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
  • B66F7/10—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported directly by jacks
  • B66F7/16—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported directly by jacks by one or more hydraulic or pneumatic jacks
  • B66F7/18—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with platforms supported directly by jacks by one or more hydraulic or pneumatic jacks by a single central jack

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a lift for off road motorcycles and other off road vehicles such as three-wheelers, four wheelers, or snowmobiles.
• the vehicle is attached to the lift, body weight can be used as leverage to turn a wrench or use other tools without the fear of having the vehicle fall over.
• the improvement of having the bike attached to the lift allows work to be done that requires the removal of the wheels, engine, fenders, suspension and anything else on the vehicle that attaches to the main frame. Since the frame is attached by "U” bolts or "J" bolts it will remain on the lift as various pieces are removed. Thus, with this invention the entire bike can be disassembled down to the basic frame as would be done in a complete restoration of the motorcycle.
• a table lift produced under the trade name bike jacker is available to raise a motorcycle to a height of about 36 inches.
• the motorcycle must be attached to the table lift by its wheels. Therefore, in contrast with the present invention, the user cannot do extensive service or restoration of the vehicle which requires wheel removal or suspension repair; because, the bike is resting on the table lift through its wheels.
• Yet another major drawback to this table lift is that the table interferes with the user's access to the bike.
• the present invention has a width in the range of about 8 to 12 inches and a length in the range of about 12 to 20 inches.
• the user of the present invention will in no way be impeded from reaching any desired part of the off road motorcycle.
• an object of the present invention to provide an off road motorcycle lift that raises the vehicle to a height sufficient so that the user does not have to be in an uncomfortable bent position while working.
• the present invention is organized about the concept of providing a lift to which an off road motorcycle or other off road vehicle is firmly attached so as to permit a user to work while standing as opposed to the uncomfortable position of bending down.
• Various support, stabilizing, and lifting means enable the user of the present invention to safely employ vigorous pulling and twisting forces while repairing, servicing, or disassembling an off road vehicle.
• the stability of the present invention is attributed to the fact that the lift is firmly attached to a floor or stable platform while in turn, the vehicle is secured to the lift.
• the off road motorcycle lift includes a lifting, stabilizing, and support assembly which is raised and lowered by a manual hydraulic pump.
• the lifting, stabilizing, and support assembly is perpendicularly disposed upon a base plate.
• the manual hydraulic pump is adjacent to this assembly and is perpendicularly disposed upon the base plate as well.
• a hollow tube extending between the hydraulic pump and the lifting, stabilizing, and support assembly facilitates the functional engagement between these integral elements of the present invention.
• the lifting, stabilizing, and support assembly of the present invention generally includes: a base plate having a structural tube perpendicularly disposed thereon which serves as a housing for a lifting cylinder likewise in perpendicular orientation to the base plate; a guide bar support plate with bores formed therein disposed upon the top of the structural tube; stabilizer bars aligned with the bores in the guide bar support plate; a lifting piston positioned between the stabilizer bars and aligned with a complementary bore formed within the guide bar support plate such that when the present invention is lowered, the lifting piston is housed within the lifting cylinder and the stabilizer bars are housed within two spaces defined by the lifting cylinder inside the structural tube; and perpendicularly disposed upon the top ends of the stabilizer bars and lifting piston is a bar upon which a mounting plate is firmly affixed.
• the mounting plate secures the off road motorcycle or vehicle in place so that it may be worked upon.
• the off road motorcycle secured to the mounting plate is raised or lowered to a desired height as a consequence of the raising or lowering of the lifting piston and stabilizer bars.
• activation of the manual hydraulic pump creates pressure which in turn drives hydraulic oil to the lifting cylinder causing the lifting piston and stabilizer bars to be raised in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.
• each stabilizer bar has a keyway formed therein within which an anti- rotation key may be inserted.
