Patent Publication Number: US-8991626-B2

Title: Portable lifting system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a portable lifting system, and more particularly to an ergonomic, portable lifting system for use in industrial manufacturing environments. 
     Current portable lifting systems typically include a base, a vertical structure extending above the base, a boom connected to the vertical structure, and a wire or rope that passes over an end of the boom and is used to lift a component. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one construction, the invention provides a portable lifting system including a moveable base component including a scissors lift assembly, and a crane assembly coupled the movable base component, the crane assembly including a support member and a boom coupled to the support member. 
     In accordance with another construction, the invention provides a portable lifting system including a moveable base component that includes a scissors lift assembly, a plurality of wheels coupled to the scissors lift assembly, and a handle. The portable lifting system also includes a crane assembly coupled the movable base component, the crane assembly including a support member coupled to the base component, a plurality of positioning members disposed along and coupled to the support member, a telescoping boom releasably coupled to one of the positioning members, a winch, and a line coupled to the winch and extending over the telescoping boom. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view of a portable lifting system according to one construction of the invention, in a fully lowered position. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of the portable lifting system of  FIG. 1 , in a fully raised position. 
         FIG. 3  is a back side view of the portable lifting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side perspective view of the portable lifting system of  FIG. 1 , in a folded position. 
         FIG. 5  is a front side perspective view of the portable lifting system of  FIG. 1 , in a first pivoted position. 
         FIG. 6  is a front side perspective view of the portable lifting system of  FIG. 1 , in a second pivoted position. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the boom of the portable lifting system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate a portable lifting system  10 . The portable lifting system  10  includes a base component  14  and a crane assembly  18  coupled to the base component  14 . 
     The base component  14  is moveable, and includes wheels  22 . The wheels  22  are caster wheels. The illustrated construction includes four wheels  22 , though other constructions can include different numbers of wheels  22 . In some constructions the base components  14  can include tracks or other structures that permit movement of the base component  14 . 
     The base component  14  also includes a scissors lift assembly  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the scissors lift assembly  26  is coupled to the wheels  22  and includes a lower frame  30 , an upper frame  34 , and a plurality of moveable scissors elements  38  coupling the lower frame  30  to the upper frame  34 . The scissors lift assembly  26  also includes a hydraulic cylinder  42  coupled to both the lower frame  30  and one of the scissors elements  38  to raise and lower the upper frame  34  relative to the lower frame  30 . The scissors lift assembly  26  also includes a first handle  46  to operate the hydraulic cylinder  42 , and a second handle  50  to push and move the overall portable lifting system  10 . The base component  14  also includes counterweight structures  54  that are coupled (e.g., welded) to the lower frame  30 . The counterweight structures  54  provide a counterweight to a component that is lifted by the crane assembly  18 . The counterweight structures  54  prevent the portable lifting system  10  from tipping. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the crane assembly  18  includes a support member  58  coupled to the upper frame  34  of the scissors lift assembly  26 . The support member  58  extends in a generally vertical direction when the portable lifting system  10  is on a level surface. The support member  58  extends generally perpendicular to a top surface of the upper frame  34 . A bottom end of the support member  58  sits in a round pocket (not shown) welded to the upper frame  34 . The support member  58  defines an axis (labeled as “A” in  FIG. 1 ), and as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , is pivotable about the axis. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the crane assembly  18  also includes a support member plate  62 , and bearings  66 . The support member plate  62  is coupled to the bearings  66 , and the bearings  66  are coupled the support member  58 . The support member plate  62  is coupled to or in contact with the upper frame  34 , so as to provide support for the support member  58 . The support member  58  is pivotable within the bearings  66 . The crane assembly  18  also includes support beams  70 . The support beams  70  are coupled to both the support member plate  62  and the upper frame  34 . The support beams  70 , the support member plate  62 , and the bearings  66  provide an overall support structure for the support member  58 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , the crane assembly  18  also includes a boom  74  and