CA2121111A1 - Vehicle lift adapter - Google Patents
Vehicle lift adapterInfo
- Publication number
- CA2121111A1 CA2121111A1 CA002121111A CA2121111A CA2121111A1 CA 2121111 A1 CA2121111 A1 CA 2121111A1 CA 002121111 A CA002121111 A CA 002121111A CA 2121111 A CA2121111 A CA 2121111A CA 2121111 A1 CA2121111 A1 CA 2121111A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- platform
- arm
- support
- platforms
- vehicle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
- B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
- B66F7/06—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
- B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
- B66F7/06—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement
- B66F7/08—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement hydraulically or pneumatically operated
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
- B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
- B66F7/28—Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
Abstract
A lateral extension device for a platform of a vehicle lift of the type which supports a vehicle atop a pair of elevatable platforms by means of the vehicle undercarriage, there generally being support blocks interposed between the carriage and platforms. The device includes an arm positionable to provide support for the undercarriage laterally beyond the support area of the platform. A headed member inserted through communicating apertures in the arm and lift platform rotatably connects the arm to the platform. The arm aperture is a slot which adds an additional longitudinal degree of movement to the arm for longitudinal extension and retraction of the arm. The free end of the arm has an aperture for receipt of a pin of a block holder. Generally speaking four extension devices would be installed on a single lift: one at each lengthwise end of each of the two platforms of the lift. The extension device or adaptor can be included as part of the lift during manufacture or the device can be added to an existing lift.
A method of equipping a lift platform with the extension device is also described.
A method of equipping a lift platform with the extension device is also described.
Description
-- This invention relates to lateral extension devices for a plafform of a vehicle lift of the type which supports a vehicle atop a pair of elevatableplafforms by means of the vehicle undercarriage, there generally being support blocks interposed between the carriage and plafforms. In particular, 5 the present invention provides an arm positionable to provide support for the undercarriage laterally beyond the support area of the plafform. The invention also provides a method of equipping such a plafform with the lateral extension device.
Vehicle lifts having paired rectangular plafforms are used in 10 servicing vehicles. Devices which support vehicles by means of a vehicle frame or undercarriage are generally used where servicing of the vehicle tires is necessary, such as for tire rotation. Of course, other maintenance or service activities can be performed by use of such a device which provides access to the underside of a vehicle.
Generally speaking, in use, a vehicle is not supported directly on the plafforms of such a lift. Rather, rubber blocks are placed on the plafforms directly below the portion of the vehicle frame to be supported.
Usually, four blocks are used, one below each corner area of the vehicle. Of necessity then, the dimensions and spacing of the lift plafforms must take 20 into account the requirement that access be had to the vehicle wheels when the lift is in its elevated position. Generally speaking, the aproach has been to provide platforms of length shorter than the inner distance between front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
This constraint has led to a problem with respect to 25 accommodation of vehicles of various sizes. Particularly, there are vehicles,such as small trucks, having relatively large frames for which it is difficult or even impossible to locate rubber blocks for proper frame support on conventionally configured lift plafforms.
One approach to this problem has been the use of extension members for longitudinal extension of commercially available lift plafforms.
Currently available extension members are of the same width as the lift plafforms. Such a member includes a rectangular plafform extension area 5 having a pair of angle members running along two sides and extending beyond the extension area. There are open grips at the free ends of the angle members for engaging the lengthwise edges of a lift plafform. The arrangement is such that the plafform edges are received within the grips and the extension is located with the extension area adjacent the plafform 10 support area with upper horizontal arms of the angle members shouldered along edges of the lift plafform.
This approach has the advantage of extending the length of available support plafform area and installation of the extension members involves no great skill. There are, unfortunately, a number of disadvantages.
15 One is, of course, that the extension members must be stored when not in use.
A second disadvantage is related to the fact that many lifts are installed such that when in the lowered position, the plafforms are sunken into the surrounding area with the plafform upper support area flush, or at 20 least nearly flush with the surrounding area. The surrounding area, say a garage floor, generally comes up to the outer edges of the plafforms to present a relatively continuous floor area. It is therefore necessary to partially elevate the plafforms before installation of the extensions, which is inconvenient.
It can also be seen that any such extension necessarily diminishes accessibility to the underside of the vehicle to service personnel.
In a broad aspect, the present invention provides a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage. The device includes a pair of spaced apart plafforms, each plafform having a generally horizontal support surface, each surface being coplanar with the other, for location thereon of 5 blocks for supporting the undercarriage of the vehicle. A jack is operably connected to the plafforms for up and down movement of the platforms. A
lateral extension means for at least one of the surfaces is provided. The extension means includes an arm pivotally connected atop one of the plafforms such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a portion of a 10 top surface thereof located laterally beyond the plafform surface for location of a block on the portion of the top surface for supporting the vehicle undercarrlage.
The device thus provides an adapter for a plafform of vehicle lift to extend the support area of the platform. It may be included as part of the 15 lift or may be incoporated as part of an existing lift.
The arm can include an aperture in one of its ends be pivotally connected to the plafform by a headed member inserted through the aperture and secured to the plafform. In the preferred embodiment, the arm is a slot located such that the arm is longitudinally slidable as well as rotatable with 20 respect to the headed member.
The extension means can be secured to a platform, as described below in connection with the preferred embodiment, by an apertured plate mounted below the underside of the plafform. The apertures of the plate communicate with corresponding apertures in the plafform and 25 the headed member. Fasteners, such as threaded bolts, are inserted through the corresponding apertures in the plate, plafform and headed member to secure the headed member, and thus the extension means to the plafform.
