Material or article handling – Traversing hoist type – Tow truck type
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-04
2002-12-10
Matecki, Kathy (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Traversing hoist type
Tow truck type
C280S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06491490
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention broadly relates to an apparatus and to a method of using the apparatus to lift a load. The invention further relates to an apparatus and to a method of using the apparatus to transfer a portion of a load from a first supporting base to a second supporting base. The invention still further relates to an apparatus and to a method of using the apparatus to partially lift a load and then to push or pull the entire load. The invention more specifically relates to partially lifting a first vehicle utilizing a beam and a draw works in combination with a second vehicle and then using the beam to tow the partially lifted first vehicle with the second vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Problems Solved
Goods of all sizes and weights are commonly, and customarily, transported from one land location to another land location by means of wheeled vehicles. Such goods, in large measure, are placed in trailers. The trailers are then connected to motorized vehicles which then pull the trailers from place to place over suitable roadways. The trailers employed can be quite large. Consequently, the pulling vehicles are also quite large. The art recognizes such large motorized towing vehicles, sometimes called tractors, and has placed them in a special category and assigned to them the recognizable name, “semi tractors,” or simply, “semis”.
The employment of a semi tractor to haul a trailer is very popular and convenient until the tractor becomes disabled on a roadway. At that point, not only must the trailer being hauled by the disabled semi be hauled by another functioning semi, but also the disabled semi must itself be hauled to a suitable repair facility. In a sense, a disabled semi tractor has suffered a reversal of roles and has itself become a trailer to be hauled.
The art has recognized the challenge of towing disabled semi tractors by delegating the task of towing semi tractors to other semi tractors, referred to as wreckers, which have been specifically, and permanently, equipped with booms, gears and winches of size sufficient to partially lift the disabled vehicle from the supporting roadway to enable the wrecker to tow the thus lifted vehicle to a desirable facility.
The conversion of a semi tractor to the role of wrecker, by the permanent installation of lifting equipment, thereby dedicates it to that role and effectively eliminates the wrecker from the task of hauling trailers which contain goods. The art thus requires a method of, and an apparatus for, dispensing with the need of dedicating a semi tractor to the role of a wrecker.
This invention, accordingly. provides an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus which will enable, for example, any available semi tractor to partially lift and tow any other semi tractor to thereby eliminate the need of specifically dedicating a vehicle to limited use as a wrecker.
THE INVENTION
Disclosure of the Invention
This invention comprises an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus to partially lift a load. The expression, “to partially lift a load,” means that a portion of the load is transferred from a first platform to a second platform while the balance of the load remains supported by at least a portion of the first platform. An example of a load to be partially lifted by the apparatus and method of this invention is a vehicle having at least one wheel on the front side and at least one wheel on the back side to support the weight of the vehicle on a base, such as the ground, wherein the wheel, or wheels, on the back side of the vehicle are lifted from the ground while the wheel, or wheels, on the front side of the vehicle remain on the ground, to thereby transfer a portion of the weight of the vehicle to a different support platform, such as to another vehicle.
The apparatus is broadly comprised of a beam and a draw works. The method of using the apparatus to partially lift a load requires the co-operation of the apparatus itself, the load to be lifted and a stationary base or platform. Subsequent to the lift, the beam element of the apparatus can be employed to push or pull the entire load from one location to another location.
The beam of this invention comprises a substantially linear central member, a first linear connecting member and a second linear connecting member. The linear central member has a top side, a bottom side, a right side, a left side, a first end and a second end and is, preferably, rectangular in cross section. The linear member, in one embodiment, can be in the form of an inverted “V”, i.e., concave, to help support the load while still retaining the substantially linear character thereof. The first linear connecting member has a first distal end and a first proximal end. The second linear connecting member has a second distal end and a second proximal end.
The first linear connecting member is attached to, projects downwardly from and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom side of the linear central member. In this regard, the first proximal end of the first linear connecting member is rigidly, but removably, connected to the first end of the linear central member and extends downwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the bottom side thereof. The first distal end of the first linear connecting member is adapted for multidirectional rotation on, and removable attachment to, a first pivot which is a structural feature of the load to be lifted.
The second linear connecting member is attached to, projects downwardly from and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom side of the linear central member. In this regard, the second proximal end of the second linear connecting member is rigidly, but removably, connected to the second end of the linear central member and extends downwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the bottom side thereof. The second distal end of the second linear connecting member is adapted for multidirectional rotation on, and removable attachment to, a second pivot which is a structural feature of a stationary base.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the word “pivot,” as used herein, refers to an axle positioned substantially parallel to the transverse axis of a body, but not necessarily intersecting the horizontal axis, i.e., the linear axis, of the body. Thus, the first pivot is a first axle positioned substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the load to be lifted, and the second pivot is a second axle positioned substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the mentioned stationary base which is employed in combination with the apparatus of the invention to lift the load. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the structure of the first distal end of the first linear connecting member functions to enable the linear central member of the beam of this invention to rotate around the first axle and to rotate around an axis which is perpendicular to the first axle. Similarly, the structure of the second distal end of the second linear connecting member functions to enable the linear central member of the beam of this invention to rotate around the second axle and to rotate around an axis which is perpendicular to the second axle. The rotations of the first distal end and the second distal end around the respective axles, as mentioned, occur simultaneously, in the same direction and through the same number of degrees. In this embodiment, each of the described axles is recognized in the art as an element of a “fifth wheel” and the distal end is broadly recognized in the art as a “king pin” and associated bearing support plate. This arrangement is recognized in the art as a “fifth wheel and king pin” connection.
In another embodiment, the word “pivot,” as used herein, refers to a stationary ball vertically and rigidly mounted on a support ordinarily positioned substantially parallel to the horizontal, i.e., linear, axis of a body, wherein the distal end of the connecting member is adapted for multidirectional rotational attachment to the ball. This arrangement is
Fox Charles A.
Matecki Kathy
Weaver Thomas R.
LandOfFree
Method of apparatus for lifting and towing a load does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of apparatus for lifting and towing a load, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of apparatus for lifting and towing a load will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2963638