Method and apparatus for lifting a load

Abstract

A load lifting apparatus comprises a double-acting fluid controlled actuator and a volume bottle coupled to the double acting fluid controlled actuator in a closed loop.

1 . A load lifting apparatus comprising: 
 a double-acting fluid controlled actuator; and    a volume bottle coupled to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator by a fluid transmission coupling, whereby the double-acting fluid controlled actuator, the volume bottle, and the fluid transmission coupling form a closed actuation loop.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the double-acting fluid controlled actuator comprises a double-acting piston-type cylinder.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the double-acting fluid controlled actuator is operable to be actuated by a compressed inert gas.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the double-acting fluid controlled actuator is operable to be actuated by hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the volume bottle is operable to substantially reduce the effects of progressivity in the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid transmission coupling is operable to allow fluid to be transmitted to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator and to the volume bottle.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the double acting fluid controlled actuator comprises an extending chamber and a retracting chamber, whereby the fluid transmission coupling comprises a first end coupled to the extending chamber and a second end coupled to the retracting chamber, and the volume bottle is coupled to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator between the first end and the second end of the fluid transmission coupling.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a pressurizing valve coupled to the closed actuation loop, the pressurizing valve operable to allow a fluid in the closed actuation loop to be pressurized.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a locking member coupled to the closed actuation loop, the locking member operable to allow the double-acting fluid controlled actuator to be actuated and operable to prevent the double-acting fluid controlled actuator from being actuated.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the locking member is operable to prevent the double-acting fluid controlled actuator from being actuated at any position along the range of motion of the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a pump coupled to the closed actuation loop and operable to actuate the double-acting fluid controlled actuator by moving a fluid through the fluid transmission coupling in a plurality of directions.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the volume bottle comprises a hydraulic accumulator.  
   
   
       13 . A bollard system comprising: 
 a foundation positioned below a surface;    an anchor housing mounted to the foundation; and    a bollard apparatus moveably coupled to the anchor housing, the bollard apparatus comprising: 
 a double-acting fluid controlled actuator operable to extend the bollard apparatus above the surface and retract the bollard apparatus below the surface; and  
 a volume bottle coupled to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator by a fluid transmission coupling, whereby the double-acting fluid controlled actuator, the volume bottle, and the fluid transmission coupling form a closed actuation loop.  
   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the double-acting fluid controlled actuator comprises a double-acting piston-type cylinder.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the double-acting fluid controlled actuator is operable to be actuated by compressed inert gas.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the double-acting fluid controlled actuator is operable to be actuated by hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the volume bottle is operable to substantially reduce the effects of progressivity in the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the fluid transmission coupling is operable to allow fluid to be transmitted to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator and to the volume bottle.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the double acting fluid controlled actuator comprises an extending chamber and a retracting chamber, the fluid transmission coupling comprises a first end coupled to the extending chamber and a second end coupled to the retracting chamber, and the volume bottle is coupled to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator between the first end and the second end of the fluid transmission coupling, whereby the bollard apparatus is extended above the surface in response to a fluid being supplied to the extending chamber and the bollard apparatus is retracted below the surface in response to the fluid being supplied to the retracting chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a pressurizing valve coupled to the closed actuation loop, the pressurizing valve operable to allow a fluid in the closed actuation loop to be pressurized.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a locking member coupled to the closed actuation loop, the locking member operable to allow the double-acting fluid controlled actuator to be actuated and operable to prevent the double-acting fluid controlled actuator from being actuated.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the locking member is operable to prevent the double-acting fluid controlled actuator from being actuated at any position along the range of motion of the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a key operable to lock and unlock the locking member, whereby the key provides a handle for manually extending the bollard above the surface and manually retracting the bollard below the surface.    
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a pump coupled to the closed actuation loop and operable to actuate the double-acting fluid controlled actuator by moving a fluid through the fluid transmission coupling in a plurality of directions.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the volume bottle comprises a hydraulic accumulator.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the foundation comprises a plurality of I-beams positioned on opposite sides of the anchor housing and in engagement with the anchor housing.  
   
