US3215254A - Ladder and elevator - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 E. w. OTTO ETAL LADDER AND ELEVATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 Eldon W Offo Wilmer w. sen/mar IN VEN TORS wig... BY flaw (may 5% Nov. 2, 1965 E. w. OTTO ETAL LADDER AND ELEVATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 Eldon W. 0H0

Wilmer W. Schmidt 1N VEN TORS United States Patent 3,215,254 LADDER AND ELEVATOR Eldon W. Otto, Rte. 1, Fremont, Wis., and Wilmer W. Schmidt, 821 Fieldcrest Drive, Neenah, Wis. Filed Jan. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 337,799 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-140) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable, power-driven elevators of the ladder type and has for its primary object to :provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for hoisting rolls of roofing material, bundles of shingles, etc., to a roof or other elevated area in which they are to be used.

Another important object of the present invention 18 to provide an elevator of the aforementioned character wherein the hoisting mechanism is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for use on a suitable conventional straight ladder without materially modifying same structurally.

Still another important object is to provide a portable elevator of the character described in which the hoisting mechanism is powered and will not seriously interfere with the use of the ladder as such and wherein, further, the power plant may be readily mounted for operation on said ladder and removed therefrom, if desired.

Another highly important object is to provide a portable, power actuated, ladder-type elevator which is adapted to operate continuously a series of rolls, bundles, etc., in rapid succession.

A further object is to provide a ladder and material elevator of the character set forth which may be easily handled and operated by a single individual.

Other objects are to provide a ladder and elevator of the character described which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the ac companying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, showing a ladder and elevator embodying the present invention in position for use;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the ladder and elevator as seen from the left side of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating the manner in which the prime mover for powering the elevator is mounted on the ladder;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view illustrating the manner in which the elevating platforms are supported from and between the pair of endless fieX- ible tension members which define the elevator portion of the instant invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings it will be seen that the embodiment of the present inven tion which has been illustrated includes a conventional form of ladder generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and including the usual side rails or stiles 12 that are interconnected by means of a plurality of rungs 14.

The upper end of the ladder 10 includes a space attachment generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 and defined by a pair of spacing members 18 which are generally U-shaped in side elevation and have their free ends secured to the corresponding side rail 12 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 20. Each of the U- shaped members 18 includes a plurality of bracing members 22 in order that the U-shaped members 18 may be as rigid as possible while being maintained at a minimum weight. The spacing attachment 16 is adapted to support the upper end of the ladder 10 from an elevated object such as the grade 24 while the lower end of the ladder 10 rests upon a lower object as the tailgate 26 of a truck (not shown) from which a plurality of packages 28 of building material are being unloaded.

It is to be noted that the ladder 10 could be readily leaned up against the side of the building and that the spacing attachment 16 will support the upper end of the ladder from and in spaced relation relative to the wall of the building.

The elevator portion of the instant invention includes a driven shaft 30 which is journaled between the lower ends of the rails 12 and has a driven wheelor sprocket 32 mounted on one end thereof which projects outwardly from the corresponding rail 12. In addition, an intermediate shaft 34 is journalled from the corresponding side rail 12 and has a sprocket wheel 36 mounted thereon in alignment with a sprocket wheel 32. The sprocket wheels 32 and 36 are drivingly connected by means of an endless chain 38 and the outwardly projecting free end portion of the intermediate shaft 34 has a drive pulley 40 mounted thereon which is aligned with a drive pulley 42 mounted on the output shaft 44 of an internal combustion engine generally referred to by the reference numeral 46, the drive pulley or wheel 42 being drivingly engaged with the drive pulley or wheel 49 by means of an endless flexible belt 48.

The upper ends of the side rails 12 have a second transversely extending idler shaft 50 rotatably journaled therebetween and the drive shaft 30 has a pair of sprocket wheels 52 mounted thereon which are aligned with a pair of sprocket wheels 54 mounted on the shaft 50, corresponding ones of the sprockets 52 and 54 having an endless chain 56 entrained thereover with the two chains 56 defining an endless conveyor.

A plurality of support platforms 58 are interconnected between the chains 56 and are supported from the chains 56 by means of special tie links 62. Each of the tie links 62 includes a laterally directed flange 64 to which the corresponding end of the associated support platforms 58 is secured. Further, the tie links 62 each include a gusset plate 66 secured between the tie links 62 and the corresponding flange 64. In addition, the outer end of the flange 64 terminates in a rearwardly directed right angulated portion 68 which in turn terminates at its free end in a rearwardly and inwardly directed portion 70 whose free end terminates -a spaced distance from the associated chain 56.

