EP1468755B1 - Lifting table for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The table has horizontal support platform (10) with anchoring units (30) cooperating with a lower part of a vehicle to attach the vehicle on the table. The platform has lateral support units (40, 50) on which tires of the vehicle are positioned. The support unit (40) has a connection pad (41) at periphery of the platform. Two independent arms (43, 44) are mounted on a pad to rotate around respective vertical axis.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lifting table for vehicles, and more particularly to a table of the type comprising a horizontal platform of support resting on a lifting assembly, said platform being equipped with positionable anchoring members intended to cooperate with a lower part of the vehicle to clamp said vehicle on the lift table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many lift tables for vehicles of the aforementioned type are already known, in particular in the context of the recovery benches for damaged vehicles. The lifting assembly used is generally of the type comprising scissor rods making it possible to maintain the horizontality of the support platform whatever the height of the latter, since the lowest position for loading the vehicle, to the highest working position, passing through the intermediate positions.

Document FR-A-2 581 634 of the applicant describes a lifting table according to the preamble of claim 1 associated with a rectifying marble, with plates removably mounted on the frame. When the vehicle has been put in place, it is lifted with respect to the marble, which allows the plates to be dismounted and the clips for fixing the vehicle to be fixed by the rocker, after which the vehicle is lowered to come to bear on the clamps, which are then blocked.

Document US-A-2002/144623 also describes supports for moving a vehicle resting by wheels on an elevator. Each support is constituted by two arms associated with respective blocks which can be moved away from each other or closer to each other by a jack system, each arm being mounted to pivot in a horizontal plane between an active support position where they are parallel, and a retracted position where they are in the extension of each other. Such an arrangement is complicated in structure and a priori insufficiently robust.

Reference may also be made for the technological background to US-A-5,967,494, US-A-4,916,933, US-A-4,862,727, FR-A-2,158,577, FR-A- 2,752,538 and FR-A-2,687,335.

Electronic control mechanisms suitable for controlling a scissor lift lifting platform are also known, as taught in US-A-5,695,173.

In the particular case of damaged vehicles, it is necessary to lift the vehicle set up on the horizontal support platform in order to carry out certain measuring and / or straightening operations on the bent or uneven parts, generally using mechanical means such as traction bracket etc ..., as is well known. In general, we speak of straightening benches or marbles.

In general, once the vehicle is put in place on the horizontal support platform in the lowest position thereof, the positionable positioners are placed in place, generally in number four, so that each of them encloses a lower portion of the vehicle frame, generally a lip extending in a vertical plane. Once the anchoring members are set up at the four desired corners, which corners are located in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle lifting points defined by the manufacturer, the vehicle is clamped and then lifted by its points. anchor.

Thus, according to a constant technique, anchoring points adjacent to the imposed lifting points are chosen before raising the vehicle by said anchor points. This approach has always been maintained in order to have optimal access to the wheels of the rugged part of the vehicle, usually the front wheels. Indeed, it is generally necessary to disassemble one or two wheels to better access the parts of the frame to straighten.

Such a technique is however restrictive to the extent that it is necessary to use anchor points adjacent to the lifting points which are defined by the vehicle manufacturer, the latter points being of course located at different relative distances depending on the type. of vehicle, which requires constant adjustments when moving from one vehicle to another.

In addition, the aforementioned technique has the disadvantage of using the anchor points as lifting points, so that any vibration of the table during its elevation or lowering is directly transmitted to the chassis of the vehicle.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to design a lift table for vehicles which is more efficient than the existing tables mentioned above, and in particular more easily adaptable to different types of vehicles on which straightening and / or measuring operations must be carried out. .

DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved according to the invention by means of a lifting table having a horizontal support platform resting on a lifting assembly, said platform being equipped with positionable anchoring members intended to cooperate with a lower part of the vehicle for clamping said vehicle on the lift table, said lift table being remarkable in that the platform is further provided with lateral support members on which the wheels of the vehicle can be positioned to lift said vehicle by its wheels without using the anchoring members, at least one of these support elements being of variable geometry between an active support configuration in which the wheel concerned rests on its support element, and a passive release configuration in which the wheel concerned is released from its support member and can be disassembled or reassembled, said vehicle being then clamped by the anchoring members, said variable geometry support member comprising a connecting shoe at the periphery of the platform, and two arms independent mounted cantilever on the shoe for pivoting about a respective axis substantially vertical while remaining in a common horizontal plane. It is these two independent arms which thus ensure the support of the relevant area of the vehicle by means of the wheel thereof.

Thus, the lift table of the aforementioned type makes it possible to lift the vehicle by its wheels, which has the considerable advantage of freeing constructive areas of the chassis. In addition, the support by the wheels of the vehicle is not incompatible with the disassembly of one or two wheels insofar as one uses precisely for this purpose support elements with variable geometry, the clamping of the vehicle being carried out when the desired height of the horizontal support platform is reached. Moreover, this allows the operators to work more comfortably insofar as the positionable anchoring members are put in place when the vehicle has been lifted.

Preferably, the shoe of the variable geometry support element is arranged to hang directly and releasably on a lateral slide of the platform, which slide is also used to hook the positionable anchoring members. Thus, it is sufficient to position the elements of support on the two side rails of the platform taking into account the dimensioning of the vehicle. We are then assured of proper centering of each wheel on the support part associated with it.

In particular, it can be provided that the lateral slide is constituted by a continuous lip, and that the shoe is equipped, as the anchoring members, with hooks passing on this continuous lip, with the possibility of sliding on said continuous lip in the no load. The variable geometry support members as well as the anchoring members are then positioned as sliders on the continuous lip on either side of the horizontal platform, the selected position remaining stable until a load is exerted.

More preferably, the two independent arms of the variable geometry support member are articulated on the shoe between a close position where they are substantially parallel, corresponding to the active configuration of the support member, and a separated position where they form an open angle, corresponding to the passive configuration of said support member.

In particular, the variable geometry support member is equipped with a locking member arranged to releasably lock the two independent arms when they are in the close position. For example, the locking member will be arranged in the form of a lever mounted to pivot at one end around one of the two independent arms, the other end of said lever having a notch intended to cooperate with the other arm in a position close to said arms. It is then easy for the operator to manipulate the lever to lock or unlock the two arms concerned of the variable geometry support member.

More preferably, the two independent arms of the support element with variable geometry are of structure tubular, preferably non-rotating around their central axis. In particular, the two independent arms are equipped with telescopic extensions housed in said arms in the retracted position, said extensions can be pulled to facilitate the approximation of said arms in the presence of a wheel in place. Indeed, thanks to these extensions, it is easy to develop a significant torque closing the angle by acting on the end of the extensions, to return to the support position in which the locking can be achieved.

Preferably, finally, the lifting table is equipped, at the front or the rear of the support platform, and on each side of said platform, with a variable geometry support element, the other two elements. support being simple cradles or plans hung on said platform. Indeed, it will usually be necessary to disassemble one or two front or rear wheels of the accident vehicle, in which case we can be content with a traditional type of support for the other two wheels.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly in the light of the description which follows, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• les figures 1 et 2 illustrent en perspective une table élévatrice conforme à l'invention, dans la position haute de la plate-forme horizontale de ladite table ;
• la figure 3 illustre la seule plate-forme horizontale de la table précitée ;
• la figure 4 est une vue éclatée en perspective illustrant l'un des ensembles de support à géométrie variable équipant la plate-forme de support ;
• la figure 5 est une vue éclatée en perspective illustrant l'un des organes positionnables d'ancrage équipant également la plate-forme horizontale de support ;
• la figure 6 est une vue éclatée en perspective illustrant un élément de support latéral de type traditionnel destiné ici à chacune des deux autres roues du véhicule à redresser ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en élévation illustrant la table élévatrice précitée sur laquelle est disposé un véhicule qui est levé par les quatre éléments de support latéraux de la plate-forme sur lesquels reposent les roues dudit véhicule ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en bout illustrant à plus grande échelle le détail VIII de la figure 7, c'est-à-dire la zone d'un organe d'ancrage qui est ici du type pince enserrant une lèvre inférieure du châssis du véhicule ;
• la figure 9 illustre la procédure d'enlèvement d'une roue avant du véhicule chargé sur la table élévatrice, avec la manoeuvre associée de l'élément de support à géométrie variable correspondant ;
• la figure 10 illustre de la même façon la procédure de remise en place de la roue avant, avec la manoeuvre associée de l'élément de support à géométrie variable.

