LIFTING APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING HEAVY OBJECTS

Abstract

A lifting apparatus has two frame assemblies positioned one above the other, so as to be mutually parallel, with respect to a vertical direction, the lower frame assembly suspended on the upper frame assembly using lifting traction means, such that the lower frame assembly can be drawn up towards the upper frame assembly by winding the lifting traction means, and the lower frame assembly can be lowered relative to the upper frame assembly by unwinding the lifting traction means. Oblique traction means extend between the frame assemblies that can be wound and unwound using a tensioning device, two of which mutually intersect such that the lower frame assembly is stabilized, relative to the upper frame assembly, in at least one deflection direction transverse to the vertical direction. The tensioning device may comprise four tensioning drives. According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the tensioning device may comprise only two tensioning drives.

Claims

1. A lifting apparatus for raising and lowering in particular heavy objects, comprising: two frame assemblies that are positioned one above the other with respect to a vertical direction (z), the lower frame assembly of which is suspended on the upper frame assembly using lifting traction means, whereby winding of the lifting traction means allows the lower frame assembly to be drawn up towards the upper frame assembly by means of a raising/lowering device, and subsequent unwinding of the lifting traction means allows said lower frame assembly to be lowered relative to the upper frame assembly; and oblique traction means that extend between the two frame assemblies and can be wound and unwound using a tensioning device, two of the oblique traction means mutually intersecting such that the lower frame assembly is stabilized, relative to the upper frame assembly, in at least one deflection direction that extends transversely to the vertical direction (z), the tensioning device being able to retain each of the oblique traction means under tensile stress during winding and unwinding of the lifting traction means, wherein the tensioning device comprises two tensioning drives which are each coupled to one tensioning shaft, at least two of the oblique traction means in each case being able to be wound around one of the two tensioning shafts at least in part.

2. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame assemblies each comprise at least three lateral portions, at least two of the oblique traction means mutually intersect and extend between at least one of the lateral portions of the lower frame assembly and a lateral portion of the upper frame assembly that is located thereabove with respect to the vertical direction (z).

3. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two mutually intersecting oblique traction means extend between each of the lateral portions of the lower frame assembly and the lateral portion of the upper frame assembly that is located thereabove with respect to the vertical direction (z).

4. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the raising/lowering device comprises at least one lifting drive which is coupled to a lifting shaft, the lifting traction means being able to be wound around the lifting shaft at least in part.

5. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two tensioning drives is coupled to at least one tensioning shaft, at least two of the oblique traction means being able to be wound around the tensioning shaft at least in part.

6. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the oblique traction means is rigidly attached to the lower frame assembly in the region of a lower corner located between two of the lateral portions thereof in each case, one of the lateral portions of the lower frame assembly in each case, and the lateral portion of the upper frame assembly that is located thereabove with respect to the vertical direction (z) together spanning a lateral plane (A or C), and each of the oblique traction means extending diagonally, within a plane extending in parallel with the associated lateral plane (A or C), from the lower frame assembly towards the upper frame assembly as far as a region of an upper corner located between two of the lateral portions in each case.

7. The lifting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the oblique traction means is hinged, on the upper frame assembly, to a central portion of the relevant lateral portion, each of the oblique traction means then being connected to a tensioning shaft of the tensioning device located in the region of the associated central portion.

8. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the lifting traction means is rigidly attached to the lower frame assembly in a region of a lower corner located between two of the lateral portions thereof in each case, each of the lifting traction means extending towards the upper frame assembly in parallel with the vertical direction (z).

9. The lifting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the lifting traction means is hinged, on the upper frame assembly, to a central portion of the relevant lateral portion, each of the lifting traction means being connected to a lifting shaft of the raising/lowering device located in the region of the associated central portion.

10. The lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lifting traction means and/or the oblique traction means are formed as a belt, band or cable, or comprise at least one of said structures.

11. The lifting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lifting traction means and/or the oblique traction means are formed as a belt, band or cable, or comprise at least one of said structures.

12. The lifting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lifting traction means and/or the oblique traction means are formed as a belt, band or cable, or comprise at least one of said structures.

13. The lifting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lifting traction means and/or the oblique traction means are formed as a belt, band or cable, or comprise at least one of said structures.

14. The lifting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the raising/lowering device comprises at least one lifting drive which is coupled to a lifting shaft, the lifting traction means being able to be wound around the lifting shaft at least in part.

