Elevator bridge with columns

Claim 2

Apparatus for supporting and raising loads comprising: at least a pair of spatially displaced upwardly extending parallel columns; a movable horizontal support member extending between said columns; means for imparting movement to said support member to cause said support member to move along said columns in such a manner that the end thereof are always in a common horizontal plane; load support means positioned on said support member for receiving and supporting a load to be raised; locking means for preventing unintentional lowering of said support member from a raised position, said locking means being carried by said support member and operatively engaging at least one of said columns; means for releasing said locking means to permit lowering of said support member from a raised position; vertically oriented bar means mounted from each of said columns; and load receiving arm means mounted for movement on each of said bar means independently of movements of said support member, said arm means each being pivotal about respective of said bar means between a load engaging position and an inoperative position, said arm means not interfering with the raising and lowering of the load when in the inoperative position, said arm means being capable of supporting the load when in the operative position whereby said support member may be lowered and the load will remain in a raised position.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said columns are vertically oriented and are provided with facing slots for receiving and guiding oppositely disposed ends of said support member and wherein said bar means are mounted on the facing sides of said columns adjacent the support member guiding slots therein.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: pulley means mounted at the top of each of said columns; a counterweight positioned for vertical movement; and cable means extending from said counterweight over said pulley to each of said load receiving arm means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said load receiving arm means each comprises: a generally U-shaped base member, said base member extending around said bar means; a horizontally extending arm attached to said base member, said arm being received between the legs of said base member and being provided with an arcuate recess complimentary in shape to said bar means in an end thereof, said end of said arm with said arcuate recess being received in said base member and cooperating with said bar means to support a load in the raised position when the weight of the load is imposed thereon.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for preventing operation of said releasing means unless all of said load receiving arm means are in the operative position or all of said load receiving arm means are in the inoperative position.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises: a plurality of mechanically interconnected pivotal latch members; recesses provided in facing surface portions of each of said columns, said recesses being engaged by said latch members; and means for pivoting said latch members out of engagement with said column recesses; and wherein said means for preventing operation of said releasing means comprises: means for preventing the pivoting of said latch members out of engagement with said recesses unless all of said load receiving arms are either in the operative or inoperative position.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said columns are vertically oriented and are provided with facing slots for receiving and guiding oppositely disposed ends of said support member and wherein said bar means are mounted on the facing sides of said columns adjacent the support member guiding slots therein.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: pulley means mounted at the top of each of said columns; a counterweight positioned for vertical movement; and cable means extending from said counterweight over said pulley to each of said load receiving arm means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said load receiving arm means each comprises: a generally U-shaped base member, said base member extending around said bar means; horizontally extending arm attached to said base member, said arm being received between the legs of said base member and being provided with an arcuate recess complimentary in shape to said bar means in an end thereof, said end of said arm with said arcuate recess being received in said base member and cooperating with said bar means to support a load in the raised position when the weight of the load is imposed thereon.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises: a control lever; a guide slot in one of said columns for determining the motion of said control lever, said guide slot having a horizontal neutral portion, an ascending portion and at least a first descending portion; first means for energizing said movement imparting means to cause raising of said support member, said first energizing means being positioned so as to be contacted by said control lever when in the ascending slot portion; second means for energizing said movement imparting means to cause lowering of said support means, said second energizing means being operated in response to movement by said control lever into a descending slot portion; a pivotal shaft connected to said control lever; solenoid operated blocking means for preventing pivoting of said shaft unless all of said load receiving arm means are in the operative position or all of said load receiving arm means are in the inoperative position, said pivoting prevention means including: a two position electrical switch mounted on each of said columns; an actuator for each of said switches, said actuators extending in a position so as to be contacted by said arm means in the inoperative position; and means connecting said switch means in a pair of parallel circuits whereby the solenoid of said blocking means will be energized only when all of said arm means are in either the operative or inoperative position, energization of said blocking means solenoid permitting pivoting of said pivotal shaft.