_ -- 4 --Most often, the jack is a scissor jack which includes, for each plafform, a first support member pivotally connected to the underside of the plafform along a horizontal axis but at the same time being fixed against horizontal movement with respect to the plafform. There is a second support 5 member pivotally connected to the first member, the upper end of the second support member being horizontally movable with respect to the plafform along its lengthwise axis, most such plafforms being rectangular. Generally, there is a pair of such first support members rigidly connected to each other and a pair of such second support members rigidly connected to each other.
10 The upper ends of the second support members are connected to each other by a shaft fitted with rollers, which rollers are in horizontal rolling contact with an underside of the plafform.
Each apertured plate extends downwardly from the underside of the plafform and the rollers are dimensioned to provide a clearance between 15 the shaft and the underside of the plafform for the plate. This permits the upper ends of the second support members, during their horizontal travel, to pass by under the apertured plate during the lifting and lowering operations of the jack.
The arm of a lifting device of the present invention can include 20 mounting means for a block housing situated in the arm surface locatable laterally beyond the platform surface. The mounting means preferably is a hole in the arm and the block housing includes a downwardly directed pin for receipt in the hole. Optionally, the device includes the block housing and/or the block.
Another option is the provision of a low friction material along the portion of the underside of the arm in abutment with the plafform surface for reducing friction between the arm and surface during movement of the arm.
The support surface of each plafform is often rectangular and usuallly, the device includes a pair of the lateral extension means on each plafform, each located at a longitudinal end of the plafform.
Preferably, each arm may be positioned in a retracted position 5 within edges of the rectangular plafform to which it is connected and there is a cover for each of the arms, positionable over the arms when in the retracted position. Each cover can include a pair of cavities, one each for receipt of an upper portion of the headed member, for holding the cover in place. It would be usual for the underside of the cover to be largely 10 supported by the arms in the retracted positions, to permit blocks to be placed on the cover for supporting the vehicle undercarriage, if this happened to be necessary.
In a second broad aspect, the present invention is a method of equipping a plafform of a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage 15 with lateral extension means. This method could be used, for example, to retrofit existing lifts or it could be included in manufacturing of a new lift.
According to the method, there is a pair of spaced apart plafforms for supporting the vehicle by means of the undercarriage, each plafform having a generally horizontal support surface and each surface 20 being coplanar with the other, and a jack operably connected to the plafforms for up and down movement of the plafforms. The method includes mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the plafforms at a point central of the surface of the plafform such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a top surface thereof locatable laterally beyond the platform surface for support of the 25 vehicle.
_ -- 6 It is possible for the arm to have an aperture in one of its ends so that the method includes the step of connecting the arm to the platform by a headed member inserted through the aperture.
The the aperture can be a slot located such that the arm is 5 longitudinally slidable with respect to the headed member and the headed member can include a plurality of downwardly open apertures. The method would thus include forming, for example by drilling, apertures corresponding to the apertures of the headed member in the plafform and locating below the underside of the plafform an apertured plate with corresponding apertures 10 of the plate, plafform and headed member in communication with each other and securing fasteners through the communicating apertures.
Particularly, the invention also includes a method of equipping a plafform of a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage with lateral extension means, in which the device includes a pair of spaced apart 15 platforms for locating blocks thereon for supporting the vehicle by means of the undercarriage, each plafform having a generally horizontal support surface and each surface being coplanar with the other, and a scissor jack operably connected to the plafforms for up and down movement of the plafforms, the jack including, for each plafform, a first support member 20 pivotally connected to the underside of the plafform along a horizontal axis and being fixed against horizontal movement with respect to the plafform and a second support member pivotally connected to the first member, the second support member being horizontally movable with respect to the plafform, wherein there is a pair of such first support members rigidly 25 connected to each other and a pair of such second support members rigidly connected to each other, wherein the upper ends of the second support members are connected to each other by a shaft fitted with rollers in horizontal rolling contact with the underside of the platform, and wherein the rollers are dimensioned to provide a clearance between the shaft and the .~ -- 7 -underside of the plafform for the plate, in which the method includes providing an aperture through the support surface of such a plafform, and mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the plafforms by means which passes through the aperture and extends into the clearance and abuts the underside of the plafform to permit rotationally positioning the arm with a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the plafform support surface for location of a block on the top surface for support of the vehicle.
In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 illustrates a typical scissor lift with a known plafform extension installed, Figure 2 is an isometric view showing the top, side and an end of the upper portions of a lift having a plafform extension of the present nvention, Figure 3 is a vertical section of the plafform and extension of the present invention taken along a line 3-3 of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an exploded sectional view of the Figure 2 embodiment of the present invention taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Turning to the drawings, scissor lift 10 having scissor jack 11 is shown in an elevated position supporting a vehicle in Figure 1 on spaced apart plafforms 12. Each plafform 12 has known rear extension member 14 connected thereto. The vehicle undercarriage sits on rubber blocks 16 each of which in turn sits directly on one of the plafforms. During the lifting and lowering operations, each of the upper ends of jack members 18 moves horizontally along the underside of the plafform it supports. Each of the upper ends of jack member 20 is pivotally connected to the underside of the ~_ - 8 plafform along a horizontal axis transverse to the lengthwise direction of the plafform, but at the same time jack member 20 is horizontally fixed with respect to the plafform, in a fashion understood by those skilled in the art.
