Weight loader for moving at least two loads
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDavid Arne Haverberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for simultaneously lifting and placing weights. The apparatus includes a support with a first arm and a second arm extending from the support. Weight supports are arranged at distal ends of the arms. The arms are movable to position weights supported by the weight supports. The apparatus also includes a lifting apparatus operable to selectively raise and lower the support. An operator can articulate the arms to storage locations of weights. The operator can then operate the lifting apparatus to raise the support and lift the weights. The operator can then articulate the arms to move the lifted weights to weight placement locations. The operator can then operate the lifting apparatus to lower the support and place the weights on the weight placement locations.
Claims18
An apparatus for moving at least two loads, comprising:
- a movable base;
- a shaft attached to and extending from the base;
- a support slidably disposed on the shaft;
- a first arm pivotally attached to the support, the first arm comprising a first proximal sub-arm and a first distal sub-arm, the first proximal sub-arm and the first distal sub-arm attached by a first elbow, wherein the first distal sub-arm is rotatable relative to the first proximal sub-arm about the first elbow;
- a second arm pivotally attached to the support, wherein the second arm comprises a second proximal sub-arm and a second distal sub-arm, wherein the second proximal sub-arm and the second distal sub-arm are attached by a second elbow, wherein the second distal sub-arm is rotatable relative to the second proximal sub-arm about the second elbow;
- a first weight support arranged at a distal end of the first arm, wherein the first arm is articulatable in a plane to position the first weight support between a first weight stack and a first weight placement location;
- a second weight support arranged at a distal end of the second arm, wherein the second arm is articulatable in the plane to position the second weight support between a second weight stack and a second weight placement location;
- and
- a lifting apparatus operable to selectively raise and lower the support along the shaft.
An apparatus for moving multiple loads, comprising:
- a movable platform;
- a support disposed on the movable platform;
- a first arm extending from the support and a second arm extending from the support, wherein the first arm and the second arm include respective weight supports on distal ends thereof, and wherein the first arm and the second arm are articulatable to move respective weights in the respective weight supports in a predefined orientation with respect to one another;
- a lifting apparatus operable to selectively raise and lower the support;
- and
- a first weight stack and a second weight stack arranged on the movable platform, wherein the first weight stack and the second weight stack support weights in the predefined orientation relative one another.
A method, comprising:
- articulating a first arm to position a first weight support relative to a first weight in a first storage location, the articulating the first arm including moving a first proximal sub-arm relative to a first distal sub-arm about a first elbow that couples the first proximal sub-arm to the first distal sub-arm;
- articulating a second arm to position a second weight support relative to a second weight in a second storage location, the articulating the second arm including moving a second proximal sub-arm relative to a second distal sub-arm about a second elbow that couples the second proximal sub-arm to the second distal sub-arm;
- raising a support attached to the first arm and the second arm to lift the first arm and the second arm such that the first and second weight supports lift the respective first and second weights in a predefined orientation,
- articulating the first and second arms to move the respective first and second weights to respective placement locations while maintaining the respective first and second weights in the predefined orientation;
- and
- lowering the support such that the first and second weight supports release the respective first and second weights on the respective placement locations while maintaining the first and second weights in the predefined orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.