Technical field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a lifting device capable of vertically
moving (thus not only lifting, but of course also lowering) loads of various kinds,
in particular loads with masses between 50kg and 1000kg. More specifically, the present
invention relates to a lifting device which can be fixed to a ceiling or wall, and
which therefore does not require a supporting structure resting on the floor.
State of the art
[0002] Lifting devices are known which require a supporting structure resting on the floor.
However, such lifting devices suffer from the drawback of taking up space on the floor
and therefore needing sufficient free space on the floor for their installation. When
it is necessary to lift loads in locations with limited space available on the floor,
or in locations where the presence of supporting structures resting on the floor can
be a problem, as it can hinder the movement of persons and vehicles, it is known to
use lifting devices such as winches or hoists that can be mounted on the ceiling or
wall. Such lifting devices, however, operate with ropes or chains, thus with essentially
one-dimensional traction members. This can lead to problems in the stability of the
load during vertical movement. In order to stabilise the load, particularly in the
case of a load resting on a loading platform, it is therefore necessary to use several
lifting devices, in particular four lifting devices with their respective traction
members, whether ropes or chains, connected to the four corners of the loading platform
on which the load to be vertically moved is placed.
Summary of the invention
[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lifting device which
enables, alone or in combination with no more than one other similar lifting device,
the lifting of loads of various kinds, including loads resting on loading platforms
or similar load-supporting means.
[0004] This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by virtue of a lifting
device as defined in the annexed independent claim 1.
[0005] Further advantageous aspects of the lifting device according to the invention are
defined in the dependent claims, the subject-matter of which is to be understood as
forming an integral part of the following description.
[0006] In summary, the present invention is based on the idea of providing a device comprising:
- a roller with a longitudinal axis;
- a support structure on which said roller is supported in a rotatable manner about
an axis of rotation coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the roller, said support
structure being provided with attachment means for enabling the support structure
to be attached to a ceiling or wall of a building in such a manner that the longitudinal
axis of the roller is oriented horizontally;
- a sheet which is attached at a first end thereof to the lateral surface of the roller
so as to be able to be wound on, or unwound from, the roller as a result of the rotation
of the latter, and is provided at its opposite end with coupling means which extend
substantially over the whole width of the sheet and are configured to enable the load
to be vertically moved to be coupled to the sheet; and
- actuating means operatively associated with the roller to control its rotation in
one direction or the other so as to cause the winding of the sheet onto the roller,
and thus the upward movement of said coupling means, or respectively the unwinding
of the sheet from the roller, and thus the downward movement of said coupling means.
[0007] With a lifting device thus configured, in particular due to the fact that the traction
member is formed by a sheet, i.e. a two-dimensional member, and due to the fact that
the coupling means extend substantially over the entire width of the sheet, it is
possible to vertically move loads of various kinds, in a stable and safe manner, using
a single device or at most two devices operating in combination.
Brief description of the drawings
[0008] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from
the following description, which is given purely by way of non-limiting example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, where:
- Figure 1 is a front view schematically showing a lifting device according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the lifting device of Figure 1, with a load attached
to it;
- Figures 3 and 4 are side views showing schematically two lifting devices of the type
shown in Figure 1, operating in combination to vertically move a loading platform;
and
- Figure 5 is a side view showing schematically two lifting devices of the type shown
in Figure 1, operating in combination to vertically move a stretcher.
Detailed description
[0009] With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, a lifting device according to an embodiment
of the present invention is generally indicated 10.
[0010] The lifting device 10 comprises first of all a roller (or drum) 12, the longitudinal
axis of which is indicated by x and the cylindrical lateral surface of which is indicated
by 12a. The roller 12 is configured so as to have an axial size (width) greater than
its diameter.
