Apparatus for lifting and lateral shifting of heavy constructions
United States Patent 1191 1 1 Apr. 29, 1975 Ahlgren [54] APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND LATERAL 1.600.835 9/1926 Manley 214/1 D X F 1943,57) 7/1960 Belgcddes 212/125 X 3,033,525 /1962 Johnson 104/162 X (76} n nt ils Harald g 22 3.504.889 4 1970 Wyrough ,1 254 93 R x Skyttevagen, 133 00 Saltsjobaden 3.718.265 2/1973 Trost 214/1 D Swed n 3179,39; 12/1973 Shigeno et a1v 214/1 R [22] Filed: Sept 1973 Primary E.\&#39;am1&#39;nerFrank E. Werner [21] Appl. No.: 401,247  
  [571 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data An apparatus for the lifting and lateral shifting of Oct. 2, 1972 Sweden 2685/72 heavy Constructions and Similar 103C151 Comprising two essentially parallel and at least substantially horizontal 52 us. c1 212/11; 214/1 11 tracks plaeed one Oh eheh Side of the lead and resting 51 1111. c1. B661: 17/00 on their respective Supports the tracks being adapted [58] Field of Search 214/1 R, 1 H. 1 D; to carry mountings for Suitably hydraulic jaeks fer the 105 370 37 2; 2 2 124 125 lifting of the load. The jacks are arranged to operate 25 11; 254/93 R. 39 H in eccentric relation to their track-carried mountings, and the tracks are arranged to permit shifting of the 5 Reierences Cited mountings while the latter carry the eccentric force UNITED STATES PATENTS exerted by the load supported by the jacks. 854,837 5 1907 Paige 1. 212/ 6 Cl ims. 5 Drawing Figures v 54 Q s1 -9 2&#34;1i w PATENTEUAPR29ms 3.880.293  
 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG] 7 6 6 8 APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND LATERAL SHIFTING OF HEAVY CONSTRUCTIONS The present invention relates to an apparatus for the lifting and lateral shifting of heavy constructions and similar loads.  
  According to the invention. the apparatus comprises two essentially parallel and at least substantially horizontal tracks placed one on each side of the load and resting on their respective supports. the tracks being adapted to carry mountings for suitably hydraulic jacks for the lifting of the load while the jacks are arranged to operate in eccentric relation to their track carried mountings; and the tracks are arranged to permit shifting of the mountings while the latter carry the eccentric force exerted by the load supported by the jacks. The invention thus provides. by simple means. an apparatus for the lifting and lateral shifting of heavy constructions. which apparatus is specially intended for use on single occasions. such as the mounting of rafters and like beams in large buildings. as well as the mounting and repair of machinery. such as the turbines in power stations. In the situations indicated. the apparatus can be brought into use instead of traveling cranes or similar apparatuses. The apparatus according to the invention is. in comparison with traveling cranes. cheaper. lighter. easier to assemble and does not demand any great degree of precision in order to function satisfactorily. Hence. the tracks do not need to be completely parallel and. moreover. may incline in relation to the horizontal. In view of the fact that the mountings are designed to be shifted by means of hydraulic jacks the permissible inclination can be quite considerable and can thus be intentionally exploited in connection with the lateral shifting.  
  Since the tracks of an overhead traveling crane cannot. for many reasons. extend beyond their own supports. it is not uncommon that the heavy construction to be lifted must be moved by a mobile crane into the operative area of the overhead crane. This disadvantage can also be eliminated by the apparatus according to the invention. since both the tracks are designed so that at least their one ends extend beyond the support on which they rest. The tracks can. for example. extend outside a building which is to be fitted with some heavy construction. so that the weight ofthis construction can be taken up already outside the building.  
  The invention can also be used where a mobile crane is already on the site. but is not suited for the lifting of the heavy load. In this situation. the horizontal crane tracks which rest on their supports. can be called into use.  
 The invention will be described in greater detail below. with reference to the enclosed drawing. showing two embodiments of the apparatus in use at the erection of a building in which:  
  FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the building with the apparatus in the first embodiment thereof;  
  FIG. 2 shows a portion of FIG. I on a considerably larger scale;  
  FIG. 3 shows the portion in FIG. 2 as seen from the side;  
  FIG. 4 shows a cross-section. corresponding to FIG. 2. of the apparatus in the other embodiment thereof;  
  FIG. 5 shows the apparatus in FIG. 4 as seen from above.  
