AU618452B2 - A hoist - Google Patents

Description

i~ COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 Form COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE 618452 Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: PJ2926 24 February 1989 t 9* i t( f It t t I I 4 4 «a Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: CLIVE COLENSO 6 Weedon Street, Casuarina, Northern Territory, New South Wales, 0810 CLIVE COLENSO GRIFFITH HACK CO 71 YORK STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 c*' Complete Specification for the invention entitled: A HOIST The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- S013232 22/02/9?0 I This invention relates to a hoist, and in particular, a multi-purpose hoist which is used in conjunction with a motor vehicle and the invention is herein defined in such context. However, it should be realised that the hoist has broader application and can be used in conjunction with any substantial mass.

Motor vehicles are normally supplied with a standard jack, usually consisting of either a screw raised by a nut rotated by a hand gear and a long lever or by a small hydraulic ram. These jacks are designed to lift the vehicle usually to change a tyre or to service underneath the vehicle and for these purposes the standard jack has proved adequate.

However, the standard jack has in the past only been designed for this particular purpose, i.e. to lift the motor vehicle. It has been realised that a more versatile hoist 1 than the standard jack could be extremely useful and it is .oo0 the aim of this invention to provide a hoist which can be 95*0 °oi easily transported but which is more versatile than the 20 standard jack by being able to be used as a jack in a first arrangement or overhead hoist in a second arrangement.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hoist comprising: t a base supporting a mast; 25 a sleeve slidably mounted to the mast and having a connecting bracket enabling the sleeve to be connected to a substantial mass; a hoist arrangement secured to the mast remote from the base and adapted in a first position to enable lifting J' 30 of the substantial mass by lifting of the sleeve up the mast and in a second position to enable lifting of an object using the substantial mass as an anchor.

Preferably, the hoist arrangement comprises a jib crane mounted to the top of the mast. Preferably, the jib crane comprises a downwardly inclined first arm extending from the top of the mast having a winch secured to the arm in a position remote from the mast. A load cable preferably extends from the winch over a pulley located above and 0511s/KLH 2 4.

I I ifadjacent the top of the mast. Preferably, the load cable has a connector at its free end to enable connection to the sleeve or to the object.

Preferably, a second arm is releasably secured to the mast and is orientated in the plane of the first arm on the opposite side of the mast. The second arm preferably has a second pulley on its outer end enabling the free end of the load cable to extend in the second position over the first and second pulleys to a position remote from the mast.

Preferably, at least one third pulley is located adjacent to and secured to the sleeve such that when the hoist is in a first position, the free end of the load cable is positioned over the first and third pulleys to form a block and tackle arrangement. This then enable the lifting r 15 capacity of the winch to be increased when the hoist is in the first position due to the additional "fall" in the chain.

Alternately, the jib crane comprises a jib arm rotatably secured intermediate its end to the top of the 'r mast. Preferably a winch is secured to the jib arm in a position remote from the mast and a load cable extends from the winch over a pulley located adjacent the end of the jib arm on the opposite side of the mast from that which the winch is secured.

1(#1 4Preferably in the alternate arrangement the free end C, 25 of the load cable is secured to the jib arm and a connector t C is secured to a second pulley which is mounted on the load cable intermediate the first pulley and the end of the cable.

Preferably, the connecting bracket comprises a housing adapted to be connected to a tow ball of a motor 30 vehicle and the substantial mass comprises the motor vehicle.

a In use, the hoist of the present invention can replace or supplement the standard jack. Because the hoist is of relatively light weight compared to existing hoists due to the fact that it does not require a separate anchor, the hoist can easily be stored and transported in a motor vehicle. Furthermore, as the hoist can act both as a jack and as a jib crane, the hoist has advantages not realised in the standard jack arrangement.

0511s/KLH 3 '4 i Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, two preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of the hoist of the present invention in a first position; Figure 2 is an elevation of the first embodiment of the hoist of the present invention in a second position; Figure 3 is a detailed elevation to an enlarged scale of the connecting bracket of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a sectional plan view along line A-A in 4rC I 4r 1 $44 1141 rIt 25 4 44 IIi 4. I I 1 44 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a second embodiment of the hoist of the present invention in a second position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a first preferred embodiment of the hoist of the present invention. As can be seen in Figure 1, the hoist 10 of the present invention when in the first position comprises a mast 11 supported by a base 12.

In the preferred arrangement, the mast 11 is rotatably mounted within the base 12.

