US3150389A

US3150389A - Boat lift

Info

Publication number: US3150389A
Application number: US311500A
Authority: US
Inventors: Spencer J Woodworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-09-25
Filing date: 1963-09-25
Publication date: 1964-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-29

Description

p 29, 1964 5. J. WOODWORTH 7 3,150,339

BOAT LIFT Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheetl' 9 VINVENTOR.

SPENCER J. wooDwQRTH Sept. 29, 1964 WQODWORTH 3,150,389

BOAT LIFT Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SPENCER J.WOODWORTH Sept. 29, 1964 s. J.wooDwoR1'-H 3,150,389

BOAT LIFT Filed Sept. 25, 1963 :3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III!! II!!! SPENCER J.WOODWORTH Y B wm Om OO 7 0. mm wOm m A a a H ill mp United States Patent sasassa BGAT LEFT Spencer 3;. Wocdworth, Miami, Fla. (323- E. Market St., Apt. K6, York, Pa.) Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,508 9 -Claims. {CL 9-4i'i) This invention relates to lifts or cranes and is more particularly directed to a boat lift capable of hoisting a boat in a level posiiton.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a boat lift with an equalizing bar which permits adjusting the position of a carriage so that a boat which is in imbalance may be lifted in a level position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat lift with a bar along which a carriage having rollers is permitted to move until a Weight is lifted by the boat lift then the carriage becomes automatically secured against moving along the bar.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boat lift with a boom which can be swung by hand or motor through an arc of over 180 by use of reduction gearing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lift with an equflizing bar for lifting an imbalanced boat on a level position by manipulating the boom to move the carriage in the direction of the position of balance.

With these and other objects in view, the invention wfll be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

IGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a boat lift constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view.

FZGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3.

FTGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the levelizing bar taken along the line 5-5' of FIGURE 1.

FEGURES

6 and 7 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 6-6 and '77 respectively of FTGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 of FEGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the carriage.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1% refers ot a boat lift constructed 7 in accordance with my invention and consisting of an upright post 11 imbedded in concrete and supporting a horizontally swinging boom 12. The boom 12 is supported at its inner end by a rotating mast 13 with a brace 14- extending diagonally between the mast 13 and boom 12. At the inner end of the boom 12 and the lower end portion of the mast 13 there is a hinge plate 15 whose outer end is pintled as at 16 to a hinge 17 which is secured to the post 11 to permit the mast 13 to swing in an arc of approximtaely 180.

Means are provided for swinging the mast 12 comprising a gear plate 13 secured to a support 19 which is mounted on the inner end of the boom 12. The gear plate 18 is provided with a row of gear teeth 20 forming a semi-circle in mesh engagement with a bevel gear 21 having a shaft 22 which is rotatably mounted on a sup port 23. A chain pulley 24 is secured to the free end of shaft 22 and is provided with an endless chain 25 for rotating the bevel gear 21 which in turn will rotate the gear plate 18 and the boom 12 about the pintles 16.

At the free end of the boom 12 there is a support pin 26 which is engaged by a hook 2'7 that supports an electric reversible motor 2 8. The electric motor 28 is provided with a drum portion 29 on which is wound a cable 39 on whose lower end a hook 31 is secured. Actuation of the lines 32 which extend to the post 11 will serve to operate the reversible motor 28 in raising or lowering the equalizing bar 35 to which the hook 31 is attached.

The equalizing bar 35 is constructed of a pair of channel beams 36 placed in paralle and spaced relation to each other and fastened together by

plates

37 and 38 at the top of the channel members 36 and at each end thereof and

plates

39 and 4% at the bottom of the channel members 3o. Consequently the mid-portion of the equalizing bar 35 is provided with slots 41 and 42 to permit a carriage support handle 43 and a manually adjusting hmdle 44 of a carriage assembly 45 to extend therethrough for sliding the carriage assembly 45 to different positions along the equalizing bar 35.

The carriage 43 f the or the carriage assembly 45 extends upwardly of the mid-portion of a carriage support plate 46 at whose ends an I beam 47 is fastened at the position of one of its flanges 48 as best shown by FIGURE 9, while the outwardly extending flanges are slotted on each side as at 55 to receive rollers 59. The rollers 50 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 51 and secured at their mid-portion to a vertically disposed pin 42. which extends between the flange 49 and the flange 53 therebelow of each 1 beam 47. About ecah pin 42 is a coil spring 54 which yieldingiy urges the rollers 50 in an upward direction above the level of the support plate 46. Positioned on the upper surface of the support plate 46 is a heavy duty rubber member 79 which frictionally engages the equalizer bar 35 as is explained in detail hereinafter. The equalizer bar 35 is supported by the hook 31 which engages the carriage 45 at a bore so formed in the carriage support handle 43.

