GB2377422A

GB2377422A - Lifting vehicle wheels

Info

Publication number: GB2377422A
Application number: GB0116913A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Guy Carpenter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-11
Filing date: 2001-07-11
Publication date: 2003-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-11
Also published as: GB2377422B; GB0116913D0

Abstract

A method and apparatus for lifting a parked four wheeled vehicle in which two pairs roller assemblies (19, 21) are located with one roller assembly aligned with each wheel (11,12,13,14), the roller assemblies (19 or 21) in each pair being moved away from each other to thrust the rollers (19,21) into contact with a respective tyres ( 11,12, or 13,14) to lift the vehicle onto the rollers. An abutment 22 on each roller assembly (19,21) limits the movement of the rollers under the respective tyres. The roller assemblies may be mounted on axles 15, 16 or longitudinal struts (115, 116, Fig 5) to allow greater adjustability.

Description

A Vehicle Lifting Device Field This invention relates to a vehicle lifting apparatus, and in particular to apparatus for lifting of cars or light vans to enable the same to be moved from a parked position.

Background of the Invention Unattended and locked parked vehicles which have been left by inconsiderate drivers can sometimes cause at least a nuisance and sometimes an obstruction. Furthermore car it may necessary to adjust the position of parked vehicles in attended car parks where space may be at a premium.

The present invention provides a lifting apparatus that allows the position of a parked car to altered and the car to be manoeuvred by a single operator.

Statement of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a method of lifting a parked wheeled vehicle, typically having at least four wheels, in which at least one pair of roller assemblies comprising rollers and an abutment, are located longitudinally either side of or between two aligned wheels with one roller assembly aligned with each wheel, the two pair of roller assemblies being moved to thrust the respecive rollers into contact with a respective

re, lifting the vehicle onto the rollers and against the utment as the roller assemblies move under the respective res. e vehicle is held on the roller assemblies by the load erted therebetween. e roller assemblies may be mounted on struts which can be noeuvred into position under the vehicle to align the ller assemblies with the tyres. the preferred method the rollers are placed ngitudinally between the wheels and moved apart.

. so according to the invention there is provided apparatus ) r lifting and manoeuvring a vehicle, and which comprises pair of substantially parallel struts having at least one : tuator operable between the struts to move the struts ) wards and away from each other, each strut on its side [jacent the tyre, supporting a pair of rollers each of Lich in use aligns with a wheel of the vehicle, and having l abutment thereon which in use abuts a surface on a ! Spective tyre as the roller is thrust against the tyre.

Le struts, preferably, form part of a mobile unit allowing Le apparatus to be easily position relative to a vehicle. le struts and actuators may form part of a frame which in e can be easily manoeuvred under a vehicle between its

tyres using castors, slides or rollers.

Alternatively the struts may be attached to the forks of a forklift device.

The actuator may comprise screw-threaded jacks operated either manually or by electric motor, or hydraulic actuators, and preferably a pair of actuators operated between the two struts.

The rollers are attached to the struts through subassemblies, and at least one roller sub-assembly on each strut is adjustably mounted thereon, said one assemblies being at the same ends of each strut.

The struts have abutments only adjacent the rollers and preferably the abutments are formed with each roller assembly, alternatively a single abutment may run the whole length of the strut. The abutment may be of variable height above the respective rollers, and the horizontal distance between each roller and its respective abutment may be varied.

At least the distal end of the struts are provided with a load bearing support such as a slide, wheel, or roller to assist in manoeuvring the struts under the vehicle, and in movement of the loaded apparatus.

; cription of the Drawings invention will be described by way of example only and h reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of apparatus according the present invention in plan view and shown in use, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus is use as in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the rollers touch the vehicle tyres ; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus in the lift condition, and Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of the invention.

: ailed Description of the Invention : h reference to Fig. 1 and Fig 2, there is shown the -es 11-16 of a parked four wheeled vehicle stood on a -face S. t lifting apparatus 10 according to the present invention prises a pair of struts 15 & 16 having a pair of uators 17 & 18. The actuators 17 & 18 are located at the osite end portions of the struts to move the struts rt whilst maintaining them is a substantially parallel ationship. The actuators may be of any suitable type, example hydraulic ram, screw-jacks operated manually or electric motor, or rack and pinion type jacks.

The struts 15,16 and actuator 17,18 are preferably incorporated into a frame which may itself be mounted on a vehicle, or be a self contained manoeuvrable unit, or may alternatively be mounted on a low loader, or fork lift device such a forklift truck, or a forklift trolley.

Each strut 16 has a pair of roller assemblies 19 mounted on thereon. At least one roller assembly 19A of each pair is adjustably mounted on its respective strut 15 or 16 permitting the distance between roller assemblies on a particular strut to be adjusted to suit different t-yrn tracks. Preferably all four roller assemblies may each be adjustably mounted on the respective strut and the adjustment could be a manual repositioning of th ? assemblies or some automatic or semi-automatic system.

