Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
206982
nArK~l?nuNn n~ Tl~l~ TNVF:NTTON
The present invention relates to a transporter
which enables an operator to carry by himself an
obJect having a heavy weight as far as a predetermined
place.
Conventionally, when carrying an obJect having a
weight wllich is too heavy to lift by oneself,
transport work should be carried out by a plurality of
operators, or by a specia]. vehicle such as forklift,
10 truck with crane, etc.
With the prior art transporter, particularly,
with the above special vehicle which is used when
carrying an o~ect having a weight whicll is too heavy
to lift by oneself, however, not only the arrangement
itself is extremely expensive, but the operator should
be highly skilled in operation ~or smooth executlon.
Further, if ground or ~loor surface of a place on
whlch transport work is carrled out is not fla-t, the
ob~ect to be put on a carrier should be fixed thereto
so as not to slip of~ therefrom durin~ transport.
It is, therefore, an obJect of the present
invention to provide a transporter having a simple
meChalliSIII W}liCh enables any operator to sa~ely and
easily manipulate same by himself witllout any
specialized operation technique.
~illMMAl?Y Ol~ l'H~ TNVF.~`ITTON
There is provided, according to the present
invention, a transporter for carrying ~ ative to a horl-
zontal ground surface an object having a center o~
gravity, comprising:
r
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- first arm means for lifting the object, the first
arm means having a longitudinal center line;
- second arm means, operatively connected to the
first arm means at one end thereof, for supporting the first
arm means;
- wheel means, rotatably mounted to the second arm
means, for enabling movement of the transporter, the wheel
means having an axis of rotation, the first arm means being
disposed relative to the wheel means so that the longitudinal
10 center line of the first arm means extends through the axis
of the wheel means and a pivot point between the first and
second arm means;
- drive means, interposed between the first and
second arm means, for driving the first arm means;
- setting means, connected to the drive means, for
initially setting the first arm means so that the center of
gravity of the object is above the axis of the wheel means;
- sensor means connected to the second arm means for
sensing a variation of an inclination angle of the second arm
20 means relative to the horizontal ground surface; and
- a microcomputer based control unit connected to
the drive means, the setting means and the sensor means, the
microcomputer based control unit controlling the drive means
such that the drive means move the first arm means relative
to the second arm means in response to the sensed variation
of the inclination angle of the second arm means relative to
the horizontal ground surface so as to maintain the center of
gravity of the object above the axis of the wheel means
regardless of the inclination angle of the second arm means
30 relative to the horizontal ground surface.
~ ',
....
2a 206~82 1
n~T~F n~ RTPTTnN ~F T~ nRAWTN~
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred
embodiment of a transporter according to the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the transporter of Fig.
1 ;
~ ig. 3 is a front view of the transporter as
viewed from the side of a drag bar;
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the transporter as
viewed from the side of rear wheels;
Fig. 5 is a side view of the transporter when
lifting up an ob~ect;
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but after
lifting up the ob~ect;
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but
immediately before front wheels reach an up inc]ine;
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but when the
transporter is moving on the up incline;
Fig. 9 is a view similar to ~ig. 8, but
immediately before the front wheels reach a down
incline;
Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but when the
transporter is moving on the down incline;
Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing
another embodiment of a transporter havin~ drive arms
with extension mechanism;
Fig. 12 is a view similar to ~Ig. ]], bllt showing
still another embodiment of a transporter wherein the
mounting position of drive shafts and cylinders is
_ ~~
.
A
...~
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changed; and
Fig. 13 is a view similar to ~ig. 12, but showing
the other embodiment of a transporter having shortened
auxiliary arms.
T)FTATT.Fn T)F.~,RTPTTON OF TTIF. TNV~NTTON
Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment
of the present invention will be described.
Referring first to Figs. 1-4, a transporter
includes a pair of drive arms (first arm means) 1 each
arranged on an auxiliary arm (second arm means) 4, and
a pair of operation arms 2 each mounted thereto. The
operation arms 2 have the other ends connected by a
drag bar 3 to which a control part 5 for setting
operation mode of the transporter is mounted.
