AU2019101210A4 - pivoting base for a hydraulic jack or combination jack/stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A lifting jack comprising a lifting assembly having a barrel with a movable piston therein, a rod being mounted to the piston, and a base section to which the barrel is mounted, the base section comprising upper and lower components with complementary facing surfaces which allows for at least one of lateral or rotational movement between the upper and lower components.

Description

Field of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to a lifting jack, in particular a lifting jack with a barrel pivotable relative to its base.

Background of the Invention [2] The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[3] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [4] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a lifting jack comprising:

a lifting assembly having a barrel with a movable piston therein, a rod being mounted to the piston, and a base section to which the barrel is mounted, the base section comprising upper and lower components with complementary facing surfaces which allows for at least one of lateral or rotational movement between the upper and lower components.

[5] In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower components are upper and lower plates.

[6] In another preferred embodiment, the complementary facing surfaces comprise a convex surface in one of the upper and lower plates and a concave surface in the other of the upper and lower plates.

[7] In another preferred embodiment, a lower end of the barrel is mounted to and extends upwardly from an upper surface of the upper plate.

[8] In another preferred embodiment, the lower plate comprises a lower surface adapted to engage the ground in use.

[9] In another preferred embodiment, the lower surface includes ground engaging means.

[10] In another preferred embodiment, the complementary facing surfaces comprise a low friction means therebetween.

[11] In another preferred embodiment, the base section comprises a retainer mounted to the lower plate and engaging the upper plate to prevent or substantially limit axial separation between the complementary facing surfaces.

2019101210 03 Oct 2019 [12] In another preferred embodiment, the low friction means comprises one of ball bearings or low friction plastic.

[13] In another preferred embodiment, the complementary facing surfaces are shaped as a hinge joint with one surface being cylindrical and the other being a half hollow tubular surface which receives the cylindrical surface.

[14] In another preferred embodiment, the base includes limit stops to limit angular movement and/or rotation movement of the barrel.

[15] The present invention in another aspect provides a lifting jack having a barrel and a pivoting base for the barrel, wherein the base allows the barrel to pivot and/or rotate relative to the ground in use.

[16] The present invention in another aspect provides a pivoting base for retrofitting to a lifting jack, the pivoting base comprising upper and lower plates with complementary facing concave and convex surfaces.

[17] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description ofthe Drawings [18] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[19] Figure 1 is a schematic front cross-section view of a lifting jack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[20] Figure 2 a top view of the base of the lifting jack;

[21] Figure 3 shows the use of (a) a lifting jack in a retracted position thereof (b) a prior art lifting jack in an extended position thereof, and (c) a lifting jack ofthe preferred embodiment in an extended position thereof.

Description of Embodiments [22] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[23] Figures 1 and 2 shows a lifting jack 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The invention is described in relation to a hydraulic jack but is not limited thereto. The lifting jack 10 shows a specific example hydraulic mechanism but the invention is not limited to any specific mechanism or structure. The invention can be used for other types of lifting jacks including mechanical and pneumatic lifting jacks, and combination jack/stands.

2019101210 03 Oct 2019 [24] The lifting jack 10 comprises a base section 12 and a lifting assembly 14.

[25] The lifting assembly 14 as per typical lifting jacks include a hollow barrel 20 with a piston 22 movable along an internal surface of the barrel. An elongate rod 24 extends upwardly from the piston 22, the rod 24 extending through an aperture in a top cap or gland closure 26 which closes an upper end of the barrel 20. An upper end of the rod 24 includes a saddle or jack point 28, and the example shown includes a pivot 29 between the jack point 28 and the upper end of the rod 24. In the example shown, the piston 22 in the barrel 20 forms chambers into which can be pumped a high-pressure oil via barrel side oil port 36 or lowpressure oil via rod side oil port 38.

[26] The present invention primarily relates to the base section 12 which comprises upper and lower plates 40 and 50 with complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54 which allows the barrel 20 to pivot relative to the ground in use.

[27] The upper plate 40 comprises a flat upper surface 42 and a convex lower surface 44. A lower end of the barrel 20 is mounted to and extends upwardly from the upper surface 42. The lower plate 50 comprises a flat lower surface 52 and a concave upper surface 54. The lower surface 52 is adapted to engage the ground in use and can include ground engaging means such as high friction rubber or plastic, or ground engaging formation such as spikes.

