GB2370826A

GB2370826A - Lifting and tipping apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2370826A
Application number: GB0029170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Hindle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-30
Filing date: 2000-11-30
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Also published as: GB0029170D0

Abstract

Lifting apparatus for lifting a delivery receptacle, such as a wheelbarrow 12, and tipping the contents into a receiving receptacle, such as a skip 13, comprising a frame 14 adapted for attachment to or location adjacent the receiving receptacle, a platform arrangement 15 with securing means 16 adapted to secure the delivery receptacle to the platform, elevating means 17 adapted to raise and lower the platform between a loading position LP and a tipping position TP, and tipping means 18 adapted to tip the platform when it reaches the tipping position and to restore it to the loading angle afterwards, the tipping means comprising lever means 18a cooperating with a tipping abutment 14a around a pivot axis.

Description

Lifting Apparatus This invention relates to lifting apparatus, more particularly to lifting apparatus for use in lifting and emptying receptacles, such as wheelbarrows, wheely bins and drums, into a larger receptacle, such as a skip or a storage silo.

Wheelbarrows and receptacles of that size are ill catered for in respect of automated handling-they are hand-powered and controlled devices. It is true that there are barrows that are powered by ride-on tractor-type vehicles, but even here, there are limited tipping facilities, usually involving dumping the entire contents of a full barrow on the ground in front of the barrow. To empty full barrows into skips, it is usually necessary to resort to a plank or two arranged at a relatively shallow angle up which barrows may be wheeled. This is awkward and potentially dangerous.

The present invention provides an arrangement whereby barrows-and like receptacles-can be elevated and tipped without effort.

The invention comprises lifting apparatus for lifting a delivering receptacle and tipping the same into a receiving receptacle, comprising: a frame adapted for attachment to or location adjacent the receiving receptacle ; a platform arrangement elevatable on said frame; securing means adapted to secure the delivering receptacle to said platform arrangement; elevating means adapted to raise and lower said platform arrangement on said frame between a loading position and a tipping position; and tipping means adapted to tip said platform arrangement when elevated from a loading angle to a tipping angle on said frame and to restore it when lowered from said tipping angle to said loading angle; said tipping means comprising lever means on the platform arrangement cooperating with a tipping abutment on the frame by abutting thereagainst and tipping the platform about a pivot axis therein. The elevating means may comprise hydraulic means.

The elevating means may comprise a chain to which the platform arrangement is attached. There may be a safety cover limiting access to the chain.

The chain may be driven by a hydraulic motor, which may be fixed to the base of the frame and may drive a sprocket over which the chain is trained, the platform arrangement being pivotally mounted on a carrier attached to the chain.

The frame may be in the form of a hollow post containing the chain trained over upper and lower sprockets with an upper securing arrangement for mounting to a receiving receptacle. The said securing arrangement may comprise a hook and clamp arrangement adapted for securing to the upper edge of a skip.

The platform arrangement may be detachable from the frame for stowage or transportation.

The platform arrangement may comprise separate arms adapted for the wheel and frame legs of a wheelbarrow The apparatus may comprise a control arrangement controlling the elevating means and the tipping means, and may comprise a hydraulic motor control arrangement., which may control the elevation and tipping of the platform in such manner that elevation is effected under low pressure, high flow rate, while tipping is effected under high pressure, low flow rate conditions. The hydraulic motor control may be effected by a position sensor for the platform arrangement so that the high pressure, low flow rate regime is triggered by the platform reaching its tipping position.

The invention also comprises a method for operating an elevation and tipping procedure, comprising effecting an elevation procedure under high flow rate, low pressure hydraulic drive arrangements, and effecting a tipping procedure under high pressure, low flow rate hydraulic arrangements. The change in hydraulic drive arrangements between low pressure, high flow rate and high pressure, low flow rate may be effected by a position sensor sensing transition between elevation and tipping.

One embodiment of lifting apparatus and a method for operating an elevation and tipping procedure according to the invention will now be described wish reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus ; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1, in action; Figure 3 is a plan of a platform arrangement of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an elevation on Arrow 4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section through a hollow post of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4, showing a chain drive; Figure 6 is a section on Arrow 6 of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a hydraulic circuit diagram.

The drawings illustrate lifting apparatus 11 for lifting a delivering receptacle-as illustrated, a wheelbarrow 12-and tipping the same into a receiving receptacle-as illustrated, a skip 13.

The apparatus 11 comprises a frame 14 adapted for attachment to the skip 13, a platform arrangement 15 elevatable on the frame 14, securing means 16 adapted to secure the wheelbarrow 12 to the platform arrangement 15, elevating means 17 adapted to raise and lower the platform arrangement 15 on the frame 14 between a loading position LP, Figure 2, and a tipping position TP, and tipping means 18 adapted to tip the platform arrangement 15 when elevated from a loading angle-as illustrated, horizontal - to a tipping angle-as illustrated, slightly beyond the vertical-and to restore it when lowered from said tipping angle to said loading angle, said tipping means 18 comprising lever means 18a on the platform arrangement 15 cooperating with a tipping abutment 14a on the frame 14 by abutting thereagainst and tipping the platform about a pivot axis therein as the platform arrangement continues to be elevated.

The elevating means 17 comprise hydraulic means in the form of a hydraulic motor 17a, Figure 5, with a control arrangement 17b more particularly described with reference to Figure 7. The motor 17a drives a sprocket 17c over which a chain 17d is trained, at the base of the frame 14, the chain 17d being also trained over an upper sprocket 17e, as seen in Figure 2. The platform arrangement 15 is pivotally mounted on a carrier 17f attached to the chain 17d.