A hoist arrangement 13 is mounted to the top of the mast 11 by a mast sleeve 14. The hoist arrangement 13 comprises winch 15 secured to the downwardly inclined arm 16 which extends from the mast sleeve 14. A pulley 17 is located above and adjacent the top of the mast 11. A load cable 18 extends from the winch and over the pulley 17.

A sleeve 19 is slidably mounted to the iast 11 and a connecting bracket 20 is rigidly mounted to the sleeve 19.

The connecting bracket 20 is adapted to be connected to the tow ball of a motor vehicle (not shown). Similarly, the connecting bracket can accommodate chains or ropes (not shown) to connect the connecting bracket to any substantial mass.

A further mounting 21 is rotatably connected to the sleeve 19 and has, on its outer end, a second pulley 22.

The load cable 18 is positioned over the pulleys 17 and 22 and is secured adjacent the top of the mast at a connecting bracket 34 thereby forming a simple block and tackle 0511s/KLH 4 ij.

arrangement. With the increase in the number of falls of the load cable 18, the lifting capacity of the winch 15 is doubled. Although only a single block and tackle arrangement is disclosed, the present invention could easily be adapted to incorporate a multiple block and tackle arrangement.

Therefore in use, the hoist 10 is attached to a motor vehicle or other substantial mass by the connecting bracket When arranged in the first position, the motor vehicle or substantial mass can be lifted by the load cable 18 of the winch 15 by lifting the sleeve 19, thereby providing an effective jack.

Figure 2 shows the hoist 10 in the second position where an additional arm 23 is secured to the mast sleeve 14. The arm 23 is orientated such that it is in line with the winch arm 16 but is disposed on the opposite sides of the mast 11. A stay 24 is secured between the arm 23 and the mast 11 and is connected at the mast by a clamp 25. A pulley 26 is located on the outer end of the arm 23.

When in the second position, the load cable 18 is positioned over pulley 17 and pulley 26 such that the free end 27 of the load cable 18 is remote from the mast 11. In this arrangement, it enables the connector 28 located at the t(I end of the free end of the load cable 18 to be positioned 25 remote from the mast 11 such that the connector 28 is more

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easily connected to any object located adjacent the hoist In use in the second position, the hoist 10 is connected to either a motor vehicle or similar object of substantial mass via connecting bracket 20 to provide an anchor for the hoist 10. The connector 28 located at the r free end of the load cable 18 is then connected to any object adjacent to the mast which requires lifting. By being firmly anchored by the motor vehicle or substantial mass (not shown), the mast 11 is firmly positioned and any object whose weight is within the lifting capacity of the winch 15 can then be lifted. Furthermore, as the mast is rotatably secured within the base, the hoist arrangement in Al 0511s/KLH 5

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l~~ the second position is free to rotate through 3600, thereby providing more flexibility for the hoist.

Figures 3 and 4 shows the connecting bracket 20 and the pulley mount 21 in detail. As can be seen, the connecting bracket 20 comprises housing 29 designed to accommodate a tow ball (not shown). The tow ball is mounted in the housing 29 through the outer end 30 of the connecting bracket 20 to a position where the tow ball comes into contact with seat 31. Locating pin 32 is then inserted in a transverse direction through the connecting bracket thereby securing the tow ball in position.

With this arrangement, the connecting bracket 20 can accommodate quickly and efficiently a tow ball of a motor vehicle. Once in position the motor vehicle could be lifted by an upward movement of the sleeve 19, or could act as an anchor when the hoist is in a second position. Furthermore, with this connecting arrangement, chains or ropes could be easily located through the hole which accommodates the locating pin 32 to enable many other objects having a substantial mass to be connected to the connecting bracket 4 4t 2 I 44 it I I 4 Mounting 21 is also connected to the sleeve 19 and is positioned above the connecting bracket 20. The mounting 21 is connected to the sleeve by collar 33. In this arrangement, the mounting bracket 21 is able to rotate with respect to the sleeve and the connecting bracket 20 but is unable to move in a vertical direction relative to the connecting bracket or the sleeve. Therefore, the mounting 21 can provide the lift required for the sleeve 19 when the 30 hoist is in a first position and because it is rotable, enables the hoist arrangement 13 to rotate through 3600 for added safety.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in figure 5. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment primarily in the arrangement of the jib crane 13 and the base 12.

