GB2052637A

GB2052637A - Fluid Powered Apparatus for Vehicle Handling

Info

Publication number: GB2052637A
Application number: GB8015656A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Lucas Industries Ltd
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1979-05-15
Filing date: 1980-05-12
Publication date: 1981-01-28

Abstract

Apparatus and method for handling a motor vehicle 10 for tilting it onto its side, to allow access to the underneath, the apparatus including a first air bag means 11, 12, 13 to be positioned underneath the vehicle 10 to be tilted and a second air bag means 20 disposed at the side of the vehicle towards which it is to be tilted, the arrangement being that the first air bag means 11, 12, 13 are inflated to tilt the vehicle and the second air bag means are initially inflated and then progressively deflated to support the vehicle until it lies on its side. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Handling Motor Vehicles This invention relates to apparatus for handling motor vehicles, in the sense of moving them into positions convenient for carrying out maintenance or repair work, particularly on parts of vehicles normally inaccessible or of difficult access when the vehicle is in a normal position of use, that is standing on its wheels on a level surface. The primary area of such difficult access is of course the underneath of the vehicle.

There are, in common use various kinds of lifts and ramps which raise a vehicle high enough for work to be carried out underneath it. While this affords satisfactory access to most parts of the underneath of the vehicle, some areas are obscured by the lifts or ramps. Also work on the underneath must be carried on over the mechanics head when he is lying on the ground under the raised vehicle or when he is standing up under it, as the case may be.

Another common arrangement is the provision of a pit over which the vehicle is driven. This also gives satisfactory access to most, though not necessarily all the underneath of the vehicle bu the mechanic again has to work overhead.

It is the object of the invention to provide means for handling a motor vehicle, such as for the purposes referred to, which allows easy and substantially unobstructed access to the underneath and which does not necessitate overhead working.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for handling a motor vehicle, for tilting it on its side, to allow access to the underneath, the apparatus comprising first air bag means arranged in use to be disposed underneath a vehicle to be tilted and second air bag means arranged in use to be positioned beside the vehicle, at the side thereof towards which it is to be tilted and means for inflating and deflating the first and the second air bag means, the arrangement being that the second air bag means are inflated and the first air bag means are disposed, in deflated condition underneath the vehicle and then the first air bag means are inflated to tilt the vehicle while the second air bag means are deflated as the vehicle is tilted over onto them by the first air bag means.

In accordance with a further aspect, the invention resides in a method of handling a motor vehicle for tilting it onto its side to allow access to the underneath, the method including the steps of placing first air bag means, in deflated condition, underneath the vehicle, placing second inflated air bag means beside the vehicle at the side thereof towards which it is to be tilted, inflating the first air bag means to tilt the vehicle and deflating the second air bag means as the vehicle is tilted over onto them, by the first air bag means.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end elevation view of a vehicle showing apparatus for tilting the vehicle in position before commencing the operation of tilting; Figure 2 is an end elvation view of the vehicle shown tilted; Figure 3 is a plan view of the vehicle before tilting; Figure 4 is a similar view showing pneumatic circuits; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing first air bag means in deflated condition; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the connection between first and second air bag means.

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a wheeled motor vehicle 10 typically of the light goods carrying category. The vehicle has four wheels approximately at the corners. The vehicle for which this invention has been particularly, though not exclusively developed, is an electrically driven vehicle, power for which is obtained from a removable battery pack. Maintenance and repairs of the vehicle and particularly to the underneath thereof can be conveniently carried out if the vehicle is tipped onto its side as shown in Figure 2. The battery pack would normally be removed before this tilting operation is carried out so as to avoid spillage of acid from lead acid battery cells.

The apparatus for tilting the vehicle onto its side from the position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 into the position shown in Figure 2 comprises first air bag means including a number, for example three, of interconnected air bags 11 which are positioned between upper and lower platforms 12 and 13. As seen particularly in Figure 5, these platforms are interconnected by a hinge 14, the anchorage for which also serves to secure one edge of each of the bags 11 to the platform 1 3.

Fasteners 1 5 are provided for this purpose. The cross-sectional form of the platforms 12 and 1 3 are exemplified by the cross-section in Figure 6.

Each platform is constructed from lightweight corrugated metal enclosed in a channel section frame.

The lengths of the two platforms 12 and 1 3 exceed the width of the vehicle so that, as shown in Figure 1 , the platform can be positioned beneath the vehicle to extend out a short distance at both sides of the vehicle.

Connected to the hinge fastenings 1 5 is a loop 1 6 seen in Figure 7. To the loop is connected a flexible strap 17, the opposite end of which is connected to a loop 1 8 on second air bag means.

The loop 1 8 is connected to said second air bag means by a fastener 1 9.

There are preferably two straps 1 7 situated at spaced positions as shown in Figure 3.

The second air bag means, to which the loop 1 8 is connected comprises, for example, three interconnected air bags 20. These are shown in deflated condition in Figure 7 and in inflated condition in Figure 1. These are capable of inflation to a greater degree than the bags 11 in the first air bag means. As shown in Figure 1 the bags 20, in fully inflated condition, rest on the ground on which the vehicle is supported as well as against the side of the vehicle 10, or nearly so.

Additional cushioning (not illustrated) may be provided between the air bags 20 and the vehicle side to prevent puncturing by sharp projections on the side of the vehicle. However, such cushioning must be relatively soft to avoid scratching and other damage to the vehicle side.

