GB2536272A

GB2536272A - Vehicle lift

Info

Publication number: GB2536272A
Application number: GB1504179.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Allenson Carl
Original assignee: AUTOTRADE SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: AUTOTRADE SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-12
Filing date: 2015-03-12
Publication date: 2016-09-14
Also published as: GB201504179D0

Abstract

A vehicle lift 10 comprises a first post 12a along which a first carriage 16a is movable, a second post 12b along which a second carriage 16b is movable, an actuator arrangement (22a, 22b, 24 fig. 3) for moving the carriages 16a, 16b along the posts 12a, 12b to raise and lower a vehicle supported by the carriages 16a, 16b and a cross-member 50 extending between the first and second posts 12a, 12b and which is adjustable in length, enabling the width of the vehicle lift 10 to be adjusted to enable it to be fitted to the floor space available in a garage or workshop. The actuator arrangement may include two hydraulic actuators (22a, 22b fig. 3) connected by an inter-post hydraulic line (28 fig. 3) extending through the cross-member 50, a minor part (28b fig 3) of which hydraulic line (28 fig. 3) may be replaceable to change the total length of the hydraulic line (28 fig. 3). The cross-member 50 may include two telescopic parts (70, 72 fig. 7a) adapted to be secured to one another at multiple different locations such as holes (74 fig. 7a) to adjust the length of the cross-member 50. The cross-member 50 may include an adjustable inner structural member (52 fig. 7a) and an adjustable outer cover member (54 fig. 6). A carriage coordination or equalising mechanism may include one or more ropes or cables (40a, 40b fig. 4) whose tether points (42a, 42b fig. 4) on the carriages 16a, 16b may be moved to suit the width of the lift 10.

Description

VEHICLE LIFT

The present invention relates to post-type motor vehicle lifts.

In servicing motor vehicles such as cars (automobiles) and vans (trucks), there is often a need to access the underside of the vehicle. Vehicle lifts for this purpose are widely known and used and take a variety of different forms. Post lifts use one or more upright posts which serve to movably mount one or more carriages for supporting the vehicle. One or more actuators, often of hydraulictype, are provided for raising and lowering the carriage(s). In use the vehicle is driven into position over the carriages which are then raised to lift the vehicle to a suitable height for the work in hand. A mechanical lock is typically provided to safely maintain the vehicle in position. When work is completed that lock is released and the car is lowered to the ground and driven away.

Post lifts are manufactured to certain largely standard widths and these have got larger over time, especially because modern cars are typically wider than their counterparts of a decade or two ago.

It is important to maximise usage of floor space in garages and workshops, and the large width of modern vehicle lifts can make this difficult. For example a service bay in a garage may prove marginally too small to fit the lift, or the number of bays that can be fitted into existing garage space may be unnecessarily limited. The solution of this problem is an object of the present invention.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is a vehicle lift comprising a first post which receives a first carriage, the first carriage being movable along the first post; a second post which receives a second carriage, the second carriage being movable along the second post; an actuator arrangement for moving the carriages along the posts to raise and lower a vehicle supported by the carriages; and a cross-member extending between the first and second posts, characterised in that the cross-member is adjustable in length, enabling the width of the vehicle lift to be adjusted.

The lift can thus be adjusted upon installation to a width closely tailored to the available space. This is highly desirable for the garage owner, making it possible e.g. to fit a lift into a space that might not accommodate a lift of standard width, or to fit multiple lifts precisely, side-by-side, into a larger garage, making full use of the floor space. It is also advantageous for the vendor of the lift, making it possible to stock a single type of lift of adjustable width in place of multiple lifts of different widths.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a view from one side of a two-post vehicle lift embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the vehicle lift depicted in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a simplified illustration of a hydraulic system of the lift depicted in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a simplified illustration of a carriage coordination mechanism of the lift depicted in Figure 1; Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are views of a carriage of the vehicle lift from a first side, a second side and from the end respectively; Figures 6a, 6b and 6c are side, end and plan views respectively of a cross member of the vehicle lift depicted in Figure 1; Figures 7a and 7b are plan and end views respectively of a channel-section member forming part of the cross member; and Figures 8a and 8b are plan and end views respectively of a cover member forming part of the cross member.

The vehicle lift 10 generally depicted in Figures 1 and 2 is a two-post hydraulic lift for cars (automobiles) and light vans (trucks). It is surface mounted and its installation does not require excavation of the workshop floor. First and second upright posts 12a, 12b are each provided at their lower ends with a respective mounting plate 14 which is to be secured to the floor, in this example by means of bolts (not shown). Posts 12a, 12b serve respectively to mount first and second carriages 16a, 16b in a manner that permits the carriages to move up and down the posts. First carriage 12a has in this example a pair of support arms 18 which are able to swing and to telescopically extend and retract to bring support pads 20 into position on the jacking points of a vehicle to be lifted. Second carriage 12b is similarly formed.

