Patent Publication Number: US-2021171326-A1

Title: Multi-Lifting Plate Jack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/945,784, filed on Dec. 9, 2019, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a device to lift or move objects. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There is a need to safely and efficiently lift or move increasingly heavy objects, such as wall panels during the construction of a building or structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a lifting device includes two lifting plates, four rams coupled to the two lifting plates, and a pump coupled to the four rams. Two of the four rams are coupled at two sides of one of the two lifting plates and are configured to move the one lifting plate along a first direction when operated by the pump. The other two of the four rams are coupled at two sides of another one of the two lifting plates and are configured to move the other lifting plate along a second direction when operated by the pump. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure, and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, view of an assembled lifting device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of each of six sides of a manifold, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a ram, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of a collar, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is bottom view of the collar of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a lifting plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an assembled lifting device in a turned-off state, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the assembled lifting device of  FIG. 6  in a turned-on state, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to some embodiments, a lifting device includes two lifting plates, which may be laid flat on the ground. An object to be lifted is placed on top of the two lifting plates. Each of the two lifting plates has two hydraulic jacks attached at opposite sides of the lifting plate so that, when the hydraulic jacks are operated, a piston of each hydraulic jack extends downward. All four hydraulic jacks are connected to a single pump to be operated substantially simultaneously. Therefore, when the pump is activated, the pistons of the hydraulic jacks extend downward, causing the two lifting plates to be pushed upward off the ground. Accordingly, the lifting device may be used to lift the object off the ground. 
     Example embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subject matter of the present disclosure, however, may be embodied in various different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, spatially relative terms, such as “upward,” “downward,” “under,” “over,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of explanation to describe the operation of the device or to describe the spatial relationship between components of the device, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited by the use of these spatially relative terms. 
     As disclosed herein, when one component is described as being “coupled” to another component, the one component may be, for example, connected, attached, or fixed to the other component, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the one component may be directly coupled to the other component, or the one component may be indirectly coupled to the other component, for example, through intervening components. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the lifting device may include an oil reservoir  1 , oil, an oil pump  3 , a manifold  5 , four hoses  7 , two lifting plates  8 , four rams  9 , and four collars  10 . When the apparatus is assembled, the oil reservoir  1  may be coupled to the oil pump  3 ; the manifold  5  may be coupled to the oil pump  3 ; one end of each of the four hoses  7  may be coupled to the manifold  5 ; the other end of each of the four hoses  7  may be coupled to a corresponding one of the four rams  9 ; each of the four collars  10  may be coupled to the four rams  9 ; and the collar  10  of each of the four rams  9  may be fitted into slots in the lifting plates  8 . When the apparatus is so assembled, the oil pump  3  may transfer oil between the oil reservoir  1  and each of the four rams  9 . For example, the oil pump  3  may transfer oil to each of the four rams concurrently or substantially simultaneously. The oil pump  3  may transfer oil substantially uniformly to the four rams. When oil is transferred into the four rams  9 , a moveable piece  9 B in each of the four rams  9  may extend or be forced downward, causing the lifting plates  8  (and an object situated on the lifting plates  8 ) to be pushed upward. The moveable piece  9 B may be a piston. 
     The oil reservoir  1  and the oil pump  3  may be coupled together by a first coupling device  2 , which allows for the transfer of oil between the oil reservoir  1  and the oil pump  3 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For example, the first coupling device  2  may be a hose, a pipe, or any other suitable coupling device. However, in some embodiments, the oil reservoir  1  and oil pump  3  may be integrated together into a single device, and the first coupling device  2  may be omitted. 
     The oil reservoir  1  may have any suitable volume for containing the oil used in the device. The volume of the oil reservoir  1  may be approximately the same as, or greater than, the volume of the oil used in the apparatus. In some embodiments, the oil reservoir  1  may be within the range of about 0.1 gallons to about 10 gallons. In some embodiments, the oil reservoir  1  may be within the range of about 1 gallon to about 3 gallons. In some embodiments, the oil reservoir  1  may be about 2 gallons. 
     The oil may be any suitable kind of oil for operating the apparatus. In some embodiments, the type of oil may be a lightweight oil. In some embodiments, the type of oil may be number  46  hydraulic oil. In some embodiments, the hydraulic fluid may be a fluid other than oil. 
     The oil pump  3  may be any pump suitable for operating the apparatus. In some embodiments, the oil pump  3  may be a hydraulic pump. The oil pump  3  may apply any suitable pressure per unit area to operate the device, such as a pressure per unit area within the range of about 12,000 PSI to about 12,500 PSI. 
