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US 6,663,336 B2Granted
Trough lifting mechanism
AssigneeShaffer Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsJack Fletcher, Donald Boyd, Michael Hayden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lifting mechanism for moving a trough from a lowered position to an elevated having a pair of guide tracks operably coupled to a trough cradle by a pair of roller mechanisms. A lifting arm operably couples the trough cradle to a drive mechanism. As the trough cradle is elevated, the roller mechanisms move away from the drive mechanism and the trough cradle to rotate about a transverse axis.
Claims20
A trough lifting mechanism comprising:
- a trough cradle movable between a lowered position and an elevated position;
- a first guide track having a first rectilinear portion defining a central longitudinal axis therealong and a first curvilinear portion extending from said first rectilinear portion;
- a first roller mechanism extending from a wall of said trough cradle and operably coupled to said first guide track, said first roller mechanism movable along said first guide track;
- a second guide track having a second rectilinear portion and a second curvilinear portion extending from said second rectilinear portion and curving at least to a point where said second curvilinear portion intersects with said central longitudinal axis;
- a second roller mechanism extending from said wall of said trough cradle and operably coupled to said second guide track, said second roller mechanism moveable along said second guide track;
- a lift operably coupled to said trough cradle to move said trough cradle along a path of movement defined by said first and second guide tracks from said lowered position to said elevated position;
- wherein said path of movement translates said trough cradle generally in a vertical direction substantially along said first and second rectilinear portions and translates said trough cradle generally in a vertical and horizontal direction substantially along said first and second curvilinear portions;
- and
- wherein said path of movement rotates said trough cradle from an upright orientation to a tilted orientation along said first and second curvilinear portion.
6 more elements
A trough lifting mechanism comprising:
- a trough cradle movable between a lowered position and an elevated position;
- a first guide track having a first rectilinear portion defining a central longitudinal axis therealong and a first curvilinear portion extending from said first rectilinear portion;
- a first roller mechanism extending from a wall of said trough cradle and operably coupled to said first guide track, said first roller mechanism movable along said first guide track;
- a second guide track secured adjacent to said first guide track, said second guide track having a second rectilinear portion co-extensive with said first rectilinear portion and a second curvilinear portion extending from said second rectilinear portion and curving at least to a point where said second curvilinear portion intersects with said central longitudinal axis;
- a second roller mechanism extending from said wall of said trough cradle and operably coupled to said second guide track, said second roller mechanism moveable along said second guide track;
- a lift operably coupled to said trough cradle to move said trough cradle along a path of movement defined by said first and second guide tracks from said lowered position to said elevated position;
- wherein said path of movement translates said trough cradle generally in a vertical direction substantially along said first and second rectilinear and translates said trough cradle generally in a vertical and horizontal direction substantially along said first and second curvilinear portion;
- and
- wherein said path of movement rotates said trough cradle from an upright orientation to a tilted orientation along said first and second curvilinear portion.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.