Movement of the carriages 16a, 16b is controlled by a hydraulic system depicted in Figure 3. The first and second posts 12a, 12b (omitted from Figure 3 for the sake of representational simplicity) respectively accommodate first and second hydraulic actuators 22a, 22b. A single hydraulic pump 24 mounted on post 12b supplies both actuators 22a, 22b via a main hydraulic line 26 leading from the pump 24 to the second actuator 22b and via an inter-post hydraulic line 28 leading from the second actuator 22b to the first actuator 22a.

The first actuator 22a is a hydraulic ram of well-known type, having a cylinder 30 within which is a piston (not seen in the drawing) acting upon a piston rod 32. In the illustrated embodiment the piston rod 32 carries a rotatable chain wheel 34 over which is passed a chain 36. Certain details are omitted from Figure 3 for the sake of simplicity, but the chain 36 is secured at one end to the post 12a and at its other end to the carriage 12a (see Figures 1 and 2), which is thus suspended by the chain. Moving the piston rod 32 upwards thus raises the carriage 12a.

The second actuator 22b is similarly formed.

The lift 10 further comprises a carriage coordination mechanism which ensures that the first and second carriages 16a, 16b are always at the same height. Referring now to Figure 4, this mechanism uses a pair of wire ropes 40a, 40b led around a system of pulleys to couple the two carriages together and coordinate their motion. Note that the term "rope" as used herein refers to any suitable elongate member and includes for example a chain.

The first rope 40a is coupled at a first tether point 42a to the first carriage 16a, from where it leads downwards through the first post 12a (which is omitted from Figure 4 for simplicity) to pass around a first lower pulley block 44a, and then horizontally across the space between the posts 12a, 12b to a second lower pulley block 44b, from which it leads upwards through the second post 12b to a second upper pulley 46b and finally downwards to a second mounting lug 48b on the second carriage 16b. From a study of the drawings it will be apparent that the first rope 40a prevents the first carriage 16a from moving upwards unless the second carriage 16b is also moved upwards.

The second rope 40b is coupled at a second tether point 42b to the second carriage 16b, from where it leads downwards through the second post 12b to pass around the second lower pulley block 44b, and then horizontally across the space between the posts 12a, 12b to the first lower pulley block 44a, from which it leads upwards through the first post 12a to a first upper pulley 46a and finally downwards to a first mounting lug 48a on the first carriage 16a. It will be apparent that the second rope 40b prevents the second carriage 16b from moving upwards unless the first carriage 16a is also moved upwards.

Together, therefore, the first and second ropes 40a, 40b prevent any motion of one carriage which is not accompanied by a corresponding motion of the other carriage.

Turning back to Figures 1 and 2, the first and second posts are seen to be coupled by a cross-member 50. In the illustrated embodiment this is not a structural component, in the sense that is does not contribute rigidity to the arrangement of the posts 12a, 12b. The function of the cross-member 50 is to accommodate and protect (a) the inter-post hydraulic line 28 and (b) the first and second ropes 40a, 40b where they pass from one post to the other. Without the cross-member 50, these parts would be vulnerable to damage by the wheels of the vehicle, which has to be driven into position between the two posts 12a, 12b, and would also pose a tripping hazard. The cross-member 50 is depicted in Figures 6 to 8 and comprises an inner channel-section member 52 and an outer cover member 54. The inner channel-section member is relatively robust, having upright side walls 56 (see Figure 7b), and is thus well adapted to support the weight of a vehicle as it is driven into position. The outer cover member 54 lies over the inner channel-section member and its side walls 58 are inclined (see Figure 8b in particular), to serve as ramps for the vehicle's wheels.

In accordance with the present invention, the lift 10 is adjustable in width. This is achieved by virtue of three adaptations to the lift: i. the cross-member 50 is adjustable in length; H. the first and second ropes 40a, 40b are adjustable to accommodate the variable width of the lift; and Hi. the length of the inter-post hydraulic line 28 is adjustable to accommodate the variable width of the lift.

