Lifting/lowering device

Abstract

 A device (10) for lifting and lowering at least a part of an item (A) respectively out of and into container (D), comprises a generally vertical support member (11), a carriage (16) mounted on the support member (11) which is movable up and down the support member (11), actuating means (9) arranged to move the carriage (16), and a generally horizontal arm (18) carried by the carriage (16) and articulated about at least one generally vertical axis, and attachment means carried by the arm (18) for attachment of the item (A) to the arm (18).

Description

Description of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a device for lifting and lowering at least a part of an item respectively out of and into container.

[0002] Current safety at work legislation demands that operatives in factories for examples do not manhandle heavy loads, such as large drums. Such large drums are often delivered to factory on a pallet in multiples of two to four drums, and it is desirable to leave the drums on the pallet during a subsequent operation, such as drum emptying.

[0003] Devices are known for lifting and lowering a part of a pump assembly into and out of a drum (container) in which the pump assembly is rigidly secured to the lifting device, but the item is lifted in an arc in a vertical plane. Such devices can lead to the accidental toppling of the container in the event that the item fouls a wall of the container, particularly as the item is lowered.

[0004] Other arrangements use overhead cranes or the like, but in such arrangements, the item to be lifted is not secured rigidly to the lifting device which can again lead to the accidental toppling of the container. Also using such devices it is not possible positively to move a part of the item downwardly into the liquid, but the part of the item has to sink under its own weight. This can cause difficulties particularly where the liquid is viscous.

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention we provide a device for lifting and lowering at least a part of an item respectively out of and into container, the device comprising a generally vertical support member, a carriage mounted on the support member which is movable up and down the support member, actuating means arranged to move the carriage, and a generally horizontal arm carried by the carriage and articulated about at least one generally vertical axis, and attachment means carried by the arm for attachment of the item to the arm.

[0006] Thus utilising the invention, the problems of both kinds of prior art lifting devices are overcome. Hence the container is less likely to be accidentally toppled during lowering or lifting of the part of the article into or from the container.

[0007] The device may comprise a base member on which the support member is mounted and on which the container stands while the at least part of the item is lifted in or out of the container. Thus added stability is imparted.

[0008] The actuating means may comprises an actuator, such as a double acting pneumatic actuator, which positively moves the carriage and hence the part of the item, downwardly when lowering the part of the item into the container. Hence the part of the item does not simply sink into the liquid content of the container, which is particularly useful where the liquid is viscous.

[0009] The support member may comprise a generally vertically extending slot and the actuating means may be located inside the support member and be connected to the carriage via a connecting member which extends through the slot. However many alternative arrangements for achieving movement of the carriage along the support member may alternatively be used.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment the arm is articulated about a first generally vertical axis at or adjacent to a first end of the arm which is carried on the carriage, and a second generally vertical axis located along the arm such that the item may be lifted any position in an area defined by the sweep of the arm when fully extended.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a combination of a lifting/lowering device according to the first aspect of the invention and an item to be lifted and lowered.

[0012] The item to be lifted and lowered may comprise any powered implement for performing an operation in the container, but particularly a pump assembly comprising a pump and a tube connected to the pump through which liquid may pass from the container to the pump.

[0013] In one arrangement, particularly where the liquid is viscous, the pump assembly may further comprise means to prime the pump as the part of the item is lowered into a container containing liquid. For example, the means to prime the pump may comprises a follower device which as the item is lowered, displaces a volume of the liquid in the container to urge liquid into the pump.

[0014] The follower device comprises a plate like member having an opening therein for the pump tube such that liquid from below the plate like element is urged upwardly into the pump tube as the item is lowered. Where the container is circular, the plate like member may be circular so as substantially to be of the same cross section as the container, so that the follower device efficiently displaces liquid into the pump tube.

[0015] The item may, instead of heing a pump assembly, comprise a mixing implement for mixing liquid contents of the container.

[0016] The container into and out of which the part of the item is lowered and raised may be a drum.

[0017] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side illustrative view of a lifting device according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is an illustrative plan view of the lifting device of Figure 1.

[0018] A lifting device 10 comprises a support member comprising a column 11 mounted on a base plate 12 adjacent to a first edge 12a by means of a bracket 13. The bracket 13 may be bolted or welded to the base plate 12. The base plate 12 further comprises a number of bolt holes 14 adjacent its periphery by means of which the base plate 12 may be bolted or otherwise attached to a floor.

[0019] The column 11 is constructed from square hollow section tube with faces 11a to 11d and is mounted on the base plate 12 such that faces 11a and 11c are parallel to the edge 12a and faces 11b and 11d are perpendicular to the edge 12a. A slot 15 is machined vertically in face 11c of the column 11 with a first end adjacent the top of the column 11 and being of a length approximately two-thirds of the height of the column 11. A carriage 16 is located about the column 11 and is movable up and down the column 11 by operation of an actuator comprising in this example an air cylinder located inside the column 11, the carriage 16 being connected to a piston rod 8 of the air cylinder 9 by a member (not shown) which passes through the slot 15. The air cylinder 9 is operated by means of an air valve 17, located on face 11a of the column 11, which controls supply of compressed air to the air cylinder 9.

