SE1950285A1 - Battery operated lifting device with simplified access to the interior of the device - Google Patents

Abstract

A lifting device (100) for lifting an object (110) is disclosed. The lifting device (100) comprises a casing (120) arranged to be displaced when the lifting device (100) is operated to lift of the object (110), and a string (130) extending out of the casing (120). The casing (120) is suspendable in the string (130). The lifting device (100) is arranged to adjust a length of the string (130) to achieve a movement of the casing (120). Moreover, the lifting device (100) comprises a maneuverer member (170), connected to the casing (120) and arranged to provide sensing signalling representative of a direction of the movement. Moreover, the casing (120) comprises a control unit (140) arranged to control the length of the string (130), and an electric motor (150) arranged to be controlled by the control unit (140) to cause the movement. The lifting device (100) is arranged to adjust the length of the string (130) by that the electric motor (150) is arranged to wind-up or un-wind the string (130). Furthermore, the lifting device (100) comprises a battery (160) arranged to power the electric motor (150).

Description

LIFTING DEVICE FOR LIFTING AN OBJECT TECHNICAL FIELDThe embodiments herein relate to lifting technologies for lifting objects. ln particular, theembodiments herein relate to a lifting device for lifting an object connected to a suspendable casing ofthe lifting device.

BACKGROUND Lifting technologies for lifting of objects are used in many different environments, such astransporting environments, health care environments, manufacturing environments and the like. lnmany environments, it may be suitable to use a known lifting arrangement that is suspendable in abeam or the like and which is easy to operate by means of a handle at a lower portion of the liftingarrangement. A disadvantage with the known lifting arrangement may be that it is time consumingand costly to install the lifting arrangement at a site, i.e. where objects are desired to be lifted.

The know type of lifting arrangement has the following general composition. The liftingarrangement comprises a suspendable lifting unit, which is connected to an electrical power supplyfor serving the lifting arrangement with enough power to lift relatively heavy objects. The need forthe electrical an electrical power supply makes installation of the lifting arrangement dependent onaccess to an electrical power supply. Some known lifting arrangements are connected to a pneumaticsupply for delivering power to lift objects. As a result, the locations at which the known liftingarrangement may be installed are severely limited, i.e. the lifting arrangement may only be installed where there is an available an electrical power supply or a pneumatic supply.

SUMMARYln view of the above, the present inventors have realized that there is a need for a liftingarrangement that is easy to move from one location to another, i.e. a lifting arrangement that is more flexible in terms of mobility and simplicity of installation.

An object may thus be how to provide a more flexible and mobile lifting device which overcomes, or at least alleviates, the abovementioned disadvantage.

This object, and other objects, may be achieved by the lifting device as set forth in theappended independent claim. Particular features of the lifting device are defined by the dependent claims.

According to an aspect, there is thus provided a lifting device for lifting an object. The liftingdevice comprises a casing arranged to be displaced when the lifting device is operated to lift of theobject, a string mounted within the casing and extending out of the casing, and a maneuverermember, such as a handle. The maneuverer member is connected to the casing and arranged toprovide sensing signalling representative of a direction of the movement of the casing when thelifting device is operated.

The casing is suspendable by means of the string and the lifting device is arranged to adjust alength of the string extending out of the casing to achieve a movement of the casing.

Moreover, the casing comprises a control unit arranged to control, based on the sensingsignalling, the length of the string extending out of the casing, and an electric motor arranged to becontrolled by the control unit to cause the movement of the casing. The lifting device is arranged toadjust the length of the string extending out of the casing by that the electric motor is arranged towind-up or un-wind the string.

Furthermore, the lifting device comprises a battery arranged to power the electric motor. The battery is further arranged to accompany the casing when displaced.

Thanks to that the battery is arranged to power the electric motor, the lifting device is simpleto install, e.g. due that no external power source needed, no wiring to an electric outlet is required orthe like. Once the string ofthe lifting device is secured above a location where an object to be liftedis located, or will be located, the lifting device is ready for operation, e.g. by an operator or userdesiring to lift the object.

