This invention relates to load handling apparatus. This invention also relates to carriages for use in load handling apparatus. Embodiments of this invention relate to lifting apparatus

Mechanical apparatus is available for moving loads that are too heavy to be handled by individuals. Mechanisms are provided in the apparatus to lift the loads. An example of such a mechanism includes a mast assembly, which can be quite heavy and bulky.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a load handling apparatus comprising: an elongate mast assembly; a conveying arrangement on the mast assembly to convey an article, the conveying arrangement being movable along the mast assembly; a carriage on the mast assembly to carry the conveying arrangement, wherein the conveying arrangement is detachably mounted on the carriage; and a movement arrangement fastened to the carriage, the movement arrangement being for moving the carriage and the conveying arrangement along the mast assembly.

The load handling apparatus may comprise lifting apparatus.

The conveying arrangement and the carriage may comprise mounting formations to mount the conveying arrangement on the carriage. The mounting formations may comprise first and second receiving formations.

The carriage may comprise the first receiving formation. The conveying arrangement may comprise the second receiving formation.

The carriage may include a fastening element on the first receiving formation. The fastening element may be provided to fasten the carriage to the movement arrangement. The first receiving formation may comprise two opposed holding members for holding the, or the respective, second receiving formation. The holding members of the first receiving formation may comprise an outer holding member and an inner holding member.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a carriage for use with a load handling apparatus, the carriage comprising: a first receiving formation for holding a second receiving formation, the second receiving formation being on a component of the lifting apparatus; wherein the first receiving formation comprises two opposed holding members; and the carriage further includes a fastening element on the first receiving formation to fasten the carriage to a movement arrangement of the lifting apparatus.

The carriage may be for use with a lifting apparatus.

The mast assembly may define an elongate main channel in which the conveying arrangement is received. The conveying arrangement may be movable along the main channel. The carriage may be received in the main channel. The carriage may be movable along the main channel.

The mast assembly may comprise an elongate mast component. The mast component may define the elongate main channel. The mast assembly may comprise a base arrangement. The mast component may extend upwardly from the base. The base may be a wheeled base. The mast component may be upright.

The mast component may comprise a flange member extending over the main channel. The flange member may define a subsidiary channel portion in the main channel. The subsidiary channel portion may extend the length of the main channel.

The mast component may comprise opposed flange members extending over the main channel. Each flange member may define opposite subsidiary channel portions in the respective main channel. Each subsidiary channel portion may extend the length of the main channel. The first receiving formation may receive the second receiving formation. The mounting formations may comprise two of the first receiving formations and two of the second receiving formations. The carriage may comprise the two first receiving formations.

The conveying arrangement may comprise the two second receiving formations. Each first receiving formation may receive a respective one of the second receiving formations.

Each first receiving formation may comprise two opposed holding members for holding the, or the respective, second receiving formation. The holding members of each first receiving formation may comprise an outer holding member and an inner holding member.

The carriage may comprise two bearings. Each bearing may be received in a respective subsidiary channel portion. The receiving of the bearings in the subsidiary channel portions may attach the carriage to the mast component.

Each bearing may be provided on a respective one of the holding members. Each bearing may be provided on a respective one of the outer holding members.

The bearings may allow the carriage to move up and down the mast component along the main channel.

The, or each, first receiving formation may include guide elements on each holding member to guide the, or the respective, second receiving formation between the holding members. The guide elements of the, or each, first receiving formation may provide a guide formation, which may be substantially V-shaped.

The, or each, first receiving formation may include a support member extending between the holding members. The, or each, second receiving formation may define a recess to receive the support member when the, or each, second receiving formation is received by the, or the respective, first receiving formation. The, or each, support member may comprise a main support portion and a stub portion. The stub portion may project from the outer holding member. Each bearing may be provided on a respective one of the stub portions.

The fastening element may extend between the two first receiving formations.