   
       27 . A load lifting system comprising: 
 a double-acting fluid controlled actuator; and    means coupled to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator for substantially reducing the effects of progressivity in the system, the means for substantially reducing the effects of progressivity in the system and the double-acting fluid controlled actuator forming a closed actuation loop.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 means for transmitting a fluid, the means for transmitting a fluid operably coupling the means for substantially reducing the effects of progressivity in the system to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 actuation means coupled to the means for transmitting a fluid, which actuation means allow the double-acting fluid controlled actuator to be actuated and prevent the double-acting fluid controlled actuator from being actuated.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 means for preventing the double-acting fluid controlled actuator from being actuated in any position along the range of motion of the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 means coupled to the closed actuation loop for moving a fluid in a plurality of directions through the means for transmitting a fluid.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 means coupled to the closed actuation loop for allowing a fluid to be pressurized in the closed actuation loop.    
   
   
       33 . A method for lifting a load comprising: 
 providing a double-acting fluid controlled actuator;    coupling a volume bottle to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator and forming a closed actuation loop;    providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop;    positioning a load on the double-acting fluid controlled actuator;    pressurizing the fluid in the closed actuation loop; and    lifting the load.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop comprises providing an inert gas in the closed actuation loop, whereby the pressurizing comprises pressurizing the inert gas in the closed actuation loop.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop comprises providing a hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop, whereby the pressurizing comprises pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 reducing the effects of progressivity with the volume bottle.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 locking the double-acting fluid controlled actuator in any position along the range of motion of the double-acting fluid controlled actuator.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 lowering the load.    
   
   
       39 . A method for extending and retracting a bollard comprising: 
 positioning a foundation below a surface;    mounting an anchor housing in the foundation;    moveably coupling a bollard apparatus to the anchor housing;    coupling a double-acting fluid controlled actuator to the bollard apparatus;    coupling a volume bottle to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator to form a closed actuation loop;    providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop;    pressurizing the fluid in the closed actuation loop; and    lifting the bollard apparatus above the surface.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop comprises providing an inert gas in the closed actuation loop, whereby the pressurizing comprises pressurizing the inert gas in the closed actuation loop.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop comprises providing a hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop, whereby the pressurizing comprises pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising: 
 reducing the effects of progressivity with the volume bottle.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising: 
 locking the bollard apparatus in any position along the range of motion of the bollard apparatus.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising: 
 lowering the bollard apparatus.    
   
   
       45 . A load lifting apparatus comprising: 
 a double-acting piston-type cylinder comprising an extending chamber and a retracting chamber;    a fluid transmission coupling comprising a first end coupled to the extending chamber and a second end coupled to the retracting chamber;    a volume bottle coupled to the double-acting piston-type cylinder between the first end and the second end of the fluid transmission coupling, the volume bottle operable to substantially reduce the effects of progressivity in the double-acting piston-type cylinder, whereby the double-acting piston-type cylinder, the volume bottle, and the fluid transmission coupling form a closed actuation loop;    a volume of pressurized inert gas in the closed actuation loop;    a pressurizing valve coupled to the closed actuation loop, the pressurizing valve operable to allow the volume of pressurized inert gas in the closed actuation loop to be pressurized; and    a locking member coupled to the closed actuation loop, the locking member operable to allow the double-acting piston-type cylinder to be actuated by allowing the pressurized inert gas to be transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling and operable to prevent the double-acting piston-type cylinder from being actuated by preventing the pressurized inert gas from being transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling.    
   
   
       46 . A load lifting apparatus comprising: 
 a double-acting piston-type cylinder comprising an extending chamber and a retracting chamber;    a fluid transmission coupling comprising a first end coupled to the extending chamber and a second end coupled to the retracting chamber;    a hydraulic accumulator coupled to the double-acting piston-type cylinder between the first end and the second end of the fluid transmission coupling, the hydraulic accumulator operable to substantially reduce the effects of progressivity in the double-acting piston-type cylinder, whereby the double-acting fluid controlled actuator, the hydraulic accumulator, and the fluid transmission coupling form a closed actuation loop;    a volume of hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop;    a pressurizing valve coupled to the closed actuation loop, the pressurizing valve operable to allow the volume of hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop to be pressurized;    a locking member coupled to the closed actuation loop, the locking member operable to allow the double-acting piston-type cylinder to be actuated by allowing the hydraulic fluid to be transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling and operable to prevent the double-acting piston-type cylinder from being actuated by preventing the hydraulic fluid from being transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling; and    a pump coupled to the closed actuation loop and operable to actuate the double-acting piston-type cylinder by moving the hydraulic fluid through the fluid transmission coupling in a plurality of directions.    
   