[0011] The lifting device 10 further comprises a support structure 14 on which the roller
12 is supported in a rotatable manner for rotation about an axis of rotation coinciding
with the longitudinal axis x. The support structure 14 is advantageously formed by
a box-like casing, for example of a parallelepiped shape, within which the roller
12 is accommodated. In this way, the support structure 14 has the function not only
of support, but also of protection, for the roller 12. The support structure 14 is
provided with attachment means for attachment of the support structure itself to a
ceiling or wall of a building so that the axis of rotation of the roller 12 is oriented
horizontally. Such attachment means are, for example, formed by a pair of plates 16,
which in the present case are fixed to an upper face 14a of the support structure
14 so as to allow the support structure 14 to be attached to a ceiling. In case of
attachment to a wall, the plates will instead be fixed to a vertical face 14b of the
support structure 14. Each of the plates 16 has a series of through holes (not shown)
for inserting screws or other suitable anchoring members, with which to anchor - preferably
in a releasable manner - each plate 16 to the ceiling or wall on which the lifting
device 10 is to be installed.
[0012] The lifting device 10 further comprises, as a traction member, a sheet 18 which is
made, for example, of polyamide or another suitable material to ensure adequate tensile
strength. The term 'sheet' is to be understood to mean in general a two-dimensional
traction member, i.e. a traction member having one of the three dimensions (in this
case the thickness) negligible in relation to the other two, unlike a one-dimensional
traction member, such as for example a rope, cable or band. In particular, the sheet
18 has a width greater than the diameter of roller 12.
[0013] The sheet 18 is fixed at a first end thereof to the lateral surface 12a of the roller
12 so that it can be wound on, or unwound from, the roller as a result of the rotation
of the latter about its axis of rotation. At the opposite end (free end), the sheet
18 is provided with coupling means which extend substantially over the whole width
of the sheet 18 and are configured to enable a load C to be vertically moved (shown
in Figure 2) to be coupled to the sheet. Preferably, such coupling means are formed
by an elongated end plate 20 with a length substantially equal to the width of the
sheet 18, said plate having a plurality of holes 22, for example arranged equally
spaced from each other in the direction of the length of the end plate 20 (i.e. in
the direction of the width of the sheet 18). The holes 22 serve to allow insertion
of hooks or other suitable coupling members with which to couple the load C to be
vertically moved to the end plate 20, and thus to the sheet 18.
[0014] In order to guide the sheet 18 during its winding onto the roller 12 or its unwinding
from the roller 12, the roller 12 is advantageously provided with a pair of lateral
guide discs 24 (one of which can be seen in Figure 1) positioned at the opposite axial
ends of the roller.
[0015] Finally, the lifting device 10 further comprises actuating means operatively associated
with the roller 12 to control its rotation in one direction or the other about its
axis of rotation to cause the winding of the sheet 18 on the roller 12, and thus the
upward movement of the end plate 20 (and of the load C coupled thereto), or respectively
the unwinding of the sheet 18 from the roller 12, and thus the downward movement of
the end plate 20 (and of the load C coupled thereto). Such actuating means include,
for example, a motor 26, in particular an electric motor, which may be directly or
indirectly connected to the roller 12 and may be mounted inside or outside the latter.
In the embodiment proposed herein, the motor 26 is mounted outside the roller 12,
in particular with the axis of rotation of its rotor oriented vertically, and an angle
gear reducer 28 is interposed between the motor 26 and the roller 12. Alternatively,
again in the case of mounting outside the roller 12, the motor may be arranged with
the axis of its rotor oriented horizontally, in particular coinciding with the longitudinal
axis x of the roller 12. Also in this case, a gear reducer may be provided between
the motor and the roller. Advantageously, the aforesaid actuating means also include
a special control member, such as a push-button (which may be either physical or virtual),
to enable the operator to control the rotation of the motor 26, and thus of the roller
12, in one direction or the other and thus cause the lifting or lowering of the sheet
18, and therefore of the load C.
[0016] The lifting device 10 is designed to vertically move loads C of various kinds, in
particular loads with masses between 50kg and 1000kg. As shown in Figure 2, the load
C to be moved may be coupled directly to the end plate 20, using the holes 22 provided
therein. However, it is possible to interpose one or more traction members between
the load C and the end plate 20. Still with reference to Figure 2, the maximum stroke
of the vertical movement of the load C that can be controlled with the lifting device
10 is indicated by D. Said maximum stroke will of course depend on the length of the
sheet 18.