Accordingly, it may be seen that upon operation of the internal combustion engine 46 the drive shaft 38 will be rotated whereupon the conveyor assembly defined by the chains 56 will be placed in operation and the support platforms 58 will move about the closed path defined by the chains 56.

The ladder 10 has a pair of laterally outwardly projecting V-shaped supports 74 mounted thereon between the shaft 30 and the shaft 50, the V-shaped supports 74 being secured to the outer surfaces of the side rails 12 and adapted to support the package 28 before the latter is engaged by one of the support platforms 58 for movement of the package 28 upwardly along the ladder 10.

The embodiment of the present invention also includes a hanger assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 76 which is generally J-shaped in configuration including a pair of upstanding short and long legs 78 and 80 respectively interconnected at their lower ends by means of a bight portion 82, a diagonal brace 83 being connected between the leg 80 and the mid-portion of the bight portion 82. The J-shaped hanger assembly 76 includes a laterally directed upper arm portion 86 which is formed integrally with the upper end of the leg 80 and is journaled through the corresponding side rail or stile 12 of the ladder 10. In addition, the upper end of the leg 78 includes a laterally directed spindle shaft 88 which generally parallels the arm portion 86 and projects outwardly from the opposite side of the medial plane of the J-shaped hanger assembly 76. A support platform 90 has a pair of axially aligned and spaced sleeves 92 secured to one marginal edge portion and the sleeves 92 are journaled on the spindle or spindle shaft 88-, a diagonal brace 84 being secured between the bight portion 82 and a sleeve 85 disposed on the spindle shaft 88 between the sleeves 92. The internal combustion engine 46 is mounted on the plate 90 in any convenient manner and it may be seen from FIGURE 4 of the drawings that the offset mounting of the internal combustion engine 46 relative to the axis of rotation of the sleeve 92 enables the weight of the internal combustion engine to yieldingly tension the endless belt 48. In addition, an expansion spring 94 is secured between an upper portion of the internal combustion engine 46 and the long leg 80.

An elongated brace bar 96 is pivotally secured at one end to the side rail 12 which journals the arm 86 by means of a pivot fastener 98 and the end of the brace or brace bar 96 remote from the pivot fastener 98 is pinned to the lower portion of the long leg 80 by means of a headed pin 100 which is secured through a selected one of the apertures 102 formed in and spaced longitudinally of the lower end of the brace bar 96 and an aperture or bore 104 formed through the lower end of the long leg 80. In this manner, the hanger assembly 76 may be secured in adjusted and rotated position about the axis of rotation of the arm 86 as desired to maintain the internal combustion engine 46 substantially horizontally disposed when the belt 48 is tensioned.

It may be readily seen from FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings that the hanger assembly 76 may be rotated a full 360 degrees without it or the internal combustion engine supported thereby interfering with any other portion of the embodiment of the present invention. However, it is to be further noted that the rotation of the hanger assembly 76, during practical use of the ladder Would be more than likely limited to movement between the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and a second position rotated somewhat less than 90 degrees in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

It is believed that it may be readily appreciated that the hanger assembly and brace 96 may be readily removed whenever desired in order that the ladder 10, with the conveyor assembly defined by the chains 56 and the support platforms 58 retained thereon, may be utilized as a conventional ladder. Further, inasmuch as the medial plane of the J-shaped hanger assembly 76 is disposed laterally outward-1y of the side of the ladder to which it is secured, the brace member 96 includes a laterally offset end portion 110 which is secured to the hanger assembly 76. However, a diagonal brace member 112 is provided and is secured between the laterally offset end portion 110 and the opposite end portion of the brace member 96 for maintaining the latter rigid.

In operation, when it is desired to utilize the ladder 10 to convey the packages 28 from the tailgate 26 to the upper level of the grade 24, the packages may be placed on the side rails 12 immediately above the V- shaped support 74 for support by the latter. Then, as one of the support platforms 58 moves between the support 74, the package 28 will be engaged by the support platform 58 and moved upwardly along the ladder 10 while the package 28 rests upon the chains 56 or upon the upper surfaces of the side rails 11 in the event the tension of the chains 56 is not sufiicient to maintain the package 28 spaced above the upper surfaces of the side rails 12.