Connected to each drive arm 1 in the upper end portion
thereof via a chain 11 is a hook 12 for catch an
object 13 (not seen here) to be carried. Inclination
of each drive arm 1 is adjustable by a drive shaft 9
(drive means) slidably fitted in a cylinder 10 (drive
means). The transporter is movable by a pair of front
wheels 7 (wheel means) with an axle 6 and a pair of
rear wheels 8 rotatably mounted to the auxiliary arms
4, respectively. Up and down switches 17, 18 are
arranged to the auxiliary arms 4 at the front end
portions thereof, respectively, so as to turn on and
off when the operation arms 2 rotate in pressing
springs 19. Reinforcing plates 20, 21 are arranged
between the auxiliary arms 4.
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be
described. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, when
lifting up the object 13 to be carried, the
transporter is moved so that the object 13 is located
between the two auxiliary arms 4. The hook 12 as
fixed to the chain 11 at one end thereof is caught to
a belt 14 which is put round the object 13. When a
lift operation switch is turned on by the control part
5 mounted to the drag rod 3, a motor of a hydraulic
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pump 23 within the drive arm 1 is rotated so that the
drive shaft 9 within the cylinder 10 extends in the
direction of the control part 5 by a worm gear
mechanism (not shown), thus rotating the drive arm 1
in the direction of the control part 5. Referring to
Fig. 6, the drive arm 1 is automatically stopped when
the center of gravity of the object 13 as lifted up
comes above the axle 6. Referring also to Fig. 1,
movement of the center of gravity of the object 13 is
detectable by a level switch 24 mounted within the
auxiliary arm 4. This level switch 24 assumes a
neutral position when the auxiliary arm 4 is
horizontal.
Next, prior to dragging of the transporter,
operation mode of the control part 5 is set to
automatic mode. The automatic mode is opposed to so-
called manual mode, and corresponds in the present
invention to operation mode for driving a drive
mechanism of the transporter so as to automatically
and always hold the center of gravity of the object 13
above the axle 6 in response to variation of an
inclination angle of a ground surfacc 15 on which
transport work is carrying out. The manual mode
corresponds to operation mode wherein an operator
operates the drive mechanism of the transporter on his
judgement when lifting down the object 13 after its
transport to a predetermined place or carrying out
fine adjustment of a position of the drive arm 1 which
will be described hereinafter.
Referring to Fig. 7, after setting operation mode
to automatic mode by the control part 5, if the
transporter encounters, for example, an up incline
while the operator drags same with the drag rod 3 to
carry the object 13, the transporter behaves as
follows.
Referring also to Fig. 7, when the operator
passes from a flat of the ground surface to the up
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incline thereof, an operation arm 2 is pivoted upward
on a supporting shaft 16 as a fulcrum so that an up
switch 17 is turned on by the operation arm 2 on the
upper face thereof, thus starting operation of the
drive shaft 9 to rotate the drive arm 1 on the side of
the drag rod 3. Referring to Fig. 8, the operator
continues to go on the up incline, and when a front
wheel 7 of the transporter reaches the up incline, the
upper face of the operation arm 2 is disengaged from
the up switch 17 to turn off same. Accordingly, in
case that the transporter is on the up incline, the
operator is merely required to pull, within a period
of time from turning-on of the up switch 17 to
turning-off thereof, the transporter with the drag rod
3 at a speed that the center of gravity of the object
13 comes always above the axle 6.
On the other hand, referring to Fig. 9, when the
operator passes from the flat of the ground surface to
a down incline thereof, the operation arm 2 is pivoted
downward on the supporting shaft 16 as a fulcrum so
that an down switch 18 is turned on by the operation
arm 2 on the lower face thereof, thus starting
operation of the drive shaft 9 to rotate the drive arm
1 on the side of a rear wheel 8. Referring to Fig.
