AU2004201365A1 - Hoist - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: FRANK WILLIAM WOODWARD Invention Title:

HOIST

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2

HOIST

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hoist, and especially, but not exclusively, to a hoist for elevating roof tiles from near ground level to a roof over a structure.

Technological Background Roof tiles must be elevated from near ground level to the roof area of a structure, for example, during initial tiling of the roof area. Continuous belt conveyors are sometimes used, and allow substantially continuous loading and unloading of tiles, but tend to be large and heavy, since the belt must be adequately supported along the length of the conveyor. A smaller and lighter alternative to the belt conveyor is the cable hoist which provides a cable to move a trolley which can shuttle between the top and bottom of an elongate inclined framework. However, such cable hoists are relatively slow in use.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hoist for transporting material comprising: a support structure for supporting a trolley; a trolley, moveable on the support structure between a loading station and an unloading station; wherein the loading station includes at least one receiving portion for receiving material to be transported even when the trolley is not at the loading station, and wherein in use when the trolley is at the loading station, the hoist is operable to cause the trolley to receive materials previously loaded onto the receiving portion, for transportation to the unloading station.

(In this context the word "station" is intended to indicate a position on the support structure, rather than to imply the existence of additional functional features.) H:\SueB\Keep\spezi\P51191 .SPEC.doc 1/01/ 3- Preferably, the receiving portion is provided so that the trolley can pass at least part of the material to be transported as the trolley approaches a position at the loading station.

Preferably, the receiving portion is provided so that the trolley can pass underneath at least part of the material to be transported as the trolley approaches a position at the loading station.

Preferably, the trolley includes a support portion, for supporting at least most of the weight of the material to be transported, and at least one retaining portion for retaining material on the support position.

Preferably, at least one retaining portion is adapted to project away from the support portion when the trolley is transporting material.

Preferably, at least one retaining portion is moveably attached to the support portion so that it can retract in order to pass at least part of the material to be transported when the material to be transported is at the receiving portion of the loading station.

Preferably, at least one retaining portion is moveably attached to the support portion so that it can retract in order to pass underneath at least part of the material to be transported when the material to be transported is at the receiving portion of the loading station.

Preferably, at least one retaining portion is retractable by folding relative to the support portion.

Preferably, at least one retaining portion is pivotally coupled to the support portion, so that it may pivot between a retracted position and a projecting position.

Preferably, the trolley includes bias means for biasing the retaining portion towards a projecting position.

In this case, the retaining portion may be forced to retract, as the trolley reaches the loading position, H \SueB\Keep\speci\PS1194..SPEC.doc 1/04/04 4 by contact with a forcing element. The forcing element may be provided by the material to be transported, or may be provided as part of the hoist. The retaining portion may then be forced, so as to return to its projecting position, by the bias means.

The trolley may bias means for biasing the retaining portion towards a retracted position.

In this case, the retaining portion is preferably forced to its projecting position, after it has passed beneath at least part of the material to be transported, by interaction with a forcing member separate from the trolley.

Preferably, the forcing member is attached to the support structure.

Preferably, the unloading station is adapted to allow material transported by the trolley to be removed from the trolley prior to unloading of said material from the hoist.

Preferably, the unloaded trolley is able to move away from the unloading station prior to unloading of the said material from the hoist.

Preferably, the support structure is a foldable framework.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transporting materials comprising: providing a hoist so that said hoist has an inclined support structure having a loading position towards a first end thereof and an unloading position towards a second end thereof and a trolley moveable between the loading and unloading positions; loading materials onto the hoist at the loading position when the trolley is not at the loading position; operating the hoist to move the trolley substantially to the loading position; operating the hoist so that said loaded material is received by the trolley; I \SueB\Keep\speci\P51194.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 5 operating the hoist so that the trolley transports the material substantially to the unloading position.

Preferably,the method includes loading at least some material onto the hoist at the loading position, while the trolley is moving between the unloading position and the loading position.

