Patent ID: 7377739
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: B66C,B66F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for handling heavy articles, including: a mobile base frame for movement of said apparatus over a substrate surface; a support frame extending upwards from said base frame; first alignment means, to effect side-to-side alignment relative to said support frame, said first alignment means being formed of a plate member provided substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said support frame by a pair of interconnecting members, side-to-side alignment being effected by pivotal connections provided between said support frame, said plate member and said interconnecting members; second alignment means, to effect vertical alignment relative to said first alignment means, said second alignment means being formed of a pair of outwardly extending arms pivotally connected to said plate member and also linked at their remote ends to form a parallelogram configuration, and having actuation means to effect pivotal rotation of said arms relative to said plate member; a head supported by said second alignment means, the head including a universal joint or ball joint adapted to support said heavy article, the head able to be raised or lowered and be moved side-to-side while being maintained in vertical and horizontal alignment; and, wherein said universal joint comprises a pair of ball joints, a first of the ball joints being a load bearing ball joint and a second of the ball joints being a guide ball joint, such that the guide ball joint rotates about the load bearing joint to allow rotation of the head.