   
       47 . A bollard system comprising: 
 a foundation positioned below a surface;    an anchor housing mounted to the foundation; and    a bollard apparatus moveably coupled to the anchor housing, the bollard apparatus comprising: 
 a double-acting piston-type cylinder comprising an extending chamber and a retracting chamber, the double-acting piston type cylinder coupled to the bollard apparatus and operable to extend the bollard apparatus above the surface and retract the bollard apparatus below the surface;  
 a fluid transmission coupling comprising a first end coupled to the extending chamber and a second end coupled to the retracting chamber;  
 a volume bottle coupled to the double-acting fluid controlled actuator between the first end and the second end of the fluid transmission coupling, the volume bottle operable to substantially reduce the effects of progressivity in the double-acting piston-type cylinder, whereby the double-acting fluid controlled actuator, the volume bottle, and the fluid transmission coupling form a closed actuation loop;  
 a volume of pressurized inert gas in the closed actuation loop;  
 a pressurizing valve coupled to the closed actuation loop, the pressurizing valve operable to allow the volume of pressurized inert gas in the closed actuation loop to be pressurized; and  
 a locking member coupled to the closed actuation loop, the locking member operable to allow the double-acting piston-type cylinder to be actuated by allowing the pressurized inert gas to be transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling and operable to prevent the double-acting piston-type cylinder from being actuated by preventing the pressurized inert gas from being transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling.  
   
   
   
       48 . A bollard system comprising: 
 a foundation positioned below a surface;    an anchor housing mounted to the foundation; and    a bollard apparatus moveably coupled to the anchor housing, the bollard apparatus comprising: 
 a double-acting piston-type cylinder comprising an extending chamber and a retracting chamber, the double-acting piston type cylinder coupled to the bollard apparatus and operable to extend the bollard apparatus above the surface and retract the bollard apparatus below the surface;  
 a fluid transmission coupling comprising a first end coupled to the extending chamber and a second end coupled to the retracting chamber;  
 a hydraulic accumulator coupled to the double-acting piston-type cylinder between the first end and the second end of the fluid transmission coupling, the volume bottle operable to substantially reduce the effects of progressivity in the double-acting piston-type cylinder, whereby the double-acting piston-type cylinder, the hydraulic accumulator, and the fluid transmission coupling form a closed actuation loop;  
 a volume of hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop;  
 a pressurizing valve coupled to the closed actuation loop, the pressurizing valve operable to allow the volume of hydraulic fluid in the closed actuation loop to be pressurized;  
 a locking member coupled to the closed actuation loop, the locking member operable to allow the double-acting piston-type cylinder to be actuated by allowing the hydraulic fluid to be transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling and operable to prevent the double-acting piston-type cylinder from being actuated by preventing the hydraulic fluid from being transmitted through the fluid transmission coupling; and  
 a pump coupled to the closed actuation loop and operable to actuate the double-acting piston-type cylinder by moving the hydraulic fluid through the fluid transmission coupling in a plurality of directions.  
   
   
   
       49 . A method for lifting a load comprising: 
 providing a double-acting piston-type cylinder;    coupling a volume bottle to the double-acting piston-type cylinder in a closed actuation loop;    providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop;    positioning a load on the double-acting piston-type cylinder;    pressurizing the fluid in the closed actuation loop to counter-balance the weight of the load;    lifting the load;    locking the double-acting piston-type cylinder in any position along the range of motion of the double-acting piston-type cylinder;    unlocking the double-acting piston-type cylinder;    lowering the load; and    reducing the effects of progressivity with the volume bottle.    
   
   
       50 . A method for extending and retracting a bollard comprising: 
 positioning a foundation below a surface;    mounting an anchor housing in the foundation;    moveably coupling a bollard apparatus to the anchor housing;    coupling a double-acting piston-type cylinder to the bollard apparatus;    coupling a volume bottle to the double-acting piston-type cylinder in a closed actuation loop;    providing a fluid in the closed actuation loop;    pressurizing the fluid in the closed actuation loop to counter-balance the weight of the load;    lifting the bollard apparatus above the surface;    locking the bollard apparatus in any position along the range of motion of the bollard apparatus;    unlocking the bollard apparatus;    lowering the bollard apparatus; and    reducing the effects of progressivity with the volume bottle.