WO2008131238A2

WO2008131238A2 - Lift mechanism and related systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2008131238A2
Application number: PCT/US2008/060847
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Houser
Original assignee: Airtrax, Inc.
Priority date: 2007-04-18
Filing date: 2008-04-18
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Also published as: WO2008131238A3

Abstract

The present invention describes lift mechanisms and related systems for lifting object, such as a tables, vertically to a specified height, and then tilting/pitching the object about its lateral axis by some angle, thereby combining the functionality of both a scissor lift mechanism and a conventional tilt table. The inventive lift mechanisms and related systems are suited for use in a number of industrial and other applications, including munitions handling.

Description

LIFT MECHANISM AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/912,687, filed on April 18, 2007, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to lift mechanisms and related systems for lifting an object, such as a table, vertically to a specified height, and then pitching the object about its lateral axis by some angle, thereby combining the functionality of both a scissor lift mechanism and a conventional tilt table. The inventive lift mechanisms and systems are suited for use in a number of industrial and other applications, including munitions handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is directed to lift mechanisms and lift mechanism systems employing two or more such lift mechanisms for lifting an object, such as a table, vertically to a specified height, and then pitching/tilting the object about its lateral axis by some angle, thereby combining the functionality of both a scissor lift mechanism and a conventional tilt table. The inventive lift mechanism is suited for use in a number of industrial and other applications, including munitions handling.

[0004] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a lift mechanism, including: a lift arm having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an upper axle generally located at a first end of the lift arm and a lower axle generally located at a second end of the lift arm; a drive arm shorter in length than the lift arm and having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an axle generally located at a first end of the drive arm and a cross member generally located at a second end of the drive arm; and a lift member attached to the cross member of the drive arm for raising each of the drive arm and the lift arm vertically from a starting position, wherein the lift arm is connected to the drive arm such that, as each of the lift arm and the drive arm is raised vertically from a starting position, the upper end of the lift arm remains oriented generally directly above the lower end of the drive arm, and wherein the lift mechanism permits an objected lifted thereby to be tilted about its lateral axis. In some embodiments, the lift member for raising the lift arm and the drive arm may be a hydraulic cylinder or an electric cylinder, and the lift mechanism may further include mounting and/or sliding blocks.

[0005] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a lift mechanism system, including: at least a first lift mechanism and a second lift mechanism, wherein each of the first and the second lift mechanisms comprises: a lift arm having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an upper axle generally located at a first end of the lift arm and a lower axle generally located at a second end of the lift arm; a drive arm shorter in length than the lift arm and having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an axle generally located at a first end of the drive arm and a cross member generally located at a second end of the drive arm; and a lift member attached to the cross member of the drive arm for raising each of the drive arm and the lift arm vertically from a starting position, wherein the lift arm is connected to the drive arm such that, as each of the lift arm and the drive arm is raised vertically from a starting position, the upper end of the lift arm remains oriented generally directly above the lower end of the drive arm, wherein the at least first and second lift mechanisms are used together to independently lift and tilt an object, or are used together to simultaneous lift and tilt an object. In some embodiments, the object may be tilted about its lateral axis.

[0006] Certain examples of the invention are now below described with respect to certain non-limiting embodiments thereof as illustrated in the following drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIGS. 1-8 show various top perspectives of the inventive lift mechanism at different vertical lift heights.

[0008] FIG. 9 shows a side view of the inventive lift mechanism when fully extended. [0009] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the inventive lift mechanism when closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is directed to lift mechanisms and related systems for lifting an object, such as a table, vertically to a specified height, and then pitching the object about its lateral axis by some angle, thereby combining the functionality of both a scissor lift mechanism and a conventional tilt table. The inventive lift mechanisms and systems are suited for use in a number of industrial and other applications, including munitions handling.

[0011] FIGS. 1-8 show embodiments of the present invention from various perspectives. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a lift mechanism 100 is a scissor mechanism comprised of a lift arm 102 and drive arm 104. In this embodiment, lift arm 102 is a weldment that includes first and second long arms 106a, 106b, connected one to the other at upper end 108 by upper axle 110 and at lower end 112 by lower axle 114. Upper and lower axles 110, 112 may be rods that protrude outward through apertures in first and second long arms 106a, 106b such that sliding/mounting mechanisms 116 may be attached to each respective end thereof. Lower axle 114 includes thereon lower mounting points 118 to which the lower portion of lift members 120 (which may be, for example, hydraulic or electric cylinders, and which may be controlled in any suitable manner and by conventional means).

[0012] Drive arm 104 includes first and second short arms 122a, 122b connected one to the other at upper end 124 by a cross member 126 and at lower end 128 by lower axle 130. Cross member 126 provides additional strength and connectivity to the drive arm, and also provides a mounting position at upper mounting points 132 to which the upper portion of the lift members 120 attach. Drive arm axle 130 may be a rod that protrudes outward through apertures in short arms 122a, 122b such that sliding/mounting mechanisms 116 may be attached thereto.

