# US 8,465,005 B2 · Pneumatic multi-weight balancing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,005 B2 - Document ID: US8465005B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/361,310 - Filed: 2012-01-30 - Published: 2012-08-23 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-10 - Assignees: Givens Engineering Inc. - Applicants: Raymond D. Givens - Inventors: Raymond D. Givens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465005B2 ## CPC - B66C 23/005: {with balanced jib, e.g. pantograph arrangement, the jib being moved manually} - B25J 9/1065: {with parallelograms} - B25J 9/144: {Linear actuators} - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A pneumatic load balancing device having an inflatable reservoir establishing via an amplifier a pressure within a lift chamber that is sufficient to balance the weight of an object being lifted. The reservoir is inflated and deflated by inflation and deflation valves that may be operated from an operator control center proximal an end effector of the device. The valves may be actuated via pushbuttons or in a mutually exclusively fashion via a neutrally biased reciprocating actuator. The device allows loads of different weights to be lifted in a semi-automatic fashion with operator involvement to select the load balancing pressure. The device may have an air release system that closes a blocking valve in the event of release of the object and optionally in the event of a loss of air supply. The pressure within the lift chamber is thereby preserved and can be vented at different rates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load-balancing device comprising: a lifting member; a pneumatic lift chamber operably connected with the lifting member and configured to provide a raising force to said lifting member; an inflatable reservoir for storing a volume of air at a reservoir pressure selected to maintain the device in a balanced condition when a load is being lifted by said lifting member, an inflation valve for controlling inflation of the reservoir in order to set the reservoir pressure in response to operator input; an amplifier in fluid communication with a pressurized air supply and in independent selective fluid communication with the reservoir, the amplifier providing a flow of air from the pressurized air supply to the lift chamber at the reservoir pressure while the device is engaged with the load; and, a selector valve coupled to said reservoir and to said amplifier and configured to provide the reservoir pressure from said reservoir to said amplifier while the device is engaged with the load, the reservoir pressure causing said amplifier to regulate the pressurized air supply to said lift chamber to balance the load. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The load balancing device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a deflation valve permitting deflation of the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The load balancing device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises an operator control center and wherein the inflation and/or deflation valves are operable from the operator control center. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The load balancing device according to claim 3, wherein the inflation and/or deflation valves are operable via a pushbutton. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The load balancing device according to claim 3, wherein the inflation and deflation valves are operable from the operator control center in a mutually exclusively fashion via a neutrally biased reciprocating actuator to selectively inflate or deflate the reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The load balancing device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a no-load pressure regulator for setting a no-load pressure of the amplifier, the no-load pressure selected to maintain the device in a balanced condition when no load is being lifted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The load balancing device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a pneumatic manipulator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The load balancing device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a lowest load regulator for supplying a minimum load pressure to the reservoir, the minimum load pressure selected to maintain the device in a balanced condition when a load of minimum weight is being lifted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The load balancing device according to claim 8, wherein the reservoir is deflated to the minimum load pressure upon release of the load. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The load balancing device according to claim 9, wherein the minimum load pressure is greater than the no-load pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The load balancing device according to claim 9, wherein the minimum load pressure is equal to the no-load pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The load balancing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a vent for releasing air from the chamber upon changes in volume of the chamber in order to maintain a substantially constant chamber pressure; a blocking valve in fluid communication with the vent that closes upon load release in order to preserve the chamber pressure; and a release metering valve in fluid communication with the vent when the blocking valve is closed upon load release in order to reduce the chamber pressure at a first rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The load balancing device according to claim 12, wherein the device further comprises an operator activated release valve in fluid communication with the blocking valve, the release valve operable to close the blocking valve upon load release. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The load balancing device according to claim 12, wherein the blocking valve also closes upon decrease of air supply pressure below a threshold value in order to preserve the chamber pressure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The load balancing device according to claim 14, wherein the device further comprises a lost air supply metering valve in fluid communication with the vent when the blocking valve is closed upon decrease of air supply pressure below the threshold value in order to reduce the chamber pressure at a second rate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The load balancing device according to claim 15, wherein the second rate is less than the first rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The load balancing device according to claim 12, wherein the device further comprises a supply sense valve in fluid communication with the blocking valve, the supply sense valve operable to close the blocking valve upon decrease of air supply pressure below a threshold value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The load balancing device according to claim 17, wherein the supply sense valve is adjustable to automatically close the blocking valve upon decrease of air supply pressure below the threshold value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The load balancing device according to claim 14, wherein the threshold value is greater than or equal to the pressure required to maintain the device in a balanced condition when a load of maximum weight is being lifted. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The load balancing device according to claim 12, wherein the device further comprises a part present valve operable to cause air to be rapidly exhausted from the chamber in the event that a load being carried by the device is inadvertently lost.