10, the operator continues to go on the down incline,
and when the front wheel 7 of the transporter reaches
the down incline, the down face of the operation arm
2 is disengaged from the down switch 18 to turn off
same. Accordingly, in case that the transporter is on
the down incline, the operator is merely required to
pull, within this period of time, the transporter with
the drag rod 3 at a speed that the center of gravity
of the object 13 comes always above the axle 6.
If a stop position of the drive shaft 9, i.e., a
position of the center of gravity of the obJect 13, is
not optimal when the up switch 17 or the down switch
18 is turned off, the position of the drive arm 1 can
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be adjusted fine, if necessary, by switching operation
mode to manual mode.
When putting down the object 13 on the ground
after its transport to the predetermined place, the
drive arm 1 is rotated on the side of the rear wheel
8 in manual mode.
Having described an embodiment with reference to
the drawings, it is to be noted that the present
invention is not limited thereto, but various
modifications may be made therein without departing
from the scope of the claims. By way of example, the
following modifications or the combination thereof are
possible.
First, the drive mechanism for operating the
drive arm 9 may be of the combination of an electric
motor and a mechanical device, and include a pneumatic
cylinder.
Secondly, when the drive mechanism uses electric
power, a power source may be of a charging type
battery or a small-sized generator, or of a power
supply for domestic use by providing a power cord.
Thirdly, different lifting members such as lever
type vacuum suction cup, etc. can be used in place of
the hook 12.
Fourthly, a sensor control system can be added to
correctly recognize the amplitude of variation of the
inclination angle of the ground surface 15 during
transport, and accurately indicate and control the
amplitude of movement of the drive arm 1 relative to
the above amplitude of variation.
Fifthly, referring to Fig. 5, if the transporter
is designed and constructed to have a form enabling a
larger angle formed by the operation arm 2 and the
ground surface 15, the center of gravity of the object
13 can be held always above the axle 6 in keeping
always the rear wheel 8 apart from the ground surface
15 during transport.
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Sixthly, in case that the ground surface 15 or a
contact surface is flat as far as a predetermined
point to which the object 13 has to be transported,
and that the center of gravity of the object 13 is
relatively stable, a rack may be mounted on the
auxiliary arm 4 to carry the object 13, the lower face
thereof being in contact with the rack during
transport.
Seventhly, a reinforcing member can be added
between the drive arm 1 and the auxiliary arm 4 for
preventing torsion of the transporter, or a brake
mechanism can be added for increasing the safety of
work during movement of the transporter.
Eighthly, an extension mechanism can be added to
the drive arm 1, the auxiliary arm 4 or the drag bar
3, or all thereof for further increase in the
operativity of the transporter.
Ninthly, referring to Fig. 11, in case that the
drive arm 1 is provided with an extension mechanism,
if the two auxiliary arms 4 are integrally formed to
be an U-shape, and the front wheel 7 is mounted within
the auxiliary arm 4, and the axle 6 and the
reinforcing plates 20, 21 are eliminated, the object
13 can be lifted up and down only by extension motion
of the drive arm 1, resulting in more facile transport
of heavy or long object.
Tenthly, referring to Fig. 12, the mounting
position of the drive shaft 9 and the cylinder 10 can
be changed to drive the drive arm 1 on the side of the
drag arm 3.
Eleventhly, referring to Fig. 13, if the length
of the auxiliary arm 4 is decreased in addition to the
modification No. 10, transport work can be done
without an end of the drive arm 4 being knocked
against a wall when lifting up the obJect 13 located
near the wall, or lifting down same near the wall.
Upon lifting-up or lifting-down of the object 13, for
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minimizing a load applying to the operator by movement
of the center of gravity of the object 13 with
rotation of the drive arm 1, a support 22 as usually
received or housed within the auxiliary arm 4 is drawn
out temporarily therefrom so that one end thereof
touches to the ground. If the drag bar 3 with
extension mechanism is adopted, and the operator holds
same in its extension state upon lifting-up or
lifting-down of the object 13, the above load can be
further decreased.
Lastly, the transporter may be provided with
traction means such as an engine, etc. for automatic
operation.
