Patent Publication Number: US-2010117386-A1

Title: Crane lift kit assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed to a lift kit for attachment to a piece of portable equipment (e.g., a generator) that provides a means by which the portable equipment may be lifted by a crane. When not in use, the lift kit may be rotated to a horizontal position, thereby reducing the overhead clearance necessary for storage of the equipment and reducing the likelihood that the lift kit assembly will be an obstruction to the use of the equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Portable power generation units, or generators, are commonly used in construction sites as an efficient means of providing electrical power for the building projects. Often, it is necessary or desirable to relocate the generator to different areas within the construction site, for example, for proximity to a work zone or for organization of the work site. Further, because these generators may be targets for theft or vandalism, construction workers may hoist the generator above the ground for temporary storage when a worksite is unmanned (such as during overnight periods). For these reasons, the top of the generator may be provided with an eyelet for attachment to a crane hook. 
     At least one drawback with the typical crane hook eyelet is that the eyelet tends to be large and bulky to accommodate large crane hooks. Furthermore, the conventional eyelet, which is rigidly attached to the generator frame, projects well above a top surface of the power generation unit to ease attachment to the crane hook. However, due to projection of the eyelet, the power generation unit usually has a relatively tall profile that may prevent storage of the power generation unit in smaller or low profile storage areas. Additionally, the conventional eyelet is simply in the way most of the time since it is only used occasionally. 
     What is needed in the industry is a foldable, low-profile attachment system that, when extended, provides sufficient strength and durability for repeated attachments and hoisting by cranes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is directed in general to a lightweight, compact and foldable lift kit assembly, which is attached to generators, trailers, and other portable equipment for hoisting and repositioning by cranes and the like. 
     According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the lift kit assembly generally includes a lift kit ring connected to one or more piston assemblies, each having a spring constant. The spring constant urges the lift kit ring into a locked, upright position for connection to a crane hook. However, the piston assemblies readily yield to stowage forces to fold or retract the lift kit ring generally flush with a surface of a generator. Thus, the lift ring may be movable between an upright lift position and a flush storage position. 
     More specifically, when a lift kit ring, or eye, of the lift kit assembly is not in use, the pistons are retracted within the respective assemblies, and the ring is folded down parallel to the top surface of the generator (in a storage position). The rotational movement of the lifting ring and the attached pistons is restricted to prevent the ring from making contact with the generator&#39;s top surface, such as its gas tank. From this storage position, the ring and pistons may be rotated 90 degrees to an upright position, with the pistons remaining compressed within their cylinders. In the upright lift position, the lifting ring is perpendicular to the generator&#39;s top surface. Further rotational movement is restricted beyond this upright position so the total rotational movement when the pistons are retracted is 90 degrees, from a parallel to a perpendicular position in relation to the top of the generator (and vice versa). 
     Once the lifting ring is rotated to the upright position, by lifting on the eye, the pistons may be extended outward, which moves the eye further from the generator. At its peak, further rotational movement of the ring and the pistons is prevented, and the assembly remains in its fully extended and locked position. In this position, the ring may be attached to a lifting mechanism of the user&#39;s choice (e.g., a hook attached to a crane), and the generator may be raised. The ring remains extended away from the generator in its upright locked position due to the lifting tension on the apparatus, when the generator is suspended in the air. 
     When returned to the ground and the upward tensional force of the crane hook is removed, the ring and pistons remain in the fully extended locked position. To return the lift kit assembly to its storage position, a small downward force may be applied to the ring, which retracts the pistons. As soon as the pistons return to their retracted position, the assembly is unlocked, meaning that the ring may be rotated 90 degrees to its storage position. 
     As will be described in greater detail below along with other features and aspects of the disclosure, the various components and elements of the lift kit assembly and its equivalents are simple to manufacture, install and use. Other advantages of the various embodiments and their equivalents according to the disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the attached drawings, or can be learned through practice of the embodiments and their equivalents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present disclosure, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a lift kit assembly in an extended (or “lift”) position, according to an aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lift kit assembly in a flush (or “storage”) position, according to an aspect of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the lift kit assembly as in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of portions of the lift kit assembly as in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples of the present disclosure are shown. The detailed description uses numerical designations to refer to features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the disclosure where possible. 