Each roller assembly 19 has a roller 21 rotationally mounted on its side adjacent the respective tyre, the axis of rotation of each roller being parallel with the axis of rotation of the vehicle wheels. The roller 21 is of a small diameter allowing in use the roller to be inserted between the ground and the curved external surface of a vehicle tyre stood thereon. The assembly also includes a kerb or abutment 22 which limits the movement of the roller assemblies under their respective tyres. The abutments 22 also extends parallel to the rotational axes of the tyres. Both the rollers 21 and abutments 22 preferably extend for the full width of the tyres.

e abutment 22 on each roller assembly 19 is positioned so at its top edge is higher than the roller 21 and is set one side of the roller 19 in use allowing the roller to ke first contact with a tyre. e leading end portion of each strut 15 & 16 has a support vice 23 located on its under surface. The support device ables the apparatus to move more easily over the ground d may be a solid slide, for example a curved or hemiherical shoe made from nylon or other suitable plastics terial, a castor wheel, or suitable roller device which n facilitate movement of the apparatus.

1 use the struts are located transversely of the car Lther within or without the longitudinal wheel base of a irked car. Preferably, the device is utilised within the leelbase as shown in Figs. 1 & 2. The lateral distance ; tween the wheel assemblies 19 on each strut 15 and 16 is ljusted to suit the track of the front and rear wheel tirs 11,13, and 12,14 of the parked vehicle. This can be me either before or after the apparatus 10 is placed on le ground under the vehicle depending upon the type of tjustment mechanism. te apparatus is then slid in contact with the ground under te vehicle with the rollers 21 facing the respective rres.

With reference now to Fig 3, the actuators 17 & 18 move the struts 15 & 16 apart so that the rollers 21 contact the outer surface of the tyres. The actuators will cause some slight repositioning of the apparatus until all rollers are in contact with their respective tyres.

Now with reference to Fig. 4, further outward movement of the rollers 21, which are free to rotate, thrusts the rollers under the tyres forcing the tyre to ride up onto the roller 21 leaving contact with the surface S. As the struts continue to move apart the tyres ride up the rollers until they contact the abutments 22 with the each tyre sitting against a roller and its respective abutment for each roller assembly 19. The height of the abutment should be great erough to prevent the tyres from overriding. Since both struts 15 & 16 move in unison the wheels at the front and rear of the vehicle which both be jammed with their inner surfaces held against the abutments 22 and will be restrained from forwards or backwards movement.

Since the rollers 21 are free rotate its makes no difference if the vehicle wheels are locked due to the operation of brakes or leaving the vehicle in gear.

Once the tyres are clear of the ground the vehicle may be manoeuvred on the apparatus and re-located.

The re-located vehicle is then lowered by reversing the

cess. distance between the abutments 22 and the rollers 21 be adjusted to suit different diameter tyres to ensure t the rollers always contact the respective tyre before abutments means. The height of the abutments 22 may o be varied to suit, and the abutment may also be sed into position only as and when required. h reference now to Fig. 5, there is shown a second odiment of the invention in which the lifting apparatus may be placed under the vehicle from either side or her end. In this case the roller assemblies 119 are unted on struts 115,116 which extend logitudinally of the hicle. The roller assemblies 119 are secured on pistons D telescopically mounted on the struts 115, 1]6 with the spective rollers extending outwardly normal to the ruts. The struts 115,116 and pistons 120 may be double led jacks e. g hydraulic jacks or screw-jacks. A single tuator 118 e. g. a hydraulically operated scissor : hanism, operates between the two struts 115,116.

R apparatus is located under the vehicle with the rollers the roller assemblies within or without the wheel base. a operation of the apparatus 110 is similar to that viously described. The struts 115 116 are moved apart to Lgn the roller assemblies with the wheels, and the roller semblied are then moved against the tyres to lift the

vehicle as previously.

Although the apparatus has been described for use with four wheeled vehicles, the apparatus is also usable with vehicles having six or more wheels.

Claims

aims A method of lifting a parked wheeled vehicle in which o pairs roller assemblies are located within or without e wheel base of vehicle, with one roller assembly aligned th each wheel, the two pairs of roller assemblies being ved to thrust the rollers into contact with a respective re, lifting the vehicle onto the rollers as the roller semblies move under the respective tyres.

A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the roller semblies are mounted on a pair of struts which can be noeuvred into position relative to the vehicle to align e roller assemblies with the tyres.

A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the Iller assemblies are placed longitudinally between the res and moved apart.

A method as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the ller assemblies are mounted on two elongate struts which e moved by actuators acting between the struts, the vement being limited by abutments means on the roller semblies.

Apparatus for lifting and manoeuvring a vehicle, and ich comprises a pair of substantially parallel struts th at least one actuator operable therebetween to move

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the struts towards and away from each other, each strut on its side adjacent the tyre supporting a pair of rollers each of which in use align with a wheel of the vehicle, and having an abutment thereon which in use abuts a surface on a respective tyre as the tyre rides up the respective roller.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the or each actuator may comprise screw-threaded jacks operated either manually or by electric motor, or hydraulic actuators, and 7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein a pair of actuators operates between the two struts at opposite end portions thereof.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the rollers are attached to the struts through subassemblies, and at least one sub-assembly on each strut is adjustably mounted thereon.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any. one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein there is further provided an abutment adjacent each respective roller and set aside therefrom.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the abutments are provide on each roller sub-assembly.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 10

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erein the height of each abutment above the respective ller is adjustable.

. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 11, erein the horizontal distance between each roller and its spective abutment is adjustable.

. Apparatus as claimed any one of claims 5 to 12 wherein ch abutment is lowered when not in use.