Varying force counterweight system

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a counterweight apparatus for the purpose of counterbalancing another apparatus to provide previously unavailable typically varying magnitude of force counterweight function when coupled to a scissors lift 2 or similar apparatus. The invention herein described effectively overcomes the problem of counterbalancing the typically varying magnitude of force from a scissors lift 2 or similar apparatus. The unique combination of counterweight 6 movement and changes in the relative location of the sliding support arm's 3 slidable engaged contact point 9 with the moment arm 5 provides the typically varying magnitude of counterweight 6 force to substantial counterbalance the typically varying magnitude of force from a scissors lift apparatus 2 . Working together these novel features assure substantial continuous counterbalance (neutral equilibrium) will occur in the present invention when coupled to an apparatus with typically varying magnitude of force making it a unique and useful counterweight system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A counterweight apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of counterbalance force, comprising: 
 a support structure;    a moment arm, first end of said moment arm is hinged to the support structure;    a counterweight, said counterweight attached to the second end of said moment arm;    a sliding support arm, said sliding support arm slidably engaged to said moment arm while slidably engaged with said support structure; and    a drive means for actuating said counterweight apparatus; whereby    bidirectional sliding of said sliding support arm while slidably engaging said moment arm provides an increasing or decreasing magnitude of counterbalance force on said sliding support arm.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a support structure that is transportable.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of counterweight apparatus are coupled with said coupling selected from the group consisting of series and parallel couplings.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moment arm is adjustable in length.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the sliding support arm's slidably engaged connection with the moment arm is adjustable.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of slidably engaged connections disposed along and coupled to the sliding support arm, to slidably engage the support structure via said slidably engaged connections.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding support arms slidably engaged connections are selected from the group consisting of wheel trucks and slides.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is selected from the group consisting of weights and springs.  
     
     
         9 . A counterweight apparatus for counterbalancing a means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force, comprising: 
 a frame;    a moment arm, first end of said moment arm hinged to said frame;    a counterweight, said counterweight fixed to second end of said moment arm; and    a sliding support arm, is slidably engaged with said moment arm, while pivotally linked to said means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force and slidably engaged with said frame; whereby    continuous typically varying magnitude force from said counterweight apparatus and said means apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force counterbalance each other.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force is a scissors lift apparatus.  
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a typically varying magnitude of counterweight force to an apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force for the purpose of continuous counterbalancing comprising the steps of: 
 support a first end of moment arm with a hinged connection;    attach a counterweight to the second end of said moment arm;    support said moment arm, on said sliding support arm with a slidably engaged connection between said first and second ends of said moment arm;    pivotally link said sliding support arm to said apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force; and    slide said sliding support arm; whereby    continuous counterbalance is provided.    
     
     
         12 . A method of providing a interconnected rigid body with one degree of freedom apparatus with capacity for continuous substantial neutral equilibrium throughout normal range of operation, comprising the steps of: 
 construct a support structure;    construct a unstable rigid body with one degree of freedom mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force;    construct a unstable rigid body with one degree of freedom counterweight mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force; and    attach to said support structure said unstable rigid body with one degree of freedom mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force and said unstable rigid body with one degree of freedom counterweight mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force arranged and configured with their movements opposite and opposing and interconnecting with a pivotal link; whereby    capacity for continuous substantial neutral equilibrium throughout normal range of operation is provided.    
     
     
         13 . A method of providing a continuous varying in magnitude of force to a mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force, comprising the steps of: 
 construct a support structure;    support a first end of a moment arm with a hinged to said support structure;    attach a counterweight to the second end of said moment arm;    support said moment arm between the first and second ends of said moment arm with a sliding support arm arranged and configured with the sliding movement of said sliding support arm being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said moment arm;    slidably support said sliding support arm with said support structure; and    couple said sliding support arm to said mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force arranged and configured with their movements opposite and opposing; whereby    sliding of said sliding support arm initiates a continuous varying in magnitude of force to said mechanism with a typically varying magnitude of force.    
     
     
         14 . A counterweight apparatus for counterbalancing a means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force, comprising: 
 a means of moment arm;    a means of hinging first end of said moment arm to a means of support;    a means of counterweight;    a means of coupling said means of counterweight to second end of said means of moment arm;    a means of sliding support arm;    a supporting of said means of moment arm on said means of sliding support arm with a means of slidable engagement;    a means of sliding said means of sliding support arm on said means of support;    a means of coupling said means of sliding support arm to said means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force;    a means of actuation; and    a means of adjusting weight on said means of counterweight apparatus until said means apparatus of with a typically varying magnitude of force is counterbalanced; whereby    a means of continuous substantial counterbalance is provided.    
     
     
         15 . A counterweight apparatus for counterbalancing a means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force, comprising: 
 a support structure;    a moment arm, first end of said moment arm is hinged to the support structure;    a sliding support arm, said sliding support arm slidably engaged to said moment arm, slidably engaged with said support structure and pivotally linked to said apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force; and    a drive means for actuating said counterweight apparatus; whereby a increasing or decreasing the relative location of said sliding support arm's slidably engaged connection with said moment arm's first and second ends, initiates a raising or lowering of the center of gravity of said moment arm; whereby    continuous typically varying magnitude of force from said counterweight apparatus and said means of apparatus with a typically varying magnitude of force counterbalance.