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
  • B66F7/0641—Single levers, e.g. parallel links
• • 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
  • B66F7/0625—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported by levers for vertical movement with wheels for moving around the floor
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a lifting apparatus designed e.g. for lifting an automobile, said lifting apparatus comprising a frame and a lifting mechanism mounted in the frame and consisting of at least one power means and at least one lifting means.
• Another previously known lifting apparatus consists of four columns anchored in the garage floor, one at each corner of the apparatus. Each column is provided with a swivelled lifting arm which turns horizontally and has an adjustable lifting part whose distance from the column can be varied. The lifting arm moves up and down the column during the lifting and lowering operations. This solution is also expensive and requires plenty of room. A further drawback is that this apparatus, too, is fixed in one place. Besides, the columns at the corners are obstacles to repair and painting operations.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks observed in the aforementioned solutions and to achieve an easy-to-use, reliable and low-cost lifting ap ⁇ paratus for the lifting of automobiles e.g. during repairs and painting.
• the lifting apparatus of the invention is characterized in that it has a transmission member pivoted on the frame and turning in an essentially horizontal plane, and that one end of a power means is pivoted on the frame and the other end on the transmission member, and that it comprises a connecting member, one end of which is pivoted on the transmission member and the other end on a lifting means.
• the advantage is a good alignment of the forces, allowing a compact construction, and that the lifting mechanism is placed inside and protected by the frame.
• a preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the lifting means consists of at least two lifting legs placed at a suitable distance from each other, at least one bracing member placed between the legs, bearing rollers, and at least one lug for the mounting of a connecting member.
• the lifting leg as seen from above is a plate ⁇ like body of essentially even thickness, which, as seen from the side, has a first end, a bend and a second end, said lifting leg having a width that increases steadily from the first end towards the bend and then decreases again towards the second end, the width being largest at the level of the bend.
• This construction provides the considerable advantage that the lifting operation can be performed in two phases. The lifting power needed in the preliminary lifting phase has been reduced by shortening the lever arm of the lifting leg so that the lever arm extends from the bend, which rests on the floor, to the joint on which the leg turns. However, a larger lifting height is required than is possible to achieve in this manner.
• a third preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the second end of the lifting means is attached to an essentially horizontal shaft mounted with bearings on the frame so that it can turn about its centre axis, said shaft being provided with two lugs for each connecting member, said lugs being mounted at an angle to the frame and provided with a hole for the joint of a connecting member in such manner that the joint of the connecting member is located below and at a maximal distance from the the joint of the lifting means. Due to the maximized vertical distance between said joints, this construction provides the advantage that the lever arm of the connecting member relative to the joint of the lifting means becomes as long as possible.
• a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the apparatus comprises two lifting means, two power means and two connecting members, which are placed symmetrically relative to each other in a mirror-image configuration relative to the transverse and longitudinal axes of the lifting apparatus and in such manner that when the power means, via the mediation of the transmission member and the connecting member, exerts a pull at the lugs of the lifting means, the bearing rollers at the bend of the leg are the first to touch the base, e.g. floor, and as the power means continues to pull at the lifting means, the bearing rollers at the end the leg touch the floor, so that when the lifting means is turned further about its pivot, the bearing rollers at the bend of the leg rise clear of the floor.
• the arrangement has the advantages of a minimized need for power and a compact construction.
• the construction makes it possible to divide the lifting operation into a preliminary phase and a main lifting phase, the latter following immediately upon the former, in such manner that the power available is optimized.
• Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transmission member consists of two plates, of which one is placed on top of the other at a distance from it, the first ends of the power means and connecting member being pivoted in the space between the two plates, and that the transmission member turns about a vertical pivot which is attached to the underside of the top plate of the frame by means of a fixing part, the lower end of the pivot being provided with a supporting plate to carry the weight of the transmission member.
• a still further preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the geometry of the lifting mechanism, the locations of the joints and the leverage relations are so chosen that, when the lifting apparatus is in the low position, the entire lifting mechanism is contained in the space surrounded by the top plate, end plates and side plates of the frame.
• the advantage is, in addition to a good alignment of ' the forces and a low-profile construction, that the lifting mechanism is protected by the frame.
• Fig. 1 presents the lifting apparatus as seen oblique ⁇ ly from the front and from above.
• Fig. 2 presents a top view of the lifting apparatus in the low position with the top plate removed.
• Fig. 3 presents a top view of the lifting apparatus in the high position with the top plate removed.
• Fig. 4 presents a lateral view of the lifting apparatus in the high position and sectioned along line IV-IV in Fig.2
• Fig. 5 presents a lateral view of the lifting appara ⁇ tus in the final stage of the preliminary lift ⁇ ing phase and partly sectioned and simplified.