In the event it is desired to use the ladder 10 as a conventional ladder, the hanger assembly 76 and the brace 96 may be readily removed with a minimum amount of effort while the other components of the instant invention remain intact excepting for the endless belt 48 which will be also removed. Then, the ladder 10 may be utilized as a conventional ladder until such time as it is again desired to secure the prime mover on the ladder and to drivingly connect the prime mover to the conveyor assembly of the ladder defined by the shafts 36 and 50 and the endless chains 56.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A mate-rial hoist comprising a ladder including spaced side rails and spaced rungs extending there-between, an endless conveyor assembly mounted on the ladder for conveying loads upwardly therealong and including driven and idler shafts journaled between said side rails at their lower and upper ends, respectively, and endless conveyor means entrained over said shafts, an upright hanger frame pivotally supported at its upper end from a lower end portion of said ladder for rotation about a horizontal axis extending between said rails and disposed between said shafts, prime mover means including an output shaft journaled for rotation about an axis generally paralleling said shafts, an endless flexible drive member entrained about said shafts and drivingly "connecting said output shaft to said driven shaft, means pivotally securing said prime mover means to a lower portion of said hanger frame for rotation about an axis generally paralleling the first-mentioned axis and in a manner supporting said prime mover means in cantilever fashion with the center of gravity of said prime mover means disposed above the axis of rotation of said prime mover means relative to said hanger frame and on the side of a vertical plane containing the last-mentioned axis remote from said driven shaft, and means connected between said ladder and said frame operative to adjustably retain said hanger frame in selected rotated positions relative to said ladder, said output shaft being swingable with said hanger frame between adjusted positions disposed on the side of a plane, disposed normal to said ladder and in which said driven shaft is disposed, adjacent the first-mentioned axis.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means connected between said ladder and said frame comprises an elongated brace pivotally secured to said ladder and adjustably securable, at points spaced longitudinally along said brace, to said frame.

3. The combination of claim 2 including means connected between said prime mover means and said frame yieldingly urging rotation of said prime mover means relative to said frame in a direction increasing the distance between said shafts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,957 8/54 Schlesinger 19814O 2,751,063 6/56 Wilcoxen et al 198203 X 2,865,495 12/58 Oidtman 198-208 2,873,939 2/59 Oidtman l98l40 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MATERIAL HOIST COMPRISING A LADDER INCLUDING SPACED SIDE RAILS AND SPACED RUNGS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE LADDER FOR CONVEYING LOADS UPWARDLY THEREALONG AND INCLUDING DRIVEN AND IDLER SHAFTS JOURNALED BETWEEN SAID SIDE RAILS AT THEIR LOWER AND UPPER ENDS, RESPECTIVELY, AND ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANS ENTRAINED OVER SAID SHAFTS, AN UPRIGHT HANGER FRAME PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED AT ITS UPPER END FROM A LOWER END PORTION OF SAID LADDER FOR ROTATION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID RAILS AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SHAFTS, PRIME MOVER MEANS INCLUDING AN OUTPUT SHAFT JOURNALED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING SAID SHAFTS, AN ENDLESS FLEXIBLE DRIVE MEMBER ENTRAINED ABOUT SAID SHAFTS AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID OUTPUT SHAFT TO SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID PRIME MOVER MEANS TO A LOWER PORTION OF SAID HANGER FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING THE FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS AND IN A MANNER SUPPORTING SAID PRIME MOVER MEANS IN CANTILEVER FASHION WITH THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID PRIME MOVER MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID PRIME MOVER MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID HANGER FRAME AND ON THE SIDE OF A VERTICAL PLANE CONTAINING THE LAST-MENTIONED AXIS REMOTE FROM SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, AND MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID LADDER AND SAID FRAME OPERATIVE TO ADJUSTABLY RETAIN SAID HANGER FRAME IN SELECTED ROTATED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID LADDER, SAID OUTPUT SHAFT BEING SWINGABLE WITH SAID HANGER FRAME BETWEEN ADJUSTED POSITIONS DISPOSED ON THE SIDE OF A PLANE, DISPOSED NORMAL TO SAID LADDER AND IN WHICH SAID DRIVEN SHAFT IS DISPOSED, ADJACENT THE FIRST-MENTIONED AXIS.

Images