Another effect of that the battery is arranged to power the electric motor and to accompanythe casing when displaced is though that weight of the casing is increased. The present inventorshave thus realized that advantages like simple installation and high mobility overturns a possibledisadvantage of increased weight which may decrease lifting capacity, i.e. a maximum weight of an object that the lifting device is capable of lifting. ln some embodiments, the battery is arranged to power the control unit. ln these embodiments, the battery is used for powering both the electric motor and the control unit. Anadvantage may be that material cost ofthe lifting device may be less than if separate batteries areused. However, it may also be that the lifting device is provided with a further battery, i.e. separateand different from the aforementioned battery. The further battery is arranged to power the controlunit. ln this manner, the control unit is be able to indicate that the battery for powering of theelectric motor may need to be re-charged, even when that battery is completely empty, or at least discharged to an extent that the control unit is not operational. ln some embodiments, the casing at least partly encloses the battery. ln this embodiment,the battery is integrated into the lifting device. Hence, the battery is protected by the casing that also encloses amongst other the control unit and the electric motor. ln some embodiments, the battery is releasably mounted at the casing. This means that thebattery is removable from the lifting device. ln this manner, the battery may easily be replaced whendischarged. Hence, if the battery is discharged, it may be replaced with another fully charged battery.Hence, continued operation of the lifting device may be achieved after only a short down time for the exchange of the discharged battery. ln some embodiments, the casing has an opening. The casing is arranged to hold the batteryto obscure the opening when the battery is releasably mounted in the casing. Thanks to the opening,an easy way of accessing the string may be provided. Advantageously, the opening may be used for untangling the string in case of lifting failure due to tangled string. ln some embodiments, the maneuverer member is detachably connectable to the object.With these embodiments, an operator ofthe lifting device may intuitívely lift the object by use of thelifting device as if the operator would lift the object in real-life, with a gripping device, i.e. without lifting assistance from the lifting device. ln some embodiments, the maneuverer member is connected to an interior of the casingusing at least a lever arm rotatably connected to the interior of the casing. The lever arm is providedwith a first position sensor, wherein a second position sensor is fixedly attached to the interior of thecasing. The control unit is arranged to control the electric motor based on the sensing signallingrepresented by a difference between a first sensing signal from the first position sensor and a secondsensing signal from the second position sensor. The first and second sensing signals are caused bythat the maneuverer member is operated to displace the casing. The difference between the firstand second sensing signals may indicate a desired direction for the movement ofthe casingThe lever arm may be part ofa joint for transferring the operator's control movements that are intended to inform the lifting device about the operator's intention, i.e. lifting, lowering orkeeping steady. The lever arm and the first and second sensors may consequently transfer thecontrol movements to the sensor unit connected to the control unit by means ofthe sensingsignalling. The control movements may indicate a direction of movement that the operator desires to move the object, e.g. heighten or lower a position of the object. ln this context, it may be noted that the term ”lifting” may include heightening or lowering the position of the object. ln some embodiments, the casing comprises a wínding cylinder arranged wind the string ontothe wínding cylinder to adjust the length of the string extending out of the casing. in this manner, thewínding cylinder achieves the movement of the casing.

Furthermore, in these embodiments, the casing comprises a detection element arrangeddetect load or no load on the string by being arranged to perform a movement due to that the stringabuts the detection element during load and by being arranged to drive the movement during loadand by being arranged refrain from performing the movement due to that the string relaxes and failsto drive the movement during no load. ln these embodiments, it may further be preferred that the control unit is arranged to receivea load signal indicative of load or no load. ln response that the load signal indicates no load, thecontrol unit may be arranged to prevent the movement for lifting the object. The movement may e.g.be prevented by that the control unit terminates powering of the electric motor, or at least controlsthe electric motor to stop wínding the string. ln some examples, the detection element comprises a detection cylinder and the movementis a rotational movement. Rotation or non-rotation of the detection cylinder is then an indication ofload or no load, respectively. ln some examples, the detection element comprises a detection lever arm that is springbiased towards a first position. The detection lever arm is arranged to assume the first positionduring no load and wherein the detection lever arm is arranged to assume a second position againstbias of the detection lever arm during load. The movement is a translational movement.