Preferably, the step of operating the hoist to move the trolley substantially to the loading position includes operating the hoist so that the trolley moves under the material.

Preferably, the method includes a step of removing the material from the trolley at the unloading position and moving the trolley away from the unloading position before all of said removed material is unloaded from the hoist.

Preferably, the method includes removing at least some of the material from the unloading position while the trolley is moving between the unloading position and the loading position.

Preferably, the loading position is at or towards a lower end of the inclined support structure.

Preferably, the unloading position is at or towards and upper end of the inclined support structure.

Preferably, the method is a method of transporting roofing materials.

Preferably, the method is a method of transporting roofing materials from ground level to the roof level of a building.

Preferably, the trolley is moved by a flexible elongate member.

Preferably, the flexible elongate member is a cable or chain.

Preferably, the method includes use of a hoist in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a hoist for transporting H.ISueB\Keep\speci\P51194.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 6 materials, the hoist including an elongate support structure for supporting a trolley and a flexible elongate member for forcing the trolley to move along the support structure; wherein the flexible elongate member is guided by at least a first roller;and wherein the elongate member passes at least once around the first roller.

Preferably, the elongate member passes at least approximately 1.5 times around the first roller.

Preferably, the elongate member passes substantially an odd number of half turns around the first roller. This allows the first roller to guide the elongate member through a reversal of direction.

Preferably, the elongate member passes at least substantially 2.5 times around the first roller.

Preferably, the elongate member forms a substantially closed loop which extends between said first roller and at least one further roller. The trolley may form part of the closed loop.

Preferably, the first roller is coupled to a drive mechanism.

Preferably, the first roller includes a guide surface for contact with the elongate member.

The guide surface may include at least a first guide groove.

Preferably, the first guide groove extends in a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the first roller.

Preferably, the first guide groove is substantially helical.

Preferably, the first guide groove is adapted to reduce or prevent contact between adjacent windings of the elongate member.

Preferably, the hoist is a hoist for transporting roofing materials between ground level and the roof level of a building.

H:\SueB\Keep\speci\P51194.SPEC doc 1/04/04 7 Preferably, the hoist is in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a hoist positioned relative to a building; Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of carriage for a hoist and a drive mechanism for moving the carriage; Figs. 3 to 5 are respectively a side view, a plan view and an end view of a part of the drive mechanism of Fig. 2; Figs. 6 to 9 are schematic side views of an upper end of a hoist; Fig. 10 is a schematic end view of an upper end of a hoist; Fig. 11 is a schematic side view of a carriage with a rear support in a first position; Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of the carriage of Fig 11 with the rear support in an alternative position; Fig. 13 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 11; Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively schematic side and end views of a base unit and hoist; Figs. 16 to 18 are respectively schematic side, plan and end views of part of the base unit of Figs. 14 and Figs. 19 and 20 are schematic side views showing a hoist in use; Fig. 21 is a schematic side view illustrating a mechanism for raising a rear support of a carriage; Fig. 22 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of the framework or hoist positioned for use; Fig. 23 is a schematic side view of the framework of Fig. 22 in a folded configuration; Figs. 24 to 26 are plan views of an alternative H.\SueB\Keep\SpeCi\PS1JIg.SPEC doc 1/04/04 8 embodiment of framework in, respectively, a folded configuration, a partially folded configuration and an unfolded configuration; and Figs. 27 and 28 are, respectively, a side view and a plan view of a hinge mechanism for the embodiment of Figs. 24 to 26.

