Patent ID: 6912916

Claim:
A test stand for allowing testing of both a pull-type lifting apparatus and a push-type lifting apparatus, the push-type lifting apparatus defining a pair of opposed force transmitting ends, said test stand comprising: a. a base defining first and second substantially opposed base surfaces; b. a carriage component including: i. a load transmitting section; ii. a sensor receiving section; iii. said load transmitting section and said sensor receiving section being spaced apart by spacing members, said spacing members being slidably mounted to said base for allowing a sliding movement of said carriage component relatively to said base between a retracted configuration wherein said load transmitting section is positioned substantially adjacent to said first base surface and an extended configuration wherein said sensor receiving section is positioned substantially adjacent to said second base surface; and iv. a load sensor located between said second base surface and said sensor receiving section for providing a measurement of a force biasing said carriage component in said extended configuration; c. said load transmitting section defining a transmitting section inner surface located substantially opposite said first base surface and an opposed transmitting section outer surface, said transmitting section outer surface being provided with an attachment allowing to pull said load transmitting section so as to allow the pull-type lifting apparatus to bias said carriage component towards extended configuration; d. said carriage component being configured and sized for allowing said push-type lifting apparatus to be inserted between said base and said load transmitting section with the opposed force transmitting ends abutting respectively against said first base surface and said transmitting section inner surface so as to bias said carriage component towards said extended configuration.