VACUUM LIFTING DEVICE

摘要

A vacuum lifting device that is particularly suitable for lifting refractory slabs used to line aluminium smelting cells includes suction cups (22, 23) that engage the object to be lifted (48). A plurality of mechanical supports (24, 25) can be moved so that they extend partly underneath the object being lifted when the object is raised from the ground. The mechanical supports can hold the object in case of vacuum failure and improve the safety of the device. An optional automatic override can ensure that the mechanical supports are in the down position in the case of vacuum failure.