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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
COLUMNLIFT WITH CONNECTIONBEAM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2007/019652
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A liftsystem (1) provide with two vertical and parallel placed columns (5), and provide with slides (3), each moved up by a respectively cylinder (10) and connected to said loading platform (2) by a respectively hinge (4), whereby said loading platform (2) can move up from a lower level (18) (groundsurface) upto at least one higher loadingfloor (9), whereby said slides (3) in moving to a down position can leave their respectively column (5) for a part of their length, characterised in which that both slides (3) are rigid attached to each other via a connectionbeam (6) and becomes a rigid frame (7), whereby said connectionbeam (6) is positioned almost equal or in a lower position as the topdeck of said loading platform (2), whereby during the up-and-down movements of said platform (2) said rigid frame (7) gives resistance on canting between said columns (5) in a way that said platform (2 stays almost parallel with the level of said loadingfloor (9).

Inventors:
NUYTS HENRI (BE)
Application Number:
PCT/BE2006/000088
Publication Date:
February 22, 2007
Filing Date:
August 11, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
CARCO BVBA (BE)
NUYTS HENRI (BE)
International Classes:
B60P1/44
Foreign References:
US5470188A1995-11-28
US2635771A1953-04-21
DE3619124A11987-12-10
EP0849114A11998-06-24
EP0699557A11996-03-06
EP0699557A11996-03-06
EP0849114A11998-06-24
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Claims:
Claims

1. A liftsystem (1) provide with two almost vertical placed columns (rails) (5), both columns (5) on a distance and parallel to each other, and each column (5) provided with a slide (3), both slides (3) independed from each other, whereby each slide (3) can be moved along or through a said respectively column (5), each moved up by a respectively cylinder (10) and moved down at least by the weight of a loading platform(2) and the eventually load on it, and each slide (3) connected to said loading platform (2) by a respectively hinge (4), whereby said loading platform (2) is in vieuw during a functional- and almost horizontal- position and can move up from a lower level (18) upto at least one higher level or loadingfloor (9), characterised in which that both slides (3) are rigid attached to each other via a connectionbeam (6) and rigid connections (12), each of said connections(12) connected near on the opposite end of said, almost horizontal and rigid, connectionbeam (6), in which attachement both slides(3) together with said connectionbeam (6) becomes a rigid frame (7), whereby said connectionbeam (6) is in a position almost equal or lower as the topdeck of said loading platform (2), whereby during the up-and-down movements of said platform (2) and whereby said cylinders (10) moving out-of-synchrome with regard to each other(10), said rigid frame (7) gives resistance on canting between said columns (5) in a way that during the up and down movements of said platform (2), this platform (2) his topdeckend (21), at least on the side (25) of said slides (3), stays almost parallel with the level of the topdeckend (20) of said loadingfloor (9).

2. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in claim 1, in which said slides (3) in moving to a down position leave their respectively column (5) for a part of their length, whereby said slides (3) extends extra upwards in their respectively columns (5), in a way that if said cylinders (10) are moving out-of -synchrome with regard to each other(lθ), said rigid frame (7) gives resistance on canting between said columns (5) in a way that during the up and down moving of said platform (2) only a minimal and practical admissible deviation is possible from said parallel position of said topdeckend (21) of the platform (2) in regard to said topdeckend (20) of the loadingfloor (9).

3. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, in which at least during a horizontal position of said platform (2) moved up on the level of said loadingfloor (9), said connectionbeam (6) is placed in a lower position as said platform (2), in a way that the topdeck of said loadingfloor (9) can reach close to the topdeck of said platform (2), in a way that said connectionbeam (6) can not come in collision with said loadingfloor (9).

4. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in claim 3, in which said connectionbeam (6) is, during the position of said platform (2) on the level of said loadingfloor (9), in a position giving enough height to give space for the tickness of said loadingfloor (2) including eventual safetyprofile (13), to avoid collision with said loadingfloor (9).

5. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in claim 3, in which said connectionbeam (6) is positioned and formed in a way mat it can pass a loadingfloor (9) by moving up the platform (2) to a second floor (14).

6. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in claim 3, in which that the border of said loadingfloor (9) is a hinging profile (construction) (16), which hinging profile (16) can hinged up to a second position to give space to said connectionbeam (6) to pass said loadingfloor (9) by moving up the platform (2) to a second floor (14),

7. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, in which that in vertical (closed) position of said platform (2), the extended loadingfloor (9) together with the vertical inside sealingpanels (25) placed between said columns (5) and at the underside connected respectively one on the left side and one on the other side of said extended loadingfloor (9), are closing the opening (24) in the liftframe (22) together with said platform (2),

8. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, in which during a horizontal position of said platform (2) moved up on the level of a said loadingfloor (9). said connectionbeam (6) forms a bridgeconstruction between said platform (2) and said loadingfloor (9), whereby the top of the loading platform (2) is almost equal with the top of said connectionbeam (6).

9. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in claim 8, in which that said platform (2) is connected via hinges only on said connectionbeam (6).

10. A liftsystem (1) as claimed in claim 8, in which that said platform (2) is connected via hinges on said slides (3) and on said connectionbeam (6).

Description:

Columnlift with connectionbeam

A liftsystem 1, such as well-known by EP 0 699 557 Bl 5 can only have a good elevationfunction when the 2 elevatingcylinders are moving synchrome in regard to each other. If the load of the platform is placed out of the center or if the one slide (3) has an other resistance in his respectively column (5) as the other slide (3) of the one cylinder (10) has an other internal resistance as the other cylinder (10), the platform will cant on one side if there is no synchronisation system provided. Systems are well-known by using an oildevider between the hydraulic pompunit and the elevatingcylinders or f.e. a cable-system who is connecting both slides on two sides so that both slides are obligated by this cables to move equal, known by EP 0 849 114 Al. All this systems are complicated, expensive, or takes a lot of space. This invention makes it more easy, less expensive and more compact by forming a rigid sliding frame as following :

A liftsystem 1 provide with two almost vertical placed columns (rails) 5, both columns 5 on a distance and parallel to each other, and each column 5 provided with a slide 3, both slides 3 independed from each other, whereby each slide 3 can be moved along or through a said respectively column 5, each moved up by a respectively cylinder 10 and moved down at least by the weight of a loading platform 2 and the eventually load on it, and each slide 3 connected to said loading platform 2 by a respectively hinge 4, whereby said loading platform 2 is in vieuw during a functional- and almost horizontal- position and can move up from a lower level 18 (groundsurface) upto at least one higher level or loadingfloor 9, whereby the platform 2 can be moved up on the opposite side of said hinges 4 to a vertical position closed and parallel on said columns 5 and said slides 3 with means of f.e. 2

tiltcylinders 19 or manual with springhelp, and whereby the liftsystem 1 can be fitted at the body 17 of a vehicle like a truck or a trailer, or a dockshelter, and whereby said slides 3 in moving to a down position can leave their respectively column 5 for a part of their length if the length of the underside of said columns 5 are not following completely the runningway of said slides 3 like f.e. a taillift or columnlift on a truck or trailer, whereby that both slides 3 are rigid attached to each other via a connectionbeam 6 (f.e.profϊle, tube) and rigid connections 12, at least each of said connections 12 connected on the opposite end of said, almost horizontal and rigid, connectionbeam 6, in which attachement both slides 3 together with said connectionbeam 6 becomes a rigid frame 7, wich frame 7 in one vieuw, f.e. by looking to the back of said truck has a U-form if said connectionbeam 6 is connected on the underside of both slides 3, or a H-form if said connectionbeam 6 is connected on a distance from the underside of said slides 3, whereby said connectionbeam 6 is is in a position almost equal or lower as the topdeck of said loading platform 2, whereby during the up-and-down movements of said platform 2 and whereby said cylinders 10 can moving out-of-synchrome with regard to each other 10, said rigid frame 7 gives resistance on canting between said columns 5 in a way that during the up and down movements of said platform 2, this platform 2 his topdeckend 21, at least on the side 26 of said slides 3, stays almost parallel with the level of the topdeckend 20 of said loadingfloor 9. See figures nr 1 upto nr 12 Also gives the invention the possibility that said slides 3 in moving to a down position leave their respectively column 5 for a part of their length, because the length of the underside of said columns 5 are not following completely the runningway of said slides 3 See figures nr 1 upto nr 12.