Reference will be made to the figures where:

• Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in perspective a lifting table according to the invention, in the upper position of the horizontal platform of said table;
• Figure 3 illustrates the only horizontal platform of the above table;
• FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one of the variable geometry support assemblies fitted to the support platform;
• FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one of the positionable anchoring members also equipping the horizontal support platform;
• FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a traditional type of lateral support element intended here for each of the two other wheels of the vehicle to be straightened;
• Figure 7 is an elevational view illustrating the aforesaid lift table on which is disposed a vehicle which is lifted by the four lateral support members of the platform on which the wheels of said vehicle rest;
• FIG. 8 is an end view illustrating on a larger scale the detail VIII of FIG. 7, that is to say the area of an anchoring member which is here of the gripper type enclosing a lower lip of the frame of the vehicle;
• FIG. 9 illustrates the procedure for removing a front wheel of the vehicle loaded on the lifting table, with the associated operation of the corresponding variable geometry support element;
• Figure 10 similarly illustrates the procedure for replacing the front wheel, with the associated operation of the variable geometry support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

We will first describe the general structure of a lift table according to the invention with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

In these figures, there is a lift table T for vehicles, which is of the type comprising a horizontal support platform 10 resting on a lifting assembly 20.

The horizontal platform support 10 consists of rigid components to ensure the indeformability of its plan. In the present case, two parallel longitudinal members 11 joined by cross members 12, 13, 14. There is also illustrated here a traction bracket fitted to the horizontal support platform 10: there is indeed a traditional type of bracket 1, which is mounted by its beam 2 on the front cross member 13 of the horizontal platform 10, with a notched beam 3 which allows the attachment of traction chains, a tilt actuating cylinder 4, and a bearing assembly 5 for moving the stem on the ground.

The lifting assembly 20 is also of the traditional type. There are two pairs of rods 21, 22 hinged at 24 to form a scissor assembly. The rods 22 are articulated lower on a support plate 23 resting on the ground, while their upper end is connected to a crossbar articulated at rollers 26 on a slide 27 fitted to each of the longitudinal members 11. The other rods 21 are of the same way articulated at 25 on the support platform 10, while their lower ends pass in associated horizontal slides. The scissor mechanism ensures that the support platform 10 is perfectly horizontal, irrespective of the height thereof relative to the plate 23. The lifting is controlled by one or two hydraulic jacks 28 which are articulated between the base plate 23 and a cross member here connecting the rods 21. There is also provided a pneumatic cylinder for starting aid 29: indeed, at the beginning of the elevation of the support platform, after loading on the of a vehicle, the cylinders 28 have difficulty in exerting the necessary torque to initiate the lifting of the table, so that the starter cylinder 29 with a short vertical stroke makes it possible to provide extra effort up to scissors make a sufficient angle, after which the only jacks 28 come into action to complete the lifting of the table. This principle Starting assistance is well known, and reference may be made to US-A-2 931 519.

The platform 10 is furthermore equipped with posable anchoring members 30 and lateral support members 40, 50. FIGS. 1 and 2 show only one of the four anchor members 30, and lateral support members 40, 50 on one side of the horizontal support platform, it being understood that generally identical lateral support elements will be provided on the other side to respect the symmetry.

These elements are found in the view of FIG. 3, which makes it possible to distinguish a positionable anchoring member 30, a lateral support element 40 which is of the variable geometry type as will be explained hereinafter, and an element of lateral support 50 which is of its traditional type.

