The present disclosure is directed to a lifting device for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The lifting device includes at least one cradle and a vacuum sealing system configured with the cradle. The cradle has a profile that corresponds to at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rotor blade so as to support at least a portion of the rotor blade. The vacuum sealing system is configured to secure the rotor blade to the cradle as the rotor blade is lifted and/or lowered from a hub mounted atop a tower of the wind turbine.

A material lifter comprising a vacuum pump, a frame containing the vacuum pump, an arm located on each of two opposing sides of the frame, each arm including—an upper end—pivotally connected to the frame, a cylinder located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame including an end connected to the frame and an end connected to a respective arm, a vacuum pad located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame—and removably connected to a respective arm, the vacuum pads being moveable along the arm to a first location and a first orientation and a second different location and a second different orientation, wherein as the cylinders extend and retract the arms pivot toward and away from one another between a first position and a second different position and the vacuum pads remain in a same orientation during the pivot.

Aspects described herein include an end effector capable of prehending items using impactive and astrictive forces. The end effector includes an interface system having a deformable mounting plate and a pliable body member attached to the mounting plate. The end effector further includes a linkage system between a plurality of actuators and the interface system. The linkage system connects to lateral portions of the mounting plate.

A gripping equipment for lifting apparatuses of the type comprising: a rigid supporting framework which is adapted to be fixed/attached to the lifting apparatus; one or more manually-operated gripping members that are firmly fixed on said rigid supporting framework and are adapted to grasp and hold a specific object to be moved; a revolving joint which is interposed between the rigid supporting framework and the lifting apparatus and which allows said rigid supporting framework to rotate with respect to the lifting apparatus about a substantially vertical, first rotation axis; and at least one adjustment assembly which is interposed between the revolving joint and the rigid supporting framework or between two rigid elements of said rigid supporting framework and allows the position/orientation of said rigid supporting framework with respect to the vertical to be manually adjusted.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of suction equipment, in particular to an integrated vacuum suction pad comprising an adsorption part and a vacuum device; the vacuum device is fixedly arranged on one side of the adsorption part, and comprises a vacuum pump, a control valve and a relay; the vacuum pump is used for pumping out air between the adsorption part and an object to be adsorbed, and the control valve is used for controlling the adsorption part to be communicated with atmosphere or the vacuum pump; and the relay is used for powering on the vacuum pump and the control valve. According to the present disclosure, the pads are integrated with the devices, such as the vacuum pump, and each pad is capable of doing adsorption and release actions independently.

The invention relates particularly to a vacuum lifting device comprising a sensor system for the direct or indirect determination or estimation of the type and/or weight of goods gripped or to be gripped by a suction means of the vacuum lifting device.

The invention relates to a vacuum adhesion system, comprising at least one suction cup having a suction surface for attaching to a surface at least one system module, comprising at least one vacuum pump connecting to the suction cup for applying a vacuum to the suction surface for providing suction adhesion at least one indicator or sensor for indicating or measuring a pressure differential in the suction cup at least one interface for communicating the measured pressure differential or a value based thereon and a processor for controlling the vacuum adhesion system.

A vacuum system (10) and method (100) used for creating a dynamically controlled vacuum system (10) for lifting processes (Wc) are disclosed. The compressed air used for an ejector (3) is varied by calculating the required vacuum levels (V.sup.−) during the lifting process (Wc). This reduces the air consumption.

Embodiments of a vacuum material handler or lifting device and system of this disclosure provide a modular design that allows a power pack to be mounted directly to the pad or remotely mounted on host equipment to minimize lift weight. The pad, which includes an integral, pad reservoir, may be arranged, to accept a rotator or a tilting mechanism for position when used on mobile equipment. The power pack is independent of the pad and can be transferred to multiple pads, thereby permitting a single power pack to service the different pads. The control mechanism may reside on the pad to further facilitate modularity. Safety checks used for remote operation may be used to minimize the risk of danger in the event of remote vacuum hose or vacuum failure.

This disclosure presents a manipulator for lifting objects and an upwards open container within which the objects are at least partly arranged. The manipulator includes a first object engaging device for engaging a first object, a second object engaging device for engaging a second object. The manipulation is configured for forcing the first and second objects apart when engaged by the first and second object engaging devices, such that the objects exert an internal force on the container. The disclosure also presents a method for lifting objects and an upwards open container.