Detailed Description of the Drawings With reference to the drawings a hoist generally designated 100, is suitable for lifting roof tiles from adjacent the ground level 101 to the roof 38 of a building. The hoist 100 includes an elongate support structure in the form of an elongate frame 2 which comprises a lower frame portion 1 and an upper frame portion 3. The lower and upper frame portions 1, 3 are shown in an unfolded configuration in Figs. 16 and 17 but are connected by a hinge and catch so that they may be folded to aid transportation, (as for example illustrated in Figs. 21 to Towards an upper end of the upper frame portion 3, the angle of inclination of the frame changes along its length as a bend 27 is provided. In use, an upper end of the upper frame portion 3 is supported by a stand 37, which is supported on the roof 38. A lower end of the frame 2 is connected to, and supported by, a base unit 110, which is provided with one or more ground engaging wheels 7, for ease of transport. The base unit 110 is also provided with a handle 8, extending away from the base unit 110 in a direction generally opposite to the lower frame portion 1. The handle 8 includes a T-bar at the end distal to the base unit 110 and can be used to move the hoist 100.

Supported by the frame 2 there is provided a flexible member in the form of a continuous drive cable 16. The cable is able to move relative to the frame 2 in order to move a trolley in the form of a carriage 13 up and down the framework 2. This allows materials such as tiles 15, to be raised a vertical distance (in normal use, H:\SueB\Keep\speci\PS1194.SPEC doc /04/04 in an inclined direction) such as from the ground level to a roof of a building. As schematically shown in Figure 2 drive cable 16 has an upward run 16a generally along the top of the frame 2, and a return (downward) run 16b which passes through the frame 2. The drive cable 16 is attached to respective front and rear ends 13c, 13b of the base 13a of the carriage 13 to form a continuous loop, which passes around a top roller 18 and a drive roller 9.

A tensioning device 40 is provided to allow tension in the drive cable 16 to be maintained.

The carriage 13 is provided with wheels 14 to facilitate its movement along the frame 2. The carriage 13 is also provided with a retaining portion in the form of a rear support 57 to assist in retaining tiles thereon.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4 the drive cable 16 is guided relative to the drive roller 9 by guide rollers 41, 42. The drive cable 16 is wrapped around the drive roller 9 approximately two and a half times substantially increasing the contact between the drive cable 16 and a contact surface 90 of the drive roller 9.

It will be appreciated that in a normal return roller arrangement a cable may be regarded as "wrapped" around the roller 0.5 times: this allows effective reversal of direction of the cable, but does not provide particularly good traction between the roller and the cable. Under some circumstances a V-shaped groove has been provided on the roller to increase traction.

However, use of such a groove may greatly increase wear on the cable. In the described preferred embodiment, wrapping the device cable 16 more than once around the drive roller 9 can enhance the traction between the drive cable 16 and the drive roller 9 without causing undue wear and without requiring an unduly high drive cable tension.

Although not shown in Figures 3 to 5 the surface of the drive roller 9 may include a guide groove to guide the drive cable 16 and prevent contact between adjacent H:\SIe8\Keep\spec\P1194.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 10 windings of cable. The contact surface 90 as illustrated is generally cylindrical, but may be slightly tapered (frustoconical) so that each successive winding is slightly tighter than the last, to further increase traction between the drive cable 16 and the drive pulley 9.

An important feature of the preferred embodiment is that the trolley can move between an upper and lower end of the frame 2 even while tiles are being unloaded from the upper end and/or loaded onto the lower end of the hoist 100. An unloading station at the upper end of the hoist is best illustrated by Figs. 6 to 9. Fig. 6 shows a carriage 13 loaded with tiles 15 approaching an upper end of the hoist 100. The carriage 13 is pulled towards the top of the hoist 100 by the drive cable 16. The return run 16b of the drive cable 16 is supported adjacent the bend 27 by a lower guide pulley 19 and the upper run 16a of the guide cable 16 is supported by an upper guide pulley 17, in the vicinity of the bed 27 (see Fig. It will be appreciated that the wheels 14 of trolley run on rails 63 which extend along the top of the framework 2.

The unloading station at the top end of the framework 2 comprises a pair of supporting members pivotally attached a pair of unloading arms 21. As shown in Figure 6 the supporting members 20 and unloading arms 21 are stowed below the level of adjacent parts of the rails 63 so as not to obstruct the upwards motion of the carriage 13.