• a stabilizer bar When a stabilizer bar is in a raised position, insertion of the anti-rotation key into the keyway causes the key to be in frictional engagement with the stabilizer bar. Engagement of the key with the stabilizer bar diminishes unstable torque motion of the stabilizer bar within its complementary bore located in the guide bar support plate.
• stability and safe operation of the off road motorcycle lift may also be achieved by inserting a bolt into a clearance hole drilled into the top end of the lifting piston. Insertion of a bolt through the clearance hole creates a frictional engagement between the bolt and the lifting piston. As a consequence, the lifting piston is locked into place, and the present invention cannot be lowered suddenly should the hydraulic pump be released accidentally.
• the hydraulic pump advantageously possess features and a unique arrangement of its structural parts unknown to the motorcycle industry, which contribute to the efficient operation of the hydraulic pump.
• the hydraulic pump has an air bleed system as well as a release valve system which serve to regulate the hydraulic pressure within the off road motorcycle lift.
• regulation of the hydraulic oil pressure within a hydraulic pump affects the speed at which the hydraulic pump may raise or lower a hydraulic lift.
• FIG. 1 is a partial sectional side view of an exemplary off road motorcycle lift in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an exemplary mounting plate of the off road motorcycle lift shown in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of a preferred manual hydraulic system in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of a preferred stabilizer bar having anti- rotation key and clamping handle stability elements in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a partial sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of the lifting, stabilizing, and support assembly in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a partial sectional side view of an exemplary off road motorcycle lift in accordance with the present invention.
• the off road motorcycle lift includes novel support, stabilizing, and lifting means for the vehicle which is raised and lowered by a manual hydraulic lift system.
• the configuration and operation of the manual hydraulic system is in itself unique to those skilled in the art.
• the lifting, stabilizing and support assembly for the off road vehicle being lifted generally includes: a base platelO; fasteners 94; a structural tube 12; a lifting cylinder 14; stabilizer bars 16(a) and 16(b); anti rotation keys 20(a) and 20(b); clamping handles (not shown); a guide bar support plate 64; at least one lifting piston 18; a bar 60; and a mounting plate 30.
• the base plate 10 may be mounted securely via fasteners 94 to the user's floor for stationary use.
• the off road motorcycle lift is also portable, for the base plate may be mounted appropriately to a portable, stable platform via fasteners 94 for use away from the workshop such as at a race track before, during, and after a race.
• the base plate 10 has at least four holes through which fasteners 94 are inserted to anchor the lift to the user's work surface.
• the base plate 10 may be composed of steel and the fasteners 94 are bolts.
• the base plate 10 may be composed of any comparably strong metal alloy as well as composites such as a reinforced fiber glass resin, reinforced plastic, or a carbon fiber composite. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the composite examples would be suitable for mass .production of the structural parts of the present invention via either an injection molding or extrusion production system.
• a structural tube 12 for housing the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b) when the present invention is in a lowered position.
• This structural tube 12 may be secured to the base plate 10 via any number of means familiar to those skilled in the art.
• Affixed upon the base plate 10, and housed within the structural tube 12 is a block 76 with an opening 50 formed therein of sufficient size to permit the bottom end 70 of a lifting cylinder 14 to extend into the opening 50.
• the lifting cylinder 14 defines two spaces 12(a), 12(b) within the structural tube 12 which are of sufficient dimension to house the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b) when the off road motorcycle lift is in its lowered position.
• the lifting cylinder 14 is also in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the base plate 10, and it houses the lifting piston 18 when the off road motorcycle lift is in its lowered position.
• Both the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b) as well as the lifting piston 18 and its associated lifting cylinder 14 may have any number of complementary cross-sectional shapes such as but not limited to round, square, hexagonal, etc.
• the lifting, stabilizing, and support assembly for an off road vehicle in the present invention further includes a guide bar support plate 64 held in intimate contact with the top end 38 of the structural tube 12 in any number of means such as but not limited to welding, adhesive bonding, or fasteners in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art.