Movement of the lift is driven by pistons 22. As can be seen, each platform 5 is supported by pairs of such members, there being a pair of jack members 18 rigidly connected to each other and a pair of jack members 20 being rigidly connected to each other by cross-stuts. Members 18, 20 are pivotally connected to each other. The term "scissor jack" or "scissor lift" derives from the resemblance between this arrangement and a pair of scissors.
The upper ends of paired jack members 18 are connected to each other by shaft 24 shown in Figure 3. Each shaft end is fitted with roller 26 each of which is in direct rolling contact with the underside of the plafformsupported by the member. Roller 26 is shown in phantom in Figure 3 and the horizontal back and forth direction of movement of shaft 24 is indicated 15 by arrow 28, this direction corresponding to the horizontal direction of movement of the upper ends of jack members 18.
Each plafform provides a generally rectangular and horizontal upper support surface 30. The plafforms are coplanar with each other, that is, the support surface of one is the same height as the other and their 20 positions with respect to each other remain unchanged as the jack moves the supports up and down. In this way, relatively flat coplanar surfaces are provided for the placement of blocks 16 which in turn support the undercarriage of a vehicle to be raised to an elevated position by the lift.
Each platform is provided with arms 32 for lateral extension of 25 the surface available for support of a vehicle by the lift. Each plafform has a pair of arms 32, one arm at each longitudinal end of the platform. The arms of the preferred embodiment are essentially identical to each other, and as such comments made with respect to one arm would generally apply to the remaining arms.
Arm 32 is connected atop plafform 12 by headed member 34.
Headed member 34 is fastened to the plafform by means of apertured plate 5 36 in abutting contact with the underside of the plafform and threaded bolts 38. The bolts are each inserted through communicating plate apertures 39, plafform apertures 40 and headed member apertures 42. Apertures of the headed member are downwardly open threaded holes into which the matingly threaded bolts are threadedly engaged.
The elongate arm has slot 44 through which the stubby shank 45 of the headed member is inserted. Slot 44 is sized so the arm is held atop the plafform. Arm portions surrounding the slot are sandwiched between head 64 and the support surface 30 so that the arm is freely rotatable about vertical pivot axis 49. The arm can thus be rotated 15 horizontally with respect to the headed member as indicated by direction arrow 46. The arm is also horizontally slidable back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the slot with respect to the headed member as indicated by direction arrow 48 which emanates from axis 49. Of course, the position of arrow 48 is determined by the rotational position of the arm which can swing a full 360 about axis 49. The underside of the arm can be coated or have adhesively or otherwise affixed thereto a low-friction material such as neoprene. Such material would enhance movement of the arm with respect to the plafform, and assist in preserving the surface of the plafform against which the arm slides and rotates.
The arm is dimensioned such that its free end 50 may be positioned laterally beyond plafform surface 30 to thereby effectively extend the surface area available for locating a block for support of a vehicle.
ln the disclosed embodiment, the arm is provided in its free end with hole 51 for the mounting of block housing 52. Block housing 52 has downwardly depending pin 54 which is rotatably received with hole 51. Block housing 54 has upwardly facing surface 56 upon which sits rubber spacer block 58 for supporting a vehicle undercarriage. The block housing surface area is surrounded by upstanding walls 60 for holding the block in the housing.
The load-bearing portion of an arm which extends beyond the edge of the plafform to which the arm is connected is supported by the underlying plafform while the slotted end is held down by the headed member. It will be appreciated that the strength and dimensions of the arm, plafform, headed member and securing bolts combine to determine the load capacity of the load-bearing portion of the arm of the disclosed embodiment.
The lifting device of the present invention thus includes means for laterally extending the surface available for locating a block for supporting the undercarriage of a vehicle laterally beyond the rectangular upper areas provided by the plafforms. As can be appreciated from the drawings, the available area can be extended longitudinally beyond the ends of the rectangular platforms and the support area can be extended beyond the lengthwise sides or edges of the rectangular area, as desired.
When not in use, or when the extended support area is not needed, each of the arms can be positioned in a retracted position as shown in the plafform to the right in Figure 2. Cover 62 is fitted over each pair of retracted arms (block housings having been removed) of a plafform. Heads 64 of headed members 34 project into cavities or apertures 66 of the cover to hold the cover in place. As can be seen from Figure 4, the underside of the cover is largely supported by the arms in their retracted positions. The ends and center portions of the cover are supported by hollow transverse members 68. In this way, rubber spacer blocks may be placed on the cover, if this is so desired when the extension arms are not in use.
An existing lift may be equipped with the arm and mounting means described above to increase the utility of the lift. Such a retlofilling process would involve drilling, or otherwise providing plafforms with holes 40 in a suitable location. In the disclosed embodiment, the holes are provided in the central area of each of the plafform rectangles and particularly so as tolocate the headed member on the longitudinal center line of the rectangle, but any central position which provides appropriate strength for support of a vehicle would be suitable. Once holes for insertion of shanks of bolts 38 therethrough are provided, an arm is suitably located on the plafform, that is, the arm is moved into place so that its slot is located to overlie the holes to permit installation of a headed member 34. The stubby shank of the threaded member is thus inserted downwardly into the slot so that its threaded aperture 42 communicate with apertures 40 of the plafform. The apertured plate is moved into place with its apertures in communication with the plafform and headed member holes and bolts 38 threadingly installed.
Flat headed bolts would generally have slots in their heads for such purpose.