The conveying arrangement comprise a load engaging means to convey a load, or may comprise securing means for securing a load engaging means to the conveying arrangement. The load engaging article may comprise a fork lifter, or other suitable article for engaging and lifting the load.

The conveying arrangement may comprise a main member. The main member may be received in the main channel to attach the conveying arrangement to the mast assembly. The main member may be elongate.

The main member may comprise opposite side elements. A bearing may be provided on at least one of the side elements. A bearing may be provided on each of the side elements. The bearings may project outwardly from the side elements.

The bearings may be received in the subsidiary channel portions. The receipt of the bearings in the subsidiary channel portions may attach the conveying arrangement to the mast component. The bearings may allow the conveying arrangement to move up and down the mast component along the main channel.

The movement arrangement may comprise a driving device. The movement arrangement may comprise a flexible elongate member. The driving device may be, for example, a hydraulic ram or a linear screw actuator.

The flexible elongate member may be fastened to the carriage. The flexible elongate member may be fastened to the carriage at one end region of the flexible elongate member. The flexible elongate member may be fastened to the fastening element, the fastening element thereby fastening the flexible elongate member to the carriage.

In one version of the lifting apparatus, the flexible elongate member may be fixedly fastened to the mast assembly. The flexible elongate member may be fixedly fastened to the mast assembly at the opposite end region of the flexible elongate member. The flexible elongate member may be fastened to the mast component.

The load handling apparatus may comprise a further fastening element to fasten the flexible elongate member to the mast assembly. The further fastening element may be provided on the mast component.

A pulley may be provided on the driving device. Operation of the driving device may move the pulley along the mast assembly. The flexible elongate member may extend between the mast assembly and the driving device around the pulley. Thus, the flexible elongate member passes over the pulley as the driving device drives the carriage.

In another version, the flexible elongate member may be fixedly fastened to the driving device, for example by a further fastening element. The flexible elongate member may be fixedly fastened to the driving device at the opposite end region of the flexible elongate member. In this version, the flexible elongate member may be fixedly fastened to the carriage. Thus, the carriage is directly driven by the driving device via the flexible elongate member.

The fastening element may comprise a buckle through which the flexible elongate member can be threaded to fasten the flexible elongate member to the buckle. The further fastening element may comprise a further buckle through which the flexible elongate member can be threaded to fasten the flexible elongate member to the further buckle.

The mast assembly may include a stop formation in the main channel to restrict removal of the carriage from the main channel. The stop formation may extend into the subsidiary channel portion. The stop formation may comprise a bolt extending through a side wall of the subsidiary channel portion.

A respective stop formation may extend into each subsidiary channel portion. Each stop formation may comprise a bolt extending through a side wall of the respective subsidiary channel portion. A nut may be attached to the, or each, bolt to secure the, or each, stop formation to the main channel. The, or each, stop formation may engage the, or a respective bearing of the carriage to restrict the removal of the carriage from the main channel.

The bearing of the conveying arrangement may be smaller than the bearing of the carriage, thereby allowing the bearing of the conveying arrangement to move over the stop formation. Each bearing of the conveying arrangement may be smaller than each bearing of the carriage, thereby allowing the bearings of the conveying arrangement to move over the stop formation.

The conveying arrangement may include a protector to protect a user from injury. The protector may attached to the conveying arrangement to protect a user’s fingers from injury.

The protector may be attached to the conveying arrangement beneath the bearing of the conveying arrangement. Where the conveying arrangement comprises two bearings, a respective protector may be arranged beneath each bearing of the conveying arrangement. The, or each, protector may comprise a projection beneath the, or a respective, bearing of the conveying arrangement.