Typically, the detection element is either the detection cylinder or the detection lever arm.However, the detection element may be realized by comprising a detection cylinder that is supportedby a detection lever arm. Accordingly, it is contemplated that a combination ofthe detection cylinder and the detection lever arm may be realized without undue burden. ln some embodiments, the lifting device has a lifting capacity 300 N or less. Typically, thelifting capacity is dependent on the power ofthe electric motor. ln turn, the power of the electricmotor sets requirements on the battery to drive it. A more powerful battery is able to power anelectric motor with a greater lifting capacity than a less powerful battery. However, with knownbatteries increased power also comes with increased weight. Therefore, in order to achieve desiredmobility and flexibility with known batteries, it is expected that the lifting device has a lifting capacityof 300 N or less. A lifting capacity of 300 N normally corresponds to that the lifting device is able to lift an object having a mass of 30 kg.

However, some batteries may be able to achieve a lifting capacity above 300 N.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various aspects of embodiments disclosed herein, including particular features andadvantages thereof, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings, which are briefly described in the following.

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplifying lifting device according to theembodiments herein.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 are perspective views illustrating more detailed examples ofthe liftingdevice according to the embodiments herein.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating further examples of the lifting device according to theembodiments herein.

Figure 5 another plan view illustrating still further examples ofthe lifting device according tothe embodiments herein.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the detection element according tothe embodiments herein.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 are plan views illustrating another example of the detection element according to the embodiments herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThroughout the following description, similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar features, such as modules, parts, items, elements, units or the like, when applicable.

Figure 1 depicts an exemplifying lifting device 100 for lifting an object 110. The lifting device100 comprises a casing 120 arranged to be displaced when the lifting device 100 is operated to lift ofthe object 110. The casing 120 may be a jacket, a housing or the like. The casing 120 may for example be made of plastic, metal or the like.

Furthermore, the lifting device 100 comprises a string 130 mounted within the casing 120 andextending out ofthe casing 120. The string 130 may comprise a wire, a line, a rope, a band, a chain, abelt or the like. The casing 120 is suspendable by means of the string 130. This may mean that thestring 130 is secured in the interior of the casing 120. Further, this may mean that the casing, and/ora part (or parts) included in the casing 120, and/or parts connected to (or connected to the interioror connected to parts within the casing) the casing 120 may be suspendable by means of the string 130.

The casing 120 may be suspended in an anchor point 180, such as a beam, a rail, a hook in aceiling or the like. The anchor point 180 may thus be any point that is considered appropriate whileconsidering the weight of the object 110 to be lifted by use of the lifting device 100. As an example, adistal end ofthe string 130 is attachable to the anchor point 180 towards which or away from whichthe object 110 may be lifted.

The lifting device 100 is arranged to adjust a length of the string 130 extending out of thecasing 120 to achieve a movement of the casing 120. A direction of the movement or displacementmay typically be vertically upwards or vertically downwards due to that the lifting device 100 is suspended using the string 130.

Moreover, the lifting device 100 compríses a maneuverer member 170, connected to thecasing 120 and arranged to provide sensing signalling representative of a direction ofthe movementof the casing 120 when the lifting device 100 is operated. The maneuverer member 170 may have anelongated shape. ln order to operate the lifting device 100, an operator may typically displace themaneuverer member 170 in the direction of a desired movement of the object 110. ln some examples, the maneuverer member 170 may be a handle that is biased towards amiddle position. Accordingly, the handle may be displaced in the longitudinal direction ofthe handlein order to the operator to indicate to the lifting device 100 how the operator wishes to displace theobject 110.