Typical support area dimensions of plafforms are about 36 inches long by 22 inches wide (about 91 cm by about 56 cm). The overall length of the extension arm of the preferred embodiment is about twenty-two inches and generally the pivot point (location of the center of the headed member) is spaced eight inches from the longitudinal end of a plafform while being located along a longitudinal center line. The width of the wide portion of the arm is about six inches and the arm has a thickness of about one inch.
The slot of the arm is about twelve inches long and about two inches wide and the slot extends to within about one inch of the end of the arm. The hole for the block housing has a radius of about % inches (1.9 cm) and is centered at a point about 11/4 inches (3.2 cm) from the end of the arm. The apertured bottom plate has a radius of about 43/4 inches (12 cm) and a thickness of about 3/8 inches (95 cm). Clearance between shaft 24 and the underside of bottom plate 36, as it extends downwardly below the underside surface of the plafform, is about 1/8 inches (0.32 cm). The extent of the 5 clearance in such an arrangement is determined by the outer radius of rollers 26. The arm, headed member and apertured plate are all made of material, such as steel, of suitable strength. The cover is about 81/4 inches (21 cm) wide and 54 inches (137 cm) long with its hollow end support members adding about another two inches to its overall length. The cover of the 10 disclosed embodiment is of 11 gauge H.R.S. plate. Rubber blocks are typically about five inches cubed.
It is possible with the present invention to obtain lateral extension members suitable for use in supporting vehicles of at least 7000 pounds. For example, a commercially available scissor lift known as 15 SPACEMAX 7000 and currently available from Hydralift Industries Ltd. of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada can be readily ret,orilled with the extension described herein by the process described above.
Vehicle lifts having paired rectangular plafforms are used in 10 servicing vehicles. Devices which support vehicles by means of a vehicle frame or undercarriage are generally used where servicing of the vehicle tires is necessary, such as for tire rotation. Of course, other maintenance or service activities can be performed by use of such a device which provides access to the underside of a vehicle.
Generally speaking, in use, a vehicle is not supported directly on the plafforms of such a lift. Rather, rubber blocks are placed on the plafforms directly below the portion of the vehicle frame to be supported.
Usually, four blocks are used, one below each corner area of the vehicle. Of necessity then, the dimensions and spacing of the lift plafforms must take 20 into account the requirement that access be had to the vehicle wheels when the lift is in its elevated position. Generally speaking, the aproach has been to provide platforms of length shorter than the inner distance between front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
This constraint has led to a problem with respect to 25 accommodation of vehicles of various sizes. Particularly, there are vehicles,such as small trucks, having relatively large frames for which it is difficult or even impossible to locate rubber blocks for proper frame support on conventionally configured lift plafforms.
One approach to this problem has been the use of extension members for longitudinal extension of commercially available lift plafforms.
Currently available extension members are of the same width as the lift plafforms. Such a member includes a rectangular plafform extension area 5 having a pair of angle members running along two sides and extending beyond the extension area. There are open grips at the free ends of the angle members for engaging the lengthwise edges of a lift plafform. The arrangement is such that the plafform edges are received within the grips and the extension is located with the extension area adjacent the plafform 10 support area with upper horizontal arms of the angle members shouldered along edges of the lift plafform.
This approach has the advantage of extending the length of available support plafform area and installation of the extension members involves no great skill. There are, unfortunately, a number of disadvantages.
15 One is, of course, that the extension members must be stored when not in use.
A second disadvantage is related to the fact that many lifts are installed such that when in the lowered position, the plafforms are sunken into the surrounding area with the plafform upper support area flush, or at 20 least nearly flush with the surrounding area. The surrounding area, say a garage floor, generally comes up to the outer edges of the plafforms to present a relatively continuous floor area. It is therefore necessary to partially elevate the plafforms before installation of the extensions, which is inconvenient.
It can also be seen that any such extension necessarily diminishes accessibility to the underside of the vehicle to service personnel.
In a broad aspect, the present invention provides a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage. The device includes a pair of spaced apart plafforms, each plafform having a generally horizontal support surface, each surface being coplanar with the other, for location thereon of 5 blocks for supporting the undercarriage of the vehicle. A jack is operably connected to the plafforms for up and down movement of the platforms. A
lateral extension means for at least one of the surfaces is provided. The extension means includes an arm pivotally connected atop one of the plafforms such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a portion of a 10 top surface thereof located laterally beyond the plafform surface for location of a block on the portion of the top surface for supporting the vehicle undercarrlage.
The device thus provides an adapter for a plafform of vehicle lift to extend the support area of the platform. It may be included as part of the 15 lift or may be incoporated as part of an existing lift.
The arm can include an aperture in one of its ends be pivotally connected to the plafform by a headed member inserted through the aperture and secured to the plafform. In the preferred embodiment, the arm is a slot located such that the arm is longitudinally slidable as well as rotatable with 20 respect to the headed member.
The extension means can be secured to a platform, as described below in connection with the preferred embodiment, by an apertured plate mounted below the underside of the plafform. The apertures of the plate communicate with corresponding apertures in the plafform and 25 the headed member. Fasteners, such as threaded bolts, are inserted through the corresponding apertures in the plate, plafform and headed member to secure the headed member, and thus the extension means to the plafform.
_ -- 4 --Most often, the jack is a scissor jack which includes, for each plafform, a first support member pivotally connected to the underside of the plafform along a horizontal axis but at the same time being fixed against horizontal movement with respect to the plafform. There is a second support 5 member pivotally connected to the first member, the upper end of the second support member being horizontally movable with respect to the plafform along its lengthwise axis, most such plafforms being rectangular. Generally, there is a pair of such first support members rigidly connected to each other and a pair of such second support members rigidly connected to each other.
