US2098419A

US2098419A - Motor vehicle hoist

Info

Publication number: US2098419A
Application number: US86572A
Authority: US
Inventors: Handley Joseph Done
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-12-11
Filing date: 1936-06-22
Publication date: 1937-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1954-11-09

Description

Nov. 9, 1937. J. D. HANDLEY MOTOR VEHICLE HOIST Filed June 22, 1936 FIG- 2.

y his aff'nyey Patented Nov. 1937 ree STA Application June 22, 1936, Serial No. 86,572 In Great Britain December 11, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle hoists or lifts of the type employed in garages and. service stations for raising motor vehicles off the ground to facilitate their inspection, servicing and repair.

5 Such hoists or lifts usually comprise a structure embodying a pair of runway platforms on to which the vehicle to be raised is run; and the hoist is elevated as by power-driven screw mechanism, or more commonly by a central hydraulic l0 ram operated from an air-pressure plant.

According to the present invention there is incorporated with the vehicle hoist or lift a system of electric lighting serving to illuminate the vehicle on the hoist. The lighting fitments are attached to or built into the hoist, and constitute a permanent attachment or installation thereof.

The hoist lighting system is intended primarily for illuminating the underside of the vehicle on the hoist. For this purpose a series of electric lamps may be fitted to the usual runway platforms of the hydraulic or other type of hoist, the lamps being disposed along the insides of the platforms, so that the light therefrom is directed upwards on to the underside of the vehicle. Ad-

ditional lamps may also be fitted to the cross girder or other structure supporting the platforms. By thus employing a comparatively large number of lamps a strong and uniform lighting over the whole of the vehicle base area can be obtained.

In one embodiment of the invention the wiring for the lamps is housed in conduits run under the platforms and across the support girders; and it is led to a pair of plug-in sockets disposed at opposite ends of the hoist, by means of one or other of which the hoist lighting system may be connected to the ordinary mains supply through a cable to a wall plug or connector. The individual lamps are carried by swivelling brackets fixed to the underside of the platforms, the brackets enabling the lamps to be turned outwards from beneath the platforms into position for throwing a light upwards under the vehicle on the hoist.

The conduit and bracket fitments of the electrical system may be readily incorporated in an existing hoist.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a hydraulic type of motor vehicle hoist incorporating an electric lighting system;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of a swivelling lamp bracket. The hoist shown in the drawing is provided with the usual pair of side runway platforms I, on

Disposed under and near the insides of the platforms, and also on the support structure 3, is a series of swivelling lamp brackets 5, by means of which the lamps it may be swung out from a protected position under the platforms in order to throw a light upwards and so illuminate the? underside of the vehicle on the hoist. The brackets consist of a tubular elbow piece 6, at one end threaded and socketed on to the stem 1 of a T- shaped conduit connector, on which the bracket is adapted to swivel and to which it is frictionally gripped by a spring l 6; while at the other end of the elbow piece 6 is formed an annular cup 9, on which is fitted a holder for an electric lamp Ill. In order to protectthe lamp against breakage, and also against the deposit of oil, which would otherwise be liable to form a hard'oil-" baked film owing to the heat of the lamp bulb, the lamp is enclosed within a glass sleeve ll fitting at one end into the bracket cup 9 and closed at its outer end by a cup-shaped cap l2. The cup 9 and cap 12 are formed with lugs l3 receiving the ends of a pair of tie rods l t, the outer and projecting ends of which are threaded to receive retaining nuts 23. The ends of the glass sleeve ll are preferably butted against rubber or fibre ring washers l5 in the cups 9 and I2.

The wiring for the lamps, which are connected in parallel and may be of relatively low wattage, is enclosed in conduits l8 run along the underside of the platforms l close to the inside flanges 2, the T connectors 8 carrying the lamp brackets 5 being positioned on the hoist as indicated in Fig. 1, four on each platform and'two on opposite sides of the girder structure 3. Figs. 2 and 3, the brackets 5 are pivoted for movement about a vertical axis, so that they may be turned outwards clear of the platforms and thereby allow the light from the lamps ill to be thrown upwards under the vehicle.

One or more lamps may also if desired be fitted to fixed or hinged extension arms in order to direct light under the centre of the vehicle.

The wiring system H for the lamps in is run to a pair of plug-in sockets I9 fitted under the platforms at opposite ends of the hoist, by means of one or other of which the lighting system may As shown in be connected through a cable 20 to a wall switch or connector 2! in circuit with the ordinary mains supply, or with a low-voltage source. The provision of the two connectors 19 enables the mains supply being tapped from both ends of the hoist, which is of advantage when the hoist is rotated, in that only a short cable 20 is then necessary.

The arrangement just described is particularly suitable for fitment to an existing hoist.

The ordinary method of illuminating the underside of a motor vehicle on a garage hoist or lift is by means of a hand inspection lamp fitted to an extension cable connected to the mains supply. This has many disadvantages; the lamp gives only a localized light; the operator has to carry the lamp about with him, and hold or position it at the place where he is working; rough handling leads to frequent bulb breakages; and a long length of cable is necessary, which is liable to become entangled or broken, and which through being dragged over the ground becomes dirty and oil-soaked, impairing the insulation.

These disadvantages are obviated by incorporating an electric lighting system as a permanent installation of the hoist. A strong and uniform light is provided over a large area, and the operator has both hands free for working. Except for the short cable 20, which is held up well clear of the ground, there is. no loose wiring or cable, and consequently the movements of the operator or other persons are unrestricted. In addition, the conduit casing l8 completely protects the cables l1, and if the wiring should become broken or the insulation defective, the system will be earthed through the conduits and the hoist structure, so preventing the possibility of shocks.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a hydraulic type of hoist, it is not limited to this application, and may be incorporated in the several other types of hoists or lifts employed in garages and service stations for facilitating the inspection, servicing and repair of motor vehicles.

I claim:

1. A motor vehicle hoist of the type referred to, wheel platforms thereon on to which the vehicle to be raised is run, a series of electric lamps fitted to the platforms and serving to illuminate the underside of the vehicle on the hoist, said lamps being carried by brackets fixed on the underside of the platforms, the brackets being mounted for swivelling movement to enable their being turned from a protected position under the platforms into a position for illuminating the underside of the vehicle, a wiring system connecting said series of lamps to a connector element on the hoist, said wiring system being housed in conduits fixedly secured to the platforms, and a source of electric current supply tapped from the connector on the hoist, said series of lamps-and Wiring system comprising a permanent installation of the hoist.

2. A motor vehicle hoist of the type referred to, wheel platforms thereon on to which the vehicle to be raised is run, a series of electric lamps fitted to the platforms and serving to illuminate the vehicle on the hoist, said lamps being carried by brackets fixed on the underside of the platforms, the brackets being mounted for swivelling movement about a vertical axis to enable their being turned from a protected position under the platforms into a position for illuminating the underside of the vehicle, each such bracket comprising an elbow-piece at one end socketed for swivelling movement on a vertical spigot and at its other end provided with a lamp socket, a wiring system connecting said series of lamps to a connector on the hoist, said series of lamps and said wiring system comprising a permanent installation of the hoist, conduits fixedly secured.