At least one embodiment will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the lifting apparatus;

Figure 3 shows a conveying arrangement and a carriage, being parts of the lifting apparatus;

Figure 4 is a close up of the region marked IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows the conveying arrangement mounted on the carriage; Figure 6 is another perspective view of the lifting apparatus, in which an elongate mast component is omitted;

Figure 7 is close up of the region marked VII in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a further perspective view of the lifting apparatus in which the mast component and the conveying arrangement are omitted;

Figure 9 is a close up view of the region marked IX in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a close up view of the region marked X in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a view of the region shown in Figure 10, but from an opposite direction;

Figure 12 is a close up view of the region marked XII in Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a view of the region shown in Figure 12, but from an opposite direction;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a fastening element;

Figure 15 is a plan view of the fastening element;

Figure 16 is a view along the lines XVI - XVI in Figure 15 in which a flexible elongate member is threaded therethrough;

Figure 17 is a view of the top of a driving device having a flexible elongate member fixedly attached thereto;

Figure 18 is another view of the top of a driving device having the flexible elongate member fixedly attached thereto;

Figure 19 is a close up view of a region of a modified conveying arrangement, showing a protector; Figure 20 is a sectional side view of a region of a modified mast component, showing a stop formation;

Figure 21 is an external perspective view of the region shown in Figure 20, showing the stop formation;

Figure 22 is a sectional view of the region shown in Figure 20, showing the carriage engaging the stop formation; and

Figure 23 is a sectional view of the region shown in Figure 20, showing a bearing of the conveying arrangement passing over the stop formation.

Figure 1 shows load handling apparatus in the form of a lifting apparatus 10. The lifting apparatus 10 comprises an elongate mast assembly 12 and a conveying arrangement 14 on the mast assembly 12. The conveying arrangement 14 may comprise a load engaging means 16 to convey a load. Alternatively, the conveying arrangement 14 may comprise securing means for securing a load engaging means 16 to the lifting apparatus 10. The load engaging means 16 may be, for example, a fork lifter or a drum handler.

The lifting apparatus 10 further includes a carriage 18 to carry the conveying arrangement 14. A movement arrangement 20 is fastened to the carriage 18. The movement arrangement 20 can move the carriage 18 and the conveying arrangement 14 along the mast assembly 12.

The mast assembly 12 may be as described in GB 2568820 A. The mast assembly 12 comprises a wheeled base arrangement 22 and an elongate mast component 24 defining a main channel 26. The mast component 24 extends upwardly from the base arrangement 22.

The elongate main channel 26 defined by the mast component 24 extends along the length of the mast component 24. The conveying arrangement 14 comprises an elongate main member 28. The main member 28 is received in the main channel 26 to allow the conveying arrangement 14 to move along the main channel 26. The mast component 24 comprises opposed flange members 30 extending over the main channel 26, the flange members 30 defining opposite subsidiary channel portions 32 in the main channel 26. Each subsidiary channel portion 32 has a side wall 33 opposite the respective flange member 30. Each subsidiary channel portion 32 extends the length of the main channel 26.

The main member 28 of the conveying arrangement 14 has opposite side elements 34. Bearings 36 are provided on each of the opposite side elements 34. The bearings 36 are received in the subsidiary channel portions 32, thereby attaching the conveying arrangement 14 to the mast component 24. The bearings 36 of the conveying arrangement 14 allow the conveying arrangement 14 to move up and down the mast component 24 along the main channel 26.

The carriage 18 is received in the main channel 26 defined by the mast component 24, and is movable along the mast component 24.

The conveying arrangement 14 and the carriage 18 comprise mounting formations 37 to mount the conveying arrangement 14 on the carriage 18. The mounting formations 37 are in the form of two first receiving formations 38 and two second receiving formations 40.

Referring to Figures 4, 12 and 13, the carriage 18 comprises the two first receiving formations 38. The conveying arrangement 14 comprises the two second receiving formations 40. The carriage 18 comprises a connecting member 42 connecting the two first receiving formations 38 to one another.

Referring particularly to Figures 12 and 13, each of the first receiving formations 38 comprises an inner holding member 44A and an outer holding member 44B. The opposed inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B define a gap 45 therebetween into which the respective second receiving formation 40 is received.

