Load moving apparatus

• US 4,235,421 A
• Filed: 03/09/1979
• Issued: 11/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aretee J. Phillips
• Original Assignee: Aretee J. Phillips
• Inventors: Phillips, Aretee J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCarthy, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US06/018,991
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 254/175.5, 239/186, 239/187, 134/172, 189/20
• US Class Current: 254/386
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/041 with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/56 for horizontally-sliding wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/40 for gates
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/02 Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18992 Reciprocating to reciprocating

Abstract

A load moving apparatus in which a linear actuator is used to move a load through an arrangement of cables and pulleys, so that the load is moved through a distance and at a speed which is a multiple of the distance of movement of the linear actuator.

Claims

1. A load moving apparatus comprising;

a support member, a carriage member supported relative to said support member for reciprocating movement in a first predetermined path, a load device supported relative to said support member for reciprocating movement in a second predetermined path, a pair of first pulleys supported on said carriage member for movement therewith and rotation relative thereto, a pair of second pulleys mounted on said support member at opposite ends of said first predetermined path and being spaced apart a distance of least twice the distance of said second predetermined path, a pair of flexible elements each having one end fixed to one of said members and the other end fixed to said load device, said flexible members each being guided over a pulley of said first pair and a pulley of said second pair of pulleys, one flexible element of said pair of flexible elements being operative to move said load device in one direction and the other of said pair of flexible elements being operative to move said load device in the other direction upon movement of said carriage member, a fluid operated actuator having a piston, a rod extending from one side of said piston and having its end connected to said carriage member, said actuator having an overall length in its extended position which is less than the spacing of said pair of second pulleys, said actuator being supported relative to said support member and being operative to move said load device at a speed and through a distance at least twice the speed and distance of movement of said carriage member.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said one end of each of said pair of flexible elements is connected to said support member.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of flexible elements is guided over at least two pulleys.

4. The combination of claim 1 and further comprising an additional pair of pulleys supported on said carriage member for movement therewith and rotation relative thereto, said pair of flexible elements each being trained over said additional pair of pulleys.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein said predetermined paths are disposed in parallel spaced relationship to each other.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said piston has an effective area at one side which is one-half the effective area of the opposite side of said piston, and a source of fluid pressure communicated continuously to said one side of said piston and intermittently to said other side of said piston for movement of said rod and said load device at equal speeds in opposite directions.

7. The combination of claim 1 and further comprising control means at opposite ends of said second predetermined path actuated by engagement with said load, said control means at one end of said predetermined path being operative to deliver fluid pressure to said other side of said cylinder and said control means at the other end of said predetermined path being operative to exhaust fluid from said other side of said piston.

8. The combination of claim 1, and further comprising resilent tension means associated with one of said flexible elements for maintaining said pair of flexible elements taut on said pulleys.

9. The combination of claim 1 and further comprising a source of fluid pressure communicating with said actuator, and means for varying the rate of delivery of fluid pressure to said actuator.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein an additional pair of first pulleys is mounted on said carriage member and an additional pair of second pulleys is mounted on said support member, said pair of flexible elements each having said one end fixed to said support member and being guided over a pulley of each pair of pulleys for movement of said load device at a speed and through a distance at least four times the speed and distance of movement of said carriage member.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said pairs of first pulleys supported on said carriage member are disposed on a common axis for rotation independently of each other.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said axis is disposed transversely to said rod.