Lifting and transport apparatus for a heavy load

1. A lifting and transport apparatus for lifting and transporting a heavy load, comprising a frame which is movable back and forth at least in a horizontal movement direction and has at least eight vertical supports of adjustable length, including four vertical supports of adjustable length which are designed as lifting supports, with one lifting device assigned in each case, and comprising at least one fastener which is provided on the frame and which serve for the releasable attachment of the heavy load, wherein at least four vertical supports of adjustable length of the at least eight vertical supports are designed as retaining supports, with one extension device and one locking device assigned in each case, such that the lengths of the retaining supports can be adjusted and locked, wherein each extension device is designed such that length adjustment of the retaining supports may only occur when the retaining supports are unloaded.

2. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lifting supports and the assigned lifting devices are configured to adjust the lengths of the lifting supports by a maximum of 5 m.

3. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame has horizontal cross members and/or horizontal longitudinal members which connect the vertical supports to one another.

4. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the frame has at least one diagonal strut which extends between the horizontal cross members and the longitudinal members and/or the vertical supports.

5. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vertical supports are arranged on the frame transversely to the at least one movement direction, so as to be opposite one another in pairs in each case.

6. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the vertical supports arranged opposite one another transversely to the at least one movement direction are in each case at the same spacing from one another.

7. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vertical supports each have a sliding shoe on their lower, free ends or are equipped with rollers.

8. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

sliding tracks or rails on which the frame is movable are provided, wherein the sliding tracks or rails are designed for holding the sliding shoes or rollers.

9. A method for transporting a heavy load from or onto a base, which is raised in relation to a surrounding floor, using a lifting and transport apparatus, wherein, during the transport of the heavy load, at least one state is assumed in which two vertical supports are supported on the base and two vertical supports are supported on the surrounding floor, wherein, during use of the lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , first rail sections or sliding track sections are arranged on the base, and second rail sections or sliding track sections are arranged on the surrounding floor.

10. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a controller is provided and is configured to control the movement of the frame in the at least one movement direction and the length adjustment of at least the lifting supports.

11. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least eight vertical supports are designed as lifting supports.

12. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retaining supports and the assigned extension devices and locking devices are configured to adjust the length of the retaining supports by a maximum of 1.5 m.

13. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each lifting support is assigned one retaining support which is arranged adjacent to the lifting support at a distance of between 0.3 m and 1 m.

14. The lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein lifting supports and retaining supports are arranged in an alternating manner with respect to the at least one movement direction.

15. A method for transporting a heavy load from or onto a base, which is raised in relation to a surrounding floor, using the lifting and transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, during the transport of the heavy load, at least one state is assumed in which two vertical supports are supported on the base and two vertical supports are supported on the surrounding floor.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein, during transport, movement of the frame in the at least one horizontal movement direction and length adjustment of vertical supports occur in an alternating manner.