Lifting apparatus with compensation means
AssigneeGorbel, Inc.
InventorJames M. Alday
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a lifting assembly such as a jib crane or similar apparatus having an articulated arm assembly and a flexible means for connecting a load to an actuator. The lift arm assembly forms an articulated cantilever boom, which is extensible so as to traverse a suspended load within a work cell area. The lift arm assembly further includes a first and second member pivotally connected to one another whereby an inclined plane (e.g., a cam) at the pivot point of the articulating arms provides a vertical displacement of the secondary arms thereby moving the distal end of the secondary arm to counterbalance inherent forces acting thereon.
Claims18
A lifting apparatus for lifting a load, comprising:
- a base;
- a primary arm pivotally coupled to said base wherein pivotal movement of the primary arm relative to said base defines a generally horizontal plane;
- a secondary arm pivotally coupled to said primary arm near the distal end of said primary arm, where the load is suspended from a distal end of said second arm;
- an actuator operatively associated with at least one of said arms, said actuator operatively engaging a cable to control the height of a load suspended from a free end of the cable beneath the distal end of the secondary arm;
- and
- a mechanical adjustment for variably displacing the second arm relative to the first arm while the arms are moving relative to one another and thereby counterbalance forces acting upon the secondary arm as a result of movement of the load suspended therefrom to maintain the load within a generally horizontal plane.
A lifting apparatus, comprising:
- a base;
- a primary arm pivotally coupled to said base;
- a secondary arm pivotally coupled to the distal end of said primary arm, thereby permitting free swinging movement of said arms within a generally horizontal plane defined by the primary and secondary arms;
- an actuator operatively associated with at least one of said arms, said actuator operatively engaging a cable so as to control the height of a load suspended from a free end of the cable beneath the distal end of the secondary arm;
- and
- a mechanical adjustment for displacing the second arm relative to the first arm and thereby counterbalance forces acting upon the secondary arm as a result of movement of the load suspended therefrom, wherein the mechanical adjustment for displacing the second arm relative to the first arm includes a cam and an associated cam follower and said cam is attached to an end of the primary arm about the pivot coupling, and where the cam follower is attached to the secondary arm.
An articulating arm assembly for connecting a lifting device to a load, comprising:
- a first generally horizontal arm operatively attached to a support at a proximal end thereof, the lifting device operatively associated with said first arm, and said first arm further including a pivot pin at a distal end thereof;
- a second arm having a first member pivotally coupled by said pivot pin to the distal end of said first arm and a second member adjustably coupled to the distal end of said first arm for permitting free swinging movement of said arms relative to one another via the pivot pin, wherein a cable between the lifting device and the load is mechanically constrained to pass lengthwise along said first and second arms and thereby support the load from the distal end of the second arm;
- and
- a cam, positioned in proximity to and interposed between the pivot pin and the second member of the second arm, said cam angularly displacing the second member in relative to said first member, said cam thereby causing the distal end of the second arm to operate within a generally horizontal plane.
A method for controlling the position of an articulated arm lift, comprising:
- operatively attaching a primary arm to a support at a proximal end thereof where said primary arm extends in a generally horizontal orientation, said primary arm including a pivot pin at a distal end thereof;
- and
- pivotally coupling a secondary arm to said primary arm to permit free swinging movement of said primary and secondary arms relative to one another in a generally horizontal orientation, while variably displacing the secondary arm relative to said primary arm as said arms are pivoted relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.