[0017] In the example of Figures 1 and 2, the load C is moved vertically using only one
lifting device 10. However, it is possible to envisage the combined use of two lifting
devices 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, a loading
platform P is provided for supporting the load C to be vertically moved, which loading
platform is coupled with two opposite sides thereof parallel to the end plates 20
attached to the sheets 18 of the two lifting devices 10. In this case, preferably
the two lifting devices 10 have their motors 26 arranged horizontally, i.e. arranged
so that the axes of rotation of the respective rotors are oriented horizontally. More
specifically, in the present case the sheets 18 of the two lifting devices 10 face
each other, while the motors 26 are arranged on opposite sides of each other. Figure
3 shows the condition in which the loading platform P is lowered, while Figure 4 shows
the condition in which the loading platform P is at the maximum possible height (condition
corresponding to the complete winding of the sheets 18 on the respective rollers 12).
Of course, an appropriate synchronous control of the two motors 26 will be provided
in this case to ensure that the loading platform P maintains a horizontal attitude
during upward or downward movement. Finally, with reference to figure 5, through the
combined use of two lifting devices 10 it is also possible to vertically move patients
in healthcare facilities. It is in fact sufficient for this purpose to couple a stretcher
B, or other suitable support means for receiving a person, to the end plates 20 of
the sheets 18 of the two lifting devices 10. As an alternative to a stretcher, for
example, it is possible to use a sheet attached at its two long parallel sides to
the end plates 20 of the sheets 18 of the two lifting devices 10.
[0018] As it is evident from the description above, the lifting device of the present invention
allows loads of various kinds to be moved vertically in a stable and safe manner using
a single device or, at most, two devices operating in combination, without requiring
a supporting structure resting on the floor and thus without taking up space on the
floor.
[0019] The present invention has been described herein with reference to preferred embodiments
thereof, but it is clear that other embodiments may be envisaged that share the same
inventive core with those described herein, as defined by the appended claims.
1. Lifting device (10) for the vertical movement of loads (C), the device comprising:
- a roller (12) having a longitudinal axis (x);
- a support structure (14) on which the roller (12) is supported in a rotatable manner
about an axis of rotation coinciding with said longitudinal axis (x), said support
structure (14) being provided with attachment means (16) for enabling the support
structure (14) to be attached to a ceiling or wall of a building in such a manner
that said longitudinal axis (x) is oriented horizontally;
- a sheet (18) which is attached at a first end thereof to a lateral surface (12a)
of the roller (12) so as to able to be wound on, or unwound from, the roller (12)
as a result of the rotation of the latter and is provided at its opposite end with
coupling means (20) which extend substantially over the whole width of the sheet (18)
and are configured to enable the load (C) to be vertically moved to be coupled to
the sheet (18); and
- actuating means (26, 28) operatively associated with the roller (12) to control
rotation thereof in either direction so as to cause respectively winding of the sheet
(18) onto the roller (12), and hence upward movement of said coupling means (20),
or unwinding of the sheet (18) from the roller (12), and hence downward movement of
said coupling means (20).
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the roller (12) has an axial dimension, or width,
greater than its diameter and wherein the sheet (18) has a width greater than the
diameter of the roller (12).
3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support structure (14) is formed
by a box-like casing, in particular of parallelepiped shape.
4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said attachment means (16) include a pair of
plates attached to an upper face (14a) or a lower face (14b) of the support structure
(14) so as to allow the support structure (14) to be attached to the ceiling or wall,
respectively.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coupling means (20)
are formed by an end plate of elongated shape, with a length substantially equal to
the width of the sheet (18), said end plate having a plurality of holes (22).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating means
(26, 28) comprise a motor (26), in particular an electric motor, and a control member
for allowing an operator to control the rotation of the motor (26), and hence of the
roller (12), in either direction and thus cause upward or downward movement of the
sheet (18).
7. Lifting unit comprising a pair of lifting devices (10) according to any one of the
preceding claims, as well as loading platform (P) coupled with two opposite parallel
sides thereof to the end plates (20) that are attached to the sheets (18) of the lifting
devices (10).