Patent Application
20230147944
Example embodiments relate to a pusher lift cart and methods of using the same.
Pusher lift carts are well known in the art and are used to move a variety of items. Quite often the lift carts use a scissors jack type of apparatus to move a cart bed upwards and downwards. Other lift carts use actuators, for example, pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic cylinders to lift the cart bed upwards and downwards.
The inventor notes movement of axles can be quite difficult using conventional lift carts. Thus, in order to improve over the prior art, the inventor invented a new type of pusher lift cart having, amongst other things, a profile allowing axles be supported near the ground on which the pusher lift cart rests. An example of the pusher lift cart includes one or more actuators allowing an axle to be raised and lowered. In one nonlimiting example embodiment, a pusher lift cart includes two actuators allowing ends of the axle to be moved upwards and downwards. The two actuators may be operated independently of one another allowing the axle to be tilted, if so desired. In another embodiment the actuators are moved in a synchronous manner so that ends of the axle may be raised and/or lowered at the same time and at the same rate.
Disclosed is a pusher lift cart comprising a pusher lift cart main frame having first a first end and a second end, a first top section at the first end, a second top section at the second end, a first interfacing member on the first top section, a second interfacing member on the second top section, and an axle support section between the first top section and the second top section. The pusher lift car further includes a first pusher lift cart sub frame at the first end of the pusher lift cart main frame, the first pusher lift cart subframe having a first complementary interfacing member telescopingly engaged with the first interfacing member, and a second pusher lift cart sub frame at the second end of the pusher lift cart main frame, the second pusher lift car subframe having a second complementary interfacing member telescopingly engaged with the second interfacing member. The pusher lift car further includes a first actuator connected to the first top section and the first pusher lift cart subframe and a second actuator connected to the second top section and the second pusher lift cart subframe, wherein the first end and the second end of the pusher lift cart main frame are moved upwards and downwards by the first and second actuators.
Example embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure since the disclosure may be embodied in different forms. Rather, example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity.
In this application, when a first element is described as being “on” or “connected to” a second element, the first element may be directly on or directly connected to the second element or may be on or connected to an intervening element that may be present between the first element and the second element. When a first element is described as being “directly on” or “directly connected to” a second element, there are no intervening elements. In this application, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
In this application, spatially relative terms merely describe one element’s relationship to another. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the structure. For example, if a first element of a structure is described as being “above” a second element, the term “above” is not meant to limit the disclosure since, if the structure is turned over, the first element would be “beneath” the second element. As such, use of the term “above” is intended to encompass the terms “above” and “below”. The structure may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
Example embodiments are illustrated by way of ideal schematic views. However, example embodiments are not intended to be limited by the ideal schematic views since example embodiments may be modified in accordance with manufacturing technologies and/or tolerances.
In example embodiment, the first end 110 of the pusher lift cart main frame 100 may have a transition section and a top section 140. Similarly, the second end 120 of the pusher lift cart main frame 100 may also have a transition section and a top section 150. The transition section at the first end 110 of the pusher lift cart main frame 100 is shown as being comprised of a first straight vertical member 147 and a second straight vertical member 148, however, this example is merely for the purpose of illustration and not meant to limit the invention. For example, the transition section may be comprised of straight inclined members or curved members instead. Similarly, the transition section at the second end 120 of the pusher lift cart main frame 100 may also be comprised a first straight vertical member 157 and a second straight vertical member 158, however, this example is also merely for the purpose of illustration and not meant to limit the invention. For example, this transition section may be comprised of straight inclined members or curved members instead.
Referring again to
The above teachings may also be pertinent to second end 120 of the pusher lift car main frame 100. For example, the top section 150 may include interfacing members 122 which may be configured to interface with complementary interfacing members 212 of another pusher lift cart subframe 200. For example, in one nonlimiting embodiment, the interfacing members 122 and the complementary interfacing members 212 may resemble tubes or cylinders which engage each other in a telescoping manner. For example, the interfacing members 122 may resemble a hollow cylinder and the complementary interfacing members 212 may resemble cylindrical tubes insertable into the interfacing members 122. In the alternative, the interfacing members 122 may resemble cylinders and the complementary interfacing members 212 may resemble hollow cylindrical tubes into which the interfacing members 122 may insert. Of course, the interfacing members 122 and complementary interfacing members 212 are not required to be cylindrical, for example, in another embodiment they may resemble square or rectangular tubes that engage each other in a telescoping manner.