The frame 14 is in the form of a hollow post containing the chain 17d and the sprockets 17c, 17e and has an upper securing arrangement 14b comprising a hook and clamp arrangement for securing to the upper edge of the skip 13.

The platform arrangement 15 is detachable from the frame for stowage or transportation. The platform arrangement 15 comprises separate arms 15a, 15b adapted for the wheel 12a and frame legs 12b of the wheelbarrow 12. In use, the wheelbarrow 12 is placed on the platform arrangement 15 and

4 secured thereon. The platform arrangement 15 is elevated by the hydraulic motor 17a driving the chain 17d and is tipped by the lever means 18a cooperating with the abutment 14a to tip the platform arrangement 15, and hence the wheelbarrow 12, as seen in Figure 2, depositing the wheelbarrow contents, as desired, into the skip 13.

Figure 7 illustrates a hydraulic power and control arrangement, comprising a hydraulic power pack 71 and a control valve 72.

The power pack 71 comprises a prime mover, such as a petrol engine M driving a pump P drawing hydraulic fluid from a reservoir 73. An operating valve 74 has solenoid valves 74a, 74b for selecting direction of fluid flow through, and hence rotational direction of, the hydraulic motor 17a. Relief valves 74c and 74d return fluid to the reservoir 73 when local system pressure is too high, for example when the pump P is running, but the hydraulic motor 17a is not.

The control valve 72 provides two paths for the fluid flow from pump P to motor 17a, firstly a path when valve 72c is open, when fluid flows through valve 72a while performing the lowering operation (fluid moving from MI to VI) and through valve 72e while performing the elevation operation (fluid moving from VI to Mi), and secondly a path when valve 72c is closed, when fluid flows through between VI and MI via restrictor 72b for elevation and lowering operations. Valve 72c is a manual on/off or open/closed valve. Relief valve 72d affords low pressure protection during the elevation operation. Valve 74c affords low pressure protection during the lowering operation.

During the elevation operation, valve 72c is open and fluid passes from VI through valve 72c and one way valve 72e to M I, bypassing valve 72a. If the pressure becomes too high, relief valve 72d operates to reduce the pressure.

For the tipping operation, valve 72c is mechanically closed. This diverts the fluid away from valves 72a and 72d so the fluid passes via restrictor valve 72b, where the flow rate is reduced, to reach Ml. With the low pressure relief valve 72d isolated, high pressure relief valve 74d becomes the pressure relief valve for the system, allowing a higher pressure to be achieved within the system.

To reverse the tipping operation, valve 72c remains closed so that fluid returns via restrictor 72b at a controlled rate until the point where the lowering operation is to commence is reached where valve 72c is mechanically reopened. Reopening valve 72c allows fluid to pass at a high flow rate through valve 72a which is opened by pressure in the line M2 to V2 during the lowering operation. During the lowering operation valve 74c becomes the pressure relief valve for the system.

The combination of low flow rate/high pressure is particularly suitable for the tipping operation, while the high flow rate/low pressure combination is particularly suitable for the elevation and lowering operations.

While the apparatus has been particularly described with reference to tipping wheelbarrows into skips, it is clear that modifications may be made to the design for handling different receptacles. And while hydraulic power has been described as the operating power, other system may be used, for example electric power, operating through gearing to give different rates and force of operation during lift and tipping, such gearing being mechanical or electronic.

Claims

Claims 1. Lifting apparatus for lifting a delivering receptacle and tipping the same into a receiving receptacle, comprising: a frame adapted for attachment to or location adjacent the receiving receptacle; a platform arrangement elevatable on said frame; securing means adapted to secure the delivering receptacle to said platform arrangement; elevating means adapted to raise and lower said platform arrangement on said frame between a loading position and a tipping position; and tipping means adapted to tip said platform arrangement when elevated from a loading angle to a tipping angle on said frame and to restore it when lowered from said tipping angle to said loading angle; said tipping means comprising lever means on the platform arrangement cooperating with a tipping abutment on the frame by abutting thereagainst and tipping the platform about a pivot axis therein as the platform arrangement continues to be elevated.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the elevating means comprise hydraulic means.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the elevating means comprise a chain to which the platform arrangement is attached.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, in which there is a safety cover limiting access to the chain.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the chain is driven by a hydraulic motor.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the hydraulic motor is fixed to the base of the frame and drives a sprocket over which the chain is trained, the platform arrangement being pivotally mounted on a carrier attached to the chain.
7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the frame is in the form of a hollow post containing the chain trained over upper and lower sprockets with an upper securing arrangement for mounting to a receiving receptacle.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, in which said securing arrangement comprises a hook and clamp arrangement adapted for securing to the upper edge of a skip.
9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the platform arrangement is detachable from the frame for stowage or transportation.
10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the platform arrangement comprises separate arms adapted for the wheel and frame legs of a wheelbarrow.
11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, comprising a control arrangement controlling the elevating means and the tipping means.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, comprising a hydraulic motor control arrangement.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, in which the control arrangement controls the elevation and tipping of the platform in such manner that elevation is effected under low pressure, high flow rate, while tipping is effected under high pressure, low flow rate conditions.
14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, in which the hydraulic motor control is effected by a position sensor for the platform arrangement so that the high pressure, low flow rate regime is triggered by the platform reaching its tipping position.
15. A method for operating an elevation and tipping procedure, comprising effecting an elevation procedure under high flow rate, low pressure hydraulic drive arrangements, and effecting a tipping procedure under high pressure, low flow rate

.. hydraulic drive arrangements.
16. A method according to Claim 15, in which the change in hydraulic drive arrangements between low pressure, high flow rate and high pressure, low flow rate is effected by a position sensor sensing transition between elevation and tipping.