     The manifold  5  and the oil pump  3  may be coupled together by a second coupling device  4 , which allows for the transfer of oil between the oil pump  3  and the manifold  5 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For example, the second coupling device  4  may be a hose, a pipe, or any other suitable coupling device. However, in some embodiments, the oil pump  3  and the manifold  5  may be integrated together into a single device, and the second coupling device  4  may be omitted. 
     The manifold may include five ports, including 1 input port  6 A to allow transfer of oil between the manifold  5  and the oil pump  3 , and four output ports  6 B to allow transfer of oil between the manifold  5  and each of the four rams  9 , via (e.g., through) the four hoses  7 . 
     The manifold  5  may be of any suitable shape. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the manifold  5  may be a rectangular block having three pairs of opposite sides ( 5 A 1 ,  5 A 2 ,  5 B 1 ,  5 B 2 ,  5 C 1 , and  5 C 2 ). In some embodiments, the input port  6 A may be alone on one side (e.g., side  5 B 1 ), two of the output ports  6 B may be on the opposite side as the side having the input port  6 A (e.g., side  5 B 2 ), and the remaining two output ports  6 B may each be alone on one of two opposite sides (e.g., one output port  6 B may be on side  5 C 1  and the other output port  6 B may be on side  5 C 2 ). However, in some embodiments, the input port  6 A may be on side  5 B 1  and the four output ports  6 B may each be alone on one of the five other sides (e.g., each of the four output ports  6 B may be alone on one of the following four sides:  5 A 1 ,  5 A 2 ,  5 C 1 , and  5 C 2 ). 
     The manifold  5  may include one or more cavity channels connecting the input port  6 A to each of the four output ports  6 B. For example, a first cavity may provide a channel between the two output ports  6 B located on sides  5 C 1  and  5 C 2 ; a second cavity may provide a channel between the input port  6 A on side  5 B 1  and the first channel; and a third and fourth cavity may each provide a channel between a corresponding one of the two output ports  6 B on side  5 B 2  and the first channel. 
     The manifold  5  may be any suitable material. In some embodiments, the manifold  5  may include one or more metals or metal alloys. In some embodiments, the manifold  5  may include steel. For example, the manifold  5  may include hot or cold plate, mild steel, number A36. 
     One end of each of the four hoses  7  may be coupled to the manifold  5  by fittings. For example, each fitting may be coupled to an output port  6 B of the manifold  5  and may be coupled to one end of one of the four hoses  7 . The fittings may be any suitable kind of fitting. In some embodiments, the fittings may be brass fittings. In some embodiments, the fittings may include a shut-off switch that allows the flow of oil through the fitting to be controlled. For example, the shut-off switch may allow the flow of oil to be started, reduced, or stopped. 
     In some embodiments, fittings may be used elsewhere in the apparatus. For example, in some embodiments, fittings may be used at one or more of the four rams  9  (e.g., to couple the other end of the hoses  7  to corresponding rams  9 ), at the input port  6 A of the manifold  5 , at one or both ends of the first coupling device  2 , and/or at one or both ends of the second coupling device  4 . 
     The four hoses  7  may be any suitable kind of hose. The hoses  7  may be whip wire hoses that prevent the hose  7  from whipping around if it becomes separated from the manifold  5  or fitting when the hose  7  is under pressure. 
     In some embodiments, all four hoses  7  may have an equal or substantially equal length. In other embodiments, one or more of the four hoses  7  may have a different length than the other hoses  7 . For example, two of the four hoses  7  may have a first length, and the other two hoses  7  may have a second length. 
     The length of the four hoses  7  may be any suitable length. In some embodiments, one or more of the hoses  7  may have a length of at least 6 feet. In other embodiments, one or more of the hoses  7  may have a length of at least 10 feet. 
     The four rams  9  may be any suitable ram jack, such as a hydraulic ram jack. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the rams  9  may include an outer case  9 A configured to hold (e.g., contain, house, etc.) a moveable piece  9 B. The outer case  9 A and the moveable piece  9 B may each have any suitable shape, and, in some embodiments, they may both have an approximately cylindrical shape. When the outer case  9 A is approximately cylindrical, it may have a first flat side  9 S 1 , a second flat side  9 S 2  opposite to the first flat side  9 S 1 , and a curved side  9 S 3 . The outer case  9 A may have an opening at the second flat side  9 S 2  to allow the moveable piece  9 B to move in and out of the outer case  9 A through the opening. 