• the guide bar support plate 64 has bores 36(a), 36(b) formed therein which align with the stabilizer bars 16(a) and 16(b) as well as the lifting piston 18 respectively such that the stabilizer bars 16(a) and 16(b) and the lifting piston 18 may move up and down so that the hydraulic lift may attain a desired height.
• the bottom ends 40(a), 40(b) of the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b) are inserted into the guide bar support plate 64, and similarly, the bottom end 54 of the lifting piston 18 is in mating engagement with the top end of the lifting cylinder 52.
• the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b) have top ends 44(a), 44(b) which align with bores 66(a), 66(b) extending through both a bar 60 and a mounting plate 30, such that the stabilizer bars are engaged with both the bar 60 and the mounting plate 30 which are positioned in a perpendicular orientation relative to the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b).
• the lifting piston 18 has a top end 56 which aligns with a bore 72 formed within the bar 60 such that the lifting piston is in mating engagement with the bar 60.
• the top end 56 of the lifting piston 18 does not extend through the bar 60 to the mounting plate 30.
• the mounting plate 30 may be secured upon the top of the bar 60 via any number of means familiar to those skilled in the art.
• the bar 60, and the mounting plate 30 may be one contiguous piece. The described engagement of the stabilizer bars 16(a), 16(b), and the lifting piston 18 with the bar 60 permits the mounting plate 30 to be raised or lowered when the lifting piston is engaged or disengaged respectively.
• the mounting plate 30 serves as a support and securing means for the off road vehicle by permitting a motorcycle to be affixed securely to the mounting plate 30.
• a urethane rubber coating (not shown) may be applied to the top of the plate to protect the underside of a motorcycle or off road vehicle from getting scratched.
• the mounting plate 30 has been perforated with apertures 200, 202 of various sizes suitable for accommodating fasteners (not shown) which are used to secure the vehicle to the mounting plate 30.
• the apertures 200, 202 have been distributed symmetrically in the mounting plate 30 so as to permit the user to have great flexibility in securing the vehicle, which in turn creates a balanced center of gravity and greater stability.
• the frame of the vehicle is attached to the mounting plate 30 via "U" bolts (not shown) or "J" bolts (not shown).
• the size, placement, and number of apertures 220, 202 gives the user great flexibility with regard to what parts of the vehicle the user wishes to secure to the off road motorcycle lift. It is obvious to those skilled in the art, that smaller parts of the vehicle frame would require smaller bolts, while larger parts of the motorcycle frame would correspondingly larger fasteners. Moreover, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the number, size, and placement of the apertures 200, 202 may be varied to give the user great flexibility with regard to securing the vehicle to the lift.
• one of the apertures 200,202 may be used to secure a tool tray (not shown) to the mounting plate 30.
• a tool tray (not shown) may have a member (not shown) extending there from having a distal end (not shown) to which a second member (not shown) is perpendicularly attached.
• the second member (not shown) may be inserted into one of the apertures 200, 202 located in the mounting plate 30, thus allowing the tool tray to be connected to the mounting plate 30 for the convenience of the user of the present invention.
• the novel feature of securing the vehicle to the lift via the mounting plate 30 prevents the motorcycle from falling over, or sliding off the lift when great force is used to manipulate components of the motorcycle. Additionally, any significant change in the center of gravity due to removal of wheels, or the suspension will not destabilize the motorcycle; because it has been secured to the lift which in turn is secured to a stable work surface such as the floor.
• Employing the novel concept of using a securing means for the off road vehicle provides a simple, elegant, and inexpensive solution to the identified, dangerous instability problems inherent in prior art lifts where the vehicle relies on gravity as the only means for remaining on an off road lift or stand.
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of one of the two stabilizer bars 16 (a), 16(b) used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that the configuration described in detail below is also present in the stabilizer bar 16(b) not depicted in the drawing.
