US 7,478,852 B1Granted

Lifting beam

OwnerP. Trentis Durdeninventor

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Abstract

A lifting apparatus includes an I-beam having a lower flange and an upper flange; a plurality of hoist connectors positioned on the I-beam extending upwardly from the upper flange; a center load connector positioned on the I-beam extending downwardly from approximately a midpoint along the lower flange; and at least two movable load connectors positioned on the I-beam extending downwardly from the lower flange, each movable load connector engaged with the I-beam by a plurality of support members having one or more wheels positioned to roll along upper surfaces of the lower flange, the center load connector being positioned between the at least two movable load connectors. An associated method includes providing the lifting apparatus; connecting a lifting machine to at least one of the hoist connectors; connecting a load to at least one of the load connectors; and lifting the load by using the lifting machine.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A lifting beam comprising:

an I-beam having first and second ends, a lower flange and an upper flange extending between said first and second ends and having a plurality of spaced apart openings positioned along the I-beam;
three hoist connectors fixed to and extending upwardly from the upper flange, one of the three hoist connectors being at approximately a mid-point of said I-beam between the other two hoist connectors, which are equidistant therefrom:
a center load connector positioned on said I-beam extending downwardly from approximately a midpoint along the lower flange;
at least two movable load connectors positioned on said I-beam extending downwardly from the lower flange, each movable load connector engaged with said I-beam by a plurality of supports having one or more members positioned to roll along upper surfaces of the lower flange regardless of load borne by said at least two movable load connectors, and having at least one mechanical fastener associated with said plurality of supports, the at least one mechanical fastener being receivable in an individual opening of the plurality of spaced apart openings positioned along the I-beam to thereby secure each said movable load connector at a predetermined position along the I-beam, said center load connector being positioned between said at least two movable load connectors;
first and second stop members respectively positioned at the first and second ends of said I-beam to prevent said at least two movable load connectors from disengaging from said I-beam and extending sufficiently below the lower flange to form an angle with an underside of said lower flange;
at least two pulleys each positioned at the angle formed by an underside of said lower flange and one of said first and second stop members;
and
a continuous cable operably associated with said at least two pulleys and said at least two movable load connectors.

5 more elements

A lifting beam comprising:

an I-beam having a lower flange, an upper flange, and an elongate main member positioned between said lower and upper flanges and perpendicularly connected thereto, said I-beam having a first end, a second end, and a predetermined lengthwise extent therebetween, said lower flange extending outwardly along two sides of a lower periphery of the lengthwise extent of the I-beam and said upper flange extending outwardly along two sides of an upper periphery of the lengthwise extent of the I-beam;
a plurality of hoist connectors extending upwardly from the upper flange of said I-beam;
a center load connector plate extending downwardly from approximately a midpoint of the lower flange of said I-beam and facing an imaginary plane defined by the main member;
at least two rolling load connectors extending downwardly from the lower flange of said I-beam, each movable load connector engaged with said I-beam by a plurality of rolling members positioned to roll along an upper surface of the lower flange, said center load connector positioned between said at least two rolling load connectors;
a plurality of spaced apart openings positioned along the main member of said I-beam to receive a mechanical fastener associated with each of said at least two rolling load connectors to thereby secure each at a predetermined position along the I-beam;
and
at least two pulleys borne on an underside of the lower flange and operably engaged with a continuous cable openly extending along said I-beam, said cable connected to said at least two rolling load connectors.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.