The structure of the components 40, 30, and 50 will be better understood with reference to the exploded perspective views respectively of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the variable geometry support element 40, on which a wheel of the vehicle can be positioned to lift said vehicle by its four wheels without using the anchoring members 30, comprises a shoe 41. connection to the periphery of the platform 10, and two independent arms 43, 44 mounted cantilevered on the shoe 41 to pivot about a respective substantially vertical axis noted Z while remaining in a common horizontal plane . In this case, the shoe 41 of the variable geometry support element 40 has two hooks 42 allowing a direct attachment to the lateral slide 15 of the platform 10, which slide 15 also serves to hook the positionable members anchor 30 and other conventional lateral support members 50. As can be seen here, the lateral slide 15 is constituted by a continuous straight lip, extending in a vertical plane, and the shoe 41 is equipped, like the anchoring members 30, with hooks passing over this continuous lip, with the possibility of sliding freely on said lip no load. The shoe 41 with its two hooks 42 can thus be positioned easily and accurately at any location of the slide 15, before arranging the vehicle in such a way that the variable geometry support member 40 is exactly the same. the axle of the wheel concerned.

Each independent arm 43, 44 has a rear appendage 43.1, 44.1 which is received between two lugs 43.2, 44.2 of the shoe 41, the Z axis being embodied by journals 43.3, 44.3 with locking in place by means of pins 43.4, 44.4. . Each arm 43, 44 can thus freely pivot about the Z axis concerned. The two arms 43, 44 can more precisely pivot between a close position where they are substantially parallel, corresponding to the active configuration of the support member 40, and a spaced apart position where they form an open angle, corresponding to the passive configuration of said support member 40.

Thus, the variable geometry support element 40 is deformable between two configurations, including a first configuration which is an active support configuration, in which the wheel concerned rests on its support element, and a second configuration, which is a configuration. passive release in which the concerned wheel is released from its support member and can then be disassembled or reassembled.

The two independent arms 43, 44 of the variable geometry support element 40 are here of tubular structure. Preferably, this structure is provided non-rotating about their central axis Y, in order to avoid a skating when placing the vehicle on the ground on its supports in the lower position of the table. The tubular elements forming the independent arms 43, 44 also house telescopic extensions 45, 46. These extensions 45, 46 comprise a rear sleeve 45.1, 46.1 sliding telescopically in the arms 43, 44, with a safety pin which prevents extraction. Unexpected of said extensions, and their other end passes into end pieces 43.5, 44.5 which are crimped at the ends of the arms 43, 44. These ends of the extensions 45, 46 are preferably equipped with handles 45.2, 46.2 facilitating the tightening maneuver of the arms when the extensions 45, 46 are out. Thus, these telescopic extensions 45, 46 are housed in the arms in the retracted position, and can be pulled to facilitate the approach of the arms in the presence of a wheel in place.

When a wheel rests on the two arms 43, 44, with its axle which is substantially in the median vertical plane of the variable geometry assembly 40, the load exerted tends to separate the two independent arms from one another. 43, 44. For this purpose, there is provided a locking member arranged to releasably lock the two independent arms 43, 44 when they are in the close position. In this case, there is provided a locking member arranged in the form of a lever 47 which is mounted to pivot by an end 48 at the end 43.5 associated with the arm 43, the other end of said lever having a notch 49 which is intended to cooperate with the other end 44.5 associated with the other arm 44. It is therefore sufficient for the operator to rotate the lever 47 to move from a locked position to a released position, and vice versa in the other way. Of course, the operator will release the lock only in the absence of vertical load exerted on the variable geometry support member 40.

It will generally be provided another support element 40 with variable geometry symmetrical to that which is represented relative to the median vertical plane of the lift table.

Figure 5 provides a better understanding of the structure of the positionable anchoring members 30 which are intended to cooperate with a lower part of the vehicle, such as a vertical lip, to clamp said vehicle on the lift table.

