Multi-port vacuum lifting attachment with remote controlling release

Abstract

A multi-port vacuum lifting attachment, with remote controlled release, including a dual port vacuum lifting attachment for use in the concrete and steel industries, the attachment includes flexible seals for each of its suction ports, that creates a tight vacuum seal on smooth steal, and also upon roughened surfaces such as concrete, allowing for the suction attachment of the device to these panels, to attain their lifting, transporting, and releasing, with the aid of the remote controlled release mechanism.

Claims

1. A multi-port vacuum lifting attachment incorporating a base plate, a framework mounted upon said base plate, said framework being formed of hollow tubing that provides a conduit for transfer of any vacuum generated within the attachment during its usage, said framework including a series of top tubes that form an upper rectangular framework, a series of side vertical tubes one at each corner connecting with the upper framework at its corners, and said side vertical tubes securing at their lower ends with said base plate, all of said top series of tubes and said series of vertical tubes being hollow and in communication with each other to transfer vacuum generated by said attachment to be transferred throughout said framework, said attachment including an engine provided upon its base plate, a vacuum pump interconnected with the engine and which when operative generating a substantial vacuum for transfer through the series of tubes of the framework, a pair of suction ports provided to the underside of the base plate, said pair of suction ports in communication with the series of tubes forming said framework, each suction port having a sealing ring around its periphery that can seal upon any concrete slab or metal panel to which it may vacuum attach, to achieve their movement, and said multi-port vacuum lifting attachment capable of attachment to a slab at least at two locations, and capable of straddling any imperfection upon such slab or panel that would otherwise prevent the vacuum attraction and holding by the suction ports thereto during usage and operation of this lifting attachment.

2. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 1, wherein said vacuum pump communicates by a vacuum line with the frame work for the attachment, and communicates the generated vacuum through the attachment framework and to its multi-suction ports for connection with any panel or slab to be moved.

3. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 2, and including a remote control release mechanism operatively associated with the vacuum pump, and upon actuation, curtailing the further generation and release of any vacuum pressure, and allowing any retained slab or panel to be released, after its movement.

4. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 3, and including an electronic control package provided upon the attachment and which is responsive to the operations of the remote control to provide for the movement and application of said lifting attachment during its usage.

5. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 2 and including a remotely controlled release valve connecting with the framework to allow for the remote release of the vacuum at the completion of a lifting operation.

6. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 1 and including a series of connectors attaching with the framework to provide for connection with any strap or chain to provide for the lifting of the attachment during its maneuvering and usage.

7. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 1, wherein a pair of spacings are provided with a said base plate to provide clearance for the application of a forklift for transfer of the lifting attachment during its usage.

8. The multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of claim 1 wherein there are at least a pair of suction ports provided to the underside of the base plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In referring to the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the multi-lifter with pump-engine combination of this system, showing its various operative components;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view showing the pair of suction chambers provided to the bottom of the device, and for securing at two separate locations to any slab or plate to be lifted;

(4) FIG. 3 is a back isometric view of the system of this invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a bottom view;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top plan view;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front elevational view;

(8) FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view;

(9) FIG. 8 is a right side view,

(10) FIG. 9 is a left side view of the system; and

(11) FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing how the system of this invention can be applied to a slab or plate that may have a crack in it, and still lift the same uniformly, and be controlled remotely through the use of a transmitter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(12) Essentially, this invention is designed as a dual-port vacuum lifting attachment that incorporates a remote controlled release means for use in the concrete and steel industries, to facilitate the lifting of heavy slabs and panels, simply through the use of vacuum attachment of this device to the same, without too much manual participation in performance of the process. Thus, minimizing human exposure to the heavy construction aspects of lifting these types of panels minimizes the potential for human error, and resulting injury, which may occur with other prior art types of lifting devices.

(13) Essentially, this invention includes a steel framework, comprising a base plate, incorporating dual suction ports, that have flexible seals on their bottom side, and incorporates steel frame vacuum tubing, an engine, vacuum pump, ball valves, rubber tubing, vacuum gauges, air filters, oil catch mufflers, battery, and the remote controlled release, as stated, which all may be combined together to create a tight vacuum seal even on generally rough surfaces.

