GB2405859A

GB2405859A - A lift for use in a vehicle inspection pit

Info

Publication number: GB2405859A
Application number: GB0321009A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melvyn Burrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-09
Filing date: 2003-09-09
Publication date: 2005-03-16
Also published as: GB0321009D0

Abstract

A lift for use in a pit having a pit cover. The lift has a platform for supporting a person. The platform is movable between an in-use position and a pit cover position, and the platform of the lift provides the pit cover in the pit cover position. The lift further comprises means for adjusting the height of the platform relative to the bottom of the pit to an in-use working position, the height adjustment means further being adapted to raise the platform to the pit cover position.

Description

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A LIFT FOR USE IN A VEHICLE INSPECTION PIT

The present invention relates to a lift, particularly but not exclusively to a lift for use in a vehicle inspection pit.

Vehicle inspection pits provide a working volume for personnel carrying out automotive servicing and repair tasks at the underside of a vehicle. These pits are usually deep enough so that personnel using the pit can work on a vehicle without stooping unduly. However, the depth of the pit is such that it represents a significant safety hazard in terms of its potential to inflict injuries, were personnel to fall into it. Accordingly, it is usual to provide removable covers for such a pit, often in the form of beam like structures lodged in a transverse attitude within a ledge-like recess at each longitudinal side edge of the pit.

However, such an arrangement, although relatively safe, is extremely inconvenient to use due to the labour involved in the repetitive mounting and dismounting of the pit cover between usage. As a result of this, in practice, it is frequently the case that the pit cover is not actually put in place. Consequently, the pit represents a serious hazard for automotive servicing personnel.

Although various alternative pit covers have been developed, these covers limit the space available in the pit and are generally of a complicated construction.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lift for use in a vehicle inspection pit which provides an improved safety cover according to any of the accompanying claims. ::...

In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lift for use in an inspection pit, the lift comprising a platform for supporting a person and means for adjusting the height of the platform relative to the bottom of the pit, the height adjustment means being adapted to raise the platform to a height suitable for providing a safety cover for the pit.

In this way, the lift effectively raises and lowers the pit floor so as to allow a person to conduct inspection and maintenance tasks on the underside of a vehicle at his/her preferred variable working or inspection heights. This has the important advantage that stooping or uncomfortable access to the vehicle is prevented as the floor or depth of the pit can be adjusted adequately to the user's requirements.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lift for use in a pit having a pit cover, the lift comprising a platform movable between an in-use working position and a cover position, the platform of said lift forming the pit cover in the cover position.

After use, the lift is thus fully extendable so that the platform is approximately flush with the floor surface surrounding the pit so that the platform forms a safety cover which covers the pit and prevents the open pit from forming a health and safety hazard.

The lift as herein described thus provides a dual purpose, it allows a person to vary the effective depth of the pit to facilitate vehicle maintenance and inspection and, in addition, the platform provides a safety cover to adequately close the pit to prevent inadvertent access to the pit and injuries to servicing personnel. A.

:. -.: . ::. ë e.: . In a preferred embodiment, the height adjustment means raises the platform between an in-use working position and a pit cover position. The height adjustment means may raise the platform incrementally to any position between these positions to facilitate vehicle maintenance and inspection operations.

In a preferred embodiment, the height adjustment means comprises a "scissor" mechanism. This mechanism has the important advantage that it takes up little space inside the pit. Also, this mechanism is of a relatively simple construction which reduces the overall costs of installation and manufacture of a pit lift.

The scissor mechanism may comprise a first support member and a second support member, the support members being pivotally interconnected in a pivot point, each support member having an end which is slidably arranged in respective first and second guide members.

The first support member may have a first end which is slidably arranged in a first guide member, the first guide member being provided in the pit. The second support member may have a second end which is slidably arranged in a second guide member, the second guide member being provided on the platform. The first support member may have a second end which is pivotally connected to the platform, and the second support member may have a second end which is pivotally connected to the pit.

Preferably, the height adjustment means comprises two pairs of first and second support members; each pair of support members being pivotally interconnected in a pivot point.

The first support members may have one end which is slidably arranged in first guide members provided in the :. :.. . ::. ë e.: . .

pit. The opposite ends of the first support members are pivotally connected to the platform. The second support members have an end which is slidably arranged in second guide members provided on the platform. The opposite end of the second support members is pivotally connected to the pit.

