IES57979B2 - Lifting apparatus for a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

LIFTING APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE The present invention relates to a lifting apparatus for a vehicle.

Vehicles provided with general purpose winches are frequently also required to transport heavy loads. The present invention provides a means whereby a vehicle mounted general purpose winch can be economically and conveniently used to load or unload such heavy loads on or off the vehicle.

The invention provides lifting apparatus comprising a base adapted to be fixed on a vehicle; at least one elongate jib, one end of which is pivotally mounted to the base; a lifting element provided at or adjacent the other end of the jib; means for pivoting the or each jib relative to the base; and a winch; the arrangement being such that wire or cable from the winch extends over the lifting element to a load, whereby in use the winch and jib are operated in cooperation to lift and manipulate a load.

Such an apparatus is less costly than the provision of a conventional vehicle mounted crane.

Advantageously, two jibs are pivotally mounted on the base and the lifting element is mounted on a cross-member .z provided between the two jibs.

Advantageously, the pivoting means comprises a hydraulic ram pivotally connected between the base and a locating point on the jib between its two ends.

Advantageously, a hydraulic fluid supply means is included having an electromagnetic coupling which is adapted to be j connected to the engine of a vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted, whereby the hydraulic fluid supply is energised by the vehicle engine via the electromagnetic coupling.

As the hydraulic fluid supply means is electromagnetically coupled to the vehicle engine it avoids the potential danger of damage arising with conventional mechanical coupled systems where the vehicle can be accidentally driven with the mechanical coupling engaged.

Advantageously, the winch is operable by remote control.

Remote control allows the lifting or setting down operation to be controlled by an operator adjacent the load.

The invention will now be described more particularly, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show three embodiments according to the invention, and in which like parts are given the same numerals throughout. In the drawings: Figure 1a is a side elevation of a vehicle fitted with one fitted embodiment of a lifting apparatus having a forward mounted winch 1, a lifting device 2 and with a suspended 25 load 3 positioned off loaded and at ground level.

Figure 1b is a side elevation of the first embodiment . with the suspended load 3 positioned loaded on the deck of the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a vehicle fitted with a second embodiment of lifting apparatus having a rear mounted winch 11 and lifting device 2 and with a suspended load 3 positioned offloaded and at ground level.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of lifting apparatus having a winch 21 mounted offset on the jib 4 of the lifting device 2 and with a suspended load 3 positioned offloaded and at ground level.

Referring to Figure 1a and Figure 1b which show the first embodiment, the vehicle is equipped with a general purpose winch 1 which is mounted on a frame, not shown in the drawings, which is fixed to the vehicle chassis.

The lifting device 2 comprises a jib 4 which is attached to the vehicle through a horizontal pivot 5 provided on base 9. A hydraulic ram 6 causes the jib 4 to rotate about the pivot 5.

A cable or wire 7 from the winch is suspended over a pulley 8 which is mounted on an arm, not seen in the drawing, offset from the side of the jib 4 and terminates at a lifting point 10 when it is attached to a load 3.

An operator controls winding and unwinding of the winch 1 and retraction and extension of the ram 6. Combined movement of these two devices can be used to raise the load 3 from ground level, move the pulley 8 from a position above ground level to one above the deck of the vehicle and lower the load 3 onto the deck of the vehicle. A similar combined movement can be used to offload the load from the deck of the vehicle to ground level.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment in which the winch 11 is mounted on a frame, not shown in the drawings, which is fixed to the rear of the vehicle. This has two potential advantages over the arrangement shown in Figure 1 a.

Firstly, it provides more convenient operator access to the winch 11 for general use. Secondly, it provides easier combined use of the winch 11 and ram 6 for the operator, as J rotation of the jib 4 causes less movement of the cable or wire 7 over the pulley 8 as is the case with a forward mounted winch.

Against these advantages, the second embodiment has the relative disadvantage of requiring a more complex pulley 8 arrangement at the suspension point from the jib 4 and offset arm, since the cable or wire 7 from the winch 11 to the end of the jib 4 must not impede the movement of the load when the jib 4 is rotated.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment in which winch 21 is mounted directly onto the offset arm at the end of the jib 4. This eliminates the need for a pulley 8 on the offset arm but does not present a winch arrangement which is suitable for all general purpose work.

Returning to Figure 1 a and Figure 1 b and the first embodiment, the winch 1, the cable or wire 7 and the pulley 8 are positioned over a line running centrally along the length of the vehicle, in order that the load 3, will be positioned on the centre of the vehicle deck. In order that the jib 4 and ram 6 do not impede the passage of the , load, they are positioned to one side of the vehicle and the central pulley 8 mounted to the jib 4 by an offset arm, not shown in the drawing.

Alternatively, the first embodiment can include an arrangement with two jibs 4, at the same angle of rotation and coincident in Figures 1a and 1b. The jibs 4 are positioned on opposing sides of the vehicle and are connected by a cross arm, not shown in the drawings, and are also connected by an arm on which the suspension pulley t in centrally mounted. The clearance between the jibs is sufficient to allow the load pass between them during L loading or unloading. Hydraulic rams 6 may be mounted on one or more of both jibs 4.

The arrangements shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively, of the second and third embodiments similarly can be provided with one or two connected jibs 4 as described above.

The hydraulic system which actuates the hydraulic rams of the lifting device in all three embodiments is supplied by a hydraulic pump powered by the vehicle engine. Conventionally, such pumps are coupled to the engine through a mechanical power take-off from the engine gearbox. This type of coupling has the disadvantage that the pump or transmission can be severely damaged if the operator omits to disengage the 'power take-off1 before driving the vehicle. In the preferred arrangement, however, the coupling is effected through an electromagnetic coupling clutch which is not prone to give rise to such damage and which is engaged or disengage through simple electrical excitation of its electromagnets.

In a preferred embodiment, the general purpose winch is ·. provided with a dual control system whereby its rotation can be controlled directly, adjacent the vehicle, or remotely using a conventional radio control device. Remote control by an operator adjacent the load being lifted or set down facilitates the operation and reduces the risk of accident for the operator.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described above which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS : ♦

1 . Lifting apparatus comprising a base adapted to be fixed on a vehicle; at least one elongate jib, one end of which is pivotally mounted to the base; a lifting element provided at or adjacent the other end of the jib; means for pivoting the or each jib relative to the base; and a winch; the arrangement being such that wire or cable from the winch extends over the lifting element to a load, whereby in use the winch and jib are operated in cooperation to lift and manipulate a load.

2. Lifting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which two jibs are pivotally mounted on the base and the lifting element is mounted on a cross-member provided between the two jibs.

3. Lifting apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the pivoting means comprises a hydraulic ram pivotally connected between the base and a locating point on the jib between its two ends.

4. Lifting apparatus according to Claim 3, including a hydraulic fluid supply means having an electromagnetic coupling which is adapted to be connected to the engine of a vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted, whereby the hydraulic fluid supply is energised by the vehicle engine via the electromagnetic coupling.

5. Lifting apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the winch is operable by remote control.