EP-4735775-A1 - MOUNT ASSEMBLY

EP4735775A1EP 4735775 A1EP4735775 A1EP 4735775A1EP-4735775-A1

Abstract

A mount assembly (100) for carrying and positioning an engagement unit (200) of a support unit (300) on an anchor (10). The mount assembly comprises a cradle (106) for receiving the engagement unit (200), and a coupling unit (120) comprising a coupling member (122) for coupling with an engagement element (202) provided on the engagement unit (200). The mount assembly (100) has a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the coupling unit (120) is operable to receive the engagement unit (200) into the cradle (106) and the coupling member (122) is in a first position in which it is engageable with the engagement element (202) of the engagement unit (200). In the second configuration the coupling member (122) is in a second position spaced apart from the first position to thereby draw the engagement element (202) towards the second end (104) to thereby lock the engagement unit (200) against the cradle (106).

Inventors

WEBSTER, Paul Daniel

Assignees

BAE SYSTEMS plc

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240529

Claims (2)

1 A mount assembly for carrying and positioning an engagement unit of a support unit on an anchor, the mount assembly extending between a first end and a second end along an operational axis, the first end spaced apart from the second end along the operational axis; a cradle provided at the first end for receiving the engagement unit; and a coupling unit comprising a coupling member for coupling with an engagement element provided on the engagement unit, the mount assembly having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein: in the first configuration the coupling unit is operable to receive the engagement unit into the cradle and the coupling member is in a first position in which it is engageable with the engagement element of the engagement unit, and in the second configuration the coupling member is in a second position spaced apart from the first position in a first direction (D1 ) along the operational axis to thereby draw the engagement element in the first direction (D1 ) along the operational axis towards the second end to thereby lock the engagement unit against the cradle.
2. A mount assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mount assembly has a third configuration in which the coupling unit is operable to release the engagement unit from the cradle and the coupling member is at a third position spaced apart from the first position in a second direction (D2) along the operational axis such that the coupling unit is dis-engageable from the engagement element of the engagement unit, the first position being between the second position and the third position. 3 A mount assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising an actuator, the actuator configured to control the coupling unit to switch between the different configurations. 4 A mount assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling member is a hook member configured for coupling with the engagement element provided on the engagement unit. 5 A mount assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an arm which extends from the coupling unit towards the second end along the operational axis, and the mount assembly further comprises an actuator controller provided on the arm, the actuator controller operable to operate the actuator to control the coupling unit to switch between the different configurations. 6 A mount assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the arm is extendable and retractable. 7 A mount assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein: the actuator comprises a cable adjuster unit and a lever handle coupled to the cable adjuster unit; a first control cable and a second control cable extend from the cable adjuster unit to the coupling unit, the first control cable and the second control cable being coupled to the coupling member such that when the lever handle is in a first orientation the mount assembly is in the first configuration, when the lever handle is in a second orientation the mount assembly is in the second configuration, and when the lever handle is in a third orientation the mount assembly is in third configuration. 8 A mount assembly in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling member is mounted in the coupling unit such that it is moveable along a predefined path along the operational axis between the first position and the second position. 9 A mount assembly in any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the coupling member is mounted in the coupling unit such that it is moveable along a predefined path along the operational axis between the first position and the third position. 10 A mount assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein: the engagement unit comprises a latch which has an open configuration and a closed configuration; the engagement element of the engagement unit is a wire which is coupled to the latch; the latch configured such that when the mount assembly is in the second configuration the latch is in the open configuration to enable the engagement unit to be engaged with the anchor or to be dis-engaged from the anchor, and when the mount assembly is in the third configuration the latch is in the closed configuration to prevent the engagement unit being dis-engaged with the anchor. 1 1 A mount assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the latch is biased to the closed configuration. 12 A mount assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 1 wherein: the coupling unit comprises a shuttle from which extends a locking member, the coupling unit defining a recess for locking engagement with the locking member; the shuttle being constrained to move along a guide path in a direction parallel to the operational axis towards and away from the recess; the locking member being engageable with the recess, and the shuttle being coupled to the coupling member such that when the locking member of the shuttle is engaged with the recess the coupling member is operable to be moved to the second position; and when the mount assembly is in the first configuration, the shuttle is spaced apart from the recess along the guide path. 13 A method of operation of a mount assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, comprising the steps of: setting the mount assembly to the first configuration; locating the engagement unit into the cradle; coupling the engagement element provided on the engagement unit with the coupling member; setting the mount assembly to the second configuration to thereby draw the engagement element in the first direction along the operational axis towards the second end to thereby: a. lock the engagement unit against the cradle; and b. fix the latch in the open configuration; engaging the engagement unit with the anchor; setting the mount assembly to the third configuration to release the engagement element from the coupling member to thereby: c. release the engagement unit from the cradle; and d. return the latch to the closed configuration. 14 A method as claimed in claim 13 when dependent on claim 11 further comprising the steps of: the locking member being engaged with the recess; and the coupling member being moved to the second position.

