Patent Publication Number: US-2003221914-A1

Title: Portable lift for rack mounting equipment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/383,125, filed May 28, 2002. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates generally to lifting devices. More specifically, the invention is a portable lift system for transporting and inserting electronic equipment in narrow spaces, such as server cabinet or rack systems.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] Numerous lift systems have been devised to selectively elevate users for construction or other manual driven occupations. Most conventional lift systems are notably used in the painting industry and/or in the power supply industry in which the repairing of power lines and the need for changing and/or repairing lights are required along streets, highways or busy intersections. The primary advantage of conventional lift systems rests in the elevating feature, special supports, and operative features which serve to facilitate the reaching of objects, mechanisms or areas in high places. A set back, however, is seen in the enormous power requirements, the complexity of the lifting system, and potential health risks which often translate into increased costs for maintenance and/or repairs and ultimately the cost of a human life from operator related malfunctions. The portable lift system as herein described has the primary advantage of delivering heavy computer equipment or the like while in transport to narrow storage or rack areas thereby minimizing the aforementioned problems related to conventional lift systems.  
       [0006] The first class of lifting systems are noted for use with trucks or elevator lifts required for painting and the like. U.S. patents issued to Winkelblech (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,324,317 and 4,427,094), Wilke et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,130), Niebuhr et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,971) and Namba et al. disclose truck and elevator related lift systems, respectively.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,439, issued to Riedl et al., discloses a lifting and depositing device for portable containers, compartments and container shelters which require the attachment of rack and pinion jacks. A similar lift system which utilizes an adjustable chassis is described in the U.S. patent issued to Hanthorn (U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,437). This lift system requires the use of platform level adjusters for leveling the lift, particularly when disposed at an incline.  
       [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,668, issued to Kafrissen et al., discloses a miniature lifting device which is used to transport equipment with nominal elevating or height requirements. U.S. patents issued to Berends et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,408) and Beattie (U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,972) describe heavy-duty transportable lifts which are arranged opposite in principle compared to the patent issued to Kafrissen such that the bases of the respective lifting supports are arranged to support and vertically lift a load relative to the base. A control unit is used to selectively disable wheels, elevating means, or the like.  
       [0009] Patents respectively issued and granted to Mishler (Des. 365,907), Bushnell (GB 1 456 911), Hans (DE 3536492) and Huntley (EP 0 555 025 A1) disclose lift related systems which are considered to be of general relevance to the portable lift system as herein described.  
       [0010] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] The portable lift system for transporting and installing electronic systems according to the invention includes a rolling support structure with lockable wheels having an upright mast, a base and a telescoping support carriage or shelf. The base has first and second telescopic support members which are integrally formed with lockable wheel castors for multi-directional rolling contact with a variety of rolling contact surfaces. The telescopic support members are stabilized by an integrally attached coupler for enabling simultaneous rolling and telescopic motion of the base in a direction normal to a base portion of the mast. The base also includes a lifting assembly which has a carriage connector or shelf, at least one motor, a motor support member and a line dispenser. The line or cable dispenser is rotatably connected to a shaft of the motor for selectively lifting and lowering various electrical components.  
       [0012] A pulley and pulley support structure is mounted to a top portion of the mast opposite the base for dynamically interconnecting the carriage support with the carriage connector via a take-up knob assembly to at least one slidable carriage support bar with roller bearings, the carriage assembly being constrained to move within a first and second beam portion of the mast, along its length. The take-up knob assembly allows a user to make fine adjustments in the carriage or shelf for lining up screw holes and/or equipment disposed within a server storage network or similar structure. Gripping supports are provided on the rear and parallel with the shelf for manual manipulation of the lift during rolling or other transport.  
       [0013] A U-shaped gripping bar is rotatably lowered from a vertical position to a substantially 90 degree angle in front of the lift to allow for pulling transport of equipment from the front. The U-shaped front gripping bar rests on a first and second support plate, respectively. Adjacent to a rear gripping support is disposed a conveniently located control module for operatively controlling the on/off lifting features of the lift system. An auxiliary locking mechanism is mounted to the lift to provide a releasable link to secure the telescoping base in a locked position at each respective end of the telescoping base.  
       [0014] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a portable lift system for rack mounting equipment.  
       [0015] It is another object of the invention to provide a portable lift system which operates to insert heavy equipment within narrow passages at user selectable heights.  
       [0016] It is a further object of the invention to provide a lifting system which minimizes the requirement for physical prowess to lift and install servers or similar systems within narrow spaces.  