     The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of the examples in the disclosure, and of the manner and process of making and using these examples, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well as the best mode of carrying out the disclosure. The examples set forth in the drawings and detailed description are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the disclosure. The present disclosure thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS. 1-4  generally show an embodiment of a lift kit assembly, broadly designated by the element number  10 , for use with a generator  52  or other portable power generation and construction equipment. As used herein, any reference to “the generator” or “generator  52 ” or the like is intended to broadly encompass any piece of portable equipment that may be advantageously moved with a crane, unless specifically stated otherwise. The lift kit assembly  10  may be used to reposition the generator  52  from one area to another, for example, at a worksite. Additionally, the lift kit assembly  10  may be used to stow the generator  52  temporarily above ground to organize a work area or during non-working hours to protect the generator  52  from theft or damage. 
     As used herein, the term “lift position” refers to the orientation of the lift kit assembly  10  that enables the engagement of a crane hook  99  for lifting the portable equipment (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the lift position, the lift ring  12  is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the top surface ( 58 ) of the portable equipment  52 , and the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  are fully extended. 
     The term “storage position” refers to the orientation of the lift kit assembly  10 , in which the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  are retracted and the lift ring  12  is parallel, or substantially parallel, to the top surface ( 58 ) of the portable equipment  52  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), making the portable equipment  52  ready for storage. 
     It is to be understood that the lift ring  12  may or may not be exactly perpendicular or parallel to the top surface ( 58 ) of the portable equipment  52 , or to all portions of the top surface ( 58 ), depending upon the contours of the top surface ( 58 ). For this reason, the terms “substantially perpendicular” and “substantially parallel” are used to indicate the position of the lift ring  12 , relative to a majority of the top surface ( 58 ). 
       FIG. 1  shows the lift kit assembly  10  in an extended or “lift” position. As illustrated, the exemplary lift kit assembly  10  generally includes a lift ring  12  and one or more piston assemblies  14 ,  16 , which are attached, at one end, to the lift ring  12  and, at the opposite end, to respective connection or holding portions  54 ,  56  of the generator  52 . The crane hook  99  may be hooked through an aperture or opening  18  of the lift ring  12  to move or stow the generator  52  as introduced above. 
     The lift kit ring  12  may have a generally flat profile, or planar surface, through which planar surface the opening  18  may be provided. The ring  12  may have the shape of a pentagon (with or without rounded edges) or some other shape, as may accommodate the centrally located opening  18  and the attachment of the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  on opposite ends thereof. For connection of the piston assemblies  14 ,  16 , the opposite ends of the ring  12  are provided with pin-receiving bores ( 24 ,  26 , shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), which are aligned along a transverse axis of the lift ring  12 . Also located along this imaginary transverse axis are double notches ( 20 ,  22 , also shown in  FIG. 3 ) that facilitate the articulated movement of the oppositely disposed piston assemblies  14 ,  16 . The opening  18  may be positioned along a centrally located longitudinal axis of the lift ring  12  and may be positioned slightly higher than the aforementioned transverse axis along which the pin bores ( 24 ,  26 ) are located, such that the transverse axis is tangential to the bottom of the opening  18 . Although the opening  18  is shown as being circular in shape, other shapes (e.g., other polygonal shapes) may instead be used. 
     The piston assemblies  14 ,  16  include a spring ( 44 ,  46 , as shown in  FIG. 3 ) therein, and the spring constant of these springs  44 ,  46  biases the lift ring  12  into an upright position. In this upright or “lift” position, when the crane hook  99  engages the lift ring  12 , the upward movement of the crane hook  99  causes the pistons  14 ,  16  to be extended outwardly, ensuring that the lift ring  12  is optimally located in a perpendicular orientation relative to the upper surface ( 58 ) of the generator  52 . The rotation of the lift ring  12  is limited to 90 degrees and “locks” at this angle, due to the lifting tension on the assembly  10 . Thus, the lift ring  12  remains in a position perpendicular to the top surface ( 58 ) of the generator, even when the generator  52  is being hoisted or suspended. 