The anchoring member 30 comprises a double frame 31 ending in a common hooking shoe 32 which allows a direct and releasable hooking on the continuous lip 15 in the same way as the hooks 42 for the lateral support assembly 40 supra. When the member 30 is in place on the continuous lip 15, an articulated lower lever 33 forms the other part of the clamp locking the anchoring member 30 on the horizontal platform 10 to avoid any risk of inadvertent release by uprising. The locking in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal members is provided by a key 35 passing through an associated slot 34, and which ensures a jamming together in the selected longitudinal position.

The adjustment is of course also provided both in height and in the transverse direction. For the height, two supports 36.1, 36.2 are used on either side of the double frame 31, which supports are traversed by a threaded rod 36 which is held in place by nuts 36.3, 36.4. The direction of the double frame 31 provides adjustment in a direction parallel to the aforementioned Y direction, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the table. The height adjustment is ensured by the nuts associated with the threaded rod 36, which threaded rod is surmounted by two clamping jaws 37.1, 37.2 which form a clamp 37. In this case, a clamping clamp 37 with two jaws 37.1, 37.2 is provided, which grips a lower lip L of the vehicle frame as can be seen more clearly in the detail of FIG. 8. A lining 37.4 is provided on the part 37.1 of the clamp, and an intermediate spring 37.5 tends to separate from each other the two jaws of said clamp. The two jaws 37.1, 37.2 are also joined by a bolting assembly 37.3 arranged in a transverse direction. Thus, the two jaws of the clamp 37 can be brought to the exactly desired position along the three orthogonal coordinate axes.

The support platform 10 will thus be equipped with four anchoring members 30 as previously described.

FIG. 6 makes it possible to distinguish a support element 50 which is of traditional type in the form of a simple cradle or plane. In this case, the support member 50 comprises a frame 51 surmounted by a main support plate 54, said frame being connected to the horizontal support platform 10 on the one hand by a section of spar 52 received from telescopically in the spar 11 of said platform, and secondly by means of a hooking hook 53 on the continuous lip 15 in the same way as the equipment 30, 40 previously described. Such an arrangement makes it possible to easily adjust the longitudinal position of the support assembly 50 with respect to the structure of the support platform 10. A telescopic support element having a second part with a cross-member is provided here. 55 bearing two support platforms 57, said crossbar being hooked by a hook 56 on the same continuous lip 15 of the platform 10, the assembly slidably passing through associated slots 58 formed under the support plate 54. It is easy to understand that it is sufficient to pull the complementary part in the manner of a drawer to increase the horizontal support surface.

The operating mode of the lift table which has just been described in detail will be better understood with reference to FIGS. 7, 9, 10.

When the lift table is in a very low position, that is to say that the horizontal support platform 10 is close to the ground, the lateral support elements 40, 50 are positioned on their lateral slide 15 at the positions desired that correspond to the dimensioning of the vehicle V concerned. Then, the vehicle is brought onto the lifting table so that its wheels are exactly centered on each of the lateral support elements 40, 50. The table is then lifted by means of the jacks 28, which are initially assisted by the jack 29. The vehicle V is thus raised by its four wheels, contrary to traditional procedures that first provide for clamping the vehicle on the platform and then lift the vehicle by its anchor points. On the contrary here, the lift table of the invention allows to position the anchoring members 30 when the vehicle has already been lifted, which provides a comfort and a much higher accuracy. Each of the four anchoring members is then put in place in the right position, and the associated clamps 37 enclose a lower part of the vehicle, in this case a lip L as is best seen in the detail of Figure 8.

The situation then corresponds to the position illustrated in FIG. 7, which shows the vehicle V on its table T in the high position, carried by its wheels R at the level of the lateral support members 40, 50, while being also clamped by the control members. anchoring 30.