• a keyway 58(a) into which is inserted an anti-rotation key 20(a).
• the off road vehicle has greater support and stability when the user is working on it due to this cummishment in unstable torque motion.
• clamping handles that lock the stabilizer bars into place.
• the clamping handles permit the off road motorcycle to be held in any position within the extension range of the lift.
• the lift extends from a lower position of about 16 inches to a highest position of about 38 inches.
• the clamping handle feature provides an additional means for sustaining the position of the vehicle so that the user does not have to rely solely on the hydraulic system when working on a vehicle.
• the clamping handle 500 has a threaded shank 502 which is rotated into a correspondingly threaded bore 504 formed within the guide bar support plate 64. Rotation of the clamping handle 500 drives the threaded shank 502 into its associated threaded bore 504 within the guide bar support plate 64 such that the threaded shank 502 biases a soft piece of metal 506 against the stabilizer bar 16(a). Biasing the soft metal 506 against the stabilizer bar 16(a) creates frictional contact that serves to lock the stabilizer bar 16(a) into place.
• the soft metal may be composed of any soft alloy such as but not limited to brass or aluminum so that the frictional contact with the piece of soft metal 506 will not damage or mar the stabilizer bar 16(a).
• any soft alloy such as but not limited to brass or aluminum so that the frictional contact with the piece of soft metal 506 will not damage or mar the stabilizer bar 16(a).
• the length and size of the clamping handle 500 and its corresponding bore 504 may be adjusted to account for a clamping mechanism appropriate for any particular application that falls within the scope of the present off road vehicle lift.
• FIG. 1 Yet another novel feature contributing to the stability of the present invention is also depicted in FIG. 1.
• the periphery 32(a), 32(b) of the mounting plate 30 is bent in a perpendicular orientation when compared with the rest of the mounting plate 30.
• this bent configuration gives the mounting plate 30 more structural rigidity, thereby providing increased strength with respect to the off road motorcycle Uft's ability to support and stabilize an off road vehicle such as a motorcycle.
• a foot operated hydraulic pump 74 with one hollow tube 86 connecting the hydraulic pump 74 to the block 76 in which the bottom end 70 of the lifting cylinder 14 is enclosed.
• Operation of the off road motorcycle lift employs simple hydraulic principles. Hydraulic oil is carried under pressure from the pump 74 to the lifting cylinder 14 to raise the off road motorcycle. When pressure is released, the hydraulic oil is carried back from the lifting cylinder 14 to the hydraulic pump 74 causing the lift to lower the off road motorcycle. Uninterrupted communication between the hydraulic pump 74 and the lifting cylinder 14 is achieved via the placement of two openings.
• the first opening 78 extends from the bottom of the lifting cylinder 14 through a sufficient portion of the block 76 so that the first opening 78 may intersect with a second opening 80 which in turn extends through the block 76 to a first end 82 of the one hollow tube 86.
• the first opening 78 and the second opening 80 are screw holes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the connecting purpose served by these two screw holes 78, 80 could also be accomplished by an elbow shaped structure composed of any number of materials of suitable strength, size and circumference for a particular desired hydraulic application.
• the manual hydraulic pump generally includes a base 88 with oil ports drilled therein and a release valve system.
• a pump cylinder 26 is threaded to fit into the base of the hydraulic pump 88.
• Housed within the pump cylinder 26 is a pump piston 90.
• the bottom end 92 of the pump piston 90 is fitted with a delrin bearing (not shown) and a "U" cup seal (not shown).
• the top of the pump piston rides in a scraper seal (not shown) installed in the pump cylinder 26.
• the center of the pump piston 90 is drilled almost its entire length to create an opening 304 to house a spring 24 that will return the pump piston 90 to the up position to be ready for another downward stroke of a pump foot handle 302.
• the opening 304 housing the spring 24 in the pump piston has a top end 306.
