Patent ID: 6749392
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: B66C

Abstract:
A method of lifting of a tank with a quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace having end clamps, each end clamp having a central rotation section with a forward depending mouth and a dependent rear-end and the tank having sidewalls and a top cover extending beyond the sidewalls to produce an overhang, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning the quick connect/disconnect tank lifting brace over said top cover of the tank; (b) during the step of (a), applying a spring biasing force to the end clamps to maintain the mouth in an open position; (c) applying a pivoting force to effectuate pivoting, in unison, of the end clamps so that the overhang of the top cover is received in the mouth wherein the end clamps are linked together via a threaded rod having two ends which are oppositely threaded; and the step (c) includes the step of: (c1) rotating the threaded rod about one end of the two ends to effectuate said pivoting; (d) lifting the rear-ends of the end clamps with lifting cables affixed thereto to effectuate a lifting force to an underside of the overhang and providing a counterbalancing moment force to counterbalance the weight of the tank; and (e) after the step (d), applying the spring biasing force to the end clamps while pivoting the end clamps in a direction opposite the pivoting of the step (c).