GB1572178A

GB1572178A - Height-adjustable stand

Info

Publication number: GB1572178A
Application number: GB36340/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Metallifacture Ltd
Current assignee: Metallifacture Ltd
Priority date: 1976-09-02
Filing date: 1976-09-02
Publication date: 1980-07-23
Also published as: ES461889A1; DE7726167U1

Description

(54) HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE STAND (71) We, METALLIFACrURE LIMITED, a British Company, of 240-246 Huntingdon Street, Nottingham, NG1 3ND, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a height-adjustable stand and is especially useful as a vehicle-axle stand for use in supporting a vehicle safely, in a raised position, for example, after lifting of the vehicle by a jack.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a height-adjustable stand comprising a base and an arm mounted on the base and height-adjustable relative thereto, a linear ratchet on the arm extending longi tudinally thereof, a detent on the base and engageable with the ratchet to latch the arm to the base in any one of a plurality of positions at different relative heights of the arm, the arm comprising a channel-shaped metal pressing whose opposite flanges are inclined towards each other towards the mouth of the channel, the ratchet being formed by slots in the longitudinal free edges of the flanges defining ratchet teeth.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a support according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the support, Figure 3 is a plan view of the support; and Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, showing a modification.

The height adjustable support shown in Figures 1 to 3 is intended for use in supporting an axle of a vehicle and comprises a base 10 having three equi-angularly spaced, splayed legs 11, 12, 13, which support a triangular-section sleeve 15 whose axis extends cen-trallv between the legs. The sleeve is integral with the legs and the base is, in this example, made substantially in one piece from sheet metal. The base may be made from an extrusion. The base includes additional members in the form of stays 16, 17, 18 between the legs.

A raisable arm 20, complementary to the sleeve 15, is teiescopically engaged in the sleeve. The arm is substantially of constant triangular section, but a longitudinal slot 21 extends at one apex substantially along the entire length of the arm. The arm is made from sheet metal and the slot is bridged for strength, at the bottom by a welded strip 22 and at the top, by an axle support plate 23 welded on the top of the arm. The support plate is shaped to engage with an axle by provision of upturned flanges 24e, 24b.

The two sides of the arm flanking the slot 21 are formed with rows of teeth 25 and intervening rcesses 26, the teeth and recesses of each of said sides being hori- zontally aligned with corresponding teeth and recesses in the other of said sides. These teeth and recesses define a ratchet Each of the two sides of the sleeve 15, flanking the slot 21, is provided with an elongate slot 30, the two slots being horizontally aligned. Each slot extends at an acuate angle to the axis of the sleeve, i.e.

to the verical in the position of use. A rod 31 extends through the slots 30.

The teeth 25 on the arm 20 are sufficiently short to permit telescopic movement of the arm with the rod 31 held engaged with the topmost ends of the slots 30. The rod 31 is, however, Ibiased, gravitationally, to slide to the bottom of the slots 30 (i.e. as shown in the drawings) and in this position, the rod 31 is engaged in one of the recesses 26 to lock the arm in a selected position relative to the base. The rod 31 is further biased to this position by a blade spring 35 which extends transversely through the rod, so that the rod slides on the spring 35.

The bottom surface 40 of each tooth 25 (i.e. the top walls of each recess) is at an acute angle to the vertical with the inner end of the surface, (i.e. at the closed end of the recess) higher than the outer end.

Consequently with the rod engaged in a pair of recesses 26, a load on the support plate 23 causes the corresponding surfaces 40 (which are ramp surfaces) to hold the rod in the closed ends of the pair of recesses 26.

The top surface of each tooth 25 (i.e.

the bottom wall of each recess) has a cutaway portion defining a cam surface 43.

Raising of the arm 20 from the position shown, causes the cam surface 43 to act on the rod 31 to cam the latter out of the recess to permit raising of the arm 20.

The top walls 45 of the topmost pair of recesses, project further than the equivalent walls 40 of other recesses and these walls 45 serve as stops to limit the retraction of the arm in the base. Similarly, the extension limit is determined by the bottom walls 46 of the bottom-most pair of recesses.

In operation, the support can be extended simply by lifting the arm 20 relative to the base 10. The cam surfaces 43 progressively act on the rod 31 to cam the rod out of the recesses 26. On release of the arm 20, the arm drops, causing the rod 31 to ride up the cam surface 43 immediately below into the corresponding pair of recesses 26. This happens under the bias acting on the rod 31 by the spring 32 and gravity. The bottom, ramp surface 40 of the tooth above then engages the rod 31, which is urged to the closed ends of the pair of recesses under the weight of the arm.