[0013] Lift arm 102 is connected to drive arm 104 through the use of pins 134. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the point of connection on lift arm 102 is half the-in line distance between upper axle 110 and lower axle 114 (similar to a conventional scissor mechanism), and the point of connection on drive arm 104 is approximately at this same distance from its corresponding lower axle 130. This connection orientation allows upper axle 110 of lift arm 102 to remain positioned generally directly above lower axle 130 of drive arm 104 at some lift height, similar to a convention scissor lift mechanism.

[0014] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each sliding/mounting mechanism 116 is chosen based on the intended application of lift mechanism 100 and may be, for example, Nylatron block. For example, slide blocks may be used at the lower end 112 of lift arm 102 and mounting blocks used at the upper end 108 of lift arm 102, such that the lift mechanism 100 is able to slide along a channel while in motion during a lifting operation, while the mounting blocks are used to secure a table to the lift mechanism 100.

[0015] In use, one lift mechanism 100 may be employed, or two or more lift mechanisms 100 may be employed. For example, when it is desired to tilt a table in addition to lifting such table to a desired vertical height, two lift mechanisms may be used, wherein the first lift mechanism employs slide blocks at both ends of its lift arm, while the second lift mechanism employs a slide block on its lower end for sliding along a channel and a mounting block on its upper end to secure the table, thereby permitting the table oriented generally horizontal to first be raised vertically to a specified height, and then to be pitched about its lateral axis by a desired angle (i.e., the longitudinal axis of the table is tilted to some angle relative to the normal horizontal position of the table).

[0016] When using two or more lift mechanisms of the present invention together in a system, the height of each may be adjusted to allow an object such as a table to be lifted and/or tilted independently, or both lifted and tilted simultaneously. Such lift parameters may, for example, be controlled with feedback from the addition of a potentiometer to each lift mechanism. By knowing the orientation of each lift mechanism (e.g., longitudinal distance apart) the angle and tilt of each can be derived and controlled from their respective vertical positions. These lift and tilt parameters can also be limited for collision avoidance protection (for example, to avoid collisions between the lift mechanism and its mounting base; between the tilting structure and the lift mechanism's base; between the cargo on the tilting structure and the lift mechanism's base; and between the cargo on the tilting structure and the ground) .

[0017] Each of the lift arm and the drive arm may independently be made of any suitable structural material. For example, the lift arms may be made from flat plate, and the drive arms may be made from structural tubing. Further, the orientation of the cylinder mounting points 118, 132 relative to the axle or center pivot connection highly influences the forces necessary to lift the scissor mechanism, and should be selected accordingly. Also important is geometry and placement of the connection between the lift arm and drive arm, in order for the lift mechanism to fully lower and clear any object (e.g., table) connected to the top of the lift mechanism.

[0018] The invention has been described herein above with reference to various and specific embodiments and techniques. It will be understood, however, that reasonable modifications of such embodiments and techniques can be made without substantially departing from either the spirit or scope of the invention defined by the following claims. All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A lift mechanism, comprising: a lift arm having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an upper axle generally located at a first end of said lift arm and a lower axle generally located at a second end of said lift arm; a drive arm shorter in length than said lift arm and having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an axle generally located at a first end of said drive arm and a cross member generally located at a second end of said drive arm; and a lift member attached to said cross member of said drive arm for raising each of said drive arm and said lift arm vertically from a starting position, wherein said lift arm is connected to said drive arm such that, as each of said lift arm and said drive arm is raised vertically from a starting position, said upper end of said lift arm remains oriented generally directly above said lower end of said drive arm, and wherein said lift mechanism permits an objected lifted thereby to be tilted about its lateral axis.

2. A lift mechanism of Claim 1, wherein said lift member for raising said lift arm and said drive arm is a hydraulic cylinder or an electric cylinder.

3. A lift mechanism of Claim 1, further comprising mounting and/or sliding blocks.

4. A lift mechanism system, comprising: at least a first lift mechanism and a second lift mechanism, wherein each of said first and said second lift mechanisms comprises: a lift arm having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an upper axle generally located at a first end of said lift arm and a lower axle generally located at a second end of said lift arm; a drive arm shorter in length than said lift arm and having first and second elongated arms spaced apart from and connected to each other by an axle generally located at a first end of said drive arm and a cross member generally located at a second end of said drive arm; and a lift member attached to said cross member of said drive arm for raising each of said drive arm and said lift arm vertically from a starting position, wherein said lift arm is connected to said drive arm such that, as each of said lift arm and said drive arm is raised vertically from a starting position, said upper end of said lift arm remains oriented generally directly above said lower end of said drive arm, wherein said at least first and second lift mechanisms are used together to independently lift and tilt an object, or are used together to simultaneous lift and tilt an object.

5. A lift mechanism system of claim 4, wherein said object is tilted about its lateral axis.