Material handling devices and controllers

TLDR: In this paper, the authors present a history of the forces, torques and linear actuation of the struts of the lifting apparatus in the event of some subsequent question regarding a particular operation.

Abstract: A powered material handling apparatus or lift provides for the movement and positioning of large, heavy and/or bulky objects using six degrees of freedom of motion. The lift may be used for the handling of virtually any such materials, but is especially suited for the handling of such objects as jet aircraft engines and aircraft external stores. The lift may be remotely operated by a hand controller which is mechanically arranged in the same manner as that of the lift, through a power supply and servo device. Feedback may be provided to the hand controller by the power supply and servo device, thus enabling the operator of the control to sense the forces occurring at the lift as it is actuated. Additionally, provision is made for the recording of a history of the forces, torques and linear actuation of the struts of the apparatus in the event of some subsequent question regarding a particular operation. Further improvements in such devices include various methods of attachment of the lifting struts to the platforms of the lifting apparatus, as well as several methods of strut actuation and sensing of the linear position of the struts.