(14) In referring to FIGS. 1-3, it can be seen that the framework of this invention includes the top vacuum tubes 1, which have passages through their interior, so that any vacuum generated by this device can be transferred throughout the system by passing it through these various tubular members that make up the framework. The side vacuum conducting tubes 2, are vertically aligned, and communicate with the upper side tubes 1, as can be noted. In addition, there is the back vacuum tube 3 that communicates with all of the other tubes of the framework, so that when a vacuum is generated through operations of the device, it extends through all of the tubular framework, and which eventually is communicated to the dual suction ports and their flexible seals, provided on the bottom side of the device. The framework secures with a base plate 4, as can be noted.

(15) There are a pair of seal rings 5 that are formed connecting with the bottom side of the base plate 4, and these are integrated with the vertical seal walls 6, as can be seen. The seal rings attach to the bottom structural frame of said seal walls 6. The interior bottom of each of the suction ports, as noted at 9, may have a series of ports, generally as can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,070, or each may have a singular opened port, generally as can be noted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,340. This will depend upon the uniform distribution of the generated vacuum that may be necessary for lifting either a smooth plate, or a more roughened surface, as can be understood.

(16) The seal rings 5 formed integral with the suction ports 9 may be made of sufficiently flexible polymer, such as inch thick polyolefin, to form the rings that may adhere to the surface of any panel, or even their roughened surface of a concrete slab, to generate that sufficient vacuum necessary to obtain lifting of the heavy load, during usage of this device.

(17) There are other accessories that are formed upon the base plate 4, and structured within its framework, and these include an oil catch mounting plate 10, and further provided is a battery cover 11, that shields the location of the battery therein, and which is useful for starting of the motor, such as the combustion motor 23, as can be noted. Also, 12 shows the back plate for the battery cover.

(18) No. 24 provides the vacuum pump for the device, and it is operated by the electric start engine 23, through a chain drive that interconnects between the two, so that the engine can transmit its rotary power to the pump, for its generation of the necessary heavy vacuum required to obtain lifting of the various panels. No. 25 discloses a base for the engine and the pump, in their mounting upon the frame work and its base plate 4. No. 27 is the electric starter for the gasoline engine 23, and 28 is the engine muffler, for damping the sound during usage of the device. And, 13 is the fill tank, for the gasoline engine, to supply it with fuel during its operations. It might be stated that the engine itself, in the preferred embodiment, is a 5.5. horsepower Honda engine. That vacuum pump 24, is previously explained, is a 35 CFM vacuum generating pump, and is manufactured by Conde.

(19) To further elaborate, the various panels 25 that make up the base for supporting the engine, pump, and other operative components, off of the base plate 4, have other attributes that are provided from their structure. For example, it can be seen that the base frame provided under the vacuum pump 24, provides a rectangular space, and that the base frame under the electric start engine 23, has likewise a spaced relationship with the base plate 4. Hence, the spacing of these frames are at a convenient distance apart, so that a forklift can be located therein, when it is desired to move the lifting attachment to a different location. Furthermore, this provides a convenient spacing between the base plate 4, and the operating components of the engine and vacuum pump, to furnish it with some degree of separation, in order to prevent any impacting force from operating directly upon these components, that may lead to their early breakdown. In addition, it is just as likely that the engine, and the pump, could be mounted upon rubber or related grommets, to furnish a shock absorption means for their mounting upon the base plate and base frame, one again, to separate these operative components from any impacting forces during usage of this lifting attachment.

(20) Further within the structure of this device, is the oil catch and muffler 22, that mounts to one of the side vacuum tubes 2, as can be noted. In addition, 26 provides a back cover and wall support for the engine and pump, and generally conceals its chain drive, that interconnects between the engine and the pump, during operations of this device.

(21) There are series of vacuum gauge pipes, and the like, that are embodied within the structure of this device. As previously explained, the framework is formed of hollow tubes, that can conduct the vacuum throughout the structure, from the vacuum pump, and to the suction ports 9, of the lifting attachment. Generally, the vacuum tubes 14 connect between the vacuum conducting frame work, and secure with the vacuum tubing 20, that conducts the generated vacuum to the suction ports 9 of the device. No. 15 provides a port for a vacuum pressure control, or electronic controlled relief valve, which also connects with the vacuum conducting framework.

(22) Various D ring brackets 16A, held by the supports 16B, are provided connecting with the framework, and to which the strapping may be applied, so that the device can be connected to a high lift, fork lift, or other lifting device, that can lift the multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of this invention, during usage.