As shown in Figure 1, the maneuverer member 170 may be provided with a gripping unit 172,such as a hook, a pneumatic gripping unit, a hydraulic gripping unit, pincers or the like. ln some other examples, the maneuverer member 170 may be a key panel comprising a firstkey for upwards displacement ofthe object 110 and a second key for downwards displacement of the object 110.

Furthermore, the casing 120 compríses a control unit 140 arranged to control, based on thesensing signalling, the length of the string 130 extending out of the casing 120. The control unit 140 may be a microprocessor, a processor, a control logic circuit or the like.

Additionally, the casing 120 compríses an electric motor 150 arranged to be controlled by thecontrol unit 140 to cause the movement ofthe casing 120. The lifting device 100 is arranged to adjustthe length of the string 130 extending out of the casing 120 by that the electric motor 150 isarranged to wind-up or un-wind the string 130. The electric motor 150 may be a brushless directcurrent (BLDC) electric motor, preferably with a brake. Sometimes BLDC motors are referred to as electronically commutated (EC) motors. However, many other types of electric motors, such as Altering Current (AC)-motors, Direct Current (DC)-motors, step motors and servo motors, may be used as deemed suitable depending on the application.

Moreover, the lifting device 100 comprises a battery 160 arranged to power the electricmotor 150. The battery 160 is arranged to accompany the casing 120 when dísplaced.

As a consequence, the lifting device 100 is simple to install. That is to say, installation ofthelifting device 100 merely requires that the string 130 ofthe lifting device 100 is secured above a location where the object 110 to be lifted is located or will be located. ln some embodiments, the battery 160 is arranged to power the control unit 140, typically inaddition to that the battery 160 is arranged to power the electric motor150. lt is also possible thatthe control unit 140 is power by a further battery (not shown) that is separate from the batter 160.This means that there may be two batteries, one battery that is arranged to power the control unit 160 and one other battery that is arranged to power the electric motor 150. ln some embodiments, the casing 120 encloses the battery 160, i.e. the battery 160 is builtinto the casing 120. The battery 160 is thus integrated with the casing 120 and not easy to change. ln some embodiments, the battery 160 is releasably mounted at the casing 120. ln thisembodiment, the battery 160 may be enclosed by a jacket or the like. The battery 160 and the jacketare then for example capable of being snapped onto the casing 120. ln one example, the casing 120comprises a slot into which the battery 160 is slidable for easy mounting.

The casing 120 may be said to comprise the battery 160 both when the battery 160 is integrated with the casing 120 and when the battery 160 is releasably mounted at the casing 120.

With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3, there is illustrated a further embodiment relating toembodiments in which the battery 160 is releasably mounted at the casing 120.ln Figure 2 thebattery 160 is releasably mounted at the casing 120 and in Figure 3 the battery 160 is not shownsince it is demounted from the casing 120. ln this further embodiment, the casing 120 has anopening 310, shown in Figure 3. The opening 310 is arranged in the casing 120 such as to allowaccess to the interior of the casing 120. ln particular, access to the string 130 is provided by means ofthe opening 310. The casing 120 is arranged to hold the battery 160 to obscure the opening 310when the battery 160 is releasably mounted in the casing 120. Oppositely, when the battery 160 isreleased from the casing 120, the opening 310 provides access to the string 130 and any parts insidethe interior of the casing 120 that may cooperate with the string 130 or that are in the vicinity of the string 130.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 further show that the casing 120 may be provided with a through-hole122 through which the string 130 extends from the interior ofthe casing 120 towards e.g. the anchor point 180. ln some embodiments, the maneuverer member 170 is detachably connectable to the object110. Alternatively or addítionally, the object 110 may be connectable to the casing 120 in order toallow the object 110 to be displaced, or lifted, as the casing 120 moves upon operation of the lifting device 100.

