A “hex-plus-X” linkage for lifting applications, comprising a hexagonal assembly, an X assembly, and actuation means. The hexagonal assembly comprises six bars, B1 through B6, pivotally attached end-to-end in a closed hexagonal loop, B1-B2-B3-B4-B5-B6-B1. B1 is a base bar; B4 is a top bar. The X assembly, comprising two bars B7 and B8 pivotally attached to each other, is pivotally and slidably attached to B1 and B4, thereby eliminating two unwanted degrees of freedom from the hexagonal assembly without limiting the size of B1 or B4. The actuation means is pivotally attached at knee joints between B2-B3 and B5-B6. To save space and eliminate tripping hazards, the knee joints are concave, so that B2-B3 and B5-B6 do not protrude. When actuated, the linkage lifts a load by modulating a distance between B1 and B4. Mechanical advantage is high. Slidable joints bear modest loads, minimizing wear. None of B4 is cantilevered.
Mechanical linkage for lifting
2016-02-23
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B66F HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING, OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD , Hub-, Verhol- oder Schubvorrichtungen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen, z.B. Vorrichtungen mit unmittelbarer Krafteinwirkung auf die Last |