     Even when the generator  52  is returned to the ground and the upward tensional force is removed, the lift ring  12  and the pistons  14 ,  16  remain in their upright and locked position. By applying a downward force to the ring  12 , the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  are retracted, and the lift kit assembly  10  may be rotated to a storage position, as described above and as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As shown, the ring  12  may be rotated to a position substantially flush with, or parallel to, a top surface  58 , such as a gas tank  60 , of the generator  52 . Accordingly, the lift kit assembly  10  is folded out of the way when not needed, and stowage of the generator  52  is also made easier by lowering a profile of the generator  52 . Additionally, because the lift kit assembly  10  is readily collapsible to a flat and unobtrusive state, the necessity of removing the assembly  10  from the generator  52  to reduce its overhead profile is negated. 
     The lift kit assembly  10  is most clearly shown in  FIG. 3 . As introduced, the lift kit assembly  10  broadly includes the lift ring  12  to which are connected, on opposite ends, the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  (in this example). As shown, the ring  12  includes the aperture or opening  18 , introduced above, for receiving the crane hook ( 99 ). More particularly, the ring  12  may also include double notches or grooves  20 ,  22  (more clearly seen in  FIG. 4 ) for articulating interaction with respective connecting rod clevels, or cylinders,  28 ,  30 . The clevels  28 ,  30  are inserted in respective connecting cannulations, or cylinder barrels,  32 ,  34 . 
     Root cannulations, or tubes,  36 ,  38  are positioned over the connecting rod clevels  28 ,  30  before the clevels  28 ,  30  are housed within the connecting cannulations  32 ,  34 . Respective root cannulations, or tubes,  36 ,  38  and respective roots, or plates,  40 ,  42  compress respective spring elements  44 ,  46  therebetween, when the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  are to be retracted. As shown, the connecting rod clevels  28 ,  30  are connected to the lift ring  12  by respective pins  48 ,  50  inserted through the pin bores  24 ,  26  in the lift ring  12 , and the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  are in turn connected by bolts or other attachment devices (via bores through one end of the connecting cannulations  32 ,  34 , at the end opposite their connection point to the lift ring  12 ) to the holding portions  54 ,  56  of the generator  52 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 3 , the piston assemblies  14 ,  16  are pivotable within the double notches  20 ,  22  for articulating interaction to either lock the ring  12  in flush or upright positions as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2  above. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , a portion of the lift kit assembly  10  is shown most clearly in an exploded view. In particular, only elements of the piston assembly  16  are shown for clarity. The piston assembly  14  is similarly constructed. 
     In this illustration, the lift ring  12  is connected to the piston assembly  16  by inserting the pin  50  through a pin bore in one end of the connecting rod clevel  30  and the pin bore  26  of the lift ring  12 , after the connecting rod clevel  30  is positioned through the root cannulation  38 . As further shown in  FIG. 4 , the connecting rod clevel  30  (and the surrounding root cannulation  38 ) are then inserted into one end of the connecting cannulation  34  to compress the spring element  46  housed within the opposite end of the connecting cannulation  34 . The spring  46  occupies a space between the end of the connecting rod clevel  30  and the root  42  housed at an end of the connecting cannulation  34 , opposite the attachment of the pin  50 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the connecting cannulation  34  is connected to the holding portion  56  of the generator  52  by bolts inserted through the holes in the end of the connecting cannulation  34  and a corresponding bracket of the holding portion  56  of the generator  52 . 
     Although reference has been made herein to a spring piston assembly, it is contemplated that similar results may be achieved through use of other types of piston assemblies. 
     The foregoing is a description of various embodiments of the disclosure that are provided here by way of example only. Although the lift kit assembly has been described with referenced presently preferred embodiments and examples thereof, other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and are intended to be covered by the appended claims and their equivalents. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and are not for purposes of limitation.