The positions of the supporting members 20 and unloading arms 21 do not change until the carriage 13 has reached an uppermost part 26 of the frame 2. Each supporting member 20 is connected to the uppermost part 26 of the framework 2 via a pivotal connection. Although the preferred embodiment includes two supporting members only one of these is visible in Figs. 6 to 9 (which are side elevations) and therefore only one will be described in detail. However it will be appreciated that a H'\SueB\Keep\speci\P51194.SPEC doe 1/04/04 11 supporting member on the opposite side of the framework corresponds as shown in Fig. The supporting member 20 is attached at the first end thereof to a link member 22 by a pivotal connection 23. The link member is short in axial length and is attached at a pivot point 68 to the upper frame portion 3.

A second end of the supporting member 20 is pivotally attached at a pivot point 69 to the unloading arm 21 and the unloading arm 21 is pivotally attached to the upper frame portion 3 at a lower pivot point 70. The distance between the pivot points 23 and 68 is substantially equal to the distance between the pivot points 69 and 70 and the distance between the pivot points 23 and 69 is substantially equal to the distance between the pivot points 68 and 70 so that a four bar linkage is formed. In a stowed position (as illustrated in Figure 6) the link member 22 is substantially horizontal and the pivot point 23, at which the link member 22 connects to the supporting member, may be regarded as displaced slightly towards the lower end of the frame 2.

When the carriage 13 reaches the uppermost part 26 of the framework 2 the front of the carriage 13 contacts a bar 29 which is connected to the supporting member and forces the bar 29 a short distance towards the uppermost end of the frame 2. This in turn forces the supporting member 20 towards the uppermost end of the frame 2 and forces the link member 22 and the unloading arm 21 from a substantially horizontal position (as shown in Fig. 6) to a substantially vertical position (as shown in Fig. The supporting member 20 is thus forced upwards, and is arranged so that this upwards motion lifts the load (in this case tiles 15) off the carriage 13 (or at least supports the load so that the load remains supported by the supporting members when the carriage 13 moves away). This enables the carriage to descend towards the lower part of the frame 2 without its load. That is, in the present example, the carriage 13 has effectively H: \Sue\ Keep\specl\ P51194.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 12 deposited its load at an unloading station at the top of the frame 2 and can descend before the load is unloaded from the hoist. The bar 29 is retained in position by a retaining device such as a catch 28, located on the frame 2, until the catch is released, for example by a manual release 32. In a preferred embodiment the drive cable 16 is powered (via the drive roller 9) from a motor (described below), and the motor is turned off or decoupled from the drive cable 16 when the supporting member 20 is raised, or when the bar 29 engages the catch 28.

For completeness, in Fig. 8 shaft and bearing arrangements 44, 45 of the lower and upper guide pulleys 19, 17 are illustrated. A shaft 46 and bearing housing 47 of the top roller 18 is also illustrated. It will be appreciated that the carriage 13 and supporting members are constructed so that the supporting members 20 do not contact the carriage 13 as they rise, but do effectively lift the load (tiles 15). In the preferred embodiment this is achieved by having the distance between the supporting members 20 greater than the width of the carriage 13, but less than the width of the load, as is best illustrated in Fig. 10, which provides a schematic view from the rear of the carriage 13, generally corresponding to the position illustrated in Fig. 8, but with some elements omitted to aid clarity. In particular, Fig. 10 shows that the bar 29 is connected to the supporting members 20 and is retained in position by the catch 28. Fig. 10 further illustrates that the catch 28 is mounted to a cross bar 31 of the frame 2 by a pivot assembly 30, which includes a spring 71 to bias the catch 28. Fig. 10 further shows that the carriage 13 includes a shaft 24 to which the wheels 14 are connected, the shaft being mounted to the main part of the carriage via bearing assemblies Referring now to Figs. 11 to 13 the carriage 13 will be described in more detail, since it is an important H:\SueB\Yeep\spei\P51194 SPEC doc I/0C/0i 13 feature of the preferred embodiment that the rear support 57 of the carriage 13 is pivotally attached to the base or platform part 13a of the carriage 13. The rear support 57 is pivotally attached to the platform part 13a via a shaft 53 and bearing assemblies 59. The rear support 57 can therefore pivot between a projecting position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the base 13a (see eg Fig. 11), and a retracted position in which it is substantially parallel to the base 13a (see eg Fig. 12).