15. The lifting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the raising/lowering device comprises at least one lifting drive which is coupled to a lifting shaft, the lifting traction means being able to be wound around the lifting shaft at least in part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention will be explained in greater detail in the following, with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a first side view of the lifting apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a further, second side view of the lifting apparatus from FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lifting apparatus from FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a view from below, under an upper part of the lifting apparatus from FIGS. 1 to 4, in an alternative embodiment to the view in FIG. 4;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus according to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention relative to FIG. 1 in which only two tensioning devices are provided (compared to the four illustrated in FIG. 1);

[0041] FIG. 7 is a first side view of the alternative lifting apparatus from FIG. 6;

[0042] FIG. 8 is a second side view of the alternative lifting apparatus from FIGS. 6 and 7; and

[0043] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the alternative lifting apparatus from FIGS. 6 to 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus 1 according to the invention. The lifting apparatus 1 comprises two frame assemblies 2, 3 which each extend so as to be substantially in parallel with a ground plane G stretching between a longitudinal direction x and a transverse direction y. In this case, the two frame assemblies 2, 3 are arranged directly above one another with respect to a vertical direction z extending perpendicularly to the ground plane. The lower frame assembly 2 shown at the lower edge in the view in FIG. 1 is suspended, due to gravity, on the upper frame assembly 3, with respect to said lower frame assembly, by individual lifting traction means H1-H4. This arrangement makes it possible for the lower frame assembly 2 to be drawn up towards the upper frame assembly 3, in a manner in parallel with the vertical direction z, by means of winding (not shown in greater detail here) the individual lifting traction means H1-H4 using a raising/lowering device 4. The subsequent lowering of the lower frame assembly 2, taking place in the opposite direction, counter to the vertical direction z, is achieved by correspondingly unwinding the traction means H1-H4 that were previously wound at least in part.

[0045] Each frame assembly 2, 3 comprises four lateral portions 2a-2d; 3a-3d that enclose a rectangular shape, the lateral portions 2a-2d of the lower frame assembly 2 being arranged counter to the vertical direction z, below the lateral portions 3a-3d of the upper frame assembly 3. As a result, in each case two mutually associated lateral portions 2a, 3a; 2b, 3b; 2c, 3c; 2d, 3d together span therebetween a rectangular lateral plane A-D in each case. In the present case, the raising/lowering device 4 located in the region of the upper frame assembly 3 comprises a total of two lifting drives 4a, 4b that are coupled for torque transmission to a lifting shaft 40. In this case, the lifting traction means H1-H4 are connected to the lifting shaft 40 such that said means can be wound around the lifting shaft 40 at least in part. The deflections 401-404 of the lifting traction means H1-H4 required therefor can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2 and will be explained in greater detail in the following associated description of said figure. The lifting shaft 40 may be integral or, as can be seen in the present case, formed in multiple parts. The individual portions of the lifting shaft 40 can preferably be interconnected for torque transmission by means of joints.

[0046] As well as the lifting traction means H1-H4 designed for raising and lowering, i.e. for lifting, further traction means in the form of oblique traction means S1a-S1d, S2a-S2d are provided, which oblique traction means likewise extend between the two frame assemblies 2, 3, but so as to be inclined relative to the vertical direction z in each case. In this case, the individual oblique traction means S1a-S1d, S2a-S2d are oriented and arranged relative to one another such that two of the oblique traction means S1a, S2a; S1b, S2b; S1c, S2c; S1d, S2d mutually intersect in each case. It can be seen that, in this case, the two oblique traction means S1a, S2a mutually intersect in parallel with the lateral plane A, the two oblique traction means S1b, S2b mutually intersect in parallel with the lateral plane B, the two oblique traction means S1c, S2c mutually intersect in parallel with the lateral plane C, and the two oblique traction means S1d, S2d mutually intersect in parallel with the lateral plane D. This crossover results in the lower frame assembly 2 being stabilized with respect to the upper frame assembly 3, in the possible deflection direction, for example in parallel with the longitudinal direction x and/or transverse direction y, relative to said upper frame assembly.

[0047] All the oblique traction means S1a-S1d, S2a-S2d are connected to a tensioning device 5 and can be wound and unwound thereby such that, during winding and unwinding of the lifting traction means H1-H4, the tensioning device 5 can retain the oblique traction means S1a-S1d, S2a, S2d under sufficient tensile stress (in a manner not shown in greater detail) for the purpose of stabilization.