Turning to Figure 4 and Figure 5, a further embodiment of the lifting device 100 is illustrated.

The Figure shows a mechanism for transferríng control movements, provided by the operator, to one or more sensor units, such as position sensors 420, 430, electrícally connected to the control unít140. ln this further embodiment, the maneuverer member 170 is connected to an interior of thecasing 120 using at least a lever arm 410 rotatably connected to the interior ofthe casing 120. Thelever arm 410 is provided with a first position sensor 420, and a second position sensor 430 is fixedlyattached to the interior ofthe casing 120. The first and second position sensors 420, 430 may be hallsensors, accelerometers, inductive sensors, potentiometers or the like. The control unit 140 isarranged to control the electric motor 150 based on the sensing signalling represented by adifference between a first sensing signal from the first position sensor 420 and a second sensingsignal from the second position sensor 430. The first and second sensing signals are caused by thatthe maneuverer member 170 is operated to displace the casing 120.

The difference between the first and second sensing signals indicates a desired direction forthe displacement of the casing 120, e.g. the direction of movement of the object 110, such asupwards or downwards.

Additionally, the lever arm 410 may be rotatably connected to a further lever arm 411. Thefurther lever arm 411 may be displaced in the longitudinal direction ofthe maneuverer member 170,such as the direction of movement, i.e. typically a vertical direction. ln this context, said at least alever arm 410 may be referred to as a first lever arm 410 and the further lever arm 411 may bereferred to as a second lever arm 411. Thanks to displacement of the second lever arm 411, the firstlever arm 410 may rotate and thus cause the difference between the first and second sensing signalsto change.

Figure 5 further illustrates that the lifting device 100 may be provided with a reduction gear510, such as a planetary reductions drive, a gear train reduction gear, a belt driven reduction gear, a chain reduction drive or the like.

Figure 6 illustrates another exemplifying lifting device 100 according to the embodimentsherein. The exemplifying lifting device 100 of Figure 6 is configured for detecting load or no loadbased on whether the string 130 is relaxed or not.

Hence, in this example, the casing 120 comprises a winding cylinder 620 arranged wind thestring 130 onto the winding cylinder to adjust the length of the string 130 extendíng out ofthe casing120. A proximal end of the string 130, or an interior end of the string 130, is typically securelyfastened at the winding cylinder 620.

Moreover, the casing 120 comprises a detection element 630 arranged detect load or no loadon the string 130 by being arranged to perform a movement due to that the string 130 abuts thedetection element 630 and by being arranged to drive the movement during load and by beingarranged refrain from performing the movement due to that the string 130 relaxes and fails to drivethe movement during no load. According to various examples, the detection element 630 may be aspring biased detection lever arm 632, a detection cylinder 631 or the like.

As shown in Figure 6, the detection element 630 may comprise a detection cylinder 631, themovement is a rotational movement.

As shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, the detection element 630 may comprise a detection leverarm 632, which may be spring biased towards a first position. The first position is illustrated in Figure7. The detection lever arm 632 is then further arranged to assume the first position during no load.As illustrated in Figure 8, the detection lever arm 632 is further arranged to assume a second positionagainst bias ofthe detection lever arm 632 during load. ln this example, the movement is atranslational movement. The biasing may be realized by means of any suitable mechanical biasingelement (not shown), such as a spring, a blade, a hydraulic suspension device or the like. ln the context of Figure 6, the movement refers to the movement of the detection element630. Notably, for example in the context of Figure 1, movement refers to the movement ofthe casing120. Therefore, it may be suitable to use the term ”first movement” to refer to the movement of thecasing 120 and to use the term ”second movement” to refer to the movement of the detectionelement 630. ln this manner, the movements ofthe casing 120 and the detection element 630 may be distinguished from one another. ln some embodiments, the lifting device 100 has a lifting capacity 300 N or less. Expresseddifferently, the lifting device 100 is only capable of lifting object having a weight represented by 30 kg or less.

