Suspended Container Lifting Attachment for Precise Assisted Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for lifting heavy objects, such as containers filled with substances or liquids, face challenges including manual strain and injury risks, limited movement precision, and the inability to safely lift multiple containers simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A vertically-suspended lift control device with a retractable load-bearing feature and lifting attachment that includes angled lifting arms, allowing for selective retraction and extension to lift and maneuver containers safely and precisely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting methods are used, then simplicity and low cost are achieved, but user safety and lifting capacity are compromised due to back strain and injury risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a suspended lift device as an intermediary between the heavy container and the user. The device includes a retractable load-bearing feature (cable or chain) that acts as a mediator to transfer the lifting force from the motorized winch to the container, eliminating the need for direct manual lifting while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pure mechanical manual lifting system with a hybrid system that incorporates an electric motor and winch mechanism. The motorized winch substitutes for human muscular force, providing controlled retraction and extension of the load-bearing cable while maintaining ease of operation through simple control input
2Force
If forklift-like lifting machines are used, then lifting capacity is improved, but movement precision and versatility are limited due to fixed pathways and structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically adaptable system where the suspended lift device can move freely in three-dimensional space rather than being constrained to fixed rails or pathways. The retractable cable mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of lifting height and position, enabling precise movement control while maintaining high lifting capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes variable parameters including cable length, suspension height, and horizontal position to achieve precise container placement. The motorized winch allows continuous adjustment of cable retraction length, providing fine-grained control over vertical position while the suspended design enables horizontal movement freedom
3Productivity
If existing lifting applications are used, then lifting function is achieved, but control precision and safety features are insufficient allowing multiple containers to be lifted simultaneously which can be detrimental
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates safety mechanisms that provide feedback control to prevent overloading. The system includes sensors or mechanical limiters that detect when the lifting capacity threshold is approached and automatically prevent operation or alert the user, ensuring precise control while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the lifting system as a modular unit with distinct functional components: the suspended lift device, the lifting attachment with container engagement features, and the control system. This segmentation allows for precise control of each component while maintaining overall system productivity and safety
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting assistance apparatus includes a vertically-suspended lift control device configured to selectively linearly retract, linearly extend, or hold a retractable load-bearing feature, a lifting attachment attached to the retractable load-bearing feature, where the lifting attachment includes an angled portion having two horizontally opposed lifting arms connected via a member and configured to fit to a container with a protrusion, such that the two lifting arms when positioned directly below the protrusion are configured to selectively contact and lift the container as the lifting attachment is at least partially lifted by a retraction of the load-bearing feature, and a graspable portion configured to permit a user to select a horizontal position and height of the container using the control device by moving the container vertically and/or horizontally, where the control device operates to provide assistance to the user when moving the container in the vertical direction.