[0048] Both the lifting traction means H1-H4 and the oblique traction means S1a-S1d, S2a-S2d are all rigidly attached to the lower frame assembly 2. The fastenings required therefor are in each case arranged in the region of one of the lower corner 6a-6d located between two of the lateral portions 2a-2d of the lower frame assembly 2. From there, the lifting traction means H1-H4 each extend in parallel with the vertical direction z as far as a region of one of the upper corners 7a-7d located between two of the lateral portions 3a-3d of the upper frame assembly 3 in each case. In contrast, the oblique traction means S1a-S1d, S2a-S2d extend quasi diagonally from a region of a lower corner 6a-6d up to the opposite corner 7a-7d of the upper frame assembly 3 that is in parallel with the longitudinal direction x or the transverse direction y.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a first side view of the lifting apparatus 1 from FIG. 1, seen from the lateral plane A. As can be seen, the oblique traction means S1a fastened to the lower frame assembly 2 is guided diagonally from a region of the lower corner 6a up to a region of the upper corner 7d of the upper frame assembly 3, and is deflected from there, via a deflection 501, to a central portion 8a of the lateral portion 3a. In a virtually mirrored manner, the other oblique traction means S2a is also guided diagonally from a region of the opposite lower corner 6d up to a region of the opposite upper corner 7a of the upper frame assembly 3, and from there is likewise deflected, via a deflection 502, to the central portion 8a of the lateral portion 3a. A tensioning shaft 50a of the tensioning drive 5 is arranged in the region of the central portion 8a, to which shaft the two oblique traction means S1a, S2a are connected accordingly.

[0050] In the same way, the oblique traction means S1c, S2c (not visible here) are each deflected, in the region of the opposite lateral plane C, about a deflection 503, 504, towards a tensioning shaft 50c of the tensioning device 5 arranged in the region of the central portion 8c of the associated lateral portion 3c and are connected to said shaft.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a further side view of the lifting apparatus 1 from FIGS. 1 and 2, seen from the lateral plane D. As can be seen, in a manner analogous to the above description, the oblique traction means S1d fastened to the lower frame assembly 2 is guided diagonally from a region of the lower corner 6d up to a region of the upper corner 7c of the upper frame assembly 3, and is deflected from there, via a deflection 505, to a central portion 8d of the lateral portion 3d. In a likewise mirrored manner in this case, the other oblique traction means S2d is also guided diagonally from a region of the opposite lower corner 6c up to a region of the opposite upper corner 7d of the upper frame assembly 3, and from there is likewise deflected, via a deflection 506, to the central portion 8d of the lateral portion 3a. A further tensioning shaft 50d of the tensioning drive 5 is arranged in the region of the central portion 8d, to which shaft the two oblique traction means S1d, S2d are connected accordingly.

[0052] In the same way, the oblique traction means S1b, S2b (not visible here) are each deflected, in the region of the opposite lateral plane B, about a deflection 507, 508, towards a tensioning shaft 50b of the tensioning device 5 arranged in the region of the central portion 8b of the associated lateral portion 3b and are connected to said shaft.

[0053] FIG. 3 is a further, second side view of the lifting apparatus from FIGS. 1 and 2. In this view, tensioning shaft 50d of the tensioning device 5d is visible. Further, oblique traction means S1d, S2d are also easily seen in this view of FIG. 3. Lateral portion 3d of the upper assembly 3 and lateral portion 2d of the lower assembly 2 are also visible in this view.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lifting apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3; more precisely of the upper frame assembly 3 thereof. The deflection of the four lifting traction means H1-H4 towards the lifting shaft 40 of the raising/lowering device 4 is again illustrated in greater detail here. The lifting shaft 40 may further comprise spacers 42. The spacers 42 may be positioned between each of the four lifting traction means H1-H4 as illustrated in FIG. 4 to keep the winding and unwinding of each traction means H1-H4 separate from each other.

[0055] It can be seen that said traction means are in each case deflected towards the two central portions 8a, 8c of the associated lateral portions 3a, 3b, between which the lifting shaft 40 extends. Four mutually separated tensioning drives 5a-5d of the tensioning device 5 which are each connected for torque transmission to one of the four tensioning shafts 50a-50d can also be seen. The tensioning shafts 50a-50d may in each case be a drive shaft of the associated tensioning drive 5a-5d.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the tensioning device 5. In the view from below shown here, seen from below the upper frame assembly 3 in the vertical direction z, it can be seen that just one tensioning drive 5a is provided. In this case, the individual tensioning shafts 50a-50d are coupled together by means of a transmission unit 9 located in the center of the upper frame assembly 3. In this case, the one tensioning drive 5a is integrated between one of the tensioning shafts 50a and the transmission unit 9. In this way, the torque transmitted from the tensioning drive 5a to the tensioning shaft 50a is transmitted synchronously to the remaining tensioning shafts 50b-50d. It can be seen that the individual tensioning shafts 50a-50d are coupled to the transmission unit 9 and the tensioning drive 5a by means of interposing further shaft components.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus 1 according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention in which the tensioning device/system 5 has been modified. FIG. 6 is very similar to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, so only the differences between the two embodiments will be described below.

[0058] According to this exemplary embodiment, only two tensioning devices 5a, 5c and two sets of oblique traction means, namely oblique traction means S1a, S2a and S1c, S2c, are provided in the lifting apparatus 1. Comparing FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, FIG. 1 illustrates four tensioning devices 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d as part of the lifting apparatus 1. Meanwhile, the two tensioning devices 5b, 5d of FIG. 1 and oblique traction means, S1b, S2b and S1d, S2d of FIG. 1 have been removed and are not present or provided in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6.