Looking first of all at the length-adjustable cross member 50, Figure 6 shows the construction of its outer cover member 54 which is in three parts, comprising first and second sub-members 54a, 54b and a central bridge portion 54c. The lengths of the first and second sub-members are such that they do not span the whole space between the posts 12a, 12b. Instead there is normally a space between their ends, although this space is not seen in the drawings, being covered by the bridge portion 54c which lies across the space. Figure 6c shows holes 60 in the bridge portion 54c which align with holes 62 in the sub-members 54a, 54b and receive machine screws to join the bridge portion 54c to the sub-members 54a, 54b. It can be seen that second sub-member 54b has multiple sets of holes 62 enabling the bridge portion 54c to be joined to it at multiple positions along its length. In this way the length of the outer cover member is able to be adjusted. In the present embodiment the sets of holes 62 are placed at 10cm intervals, so the width of the lift 10 is adjustable in 10cm steps.

The inner channel-section member 52 is of telescopic construction as depicted in Figures 7a and 7b. It comprises a first telescopic member 70 which is slightly larger in depth and width than a second telescopic member 72, and receives an end portion thereof. Holes 74 receive machine screws to secure the first and second telescopic members together and there are multiple sets of these holes at intervals along the length of both these components to allow the length of the inner channel-section member to be step-wise adjusted, the length of these steps once more being 10cm in the present example.

To adjust the ropes of the carriage coordination mechanism according to the width of the lift 10, their tether points on the carriages 16a, 16b are movable. Figure 5 shows the construction of carriage 16a, 16b, which comprises an elongate box section carriage body 80 having a substantial mounting bracket 82 which carries the support arms 18 (which are not shown in Figure 5) and a set of lobes 84 which form an "H" section viewed end-on (Figure 5c) and engage with a keyway in the corresponding post 12a, 12b to slideably mount the carriage 16 thereupon.

It can be seen in Figure 5b that there are multiple first tether fittings 42a spaced along the length of the carriage 16. Likewise there are multiple second tether fittings 42b spaced along the carriage length. Hence the tether points of both ropes can be moved along the length of the carriage 16a, 16b to accommodate adjustment of the width of the lift 10.

Referring once more to Figure 3, it can be seen that the inter-post hydraulic line 28 is formed as a long part 28a joined to a shorter connecting part 28b through a sealed fitting 90. To enable adjustment of the line according to the width of the lift 10, multiple connecting parts 28b can be supplied (in length increments corresponding to the length of the step-wise adjustment of the lift's width, in the present example 10cm), and the appropriate part selected during installation of the lift.

The above described embodiment is presented by way of example and not limitation and numerous variations are possible within the scope of the invention according to the appended claims. For instance, some lifts use hydraulics in place of ropes to coordinate motion of the carriages and the present invention could be applied to lifts of that type. Some lifts (often referred to as "goalpost lifts" because their configuration is akin to that of a goalpost used in football) have a structural overhead beam which connects the posts and carries a hydraulic line and the ropes used to coordinate carriage motion. The present invention could be applied to lifts of that type, the overhead beam being for example of telescopic construction with bolt holes at intervals to enable its length to be adjusted and then fixed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle lift comprising a first post which receives a first carriage, the first carriage being movable along the first post; a second post which receives a second carriage, the second carriage being movable along the second post; an actuator arrangement for moving the carriages along the posts to raise and lower a vehicle supported by the carriages; and a cross-member extending between the first and second posts, characterised in that the cross-member is adjustable in length, enabling the width of the vehicle lift to be adjusted.
2. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 1 in which the actuator arrangement comprises a first hydraulic actuator coupled to the first carriage to move it along the first post and a second hydraulic actuator coupled to the second carriage to move it along the second post, the first and second hydraulic actuators being connected by an inter-post hydraulic line which extends through the cross-member.
3. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the inter-post hydraulic line comprises a major part and a minor part, the minor part being replaceable to enable the total length of the hydraulic line to be changed according to the width of the vehicle lift.
4. A vehicle lift as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a carriage coordination mechanism comprising at least one rope which extends through the cross-member, the rope being tethered to both the first carriage and the second carriage, in which the rope's tether point on the first carriage is movable to accommodate adjustment of the width of the vehicle lift.
5. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 4 in which the first carriage comprises multiple tether fittings spaced along its length, to enable the rope's tether point to be moved.
6. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the carriage coordination mechanism comprises two ropes, each of them tethered to the first carriage and the second carriage and each of them having a tether point which is movable to accommodate adjustment of the width of the vehicle lift.
7. A vehicle lift as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cross-member comprises at least two parts adapted to be secured to one another at multiple different locations to enable adjustment of the length of the cross-member.
8. A vehicle lift as claimed in claim 7 in which the two parts of the cross-member each have holes for receiving a fastener to secure one part to the other and at least one of the parts has multiple holes spaced along its length to enable the two parts to be secured to one another in multiple different positions.
9. A vehicle lift as claimed in any preceding claim in which the cross member comprises an inner structural member and an outer cover member, both of which are adjustable in length.
10. A vehicle lift substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.