AU9720198A

AU9720198A - Vehicle jack

Info

Publication number: AU9720198A
Application number: AU97201/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Terence Michael Clune
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-22
Filing date: 1998-12-17
Publication date: 1999-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-17
Also published as: AU740159B2

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Terence Michael Clune Terence Michael Clune WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 a Address for service is: Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Vehicle Jack Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos PP1087 and PP1414 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- The present invention relates to a jack for a vehicle. This invention particularly provides a jack suitable for use with a four-wheel drive vehicle, although it will be understood that the jack may also be used with a conventional vehicle, or on a trailer.

Conventional vehicle jacks have comprised arrangements using worm gears as used in certain bottle jacks and scissor jacks, ratchet arrangements where a lever is operated to jack a vehicle, or jacks incorporating hydraulic means to jack a vehicle, usually by the operation of a lever which pumps hydraulic fluid into a cylinder.

This invention seeks to provide a useful alternative to such known jacks.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a jack for a motor vehicle, the jack comprising a body having a vehicle contacting portion at a top end thereof and a foot at a bottom end thereof, the foot having a flat surface disposed lowermost and including an edge for pivotal movement relative to the ground, where in use the jack is disposed with the body inclined, said edge resting on the ground, and said vehicle contacting portion contacting said vehicle; and said vehicle is moved to elevate the angle of inclination of said body toward a more upright position, said jack pivoting relative to the ground about said edge, raising said vehicle. As the jack pivots on the ground about the edge, the vehicle is raised at the jacking point.

Preferably, the angle between the body and the flat surface is fixed. This simplifies construction of the jack, which would otherwise, with pivotal -3connections, need to be formed in a parallelogram configuration with four pivotal connections, one at each corner.

Preferably, in use, said flat surface is inclined relative to the ground, and in raising said vehicle, said edge pivots on the ground as said vehicle is raised at the jacking point, until said flat surface rests on the ground, the flat surface providing a stop means to hold said vehicle raised at the jacking point.

Conceptually the jack operates on the principle of moving the two parallel sides of a parallelogram relative to each other, one side of the parallelogram represents the surface of the ground and the other represents the chassis plane of the vehicle, where the jack of invention including the aforementioned preferred features represents an arm of the parallelogram joining the two sides.

As the angle between the arm and the sides tends toward normal, the distance separating the sides maximises.

In relation to the body, by the expressions "inclined" and "angle of inclination", the line extending between the top end and the edge, or more particularly the top end and the flat surface, is being referred to.

Preferably said body includes an elongate member extending between said vehicle contacting portion and said foot.

Preferably said elongate member is a tubular member.

Preferably said elongate member is of adjustable length and includes fixing means to set its length at a predetermined length before use.

Preferably said elongate member comprises two tubular members in telescoping arrangement, with transverse apertures extending therethrough to receive fixing means to set the length of said elongate member. The fixing means may comprise a bolt or pin assembly extending through aligned apertures to fix the length of the elongate members.

-4- Preferably said foot extends with said flat surface normal or oblique to the axial extent of said elongate member.

Preferably, the angle between a line between the centre of said top end and the centre of said edge, and the plane of said flat surface lies between 600 and 850, most preferably between 650 and 800 with an angle of 700 to 750 being ideal.

The effect of this angle is that as the vehicle is moved and as the elongate body is moved from an inclined to a more upright position, the elongate body must pass through upright and begin inclining in the opposite direction, before the entire flat surface is in contact with the ground. This "going over centre" adds to the stability of the jacked vehicle, reducing the possibility of the vehicle rolling off the jack.

Preferably, the body is joined to said foot close to said edge. This minimises stresses as said vehicle is jacked. Most preferably, one said tubular member comprising said body abuts said edge. A gusset may need to extend from the tubular member down to the foot, away from the edge, to provide strengthening.

Preferably said edge includes gripping means to gain purchase in or on the ground, as the vehicle is moved to commence the jacking operation.

Preferably said gripping means comprises a projection extending away from said Sbody. Preferably said projection also extends away from said foot. The angular disposition of the projection should be appropriate for the gripping means to O penetrate the surface of the ground, or in the case of harder ground, at least provide some purchase. It will be appreciated that the angle will vary depending upon the angular disposition of the body at commencement of the jacking operation, however for most cases an angle of about 50 re 1 atve 1 t he axia extent of the body and an angle of about 1350 relative to the plane of the flat surface of said foot should prove sufficient for most vehicles. The projection may be formed from a piece of 1/4" (6.35mm) mild steel plate, and need not have any special preparation of its exposed edge, although it may be of assistance in some cases if the edge is sharpened.

Preferably said top end includes a cradle for accommodating an axle or axle housing of said vehicle. The cradle may be U shaped or V shaped so the axle or housing can be cradled therein.