In this way, a robust construction is achieved which requires minimal space in the pit and which may be retro fitted to existing pits at minimum costs. Preferably, the pairs of support members are provided on or near the longitudinal sides of the platform.

In another embodiment of the invention, the lift comprises at least one expendable member which is pivotally connected to the respective first and second members to pivot the members relative to one another to provide height adjustment.

Preferably, the scissor mechanism comprises a pair of extendable members which are provided on each of the pair of first and second support members.

In an embodiment of the invention, the extendable member comprises a pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder is powered by compressed air which, in most cases, is already present in a vehicle pit as it is commonly used in vehicle maintenance operations.

In a further embodiment of the invention the lift comprises a further support member for supporting the platform in a first, working position. This secures the platform in the working position and prevents the platform from dropping onto the bottom of the pit in case of a power failure or failure of the height adjustment means. e:

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In a further embodiment of the invention, the height adjustment means are activated only when there is no one present on the platform. This provides an important safety aspect of the invention, because a person could fall off the platform during operation of the lift, or could get trapped between the platform and the pit structure.

In a preferred embodiment, the lift comprises a sensor for sensing when a person is present on the platform to prevent activation of the height adjustment means when a person is present on the platform.

In preferred embodiment, the lift is operable from outside the pit to prevent a person from being present either under the platform, on the platform or in the direct vicinity of the lift.

The user can access the platform via stairs which are located in the pit and which provide access to the platform at any height. In a preferred embodiment, the height adjustment means are adapted to incrementally adjust the height of the platform from the bottom of the pit such that the platform is approximately level with a step of the stairs to enable easy access to the platform.

In a preferred embodiment, to further secure the operation of the lift, the lift comprises locking means which are adapted to receive a key to prevent unauthorized use of the lift. Preferably, the key is retained by the person working on the platform or in the pit to prevent inadvertent operation of the lift. The locking means may comprise any suitable locking means such as an electronic lock that is activated by a magnetic fob or key toggle or similar.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided

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an inspection pit comprising one or more lifts as herein before described to provide variable working heights in a single pit and to provide a safety cover to at least partially cover the pit.

The pit preferably comprises at least two lifts to provide a working height and an intermediate working height. The working height may be the lower height as this allows routine maintenance operations to be carried out on a vehicle. The intermediate height is more suitable for conducting inspection operations on the underside of the vehicle.

In a further embodiment, there is provided a method of providing a variable working height in a vehicle inspection pit, the method comprising the step of providing one or more lifts as herein before described and operating the lifts so as to provide variable working heights. After use, the platforms are fully raised to provide a safety cover to the pit.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 presents a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a vehicle inspection pit comprising a lift according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 presents a diagrammatic cross sectional view along section A-A of a lift according to the embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 presents a diagrammatic cross ::. I-. .e sectional view of part of a lift in a working position according to the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 presents a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a vehicle inspection pit comprising three lifts according to another embodiment of the invention.

The vehicle inspection pit 10 of Figures 1 to 3 comprises a lift 11 which provides variable working heights in the pit 10 and a safety cover 22 to cover the pit 10. The lift 11 comprises a platform 22 for supporting one or more persons and means 24 for adjusting the height of the platform 22 relative to the bottom of the pit 10. The height adjustment means 24 raises the platform 22 between a working position (Figure 3) and a pit cover position or safety cover position (Figure 1 and 2) . The platform 22 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is at height which provides a safety cover to the pit 10 whereby the platform 22 is approximately flush with the floor surface that surrounds the pit 10 to prevent inadvertent access to the pit 10.

The height adjustment means 24 comprises a scissor mechanism for raising and lowering the platform 22 relative to the bottom of the pit 10. The scissor mechanism comprises two pairs of first 26,126 and second support members 28; each pair of support members 26,28,126 being pivotally interconnected in a pivot point 30,39. (the second support member is not shown in Figure 2) . The first support members 26,126 have ends 32, 132 which are slidably arranged in first guide members 36, 136 provided in the pit 10. The opposite ends 42,142 of the first support members :.. :.e *. ::e be: : 26,126 are pivotally connected to the platform 22.

The second support members 28, have ends 34 which are slidably arranged in second guide members 38 provided on the platform 22. The opposite ends 34 of the second support members 28 are pivotally connected to the pit 10.

The first and second guide members 36,136 j38 are in the form of channels. The ends of the support members comprise rollers 48, 50 which are adapted to engage with the guide members 36,136;38.

