GB2336144A

GB2336144A - Lifting and lowering apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2336144A
Application number: GB9807456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Graeme Saunders; Frank Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-08
Filing date: 1998-04-08
Publication date: 1999-10-13
Also published as: GB9807456D0

Abstract

An apparatus for lowering e.g. a beer keg K from an upper level to a lower level comprises a flexible web 22 extending from a position 24 adjacent the upper level and having one end wound around a spring-loaded roller 14. When the keg K is positioned onto the web 22 adjacent the upper level, the weight of the keg causes the web 22 to be pulled from the roller 14 against its spring loading, thereby lowering the keg to the lower level. Preferably, a pawl 30 prevents unwanted roller movement and a handle 32 is provided for winding up a barrel K. Preferably the web is extended over an intermediate roller or bar 20. The apparatus may be used on a vehicle as shown or for moving barrels to and from a cellar.

Description

2336144 Lifting and lowering aRparatus The present invention relates to an

apparatus for lifting and/or lowering heavy articles, and particularly but not solely to an apparatus for lowering full kegs of beer from a delivery vehicle and for raising empty beer kegs onto the 5 vehicle.

It is often necessary to lower full kegs of beer from a delivery vehicle to the ground. This is usually carried out manually but, because of the heavy weight of each keg when full, this is an operation which is tiring and also liable to lead to strain or injury.

I have now devised an apparatus which is of simple construction but which is effective in lowering heavy articles, such as full beer kegs, from one level to a lower level.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for lowering an article from an upper level to a lower level, the apparatus comprising a web of flexible material extending from a position adjacent the upper level and having one end wound around a spring-loaded roller, arranged such that when an article is positioned onto the web adjacent said upper level, the weight of the article causes the web to be pulled from the roller against its spring loading and thereby lower the article to the lower level.

Preferably the web extends to a position above the level (upper level) from which the article is to be lowered.

Preferably the apparatus comprises an intermediate roller or bar over which the web passes, positioned, in use of the apparatus, outwardly from an edge of a platform which forms the upper level from which the article is to be lowered. Preferably this intermediate roller or bar forms part of a frame or other structure which can be pivoted from a generally vertical, out-of-use position to a generally horizontal, in-use position.

The apparatus may be mounted to a delivery vehicle, to lower a full beer keg or other heavy article from the floor of the vehicle to the ground. However, the apparatus may be used in other applications, e.g. in a warehouse or in a cellar, 2 where it is required to lower an article from a platform or other upper level to the ground or some other lower level.

It will be appreciated that whilst the apparatus can be used to lower an article from an upper level to a lower level, it can also be used to raise an article from the lower level to the upper level. Thus, an empty beer keg, for example, may be positioned on the web at the lower level, when the web is extended from its roller, and then the spring-loading of this roller used to wind the web onto it and so raise the keg or other article.

Preferably the spring-loaded roller is provided with a mechanism for normally preventing the roller turning under its spring bias to wind the web up onto the roller. Thus, the article, once lowered to the lower level, can be removed from the web without the web being automatically wound up onto the spring- loaded roller. Preferably this mechanism is releasable manually when required, in order to allow the roller to turn under its spring loading and wind the web up, either to lift an article from the lower level to the higher level or to ready the web for lowering another article from the upper level.

Preferably the spring-loaded roller is provided with a manual winding handle to help unwind the web from this roller, for example if an article being lowered is insufficiently heavy to overcome the roller's spring loading. Similarly, the winding handle may be used to help wind the web onto the spring-loaded roller, for example if an article being lifted is too heavy for the spring bias to turn the roller.

Preferably the end of the web which is wound around the springloaded roller is the end remote from its attachment to the upper level, from which the article is to be lowered.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a lifting and lowering apparatus in accordance with the invention, shown fitted to the rear of a delivery vehicle and deployed for use; FIGURE 2 is a similar view to that shown in Figure 1, but with the load- supporting web of the lifting and lowering apparatus removed to reveal constructional details of the 3 apparatus; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the lifting and lowering apparatus, shown folded up to an out-of-use configuration; FIGURE 4 is a side view of the lifting and lowering 5 apparatus when deployed and in use; and FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the web roller of the apparatus, showing a ratchet mechanism which is coupled to this roller.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus mounted to the rear of a delivery vehicle to facilitate the lowering of full beer kegs from the vehicle to the ground, and the lifting of empty or partly empty kegs from the ground and onto the vehicle. The apparatus comprises a mounting frame having two uprights, 10, 12 mounted at or adjacent the rear edge of the vehicle floor and supporting, between them, a rotatable, spring-loaded roller 14. The apparatus further comprises a support frame which has two arms 16, 18 and a roller 20 extending between their outer ends, their inner ends being pivoted to the respective uprights 10, 12 on the axis of the spring-loaded roller 14.