1. - a) le véhicule repose par ses quatre roues R sur les éléments de support latéraux 40, 50 et l'opérateur a bridé le véhicule V par les quatre organes d'ancrage 30 ;
2. - b) l'opérateur a agi sur le levier 47 pour déverrouiller les bras indépendants 43, 44 de l'élément de support à géométrie variable 40 concerné, comme cela est illustré par la flèche ;
3. - c) les deux bras 43, 44 peuvent alors être écartés l'un de l'autre en quittant leur position parallèle, comme illustré par les flèches, pour atteindre une position à angle ouvert qui sera dans la pratique un angle obtus proche de l'angle plat (en fait, la suspension de la roue du véhicule exercera déjà un effort tendant à écarter naturellement l'un de l'autre les deux bras 43, 44, de sorte qu'il suffit pour l'opérateur d'écarter les bras suffisamment pour avoir un accès complet à la roue R) ;
4. - d) la roue R a été enlevée, ce qui libère l'accès à la zone concernée du châssis du véhicule ;
5. - e) on peut si on le souhaite procéder à l'enlèvement de l'élément de support à géométrie variable 40 comme schématisé par la flèche afin d'éviter toute interférence des bras 43, 44, ou toute gêne pour l'opérateur devant intervenir devant cette zone du châssis.

If we now want to remove a front wheel, it is necessary to intervene on the variable geometry support member 40 concerned. The procedure is illustrated schematically in Figure 9:

1. - a) the vehicle rests by its four wheels R on the lateral support elements 40, 50 and the operator has clamped the vehicle V by the four anchoring members 30;
2. b) the operator has acted on the lever 47 to unlock the independent arms 43, 44 of the variable geometry support member 40 concerned, as illustrated by the arrow;
3. - c) the two arms 43, 44 can then be separated from each other leaving their parallel position, as illustrated by the arrows, to reach an open angle position which will be in practice an obtuse angle close to the flat angle (in fact, the suspension of the wheel of the vehicle will already exert a force tending to naturally separate from each other the two arms 43, 44, so that it is sufficient for the operator to discard the arm enough to have full access to wheel R);
4. - d) wheel R has been removed, which frees access to the relevant area of the vehicle chassis;
5. e) it is possible, if desired, to remove the variable geometry support element 40 as shown by the arrow in order to avoid any interference of the arms 43, 44, or any inconvenience to the operator to intervene in front of this area of the chassis.

1. - a) le véhicule repose sur ses trois roues mais aussi sur ses quatre points d'ancrage, la roue avant gauche étant manquante ;
2. - b) on remet en place l'élément de support à géométrie variable 40 en l'accrochant sur la lèvre 15 dans la position longitudinale désirée;
3. - c) on remet en place la roue avant R ;
4. - d) l'opérateur intervient sur les deux bras 43, 44, de préférence en utilisant les allonges 45, 46 associées qu'il aura préalablement tirées, de façon à rapprocher ces deux bras pour les ramener dans une position sensiblement parallèle l'un à l'autre comme cela est illustré par les flèches ;
5. - e) les deux bras 43, 44 ont été ramenés dans la position qui correspond à la configuration active de support, l'effort à vaincre étant un léger effort associé à l'action de la suspension de la roue concernée, et il suffit alors à l'opérateur de verrouiller à nouveau les deux bras en manipulant le levier 47. Ensuite, l'opérateur peut repousser les allonges télescopiques 45, 46 à l'intérieur des bras 43, 44, afin d'éviter la présence d'éléments saillant de façon intempestive ou gênante. On est alors revenu à la position initiale désirée.

If we then want to replace the front wheel, we will proceed in the opposite way as is illustrated schematically in Figure 10:

1. - a) the vehicle rests on its three wheels but also on its four anchor points, the left front wheel being missing;
2. b) replacing the variable geometry support member 40 by hooking it onto the lip 15 in the desired longitudinal position;
3. - c) it puts back in place the front wheel R;
4. d) the operator intervenes on the two arms 43, 44, preferably using the extensions 45, 46 that he has previously drawn, so as to bring these two arms closer to bring them back to a position substantially parallel to each other as illustrated by the arrows;
5. e) the two arms 43, 44 have been brought back to the position corresponding to the active support configuration, the force to be overcome being a slight force associated with the action of the suspension of the wheel concerned, and then it is sufficient the operator to lock the two arms again by manipulating the lever 47. Then, the operator can push the telescopic extensions 45, 46 inside the arms 43, 44, to avoid the presence of salient elements inopportunely or inconveniently. We then returned to the desired initial position.