Description

MOUNT ASSEMBLY FIELD The present disclosure relates to a mount assembly. In particular the disclosure is concerned with a mount assembly for carrying and positioning an engagement unit of a support unit on an anchor. BACKGROUND It is a requirement common to many industries to support and position heavy loads. For example, in manufacturing it may be necessary to lift parts of an assembly to move them into or out of position relative to another part of an assembly, for example to lift an engine from a vehicle body, or lift plates of metal from a delivery point to a machining station for it to be worked on. The equipment used to do the lifting may be a hoist of some kind. A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load, which may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven. The hoist may be connected to an anchor, for example a mounting point on another structure (e.g. a building or scaffolding), which by necessity must be higher than the article to be lifted. Commonly the anchor may be several metres above working height, and hence to mount the hoist to the anchor a ladder, scaffolding or cherry picker type device must be deployed so a user can reach the mount point. All of these options pose a problem for a user as they may introduce unnecessary risk, delay and expense to the mounting of the hoist to the anchor. Although this may be acceptable in processes where the hoist may occupy a fixed position for a long time, in other examples it may be necessary to frequently move the hoist position, for example in assembly plants of large and/or bespoke equipment. This may be because the hoist needs to be moved out of position while other equipment or assemblies are moved past it, or because the hoist is needed at a different workstation position. Hence it is required that the hoist can be disengaged from the anchor so it may be connected to a different anchor. Additionally, hoists are typically heavy pieces of equipment, so even if a user is able to use a ladder, scaffolding or cherry picker to get themselves into position, the act of carrying the hoist while connecting it to, or disconnecting it from, the anchor, may not be possible without putting a user at risk of injury. Hence apparatus which enables a user to mount equipment to a high anchor point (for example at a height above themselves), or dismount equipment from a high anchor point, without needing to use a ladder, scaffolding or cherry picker type device to get close to the anchor, and/or which avoids the need for the user to personally support or carry the weight of the equipment at any point in the mounting/dismounting process, is highly desirable. SUMMARY According to the present disclosure there is provided an apparatus, system and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows. Accordingly there may be provided a mount assembly (100) for carrying and positioning an engagement unit (200) of a support unit (300) on an anchor (10). The mount assembly (100) may extend between a first end (102) and a second end (104) along an operational axis (20), the first end (102) spaced apart from the second end (104) along the operational axis (20). A cradle (106) may be provided at the first end (102) for receiving the engagement unit (200). A coupling unit (120) comprising a coupling member (122) for coupling with an engagement element (202) may be provided on the engagement unit (200). The mount assembly (100) may have a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the coupling unit (120) may be operable to receive the engagement unit (200) into the cradle (106) and the coupling member (122) is in a first position in which it is engageable with the engagement element (202) of the engagement unit (200). In the second configuration the coupling member (122) may be in a second position spaced apart from the first position in a first direction (D1 ) along the operational axis (20) to thereby draw the engagement element (202) in the first direction (D1 ) along the operational axis (20) towards the second end (104) to thereby lock the engagement unit (200) against the cradle (106). The mount assembly (100) may have a third configuration in which the coupling unit (120) is operable to release the engagement unit (200) from the cradle (106) and the coupling member (122) is at a third position spaced apart from the first position in a second direction (D2) along the operational axis (20) such that the coupling unit (120) is dis-engageable from the engagement element (202) of the engagement unit (200), the first position being between the second position and the third position. The mount assembly (100) may further comprise an actuator (130), the actuator (130) configured to control the coupling unit (120) to switch between the different configurations. The coupling member (122) may be a hook member (124) confi