TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a transporter or arrangement which is preferably intended for lifting materials and which comprises a stand or elevator arm and a transport carriage moveable along the arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There is at present time a need for a convenient, readi* ly assembled and readily transported hoist arrangement for use when repairing rooves or chimneys for example. When making minor chimney repairs, more than half the time taken to make the repair is spent in arranging a hoist or elevator arrangement by means of which ready- mixed mortar can be transported to the chimney. Conse¬ quently, in many cases, the material required to make minor repairs is carried manually up flights of stairs, through roof hatches or up ladders, therewith placing the workmen involved at a high accident risk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a readily assembled transporter or hoist arrangement which can be assembled and fitted by the workman concerned very quickly in an hour. This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with the aid of a hoist or elevator arrangement having the characteristic features set forth in the following Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the inventive arrange¬ ment and illustrates the lower end-part of the elevator arm and a drive unit mounted on said end-part; Figure 2 is a front view illustrating the lower end-part of said elevator arm; Figure 3 is a section view of the elevator arm; Figure 4 illustrates the ends of two stand parts which are adapted so that one end-part can be fitted in the other; Figure 5 illustrates the end of a curved stand-part; Figure 6 is a side view of an elevator arm with the arm resting against the roof of a building, wherein the upper part of said elevator arm conforms with the configuration of the roof; and Figure 7 is a perspective illustration of an elevator arm resting against the roof of a building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is a side view which illustrates the lower end- part of an elevator arm, generally referenced 1. Mounted on the arm is a drive unit 2 which includes a magazine 3 in which a freely-folded and stacked drive chain 4 is housed, one side plate of the magazine 3 having been removed so that the chain 4 is visible to the viewer. The chain 4 is fed into and out of the magazine by means of a chain wheel 5, shown schematically. The arm 1 includes a chain guide channel 6 which functions to guide the chain into the arm as the chain is taken from the magazine. In the illustrated example, the arm 1 is comprised of light-metal, profiled sections 7 in the form of tubular members of square cross-section, one

such tubular member being shown in end view in Figure 3. The aforesaid chain guide-channel 6 is formed integrally with respective tubular members 8 along their upper sides, and a longitudinally-extending opening 9 is provided along said upper side of respective tubular sections. A dogging element 10 mounted on the end link of the drive chain 4 is accessible through the opening 9 from outside the elevator arm. Although not shown, side supports are provided for preventing lateral tipping of the arm.

Figure 2 is a front view of the lower end-part of the elevator arm 1 and shows an electric motor 11 which drives the chain wheel 5 via a worm gear (not shown) , said chain wheel functioning to feed the drive chain from the magazine into the chain guide channel, and vice versa. Also shown is a transport carriage 12 which is attached to the dogging element, or drive element 10, shown in Figure 1. The transport carriage rolls on wheels (not shown) which relieve the load acting on the drive chain and also guide the carriage laterally. As before mentioned. Figure 3 illustrates a light-metal profiled section used in accordance with the invention. The longitudinally-extending opening is covered by sealing strips 18 which are moved to one side by the dogging element 10 as it passes along the groove. Figure 4 illustrates how the various parts of the elevator arm are equipped to enable the elevator arm 1 to be quickly assembled. Provided at one end, the right end, are two guide rails 13 which fill the space in the profiled tubular member 8 between each side wall and the chain guide channel 6 and which when pressed into the end of a stand-arm part which lacks a guide rail, the left part, there is obtained a join which will have no appreciable affect on the drive chain 4 and the transport carriage 12. The two arm-parts or sections are locked together

with the aid of an eccentric lock 14 which engages a hook 16 and/or by means of a penetrating locking bolt 15. Figure 5 illustrates one end of a curved arm-part which is provided with a guide rail and which is used to adapt the arm to the inclination of the roof on which work is to be carried out.

Figure 6 is a side view which illustrates the arm 1 resting against a house 19. The illustrated arm includes a curved arm-part 7b which adapts the remaining part of the arm to the angle of roof inclination. Mounted on the arm is a transport carriage 12 which includes a device on which a mortar bucket 18 can be hung.

Figure 7 illustrates in perspective an arm 1 which rests against a house and on which a two-wheeled carriage is mounted. The arm is supported on a cross bar 21 mounted on the roof so as to relieve the arm of load, and the roof-end of the arm is secured to the chimney by means of a strap 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the car¬ riage 12 is provided with means for connection of the various accessories that may be needed in the work to be carried out, for instance means for transporting mortar, bricks, arm-sections or the like.

When mounting a hoist arrangement in position, the drive unit 2 of the hoist arrangement is placed on the ground at an appropriate position beneath the chimney. The support legs (not shown) are extended and straight arm sections 7 , which are available in varying lengths, are fitted together until the roof guttering is reached, whereafter a curved arm section 7b is fitted to the length of straight arm sections. If the angle of the curved arm section does not conform exactly to the slope of the roof, the angle of the curved arm section is adjusted, by moving the drive unit away from or towards

the house. Further straight arm sections can then be laid out on the roof.

The cross-sectional area of the largest link or links in the drive chain 4 is only slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the chain guide channel 6 and consequently the drive chain will be forced to follow the chain guide channel and functions as a rigid rod to push the transport carriage along the elevator arm. The drive chain 4 is made of a material which, in combina¬ tion with light-metal, has a low coefficient of fric¬ tion. This enables the hoist arrangement to operate while being assembled, and consequently the arm sections to be fitted together can be lifted up along the exist- ing, functional arm length and subsequently fitted to the end of said arm, whereafter further sections can be lifted and extension of the arm continued, with the transport carriage moving along the newly formed arm.

The hoist arrangement can be provided with a slip coup¬ ling in combination with the worm gear, in order to prevent overloading of the arrangement. Additionally, a motor control unit can be provided with a memory pro¬ grammed to always stop the transport carriage at a predetermined height. It lies within the scope of the inventive concept to provide the hoist arrangement with a manually operated drive unit for use when no electric current is available at the working site concerned.