Each first receiving formation 38 further includes a respective upwardly extending guide element 46 on each of the inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B. The guide elements 46 provide a V-shaped guide formation to guide the respective second receiving formation 40 into the gap 45 between the inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B.

Each first receiving formation 38 also includes a support member 48 extending across the gap 45 between the inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B. The support member 48 supports the second receiving formation 40 received in the gap 45.

Each second receiving formation 40 comprises a lower region 50 of the respective side element 34 (see Figure 4). The lower region 50 of each side element 34 defines a recess 52. The aforesaid lower regions 50 are received in the gaps 45 between the inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B. When so received, the recesses 52 defined by the lower regions 50 of the side elements 34 receive the support members 48.

Thus, each first receiving formation 38 receives a respective one of the second receiving formations 40, and each second receiving formation 40 receives the support member 48 of a respective one of the first receiving formations 38.

Each support member 48 extends through the inner and outer holding members 44 A, 44B. Each support member comprises a main portion 48A, and opposite inner and outer stub portions 49A, 49B extending through the inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B respectively. The outer stub portion 49B of each of the support members 48 projects beyond the respective outer holding members 44B.

The carriage 18 further includes two opposite bearings 54. Each bearing 54 of the carriage 18 is provided on the outer stub portion 49B projecting from the respective outer holding member 44B. The support members 48 secure the inner and outer holding members 44A, 44B of each first receiving formation 38 and the respective bearing 54 of the carriage 18 together.

The bearings 54 of the carriage 18 are received in the subsidiary channel portions 32, thereby attaching the carriage 18 to the mast component 24 and allowing the carriage 18 to move along the mast component 24. The movement arrangement 20 comprises a driving device 60 and a flexible elongate member 62. The driving device 60 may be any suitable driving device, for example, a hydraulic ram, a linear screw actuator, winch arrangement or the like. The flexible elongate member 62 is in the form of strap, but could be a chain, belt, or wire. The driving device 60 is operated by an operating member 64 which, in the embodiment shown, is in the form of a pedal, but could be any other suitable operating member.

The carriage 18 includes a fastening element 66 in the form of a buckle. One end region of the flexible elongate member 62 is threaded through the fastening element 66 to fasten the flexible elongate member 62 thereto.

In all of the Figures, with the exception of Figure 16, the flexible elongate member 62 is shown unthreaded through the fastening element 66. This allows the fastening element 66 to be seen. Figure 16 shows schematically the flexible elongate member 62 threaded through the fastening element 66.

The fastening element 66 is shown in Figures 14 to 16. The fastening element 66 comprises defines two parallel slots 68 and two apertures 70. Screws 72 are inserted through the apertures 70 to attach the fastening element 66 to the connecting member 42.

Figure 16 shows a first end region of the flexible elongate member 62 loosely threaded through the slots 68 in the fastening element 66. When so threaded, the flexible elongate member 62 is pulled tight to securely fasten the flexible elongate member 62 to the fastening element 66.

Figures 6, 8 10 and 11 show the opposite second end region of the flexible elongate member 62 fixedly fastened to the mast component 24 at a further fastening element 74. The further fastening element 74 is attached to the mast component 24 in a central region thereof, approximately halfway along the length of the main channel 26. Flowever, the mast component 24 is omitted from these Figures, so that the flexible elongate member 62 and the fastening element 74 can be seen. The further fastening element 74 may be the same as the fastening element 66 attached to the carriage 18, or may differ therefrom in terms of the position and/or size of the apertures 70 and/or the slots 68. The further fastening element 74 is attached to the mast component 24 by means of screws 72 inserted through the apertures 70. The second end region of the flexible elongate member 62 is fastened to the further fastening element 74 in the same way as the first end region is fastened to the fastening element 66.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a pulley 78 is attached to the top of the driving device 60. The flexible elongate member 62 extends from the carriage 18, around the pulley 78, to the further fastening element 74.

