BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for carrying and moving loads that are heavy and large. More particularly, the invention relates to a combination of two rails and a sliding plate that is movable along these rails by the action of a hydraulic jack.

Objects that weight several hundred tons such as transformers, machines and the like may be extremely large and bulky to transport. Since these devices must be moved with precision to place them where they must be installed, proper control over the movement of such devices is time consuming and requires complex devices with high demands in energy because the friction for moving such objects is great.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide an improved device which can be used to move large and heavy loads while installing or relocating the same.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a modular system for moving such large and heavy loads, the modular elements of the system being portable and easy to carry from one location to the next.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for moving large and heavy loads where the degree of friction between the rails and the carrying plate can be changed at will.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for moving large and heavy loads where the surface

contact of the rail and the plates that slide against each other can be made of high friction or low friction material in the form of interchangeable pads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned objects are attained with a device for carrying heavy loads, the device comprising in combination:

- modular rail sections that can be assembled to form a pair of parallel rails of a given length;

- a load-carrying plate sized to extend transversally between the rails, the plate being movable along the rails; and

- at least one hydraulic jack for incrementally pushing the heavy load positioned on top of the plate along the rails;

This device is characterized in that:

- each of the rail sections comprises an upper surface from which upwardly projects a row of supporting elements extending centrally at regular intervals along the length of the rail sections, each of the supporting elements comprising an upper layer made of a friction material;

- the load-carrying plate has an undersurface with two opposite edge portions overlying the rails, each of the edge portions comprising two parallel rows of guiding elements projecting down from the undersurface, the guiding elements being positioned at regular intervals and each comprising a bottom layer made of a friction material, the rows of guiding elements being positioned and sized to define therebetween a guiding channel in which may

releasably engage the central row of supporting elements projecting up the corresponding rails; and

- the supporting elements and guiding elements are of the same height and cooperate for guiding the load-carrying plate along the rails;

- whereby, upon engagement of the load-carrying plate on the rails, the bottom layers of the guiding elements bear on the upper surface of the rail sections on both sides of the rows of supporting elements and the upper layers of the supporting elements bear on the undersurface of the plate in the guiding channels, thereby facilitating sliding of the plate and load on the rails.

IN THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the modular rail sections of a device according to the invention when assembled to form two parallel rails;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the load- carrying plate of a device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a cross section view of one rail section of Figure 1 as cut along line 3-3;

Figure 4 is a cross section view of the plate of Figure 2 as cut along line 4-4; and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the device of the invention, when a hydraulic jack is retained between the supporting elements of the rail sections according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EXAMPLE OF A PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows a partial assembly of modular rail sections 10, having a length much larger than its width, and a width much larger than its thickness. These sections 10 can be assembled one end adjacent to another section's end to form a rail of variable length depending on the number of sections positioned one after the other. These modular sections 10 are adapted to be positioned on top of conventional rails or to be assembled on top of a series of transversal dor ants. These modular sections 10 when assembled one after the other are to be positioned in two parallel longitudinal rails 15a and 15b. These sections 10 have an upper surface 12 from which upwardly projects a row, preferably a central row, of supporting elements 14 positioned at regular intervals along the length of the rail. Each supporting element comprises a middle layer 28, and an upper layer 30.

Figure 2 shows a portion of a load carrying plate 16 that is sized to extend transversally between the rails 15a and 15b. The plate 16 has an undersurface 20 having two opposite edge portions 13a and (13b not shown) overlying the rails 15a and 15b (not shown) respectively. The plate 16 is movable along these rails and each opposite edge portion 13a (or 13b) is guided therealong by two parallel rows of guiding elements 18 that project down from the undersurface 20, each guiding element 18 being positioned at regular intervals. The guiding elements 18 are positioned and sized so as to define in between them a guiding channel 21.

Both the rail sections 10 and the load carrying plate 16 comprise handles 24 and 22 respectively for helping users

to add or remove them from this assembly.

As shown in Figure 3, the supporting elements 14 of the modular rail section 10 comprise a middle layer 28 and an upper layer 30 that projects upwardly from the upper surface 12 of the section 10. The middle layer 28 and upper layer 30 are in the form of pads, and the upper pad 30 is made of a friction material, preferably of low friction material such as very high molecular weight plastic, or of a high friction material such as steel. These pads 28 and 30 are secured with screws 32 that may be untightened to separate the pads 30 from the middle layer 28 to allow user to replace the upper layer 30 after it is worn or to change for another friction material.

Figure 4 shows the load carrying plate 16 with its rows of guiding elements 18 projecting downwardly from the undersurface 20, the space between each row defining the guiding channel 21. The two rows of supporting elements 14 releasably engage in the guiding channel 21 when the plate 16 is positioned on top of the rail 15a. The guiding elements 18 comprise a middle layer 36 of steel, and a bottom layer 38 that is made out of a friction material, preferably low friction material such as very high molecular weight plastic or high friction material such as steel. The middle layer 36 and bottom layer 38 are in the form of pads secured to the body 34 of the plate by screws 40 that may be untightened to separate the pads 36 and 38 and allow a user to replace the bottom layer 38 after it is worn or to change the friction material.

As may also be seen from Figures 3 and 4, once the carrying plate 16 is positioned on top of the rail 15a, the only surfaces that will come in contact with each other are the undersurface 20 of the carrying plate 16 with the upper

layer 30 of the supporting elements 14 of the rail 15a, and the upper surface 12 of the rail 15a with the bottom layer 38 of the guiding elements 18 of the carrying plate 16.

Of course, to attain this, the abutting elements 14 must be of the same height as the guiding elements 18. Also, it is to be understood that the abutting elements 14 may be positioned in two parallel rows, whereas the guiding elements 18 may be positioned in one central row to attain the same effect.

This system allows a user to reduce the friction during the sliding of the carrying plate 16 since no two steel surfaces touch each other. Moreover, since the upper layer 30 and bottom layer 38 are easily replaceable, it does not constitute a problem if the high molecular weight plastic wears out since these modular supporting elements 14 and guiding elements 18 may easily be replaced.

Again, this system permits the removal of low friction material and replacement by upper and bottom pads made out of steel (a higher friction material) allowing the user to control the friction of the two surfaces sliding against each other.

Finally, as shown in Figure 5, this system is made in such a fashion so that the supporting elements 14 of the rail sections may serve as retaining means for one of more hydraulic jacks 42 that incrementally pushes the heavy load. Each jack 42 comprises a plurality of feet 44 sized so that they may be positioned snugly between two abutting elements 14 and therefore secure the hydraulic jack 42 in fixed position when it is used to push the load.