(23) No. 18 discloses the vacuum gauge covers for the invention. No. 19 provides the threaded vacuum pipe, that connects with the outlet 29 of the vacuum pump, that transmits the vacuum by way of a hose (not shown) to the vacuum pipe 19, and into the framework as previously described, for generating a vacuum at its suction ports, during operations and usage of this device. The vacuum extends down into and through the vacuum tubing 20, on both sides of the framework, and to each of the vacuum ports 9, as previously described.

(24) No. 21 discloses ball valves, or safety valves, that are connected within the vacuum tubing 20, for safety purposes, and also for remote shutoff of the system.

(25) As can be seen in FIG. 10, the multi-port vacuum lifting attachment of this invention, and its various frameworks, as noted, can be seen being elevated by the boom arms of a high lift, or other equipment, as noted at H, with the lifting attachment being suspended by a series of straps S, or cables or chains, to the high lift, as at its ring 16a. Thus, it is through this type of equipment that the lifting attachment of this invention can be secured, and almost any type of equipment that is capable of being attached with a strap, etc., can be used to elevate the lifting attachment of this invention. And, it can be seen that the lifting attachment of this invention is elevating a slab, perhaps of concrete, as noted at C, and it can be seen that the concrete slab has a line of fracture, as at F, provided upon its length, as at its rings 16a. Thus, the suction ports 9 of this invention can straddle such a fracture, and adhere to two distinct locations upon the slab, and can lift it, without completing the breakage, as the slab is being removed for disposal.

(26) Additionally, as can be noted in FIG. 10, the entire operation of this device can be regulated remotely, through a remote control mechanism 30, as can be seen. Hence, the remote control may contain a transmitter, which may help control the high lift in the elevation of the slab, and its lifting attachment, but also, once the slab has been relocated to its desired location, or onto the bed of a truck, the remote control 30 can also be actuated for controlling a relief valve, such as a relief valve 21, so as to immediately curtail the vacuum, and allow the suction ports to deposit the slab at its desired location. Or, the remote control 30 may send a signal to a receiver, or insulated electronic controller 31, such as either upon the vacuum pump 24, or the engine 23, or on any other of the attachment structures, to curtail their operations, and immediately eliminate the continuing vacuum of pressure within the framework, that allows for release of the slab or held panel, from the vacuum ports 9 of the attachment. This is an example as to how the structure of this device can conveniently be controlled remotely, so as to move the operators away from the heavy loads being shifted, and not be subjected to any injury or death, in the event that there is a premature release of the slab, or something happens that drops the lifting attachment, from its boom arm, of the high lift, or other piece of equipment. The electronic controls and the remote control can be used by the operator of the equipment from within the cab for full operation of the lifting attachment of this invention. Obviously, the electronic controls 31 can operate both the initiation, operations, or curtailment thereof, of the lifting attachment, and all this can be controlled remotely, through the operations of the remote control 30.

(27) While the structure of this invention has been described basically as a multi-port vacuum lifting attachment, and while it does disclose, in its preferred embodiment, a pair of suction port lifting devices, generally, during routine usage, both of the suction ports will be operative, to aid in lifting any heavy structure, such as a concrete slab, metal panel, or any of the other devices that can be lifted through the use of this invention. On the other hand, where the items to be lifted are smaller, such as a manhole cover, sewer lid, or even concrete pavers, it is just as likely that only one of the suction ports may be actuated, and rendered operative, for lifting these smaller, but heavy, type of components, during usage of this lifting attachment.

(28) Other views of the lift attachment can be seen in FIGS. 4 through 9.

(29) During operations, this multi-port vacuum device can generate a suction upon the slab or panel surfaces at a vacuum as low as 18 inches of mercury, or up to as high as 26 inches of mercury, in order to raise such heavy weight panels and allow for there removal and shifting to a different location, or onto a truck bed, as previously explained, for disposal. This can entirely be done without the need for any manual participation, other than the operator of the high lift equipment, and perhaps one other worker that simply guides the device over the panel or slab, to be moved.

(30) Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the summary of the invention as provided herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment, in view of the drawings. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection issuing hereon. The definition of the invention in the preferred embodiment, and it's depiction in the drawings, are set forth for illustrative purposes only.