10 The upper ends of the second support members are connected to each other by a shaft fitted with rollers, which rollers are in horizontal rolling contact with an underside of the plafform.
Each apertured plate extends downwardly from the underside of the plafform and the rollers are dimensioned to provide a clearance between 15 the shaft and the underside of the plafform for the plate. This permits the upper ends of the second support members, during their horizontal travel, to pass by under the apertured plate during the lifting and lowering operations of the jack.
The arm of a lifting device of the present invention can include 20 mounting means for a block housing situated in the arm surface locatable laterally beyond the platform surface. The mounting means preferably is a hole in the arm and the block housing includes a downwardly directed pin for receipt in the hole. Optionally, the device includes the block housing and/or the block.
Another option is the provision of a low friction material along the portion of the underside of the arm in abutment with the plafform surface for reducing friction between the arm and surface during movement of the arm.
The support surface of each plafform is often rectangular and usuallly, the device includes a pair of the lateral extension means on each plafform, each located at a longitudinal end of the plafform.
Preferably, each arm may be positioned in a retracted position 5 within edges of the rectangular plafform to which it is connected and there is a cover for each of the arms, positionable over the arms when in the retracted position. Each cover can include a pair of cavities, one each for receipt of an upper portion of the headed member, for holding the cover in place. It would be usual for the underside of the cover to be largely 10 supported by the arms in the retracted positions, to permit blocks to be placed on the cover for supporting the vehicle undercarriage, if this happened to be necessary.
In a second broad aspect, the present invention is a method of equipping a plafform of a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage 15 with lateral extension means. This method could be used, for example, to retrofit existing lifts or it could be included in manufacturing of a new lift.
According to the method, there is a pair of spaced apart plafforms for supporting the vehicle by means of the undercarriage, each plafform having a generally horizontal support surface and each surface 20 being coplanar with the other, and a jack operably connected to the plafforms for up and down movement of the plafforms. The method includes mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the plafforms at a point central of the surface of the plafform such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a top surface thereof locatable laterally beyond the platform surface for support of the 25 vehicle.
_ -- 6 It is possible for the arm to have an aperture in one of its ends so that the method includes the step of connecting the arm to the platform by a headed member inserted through the aperture.
The the aperture can be a slot located such that the arm is 5 longitudinally slidable with respect to the headed member and the headed member can include a plurality of downwardly open apertures. The method would thus include forming, for example by drilling, apertures corresponding to the apertures of the headed member in the plafform and locating below the underside of the plafform an apertured plate with corresponding apertures 10 of the plate, plafform and headed member in communication with each other and securing fasteners through the communicating apertures.
Particularly, the invention also includes a method of equipping a plafform of a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage with lateral extension means, in which the device includes a pair of spaced apart 15 platforms for locating blocks thereon for supporting the vehicle by means of the undercarriage, each plafform having a generally horizontal support surface and each surface being coplanar with the other, and a scissor jack operably connected to the plafforms for up and down movement of the plafforms, the jack including, for each plafform, a first support member 20 pivotally connected to the underside of the plafform along a horizontal axis and being fixed against horizontal movement with respect to the plafform and a second support member pivotally connected to the first member, the second support member being horizontally movable with respect to the plafform, wherein there is a pair of such first support members rigidly 25 connected to each other and a pair of such second support members rigidly connected to each other, wherein the upper ends of the second support members are connected to each other by a shaft fitted with rollers in horizontal rolling contact with the underside of the platform, and wherein the rollers are dimensioned to provide a clearance between the shaft and the .~ -- 7 -underside of the plafform for the plate, in which the method includes providing an aperture through the support surface of such a plafform, and mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the plafforms by means which passes through the aperture and extends into the clearance and abuts the underside of the plafform to permit rotationally positioning the arm with a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the plafform support surface for location of a block on the top surface for support of the vehicle.
In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 illustrates a typical scissor lift with a known plafform extension installed, Figure 2 is an isometric view showing the top, side and an end of the upper portions of a lift having a plafform extension of the present nvention, Figure 3 is a vertical section of the plafform and extension of the present invention taken along a line 3-3 of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an exploded sectional view of the Figure 2 embodiment of the present invention taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Turning to the drawings, scissor lift 10 having scissor jack 11 is shown in an elevated position supporting a vehicle in Figure 1 on spaced apart plafforms 12. Each plafform 12 has known rear extension member 14 connected thereto. The vehicle undercarriage sits on rubber blocks 16 each of which in turn sits directly on one of the plafforms. During the lifting and lowering operations, each of the upper ends of jack members 18 moves horizontally along the underside of the plafform it supports. Each of the upper ends of jack member 20 is pivotally connected to the underside of the ~_ - 8 plafform along a horizontal axis transverse to the lengthwise direction of the plafform, but at the same time jack member 20 is horizontally fixed with respect to the plafform, in a fashion understood by those skilled in the art.
Movement of the lift is driven by pistons 22. As can be seen, each platform 5 is supported by pairs of such members, there being a pair of jack members 18 rigidly connected to each other and a pair of jack members 20 being rigidly connected to each other by cross-stuts. Members 18, 20 are pivotally connected to each other. The term "scissor jack" or "scissor lift" derives from the resemblance between this arrangement and a pair of scissors.
