GB2294680A - Lift for Cellars and the Like - Google Patents

Abstract

The lift includes a frame comprising two channel section side pillars (112) interconnected with cross members (114). A load-carrying member (125) associated with each side pillar is translatably supported thereon by means of a wheel (128). Each load-carrying member is displaceable by means of a hydraulic motor (142) and a continuous chain or cable (140). A guide pin (200) on each load-carrying member (125) rests on an outer surface of one side pillar to hold the member in a load-carrying position. At the bottom of the pillar, the guide pin (200) leaves the pillar surface and engages a tilt control member (202) which is rotatable by means of an actuator (204) to permit the load-carrying member to be lowered into a position suitable for loading or unloading. Preferably, the actuator is controlled by a proximity or pressure sensor. <IMAGE>

Description

LIFT FOR CELLARS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to a goods lift, and in particular to a lift suitable for use in cellars, for example for delivering beer kegs and other bulky items to the cellar of a public house, restaurant or similar premises.

In the past when delivering beer kegs to a cellar, the kegs have been dropped or rolled down a steep chute or ladder onto a suitable cushion such as a pile of sacking.

New regulations coming into force are likely to outlaw this practice, for reasons of safety.

Many licensed premises will be faced with the problem that their cellar is small and has restricted access through an external trapdoor. There is therefore a need for lift of simple and compact construction which can be installed within the limited confines of an existing cellar with a minimum of adaptation. A problem which arises in this context is that a lift has a platform or fork which must be firmly supported from underneath but which must be capable of depositing the keg on to the floor without being dropped. Since it would be undesirably expensive to excavate a hole in the floor to accommodate the lift mechanism and allow the lift platform to reach the floor, there is a need for an alternative mechanism by which the kegs can be transferred from the platform to the floor.

The present invention seeks to solve this problems by providing a lift with a load-carrying member such as a fork or platform which, at or near the bottom of its travel, can be tilted downwardly so that kegs can be rolled off it straight on to the floor. This tilting should be controlled rather than precipitate, and should preferably be a simple extension of the downward movement of the platform.

The present invention consists of a lift comprising: a frame; a carriage mounted on the frame for up and down movement between top and bottom positions and including a load-carrying member, having a guide member which is engageable with the frame above said bottom position and disengages therefrom at said bottom position; a tilt control member with which the guide member is engageable at said bottom position; and means for raising and lowering the carriage on the frame, said means including an elongate flexible member; wherein the load-carrying member, in the bottom position of the carriage, is pivotable relative to the frame between a load-carrying position and a tilted unloading position, by movement of the tilt control member with which the guide member is engaged, but above said bottom position is retained in its load-carrying position and prevented from pivoting by engagement of the guide member with the frame.

Preferably a pressure sensor is provided in the hydraulic circuit driving the elongate flexible member which detects a rise in pressure resulting from the load carrying member coming into contact with the tilt control member. This sensor then causes a flow of pressurised fluid to be diverted to the actuator so as to tilt the load carrying member to the unloading position.

Alternatively proximity sensor may be provided and actuation of said tilt control member is commenced when the proximity sensor senses the presence of the load-carrying member at or near the said bottom position.

More preferably upon said means for raising the carriage being actuated to raise the carriage the tilt control member is first moved so as to move the load-carrying member into the load-carrying position.

The elongate flexible member may suitably be in the form of a steel cable or chain, pulled up and down by means of an electric and/or hydrulic motor. Alternatively, it may be hand operated by means of a winch.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig 1 is a side elevation of the lower end of a lift in accordance with the present invention; Fig 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the load carrying member in the unloading position.

Fig 1 shows a side view of the lower end of a lift according to the invention. The lift includes a frame made up from two parallel channel section pillars (112) interconnected with cross members (114) with their open sides facing each other. A carriage (124) including a pair of load carrying members (125) is pivotably and translatably supported on the pillars by means of a pair of runner wheels (128). Each load carrying member has an outwardly projected guide pin (200) which bears on an upper surface (121) of a frame pillar when the carriage is above its bottom position, as shown at A in Figure 1.

The lower end of the frame each pillar is supported by a lift support leg (201). Downwardly extending from pillar (112) is a lug which centrally supports a tiltcontrol member (202) by means of a pin (206). The upper end of the tilt-control member is positioned to be engaged by guide pin (200) when the carriage reaches the bottom position. The lower end of the tilt-control member is connected to the ram of a hydraulic actuator (204) by means of a second pin (208). The upper end of the actuator is connected to the associated frame pillar (112) by a third pin (210). A continuous chain (140) driven by an electrically powered hydraulic motor (142) driven by pressurised oil from an electrically powered hydraulic pump (144), is provided to translate the carriage with respect to the frame.A pressure sensor, not shown, associated with a hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic motor (142) is actuable so as to divert a flow of pressurised hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic motor (142) through a pipe (146) to the hydraulic actuator (204).

The operation of this embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

As the chain (140) lowers the carriage (124) down the frame, the guide pins (200) bear on the upper surface (121) of the frame pillars (112), as shown at A in Figure 1.

As the carriage (124) reaches the bottom of the frame, the guide pin leaves the upper surface of the pillar (112) and engages the tilt control member (202). At this point the pressure in the hydraulic circuit driving the hydraulic motor (142) rises. This rise in pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor and the flow of pressurised fluid is diverted to the actuator (204) through pipe (146) and commences retraction of the hydraulic actuator (204).

This causes the guide pin to move along the upper surface of the tilt-control member permitting the load-carrying members to move to the unloading position shown in Figure 2.

When there is a requirement to raise the carriage (124), the hydraulic actuator (204) is first extended to the position shown at B in Figure 1 prior to rotating the continuous chain (140) so as to raise the carriage. The sequencing of these operations is effected by any suitable means.

While only one actuator and tilt-control member have been described the arrangement may be duplicated at the lower end of the other frame pillar (112).

Reference is made to GB Patent Application 9312476.6 from which the present application is divided.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A lift comprising: a frame; a carriage mounted on the frame for up and down movement between top and bottom positions and including a load-carrying member, having a guide member which is engageable with the frame above said bottom position and disengages therefrom at said bottom position; a tilt control member with which the guide member is engageable at said bottom position; and means for raising and lowering the carriage on the frame, said means including an elongate flexible member; wherein the load-carrying member, in the bottom position of the carriage, is pivotable relative to the frame between a load-carrying position and a tilted unloading position, by movement of the tilt control member with which the guide member is engaged, but above said bottom position is retained in its load-carrying position and prevented from pivoting by engagement of the guide member with the frame.

2. A lift as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for raising and lowering the carriage includes hydraulic drive means.

3. A lift as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for raising and lowering the carriage includes a sensor provided to sense a rise in pressure in an associated hydraulic circuit caused by the carriage being at or near said bottom position so as to cause said movement of the tilt control member.

4. A lift as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein pressurised fluid from the hydraulic drive means is diverted to an actuator connected to the tilt control member when there is a requirement to move the tilt control member.

5. A lift as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein upon said means for raising the carriage being actuated to raise the carriage the tilt control member is first moved so as to move the load-carrying member into the load-carrying position.

6. A lift as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the elongate flexible member comprises a continuous chain.

7. A lift as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame includes two inwardly facing channelsection pillars with which the carriage engages.

8. A lift substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.