The limits of the pivotal motion of the rear support 57 are set by provision of one or more stops 58, against which one or more parts of the rear support 57 abut to prevent further rotation. A bias means such as a spring is provided in order to bias the rear support 57 either to its perpendicular or to its parallel position.

Although the pivoting nature of the rear support 57 does not greatly affect the unloading of the load from the carriage 13, described above, it is of importance for the loading of the carriage 13, which in this embodiment takes place at the lower end of the frame 2.

Referring to Figs 14 to 18, the lower end of the framework 2 includes the base unit 110. The wheels 7 are mounted to the base unit 110 on an axle 65, connected to support struts 66. Part of the base unit 110 forms part of the frame 2, including part of the rails 63, on which the carriage 13 can roll.

The base unit 110 is detachably connected to the rest of the frame 2 by a bolted connection portion 43. The base unit 110 further comprises a motor and gearbox assembly 12, which drives the drive roller 9 via a driveshaft 10, which is mounted to the frame 2 part of the base unit 110 by bearing assemblies 11. A control box 67 is provided to control operation of the motor and gearbox assembly 12 and hence of the hoist 100.

The base unit 110 includes a loading platform which is formed by first and second loading rails 51 which extend along respective sides of the base unit above and H;\SueB\Keep\specA\P51194.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 14 slightly outward from the rails 63, as best shown in Fig.

The purpose of the loading rails 51 is to receive a load thereacross, so that a loading station is provided even when the carriage 13 is not located at the base unit 110. It will be appreciated that with the rear support 57 folded down the carriage 13 can then move under the load in a rearwards direction (that is towards the handle 8 end of the hoist 100). When the carriage 13 is past the load rear support 57 can be erected and when the carriage 13 is moved forwards the rear support 57 will force the load forwards until it is forced off the loading rails 51 and onto the platform 13a of the carriage 13. The base unit 110 is provided with a cover 61 for the region in which the rear support 57 of the carriage 13 is moved from a generally horizontal to a generally vertical position, in order to protect operators of the hoist 100. The cover 61 is provided with supports 52, 62. The cover 61 may thus be made from a relatively lightweight sheet material. The supports 52, 62 are attached, for example by welding, to a continuation of the loading rails 51, although it will be appreciated that the portions of the loading rails 51 between the supports 52, 62 are not used for supporting a load prior to transfer of the load to the carriage 13.

The assembly consisting of the loading rails 51. supports 52, 62 and cover 61 is attached to the rest of the base unit 110 using spacing supports 64 which may, for example, be formed of angle steel attached in an appropriate manner such as by welding, bolting or the like.

Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate the hoist in use. In Fig. 19 a load of tiles 15 has been left by the carriage 13 at the top of the hoist on the supporting members and the carriage 13 is descending towards another load of tiles 15 which has been loaded onto the loading rails 51.

It will be appreciated that this embodiment provides a hoist which is more efficient in use than a conventional hoist in which a carriage is manually loaded at the bottom of the hoist, hauled up a framework by a cable and ll:\ SueB'Keep\sp cl\F51194.SPEC doc 1/04/04 15 manually unloaded at the top of the hoist. Under these circumstances an operator at the bottom of the hoist, having loaded tiles onto the carriage must wait for the carriage to be raised, unloaded and descend before he can resume loading. Similarly an operator at the top of such a hoist, having unloaded tiles from the carriage, would have to wait until the carriage descended, was loaded at the bottom of the hoist and ascended again before resuming unloading of tiles. In contrast in the preferred embodiment unloading of tiles at the top of the hoist, loading of tiles at the bottom of the hoist and ascent or descent of the carriage may all occur simultaneously.