     The rams  9  may further include an oil channel  9 C configured to allow the transfer of oil between a corresponding one of the hoses  7  and a cavity  9 D in the ram  9 . When oil is transferred into the cavity  9 D, an outward force may be applied to the moveable piece  9 B, pushing it out of the outer case  9 A. Although  FIG. 3  illustrates the oil channel  9 C at the curved side  9 S 3 , embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the oil channel  9 C may be at the first flat side  9 S 1 . The rams  9  may further include a resistive device that applies an inward force to the moveable piece  9 B that pulls it into the outer case  9 A. In some embodiments, the resistive device may be one or more springs  9 E inside the cavity  9 D that are configured to oppose the movement of the moveable piece  9 B out of the outer case  9 A. 
     The collars  10  may have any suitable shape to allow them to be coupled to the rams  9  and to be inserted into the slots  8 A of the lifting plates  8 . With reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , in some embodiments, the collars  10  may be generally cylindrical. In such embodiments, the collar  10  may have a first flat side  10 S 1 , a second flat side  10 S 2 , a curved outer side  10 S 3  having a length  10 L between the two flat sides, and an inner side. 
     In some embodiments, a first outer radius  10 R 1  of the first flat side  10 S 1  may be different (e.g., smaller) than a second outer radius  10 R 2  of the second flat side  10 S 2 . In such embodiments, the curved outer side  10 S 3  may have at least two different radii. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A , in some such embodiments, the curved outer side  10 S 3  may have a radius equal to the second outer radius  10 R 2  for a thickness  10 T that extends from the second flat side  10 S 2  toward the first flat side  10 S 1 , and a radius equal to the first outer radius  10 R 1  extending along the remainder of the length  10 L of the collar  10 . However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the radius of the curved outer side  10 S 3  may be equal to the second outer radius  10 R 2  at the second flat side  10 S 2 , may be equal to the first outer radius  10 R 1  at the first flat side  10 S 1 , and may gradually change (e.g., linearly or nonlinearly) along the length  10 L of the curved outer side  10 S 3 . 
     The inner side of the collar  10  may have a cylindrical shape. In such embodiments, the inner side may have an inner radius  10   r . The inner side may have threading running along the length  10 L of the inner side. In such embodiments, the threading may allow the collar to be coupled to the rams  9 , and the inner radius  10   r  may be substantially equal to half of the diameter  9   d  of the rams  9 . However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and other means may be used to couple the collars  10  to the rams  9 . 
     In some embodiments, the collars  10  may be coupled to the rams  9  so that the second flat side of the collar  10 S 2  is farther away from the first flat side of the ram  9 S 1  than is the first flat side of the collar  10 S 1 . For example, the second flat side of the collar  10 S 2  may be aligned or substantially aligned with the second flat side of the ram  9 S 2 , and the collar  10  may extend or run along part of the length of the ram  9  so that the first flat side of the collar  10 S 1  is closer to the first flat side of the ram  9 S 1  than is the second flat side of the collar  10 S 2 . 
     The collar illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  may have any suitable dimensions. For example, the length  10 L may be approximately 2 and 9/16 inches; the thickness  10 T may be approximately 10/16 inches; the second outer radius  10 R 2  may be either approximately 2 and 9/16 inches or approximately 1 and 4.5/16 inches; the first outer radius  10 R 1  may be either approximately 2 inches or approximately 1 inch; and the inner radius  10   r  may be either approximately 1 and 10/16 inches or approximately 13/16 inches. 
     The collar  10  may be any suitable material. In some embodiments the collar  10  may include one or more metals or metal alloys. In some embodiments, the collar  10  may include steel. For example, the collar may include hot or cold rolled, mild steel, number  1018 . 
     In some embodiments, the collars  10  may be omitted and the rams  9  may be fitted into the slots of the lifting plate  8  without the collars  10 . In some embodiments, the rams  9  and corresponding collars  10  may form a single body. For example, in some embodiments, the rams  9  may include materials that may be included in the collars  10  and/or at least a portion of the ram  9  may have a shape similar to that of the collars  10 , as described above. 
     The lifting plate  8  may have any suitable shape. With reference to  FIG. 5 , the lifting plate  8  may be approximately rectangular. In such embodiments, the lifting plate  8  may have any suitable dimensions. For example, the lifting plate  8  may have a length  8 L of about 26 inches, a width  8 W of about 12 inches, and a thickness of either about 1 inch or about 1 and 10/16 inches. 