The lift 11 further comprises a pair of extendable members 46,146 that are pivotally connected to the first and second support members 26, 28; 126. The extendable members pivot the support members 26, 28 jl26 relative to one another to adjust the height of the platform 22. The extendable members 46,146 are in the form of pneumatic cylinders.

The lift 11 further comprises a means for operating the lift (not shown). The operation means are adapted to prevent operation of the lift 11 when a person is inside the pit, on the platform 22 or in close vicinity of the lift 11 to prevent accidents. The lift 11 comprises a sensor for detecting when a person is present on the platform 22.

In use, the lift 11 is operated to provide a suitable height whilst the operator or user is outside the pit 10 to prevent the person from getting trapped between the lift 11 and the pit 10 structure. The user accesses the platform 22 via a fixed stairs which are located in the pit 10.

After use, the lift 11 is fully extended so that the platform 22 fully covers the pit 10.

e; : e e; Figure 4 shows a pit 100 which comprises three lifts 12, 14, 16. The lifts 12, 14, 16 are identical to the lift 11 of Figures 1 to 3 and therefore, corresponding parts of the lift 11 in Figures 1 to 3 and lifts 12,14,16 in Figure 4 have been given corresponding reference numerals.

In use, the lifts 12,14,16 are operated such that one lift 12 is arranged at a working height which is useful for maintenance operations on a vehicle, a further lift 14 is arranged at a intermediate working height to facilitate vehicle inspections and a third lift 16 is arranged so as to provide a safety cover to part of the pit 100.

The lifts 12,14,16 are operated whilst the operator or user is outside the pit so as to prevent a person from getting trapped between the lifts and/or the pit structure 100.

After use, all lifts 12, 14, 16 are arranged in the fully extended position to provide a safety cover to the entire pit 100 whereby the platforms 22 provide adequate safety as they fully cover the pit area.

The lifts as discussed herein before and as shown in the accompanying drawings are suitable for a wide range of applications which are not necessarily limited to vehicle maintenance and inspection pits. The lifts may be used in other applications where improved access is required whilst also providing an adequate safety cover.

Claims

. . - 1 0 CLAIMS

1. A lift for use in a pit having a pit cover, the lift comprising a platform for supporting a person, the platform being movable between an in-use position and a pit cover position, the platform forming the pit cover in the pit cover position.

2. A lift according to claim 1, wherein the lift comprises means for adjusting the height of the platform relative to the bottom of the pit to an in-use working position, the height adjustment means further being adapted to raise the platform to the pit cover position.

3. A lift according to claim 2, wherein the height adjustment means are adapted to raise the platform to at least one intermediate position.

4. A lift according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the height adjustment means comprises a scissor mechanism for raising and lowering the platform relative to the bottom of the pit.

5. A lift according to claim 4, wherein the scissor mechanism comprises first and second support members; the support members being pivotally interconnected in a pivot point; the first support member having one end which is slidably arranged in a first guide member provided in the pit; the opposite end of the first support member being pivotally connected to the platform; the second support member having an end which is slidably arranged in a second guide member provided on the platform and the opposite end of the second support member being pivotally connected to the pit.

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6. A lift according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the scissor mechanism comprises two pairs of first and second support members; each pair of support members being pivotally interconnected in a pivot point; the first support members having one end which is slidably arranged in first guide members provided in the pit; the opposite end of the first support members being pivotally connected to the platform; the second support members having an end which is slidably arranged in second guide members provided on the platform and the opposite end of the second support members being pivotally connected to the pit.

7. A lift according to any of claims 5 or 6, wherein the lift comprises at least one expendable member pivotally connected to the respective first and second support members to pivot the members relative to one another to provide height adjustment.

8. A lift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lift comprises a further support member to support the platform in a first, working position.

9. A lift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lift comprises means for operating the lift, the lift being operatable when the person is absent from the platform.

10. A lift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lift is operatable from outside the pit.

11. A lift according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lift comprises locking means adapted to receive a key to prevent unauthorized use of the lift.

12. An inspection pit comprising one or more lifts . c.

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according to any of the preceding claims to provide variable working heights in the pit and a safety cover to at least partially cover the pit.

13. A pit according to claim 12, wherein the pit comprises at least two lifts to provide a working height and an intermediate height.

14. An inspection pit comprising a floor having a variable depth, the floor providing a safety cover to the pit when the pit is out of use.

15. A lift and a pit as herein before described and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.