In the second preferred embodiment the jib arrangement 13 comprises a single jib arm 35 which is 0511s/KLH 6 L I connected intermediate its ends to the top of the mast 11 by a connecting bracket 36. Typically the connecting bracket would enable the jib arm 35 to rotate through 3600 but also could enable the arm to tilt and be easily detachable from the mast 11.

A stay 37 is secured between the arm 35 and the mast 11 and is connected at the mast by a thrust bearing 38. In this way the bearing 38 is slidable on the mast 11 which facilitates the tilting action of the arm 35 around the connector 36.

A winch 15 is located at one end of the jib arm and is mounted to the arm 35 in an arrangement that enables the load cable 18 to be located close to the axis of the jib arm 35. In this way there is a minimum spacing between the location of the load cable 18 and the axis of the jib arm which minimises the force imparted on the mounting arrangment and the winch The load cable 18 is mounted on a pulley 39 which is located at the end of the jib arm remote from the winch The free end 27 of the load cable is secured to the jib arm adjacent the pulley 39. Intermediate the pulley 39 and the free end 27, a second pulley 40 incorporating connector 28 is mounted on the load cable 18.

The hoist as shown in figure 5 is in the second position. To convert the hoist 10 to the first position, the connector 28 merely needs to be connected to the sleeve 19 which is connected to a substantial mass (not shown).

The sleeve 19 would be substantially the same as that disclosed in the first embodiment except that it would not be necessary to include the further mounting 21 nor the collar 33.

In the second embodiment, the base 12 is formed from three radially extending supports 41 each having a footing 42 on its outer end. These supports are connected to the mast by way of sleeve 43 such that each support is independently able to rotate about mast 11.

0511s/KLH 7- I With this arrangement, the supports 41 can be nested together to facilitate transportation and storage and when being located in position can be orientated in an arrangement which would maximise the support given.

Furthermore, a pin (not shown) or other locking device may be inserted to prevent upward slippage of the various support members.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is appreciate by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

i t I !i I I t 1 IIt 0511s/KLH 8

Claims (7)

1. A hoist comprising a base supporting a mast; a sleeve slidably mounted to the mast and having a connecting bracket enabling the sleeve to be connected to a substantial mass; a hoist arrangement secured to the mast remote from the base and adapted in first position to enable lifting of the substantial mass by lifting of the sleeve up the mast and in a second position to enable lifting of an object using the substantial mass as an anchor.

2. A hoist as claimed in claim i, wherein the hoist arrangement comprises a jib crane mounted to the top of the mast. S

3. A hoist as claimed in claim 2, wherein the jib crane Sa comprises a downwardly inclined first arm extending from the 8 4 coda top of the mast and having a winch secured to the arm in a .444 4t444 position remote from the mast, a load cable extending from 20 the winch over a first pulley located above and adjacent the top of the mast, and the load cable having a connector at its free end to enable connection to the sleeve or to the object. 444, 25 4. A hoist as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second arm LI 4 is releasably secured to the mast and when secured in 4 position is orientated in the plane of the first arm on the a 4 opposite side of the mast from the first arm, the second arm having a second pulley located on its outer end enabling the S 30 free end of the load cable to extend in the second position 4o 4 over the first and second pulleys to a position remote from the mast. A hoist as claimed in either claim 3 or 4, wherein a third pulley is located adjacent to and secured to the sleeve such that when the hoist is in a first position, the free end of the load cable is positioned over the first and third pulleys and is secured relative to the mast. 0511s/KLH 9 U' .1

6. A hoist as claimed in claim 2 wherein the jib crane comprises a jib arm rotatably secured intermediate its ends to the top of the mast, a winch secured to the jib arm in a position remote from the mast, and a load cable extending from the winch over a first pulley, the first pulley being located adjacent an end of the jib arm opposite from the side of the mast that the winch is secured.

7. A hoist as claimed in claim 6, wherein the free end of the load cable is secured to the jib arm and a connector is secured to a second pulley which is mounted on the load cable intermediate the first pulley and the free end of the cable.

8. A hoist as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting bracket comprises a housing adapted to be connected to a tow ball of a motor vehicle. 4444 S9. A hoist as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base comprises a plurality of supports extending radially outwardly from the mast, each support being mounted to the mast such that each support can independently rotate relative to the mast.

10. A hoist substantially as herein described with Sreference to the accompanying drawings. S DATED this 20th day of February, 1990 i COLIN COLENSO By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. 0511s/KLH 10