As used herein, the terms ”first”, ”second”, ”third” etc. may have been used merely to distinguish features, apparatuses, elements, units, or the like from one another unless otherwise evident from the context.

As used herein, the term ”set of” may refer to one or more of something. E.g. a set of devicesmay refer to one or more devices, a set of parameters may refer to one or more parameters or thelike according to the embodiments herein.

As used hereín, the expression ”in some embodiments" has been used to indicate that thefeatures of the embodiment described may be combined with any other embodiment disclosed herein.

Claims (10)

1. A lifting device (100) for lifting an object (110), wherein the lifting device (100) comprises: a casing (120) arranged to be displaced when the lifting device (100) is operated to lift of theobject (110), a string (130) mounted within the casing (120) and extending out of the casing (120), whereinthe casing (120) is suspendable by means of the string (130), and wherein the lifting device (100)is arranged to adjust a length of the string (130) extending out of the casing (120) to achieve amovement of the casing (120), and a maneuverer member (170), connected to the casing (120) and arranged to provide sensingsignalling representative of a direction ofthe movement of the casing (120) when the liftingdevice (100) is operated, wherein the casing (120) comprises: a control unit (140) arranged to control, based on the sensing signalling, the length ofthestring (130) extending out of the casing (120), and an electric motor (150) arranged to be controlled by the control unit (140) to cause themovement of the casing (120), wherein the lifting device (100) is arranged to adjust the length ofthe string (130) extending out of the casing (120) by that the electric motor (150) is arranged towind-up or un-wind the string (130), and wherein the lifting device (100) is characterized by that the lifting device (100) comprises: a battery (160) arranged to power the electric motor (150), wherein the battery (160) is arranged to accompany the casing (120) when displaced. The lifting device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the battery (160) is arranged to power the control unit (140). The lifting device (100) according to any one of the precedíng claims, wherein the casing (120) encloses the battery (160). The lifting device (100) according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the battery (160) is releasably mounted at the casing (120). The lifting device (100) according to the precedíng claim, wherein the casing (120) has anopening (310), wherein the casing (120) is arranged to hold the battery (160) to obscure theopening (310) when the battery (160) is releasably mounted in the casing (120). 10. 11. 12 The lifting device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the maneuverer member (170) is detachably connectable to the object (110). The lifting device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the maneuverermember (170) is connected to an interior of the casing (120) using at least a lever arm (410)rotatably connected to the interior ofthe casing (120), wherein the lever arm (410) is providedwith a first position sensor (420), wherein a second position sensor (430) is fixedly attached tothe interior ofthe casing (120), wherein the control unit (140) is arranged to control the electricmotor (150) based on the sensing signalling represented by a difference between a first sensingsignal from the first position sensor (420) and a second sensing signal from the second positionsensor (430), wherein the first and second sensing signals are caused by that the maneuverer member (170) is operated to displace the casing (120). The lifting device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing (120)comprises: a winding cylinder (620) arranged wind the string (130) onto the winding cylinder (620) toadjust the length of the string (130) extending out of the casing (120), and a detection element (630) arranged detect load or no load on the string (130) by beingarranged to perform a movement due to that the string (130) abuts the detection element (630)and by being arranged to drive the movement during load and by being arranged refrain fromperforming the movement due to that the string (130) relaxes and fails to drive the movement during no load. The lifting device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the detection element (630) comprises a detection cylinder (631), wherein the movement is a rotational movement. The lifting device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the detection element (630) comprises adetection lever arm (632) that is spring biased towards a first position, wherein the detectionlever arm (632) is arranged to assume the first position during no load and wherein the detectionlever arm (632) is arranged to assume a second position against bias of the detection lever arm (632) during load, wherein the movement is a translational movement. The lifting device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting device (100) has a lifting capacity 300 N or less.