Mobile lifting assembly

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile lifting assembly comprising a body frame with one or more wheels for transporting a structural member, and four individually controllable lifting devices connected to the body frame for repositioning (such as raising, lowering, tilting or rolling) of the structural member. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile lifting assembly comprising a body frame being adapted to locate on a supporting surface, a lifting device connected to the body frame for raising or lowering a structural member, and a skid resting on the supporting surface underneath the body frame and being arranged to contact the body frame to distribute forces imparted by the structural member on the body frame across the supporting surface.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A mobile lifting assembly comprising: a body frame with one or more wheels for transporting a structural member; and four individually controllable lifting devices connected to the body frame for repositioning of the structural member. 
     
     
         24 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the lifting devices each comprises a hydraulic ram. 
     
     
         25 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the four lifting devices are arranged as two pairs of lifting devices spaced longitudinally along the body frame which is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         26 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising two cradles connected to respective of the two pairs of lifting devices. 
     
     
         27 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the two cradles are each operatively coupled to the hydraulic rams of the corresponding pair of lifting devices for raising, lowering, tilting or rolling of the structural member. 
     
     
         28 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the four lifting devices comprises a load monitoring device. 
     
     
         29 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed  claim 28 , wherein the load monitoring device is a load cell. 
     
     
         30 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the four individually controllable lifting devices may be controlled by a single control device. 
     
     
         31 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the body frame comprises a first pair and a second pair of wheels and the body frame is in the form of a trailer. 
     
     
         32 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the pairs of wheels is coupled to a turntable. 
     
     
         33 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the turntable is rotatable by 360 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising an idler roller to assist with sliding of the structural member across the mobile lifting assembly. 
     
     
         35 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the mobile lifting assembly comprises a winch for pulling the structural member across the mobile lifting assembly on the idler roller. 
     
     
         36 . A mobile lifting assembly comprising: a body frame being adapted to locate on a supporting surface; a lifting device connected to the body frame for raising or lowering a structural member; and a skid resting on the supporting surface underneath the body frame and being arranged to contact the body frame to distribute forces imparted by the structural member on the body frame across the supporting surface. 
     
     
         37 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the skid comprises a hydraulic ram for adjusting the height of the skid for contacting the body frame. 
     
     
         38 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the skid comprises an upper frame for contacting the body frame. 
     
     
         39 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the hydraulic ram is one of a plurality of hydraulic rams. 
     
     
         40 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of hydraulic rams is arranged for adjusting the tilt of the upper frame such that the load exerted by the mobile lifting assembly on the supporting surface is adjustably distributed. 
     
     
         41 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the body frame comprises supporting members. 
     
     
         42 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the supporting members are wheels, and the body frame is in the form of a trailer. 
     
     
         43 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the skid comprises a load monitoring device. 
     
     
         44 . A mobile lifting assembly as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the load monitoring device is a load cell.