Lifting apparatus

Claim 2

A lifting apparatus comprising a companion pair of load lifting units, each unit having an upstanding main frame, a lifting carriage assembly movably mounted on said main frame, an extensible and retractable jack connected with the lifting carriage assembly to raise and lower it, cooperating means on said lifting carriage and main frame operable to automatically lock and hold each lifting carriage at an elevated position, a wheeled base for each unit, a flexible element interconnecting the bottom of each lifting carriage assembly with the top of the associated jack, means forming an adjustable connection between the top of each jack and the associated flexible element, whereby each jack may elevate its lifting carriage assembly a distance greater than the height of the jack, a horizontally extensible and retractable loop belt and tightener means on one lifting carriage assembly of one unit, and a vertically extensible and retractable loop belt and tightener means on the lifting carriage assembly of the other unit, said loop belts adapted to encircle a load being lifted by said units in substantially right angular planes and serving to lash the two units together in opposing relationship.

Claim 3

A lifting apparatus comprising a companion pair of load lifting units, each unit having an upstanding main frame, a lifting carriage assembly movably mounted on said main frame, an extensible and retractable jack connected with the lifting carriage assembly to raise and lower it, pawl and ratchet means on each lifting carriage assembly operable to automatically lock and hold such assembly at a given elevated position on said main frame, a chain element adjustably interconnecting the top of each jack and the lower portion of each lifting carriage assembly, whereby each lifting carriage assembly can be raised to a self-sustaining level in relation to said pawl and ratchet means and can be further elevated to a higher level by connecting another portion of said chain element with the top of said jack on each unit, a horizontally extensible and retractable loop belt and tightener means on one lifting carriage assembly of one unit, and a vertically extensible and retractable loop belt and tightener means on the lifting carriage assembly of the other unit, said loop belts adapted to encircle a load being lifted by said units in substantially right angular planes and serving to lash the two units together in opposing relationship.

Claim 4

A lifting apparatus comprising a companion pair of load lifting units, each unit having an upstanding main frame, a lifting carriage assembly movably mounted on said main frame, an extensible and retractable jack connected with the lifting carriage assembly to raise and lower it, pawl and ratchet means on each lifting carriage assembly operable to automatically lock and hold such assembly at a given elevated position on said main frame, a chain element adjustably interconnecting the top of each jack and the lower portion of each lifting carriage assembly, whereby each lifting carriage assembly can be raised to a self-sustaining level in relation to said pawl and ratchet means and can be further elevated to a higher level by connecting another portion of said chain element with the top of said jack on each unit, a horizontally extensible and retractable loop belt and tightener means on one lifting carriage assembly of one unit, and a vertically extensible and retractable loop belt and tightener means on the lifting carriage assembly of the other unit, said loop belts adapted to encircle a load being lifted by said units in substantially right angular planes and serving to lash the two units together in opposing relationship.

Claim 5

A load lifting unit comprising an upright main frame, a pair of caster wheels supporting the main frame and rendering it mobile, a lifting carriage assembly movably mounted upon the main frame including a load engaging element, a lifting jack secured to the base of the main frame and having a connection with said carriage assembly To raise and lower the same, said connection of the lifting jack with said carriage comprising a flexible element having spaced projections thereon, said element attached to the bottom of the carriage assembly and having adjustable engagement with the top of said jack, the top of said jack having recess means engageable with selected ones of said spaced projections, and means on the carriage assembly to releasably lock the same in any selected elevated position with respect to the main frame and to allow further elevation of the carriage assembly from such position.

Claim 6

A load lifting unit comprising an upright main frame, a pair of caster wheels supporting the main frame and rendering it mobile, a lifting carriage assembly movably mounted upon the main frame including a load engaging element, a lifting jack secured to the base of the main frame and having a connection with said carriage assembly To raise and lower the same, said connection of the lifting jack with said carriage comprising a flexible element having spaced projections thereon, said element attached to the bottom of the carriage assembly and having adjustable engagement with the top of said jack, the top of said jack having recess means engageable with selected ones of said spaced projections, and means on the carriage assembly to releasably lock the same in any selected elevated position with respect to the main frame and to allow further elevation of the carriage assembly from such position.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 1, and said flexible element comprising a chain having cross pins, and said means forming an adjustable connection including a notched recess in the top of said jack adapted to receive said chain and pins adjustably and lockably anywhere along the length of said chain.