In some cases, particularly for vehicles with very stiff suspensions and / or having a large vertical deflection, the operator may encounter resistance difficult to overcome to bring the two arms 43,44. It will then be possible to use an accessory (not represented here) such as a pneumatic or mechanical jack, arranged under the wheel concerned so as to act on it to compress the associated suspension by slightly raising the wheel, so that the approximation of the two arms 43,44 require only minimal effort. After use, the accessory is removed so as not to interfere with subsequent maneuvers.

FIGS. 9 and 10 thus make it possible to clearly understand how each variable geometry support element 40 evolves between its active support configuration in which the wheel concerned rests on its support element, and its passive release configuration in which the wheel concerned is released from its support member and can be disassembled or reassembled.

Before lowering the table, the operator can loosen the anchors at the four anchors 30, and if necessary remove these sets anchor. Indeed, the vehicle V remains supported by its four wheels, and can be down to the ground level.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, but is defined by the following claims.

Claims (9)

1. A vehicle elevator table comprising a horizontal support platform (10) resting on a lift assembly (20), said platform being fitted with positionable anchor members (30) for co-operating with a bottom portion of a vehicle in order to clamp said vehicle on the elevator table, the table being characterized in that the platform (10) is also fitted with lateral support elements (40, 50) on which the wheels of the vehicle can be positioned in order to lift said vehicle by means of its wheels without using the anchor members (30), at least one of said support elements (40) being of variable geometry between an active, support configuration in which the wheel in question rests on its support element, and a passive, release configuration in which the wheel in question is released from its support element and can be removed or put back into place, the vehicle then being clamped by the anchor members (30), said variable-geometry support element (40) comprising a shoe (41) for connection to the periphery of the platform (10), and two independent arms (43, 44) cantilevered out from the shoe (41) to pivot about respective essentially vertical axes (Z) while remaining in a common horizontal plane.
2. An elevator table according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoe (41) of the variable-geometry support element (40) is arranged to hook directly and releasably on a lateral slideway (15) of the platform (10), which slideway (15) also serves for hooking the positionable anchor members (30).
3. An elevator table according to claim 2, characterized in that the lateral slideway (15) is constituted by a continuous lip, and the shoe (41) is fitted, like the anchor members (30), with hooks passing over said continuous lip, with the ability to slide on said continuous lip in the absence of a load.
4. An elevator table according to claim 1, characterized in that the two independent arms (43, 44) of the variable-geometry support element (40) are hinged to the shoe (41) to move between a close-together position where they are substantially parallel, corresponding to the active configuration of the support element, and a spaced-apart position where they form an open angle corresponding to the passive configuration of said support element.
5. An elevator table according to claim 4, characterized in that the variable-geometry support element (40) is fitted with a locking member (47) arranged to lock together releasably the two independent arms (43, 44) when they are in the close-together position.
6. An elevator table according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking member comprises a lever (47) mounted to pivot via one end about one of the two independent arms (43), with the other end of said lever presenting a notch (49) for co-operating with the other arm (44) in the close-together position of said arms.
7. An elevator table according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two independent arms (43, 44) of the variable-geometry support element (40) are tubular in structure, and preferably not rotatable about their central axes (Y).
8. An elevator table according to claim 7, characterized in that the two independent arms (43; 44) are fitted with telescopic extenders (45; 46) housed inside said arms in a retracted position, which extenders can be pulled out to make it easier to move said arms towards each other in the presence of a wheel that has been put back into place.
9. An elevator table according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is fitted, at the front or at the rear of the support platform (10), and on either side of said support platform, with a variable-geometry support element (40), the other two support elements (50) being simple cradles or planes hooked onto said platform.

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