[0059] For certain applications, as illustrated in FIG. 6, providing only two tensioning drives 5a, 5c (instead of four) arranged opposite to one another and transverse to the travel direction T that the lifting apparatus 1 travels in are sufficient to keep the apparatus 1 stable. Like the embodiment of FIG. 1, the lifting apparatus 1 of FIG. 6 has a lower frame assembly 2 and an upper frame assembly 3.

[0060] Referring now to FIG. 7, this figure is a first side view of the lifting apparatus 1 from FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is very similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, except that the two tensioning devices 5b, 5d of FIG. 1 and oblique traction means, S1b, S2b and S1d, S2d of FIG. 1 are not present or provided in this exemplary embodiment. What is visible is the first tensioning device 5a and its oblique traction means S1a, S2a. Also visible is tensioning shaft 50a for the tensioning device 5a. Lateral portion 2a of the lower assembly 2 and lateral portion 3a of the upper assembly 3 are also visible in this side view of the lifting apparatus 1.

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 8, this figure is a further, second side view of the lifting apparatus 1 from FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 3, except that FIG. 8 now shows oblique traction means S1d, S2d as missing or removed along with the corresponding deflections 505, 506 also removed from this view unlike FIG. 3. Meanwhile, the lifting traction means H1-H4 still remain visible in this FIG. 8, similar to FIG. 3. As noted previously, the lifting traction means H1-H4 and/or the oblique traction means S1a, S2a and S1c, S2c, may be formed as a belt, band or cable, or comprise at least one of these structures.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 9, this figure is a plan view of the lifting apparatus 1 from FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 4, except that the two tensioning devices 5b, 5d of FIG. 1 and oblique traction means, S1b, S2b and S1d, S2d of FIG. 1 are not present or provided in this exemplary embodiment, as noted previously. But similar to FIG. 4, lifting shaft 40 and how each lifting traction means H1-H4 are coupled to that shaft 40 are visible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0063] 1 lifting apparatus [0064] 2 lower frame assembly of 1 [0065] 2a lateral portion of 2 [0066] 2b lateral portion of 2 [0067] 2c lateral portion of 2 [0068] 2d lateral portion of 2 [0069] 3 upper frame assembly of 1 [0070] 3a lateral portion of 3 [0071] 3b lateral portion of 3 [0072] 3c lateral portion of 3 [0073] 3d lateral portion of 3 [0074] 4 raising/lowering device of 1 [0075] 4a lifting drive of 4 [0076] 4b lifting drive of 4 [0077] 5 tensioning device of 1 [0078] 5a tensioning drive of 5 [0079] 5b tensioning drive of 5 [0080] 5c tensioning drive of 5 [0081] 5d tensioning drive of 5 [0082] 6a lower corner between 2a and 2b [0083] 6b lower corner between 2b and 2c [0084] 6c lower corner between 2c and 2d [0085] 6d lower corner between 2d and 2a [0086] 7a upper corner between 3a and 3b [0087] 7b upper corner between 3b and 3c [0088] 7c upper corner between 3c and 3d [0089] 7d upper corner between 3d and 3a [0090] 8a central portion of 3a [0091] 8b central portion of 3b [0092] 8c central portion of 3c [0093] 8d central portion of 3d [0094] 9 transmission unit between 50a-50d [0095] 40 lifting shaft of 4 [0096] 42 spacers on lifting shaft 4 [0097] 50a tensioning shaft of 5 [0098] 50b tensioning shaft of 5 [0099] 50c tensioning shaft of 5 [0100] 50d tensioning shaft of 5 [0101] 401 deflection for H1 [0102] 402 deflection for H2 [0103] 403 deflection for H3 [0104] 404 deflection for H4 [0105] 501 deflection for S1a [0106] 502 deflection for S2a [0107] 503 deflection for S1c [0108] 504 deflection for S2c [0109] 505 deflection for S1d [0110] 506 deflection for S2d [0111] 507 deflection for S1b [0112] 508 deflection for S2b [0113] A lateral plane of 1 [0114] B lateral plane of 1 [0115] C lateral plane of 1 [0116] D lateral plane of 1 [0117] H1 lifting traction means [0118] H2 lifting traction means [0119] H3 lifting traction means [0120] H4 lifting traction means [0121] S1a oblique traction means [0122] S1b oblique traction means [0123] S1c oblique traction means [0124] S1d oblique traction means [0125] S2a oblique traction means [0126] S2b oblique traction means [0127] S2c oblique traction means [0128] S2d oblique traction means [0129] G ground plane [0130] X longitudinal direction [0131] Y transverse direction [0132] Z vertical direction [0133] T travel direction of lifting apparatus