Operation of the driving device 60 by means of the operating member 64 causes the driving device 60 to move the pulley 78 up and down the mast component 24. This has the effect of moving the flexible elongate member 62 across the pulley 78, thereby moving the carriage 18 and the conveying arrangement 14 up and down the mast component 24.

Another version of the movement arrangement is shown in Figures 17 and 18, and is generally designated 80. The movement arrangement 80 has all the features of the movement arrangement 20 with the exception that the second end region of the flexible elongate member 62 is fixedly attached to the top of the driving device 60. The first end region of the flexible elongate member 62 is attached to the carriage 18 in the same way as described above in connection with the movement arrangement 20.

The second end of the flexible elongate member 62 of the movement arrangement 80 is fastened to the driving device 60 at another fastening element 82. The fastening element 82 may be the same as the fastening element 66, or may differ therefrom in terms of the position and/or size of the apertures 70 and/or the slots 68. The second end of the flexible elongate element is threaded through the slots 68 in the same way that the first end region of the flexible elongate member 62 is threaded through the slots 68 in the fastening element 66, as shown in Figure 16.

Operation of the driving device 60 by means of the operating member 64 causes the driving device 60 to lift or lower the flexible elongate member 62 which, in turn, causes the flexible elongate member 62 to lift or lower the carriage 18 and the conveying arrangement 14.

There is thus described a lifting apparatus 10 which comprises a carriage 18 attached to a driving device 60 by means of a flexible elongate member 62, and can lift a conveying arrangement 14.

The use of the carriage 18 and the separate conveying arrangement 14 provides the advantage, in the embodiment described herein, of reducing weight compared to prior art lifting devices. The driving device 60 can be operated to move the carriage 18 along the main channel 26 defined by the mast component 24.

The conveying arrangement 14 is supported on the carriage 18 and is therefore also moved along the main channel 26 on movement of the carriage 18 along the main channel 26. As a result, load engaging means secured to the conveying arrangement 14 can be lifted and lowered by the operation of the driving device 60

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the flexible elongate member 62 could be attached to the carriage 18, and the mast component 24 or driving device 60 by other means, such as by an adhesive, or other suitable means known in the art, particularly where the flexible elongate member 62 is a chain or a wire.

Further modifications may be made to the embodiment shown. In one modification, shown in Figure 19, the conveying arrangement 14 further includes protectors 84 to protect a user’s fingers from injury. A respective protector 84 is attached to the conveying arrangement 14 beneath each bearing 36 of the conveying arrangement 14.

Each protector 84 comprises a projection beneath each bearing 36 of the conveying arrangement 14. The protectors 84 are provided to prevent a user trapping his or her fingers between the bearing 36 and the top of the subsidiary channel portion 32. The protectors 84 work by preventing the user putting his or her fingers directly below the bearings 36 of the conveying arrangement. In a further modification, shown in Figures 20 to 23, which may be used with the above described modification, the mast assembly 12 includes a stop formation 86 extending into each subsidiary channel portion 32 to restrict removal of the carriage 18 from the main channel 26.

The stop formation 86 comprises a bolt 88 extending through the side wall 33 of each subsidiary channel portion 32. The head of the bolt 88 is disposed within the respective subsidiary channel portion 32. A nut 90 is screwed onto to each bolt 88 from outside the subsidiary channel portion 32 to secure the bolts 88 to the respective subsidiary channel portion 32.

Each stop formation 86 is positioned to engage a respective one of the bearings 54 of the carriage 18, thereby preventing inadvertent removal of the carriage 18 from the main channel 26.

In this modification, the bearings 36 of the conveying arrangement 14 are smaller than the bearings 54 of the carriage 18, thereby allowing the bearings 36 of the conveying arrangement 14 to move past the stop formation 86 while the conveying arrangement 14 is being moved along the main channel 26 (see Figure 23).