The apparatus also comprises a web of flexible material 22 which has one end fixed to an elongate member 24 which is in turn secured to the rear edge of the vehicle just below its floor level. The web 22 runs over the support roller 20 and its opposite end is rolled around the spring-loaded roller 14. Referring to Figure 5, the spring-loading of the roller 14 biasses the roller to turn in the clockwise direction, as viewed in that Figure, and so wind the web 22 onto the roller. A ratchet wheel 26 is coupled to the roller 14 and has a pawl 28 engaged with it, operably connected to a manual ly-pivotable lever 3 0. The roller is accordingly free to turn in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, for the web 22 to unwind from the roller: the ratchet mechanism normally prevents the roller 14 from turning in the opposite direction, but the lever 30 can be pivoted to release the pawl 28 from the ratchet wheel and so allow the roller to turn in that direction. A winding handle 32 (Figure 1) is also coupled to the roller 14 for manually turning the latter when required, as will be described below.

4 When the vehicle is in transport or the apparatus is not otherwise required for use, the support frame, comprising the arms 16, 18 and support roller 20, is folded up and the web 22 is wound up to its maximum extent, as shown in Figure 3.

When the apparatus is required for use, the support frame is folded down to its horizontal position, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4: the arms 16, 18 are stopped in this position by brackets 10a, 12a which project from the respective uprights 10, 12. A keg e.g. K can now be rolled over the rear edge of the vehicle floor and onto the lower portion of the web 22: if the keg K is full, its weight acts to apply sufficient tension to the web 22 to turn the roller 14 against its spring loading and so unroll the web from this roller; the keg K is accordingly lowered gently to the ground. The keg K can now be tipped or otherwise removed from the web 22: the ratchet mechanism of the roller 14 prevents the web 22 being wound up, under the spring loading of the roller, as soon as the keg is removed from the web.

An empty or partly empty keg can be lifted from the ground and onto the vehicle in the following manner. Thus, the keg is positioned on the lowered web 22: the lever 30 is then operated to release the pawl 28 from the ratchet wheel and allow the spring-loading to turn the roller 14, so winding up the web 22 and lifting the keg. If the keg is too heavy for the spring-loading of the roller 14 to lift it, then the user can use the winding handle 32 to help turn the roller 14 in the required direction. Similarly, if when unloading a keg it is found that the weight of the keg is insufficient to overcome the spring-loading of the roller 14, the winding handle can again be used to help turn the roller.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus which has been described is of simple construction yet easy and effective to use, both for lowering a keg from a vehicle to the ground and for lifting a keg from the ground and onto the vehicle.

Moreover, whilst the apparatus has been described when fitted to a vehicle, it may instead be employed in other applications, for example within a warehouse or within a cellar, where there is a requirement to lift or lower a keg between two levels.

claims 1) An apparatus for lowering an article from an upper level to a lower level, the apparatus comprising a web of flexible material extending from a position adjacent the upper level and having one end wound around a spring-loaded roller, arranged so that when an article is positioned onto the web adjacent said upper level, the weight of the article causes the web to be pulled from the roller against its spring loading and thereby lower the article to said lower level.

2) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said web extends to a position above said upper level.

3) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2,further comprising an intermediate roller or bar over which said web passes, said intermediate roller or bar being positioned, in use of the apparatus, outwardly from a platform which forms said upper level.

4) An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said intermediate roller or bar forms part of a structure which can be pivoted from a generally vertical out-of-use position to a generally horizontal in-use position.

5) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a mechanism for normally preventing said spring-loaded roller turning under its spring bias to wind said web up around said roller.

6) An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said mechanism is manually releasable.

7) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said spring-loaded rolleris provided with a manual winding handle.

8) An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the end of said web which is wound around said spring- 6 loaded roller is the end remote from the attachment of said web to said upper level.

9) An apparatus for lowering an article from an upper level to a lower level, the apparatus being substantially as 5 herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.