Figure 19 shows a situation where the carriage 13 is ascending having received a load of tiles 15 from the loading rails 51.

As mentioned above the spring 60 may, in different variations, bias the rear support 57 in either of its two end positions, mainly either substantially parallel to the base 13a of the carriage or substantially perpendicular to the base 13a of the carriage. In Fig. 19 the rear support 57 is illustrated as being biased to the position where it is substantially perpendicular to the base 13a of the carriage 13. In this case, as the carriage descends, the back of the rear support 57 will contact the tiles 15 and this contact will force the rear support 57 to pivot towards its substantially parallel position so that the trolley 13 may pass under the tiles As the trolley 13 passes under the tiles 15 the rear support is maintained in its substantially parallel position by contact with the bottoms of the tiles.

However, once the rear support 57 has passed under the tiles (and is in the vicinity of cover 61), it will return to its substantially perpendicular position because of the biasing force of the spring 60. Forward motion of the carriage 13 will then push the tiles from the loading rails 51 onto the trolley as described above. As an alternative to the rear support being forced down by H:\SueB\Kxepspec i\P51194 SPEC.doc 1/04/04 16 contact with the tiles, one or more gates (not shown) may be provided attached to a front part of the loading rails 51. Such gates would be arranged so that they could not be forced in a rearward direction, so when the carriage descends the gates would provide the required force to pivot the rear support 57. However the gates would be free to pivot in a forward direction so that they would not obstruct passage of the carriage 13 as it ascends. An advantage of having the rear support biased to its perpendicular position is that this facilitates use of the hoist to lower tiles from roof level to ground level. (Of course under these circumstances the gates, if provided, would need to be disabled).

In an alternative variation the rear support 57 is biased to the position in which it is substantially parallel with the base 13a of the carriage 13. In this case a mechanism for raising the rear support 57 as the carriage reaches the vicinity of the cover 61 would be provided. An example of such a mechanism is illustrated in Figure 21 in which the rear support 57 of the carriage is provided with a downwardly projecting tab 95. The tab is for engagement with a suitably positioned cam 96 located on the rails 63. As the carriage moves past the cam 96 the tab is engaged so that the rear support 57 is moved towards its perpendicular position. As the carriage 13 begins to move forward (in the vicinity of the cover 61) towards the load of tiles 15, the rear support 57 is maintained in (or moved further towards) its perpendicular position by contact with friction members (not shown) which may be brushes or the like provided on the inside of the cover 61. Once the rear support 57 is in contact with the tiles it is maintained in its perpendicular position.

An advantage of having the rear support 57 biased towards the position where it is substantially parallel to the base 13a of the carriage is that the rear support 57 will be folded down well before it reaches the loading station so that no mechanism to force it to pivot need be H \SueB\Keep\speci\PS1194.srPEC.doc 1/04/04 17 provided: this avoids the need to provide the gates discussed above and ensures tiles are not damaged by the rearward moving carriage.

Fig. 22 shows a preferred embodiment in which the frame 2 consists of an upper frame portion a lower frame portion 1 and a further frame portion which forms part of the base 110. The upper frame portion 3 and the lower frame portion 2 are pivotally connected by a hinge 33. A catch 34 allows the upper framework 3 and lower framework 2 to be located in a coaxial position illustrated in Fig. 22. Release of the catch 34 allows the upper frame portion 3 to be pivoted about hinge 33 relative to the lower frame portion 1 to provide a folded configuration as shown in Fig. 23 which is suitable for transport or storage. Figs. 24 to 26 show an alternative frame configuration in which an upper frame portion 103 can pivot relative to a lower frame portion 102 in a substantially horizontal plane rather than the substantially vertical plane of the embodiment of Figs. 22 and 23. In this embodiment a hinge 4 is provided at each side of the connection between the upper frame portion 103 and the lower frame portion 102. Each hinge 4 comprises one or more hinge body portions 84 attached to the upper frame portion 103 and one or more hinge body portions attach to the lower frame portion 102. Each hinge body portion 84, 85 has a cylindrical bore passing therethrough and may be connected by a bolt 5 passing coaxially through the cylindrical bores and secured by a nut 6 to form a hinge assembly.