       [0017] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
       [0018] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019]FIG. 1A is an environmental, perspective view of a portable lift system for rack mounting equipment according to the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 1B is a partial, perspective view of a portable lift system according to the present invention, illustrating a bottom telescoping wheel locking feature.  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable lift system, illustrating telescoping and directional lift features of the invention.  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable lift system used in combination with a rack system for servers. 
    
    
     [0023] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0024] The present invention is directed to a portable lift system for transporting and installing electronic equipment within rack systems. The preferred embodiments of the invention are depicted in FIGS.  1 A- 3 , and are generally referenced as numerals  4  and  5 , respectively.  
     [0025] As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the lift system  4  is shown comprising a rolling support structure  10  having an upright mast  12 , a base  14  and a support carriage  16  having a telescoping shelf  16   c.  The base  14  is constructed to include first and second telescopic support members  14   a  and  14   b,  respectively. As shown therein, the telescopic support members  14   a,   14   b  include integrally formed first and second lockable wheel castors  15  for multi-directional rolling contact with a rolling contact surface S. The telescopic support members  14   a,   14   b  are integrally formed as a single unit via a coupling structural support  18  which enables simultaneous rolling and telescopic motion as indicated by the respective direction arrows A t  and A m . The telescopic motion of the support members  14   a,   14   b  is made in a direction perpendicular with respect to a base portion  12   a  of the mast  12 , and include a lock mechanism  41  having a spring-loaded activation knob  41   a,  a V-shaped link attachment  41   b  with first and second free ends for pivotal attachment to respective first and second pivoting lock plates  41   c  and  41   d.  The dynamic locking feature of the mechanism  41  is more clearly shown in FIG. 1B, illustrating lockable attachment to support member  14   b.    
     [0026] The base  14  further illustrates a lifting assembly  25  comprising a carriage connector cable  20  of predetermined gauge and length, at least one motor  22 , a corresponding motor support member  24  for securely mounting each motor thereto and at least one line dispenser  27  which is rotatably and fixedly connected to the motor  22  for selectively lifting and lowering transported components C via the carriage support  16 . Motor support member is fixed to mast  12 .  
     [0027] At least one pulley  26  and pivot support  26   a  is rigidly secured to a pulley support bar  28  fixed to the mast  12  via conventional methods for dynamically interconnecting the carriage support  16  with the carriage connector cable  20  to at least one slidable carriage support bar  30  via a single ring or loop support  32  fixedly attached thereto. The slidable support bar  30  further comprises at least one roller bearing support  33  disposed on first and second ends  30   a  and  30   b  of the slidable support bar  30 , respectively. The support bar  30  is constrained to move within a first and second beam portions  34 , 36  of the mast  12  along its entire length powered by the at least one motor  22 .  
     [0028] As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2, the lift system  4  is shown to illustrate lifting and telescoping features of the carriage support  16  and base  14 , respectively. The carriage support  16  is preferably U-shaped having first and second telescoping support arms  16   a  and  16   b.  Each support arm  16   a,   16   b  fixedly supports a shelf  16   c  on an end of each respective support arm  16   a,   16   b  such that each respective end slidably recesses within the carriage support  16  as a telescoping shelf, respectively. Also shown in FIG. 2, are the inclusive use of first and second gripping supports  40  and  42  fixedly mounted to first and second portions of the mast  12  for manual manipulation by a user U during rolling or other transport. The lift system  4  further includes an electronic control module  44  for conveniently and electronically controlling the lifting assembly. The control module  44  includes at least one operative switch for turning on and off the motor  22 .  
     [0029] An auxiliary gripping support  35  is also shown as a substantially U-shaped member  35  which is rotatably fixed to the upright mast  12  via first and second supports  35   a  and  35   b,  respectively. In a downward position, the U-shaped gripping support  35  rests on respective first and second restraints  37  and  39 . In an upright position, the U-shaped gripping support  35  is clamped by respective first and second restraints  39   a  and  39   b,  as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3. Further illustrated in FIG. 3, is system  5  comprising the lift system  4  in combination with a rack server system  50 . As shown therein, the support carriage  16  is made to fit between narrow clearances  52  for inserting and installing a server or other electronic devices within the rack system  50  at selective heights and subsequently secured therein via a single server panel  52   a.  With respect to power requirements, the lift systems  4 , 5  operate with either alternating current (AC) from a local wall outlet or via direct current (DC) or an on-board battery source.  
     [0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.