Lifting apparatus, lifting set, and water treatment facility

Abstract

A lifting apparatus capable of engaging with and disengaging from a water treatment device which is to be lifted without cumbersome manual operations is provided. The lifting apparatus includes a frame and an engaging portion pivotably attached to the frame by an upper portion thereof in a vertical position. The engaging potion is capable of engaging with an engageable portion of the water treatment device. The engaging portion is configured to be set to a first operation state in which the engaging portion pivots by contacting the engageable portion as the lifting apparatus approaches the water treatment device from above, and then pivots back to the vertical position as the lifting apparatus further approaches the water treatment device to become closer thereto, whereby the engaging portion and the engageable portion become engageable with each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lifting apparatus capable of engaging with and disengaging from a water treatment device which is to be lifted, the lifting apparatus comprising:
 a frame; and   an engaging portion pivotably attached to the frame by an upper portion thereof in a vertical position, the engaging portion being capable of engaging with an engageable portion of the water treatment device,   
       wherein the engaging portion has a first operation state in which the engaging portion pivots by contacting the engageable portion as the lifting apparatus approaches the water treatment device from above, and then pivots back to the vertical position as the lifting apparatus further approaches the water treatment device to become closer thereto, whereby the engaging portion and the engageable portion become engageable with each other. 
     
     
         2 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion has a second operation state in addition to the first operation state, in which the engaging portion disengages from the engageable portion by a weight thereof or a biased force, when the lifting apparatus further approaches the water treatment device after the water treatment device has been installed into a predetermined position from a lifted state thereof being lifted by the lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The lifting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first operation state and the second operation state are switched by changing a position to which the engaging portion is attached to the frame, or by attaching and releasing a biasing member to the engaging portion. 
     
     
         4 . A lifting set comprising:
 the lifting apparatus of  claim 1 ; and   the water treatment device to be lifted by the lifting apparatus.   
     
     
         5 . The lifting set of  claim 4 , wherein the engaging portion of the lifting apparatus has a second operation state in addition to the first operation state, in which the engaging portion disengages from the engageable portion by a weight thereof or a biased force, when the lifting apparatus further approaches the water treatment device after the water treatment device has been installed into a predetermined position from a lifted state thereof being lifted by the lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The lifting set of  claim 5 , wherein the first operation state and the second operation state are switched by changing a position to which the engaging portion is attached to the frame, or by attaching and releasing a biasing member to the engaging portion. 
     
     
         7 . A water treatment facility comprising:
 the lifting apparatus of  claim 1 ;   the water treatment device to be lifted by the lifting apparatus; and   a tank body in which the water treatment device is immersed in liquid to be treated.   
     
     
         8 . The water treatment facility of  claim 7 , wherein the engaging portion of the lifting apparatus has a second operation state in addition to the first operation state, in which the engaging portion disengages from the engageable portion by a weight thereof or a biased force, when the lifting apparatus further approaches the water treatment device after the water treatment device has been installed into a predetermined position from a lifted state thereof being lifted by the lifting apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The water treatment facility of  claim 8 , wherein the first operation state and the second operation state are switched by changing a position to which the engaging portion is attached to the frame, or by attaching and releasing a biasing member to the engaging portion. 
     
     
         10 . The water treatment facility of  claim 7 , wherein the water treatment device is a membrane separation device.