A lifting apparatus and method according to which a load is mounted to a structure. The structure is rotated about a pivot axis so that the load is positioned over an object while remaining mounted to the structure, and the load is translated towards the pivot axis during the rotation so that the ra
A lifting apparatus and method according to which a load is mounted to a structure. The structure is rotated about a pivot axis so that the load is positioned over an object while remaining mounted to the structure, and the load is translated towards the pivot axis during the rotation so that the radial distance between the load and the pivot axis is decreased during the rotation.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for lifting a load, the apparatus comprising: a structure to which the load is adapted to be mounted, the structure comprising a first rack and a second rack pivotally connected to the first rack; and means for rotating the structure about a first pivot axis when th
What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for lifting a load, the apparatus comprising: a structure to which the load is adapted to be mounted, the structure comprising a first rack and a second rack pivotally connected to the first rack; and means for rotating the structure about a first pivot axis when the load is mounted to the structure so that the load is positioned over an object while remaining mounted to the structure and translating the structure towards the pivot axis during the rotation so that the radial distance between the load and the first pivot axis decreases during the rotation, the means comprising: a pair of sleeves spaced in a parallel relation and configured to rotate about the first pivot axis, the first pivot axis passing through the sleeves; and a pair of arms telescopingly engaged with respective ones of the sleeves and connected to the structure, wherein each arm telescopingly retracts into the corresponding sleeve to effect the translation; wherein the first rack of the structure extends between and is pivotally connected to the distal end portions of the arms, the pivot connections between the first rack and the distal end portions of the arms defining a second pivot axis; wherein the second rack of the structure is pivotally connected to the first rack along the second pivot axis; wherein the first rack rotates about the second pivot axis and relative to the arms during the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis, the first rack rotating until at least a portion of the first rack is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of each arm; wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the load is primarily supported by the first rack prior to the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis; and wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the load is primarily supported by the second rack after the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis and when the load is positioned over the object. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure has an unloaded configuration in which: the second rack is positioned over the object; and the first rack is positioned over the second rack so that the second rack substantially fits within a volumetric envelope defined by the first rack. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a frame adapted to be connected to the object; wherein each sleeve is pivotally connected to the frame; and wherein the pivot connections between the frame and the sleeves define the first pivot axis. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means further comprises: a winch adapted to be connected to the object; and a winch lead line extending from the winch and removably connected to the structure. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the winch lead line is removably connected to the second rack of the structure. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the object is an all-terrain vehicle. 7. Apparatus for lifting a load over an object, the apparatus comprising: a pair of sleeves spaced in a parallel relation wherein corresponding end portions of the sleeves define a first pivot axis; a pair of arms telescopingly engaged with respective ones of the sleeves; and a structure to which the load is adapted to be mounted, the structure adapted to rotate about the first pivot axis and comprising: a first rack extending between and pivotally connected to the arms to define a second pivot axis about which the first rack rotates during the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis, the first rack rotating until at least a portion of the first rack is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of each arm; and a second rack pivotally connected to the first rack along the second pivot axis; wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the structure rotates about the first pivot axis so that the load is positioned over the object while remaining mounted to the structure; wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the arms telescopingly retract into the corresponding sleeves during the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis so that the radial distance between the load and the first pivot axis is decreased during the rotation about the first pivot axis; wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the load is primarily supported by the first rack prior to the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis; and wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the load is primarily supported by the second rack after the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis and when the load is positioned over the object. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a winch adapted to be connected to the object; and a winch lead line extending from the winch and connected to the structure. 9. Apparatus for lifting a load over an object, the apparatus comprising: a pair of sleeves spaced in a parallel relation wherein corresponding end portions of the sleeves define a first pivot axis; a pair of arms telescopingly engaged with respective ones of the sleeves; and a structure to which the load is adapted to be mounted, the structure adapted to rotate about the first pivot axis and comprising: a first rack extending between and pivotally connected to the arms to define a second pivot axis about which the first rack rotates during the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis, the first rack rotating until at least a portion of the first rack is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of each arm; and a second rack pivotally connected to the first rack along the second pivot axis; wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the structure rotates about the first pivot axis so that the load is positioned over the object while remaining mounted to the structure; wherein, when the load is mounted to the structure, the arms telescopingly retract into the corresponding sleeves during the rotation of the structure about the first pivot axis so that the radial distance between the load and the first pivot axis is decreased during the rotation about the first pivot axis; and wherein the structure has an unloaded configuration in which: the second rack is positioned over the object; and the first rack is positioned over the second rack so that the second rack substantially fits within a volumetric envelope defined by the first rack. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a winch adapted to be connected to the object; and a winch lead line extending from the winch and connected to the structure. 11. A method of lifting a load, the method comprising: mounting the load to a structure connected to an object; rotating the structure about a first pivot axis in a first direction so that the load is positioned over the object while remaining mounted to the structure; and translating the structure towards the first pivot axis during the rotation so that the radial distance between the load and the pivot axis decreases during the rotation; wherein the step of rotating the structure about the first pivot axis in the first direction so that the load is positioned over the object while remaining mounted to the structure comprises: pivotally connecting a pair of parallel-spaced arms to the structure; connecting a winch lead line to the structure; and retracting the winch lead line so that the arms rotate about the first pivot axis in the first direction; wherein the step of translating the structure towards the first pivot axis during the rotation so that the radial distance between the load and the pivot axis decreases during the rotation comprises: telescopingly engaging a sleeve with each arm wherein the first pivot axis passes through the sleeves; and telescopingly retracting the arms into the corresponding sleeves by continuing the step of retracting the winch lead line; wherein the pivot connections between the structure and the arms define a second pivot axis; and wherein the method further comprises: rotating at least a portion of the structure, while the load is mounted to the structure, about the second pivot axis and relative to the arms in a second direction by continuing the step of retracting the winch lead line, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; and preventing further rotation of the portion of the structure, while the load is mounted to the structure, in the second direction about the second pivot axis when the portion is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of each arm. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the object is an all-terrain vehicle; and wherein the winch lead line extends from a winch connected to the all-terrain vehicle. 13. A system for lifting a load, the system comprising: means for mounting the load to a structure connected to an object; means for rotating the structure about a first pivot axis in a first direction so that the load is positioned over the object while remaining mounted to the structure; and means for translating the structure towards the first pivot axis during the rotation so that the radial distance between the load and the pivot axis decreases during the rotation; wherein the means for rotating the structure about the first pivot axis in the first direction so that the load is positioned over the object while remaining mounted to the structure comprises: means for pivotally connecting a pair of parallel-spaced arms to the structure; means for connecting a winch lead line to the structure; and means for retracting the winch lead line so that the arms rotate about the first pivot axis in the first direction; wherein the means for translating the structure towards the first pivot axis during the rotation so that the radial distance between the load and the pivot axis decreases during the rotation comprises: means for telescopingly engaging a sleeve with each arm wherein the first pivot axis passes through the sleeves; and means for telescopingly retracting the arms into the corresponding sleeves by retracting the winch lead line; wherein the pivot connections between the structure and the arms define a second pivot axis; and wherein the system further comprises: means for rotating at least a portion of the structure, while the load is mounted to the structure, about the second pivot axis and relative to the arms in a second direction by continuing the step of retracting the winch lead line, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; and means for preventing further rotation of the portion of the structure, while the load is mounted to the structure, in the second direction about the second pivot axis when the portion is substantially coplanar with at least a portion of each arm.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.