At the ends of the equalizing bar 35 are horizontally extending

pins

57 and 58. On the pin 57 there is dependingly secured a spreader bar 59 at whose ends boat ring engaging hooks are secured for releasably securing to stem boat rings 61 of a boat 62.

At the forward pin 58 which is rotatably mounted between the channel beams 36 has secured thereon a drum 63 on which a cable 64 is wound. The cable 64 extends downwardly terminating in a hook 65 to releasably engage a boat ring as mounted on the bow of the boat 62. The drum 63 is provided with a handle 67 for manually rotating the drum 63 to adjust the length of the cable 64 to the boat 62. The handle 67 is slidably mounted and is locked in position by a stop portion 68 which engages the edge of the channel beam as.

To prevent the danger of carriage 45 from rolling too fast in the equalizing bar 35 and cause possible iniury or damage to a boat being lifted, the rolling movement of the carriage as is cushioned by a cylinder 71 secured as at '7 2 to the end of the equalizer bar 35. Air escape and inlet ports 73 are positioned at each end of the cylinder with a piston 74 mounted therebetween as best shown by FIGURE 5. A rod '75 secured at one end to the piston is secured at its other end to the carriage 45 at one of the I beams 47. Now as the carriage 45 is moved in either direction on the equalizer bar 35, the piston 74 will compress the air in the cylinder 71 in the direction it is moving and slow down the movement of the carriage 45 as determined by the rate of flow of escaping air through the port 73.

in the normal operation of my boat lift 10, the equalizer bar 35 is lowered to permit the boat rings 61 and 66 :3 to be engaged by the hooks 69, 65 respectively. By manipulation of the lines 32, the motor 29 which is connected to a source of electricity (not shown), the equalizer bar 35 is raised until the weight of the boat 62 is beginning to be borne by the lift 10, the coil springs 54 of the carriage 45 will become compressed and the rubber friction members 70 will engage the channel beam 36 to lock the carriage 45 in place on the equalizer bar 35.' If the boat 62 is not in balance on the equalizer bar 35, the boat 62 and equalizer bar 35 will assume a tilted position. Knowing in which direction the boat is out of balance, the operator now lowers the boat 62 and the equalizer bar 35 until the Weight of the boat 62 is borne by the surface on which it is resting. This permits the coil springs 54 to slide the rollers 50 upwardly and the carriage 35 downwardly removing the rubber friction members 70 from contact with the channel members 36 so that rollers 50 are now free to rotate. The operator then operates the chain to rotate the pulley 24 and gear 21 causing the gear plate 18 and boom 12 to swing about the pintles 16 in the direction of imbalance that is, the direction in which the heavier portion of the boat prevailed. The carriage 45 will now slide along the equalizing bar on the rollers 50 until the carriage reaches the position of balance. The boat 62 is now lifted by the boat lift 10 with the equalizer bar 35 and the boat 62 in a perfectly horizontal position to the desired height above the surface on which the boat was resting. The weight of the boat 62 causes the rubber friction members 70 to engage the channel members 36 of the equalizer bar 35 to prevent any sliding movement of the carriage 45 while the boat 62 is in being borne by the lift 10. The operator again pulls on the chain 25 to swing the boom 12 in the desired direction he wishes the boat 62 to be deposited. The boat 62 is then lowered and the equalizer bar 35 will be found to be in an imbalance position after the weight of the boat 62 has been removed therefrom. Before the

hooks

60, 65 are disengaged from the boat rings 61, 66, the chain 25 is manipulated to swing the boom 12 in the direction of the imbalance. The rollers will permit the carriage 45 to slide to the center position or position of balance of the equalizer bar 35. The

hooks

60, 65 are then disengaged from the boat rings 61, .66 and the boat lift 10 swung to its normal non-operating position. When there is no weight being borne by the boat lift 10, the carriage 45 Will slide along the equalizer bar 35 when the latter is inclined as little as 5 from the horizontal. Also, when the weight of a boat is borne by the lift 10 and the equalizer bar 35 is in imbalance, the carriage 45 will remain secure against any sliding movement on the equalizer bar 35 with the latter inclined as much as 30.

Having disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A boat lift comprising a post, a boom pivotally mounted on said post, gear means mounted on said post and said boom for swinging said boom, an equalizer bar, means supporting said equalizer bar on said boom, said support means comprising a carriage, a plurality of rollers slidably mounting said carriage on said equalizer bar, friction means mounted on said carriage and resilient means yieldingly urging said friction means out of contact relation with said equalizer bar whereby upon the lifting of a boatby said lift said friction means engages said equalizer bar to prevent said rollers from sliding said carriage'along said equalizer bar.