In a father development of the invention it is possible that said slides 3 extends extra upwards in their respectively columns 5, more then what is necessary for a liftsystem 1 with a classic synchronisationsystem, in a way that if said cylinders 10 are moving out-of -synchrome with regard to each other 10, said rigid frame 7 gives resistance on canting between said columns 5 in a way that during the up and down moving of said platform 2 only a minimal and practical admissible deviation is possible from said parallel position of said topdeckend 21) of the platform 2 in regard to said topdeckend 20 of the loadingfloor 9. Important is that above the topdeck 21 of the loading platform 2 there is no need for a connection between said two slides 3, also because how longer said slides 3 are extending extra upwards, how more resistance they give in said extra extention , This is a big advantage because of the opening 24 between the liftfranie stays free for passage to the loadingfloor, and there is no risk for siccor-effect during the movement of the lift platform 2 between said extra connectionbeam and the passing loadingfloors. The rigid frame 7 is composed by two extended slides 3 and one connectionbeam 6, placed equal or lower than the topdeck of the loading platform 2, this from one vieuw in H-form or U-form. A liftsystem 1 with a classic synchronisationsystem, f.e. a cable- or chainsystem or an hydraulic dividing system , needs only enough length of the said slides (3) for holding the effort (moment) of the load on the platform only in one direction. The effort in the other direction is hold bij the synchronisationsystem. In the case of this invention it is the rigid frame 7 in position between said 2 columns 5 who has to give resistance to last said effort. See figures nr 1,7,8,9. An important execution of the invention can be that at least during a horizontal

(open) position of said platform 2 moved up on the level of said loadingfloor 9, said connectionbeam 6 is placed in a lower position as said platform 2, in a way that the

topdeck of said loadingfloor 9 can reach close to the topdeck of said platform 2, in a way that said connectionbeam 6 can not come in collision with said loadingfloor 9. See figure nr 5,6,7,8,9-10,11,12

Practical can extend said loadingfloor 9 between said columns 5 in direction of the said platform 2 in vertical and/or horizontal position, and extend also futher between said slides 3, see figure 5.

In a futher development of preceding execution of the invention, said connectionbeam 6 can be, during the position of said platform 2 on the level of said loadingfloor 9, in a position giving enough height to give space for the tickness of said loadingfloor 2 including eventual safetyprofile 13, to avoid collision with said loadingfloor 9. See figure nr 5.

In a futher development of the invention said connectionbeam 6 can positioned and fonned in a way that it can pass a loadingfloor 9 by moving up the platform 2 to a second floor 14. See figures nr 6,10,12 An important possible execution of the invention can be that the border of said loadingfloor (9) is a hinging profile (construction) (16), which hinging profile (16) can hinged up to a second position to give space to said connectionbeam (6) to pass said loadingfloor (9) by moving up the platform (2) to a second floor (14), f.e. by an U-form around said extended loadingfloor (9) from upside vieuw. See figures nr 7,8,9.

Futher gives preceding executions of the invention the possibility that in vertical (closed) position of said platform 2, the extended loadingfloor 9 together with the vertical inside sealingpanels 25 placed between said columns 5 and at the underside connected respectively one on the left side and one on the other side of said extended loadingfloor 9, are closing the opening 24 in the liftframe 22

together with said platform 2, well-known that the opening 24 between liftframe is formed by said loadingfloor 9 and the two vertical and parallel columns 5, and that said slides 3 are moving up and down on the outside of the space between said sealingpanels 25 included said sealingpanels 25, and outside said loadingfloor 9, see on figure nr 10 vieuw upside with vertical (closed) platform, and figure nr 11 vieuw on the back of the platform 2 in horizontal (open) position and figure nr 12 sidevieuw with platform 2 in vertical (closed) position.

An important possible execution of the invention can be that during a horizontal position of said platform 2 moved up on the level of a said loadingfloor 9. said connectionbeam 6 forms a bridgeconstruction between said platform 2 and said loadingfloor 9, whereby the top of the loading platform 2 is almost equal with the top of said connectionbeam 6.

See figures nr 1,2,3,4. This variation on design of the invention gives difficulties to close said platform (2) against inside sealingpanels 25, because said connectionbeam will come in collision with said vertical inside sealingpanels 25 or an dangerous scissor-effect between the underside of said sealingpanels 25 and said connectionbeam 6 will be crated. The advantage of this design of the invention is that the said connectionbeam 6 and the platform 2 in functional (horizontal, open) position is in one and the same almost horizontal level placed. This gives the advantage f.e. that the platform can comes flat on the groundsurface in a low position. For closing the platform has to find another way. In the preceding execution of the invention it is possible that said platform 2 is connected via hinges at least on said connectionbeam (6) and eventual also together with the hinges 4 on the slides 3 in one axle placed. See figures nr 1,2,3,4.