Universal carrier with optional integral force measuring device

• US 5,639,197 A
• Filed: 09/07/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DRUM Runner Material Handling Company
• Original Assignee: DRUM Runner Material Handling Company
• Inventors: Wharton, Alan A., Cummins, Millard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/524,596
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 414/21, 414/626, 414/457-460, 414/607, 414/608, 414/908, 414/910, 414/911, 414/621, 414/622, 414/618, 414/662-664, 294/119.1, 294/67.33, 294/90, 177/130, 177/136, 177/139, 177/140, 177/152
• US Class Current: 414/21
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/42 Grips for grasping the upper rim of the barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/50 comprising weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/104 the object being of cylindrical shape, e.g. barrels, buckets, dustbins
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/16 Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/18 having electrical weight-sensitive devices

Abstract

The universal carrier of the present invention may be used to move and weigh heavy objects, such as drums or coils of metal or wire. This can be done by changing a removable member attached to the lift member of the universal carrier or by replacing both the removable and lift members with a single horizontally adjustable member. The removable members have different attachments which allow different types of objects to be moved. The universal carrier may include an optional force measuring device which allows the object to be weighed at the time it is moved.

Claims

1. A carrier for a container having a top and bottom portion and provided with a circular ring having a circumferential section extending outwardly horizontally essentially entirely around said top portion of said container comprising

a carrier body provided with means for moving said body readily on a surface,

a pair of single supports on said carrier body adapted only to engage said ring thereunder at oppositely disposed points on said outwardly extending circumferential section only of said ring other than a diameter of said ring,

means for simultaneously horizontally adjusting each of said supports in opposite directions by a single hand operated thumb wheel located between said supports,

means for causing said supports on said carrier body to be raised only vertically, and said pair of supports being the only means contacting said container for vertically lifting said container,

means limiting the horizontal movement of the lower portion of said container below said ring while said container is being raised and while said carrier moves said container from place to place.

2. A combination carrier and force measuring device for a container having a top and bottom portion and provided with a circular ring having a circumferential section extending outwardly horizontally essentially entirely around the top portion of said container comprising:

a carrier body provided with means for moving said carrier body readily on a surface, a pair of single supports on said carrier body adapted only to engage said ring thereunder at oppositely disposed points on said outwardly extending circumferential section only of said ring, said oppositely disposed points being on the same side of said diameter of said ring,

means for simultaneously horizontally adjusting each of said supports in opposite directions by a single hand operated thumb wheel located between said supports,

means for only vertically raising said supports on said carrier body, said pair of supports contacting said container being the only means for vertically lifting said container

means limiting the horizontal movement of the lower portion of said container below said ring while said container is being raised and while said carrier moves said container from place to place,

a force measuring device for measuring the force of gravity on said container being carried, depending from said means for only vertically raising said supports on said carrier body and engaging said pair of supports, whereby said force measuring device can measure said force of gravity at any vertical lift position, and

a display on said carrier for showing the amount of said force of gravity being measured.