Alternatively said top end may comprise a fitting adapted to mate with a complementary part located on said vehicle.

It will be understood that interchangable cradles or top ends may be provided for use with different vehicles.

The invention will now be described in the following description of one specific preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a prototype jack according to the invention; Figure la is a view of part of the prototype jack of figure 1, showing further detail of the gripping means and other hidden detail in dashed outline; and Figures 2 to 4 are side elevations of the jack showing its various stages of deployment.

Referring to Figure 1 the vehicle jack 11 is shown in exploded view. The jack 11 comprises an elongate body indicated generally at 13, formed of an inner tubular member 15 and an outer tubular member 17, the inner tubular member being dimensioned to be received within the outer tubular member 17, in telescoping arrangement. As can be seen in Figure 1, the tubular members and 17 are made of rectangular section tube.

-6- The outer tubular member 17 has a pair of apertures 19 located one on each side of the tube, while the inner tubular member 15 has a plurality of pairs of apertures 21, on either side of the tube. By aligning selected apertures 21 with apertures 19, and sliding the locking pin 23 therethrough, the length of the elongate body 13 may be pre-set to a desired length.

At the top end 25 of the elongate body 13 is located a vehicle contacting portion in the form a cradle 27, which is shaped to cradle a drive shaft or drive shaft housing of an axle 29 on the vehicle. The cradle 27 is releasably secured to the top end 25 of the elongate body 13 by a pin 28 which extends through apertures in the top end 25 and a bushing 31 welded to the bottom of the cradle 27. The pin 28 is in turn secured using split pins 33 which are received in diametrical holes 35 bored through the pin 28. The releasable securing of the cradle 27 is provided only so that different types of vehicle contacting portions may be fitted.

It will be understood that in alternative embodiments, the feature of releasability may be omitted. As can be seen in Figure 1, the cradle 27 is formed from a piece of mild steel angle, and is presented with its arms extending divergently upwardly, so as to cradle the axle therein, when the jack is in use. This will be understood more clearly by reference to the discussion of the jack 11 in use, later in this document.

At the bottom end 37 of the elongate body 13, there is provided a foot 39 having a flat surface 41 on the underside thereof, and a leading edge 43, about which the jack may pivot when in use. Since a large amount of force is transferred at the edge 43, it is preferred that the outer tubular member 17 is attached as close as possible to that edge. To re-enforce the portion of the foot 39 comprising the flat surface 41 against deformation, there is provided a gusset Extending down from the leading edge at an angle of about 1500 relative to the axial extent of the body 17 and an angle of about 1350 relative to the plane of the flat surface 41 of the foot 39 is gripping means in the form of a projection 46 which is formed of a piece of 6mm mild steel plate, which is bent at the -7junction with the edge 43, and extends up the body 17 of the jack. The gripping means is provided to gain purchase in or on the ground, as the vehicle is moved to commence the jacking operation.

The foot 39 includes an upwardly inclined portion 47 to which the outer tubular member 17 is welded.

In an alternative but less preferred arrangement, the upwardly inclined portion 47 could be omitted and instead the outer tubular member 17 be cut from stock at an angle. In either arrangement, the purpose is to provide an angle in the order of 750 between the plane comprising the flat surface 41, and a line drawn along the access of the elongate body 13. This equates to an angle of approximately 72.50 (although this will vary with the elongate body 13 being extended) from the plane of the flat surface 41 to a line between the leading edge 43 and the axis of the apertures 29 (the axis of the apertures 29 equating to the centre point of the top end Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the jack is shown in use. The jack is shown used on a rubber mat 49 which has a groove 51 extending therealong, in which the projection 46 can be received, in order to help prevent slipping. The mat is not required on softer ground (perhaps with the exception of very soft sand, in which the unsupported foot might sink), however, it assists with the operation of the jack, particularly on slippery surfaces such as concrete where the projection (m 46 is unable to gain purchase. In the case of an embodiment not having the -projection 46, the leading edge 43 may be received in the groove 51 of the mat 49.

~l I U^1 ,I ,Oir,+r, reeie in t,,,-,,hwtet n use, e ja 11 is lai he ground with~ rojection 46 rnr-i'ed in the groove 51 of the mat 49 (and if the mat is not used, the jack is laid on the ground with the projection resting thereon), and with the cradle 27 resting for example against an axle housing 53 of the vehicle (or some other component of the suspension), preferably located close to the wheel of the vehicle. The actual -8angle of the body 13 of the jack relative to the plane of the ground may be anywhere between around 300 and 450 in practice, so that enough height is gained once the vehicle is jacked up. The vehicle is then driven in a direction so that the elongate body 13 is pushed from the inclined position shown in Figure 2, through to the upright position shown in Figure 3, and over to the over centre position shown in Figure 4, where the flat surface 41 of the foot 39 is resting on the rubber mat 49 (or on the ground if the rubber mat 49 is not used).

