Device for lifting, moving, inverting and releasing heavy loads

A device for lifting and moving heavy loads requiring inversion, said device comprising:

• a movable load support carriage said carriage having a perimeter;
• means integral with said support carriage for moving said support carriage;
• a pair of spaced-apart lift arms depending from said load support carriage, each said lift arm having a free distal end adapted for selective vertical movement relative to said load support carriage;
• and
• load attachment and rotational means disposed at the distal end of each said lift arm operative for selective attachment to an individual load for holding and lifting the load, for rotating an attached load at least about 180.degree., and for selectively detaching the load in an inverted position within said perimeter of said carriage.

A mobile, self-propelled hoist device for lifting and moving molds used in the formation of concrete members, which molds require inversion, said device comprising:

• a main frame including a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending side support beams secured together by at least a pair of cross-beam members said support beams and cross beams defining a perimeter;
• a plurality of wheels supporting said main frame with at least two wheels on each side substantially directly under said side support beams, said wheels being connected to said side support beams by substantially vertically extending strut members;
• means for propelling and steering said wheels integral with said wheels;
• a pair of load support members each depending downwardly from the proximate middle of one side support beam and including a lift arm having a free distal end, said lift arm being adapted for selective vertical movement relative to said main frame;
• and
• mold attachment and rotational means disposed at the distal end of each said lift arm operative for selective attachment to a mold for holding and lifting the mold, for rotating an attached mold at least 180.degree., and for detaching the mold in an inverted position within said perimeter of said main frame.

A device for connecting to, lifting at a first location load support surface, moving, inverting and releasing at a second location load support surface individual heavy loads, said device comprising:

• support means for individual heavy loads;
• means for selective and controlled connection to and selective and controlled detachment from individual heavy loads, said connection means carried by said support means;
• means associated with said connection means for providing selective and controlled vertical upward and downward movement to said connection means and to any individual heavy load carried by said connection means, wherein said means associated with said connection means for providing selective and controlled vertical upward and downward movement to said connection means includes at least two lifting arms, each lifting arm having a proximal end connected to and carried by said support means and a free distal end, said free distal ends of said lifting arms being substantially opposed and spaced-apart from one another;
• means associated with said connection means for providing selective and controlled rotational movement of at least about 180.degree. to said connection means and to any individual heavy load carried by said connection means, wherein both said load connection and detachment means and said rotational means includes a ram member operable to move substantially perpendicular to said lift arms and adapted to releasably engage a heavy load, wherein said ram member includes a distal male end having at least three sides adapted to journal with a female receptacle disposed on the side of a heavy load;
• and
• means integrally associated with said support means for moving said support means and any individual heavy load carried by said support means in a selective and controlled direction;
• whereby said device is designed and adapted for selective and controlled connection and attachment to individual heavy loads located at a first location load support surface, lifting of any such load vertically upward, moving of any such load, rotating any such load at least about 180.degree., lowering any such load vertically downward at a second location load support surface, and detaching said connection means from said individual heavy load to thereby deposit any such load.

A mobile, self-propelled hoist device for lifting and moving molds used in the formation of concrete members, which molds may require inversion, said device comprising:

• a main frame including a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending side support beams secured together by at least a pair of cross-beam members;
• a plurality of wheels supporting said main frame with at least two wheels on each side substantially directly under said side support beams, said wheels being connected to said side support beams by substantially vertically extending strut members;
• means for propelling and steering said wheels;
• a pair of load support members each depending downwardly from the proximate middle of one side support beam and including a lift arm having a free distal end, said lift arm being adapted for selective vertical movement relative to said main frame;
• and
• mold attachment and rotational means disposed at the distal end of each said lift arm operative for selective attachment to a mold for holding and lifting the mold, for rotating an attached mold at least 180.degree., and for detaching the mold in an inverted position, wherein said mold attachment and rotational means comprises a pair of telescoping engagement rams operable to move substantially perpendicular to said lift arms from the free distal ends thereof to engage the side of a concrete mold.