Removing the bolt 5 from one of the hinges 4 enables the frame 23 to be folded. Removing the bolts from both of the hinges 4 enables the upper frame portion 103 to be separated from the lower frame portion 102 to dismantle the hoist.

Alternatives to the preferred embodiments are envisaged. For example, rails may be arranged so that a carriage may travel to a position behind the load without H:\SueB\Xeep'speci\P51194.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 18 passing underneath the load, for example by a shunting arrangement.

In another embodiment the carriage may pass directly underneath the load and one or more load receiving elements may extend upwards from the carriage to lift the load, thus effectively transferring the load onto the carriage. In another alternative a rear support of the carriage could extend and retract in a manner other than by pivotal folding, for example, by controlled linear movement relative to the carriage base (powered by an eletric motor or operated by cams and/or a ratchet and pawl mechanism), could be provided.

As a further alternative the rear support could be in the form of a one way gate that can be pushed forward relative to the trolley to allow the trolley to pass the materials as the trolley moves rearwards, but which forces the materials when the trolley moves forwards.

The preferred embodiment includes a trolley which has wheels and which moves along metal rails, but other means of supporting a trolley relative to a framework could be provided, and the term trolley used herein is not intended to be restricted to a trolley with wheels.

Although a cable is the preferred means to move the trolley, other means could be provided, such as, for example, a chain. However, the embodiment described above is preferred, as it is considered to provide a more compact hoist and/or a hoist that is simpler in structure.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as H:\SueB\Keep\speci\PS1194 SPEC doc 1/04/04 19 "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Variations and modifications can be made in respect of the invention described above and defined in the following claims.

H \SueB\Yeep\specl\P51194,SPEC.doc 1/04/C4 r

Claims (34)

1. A hoist for transporting material comprising: a support structure for supporting a trolley; a trolley, moveable on the support structure between a loading station and an unloading station; wherein the loading station includes at least one receiving portion for receiving material to be transported even when the trolley is not at the loading station, and wherein in use when the trolley is at the loading station, the hoist is operable to cause the trolley to receive materials previously loaded onto the receiving portion, for transportation to the unloading station.

2. A hoist as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receiving portion is provided so that at least a part of the trolley can pass at least part of the material to be transported as the trolley approaches a position at the loading station.

3. A hoist as claimed in claim 2 wherein the receiving portion is provided so that at least part of the trolley can pass underneath at least part of the material to be transported as the trolley approaches a position at the loading station.

4. A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the trolley includes a support portion, for supporting at least most of the weight of the material to be transported, and at least one retaining portion for retaining material on the support position.

A hoist as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one retaining portion is adapted to project away from the support portion when the trolley is transporting material.

6. A hoist as claimed in either of claims 4 or wherein at least one retaining portion is moveably attached to the support portion so that it can retract in order to pass at least part of the material to be transported when the material to be transported is at the H-\SueR\Keep\speci\P51194.SPEC.doc 1/ 0/04 21 receiving portion of the loading station.

7. A hoist as claimed in claim 6 wherein at least one retaining portion is moveably attached to the support portion so that it can retract in order to pass underneath at least part of the material to be transported when the material to be transported is at the receiving portion of the loading station.

8. A hoist as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 wherein at least one retaining portion is retractable by folding relative to the support portion.

9. A hoist as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8 wherein at least one retaining portion is pivotally coupled to the support portion, so that it may pivot between a retracted position and a projecting position.