Retraction of the rod 31 in the slots 30, releases the arm and permits it to be dropped to a desired height The support is designed for use under an axle of a vehicle. The vehicle will be lifted by a jack and the support placed under a raised axle at an adjusted height.

The axle is then lowered onto the support plate 23.

Referring to Figure 4, the support shown is identical to that just described, except that the spring 35 has been omitted and the rod 31 has been replaced by another form of detent 231. This detent is composed of rod-like material bent into a rectangular form, so that a first portion 232 is engaged in the slots 30 and side portions 233 and 234 extend downwardly and angularly therefrom, end portions (not shown) of these side portions engaging with the rear face of the sleeve 15. The side portions and end portions serve to weight the detent, so that the first portion 231 is gravitationally urged into engagement with the teeth 25 of the arm 20.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A height-adjustable stand comprising a base and an arm mounted on the base and height-adjustable relative thereto, a linear ratchet on the arm extending longitudinally thereof, a detent on the base and engageable with the ratchet to latch the arm to the base in any one of a plurality of positions at different relative heights of the arm, the arm comprising a channel-shaped metal pressing whose opposite flanges are inclined towards each other towards the mouth of the channel, the ratchet being formed by slots in the longitudinal free edges of the Ranges defining ratchet teeth.

2. A height-adjustable stand according to Claim 1, wherein the detent is biased to wards engagement with the ratchet.

3. A height-adjustable stand according to Claim 2, wherein said bias is gravitational.

4. A height-adjustable stand according to Claim 2, wherein said bias is provided by a resilient member.

5. A height-adjustable stand according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the detent is slidably movable in a slot in the base.

6. A height-adjustable stand according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the detent is pivotally mounted on the base.

7. A height-adjustable stand according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the arm is telescopically engaged in a complementary sleeve portion of the base.

8. A height-adjustable stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the slots are obliquely inclined to the length of the arm such that a load on the arm serves to urge the detent into engagement with the selected slots.

9. A height-adjustable stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower edge of each slot serves as a cam which acts on the detent to effect disengagement when the arm is raised relative to the base.

10. A height-adjustable stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the base includes three or more splayed legs for supporting the stand.

11. A height-adjustable axle stand for supporting a vehicle axle and constructed substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the recess) higher than the outer end. Consequently with the rod engaged in a pair of recesses 26, a load on the support plate 23 causes the corresponding surfaces 40 (which are ramp surfaces) to hold the rod in the closed ends of the pair of recesses 26. The top surface of each tooth 25 (i.e. the bottom wall of each recess) has a cutaway portion defining a cam surface 43. Raising of the arm 20 from the position shown, causes the cam surface 43 to act on the rod 31 to cam the latter out of the recess to permit raising of the arm 20. The top walls 45 of the topmost pair of recesses, project further than the equivalent walls 40 of other recesses and these walls 45 serve as stops to limit the retraction of the arm in the base. Similarly, the extension limit is determined by the bottom walls 46 of the bottom-most pair of recesses. In operation, the support can be extended simply by lifting the arm 20 relative to the base 10. The cam surfaces 43 progressively act on the rod 31 to cam the rod out of the recesses 26. On release of the arm 20, the arm drops, causing the rod 31 to ride up the cam surface 43 immediately below into the corresponding pair of recesses 26. This happens under the bias acting on the rod 31 by the spring 32 and gravity. The bottom, ramp surface 40 of the tooth above then engages the rod 31, which is urged to the closed ends of the pair of recesses under the weight of the arm. Retraction of the rod 31 in the slots 30, releases the arm and permits it to be dropped to a desired height The support is designed for use under an axle of a vehicle. The vehicle will be lifted by a jack and the support placed under a raised axle at an adjusted height. The axle is then lowered onto the support plate 23. Referring to Figure 4, the support shown is identical to that just described, except that the spring 35 has been omitted and the rod 31 has been replaced by another form of detent 231. This detent is composed of rod-like material bent into a rectangular form, so that a first portion 232 is engaged in the slots 30 and side portions 233 and 234 extend downwardly and angularly therefrom, end portions (not shown) of these side portions engaging with the rear face of the sleeve 15. The side portions and end portions serve to weight the detent, so that the first portion 231 is gravitationally urged into engagement with the teeth 25 of the arm 20. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A height-adjustable stand comprising a base and an arm mounted on the base and height-adjustable relative thereto, a linear ratchet on the arm extending longitudinally thereof, a detent on the base and engageable with the ratchet to latch the arm to the base in any one of a plurality of positions at different relative heights of the arm, the arm comprising a channel-shaped metal pressing whose opposite flanges are inclined towards each other towards the mouth of the channel, the ratchet being formed by slots in the longitudinal free edges of the Ranges defining ratchet teeth.