GB2027654A

GB2027654A - Support stand

Info

Publication number: GB2027654A
Application number: GB7927210A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Applied Power Inc
Current assignee: Enerpac Tool Group Corp
Priority date: 1978-08-04
Filing date: 1979-08-03
Publication date: 1980-02-27
Also published as: AU4946679A; IT1122677B; JPS5524794A; FR2446986A1; IT7924850A0; DE2834345A1

Abstract

A support stand for supporting a jacked-up motor vehicle comprises a pedestal 1 and a pair of arms 2 and 3. The arm 2 is pivotally attached, at one end, to the pedestal 1, the other end of the arm 2 serving to support the motor vehicle. One end of the other arm 3 is pivotally attached to an intermediate point of the arm 2, the other end of the arm 3 being fixable to the pedestal 1 at any one of a number of angles corresponding to various height settings of the upper end of the arm 2, and thus of the motor vehicle. This support stand can be applied to a motor vehicle standing on its own wheels, is capable of automatically following the vehicle as it is jacked up, and can support the jacked-up vehicle in a number of different height positions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support stand This invention relates to a support stand for supporting a jacked-up motor vehicle.

In order to carry out work on motor vehicles, and in particular to repair the chassis or bodywork thereof to make good accident damage, it is frequently necessary to lift the motor vehicle entirely or partially, and then to support it securely in the lifted position. A vehicle jack is used for lifting such a motor vehicle, and a support stand is used for subsequently supporting the motor vehicle. A known type of support stand has a base which is assembled from angle sections arranged in conformity with the angles of a square pyramid, and a centre post displaceable vertically in relation to the base. The post serves as a support for a tube which in turn is attached to the vehicle concerned by means of at least one anchoring clamp.

Although this type of support stand is a reliable support for a jacked-up motor vehicle in a plurality of different height positions, it can only be applied after the motor vehicle has been jacked up.

Moreover, at every new height setting, the support stand must be shifted and newly set. Furthermore, in view of its relatively large size, and in particular the height of the pyramid-shaped base, it is not possible for this support stand to support a motor vehicle which is jacked up only slightly. Thus, this type of support stand requires a motor vehicle to be jacked up to at least a relatively high predetermined height, which frequently involves an unnecessary and undesirable expenditure of energy and time.

The aim of the invention is to provide a support stand which can be applied to a motor vehicle still standing on its own wheels, which is capable of automatically following the motor vehicle as it is jacked up, and which can support the jacked-up vehicle in a number of different height positions.

The present invention provides a support stand for supporting a jacked-up motor vehicle, the support stand comprising a ground-engageable base and first and second arms, one end of the first arm being pivotally attached to the base, the other end of the first arm supporting, in use, the motor vehicle, one end of the second arm being pivotally attached to the first arm, and the other end of the second arm being fixable, at any one of a plurality of angles, to the base, whereby the height of said other end of the first arm can be varied.

This support stand can be used from a very low initial position but permits reliable support of a motor vehicle at a relatively great working height.

Here, the first arm can be pivotally connected from the outset, to the motor vehicle (or to an anchoring member carrying it) by for example a prop tube of the type used for straightening work.

Then, as the motor vehicle is jacked up, the first arm automatically follows its upward movement.

During the upward movement, the first arm can be fixed, by means of the second arm, at various angles corresponding to different height positions of the jacked-up motor vehicle. This support stand is extremely robust, and is capable of fully conforming with all requirements made of it even in the roughest workshop operation.

Advantageously, the base is a pedestal.

Preferably, the pedestal is constituted by a pair of parallel, longitudinally-extending, upright members which are fixed together by a crossmember at one end of the pedestal and by the pivotal connection between the pedestal and the first arm at the other end of the pedestal. Each of the upright members may be provided with a longitudinally-extending slot, the base of each slot being formed with a plurality of detent notches, and wherein said other end of the second arm is provided with a detent rod which extends transversely with respect to the upright members and passes through said slots, the detent rod cooperating with the detent notches for fixing the second arm at said angles.

Advantageously, the pedestal is provided with at least one ground-engageable support plate.

Preferably, the pedestal is provided with two ground-engageable support plates positioned at the two ends thereof.

Conveniently, the first arm is constituted by a pair of parallel side plates, and wherein said one end of the second arm is pivotally attached to, and between, said side plates.

Preferably, said other end of the second arm is apertured for pivotal connection to an anchoring member attached to the motor vehicle. When the first arm is constituted by said side plates, each of said side plates may be apertured for pivotal connection to the anchoring member.

One form of support stand constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a perspective view of the support stand shown with connection elements for pivotal connection to a motor vehicle.

Referring to the drawing, the support stand has a pedestal 1 which is provided with two groundengaging support plates 13 and 14. The support plates 13 and 14 enlarge the bearing area of the support stand and increase its lateral stability against tipping over. The pedestal 1 is constituted by two upright members 7 and 8 which are interconnected at one end by a cross-member 6. The members 7 and 8 of the pedestal 1 extend parallel to one another at a fixed distance apart, and they are firmly connected to the support plates 13 and 14.

