Patent GB-876241-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to portable elevators
IPC: B65G69/24
Filed: 1957-09-13
Abstract: 876,241. Platform elevators; safety catch gear; bridges for transferring freight. LODIGE, A. Sept. 13, 1957 [Dec. 1, 1956], No. 28965/57. Classes 78 (3) and 78 (4). [Also in Group XXXI] The platform 2 of a mobile elevator is guided on a vertical column 1, which is secured to a base frame 14 provided with retractable wheels, by means of two guide roller assemblies 25, 26 arranged one above the other and rigidly secured together by means of vertical box columns 31 and a vertical plate 38, the platform being provided at one end with a loading ramp 3 and at the other end with a pivotallymounted bridge plate 4 over which loads can be transferred to a platform such as that of a lorry 8. The platform may be raised by means of a winch 85 and cable 47, Fig. 1, or by means of an hydraulic ram 1, Fig. 2, the hydraulic system being controlled by means of a valve 63 provided with a square-section rod 64 which is engaged by V-rollers mounted within a support 66 mounted on the platform and adapted to be rotated by means of handles 71, 72, a further handle 65 being provided on the rod 64. One of the ground wheels may be driven hydraulically, or alternatively, it may be driven by means of a pivoted draw-bar 23, provided with a ratchet mechanism which engages toothed rims 22 adjacent the wheel. The guide roller assemblies 25, 26 comprise three rollers, Fig. 5, the rollers 28, 281 being mounted in casings 27, 27<SP>1</SP> which are urged towards the column 1 by means of cup springs 29, 29<SP>1</SP> which are adjustable by means of bolts 30, 30<SP>1</SP>. The loading ramp 3. Figs. 1, 2, may be pivoted to the platform 2 and may be raised slightly automatically when the platform is about to be raised by means of an hydraulic ram if the platform is raised hydraulically or by means of a lever system operated by the winch if the platform is raised by means of the winch, and may be moved by hand into a vertical position in which it is locked. The bridge plate 4 may be controlled by means of springs 9, Fig. 1, or by means of a counterweight 12 and a cam 11, Fig. 2. Alternatively, the bridge plate 103, Fig. 16, may be lowered by engagement of a lever 107 with an adjustable stop 105, the lever 107 being pivoted to a link 108, provided with a safety spring 109 and with a roller 110 which engages the plate 103 to lower it against the action of a spring 104. In a modification, Fig. 17 (not shown), the lever 107 is actuated manually, in further modifications, Figs. 18, 19 (not shown), the link 108 is connected to a motor-driven crank, the motor being controlled by means of manually or automatically-operated switches. Catch gear.-When the platform is raised by means of a cable 47, a safety brake, Fig. 8, may be provided which is operable automatically upon breakage of the cable and which comprises a lever 48 pivoted at 49, one arm of which is secured to the cable 47 and the other arm of which is pivoted by means of a link 50 to a lever 51 pivoted at 52 to one of the roller assembly columns 31. Upon breakage of the cable 47, a spring 60 pivots the lever 51 upwardly thereby bringing shoes 53, pivoted to the lever 51, into gripping engagement with the column 1. In a modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the lever 51 can be actuated independently of the spring 60 by means of a speed governor. In a further modification, Fig. 10 (not shown), the column 1 is telescopic and safety brakes are provided between the platform and the upper section of. the column and between the upper and lower sections of the column.