Device for lifting loads

The device addresses non-parallel lifting and complex installation issues by using belts secured via rails and adjustable hooks, providing a robust, parallel lift with high capacity and efficient space use.

DE102024137281A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-06-18BORMANN HOLGER
View PDF 0 Cites 1 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
DE102024137281
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-12-11
Filing Date
2024-12-11
Publication Date
2025-06-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing load lifting devices, such as those used for roof tents, suffer from non-parallel lifting due to varying rope lengths per revolution, leading to unbalanced loads and potential durability issues, and require complex installations with high error potential.

Method used

A device with four belts connected to a rotatable shaft, secured via rails and belt bearings, ensuring even layering of belts on rollers for parallel lift, using adjustable hooks and requiring minimal clearance, and featuring a robust, space-efficient design with adjustable straps.

Benefits of technology

Achieves a parallel lift up to 350 cm with 150 kg capacity, ensuring load stability and efficient space utilization, while minimizing installation complexity and reducing the risk of device failure.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
    Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for lifting loads (lift), in particular for lifting and lowering objects such as roof tents. A specific area of ​​application is the lifting of roof tents onto vehicle roofs. The device comprises 4 belts [26, 27], each of which is connected at one end to a rotatable shaft [15] and at the other end of which hooks [29 or 30] are attached in order to attach the loads to be moved to these hooks [29 or 30]. The device is characterized in that the shaft [15] is attached to a ceiling via a shaft holder [13] and the belts [26, 27] are attached to a ceiling via rails [5, 6] and belt bearings [1]. Two belts [27] run along the ceiling via two long rails [5] and are longer than the two belts [26] that do not run along the ceiling by approximately the difference in length between the long [5] and short [6] rails, so that all four hooks [29 or 30] for receiving the load are at approximately the same height.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for lifting loads (lift), in particular for lifting and lowering objects such as roof tents. A specific area of ​​application is the lifting of roof tents onto vehicle roofs. State of the art

[0002] A well-known Multilift from Thule Sweden AB (website: https: / / www.thule.com / de-de / cargo-carrier / cargo-accessories / thule-multilift- -572004) is used to lift roof boxes, surfboards, or kayaks onto vehicle roofs. This Multilift is capable of lifting loads of up to 100 kg.

[0003] A similar product is sold by Gerhard Geiger GmbH & Co. KG (website: https: / / www.geiger.de / box-lift / ). Using a crank, the empty roof box is raised to the desired height on the ceiling of the carport or garage and, when needed, conveniently lowered again – directly onto the car roof. The maximum load is 100 kg.

[0004] Another popular product is a tent lift from Moby Mountain in Denmark (https: / / mobymountain.com / de / produkt / zeltlift / ). This tent lift makes it easy to set up and take down a roof tent yourself, and it provides a convenient place to store the roof tent when not in use. The tent lift raises the tent to the ceiling of a carport or garage, where it can be stored. It is also possible to lower the tent completely to the ground for cleaning or drying. Suitable for most roof tent types. The maximum lifting weight is 100 kg, and the maximum lifting height is approximately 260 cm.

[0005] Previously available devices used simple plastic or steel ropes. Since these ropes are not wound onto the pulleys / drums in layers during winding, there are differences between the pulleys in terms of circumference per revolution. This means that the length of the wound rope per revolution varies from pulley / drum to pulley / drum, and thus the lift per revolution varies at all four attachment points of the load. As a result, the lifting is not parallel, and the load quickly becomes unbalanced. Object of the invention

[0006] The object of the invention was to eliminate the disadvantages of the known technical solutions. Solution to the task

[0007] The problem was solved according to the features of the patent claims.

[0008] The device according to the invention comprises, at least according to main claim 1, four belts [26, 27], each of which is connected at one end to a rotatable shaft

[15] and at the other end of which hooks [29 or 30] are attached in order to attach the loads to these hooks [29 or 30]. The invention is characterized in that the shaft

[15] is fastened to a ceiling via a shaft holder

[13] and the belts [26, 27] via rails [5, 6] and belt bearings [1]. Two belts

[27] run along the ceiling via two long rails [5] and are longer than the two belts

[26] that do not run along the ceiling by approximately the difference in length between the long [5] and short [6] rails, so that all four hooks [29 or 30] for receiving the load are at approximately the same height.

[0009] The present invention has various special features that set new standards in terms of lifting height, lifting force, durability and uniformity of the stroke.