The upper ends of paired jack members 18 are connected to each other by shaft 24 shown in Figure 3. Each shaft end is fitted with roller 26 each of which is in direct rolling contact with the underside of the plafformsupported by the member. Roller 26 is shown in phantom in Figure 3 and the horizontal back and forth direction of movement of shaft 24 is indicated 15 by arrow 28, this direction corresponding to the horizontal direction of movement of the upper ends of jack members 18.
Each plafform provides a generally rectangular and horizontal upper support surface 30. The plafforms are coplanar with each other, that is, the support surface of one is the same height as the other and their 20 positions with respect to each other remain unchanged as the jack moves the supports up and down. In this way, relatively flat coplanar surfaces are provided for the placement of blocks 16 which in turn support the undercarriage of a vehicle to be raised to an elevated position by the lift.
Each platform is provided with arms 32 for lateral extension of 25 the surface available for support of a vehicle by the lift. Each plafform has a pair of arms 32, one arm at each longitudinal end of the platform. The arms of the preferred embodiment are essentially identical to each other, and as such comments made with respect to one arm would generally apply to the remaining arms.
Arm 32 is connected atop plafform 12 by headed member 34.
Headed member 34 is fastened to the plafform by means of apertured plate 5 36 in abutting contact with the underside of the plafform and threaded bolts 38. The bolts are each inserted through communicating plate apertures 39, plafform apertures 40 and headed member apertures 42. Apertures of the headed member are downwardly open threaded holes into which the matingly threaded bolts are threadedly engaged.
The elongate arm has slot 44 through which the stubby shank 45 of the headed member is inserted. Slot 44 is sized so the arm is held atop the plafform. Arm portions surrounding the slot are sandwiched between head 64 and the support surface 30 so that the arm is freely rotatable about vertical pivot axis 49. The arm can thus be rotated 15 horizontally with respect to the headed member as indicated by direction arrow 46. The arm is also horizontally slidable back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the slot with respect to the headed member as indicated by direction arrow 48 which emanates from axis 49. Of course, the position of arrow 48 is determined by the rotational position of the arm which can swing a full 360 about axis 49. The underside of the arm can be coated or have adhesively or otherwise affixed thereto a low-friction material such as neoprene. Such material would enhance movement of the arm with respect to the plafform, and assist in preserving the surface of the plafform against which the arm slides and rotates.
The arm is dimensioned such that its free end 50 may be positioned laterally beyond plafform surface 30 to thereby effectively extend the surface area available for locating a block for support of a vehicle.
ln the disclosed embodiment, the arm is provided in its free end with hole 51 for the mounting of block housing 52. Block housing 52 has downwardly depending pin 54 which is rotatably received with hole 51. Block housing 54 has upwardly facing surface 56 upon which sits rubber spacer block 58 for supporting a vehicle undercarriage. The block housing surface area is surrounded by upstanding walls 60 for holding the block in the housing.
The load-bearing portion of an arm which extends beyond the edge of the plafform to which the arm is connected is supported by the underlying plafform while the slotted end is held down by the headed member. It will be appreciated that the strength and dimensions of the arm, plafform, headed member and securing bolts combine to determine the load capacity of the load-bearing portion of the arm of the disclosed embodiment.
The lifting device of the present invention thus includes means for laterally extending the surface available for locating a block for supporting the undercarriage of a vehicle laterally beyond the rectangular upper areas provided by the plafforms. As can be appreciated from the drawings, the available area can be extended longitudinally beyond the ends of the rectangular platforms and the support area can be extended beyond the lengthwise sides or edges of the rectangular area, as desired.
When not in use, or when the extended support area is not needed, each of the arms can be positioned in a retracted position as shown in the plafform to the right in Figure 2. Cover 62 is fitted over each pair of retracted arms (block housings having been removed) of a plafform. Heads 64 of headed members 34 project into cavities or apertures 66 of the cover to hold the cover in place. As can be seen from Figure 4, the underside of the cover is largely supported by the arms in their retracted positions. The ends and center portions of the cover are supported by hollow transverse members 68. In this way, rubber spacer blocks may be placed on the cover, if this is so desired when the extension arms are not in use.
An existing lift may be equipped with the arm and mounting means described above to increase the utility of the lift. Such a retlofilling process would involve drilling, or otherwise providing plafforms with holes 40 in a suitable location. In the disclosed embodiment, the holes are provided in the central area of each of the plafform rectangles and particularly so as tolocate the headed member on the longitudinal center line of the rectangle, but any central position which provides appropriate strength for support of a vehicle would be suitable. Once holes for insertion of shanks of bolts 38 therethrough are provided, an arm is suitably located on the plafform, that is, the arm is moved into place so that its slot is located to overlie the holes to permit installation of a headed member 34. The stubby shank of the threaded member is thus inserted downwardly into the slot so that its threaded aperture 42 communicate with apertures 40 of the plafform. The apertured plate is moved into place with its apertures in communication with the plafform and headed member holes and bolts 38 threadingly installed.
Flat headed bolts would generally have slots in their heads for such purpose.
Typical support area dimensions of plafforms are about 36 inches long by 22 inches wide (about 91 cm by about 56 cm). The overall length of the extension arm of the preferred embodiment is about twenty-two inches and generally the pivot point (location of the center of the headed member) is spaced eight inches from the longitudinal end of a plafform while being located along a longitudinal center line. The width of the wide portion of the arm is about six inches and the arm has a thickness of about one inch.
