Lift and reorienting mechanism

Claim 2

Apparatus for lifting and reorienting an object having an internal accessible axially extending opening, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a probe pivotably carried by said frame and having at least one projection disposed for radial reciprocation relative thereto between a retracted position and an extended position; (c) a sleeve assembly, having an outer surface substantially conforming to the object opening, encircling said probe and disposed for relative axial movement thereto between first and second positions, said sleeve assembly having an access port to permit passage of said projection therethrough; (d) means urging said projections into its extended position when said sleeve assembly is in said first position, and for urging said projection into its retracted position when said sleeve assembly is in said second position; and (e) means, coaxial with said probe and said sleeve assembly, for biasing said sleeve assembly to said first position.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the means for biasing said sleeve assembly to said first position comprises a spring mechanism encircling said probe for exerting pressure generally equally about an end of the sleeve assembly nearer to the frame.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for urging said projection into its retracted position comprises a recess formed within said sleeve and located therein relative to the retractable projection, a wall of which recess abuts the retractable projection and urges the projection to retract upon axial movement of the sleeve assembly to second position.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a radially extending appendage rigidly affixed to said probe wherein said appendage interacts with said sleeve assembly to limit relative axial motion therebetween.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said sleeve assembly has an elongated, axially extending slot to receive the radially extending appendage.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said probe further comprises pivoting means including a dual arm actuator.

Claim 10

Apparatus for lifting and reorienting an object having an internal axially extending opening, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a probe pivotally carried by said frame for attachment to objects to be lifted and reoriented by insertion in the internal axially extending opening, said probe including at least one projection disposed for radial reciprocation relative thereto; (c) a dual arm actuator pivotably carried by said frame and providing means for pivoting said probe; (d) a sleeve assembly for governing radial reciprocation of said at least one projection relative to said probe, said sleeve assembly encircling said probe and being disposed for axial movement relative thereto, said sleeve assembly having an access port formed therein to permit passage of said radially reciprocating projection therethrough when said sleeve assembly is disposed relative to said probe such that said access port is in registration with said radially reciprocating projection; and (e) means, coaxial with said probe, for biasing said sleeve assembly to an axial position relative to said probe wherein said access port is in registration with said radially reciprocating projection to permit said projection to extend radially from said probe.

Claim 11

Apparatus for lifting and reorienting an object having an internal axially extending opening, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a probe pivotally carried by said frame for attachment to objects to be lifted and reoriented by insertion in the internal axially extending opening, said probe including at least one projection disposed for radial reciprocation relative thereto; (c) a dual arm actuator pivotably carried by said frame and providing means for pivoting said probe; (d) a sleeve assembly for governing radial reciprocation of said at least one projection relative to said probe, said sleeve assembly encircling said probe and being disposed for axial movement relative thereto, said sleeve assembly having an access port formed therein to permit passage of said radially reciprocating projection therethrough when said sleeve assembly is disposed relative to said probe such that said access port is in registration with said radially reciprocating projection; and (e) means, coaxial with said probe, for biasing said sleeve assembly to an axial position relative to said probe wherein said access port is in registration with said radially reciprocating projection to permit said projection to extend radially from said probe.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said probe further comprises means for limiting movement of said sleeve assembly including a radially extended appendage rigidly affixed to said probe.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said sleeve assembly has formed therein an elongated slit to receive said appendage and limit axial movement of said radially extended appendage.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising a linkage arm for linking said dual arm actuator and said probe.

Claim 15

The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said linkage arm pivotably attaches to said dual arm actuator and rigidly attaches to said probe, and further comprises means for translating motion of said dual arm actuator to said probe.

Claim 16

The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said dual arm actuator employs a pair of coordinated arms, and wherein said actuator, through one of extension and retraction of said arms, translates motion of said dual arm actuator through the linkage arm to effectuate movement of said probe.