[0010] According to the invention, belt materials are used. The material is always rolled evenly in layers on all rollers / drums, thus ensuring a parallel lift even over a very high lifting height of 350 cm. Furthermore, the increase in circumference per layer is very small due to the material thickness of only approximately 1 to 1.2 mm, preferably 1.1 mm, resulting in a high lifting height and a moderate increase in the force required when cranking the lift.

[0011] Most current state-of-the-art devices are implemented using a single shaft and four individually mounted pulleys. The complexity of installation, including the necessary prior determination of the individual mounting points on the ceiling, is immense and carries a high potential for errors that can lead to durability issues or even device failure.

[0012] The device according to the invention (hereinafter referred to as "Prime Tech Lift") comprises two solid rails for secure installation. Only a few dimensions need to be observed, and the corresponding pulleys are supported against each other by the rails.

[0013] Due to the basic design of existing systems, a minimum distance between the ceiling and the roof tent / load is usually required. Depending on the device, this distance can be up to approximately 20 cm.

[0014] Due to its design, the product according to the invention typically requires a clearance of only approximately 3 cm, as the load can be lifted completely below the rails of the lift. This makes space utilization much more efficient.

[0015] Conventional devices often have loops that need to be passed under the roof tent / load.

[0016] The Prime Tech Lift features individually adjustable hooks, each available in two sizes, on all four straps. These can be hooked either directly into the load or onto an additional strap (included in the scope of delivery). The additional strap is then threaded from right to left under the load. This has the added advantage of being much easier to handle than a closed loop.

[0017] With the car roof tent lift according to the invention, you can lift or lower a car roof tent or other roof loads comfortably and effortlessly.

[0018] Its space-saving design allows the car roof tent to be permanently and safely stowed under the ceiling of a garage or carport. Compared to other systems, the Prime Tech car roof tent lift makes optimal use of the available space thanks to its flat and robust construction. With an impressive lifting height of up to 350 cm (depending on the installation situation) and a load capacity of up to 150 kg, it offers sufficient stability for a wide variety of loads. Unlike most other lifts, the lift is completely parallel, ensuring the car roof tent hangs straight from the ceiling.

[0019] Additional hooks and straps allow loads to be securely secured to the four strap ends. Alternatively, loads can also be picked up from below using additional straps. It is operated manually using a practical hand crank.

[0020] The use of the invention will be briefly described using the assembly and operating instructions, without reducing the invention to them. Implementation examplea) Preparation of the individual parts for assembly (pre-assembly) 1. Insert the inner plain bearings into the bearing blocks. Refer to the section "Arrangement of Bearings and Washers on the Shaft." 2. Assemble the two sets of rails with the bearing block. 3. Screw the auger with bracket to the designated bearing block. b) Assembly instructions part 2 (installation on the ceiling) 1. Determine the position on the ceiling according to the later placement of the load. 2. Draw the centerline of the two long rails on the ceiling. The distance between the rails can be varied from approximately 113cm to 138cm center-to-center. 3. Mark the holes by placing the long rails on the center line. Each set of rails requires at least two holes near the bearing blocks and one near the intended deflection point. 4. Measure the diagonals and correct the marked holes if necessary to avoid misalignment. 5. Drill the holes and attach the rails to the ceiling using the support brackets. The necessary mounting hardware is not included and must be selected according to the material and structure of the ceiling. We recommend using 8 mm screws. 6. After attaching the rails, check the alignment again by measuring the diagonals and adjust the rails accordingly if necessary. 7. Now insert the parts of the shaft into the bearing blocks, inserting the ends of the straps with the sewn bead into the notch of the shaft. 8. Align the length of the shaft according to the position of the bearing blocks and insert the cotter pins at both ends of the shaft. 9. Secure the shaft by tightening the screws on the sliding piece.