The slot of the arm is about twelve inches long and about two inches wide and the slot extends to within about one inch of the end of the arm. The hole for the block housing has a radius of about % inches (1.9 cm) and is centered at a point about 11/4 inches (3.2 cm) from the end of the arm. The apertured bottom plate has a radius of about 43/4 inches (12 cm) and a thickness of about 3/8 inches (95 cm). Clearance between shaft 24 and the underside of bottom plate 36, as it extends downwardly below the underside surface of the plafform, is about 1/8 inches (0.32 cm). The extent of the 5 clearance in such an arrangement is determined by the outer radius of rollers 26. The arm, headed member and apertured plate are all made of material, such as steel, of suitable strength. The cover is about 81/4 inches (21 cm) wide and 54 inches (137 cm) long with its hollow end support members adding about another two inches to its overall length. The cover of the 10 disclosed embodiment is of 11 gauge H.R.S. plate. Rubber blocks are typically about five inches cubed.
It is possible with the present invention to obtain lateral extension members suitable for use in supporting vehicles of at least 7000 pounds. For example, a commercially available scissor lift known as 15 SPACEMAX 7000 and currently available from Hydralift Industries Ltd. of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada can be readily ret,orilled with the extension described herein by the process described above.
Claims (26)
1. A device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage, the device comprising:
a pair of spaced apart platforms, each platform having a generally horizontal support surface, each surface being coplanar with the other, for location thereon of blocks for supporting the undercarriage of the vehicle;
a jack operably connected to the platforms for up and down movement of the platforms; and a lateral extension means for at least one of the surfaces, wherein the extension means includes an arm pivotally connected atop one of the platforms such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a portion of a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the platform surface for location of a said block on the portion of the top surface for support of the vehicle undercarriage thereby.
a pair of spaced apart platforms, each platform having a generally horizontal support surface, each surface being coplanar with the other, for location thereon of blocks for supporting the undercarriage of the vehicle;
a jack operably connected to the platforms for up and down movement of the platforms; and a lateral extension means for at least one of the surfaces, wherein the extension means includes an arm pivotally connected atop one of the platforms such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a portion of a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the platform surface for location of a said block on the portion of the top surface for support of the vehicle undercarriage thereby.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the arm has an aperture in one end thereof and the arm is pivotally connected to the platform by a headed member inserted through the aperture and secured to the platform.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the aperture of the arm is a slot located such that the arm is longitudinally slidable with respect to the headed member.
4. The device of claim 2, further comprising an apertured plate mounted below the underside of the platform with the apertures thereof in communication with corresponding apertures in the platform and the headed member, and fasteners inserted through the corresponding apertures in the plate, platform and headed member to secure the headed member to the platform.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the jack comprises a scissor jack which includes, for each platform, a first support member pivotally connected to the underside of the platform along a horizontal axis and being fixed against horizontal movement with respect to the platform and a second support member pivotally connected to the first member, the second support member being horizontally movable with respect to the platform.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein there is a pair of said first support members rigidly connected to each other and a pair of said second support members rigidly connected to each other.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein upper ends of said second support members are connected to each other by a shaft fitted with rollers in horizontal rolling contact with the underside of the platform.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein each apertured plate extends downwardly from the underside of the platform and the rollers are dimensioned to provide a clearance between said shaft and the underside of the platform for the plate.
9. The device of claim 4 wherein the apertures of the headed member are downwardly open holes matingly threaded with the fasteners for fastening receipt thereof
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the arm has mounting means for a block housing which block is for support of the undercarriage, the mounting means being situated in the arm surface locatable laterally beyond the platform surface.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein the mounting means comprises a hole in the arm and the block housing includes a downwardly directed pin for receipt in the hole.
12. The device of claim 11, further comprising said block housing.
13. The device of claim 12, further comprsing said block.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein an underside of the arm comprises a low friction material in abutment with the platform surface for reducing friction between the arm and surface during movement of the arm.
15. The device of claim 2 wherein the support surface of each platform is rectangular and the device includes a pair of said lateral extension means for each platform, each lateral extension means located at a longitudinal end of the platform.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein each arm may be positioned in a retracted position within edges of the rectangular platform to which it is connected and further comprising a cover for each of the arms, positionable thereover when each is in the retracted position.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein each cover includes a pair of cavities, one each for receipt therein of an upper portion of said headed member, for holding the cover in place.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein an underside of the cover is largely supported by the arms in the retracted positions, to permit said blocks to be placed thereon for supporting the vehicle undercarriage.
19. A device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage, the device comprising:
a pair of spaced apart platforms, each platform having a generally horizontal support surface, each surface being coplanar with the other, for location thereon of blocks for supporting the undercarriage of the vehicle;
a jack operably connected to the platforms for up and down movement of the platforms; and a lateral extension means for at least one of the surfaces, wherein the extension means includes an arm pivotally connected atop one of the platforms such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a portion of a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the platform surface;
and wherein, the arm has an aperture in one end thereof and the platform surface has an aperture in a central area thereof; and a headed member is inserted through the apertures to pivotally secure the arm to the platform with the platform providing support for the arm when said block is located on said arm portion for support of the vehicle undercarriage thereby.
a pair of spaced apart platforms, each platform having a generally horizontal support surface, each surface being coplanar with the other, for location thereon of blocks for supporting the undercarriage of the vehicle;
a jack operably connected to the platforms for up and down movement of the platforms; and a lateral extension means for at least one of the surfaces, wherein the extension means includes an arm pivotally connected atop one of the platforms such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a portion of a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the platform surface;
and wherein, the arm has an aperture in one end thereof and the platform surface has an aperture in a central area thereof; and a headed member is inserted through the apertures to pivotally secure the arm to the platform with the platform providing support for the arm when said block is located on said arm portion for support of the vehicle undercarriage thereby.
