblies to said load;
• a first actuator for adjusting said load leveling assembly to facilitate said pitch attitude adjustment;
• a plurality of second actuators for activating said lifting elements to facilitate said pitch and roll attitude adjustments so that said load is in line for mating with said associated structure;
• and
• said plurality of second actuators including threaded eye bolts with a nut and a washer for adjusting said load lifting elements with respect to said load spreader by positioning said nut along the length of said eye bolt.