     The lifting plate  8  may have slots  8 A penetrating through the thickness of the plate. The slots  8 A may have any suitable shape to allow the collar  10  to be fitted into the slot  8 A. For example, when the collar  10  is generally cylindrical, the slots  8 A may be generally circular in shape and have a radius  8 R that is equal or substantially equal to an outer radius of the collar (e.g., the first outer radius  10 R 1 ). Although the slots  8 A of the lifting plates  8  in  FIGS. 1 and 5  are illustrated as indents in the sides of the lifting plates  8 , embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the slots  8 A may be provided as holes in the lifting plates  8  through which the collars  10  may be inserted. In some embodiments, the lifting plate  8  may not have a polygonal shape. For example, the lifting plate  8  may have a circular shape with slots  10  at two sides (e.g., opposite sides, for example, left and right sides) of the lifting plate  8 . 
     When the collar  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is fitted into the slots  8 A, the lifting plate  8  may rest on top of the thicker portion of the curved outer side  10 S 3  of the two collars  10  such that the second flat side  10 S 2  is under the lifting plate  8  (e.g., the second flat side  10 S 2  may face, or rest on, the ground). In such an embodiment, when oil is pumped into the cavity  9 D of the rams  9 , the moveable piece  9 B may be forced downward, causing the lifting plate  8  to move upward. 
     The lifting plate  8  may be any suitable material. In some embodiments, the lifting plate  8  may include one or more metals or metal alloys. In some embodiments, the lifting plate  8  may include steel. For example, the lifting plate  8  may include hot or cold plate, mild steel, number A36. 
     Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the lifting device in assembled form, the lifting device may be disassembled for storage, transportation, or for other reasons. For example, the rams  9  and collars  10  may be removed from slots  8 A of the lifting plates  8 ; the collars  10  may be decoupled from the rams  9 , the four hoses  7  may be decoupled from the rams  9  and from the manifold  5 ; and the manifold  5  may be decoupled from the oil pump  3 . 
     The lifting device may be used, for example, during construction of a building or structure to lift a wall panel off the ground. A description of the assembly and operation of the lifting device for such a use will now be provided with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the lifting device in a fully assembled state and during operation of the lifting device to lift a wall panel.  FIG. 6  illustrates operation of the lifting device when the pump is turned off, and  FIG. 7  illustrates operation of the lifting device when the pump is turned on. In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the oil reservoir  1  and the oil pump  3  are integrated into a single body, and the first coupling device  2  is omitted. With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each of the two lifting plates  8  may be slid half-way under the wall panel  11  so that a bottom surface of the wall panel  11  extends across the center of each of the two lifting plates  8  and extends between the two slots  8 A of each of the two lifting plates  8 . The collars  10  may be coupled to their respective rams  9 , and the rams  9  and collars  10  may be fitted into their respective slots  8 A so that each of the two lifting plates  8  rest on top of a portion of the collars  10  that is thicker than a portion of the collars  10  at which the collars  10  are fitted into the slots  8 A (see  FIG. 4A ). The rams  9  may be configured so that the movable piece  9 B of the rams  9  will extend downward when activated by the oil pump  3 . The manifold  5  may be coupled to the oil pump  3 , and one end of each of the four hoses  7  may be coupled to the manifold  5 , and the other end of each of the four hoses  7  may be coupled to a corresponding ram  9 . If the oil pump  3  is on one side of the wall panel  11 , then the other end of two of the hoses  7  may be passed under the wall panel  11  before being coupled to their corresponding rams  9 . When the lifting device is fully assembled, the oil pump  3  may be activated, causing the movable piece  9 B of the rams  9  to extend downward, thereby causing the rams  9  and collars  10  to be pushed upward. Because the lifting plates  8  rest on top of the thicker portion of the collars  10 , the lifting plates  8  (and the wall panel  11 ) will be pushed upward, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, the lifting device may be utilized to lift the wall panel  11 . 
     According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a lifting device including four rams coupled to two lifting plates may be operated by a single pump to lift a heavier object than could be lifted by two rams and a single lifting plate. Because the four rams are operated by a single pump, the two lifting plates can be operated with increased safety compared to when each of the two lifting plates and their corresponding two rams are operated by separate pumps. Moreover, because the operability of a ram (e.g., the extent to which the moveable piece of the ram extends in response to a given pressure applied from the pump) may decline over time with use of the ram, when the pump operates all four rams substantially simultaneously, all four rams will tend to maintain substantially the same level of operability, and thus the lifting device may be used with increased safety and efficiency compared to when each of the two lifting plates and their corresponding two rams are operated by separate pumps. 
     While the subject matter of the present disclosure has been described in connection with the disclosed embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter of the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.