  1 and 2 designate the walls of a building which is to be fitted with rafters 3. The top edges of the walls I and 2 are used as supports for two essentially parallel and at least substantially horizontal tracks 4 and 5 which. in their turn. are arranged to carry the mountings 6 and 7 for hydraulic jacks 8 which are to lift the load 3 by means of wire ropes. rods or similar suspension elements 9. As will be apparent from the drawings. the jacks 8 are arranged to work in eccentric relation to their mountings 6 and 7 which are carried by the tracks 4 and 5. Tracks 4 and S are designed to permit the shifting of the mountings 6 and 7 while the latter carry the eccentric force exerted by the load 3 supported by the jacks 8. The mountings 6 and 7 are adapted to be shifted by means of hydraulic jacks 10.  
  The tracks 4 and 5 need not necessarily be two in number; their number may be varied dependent upon int.al. the ability of the support to take up load. The jacks 8 being hydraulic. the load can be easily distributed between the different tracks.  
  Each track 4 and 5. respectively is fitted with the number ofjacks 8 necessary for handling the load 3. In this case. it is not only the weight of the load 3 which is the decisive factor. but also its size and sensitivity to inclination etc.  
  The hydraulic jacks 8 are arranged adjustably on the mountings 6 and 7 in such a way that they permit alteration of the angles the suspension elements 9 make with the mountings 6 and 7. The suspension elements 9 can thus be inclined in all directions. thus facilitating uniform lifting and lateral shifting.  
  The tracks 4 and 5 preferably consist of short sections which are easy to move. When a single construction 3 is to be handled only a few track sections need be used. since these can be removed according as they are passed by the load 3 and placed in position again ahead of the load. In order that the transition between the track sections be smooth. the track sections are fitted. at their ends. with guide elements II and 12 which fit into each other. When not in use the tracks 4 and 5 can be dismantled; for this reason the supports for the tracks show only the means I3 for fixing the tracks to the supports. According to FIG. 2. said means comprise bolts case 13 into the material of the wall I.  
  In a simple embodiment of the invention the mountings 6 and 7 are fitted with for instance hook means 14 which co-operate with the tracks 4 and 5. and which takes up the tilting effect of the eccentric force. The hook means l4 engages a flange 15 of the tracks 4 and 5. The mountings 6 and 7 should. moreover. comprise some portion which prevents them from being shifted laterally. In one form the tracks 4. 5 and mountings 6, 7 can be designed as guides with movably mounted slides thereon.  
  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the tracks I6 of an overhead traveling crane or similar apparatus. are used. these being already disposed on their supports. The tracks 16 will then form slideways for the mountings I7. which. in respect of the eccentrically operating jacks 8, must co-operate with additional tracks 18 corresponding to the flanges 15. Thus. the mountings 17 are fitted with hook means 19 which correspond to the hook devices [4. the latter being in opposite relation to the former. The additional tracks [8. which. like the tracks 16, constitute slideways for the mountings 17. are formed by tubular profiles being substantially parallel with the tracks 16 and co-operating.  
 at regular intervals. with associated anchorage means 20. For their contemplated sliding movemenu the mountings 17 are fitted with special shoes 21 and 22 which are connected. via elastic members. to the mounting 17. thus distributing the pressure over a great area.  
  What i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:  
  1. Apparatus for the lifting and lateral shifting of heavy structures and similar loads. comprising:  
 two essentially parallel and substantially horiziontal tracks. one on each side and at a greater height than the load. each track resting on a respective support. said tracks having mountings for hydraulic lifting jacks adapted for lifting said load. each of said lifting jacks being arranged to take its lifting load in eccentric relation to its respective track and to transfer said load to its respective trackcarried mounting; said mountings being adapted to be slidably shifted along their respective tracks while carrying the eccentric force exerted thereon by the load which is supported by said lifting jacks; where each of said lifting jacks is arranged with a lifting element between it and said load. and said lifting element is passed through said lifting jack and moves through said lifting jack during a lifting operation; each of said mountings for said lifting jacks being adapted to move laterally along its respective track;  
 and additional jack means adapted to cause said mountings to move laterally along their respective tracks.  
  2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1. where said mountings are adapted to be moved by means of hydraulic jacks.  
  3. Apparatus as claimed in claim I where said hydraulic lifting jacks lift said load by means of wire ropes. rods or similar lifting elements; and said lifting jacks are adjustably arranged at their respective mountings in such a way that the angles that said lifting jacks make with their respective mountings may be altered.  
  4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where said mountings are fitted with hook means which cooperate with their respective tracks in order to take up the eccentric force exerted on said mounting by the load.  
  5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1. where said mountings are fitted with hook means which are adapted to co-operate with additional tracks located beside said first-mentioned tracks. in order to take up the eccentric force exerted on said mountings by the load.  
  6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where at least one end of each of said tracks reaches beyond the supports on which said tracks are resting.