[0020] A substantially horizontal arm 18 is carried on the carriage 16 by being attached at a first end to the carriage 16 by means of a first substantially vertical hinge 19. A second substantially vertical hinge 20 is located part way along the length of the arm 18. The arm 18 is therefore articulated about two substantially vertical axes.

[0021] An attachment means 21 is located at a second, free end of the arm 18 distant from the carriage 16. In this embodiment the attachment means 21 is adapted to be attached to an item comprising a drum pump assembly A. The drum pump assembly A comprises a pump 22 having a pump tube 23 and a follower device 24. In use, the assembly A is lowered to the position shown in Figure 1 so that the opening to the pump tube 23 is located in a drum D towards the bottom of the drum D. The follower device 24 comprises a circular plate-like element and so as the assembly A is lowered, the plate 24 will displace a volume of liquid in the drum, to urge that volume up through the pump tube 23, thus to prime the pump 22. Preferably, the follower device 24 is of about the same external diameter as the inside diameter of the drum D. Thus the device 24 can also scrape the inside of the drum D to remove any adherent.

[0022] Where the liquid in the drum D is free flowing, the pump 22 may not require priming, and a follower device 24 or other priming means, may not be required.

[0023] The operation of the lifting device 10 in order to lower the pump tube 23 and follower device 24, being parts of the pump assembly A, into a drum D is as follows. The pump assembly A is attached to the arm 18 and the air valve 17 is operated to cause cylinder 9 to raise the carriage 16, arm 18 and pump 22, for instance to the position shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 1. A drum D is then located on base plate 12 within the radius of sweep of the arm 18 when fully extended. The arm 18 is then articulated manually such that the pump 22 is located over the drum D. The air valve 17 is then operated to operate the air cylinder to lower the carriage 16, arm 18 and pump 22 such that the pump tube 23 and follower device 24 are lowered into the drum D. The pump 22 may then be operated to discharge the contents of the drum e.g. through an outlet as indicated by the arrow 25.

[0024] The range of movement of the articulated arm 18 may be such that a pallet p on which four drums are located may be placed, preferably on base plate 12, within that range and the pump 22 used to discharge liquid from any one of the four drums as required.

[0025] Embodiments of the lifting device 10 may be constructed incorporating safety devices to lock the carriage 16 and hinges 19 and 20 in set positions if required. In addition, to avoid having manually to position the articulated arm 18 means may be provided whereby movement of the articulated arm 18 about either or both of the vertical axes may be controlled remotely. Also, the air cylinder 9 may instead be another form of actuating means which may be powered (e.g. a hydraulic or electrical actuator) or manually operated.

[0026] The item to be lifted may comprise, a pump assembly A as described, or instead, a mixing implement or any other appropriate device, part of a device, apparatus or part of apparatus. These may be manually operated or have a source of power such as electricity, or compressed air.

[0027] Where the item comprises a mixing implement, the invention provides the advantage that the device can be moved in the drum D by virtue of the hinges 19 and 20, for more efficient mixing.

[0028] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A device (10) for lifting and lowering at least a part of an item respectively out of and into container (D), the device comprising a generally vertical support member (11), a carriage (16) mounted on the support member (11) which is movable up and down the support member (11), actuating means (9) arranged to move the carriage (16), and a generally horizontal arm (18) carried by the carriage (16) and articulated about at least one generally vertical axis, and attachment means carried by the arm (18) for attachment of the item (A) to the arm (18).

2. A device according to claim 1 characterised in the provision of a base member (12) on which the support member (11) is mounted and on which the container (D) stands while the at least part of the item (A) is lifted in or out of the container (D).

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the actuating means comprises an actuator (9) which positively moves the carriage (16) and hence the part of the item (A), downwardly when lowering the part of the item (A) into the container (D).

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the support member (11) comprises a generally vertically extending slot (15) and the actuating means (9) is located inside the support member (11) and is connected to the carriage (16) via a connecting member which extends through the slot (15).

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the arm (18) is articulated about a first generally vertical axis at or adjacent to a first end of the arm (18) which is carried on the carriage (16), and a second generally vertical axis located along the arm (18) such that the item (a) may be lifted any position in an area defined by the sweep of the arm (18) when fully extended.

6. A combination of a lifting/lowering device according to any one of the preceding claims and an item to be lifted characterised in that the item (A) comprises a powered implement for performing an operation in the container (A).

7. A combination according to claim 6 characterised in that the item (A) comprises a pump assembly comprising a pump (22) and a tuhe (23) connected to the pump (22) and through which liquid may pass from the container (D) to the pump (22).

8. A combination according to claim 7 characterised in that the pump assembly (A) further comprises means (24) to prime the pump (22) as the part (23,24) of the item (A) is lowered into a container (A) containing liquid.

9. A combination according to claim 8 characterised in that the means to prime the pump (22) comprises a follower device (24) which as the item (A) is lowered, displaces a volume of the liquid in the container (D) to urge liquid into the pump tube (23), the follower device (24) comprising a plate-like member having an opening therein for the pump tube (23) such that liquid from below the plate-like member (24) is urged upwardly into the pump tube (23) as the item (A) is lowered.

10. A combination according to claim 6 characterised in that the item (A) comprises a mixing implement for mixing liquid contents of the container (D).

11. A combination according to any one of claims 6 to 10 which includes a container comprising a drum into and out of which the part of the item is lowered and raised.

Drawing