• Fig. 6 presents a lateral view of the lifting appara ⁇ tus in the high position and sectioned along line VI-VI in Fig.3
• Fig. 7 presents a front view of the transmission member as seen from the direction of line VII-VII in Fig.2
• the lifting apparatus has a frame 1 of the form of a rectangular box without a bottom.
• the frame consists of a horizontal top plate 2 and end plates 3 and side plates 4 attached to its edges at right angles to the top plate.
• the height of the end plates and side plates has been minimized so as to achieve a construction of minimal height.
• Attached to the inside of each side plate 4 is a lug 30 for the joint 21 holding the second end 9 of a power means 5.
• the power means is an ordinary hydraulic cylinder. Seen from above, the lugs 30 are located symmetrically relative to the transverse and longitudinal axes of the frame, one on each side of each axis.
• each side plate 4 Also attached to the inside of each side plate 4 are two sleeve bearings 29 which are also located symmetrically relative to the transverse and longitudinal axes of the frame.
• the sleeve bearings 29 are placed closer to the ends of the frame than the lugs 30.
• a vertical pivot 19 which is attached to the underside of the top plate 2 by means of a fixing part 23.
• the pivot 19 accommodates the bearing of the transmission means 7, which turns horizontally about the pivot.
• a bearing plate 24 which carries the weight of the transmission member and prevents it from falling off the pivot.
• the transmission member 7 consists of two plates of identical shape, one of which is placed on top of the other at a suitable distance. The thickness of the plates and the distance between them are so chosen that the transmission member is entirely inside the frame as seen from the side.
• a vertical pivot 20 for the joint holding the first end 8 of a power means 5.
• the lifting apparatus has two symmetrical lifting means 6 placed near the ends of the apparatus.
• Each lifting means 6 consists of a pair of parallel lifting legs 13 placed at a distance from each other, a shaft 28 placed transversely between the legs, a lighter bracing member 14, bearing rollers 17 and 18 and lugs 22.
• the lifting leg is a plate-like body of uniform thickness.
• the upper edge of the lifting leg is straight and of a length equal to the length of the leg itself.
• the width of the leg is about equal to the diameter of the shaft. From this end towards the other end 25, the width of the leg increases until it culminates at the level of the bend 27. From this point towards the end 25, the lower edge rises steadily towards the upper edge.
• One end 26 of the lifting leg is attached to the shaft 28, at a point close to its end, and the shaft ends in turn are mounted with sleeve bearings 29 on the frame of the lifting apparatus.
• the lugs 22 When the lifting apparatus is in the high position, the lugs 22 still point in a downward direction, but the angle is now such that the lugs also point toward the transmission member 7 while forming a sharp angle relative to the vertical plane passing through the shaft 28. In this case, too, the magnitude of the angle is in the range 30° - 60°, but the angle is now on the other side of said vertical plane.
• the lugs 22 In the low position of the lifting apparatus, the lugs 22 are entirely inside the frame. Between the lower ends of the lugs is a horizontal pivot 16, whose vertical distance to the shaft 28 is as large as possible so as to provide a maximal moment arm between pivots 16 and 29 in order to reduce the need for lifting power.
• the lifting leg 13 is provided with two bearing rollers 17 placed side by side at the first end 25 of the leg and another pair of rollers 18 at the bend 27 of the leg.
• the bearing rollers are mounted with bearings on either side of the leg and their function is to convert sliding friction into rolling friction during the lifting. Especially rollers 17 move through a fairly long distance during the main lifting phase after the preliminary phase.
• the bearing rollers are needed in the first place because the apparatus has two lifting means which act in opposite horizontal directions.
• the bracing bar 1 between the legs is placed close to the first end 25, where it adequately reinforces the narrower ends of the legs.
• connecting member 10 Between the transmission member 7 and each lifting means 6 is a connecting member 10, the first end 11 of which is mounted on pivot 15 and the other end on pivot 16.
• the connecting member is a flat bar whose first end, as seen from the side, is located somewhat higher up than the second end.
• the function of the connecting members is to transmit the lifting power produced by the power means 5 from the transmission member to the lifting means 6.
• the lifting leg may be suitably curved in lateral profile to achieve a more even distribution of the lifting force.
• the function of the connecting member can be performed by a chain or rope instead of a drawbar, because, due to the load, this member is not required to transmit thrust.
• the geometry of the transmission member and the relative positions of the pivots on it may vary according to the lifting result desired.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

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Family Cites Families (5)

• 1989
  • 1989-04-05 FI FI891622A patent/FI82910C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1989-05-18 WO PCT/FI1989/000091 patent/WO1989011438A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1989-05-18 EP EP19890906120 patent/EP0378610A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1989-05-18 AU AU36867/89A patent/AU3686789A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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