• An air bleed hole (not shown) is cross-drilled through the pump cylinder 26 and the pump piston 90 to the top end 306 of the opening 304 in the pump piston.
• the cross-drilled air bleed hole (not shown) is tapped for an air bleed screw 28 to permit easy air bleeding.
• the pump foot handle has a proximate end 310 that is in pivotal engagement with the top end 312 of the pump piston 90 via a pivotal groove (not shown).
• the motion of the pump foot handle 302 is limited by a bushing 306 that is disposed around the top end 308 of the pump cylinder 26.
• the foot pump handle shall have at least two pivot points (not shown) to overcome the increasing force required in order to pump the hydraulic lift should the user wish to work with heavier vehicles, thus providing the present invention with yet another advantage.
• the hydraulic reservoir 400 is a small closed tube threaded to the back of the base of the hydraulic pump 88 with a port 402 for exiting the hydraulic oil situated about 3/8 of an inch to about 3/4 of an inch above the bottom of the reservoir 404.
• locating the hydraulic oil exit port 402 above the bottom of the reservoir 404 prevents settled dirt or other contaminants from going into the hydraulic pump 74 and the lifting cylinder 14.
• the location of the reservoir separate from the hydraulic pump 74 and the lifting cylinder 14 is a configuration unique for the motorcycle and off-road vehicle industry.
• this configuration allows for ease of repair of the pump without incurring the inconvenience of disassembling the lifting mechanism.
• separating the reservoir from the lifting cylinder and the pump allows the user to easily service the reservoir.
• the release valve system for the hydraulic pump consists of a linkage 300 having a proximate end 342 pivotally engaged with the top 340 of the release valve system.
• the linkage 300 is operated by the user's foot.
• the present invention may be readily modified so that the hydraulic pump may be operated by a user's hand.
• the release valve system is engaged in order to lower the off road motorcycle lift by removing hydraulic oil from the lifting cylinder (not shown) back to the reservoir 400. Depression of the linkage 300 causes a rod 344 to be raised away from a check ball 350, thereby releasing the check ball 350.
• the check ball in turn 350 regulates the flow of the hydraulic oil under pressure.
• releasing the check ball 350 allows hydraulic oil to flow past the check ball through a drilled hole 352 below the check ball 350 which in turn acts as an orifice through which the oil can flow through back to the reservoir 400.
• the releases valve system thus serves to limit the speed of descent for the off road motorcycle lift. In the preferred embodiment, the descent time for the lift from its highest to lowest point is in the range of about 6 seconds to 8 seconds.
• this slow descent rate provides another safety feature for the operator, in that the instant off road motorcycle lift will not suddenly collapse while it is in use.
• the release valve system when the release valve system is disengaged, the spring 346 prevents the linkage 300 from raising the rod 344 away from the check ball 350.
• hydraulic oil can be dispensed from the reservoir 400 through the one hollow tube 86 to the lifting cylinder 14, and the lifting piston 18 can raise the off road motorcycle lift in a manner familiar to those in the art.
• Still another novel safety feature for the present invention is depicted in FIG 1.
• a clearance hole 34 is cross-drilled into the top end 56 of the lifting piston 18.
• a bolt (not shown) may be inserted into this clearance hole 34 such that the head of the bolt (not shown) is in frictional engagement with the lifting piston 18.
• FIG. 5 Another exemplary embodiment of the off road motorcycle lift according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5.
• the stabilizing means for the off-road motorcycle lift has been readily modified.
• a structural tube 602 is perpendicularly disposed upon the base plate 600. This structural tube 602 may be secured to the base plate 600 via any number of means familiar to those skilled in the art.
• Affixed to the top end 604 of the structural tube 602 is a brace 606.
• the brace 606 is held in intimate contact with the top end 604 of the structural tube 602 in any number of means such as but not limited to welding, adhesive bonding, or fasteners in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art.
• the brace 606 has a bore (not shown) formed therein of complementary shape and size with a ring 612 such that the ring 612 may be inserted into the brace 606.