positioning members  78 . The boom  74  is a separate component releasably coupled to one of the positioning members  78 . The boom  74  includes a main arm  82 , an arm pivot plate  86  that permits a portion of the boom  74  to be folded (as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), a guide  90  (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), guide pulleys (not shown) disposed in a guard  94 , a telescoping arm  98  that is extendable and retractable from the main arm  82 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , the boom  74  also includes a lock  100  for securing a position of the telescoping arm  98  relative to the main arm  82 . The lock  100  is a spring-loaded detent pin mounted on the side of the boom  74  that engages into one of several round holes (not shown) drilled a portion of the way into the side of the telescoping arm  98 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each of the positioning members  78  is coupled to the support member  58 . The illustrated construction includes four positioning members  78 , though other constructions can include different numbers of positioning members  78 . The positioning members  78  are cuffs spaced generally equidistantly along the support member  58 , and include openings  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the boom  74  includes a mating member  106  disposed at an end of the main arm  82 . The mating member  106  is a pin configured to sit within one of the openings  102 , so as to couple the boom  74  to the positioning member  78 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , different vertical positions of the boom  74  are achieved by removably coupling the boom  74  to the different positioning members  78 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the crane assembly  18  also includes arm swing dead stops  110 . The arm swing dead stops  110  are coupled to the upper frame  34  and define a range of rotational freedom for the support member  58 . The arm swing dead stops  110  allow the support member  58  to pivot within a range of approximately 90 degrees (i.e. 45 degrees in either direction past a normal operating position shown in  FIG. 1 ). The arm swing dead stops  110  are blocks disposed along the upper frame  34 , though other constructions can include different locations and types of arm swing dead stops  110 . As the support member  58  pivots in either direction, one of the positioning members  78  eventually contacts an arm swing dead stop  110 , thereby preventing further pivoting. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the crane assembly  18  also includes a winch support plate  114  coupled to one of the positioning members  78 , and a winch  118  coupled to the winch support plate  114 . The winch  118  is coupled to a line  122  (e.g., cable, wire, or rope). The line  122  extends from the winch  118 , over a first pulley  126  coupled to the support member  58 , through the guide pulleys in the guard  94 , and over a distal pulley  130  at a distal end of the boom  74 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , with the telescoping arm  98  fully extended from the main arm  82  (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), the boom  74  has an overall boom length “BL” (measured from the distal pulley  130  to the positioning member  78 ) of approximately five feet, four inches. With the telescoping arm  98  fully retracted inside the main arm  82 , the boom  74  has an overall boom length of approximately forty inches. Other constructions permit different boom lengths for the boom  74 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a coupling member  134  (a hook in the illustrated construction) is coupled to the line  122 . The coupling member  134  rests on or in the guide  90  when the boom  74  is folded. The coupling member  134  is used to couple the line  122  to one or more components that are to be lifted or moved. The winch  118  is used to pay in or reel out the line  122 , and to provide power to lift the one or more components with the line  122 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the crane assembly  18  also includes a handheld winch control  138  that operates the winch  118 . The winch control  138  includes operator input features that allow an operator to remotely control operation of the winch  118 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , the crane assembly  18  also includes a reel  142  and a retractable power cord  146  that is wrapped about the reel  142 . The reel  142  pays out and reels in the power cord  146 . The power cord  146  is plugged into an electric power source (not shown) to provide power to the winch  118 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the portable lifting system  10  is adjustable to a variety of different heights. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bottoms of the wheels  22  define a plane  150 . In the illustrated construction, the plane  150  is a floor surface in an industrial setting. With the scissors lift assembly  26  fully retracted, and the boom  74  coupled to the lowermost positioning member  78 , the boom  74  is a distance “D1” of approximately sixteen inches directly above the plane  150  (illustrated by arrow in  FIG. 1 ). With reference to  FIG. 2 , with the scissors lift assembly  26  fully extended, and the boom  74  coupled to the uppermost positioning member  78 , the boom  74  is a distance “D2” of approximately five feet, six inches directly above the plane  150 . By changing the extension of the scissors lift assembly  26  and coupling the boom  74  to the various positioning members  78 , the distance between the boom  74  and the plane  150  is adjustable to any height within a range from sixteen inches to five feet, six inches. Other constructions can include different ranges. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the portable lifting system  10  is also foldable into a compact form. In particular, the portable lifting system  10  has an overall width “W” as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , of less than two feet (e.g., 20.25 inches in the illustrated construction). The overall height “H” of the folded portable lifting system  10 , as measured from the bottom of the wheels  22  to the top of the support member  58  in  FIG. 4  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is six feet or less (e.g., seventy-two inches in the illustrated construction). The overall length “L” of the portable lifting system  10 , as measured from an end of the scissors lift assembly  26  adjacent the handle  46  to an opposite end of the scissors lift assembly  26  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is less than four feet (e.g., 45 inches in the illustrated construction). When the boom  74  is folded as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the boom  74  is located entirely within the overall width, height, and length dimensions described above. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  6 , and as described above, the portable lifting system  10  is also adjustable about the axis of rotation defined by the support member  58 . In particular, the support member  58  is rotatable within a range of approximately 90 degrees (i.e. approximately 45 degrees in one direction as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and approximately 45 degrees in the other direction as illustrated in  FIG. 6 ). 
     The portable lifting system  10  is able to remove a component from a machine or from within another confined area. For example, to remove a component, an operator pushes the portable lifting system  10  with the handle  42 , until the portable lifting system  10  is positioned adjacent the machine or area. The wheels  22  are then locked with a brake (not shown), or blocks are positioned in front of and/or behind the wheels  22 . The boom  74  is coupled to a desired positioning member  78  on the support member  58 , and the scissors lift assembly  26  is extended or retracted, until the boom  74  is at a desired height. The boom  74  is rotated, via the support member  58 , about the axis of rotation A illustrated in  FIG. 1  until the end of the boom  74  is at a desired angle. The boom  74  is extended, with the telescoping arm  98 , until the boom  74  is at a desired length. The winch  118  is then operated to lower the coupling member  134  to a location adjacent a component to be lifted. The coupling member  134  is then coupled to the component, and the winch  118  is operated with the winch control  138  to raise the component. With the component raised, the portable lifting system  10  is moved to another location, and the component is manipulated into a desired position and removed from the coupling member  134 . 
     The portable lifting system  10  is also used to lower and install a component into a machine or another confined area. For example, the portable lifting system  10  is moved to a location adjacent the machine or area, with the component already coupled to the coupling member  134 . The boom  74  is rotated, via the support member  58 , about the axis of rotation A illustrated in  FIG. 1  until the end of the boom  74  is at a desired angle. The boom  74  is extended, with the telescoping arm  98 , until the boom  74  is at a desired length. The winch  118  is then operated to lower the component into the machine, and with the component lowered, the coupling member  134  is removed from the component. 
     The portable lifting system  10  provides an inexpensive alternative to manual lifting of heavy components, and reduces and/or eliminates the chances of worker injury. As described above, the portable lifting system  10  quickly and efficiently lifts and moves components with ease. Because of the relatively small dimensions of the portable lifting system  10 , the portable lifting system  10  advantageously reaches and lifts components in tight spaces, including spaces that are difficult to reach with human operators. The portable lifting system  10  reaches spaces that are as low as sixteen inches off the ground, and as spaces as high as up to five feet six inches above the ground. The portable lifting system  10  is able to lift both light-weight and heavy components, including components weighing up to 115 pounds. The portable lifting system  10  is durable, easy to operate, and can be used in factories, warehouses, and other industrial settings, as well as any other type of setting that might benefit from use of a small, portable lifting system  10 . 
     Additionally, the portable lifting system  10  helps to reduce the overall task time required to install and/or remove a component. In particular, it has been found that the portable lifting system  10  reduces some task times by up to approximately 25%, thereby freeing an operator or employee to perform other tasks. 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.