A pivot arm 2 is pivotally connected, by means of a pivot joint 5, to the pedestal 1 at the end opposite to the cross-member 6. The pivot arm 2 is constituted by two side plates 17 and 18 which can be pivoted in relation to the pedestal 1 in planes parallel to the planes of the upright members 7 and 8. At the free end 4 of the pivot arm 2, the side plates 17 and 18 are each provided with a circular aperture 1 5 and 16 respectively. A tube R can be pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow R' through these apertures 15 and 16. The tube R also passes through an aperture A in an anchoring clamp K which in use, is attached to a motor vehicle (not shown).Thus, the aperture A seats on the tube R between the side plates 17 and 1 8 of the pivot arm 2 in alignment with the apertures 15 and 16, so that the anchoring clamp K is articulated to the free end 4 of the pivot arm 2, the tube R serving as an articulating tie member.

A prop arm 3 is pivotally attached to the middle part of the pivot arm 2, between its side plates 1 7 and 18. The other end of the prop arm 3 carries a detent rod 12 which passes through slo.ts 9 and 10 respectively in the upright members 7 and 8.

The detent bolt 12 extends transversely with respect to the planes of the upright members 7 and 8, and the slots 9 and 10 extend in their longitudinal direction. The slots 9 and 10 are provided with detent notches 1 1 at their lower edges, each detent notch defining a detent position corresponding to a specific height of the free end 4 of the pivot arm 2. Thus, the prop arm 3 and the detent bolt 12 can hold the pivot arm 2 fast at various angles corresponding to predetermined heights of its free end 4.

When using the support stand to support a motor vehicle, the aperture A of the anchoring clamp K (which is secured to the vehicle) is moved in the direction of the arrow At so as to lie between the side plates 17 and 18 of the pivot arm 2. At this stage, the pivot arm 2 is in a relatively low setting. The tube R is then guided through the apertures 15 and 16 in the side plates 17 and 1 8 of the pivot arm 2 and through the aperture A of the anchoring clamp K, so as to form a pivotal connection between the pivot arm and the anchoring clamp.

If then the anchoring clamp K moves upwards with the motor vehicle as it is lifted by a vehicle jack, the free end of the pivot arm 2 moves with it, the pivot arm pivoting in relation to the pedestal 1 about the pivot joint 5. At the same time, the prop arm 3 also pivots in relation to the pivot arm 2, and the detent bolt 12 moves in the slots 9 and 10 towards the pivot joint 5. In the course of this movement, the detent bolt 12 runs freely over the detent notches 1 Then, as soon as the lifting of the motor vehicle by the jack ceases, and the jack is removed, the detent bolt 12 is received in the nearest detent notches 11. Thus, the prop arm 3 and the pivot arm 2 hold the motor vehicle securely in the reached height position.

In order to lower the motor vehicle, the detent bolt 12 is freed from the engaged notch 1 1 by lifting the motor vehicle slightly. The detent bolt 12 can then be pushed over the detent notches 11 , or the tube R can be removed to disconnect the pivot arm 2 and the anchoring clamp K.

Claims

1. A support stand for supporting a jacked-up motor vehicle, the support stand comprising a ground-engageable base and first and second arms, one end of the first arm being pivotally attached to the base, the other end of the first arm supporting, in use, the motor vehicle, one end of the second arm being pivotally attached to the first arm, and the other end of the second arm being fixable, at any one of a plurality of angles, to the base, whereby the height of said other end of the first arm can be varied.

2. A support stand as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the base is a pedestal.

3. A support stand as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the pedestal is constituted by a pair of parallel, longitudinally-extending, upright members which are fixed together by a crossmember at one end of the pedestal and by the pivotal connection between the pedestal, and the first arm at the other end of the pedestal.

4. A support stand as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of the upright members is provided with a longitudinally-extending slot, the base of each slot being formed with a plurality of detent notches, and wherein said other end of the second arm is provided with a detent rod which extends transversely with respect to the upright members and passes through said slots, the detent rod co-operating with the detent notches for fixing the second arm at said angles.

5. A support stand as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the pedestal is provided with at least one ground-engageable support plate.

6. A support stand as claimed in Claim 5 when appendant to Claim 3, wherein the pedestal is provided with two ground-engageable support plates positioned at the two ends thereof.

7. A support stand as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the first arm is constituted by a pair of parallel side plates, and wherein said one end of the second arm is pivotally attached to, and between, said side plates.

8. A support stand as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said other end of the second arm is apertured for pivotal connection to an anchoring member attached to the motor vehicle.

9. A support stand as claimed in Claim 8 when appendant to Claim 7, wherein each of said side plates is apertured for pivotal connection to the anchoring member.

10. A support stand for supporting a jacked-up motor vehicle, the support stand being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and illustrated by, the accompanying drawing.