• a single tube 608 has a bottom end 610, which is inserted inside the ring 612, such that the ring 612 is positioned circumferentially around the bottom end 610 of the single tube 608.
• alignment of the bore (not shown) in the brace 606, with the ring 612 and the single tube 608 permits the single tube to move up and down as the lift is raised or lowered.
• the single tube 608 is housed within the structural tube 602.
• the alternative embodiment further includes a lifting piston 614 housed within the single tube 608.
• the lifting piston 614 and the single tube 608 are in a concentric relationship with one another. Consequently, hydraulic engagement of the lifting piston 614 simultaneously causes the single tube 608 to move as well.
• the lifting piston 614 is secured to the base plate 600 of the off road motorcycle lift in a manner discussed previously for the preferred embodiment. Specifically, affixed upon the base plate 600, is a block (not shown) with an opening (not shown) formed therein of sufficient size to permit the bottom end (not shown) of a lifting cylinder (not shown) to extend into the opening (not shown).
• the lifting cylinder (not shown) is in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the base plate 600, and it has a top end (not shown) in mating engagement with the bottom end (not shown) of the lifting piston 614. This mating engagement of the lifting cylinder (not shown) and the lifting piston 614 permits the lifting piston 614 to move up and down as the off road motorcycle lift is raised or lowered.
• the lifting cylinder (not shown) houses the lifting piston 614 when the off road motorcycle lift is in its lowered position.
• the single tube 608 and the lifting piston 614 have top ends (not shown) which align with concentric bores extending through both a bar (not shown) and a mounting plate (not shown) such that the single tube 608 and the lifting piston 614 are engaged with both the bar (not shown) and the mounting plate (not shown) which are positioned in a perpendicular orientation relative to both the single tube 608 and the lifting piston 614.
• the mounting plate (not shown) may be secured upon the top of the bar (not shown) via any number of means familiar to those skilled in the art. The described engagement of the single tube 608 and the lifting piston 614 with the bar (not shown) and the mounting plate (not shown) permits the mounting plate (not shown) to be raised or lowered when the lifting piston 614 is engaged or disengaged respectively.
• this anti-rotation feature provides greater stability to the present invention, which in turn allows the user to safely apply the vigorous force required to disassemble a motorcycle.
• Yet another alternative embodiment envisioned for the off road motorcycle lift would generally consist of a base plate, a structural tube having a bottom end affixed to the top of the base plate and a top end upon which a brace is disposed.
• this embodiment would have a single tube in mating engagement with the brace such that the single tube could be raised or lowered as the hydraulic lift is engaged or disengaged respectively.
• the single tube would be housed within the structural tube.
• perpendicularly disposed upon the top end of the single tube is a bar with a bore therein in which the top end of the single tube is inserted.
• affixed to the top of the bar is a mounting plate with a bore in alignment with the bore in the bar so that the top end of the single tube extends through both the bar and the mounting plate. However, the top end of the single tube would extend no further than the top surface of the mounting plate.
• this off road vehicle lift would have neither a lifting piston nor its related lifting cylinder.
• a rod fitting closely with the inside diameter of the single tube would have a bottom end affixed to the base plate of the lift and a top end in cooperative engagement with a cap inserted within the brace which is affixed upon the top end of the structural tube.
• the bottom end of the rod would have a rod seal. Hydraulic oil is introduced to the bottom of the rod in a manner analogous to that, which was described in the preferred embodiment.
• the rod has a vertical hole extending its entire length, thereby permitting the hydraulic oil to travel from the bottom end of the rod to the top end of the rod.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Axle Suspensions And Sidecars For Cycles (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-02-07 CA CA002400451A patent/CA2400451A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-07 AU AU2001234849A patent/AU2001234849A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-07 WO PCT/US2001/003787 patent/WO2001058798A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-02-07 EP EP01907014A patent/EP1261544A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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