10. A hoist as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the trolley includes bias means for biasing the retaining portion towards a projecting position.

11. A hoist as claimed in claim 10 wherein the retaining portion is forced to retract, as the trolley reaches the loading position, by contact with a forcing element.

12. A hoist as claimed in claim 11 wherein the forcing element is provided by the material to be transported, or as part of the hoist.

13. A hoist as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the trolley includes bias means for biasing the retaining portion towards a retracted position.

14. A hoist as claimed in claim 13 wherein the retaining portion is forced to its projecting position, after it has passed beneath at least part of the material to be transported, by interaction with a forcing member separate from the trolley.

A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the unloading station is adapted to allow material transported by the trolley to be removed from the trolley prior to unloading of said material from the hoist.

16. A hoist as claimed in claim 15 wherein the H \SUeR\Keep\speci\P51194.SPEC.doc 1/04/C4 22 unloaded trolley is able to move away from the unloading station prior to unloading of the said material from the hoist.

17. A hoist as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support structure is a foldable framework.

18. A method of transporting materials comprising: providing a hoist so that said hoist has an inclined support structure having a loading position towards a first end thereof and an unloading position towards a second end thereof and a trolley moveable between the loading and unloading positions; loading materials onto the hoist at the loading position when the trolley is not at the loading position; operating the hoist to move the trolley substantially to the loading position; operating the hoist so that said loaded material is received by the trolley; operating the hoist so that the trolley transports the material substantially to the unloading position.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the method includes loading at least some material onto the hoist at the loading position, while the trolley is moving between the unloading position and the loading position.

A method as claimed in either of claims 18 or 19 wherein the step of operating the hoist to move the trolley substantially to the loading position includes operating the hoist so that the trolley moves under the material.

21. A method as claimed in any of claims 18 to wherein the method includes a step of removing the material from the trolley at the unloading position and moving the trolley away from the unloading position before all of said removed material is unloaded from the hoist.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the method includes removing at least some of the material H:\Sue3\K.e.p\Speci\P51194 SPEC.doc 1/04/04 23 from the unloading position while the trolley is moving between the unloading position and the loading position.

23. A method as claimed in any of claims 18 to 22 wherein the method is a method of transporting roofing materials from ground level to the roof level.of a building.

24. A method as claimed in any of claims 18 to 23 wherein the method includes use of a hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

25. A hoist including an elongate support structure for supporting a trolley and a flexible elongate member for forcing the trolley to move along the support structure; wherein the flexible elongate member is guided by at least a first roller;and wherein the elongate member passes at least once around the first roller.

26. A hoist as claimed in claim 25 wherein the elongate member passes at least approximately 1.5 times around the first roller.

27. A hoist as claimed in either of claims or 26 wherein the elongate member passes substantially an odd number of half turns around the first roller.

28. A hoist as claimed in claims 25 to 27 wherein the elongate member passes at least substantially times around the first roller.

29. A hoist as claimed in claims 25 to 28 wherein the elongate member forms a substantially closed loop which extends between said first roller and at least one further roller.

A hoist as claimed in claims 25 to 29 wherein the first roller is coupled to a drive mechanism.

31. A hoist as claimed in claims 25 to wherein the first roller includes a guide surface for contact with the elongate member and the guide surface includes at least a first guide groove.

32. A hoist as claimed in claims 25 to 31 H:\SueB\Keep\speci\l51194-.SPEC.doc 1/04/04 24 wherein the first guide groove extends in a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the first roller.

33. A hoist as claimed in claims 25 to 32 wherein the hoist is a hoist for transporting roofing materials between ground level and the roof level of a building.

34. A hoist as claimed in any of claims 25 to 32 wherein the hoist is a hoist as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17. A hoist substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. Dated this 1st day of April 2004 FRANK WILLIAM WOODWARD By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\SueB\Keep\speci\Pll94 SPEC doc 1/04/09