Lifting device for transporting disk stacks

A system for lifting and transporting disk stacks comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively positioned about the outer periphery thereof;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned relative the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively positioned thereon;
• linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member;
• a gripping member, operatively connected to each linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack;
• means, operatively connected to the ring member, for vertically raising the lifting system such that at least one disk stack is transported to another position;
• and
• position locking means operatively connected to the ring member, for holding the relative position of the ring member and the guide member constant.

A method for lifting disk stacks from an initial position and transporting the disk stacks to a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one disk to be moved;
• operatively connecting a lifting device to the at least one disk, the lifting device comprising:
• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively positioned about the outer periphery thereof;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned on the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively positioned thereon;
• linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for moving the ring member relative to the structural member;
• position locking means operatively connected to the ring member, for holding the relative position of the ring member and the guide member constant;
• and
• a gripping member, operatively connected to each linking means, for interacting with at least one disk stack;
• providing means for engaging the disk with the gripping members;
• vertically raising the at least one disk stack;
• locking the apparatus in closed positions;
• and
• relocating the at least one disk stack from an initial position to another position.

An apparatus for handling disk stacks, the apparatus comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively connected thereto;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned on the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively connected thereto;
• at least three linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member, wherein each linking means further comprises:
• at least one elongated member operatively connected to each ring member connecting member at one end;
• at least a second elongated member operatively connected to the at least one elongated member at one end and;
• at least one angled member operatively connected to the third elongated member and to the structural member connecting means;
• and
• at least three gripping members, operatively connected to each of the linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack.

An apparatus for handling disk stacks, the apparatus comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively connected thereto;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned on the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively connected thereto;
• at least three linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member, wherein each linking means further comprises:
• at least two elongated linking members and at least one angled linking member, wherein the two elongated linking members are operatively connected to the ring member connecting member at one end and to the second elongated linking member at the other end, the second end of the third linking member is operatively connected to the angled linking member with the angled linking member being operatively connected to the structural member connecting means;
• and
• at least three gripping members, operatively connected to each of the linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack such that at least one disk stack is transported from a first position to another position.

An apparatus for handling disk stacks, the apparatus comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively connected thereto wherein each structural member connecting means further comprises:
• at least two extension members, extending upwardly above the upper surface of the structural member and outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the structural member, the two extension members being separated by a void formed in the upper surface of the structural member, for enabling at least a portion of the linking means to be positioned therein;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned on the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively connected thereto;
• at least three linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member;
• and
• at least three gripping members, operatively connected to each of the linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack such that at least one disk stack is transported from a first position to another position.

An apparatus for handling disk stacks, the apparatus comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively connected thereto;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned on the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively connected thereto wherein each ring member connecting means further comprises:
• an extension member extending downwardly from the ring member toward the upper surface of the structural member and outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the ring member and including means operatively formed thereon for operatively connecting with the linking means;
• at least three linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member;
• and
• at least three gripping members, operatively connected to each of the linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack such that at least one disk stack is transported from a first position to another position.

A system for lifting and transporting disk stacks comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively positioned about the outer periphery thereof;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned relative the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively positioned thereon;
• linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member wherein the linking means further comprises:
• at least two elongated linking members and at least one angled linking member wherein one of the two elongated linking members is operatively connected to the ring member connecting means at one end and to the second elongated linking member at the other end, the second end of the second linking member is operatively connected to the angled linking member with the angled linking member being operatively connected to the structural member connecting means;
• and
• a gripping member, operatively connected to each linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack;
• and
• means, operatively connected to the ring member, for vertically raising the lifting system such that at least one disk stack is transported to another position.

A system for lifting and transporting disk stacks comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively positioned about the outer periphery thereof wherein each structural member connecting means further comprises:
• at least two extension members, extending upwardly above the upper surface of the structural member and outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the structural member, the two extension members being separated by a void formed in the upper surface of the structural member, for positioning at least a portion of the linking means therein;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned relative the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively positioned thereon;
• linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member;
• a gripping member, operatively connected to each linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack;
• and
• means, operatively connected to the ring member, for vertically raising the lifting system such that at least one disk stack is transported to another position.

A system for lifting and transporting disk stacks comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively positioned about the outer periphery thereof;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned relative the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively positioned thereon wherein each ring member connecting means further comprises:
• at least three extension members, each member extending downwardly toward the upper surface of the structural member and outwardly beyond the outer circumference of the ring member, each extension member including means operatively formed thereon for operatively connecting with the linking means;
• linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member;
• a gripping member, operatively connected to each linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack;
• and
• means, operatively connected to the ring member, for vertically raising the lifting system such that at least one disk stack is transported to another position.

An apparatus for handling disk stacks, the apparatus comprising:

• a structural member including a central guide bore and at least three structural member connecting means operatively connected thereto;
• a central guide member, operatively positioned relative to the central guide bore of the structural member and operatively connected thereto;
• a ring member, operatively positioned on the central guide member, and having at least three connecting members operatively connected thereto;
• at least three linking means, operatively connected to each of the structural member connecting means and to each of the ring member connecting means, for providing movement of the ring member relative to the structural member;
• and
• at least three gripping members, operatively connected to each of the linking means and to each of the structural member connecting means, for interacting with at least one disk stack, wherein the weight of the apparatus when operatively connected to a wet disk stack suspended from a hoist is mechanically transformed into a gripping force whereby the gripping force is applied to the wet disk stack by the at least three gripping members.