[0021] IMPORTANT! Before first loading, all pulleys and plain bearings must be oiled, and the worm gear must be thoroughly greased. For the plastic bearings and pulleys, penetrating oil or chain spray is suitable; the worm gear should be lubricated with bearing grease or a similar lubricant. c) Adjusting the straps and use 1. To avoid unnecessary deterioration of the transmission ratio, unused belt should not be wound onto the shaft. Therefore, the belt adjustment should be selected so that at the lowest point of the load, no more than two turns of belt remain on the shaft. The belts are then adjusted on the hooks so that the load can be easily attached. Surplus belt can be wound up or placed on the load on the lift. Of course, the belt can also be shortened accordingly, but should then be cauterized using a flame at the cut point to prevent it from unraveling. 2. Guide the belt (as shown in Fig. 3) through the hook openings. The hooks are designed to be used upright (with the long leg pointing vertically upwards) (except for hook C). If you wish to use the hooks for any other purpose, it is your responsibility to ensure that the strap does not slip through. 3. To lift the load, use the crank to turn the eyelet of the worm drive counterclockwise. d) Permissible load depending on the lifting height

[0022] As the belts are wound onto the shaft, the transmission ratio is constantly changing. The table below shows the recommended maximum load depending on the possible lifting height. Due to the design, the maximum load decreases with increasing lifting height. Table 1: Lifting height and load Hubhöhe in cm Last in kg 50 150 80 120 120 90 175 75 195 60 250 45 320 30 350 30 Figures Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the invention, without the straps. Fig. 2 shows an application on a vehicle roof. Fig. 3 shows how to attach the straps to the hooks. Fig. 4 shows the long rail. Fig. 5 shows the short rail. Fig. 6 shows the assembly with the rails. The Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show the hooks. Fig. 10 shows the device with 4 straps without load. Fig. 11 shows a top view with possible distances / dimensions List of reference symbols 1 Belt bearing (sliding bearing) 17 Sleeve worm drive shaft 2 Washer (Ø6) 18 Washer with “indicator” 3 Lock nut 19 Worm drive shaft 4 screw M6x65 with 2 nuts 20 worm holder 5 long rail 21 worm 6 short rail 22 cylindrical pin 4x25 7 Hexagon flat head screw M6x12 23 Spring washer (Ø6), black 8 Screw M6x10 with nut 24 Hexagon socket screw M16x15 9 Screw M6x125 with nuts 25 Hexagon socket screw M6x35 10 split pin (Ø3x35) 26 strap 50x1.2mm 3.50 meters 11 Washer (Ø22) 27 Belt 50x1.2mm 5.00 meters 12 O-washer for the shaft 28 Belt 50x1.2mm 2.20 meters 13 Shaft support (bearing block) 29 Hook type A 14 Main shaft bearings 30 Hook type B 15 Main shaft 31 Hook type C 16 worm gear 32 crank QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited non-patent literature

[0000] https: / / www.thule.com / de-de / cargo-carrier / cargo-accessories / thule-multilift- -572004

[0002] https: / / www.geiger.de / box-lift /

[0003] https: / / mobymountain.com / de / produkt / zeltlift /

[0004]

Claims

[1] Device for lifting and lowering loads, comprising 4 belts [26, 27], each connected at one end to a rotatable shaft [15] and at the other end of which hooks [29 or 30] are attached in order to attach the loads to be moved to these hooks [29 or 30], characterized by that the shaft [15] is attached to a ceiling via a shaft holder [13] and the belts [26, 27] via rails [5, 6] and belt bearings [1], whereby 2 belts [27} run along the ceiling via 2 long rails [5] and are longer than the 2 belts [26] that do not run along the ceiling by approximately the difference in length between the long [5] and short [6] rails, so that all 4 hooks [29 or 30] for taking up the load are at approximately the same height. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the shaft [15] can be moved via a worm gear [16], a gear and a crank [32]. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the shaft [15] has a slot to accommodate the 4 belts [26, 27]. [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the straps [26, 27] are sewn at the end that is connected to the shaft [15] to prevent them from slipping out of the shaft [15]. [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the hooks [29 or 30] each have at least 3 openings for passing the straps [26, 27]. [6] Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the rails [5, 6] have one or more pulleys and plain bearings. [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that additional straps [28] or additional hooks [31] are used to attach the loads. [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the material thickness of the belts [26, 27, 28] is about 1 to 1.2 mm, preferably 1.1 mm. [9] Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that a long [5] and a short [6] rail are mounted next to each other on the ceiling in the shaft holder and thus corresponding deflection rollers or plain bearings are supported against each other by the rails [5, 6], with the short rail [6] preferably being located on the inside. [10] Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the hole spacing between the two long rails [5] is about 110 cm to 150 cm, preferably 113 to 138 cm. [11] Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the total length of the shaft holder and a long rail is 175 cm.

Citation Information

Cited By

  • Photovoltaic panel mounting assembly and mounting method for photovoltaic construction of building roof

    CN121675573A