Figure 4 shows a pneumatic circuit whereby the air bags may be inflated and deflated. A pump 21 supplies air under pressure to the system. The air flows along two paths 22, 23 to the air bags 11 and 20 respectively. In these passages changeover valves 24, 25 are situated respectively. Each such changeover valve has an exhaust outlet 26, 27. It is possible, by means of appropriate actuation of the valves 24, 25, to provide for inflation or deflation of the air bags 11 or 20 as required.

In use, the apparatus is initially set up as shown in Figure 1 with the first air bag means situated below the vehicle 10. The air bagsl 1 are deflated. The air bags 20 however of the second air bag means are inflated to the condition in which they rest both on the ground and substantially against the side of the vehicle. Air under pressure is now applied to the air bag means 11 to tilt the vehicle towards the air bags 20. As the vehicle tilts further in this direction the bags 20 are progressively deflated until a position is reached, as shown in Figure 2, wherein the air bags 11 are fully inflated and the air bags 20 are deflated. However, to avoid the vehicle resting on the air bags 20 additional separate air bags 28 are provided.These are of elongated circular or square section and lie at opposite sides of the air bags 20 as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4.

As the bags 20 are deflated, the vehicle comes to rest and is supported on the inflated bags 28. To provide stability for the vehicle in this position a jack 29 may be situated below the lowermost pair of wheels or one of them. Mechanical or hydraulic jacks may be used for this purpose. They are not, however, used in the lifting operation and in use merely offer stability to the vehicle.

When the vehicle has been tilted to the position shown in Figure 2, it is possible to remove the apparatus comprising the interconnected first and second air bag means, the vehicle being wholly supported on the bags 28. It is therefore possible to use the apparatus on another vehicle, if required.

For moving heavier vehicles it may be necessary to draw the first air bag means including the air bags 11 and the platforms 12 and 13 further towards the side at which the vehicle is to be lifted so as to provide better leverage for tilting. This may involve lengthening of the flexible straps 1 7 joining the first and the second air bag means.

Alternatively, a stronger platform may be used, which is less liable to warp under the weight of a heavy vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for handling a motor vehicle, for tilting it on its side, to allow access to the underneath, the apparatus comprising first air bag means arranged in use to be disposed underneath a vehicle to be tilted and second air bag means arranged in use to be positioned beside the vehicle, at the side thereof towards which it is to be tilted and means for inflating and deflating the first and second air bag means, the arrangement being that the second air bag means are inflated and the first air bag means are disposed, in deflated condition, underneath the vehicle and then the first air bag means are inflated to tilt the vehicle while the second air bag means are deflated as the vehicle is tilted over onto them by the first air bag means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the first and second air bag means are connected by strap means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2 in which the first air bag means includes upper and lower platforms between which air bags are located, the platforms being hingedly connected together along one edge.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the air bags of the first air bag means are secured with respect to the platforms along the side at which the platforms are hingedly connected together.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which additional air bags are provided, on which a vehicle can rest when tilted on its side, so that the first and second air bag means can be withdrawn.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for inflating and deflating the air bag means includes pumping means and supply lines to the bag means with change over valves in said lines.

7. A method of handling a motor vehicle for tilting it onto its side to allow access to the underneath, the method including the steps of placing first air bag means, into a rigid platform above it, in deflated condition, underneath the vehicle, placing second inflated air bag means beside the vehicle at the side thereof towards which it is to be tilted, inflating the first air bag means so that the platform engages the underneath of the vehicle to tilt the vehicle and deflating the second air bag means as the vehicle is tilted over onto them, by the first air bag means.

7. A method of handling a motor vehicle for tilting it onto its side to allow access to the underneath, the method including the steps of placing first bag means, in deflated condition, underneath the vehicle, placing second inflated air bag means beside the vehicle at the side thereof towards which it is to be tilted, inflating the first air bag means to tilt the vehicle and deflating the second air bag means to tilt the vehicle and deflating the second air bag means as the vehicle is tilted over onto them, by the first air bag means.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which additional air bags are positioned beside the second air bag means to support the vehicle when on its side, thus allowing withdrawal of the first and second air bag means.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which a jack is positioned under at least one of the wheels of the vehicle when on its side.

10. Apparatus for handling a motor vehicle, for tilting it on its side substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of handling a motor vehicle for tilting it onto its side substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims filed on 5 November 1980.

Superseded Claims 1,3 and 7.

New or Amended Claims:

1. Apparatus for handling a motor vehicle, for tilting it on its side, to allow access to the underneath, the apparatus comprising first air bag means with a rigid platform above it, said means being arranged in use to be disposed underneath a vehicle to be tilted and second air bag means arranged in use to be positioned beside the vehicle, at the side thereof towards which it is to be tilted and means for inflating and deflating the first and the second air bag means, the arrangement being that the second air bag means are inflated and the first air bag means are disposed, in deflated condition, underneath the vehicle and then the first air bag means are inflated so that the platform engages the underneath of the vehicle to tilt the vehicle while the second air bag means are deflated as the vehicle is tilted over onto them by the first air bag means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2 in which, in addition to the platform above the first air bag means, there is a lower platform, the first air bag means being located between the upper and lower platforms and the platforms being hingedly connected together along one edge.