20. A method of equipping a platform of a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage with lateral extension means, wherein the device includes a pair of spaced apart platforms for supporting the vehicle by means of the undercarriage, each platform having a generally horizontal support surface and each surface being coplanar with the other, and a jack operably connected to the platforms for up and down movement of the platforms, the method comprising the step of:
- mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the platforms at a point central of the surface of the platform such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a top surface thereof locatable laterally beyond the platform surface for support of the vehicle thereby.
- mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the platforms at a point central of the surface of the platform such that the arm may be rotatably positioned with a top surface thereof locatable laterally beyond the platform surface for support of the vehicle thereby.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the arm has an aperture in one end thereof and the method includes the step of connecting the arm to the platform by a headed member inserted through the aperture.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the aperture is a slot located such that the arm is longitudinally slidable with respect to the headed member, the headed member includes a plurality of downwardly open apertures, and the method includes the steps of forming apertures corresponding to the apertures of the headed member in the platform and locating below the underside of the platform an apertured plate with corresponding apertures of the plate, platform and headed member in communication with each other and securing fasteners through the communicating apertures.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the apertures of the headed member and the fasteners are matingly threaded and the step of securing the fasteners includes screwing the fasteners into the apertures of the headed member.
24. The method of claim 20 including the step of mounting a pair of said arms to each platform, one arm of each pair being at a longitudinal end of the platform.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein each platform is rectangular and each of the arms is mounted such that it may be positioned in a retracted position within edges of the rectangular platform to which it is mounted and including the step of providing a cover for each arm, positionable over the arm when in its retracted position.
26. A method of equipping a platform of a device for lifting a vehicle having an undercarriage with lateral extension means, wherein the device includes a pair of spaced apart platforms for locating blocks thereon for supporting the vehicle by means of the undercarriage, each platform having a generally horizontal support surface and each surface being coplanar with the other, and a scissor jack operably connected to the platforms for up and down movement of the platforms, the jack including, for each platform, a first support member pivotally connected to the underside of the platform along a horizontal axis and being fixed against horizontal movement with respect to the platform and a second support member pivotally connected to the first member, the second support member being horizontally movable with respect to the platform, wherein there is a pair of said first support members rigidly connected to each other and a pair of said second support members rigidly connected to each other, wherein the upper ends of said second support members are connected to each other by a shaft fitted with rollers in horizontal rolling contact with the underside of the platform, and wherein the rollers are dimensioned to provide a clearance between said shaft and the underside of the platform for the plate, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an aperture through the support surface of a said platform;
mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the platforms by means which passes through said aperture and extends into said clearance and abuts the underside of the platform to permit rotationally positioning the arm with a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the platform support surface for location of a block on the top surface for support of the vehicle thereby.
providing an aperture through the support surface of a said platform;
mounting an arm pivotally atop one of the platforms by means which passes through said aperture and extends into said clearance and abuts the underside of the platform to permit rotationally positioning the arm with a top surface thereof located laterally beyond the platform support surface for location of a block on the top surface for support of the vehicle thereby.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002121111A CA2121111A1 (en) | 1994-04-12 | 1994-04-12 | Vehicle lift adapter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002121111A CA2121111A1 (en) | 1994-04-12 | 1994-04-12 | Vehicle lift adapter |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2121111A1 true CA2121111A1 (en) | 1995-10-13 |
Family
ID=4153366
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002121111A Abandoned CA2121111A1 (en) | 1994-04-12 | 1994-04-12 | Vehicle lift adapter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2121111A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITVI20110189A1 (en) * | 2011-07-18 | 2011-10-17 | Pierino Allegri | LIFT FOR DOUBLE SCISSOR SPECIAL TYPE VEHICLES WITH ADJUSTABLE ARMS VEHICLE SOCKET LOCATED ON A SUPPORT FINDED FROM THE EXTERNAL ELEMENTS OF THE LIFTING MECHANISM |
| CN111331561A (en) * | 2020-03-25 | 2020-06-26 | 崔玲 | Novel auto engineering maintenance supports device |
| CN113683010A (en) * | 2021-08-24 | 2021-11-23 | 博众精工科技股份有限公司 | Vehicle lifting bearing mechanism |
| CN114379350A (en) * | 2021-12-30 | 2022-04-22 | 浙江康迪智能换电科技有限公司 | Battery compartment lifting device for electric automobile |
-
1994
- 1994-04-12 CA CA002121111A patent/CA2121111A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITVI20110189A1 (en) * | 2011-07-18 | 2011-10-17 | Pierino Allegri | LIFT FOR DOUBLE SCISSOR SPECIAL TYPE VEHICLES WITH ADJUSTABLE ARMS VEHICLE SOCKET LOCATED ON A SUPPORT FINDED FROM THE EXTERNAL ELEMENTS OF THE LIFTING MECHANISM |
| CN111331561A (en) * | 2020-03-25 | 2020-06-26 | 崔玲 | Novel auto engineering maintenance supports device |
| CN113683010A (en) * | 2021-08-24 | 2021-11-23 | 博众精工科技股份有限公司 | Vehicle lifting bearing mechanism |
| CN114379350A (en) * | 2021-12-30 | 2022-04-22 | 浙江康迪智能换电科技有限公司 | Battery compartment lifting device for electric automobile |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |