Lifting apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for use in raising and tilting a large elongated heavy load having a major length axis, from a generally horizontal attitude to a generally vertical attitude, comprising a carriage movable along a generally horizontal track, support means on said carriage providing two pivotal bearing supports for the load, said supports being spaced apart in the direction of said track, means for controlling the movement of said carriage along said track, and a rocking cradle provided with means for attachment to an end of the load and having two corresponding pivot bearings spaced apart the same distance in a direction transverse to the major length axis of said load, one of said pivot bearings being adjacent a bottom corner of the load when horizontal and the other pivot bearing being positioned adjacent the major length centreline of the load, whereby when the load is approximately horizontal the first said pivot bearing engages a first one of said two pivotal supports on said carriage, in an inclined position of the load both of said bearings engage said two pivotal supports, and in a vertical position of the load the second said pivot bearing engages the second said pivotal support on the carriage and the said first bearing is disengaged from the first pivotal support.