As the elongate body 13 is pushed to an upright position, the wheel is elevated above the ground, which will enable the wheel to be changed (in the case of a flat tyre for example).

The jack of the invention is intended for use with a four wheel drive vehicle, although it could be used in normal two wheel drive vehicles, however, it would be necessary to have a limited slip differential in order to jack a driven wheel above the ground (if indeed it would be possible at all). The jack could also be used on a trailer being towed by a vehicle. As will be appreciated, the jack provides a simple yet effective way of jacking a vehicle, whereby the vehicle is in effect driven on to the jack to elevate the wheel needing attention, above the ground. There are a number of inherent advantages in the jack. Particularly, the jack can be used to elevate a wheel of a fully laden vehicle, since the jack of the invention can support a loading much higher than a conventional mechanical tjack. Of course, care needs to be taken to ensure that the jack is manufactured using steel (or other material such as aluminium) of sufficient strength to take the loads which will be encountered. The embodiment is constructed using 1/4" steel place, with the cradle formed of 3/8" angle, and the box section being of 3/16" wall thickness.

It should be appreciated that changes and modifications may be made to the jack, the embodiment which is illustrated here being a prototype. For example, where a jack is being supplied with a four wheel drive vehicle, it may have the cradle 27 replaced with a part which mates to an appropriate corresponding part -9in the 4 wheel drive vehicle. Additionally, the adjustability in the length of the elongate body may be dispensed with, the height of the body being determined by the axle/suspension-component height of the vehicle concerned.

In an alternative embodiment, the elongate body itself may be formed simply of a triangular section which extends from the top end 25 down to the foot 39.

It will be understood that the jack may be manufactured in different sizes to suit different size vehicles. In the case of large trucks/trailers, the jack may need to be manufactured with a larger size foot, so that the ground could take the load of the jacked vehicle, particularly when the vehicle is loaded.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the particularly embodiment disclosed in this document.

(V

Claims

1. A jack for a motor vehicle, the jack comprising a body having a vehicle contacting portion at a top end thereof and a foot at a bottom end thereof, the foot having a flat surface disposed lowermost and including an edge for pivotal movement relative to the ground, where in use the jack is disposed with the body inclined, said edge resting on the ground, and said vehicle contacting portion contacting said vehicle; and said vehicle is moved to elevate the angle of inclination of said body toward a more upright position, said jack pivoting relative to the ground about said edge, raising said vehicle.

2. A jack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle between the body and the flat surface is fixed.

3. A jack as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein, in use, said flat surface is inclined relative to the ground, and in raising said vehicle, said edge pivots on the ground as said vehicle is raised at the jacking point, until said flat surface rests on the ground, the flat surface providing a stop means to hold said vehicle raised at the jacking point.

4. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said body includes an elongate member extending between said vehicle contacting portion and said foot. A jack as claimed in claim 4 wherein said elongate member is a tubular member.

6. A jack as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein said elongate member is of adjustable length and includes fixing means to set its length at a predetermined length before use. -11

7. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said elongate member comprises two tubular members in telescoping arrangement, with transverse apertures extending therethrough to receive fixing means to set the length of said elongate member.

8. A jack as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fixing means comprises a bolt or pin assembly extending through aligned apertures to fix the length of the elongate members.

9. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said foot extends with said flat surface normal or oblique to the axial extent of said elongate member. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the angle between a line between the centre of said top end and the centre of said edge, and the plane of said flat surface lies between 600 and 850.

11. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the angle between a line between the centre of said top end and the centre of said edge, and the plane of said flat surface lies between 650 and 800.

12. A jack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the angle between a line between the centre of said top end and the centre of said edge, and the plane of said flat surface lies between 700 to 750. 20 13. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the angle mp between a line between the centre of said top end and the centre of said edge, and the plane of said flat surface lies the body is joined to said foot close to said edge.

14. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said edge includes gripping means to gain purchase in or on the ground, as the vehicle is moved to commence the jacking operation. -12- A jack as claimed in claim 14 wherein said gripping means comprises a projection extending away from said body.

16. A jack as claimed in claim 15 wherein said projection also extends away from said foot.

17. A jack as claimed in claim 15 or 16 wherein said projection extends away from said body an angle of about 1500 relative to the axial extent of the body.

18. A jack as claimed in claim 17 wherein said projection extends away from said foot at an angle of about 1350 relative to the plane of the flat surface of said foot.

19. A jack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said top end includes a cradle for accommodating an axle or axle housing of said vehicle. A jack substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. Dated this Seventeenth day of December 1998. TERENCE MICHAEL CLUNE Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant(s)