초록 ▼

Apparatus for moving catalyst containers includes a lifting jack having first and second legs each supporting a roller, and each having a relatively short length to avoid contact with the discharge hopper of the container. First and second idler rollers are inserted under one end of the container ba

Apparatus for moving catalyst containers includes a lifting jack having first and second legs each supporting a roller, and each having a relatively short length to avoid contact with the discharge hopper of the container. First and second idler rollers are inserted under one end of the container base. A load plate of the lifting jack is engaged with the second end of the container base, and raised, allowing the container to be moved. The load plate is rotatably supported by a support plate positioned between the legs of the lifting jack. In use, a first end of the base is raised, the idler rollers are inserted, the first end is lowered, the lifting jack is inserted into the second end of the base, and raised to permit transport of the container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for moving catalyst containers in relatively close quarters, the catalyst containers having a base extending between first and second opposing ends and having first and second opposing sides, an uppermost opening for loading material into the catalyst container, a hopper outlet for d

1. An apparatus for moving catalyst containers in relatively close quarters, the catalyst containers having a base extending between first and second opposing ends and having first and second opposing sides, an uppermost opening for loading material into the catalyst container, a hopper outlet for discharging material stored in the catalyst container downwardly through the base, the hopper being spaced from the first and second opposing ends of the base by a first predetermined distance, said apparatus comprising in combination: a lifting jack including first and second legs spaced from each other for extending into the base of a catalyst container, each of the first and second legs having a length shorter than the first predetermined distance to avoid contact with the hopper, each of said first and second legs pivotally supporting a load roller associated therewith, the lifting jack including a load-bearing surface for engaging an end of the catalyst container base, the lifting jack selectively raising or lowering the load-bearing surface;first and second idler roller assemblies, the first and second idler roller assemblies each including a support frame for engaging the base of the catalyst container and including a load roller rotationally housed within its support frame;whereby the first and second idler roller assemblies may be inserted below the first end of the catalyst container base proximate the first and second sides thereof, respectively, and the first and second legs of the lifting jack may be inserted within the second end of the catalyst container base, and the lifting jack may be actuated to raise the load-bearing surface for raising the second end of catalyst container base, and for allowing the catalyst container to be moved. 2. The apparatus recited by claim 1 wherein the lifting jack includes: a) a wheeled truck;b) a hydraulic jack supported by the wheeled truck;c) a handle pivotally mounted to the wheeled truck for actuating the hydraulic jack and for steering movement of the lifting jack;iv) a lift frame operatively coupled to the wheeled truck and hydraulic jack for lifting an end of the catalyst container base;wherein the first and second legs of the lifting jack and the load-bearing surface are included within the lift frame; andwherein the lift frame is selectively raised or lowered as the hydraulic jack is operated. 3. The apparatus recited by claim 2 wherein the first and second legs of the lift frame are raised relative to their respective load rollers as the hydraulic jack is actuated. 4. The apparatus recited by claim 1 wherein the load-bearing surface of the lifting jack includes a generally horizontal load plate. 5. The apparatus recited by claim 4 further including a generally horizontal support plate extending between the first and second legs of the lifting jack, and a bearing supported by the horizontal support plate, and wherein the generally horizontal load plate is rotatably supported by the bearing for lifting an end of the catalyst container base while allowing the lifting jack to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the horizontal load plate and the catalyst container base. 6. The apparatus recited by claim 1 wherein: a) the first leg of the lifting jack has an inner side facing the second leg and an opposing outer side;b) the second leg of the lifting jack has an inner side facing the first leg and an opposing outer side; andc) the distance between the outer sides of the first and second legs is greater than the length of each of the first and second legs. 7. The apparatus recited by claim 1 wherein the catalyst container base includes a pair of spaced forklift ports for receiving the forks of a conventional forklift, and wherein the first and second legs of the lifting jack can be inserted into the catalyst container base within a space lying between the spaced forklift ports. 8. The apparatus recited by claim 1 wherein the lifting jack includes first and second retainers for releasably storing the first and second idler roller assemblies when not in use. 9. A method of supporting a catalyst container for movement in relatively close quarters, the catalyst container having a base extending between first and second opposing ends and having first and second opposing sides, an uppermost opening for loading material into the catalyst container, a hopper outlet for discharging material stored in the catalyst container downwardly through the base, the hopper being spaced from the first and second opposing ends of the base by a first predetermined distance, the method comprising the steps of: a) raising a first end of the catalyst container base above a support surface;b) inserting a first idler roller between the support surface and the catalyst container base proximate a first side of the first end of the catalyst container base;c) inserting a second idler roller between the support surface and the catalyst container base proximate a second side of the first end of the catalyst container base;d) lowering the first end of the catalyst container base so that it rests upon the first and second idler rollers;e) providing a lifting jack having a pair of legs each shorter in length than the first predetermined distance, each of such legs including a roller for rolling upon the support surface, the lifting jack including at least one load-bearing surface for engaging the catalyst container base, and the lifting jack being adapted to selectively raise or lower the load-bearing surface;f) inserting the first and second legs of the lifting jack within the second end of the catalyst container base;g) operating the lifting jack to raise the load-bearing surface to lift the second end of the catalyst container base; andh) exerting lateral force on the lifting jack to roll the catalyst container in a desired direction. 10. The method of supporting a catalyst container for movement as recited by claim 9 wherein the step of raising a first end of the catalyst container base above the support surface includes the steps of: a) inserting the first and second legs of the lifting jack within the first end of the catalyst container base; andb) operating the lifting jack to raise the load-bearing surface to lift the first end of the catalyst container base above the support surface. 11. The method of supporting a catalyst container for movement as recited by claim 9 including the further step of rotatably supporting the load-bearing surface relative to the pair of legs of the lifting jack for allowing the lifting jack to be rotated about a vertical axis relative to the load-bearing surface. 12. The method of supporting a catalyst container for movement as recited by claim 9 further including the steps of: a) positioning the catalyst container in a desired position;b) operating the lifting jack to lower the load-bearing surface to lower the second end of the catalyst container base to rest upon the support surface;c) removing the first and second legs of the lifting jack from the second end of the catalyst container base;d) inserting the first and second legs of the lifting jack within the first end of the catalyst container base;e) operating the lifting jack to raise the load-bearing surface to lift the first end of the catalyst container base above the support surface;f) removing the first idler roller from the first end of the catalyst container base;g) removing the second idler roller from the first end of the catalyst container base;h) operating the lifting jack to lower the load-bearing surface to lower the first end of the catalyst container base to rest upon the support surface; andi) removing the first and second legs of the lifting jack from the first end of the catalyst container base.