In example embodiments the top sections 140 and 150 may take several forms. In the example shown in the figures, the top sections 140 and 150 are shown as comprised of tube steel. For example, the first top section 140 is comprise of three pieces of tube steel 142, 144 and 146 welded together to form a solid section. Similarly, top section 150 may also be formed from three pieces of tube steel 152, 154, and 156 welded together to form a solid section. However, it is understood this aspect of example embodiments is for purposes of illustration only. For example, rather than forming the top sections 140 and 150 from three pieces of tube steel, a molding or bending process may be employed to produce a section highly similar to the illustrated top sections 140 and 150 comprised of welded together tube steel members.
In example embodiments, the pusher lift cart main frame 100 may also include backer plates 160 and 162. The backer plates may resemble rectangular plates welded to the transition sections (for example, transition members 147, 148, 157 and 158). The backer plates 160 and 162 increase may increase the strength of the pusher lift cart main frame 100 as well as provide stiffness to add stability to the pusher cart main frame 100.
In example embodiments, the axle support section 130 may be configured to support an axle. In the nonlimiting example embodiment of at least
In example embodiments the pusher lift cart main frame 100 is shown as being largely constructed as being made from tube steel. For example, each of members 132, 147, 142, 144, 146, 148, 134, 157, 152, 154, 156, and 158 may be 4×2×¼ tube steel members welded together to form a substantially unitary whole. However, the tube steel size may be different depending on required strength. In addition, rather than using tube steel, other shapes may be used. For example, rather than fabricating members 132, 147, 142, 144, 146, 148, 134, 157, 152, 154, 156, and 158 from 4×2×¼ tube steel, W-shapes, H-shapes, I-shapes, or even C-shapes may be used.
In example embodiments the top section 140 may include a pair of ears 149 on an underside thereof. Similarly, top section 150 may also include a pair of ears 159 on an underside thereof. The ears 149 and 159 (see
As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the profile of the pusher lift cart main frame 100 has the axle support section 130 at a lower elevation than top sections 140 and 150. As will be explained shortly, this arrangement will help facilitate keeping the axle support section 130 relatively close to the ground making it relatively easy to place an axle on the cradle inserts 500 (see
As shown in
The sides of the base member 214 of the pusher lift cart subframe 200, in one embodiment, include transition members 222 and 224 which connect the base member 214 to upper members 218 and 220. The upper members 218 and 220 may be made from tube steel, as shown in the figures, or some other type of structural member, for example, an I, W, H, or C shaped member, and the upper members 218 and 220 may include connections 219 and 221 to connect castor wheels 600 to the pusher lift cart subframe 200. For example, the connections 219 and 221 may be quick change bolt castor plates.
As shown in the figures, the base member 214 may be on a lower elevation that the upper members 218 and 220. This may allow the pusher lift cart main frame 100 to be moved closer to the ground than if the complementary interfacing members 212 were mounted on a structure having the same elevation as the upper members 218 and 220.
In example embodiments the pusher lift cart sub frame 200 may include a tow plate 230 which may interface with a forklift, tow motor, or other industrial device. For example, the tow plate 230 may include a hole 232 through which a pin may connect the tow plate 230 to the forklift, tow motor, or other industrial device.
Referring back to
Due to the profiles associated with the pusher lift cart main frame 100 and the pusher lift cart subframes 200 the axle support section can be moved very near, if not on, the ground. For example, the axle support section may be moved onto the ground, within about one inch of the ground, within about two inches above the ground, etc. Such an arrangement makes it relatively easy to move an axle on the cradles 500 of the pusher lift cart 1000.
The subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/277,904 filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 10, 2021, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63277904 | Nov 2021 | US |