[28] The complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54 comprise a low friction means 70 therebetween to allow relative lateral and/or rotational movement therebetween. The base section 12 comprises a retainer 60 mounted to the lower plate 50 and engaging the upper plate 40. The retainer 60 prevents or substantially limits axial movement/ separation between the complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54.

[29] In the example shown, the low friction means 70 comprises ball bearings 72 retained thereon by an annular outer race 74. The low friction means 70 can be embodied in other forms such as low friction plastic between the complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54. The low friction means 70 can also be omitted.

[30] The shapes of the complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54 allows the upper plate 40 to move laterally or rotate relative to the lower plate 50. Alternatively, the shapes of the complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54 can be reversed with the lower surface 44 being concave and the upper surface 54 being convex.

[31] With the barrel 20 mounted to the upper plate 40, the base section 12 allows the barrel 20 to pivot and/or rotate relative to the ground as engaged by the lower surface 52. The complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54 thus essentially function as a ball and socket joint for the barrel 20.

2019101210 03 Oct 2019 [32] Referring to Figure 3, (a) shows a lifting jack 10 in a retracted position thereof positioned below a front end of a truck 100. Figure 3 (b) shows a prior art lifting jack 200 in an extended position thereof. The pivot 29 provides a pivoting top saddle to allow for different angles of machinery jacking points and changing angles as the vehicle is lifted. The lifting jack 200 does not include the base section 12 and the jacking process causes side loading of the jack 200, rubbing/wearing or scuffing of the piston on the barrel and or rubbing/wearing or scuffing of the rod on the gland. This damage happens slowly overtime with every lifting jack 200 and becomes expensive to repair as most components need to be replaced.

[33] Figure 3(c) shows the lifting jack 10 of the preferred embodiment. During the jacking process, the barrel 20 is able to pivot and/or rotate relative to the ground as engaged by the lower plate 50 and as jacking point 28 moves away from jack assembly as the jack extends. This addresses the above problem by providing the pivoting/rotating base to the bottom of the hydraulic jack.

[34] The present invention in another aspect provides a pivoting base which can be retrofitted to a lifting jack. The pivoting base can comprise the upper and lower plates with the complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54. The upper plate for example can be shaped for mounting to the base of a prior art lifting jack, and the pivoting base will then provide the advantages of the present invention.

[35] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent that modifications can be made to the described embodiments. For example, the complementary facing surfaces 44 and 54 can be shaped as a hinge joint with one surface being cylindrical and the other being a half hollow tubular surface which receives the cylindrical surface. These surfaces will provide a tilting movement but not rotational movement.

[36] The base can also include limit stops to limit angular movement and/or rotation movement as desired.

Claims (13)

1. Claims

   The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A lifting jack comprising:

   a lifting assembly having a barrel with a movable piston therein, a rod being mounted to the piston, and a base section to which the barrel is mounted, the base section comprising upper and lower components with complementary facing surfaces which allows for at least one of lateral or rotational movement between the upper and lower components.
2. 2. The lifting jack of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower components are upper and lower plates.
3. 3. The lifting jack of claim 2 wherein the complementary facing surfaces comprise a convex surface in one of the upper and lower plates and a concave surface in the other of the upper and lower plates.
4. 4. The lifting jack of claim 2 wherein a lower end of the barrel is mounted to and extends upwardly from an upper surface of the upper plate.
5. 5. The lifting jack of claim 2 wherein the lower plate comprises a lower surface adapted to engage the ground in use.
6. 6. The lifting jack of claim 5 wherein the lower surface includes ground engaging means.
7. 7. The lifting jack of claim 1 wherein the complementary facing surfaces comprise a low friction means therebetween.
8. 8. The lifting jack of claim 2 wherein the base section comprises a retainer mounted to the lower plate and engaging the upper plate to prevent or substantially limit axial separation between the complementary facing surfaces.
9. 9. The lifting jack of claim 7 wherein the low friction means comprises one of ball bearings or low friction plastic.
10. 10. The lifting jack of claim 2 wherein the complementary facing surfaces are shaped as a hinge joint with one surface being cylindrical and the other being a half hollow tubular surface which receives the cylindrical surface.
11. 11. The lifting jack of claim 2 wherein the base includes limit stops to limit angular movement and/or rotation movement of the barrel.
12. 12. A lifting jack having a barrel and a pivoting base for the barrel, wherein the base allows the barrel to pivot and/or rotate relative to the ground in use.

    2019101210 03 Oct 2019
13. 13. A pivoting base for retrofitting to a lifting jack, the pivoting base comprising upper and lower plates with complementary facing concave and convex surfaces.