초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for manipulating and transporting equipment such as electronic equipment racks is engageable with a rack in either its upright position or its horizontal position and is controllably positionable to rotate the engaged rack to a horizontal position for transport and vertical p

An apparatus and method for manipulating and transporting equipment such as electronic equipment racks is engageable with a rack in either its upright position or its horizontal position and is controllably positionable to rotate the engaged rack to a horizontal position for transport and vertical position for installation. The apparatus comprises a horizontal mainframe which is supported on casters and powered by a steerable pallet truck so as to be easily rollable and maneuverable. The mainframe supports a battery-powered drive unit coupled to a first piston manipulator, one end of which is pivotally attached to the mainframe and the other end of which is pivotally attached to a rotatable rack-support mast. The rack support mast unit contains a second piston manipulator one end of which is attached to the support mast and the other of which is attached to a translatable rack engagement subframe having an engagement footplate at one end of the rack support mast. The rack-support mast is pivotally attached to the mainframe so as to be rotatable between a horizontal position, at rest on the mainframe, and a vertical position, rotated 90°with respect to the mainframe, at which the support mast and its translatable foot may engage an upright equipment rack. The mainframe is further provided with a pair of stabilizer arms which pivot horizontally about the end of the mainframe or which can be retracted into and out of the mainframe whereat the support mast is rotatable to its vertical position.

대표청구항 ▼

A power-driven, floor-rollable, electronic equipment rack transport apparatus comprising: a first, generally horizontally extending, support frame, sized to accommodate an electronic equipment rack and supported for rolling and steered movement on a surface by way of a steered wheel and plurality of

A power-driven, floor-rollable, electronic equipment rack transport apparatus comprising: a first, generally horizontally extending, support frame, sized to accommodate an electronic equipment rack and supported for rolling and steered movement on a surface by way of a steered wheel and plurality of casters attached thereto; a second support frame pivotally attached to said first end of said first support frame, so as to be rotatable between a first, horizontal position, at rest on said first support frame, and a second, vertical position adjacent to said first end of said first support frame; a translatable subframe, having a footmember at one end thereof, supported by said second support frame, so as to be translatable along said second support frame in the direction in which said second support frame is oriented with respect to said first support frame; a first electrically-powered piston unit, pivotally attached to said first and second support frames, for controllably rotating said second support frame about its pivotal attachment to said first support frame; a second electrically-powered piston unit attached to said translatable subframe and said second support frame for translatably adjusting the position of said subframe along said second support frame; an electrical power supply support bracket, mounted to a second end of said first support frame, for supporting an electrical power supply unit for operating said first and second electrically-powered piston units; means coupled to said second end of said first support frame for providing motive power for rolling along the surface and for providing a balancing, stabilizing force at the second end of the said first support frame opposite to the first end thereof at which an electronic equipment rack is engaged by said translatable subframe supported on said second support frame; and a control handle coupled to the motive power means for controlling the operation of said motive power means.