2. A boat lift comprising a post, a boom pivotally mounted onsaid post, gear means mounted on said post and said boom for swinging said boom, an equalizer bar, means supporting said equalizer bar on said boom, said support means comprising a carriage, a plurality of rollers slidably mounting'said carriage on said equalizer bar, dampening means operatively connected to said carriage to restrict movement of said carriage on said equalizer bar, friction means mounted on said carriage and resilient means yieldingly urging said friction means out of contact relation with said equalizer bar whereby upon the lifting of a boat by said lift said friction means engages said equalizer bar to prevent said rollers from sliding said carriage along said equalizer bar.

3. A boat lift comprising a post, boom means secured at one end to said post, equalizer bar means secured at the other end of said boom means, said equalizer bar means comprising a pair of channel members having; leg portions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming a slot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, said carriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantially horizontally between said channel members in proximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support plate memberthrough said slot, roller means mounted on said support plate member normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar.

4. A boat lift comprising apost, boom means secured at one end to said post, equalizer bar means secured at the other end of said boom means, said equalizer bar means comprising a pair of channel members having leg portions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spaced relationship with each other and form-v ing a slot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, said carriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantially horizontally between said channel members in pro imity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted on said support plate member normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar and dampening means op-' eratively connecting said carriage and said equalizing bar to permit the slow movement of said carriage along said equalizing bar.

5. A boat lift comprising a post, a pair of pintle support members mounted on said post, a boom, a rotating mast secured to one end of said boom, pintle support members mounted on said mast, pintle means securing said pintle support members for swinging said boom about said post, gear support means secured to said one end of said boom, gear plate means mounted on said support means, a gear in mesh engagement with said gear plate, a pulley operatively connected to said gear, chain means for rotating said pulley and swinging said boom, an equalizer bar having a pair of channel members having leg portions, means securing saidchannel member is opposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming a slot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, said carriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantially horizontally between said channel members in proximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted on said support plate member normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar.

6. A boat lift comprising a post, a pair of pintle support members mounted on said post, a boom, a rotating mast secured to one end of said boom, pintle support members mounted on said mast, pintle means securing said pintle support members for swinging said boom about said post, gear support means secured to said one end of said boom, gear plate means mounted on said support means, a gear in mesh engagement with said gear plate, a pulley operatively connected to said gear, a pair of channel members having leg portions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming a slot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, said carriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantially horizontally between said channel members in proximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted on said support plate member normally engagin said leg portions, friction means mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar, and dampening means operatively connecting said carriage and said equalizing bar to permit the slow movement of said carriage along said equalizing bar.

7. An equalizing bar comprising a pair of channel members having leg portions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming a slot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, said carriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantially horizontally between said channel members in proximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted on said support plate member normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar.

8. An equalizing bar comprising a pair of channel members having leg portions, means securing said channel members in opposed and spaced relationship with each other and forming a slot between said leg portions, a carriage slidably mounted between said channel members, said carriage comprising a support plate member positioned substantially horizontally between said channel members in proximity of said leg portions, a connector member extending upwardly of said support plate member through said slot, roller means mounted on said support plate member normally engaging said leg portions, friction means mounted on said support plate in proximity of said leg portions and resilient means yielding urging said friction means out of contact engagement with said leg portions whereby said rollers permit the sliding movement of said carriage on said equalizing bar, and dampening means operatively connecting said carriage and said equalizing bar to permit the slow movement of said carriage along said equalizing bar.

9. A boat lift comprising a post, a pair of pintle support members mounted on said post, a boom, a rotating mast secured to one end of said boom, pintle support members mounted on said mast, pintle means securing said pintle support members for swinging said boom about said post, gear support means secured to said one end of said boom, gear plate means mounted on said support means, a gear in mesh engagement with said gearplate, a pulley operatively connected to said gear and means for rotating said pulley whereby said gear rotates said gear plate means and said boom is swung about said pintle means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,353 Moss May 20, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,351 Germany May 17, 1951

Claims

1. A BOAT LIFT COMPRISING A POST, A BOOM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID POST, GEAR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID POST AND SAID BOOM FOR SWINGING SAID BOOM, AN EQUALIZER BAR, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID EQUALIZER BAR ON SAID BOOM, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING A CARRIAGE, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID CARRIAGE ON SAID EQUALIZER BAR, FRICTION MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE AND RESILIENT MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID FRICTION MEANS OUT OF CONTACT RELATION WITH SAID EQUALIZER BAR WHEREBY UPON THE LIFTING OF A BOAT BY SAID LIFT SAID FRICTION MEANS ENGAGES SAID EQUALIZER BAR TO PREVENT SAID ROLLERS FROM SLIDING SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID EQUALIZER BAR.