US2655224A

US2655224A - Door control for the rear lifting mechanism of two post lifts

Info

Publication number: US2655224A
Application number: US150696A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ion V K Hott; Kenneth E Berk
Original assignee: Joyce Cridland Co
Current assignee: Joyce Cridland Co
Priority date: 1950-03-20
Filing date: 1950-03-20
Publication date: 1953-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 4l. v. K. HOTT ET AL DOOR CONTRO 2,655,224 L FOR THE REAR LIFTING MECHANISM 0F rrwo PosT LIFTS Filed March 2o, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet` l INN... NA

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l. V. K. HOTT ET AL DOOR CONTROL F' OR THE REAR LIFTING oct. 13, 1953y l MECHANISM OF'TWO POST LIF'TS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1950 l l .llln H IIAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIQIIIHHHIIIIIIIIIIIN' Inlll H .lllillllh lllll "Il "MMU INVENTORS /O/V M M H0 7'7 KENNETH .15'.V 5564./

Oct. 13, 1953 v. K. HOTT ET AL DooR CONTROL RoR THE REAR LIFTING MECHANISM OF TWO POST LIFTS 3 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Filed March 20, 1950 .m m m V05. N y? M M Patented Oct. 13, 1953 noon -corrraoLroR THE REAR LIFTING MECHANTSM oF 'rWo Pos'r LIF'rs Ion V. K. Hottand Kenneth E. Berk, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to The Joyce-Cridland Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 20,- 1950, Serial No. 150,696

y 7 claims. (ci. lsv-8.62)

This invention relates to an automobile lifting mechanism, and more particularly to the` lifting mechanisms of the type in which the superstructure is movable into and out of a pit below the level of a floor.

The invention is here shown as embodied in the rear lifting mechanism of a two post lift which is movable into and out of a pit and is of the general type shown in the Webster and Berlr application, Serial Number 739,132, led April 3, 1947, now Patent No. 2,588,597. Y

One object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of the doors ofthe p A specific object of the invention is to provide a door controlling mechanism in which the connection between an actuating device and -a door is yieldable to permit the movement of the actuating device with relation tothe door when eX- cessive resistance is offered tothe opening of the door.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a top plan view of va. pit enclosing the lifting mechanism, with the doors closed; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l, showing the pit housingpartly broken; Fig. 3 is a staggered transverse sectional view taken on theline 3- 3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken on the line lI--4V of Fig. 2.

In these drawings we have illustrated one embodiment of the invention and have shown the same as applied to a hydraulic lifting mechanism of a known type, but it is to be understood that the mechanism may take various forms and may be applied to lifting mechanisms of various kinds without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In that embodiment here illustr-ated the vlift is hydraulically operated and comprises a cylinder 5 mounted in the ground below the bottom of a pit 6 with its upper end extending into the pit. A piston 'I mounted in the cylinder has rigidly secured thereto a cross head 8 and parallel rails S are secured to the respective Vends of the cross head adapted to support the rear axle ofvan automobile on the lift. The pit may be of any suitable size and shape to receive the superstructure of the lift but preferably itis `of an H,- shape, having parallel side portions Ill'to receive the rails 9 and a transverse portion II to receive the cross head 8. The upper ends of these portions cf the pit constitute openings in a iioor I2 through which the cross head and rails may move into and out of the pit. The upper edgeofeach wall of the pit is protected by an angle bar`"I3, the upper ange of which is at floor 1evel`and which constitutes a door support. Y Each of the floor openings I0 and II is provided with a closure. Preferably each of the side, or parallel; openings IG is closed vby a single door hinged at its outeredge to the adjacent bar I3, as shown at I5. The transverse opening II is closed by a pair of doors I6 hinged at their outer edges to the bars I3 at the respective sides of the opening,` as shown at I'I. Y@

Means are provided for opening the several doors to permit thesuperstructure to movevinto and out of the pit and for closing all the doors while thesuperstructure is in the pit. In the present arrangement the transverse doors I6 are moved to their open positions by contact with the cross head :3 as the lift moves upwardly and are provided with parts I8 to engage and move over the respective edges of the cross head and to then eng-age the lifting element, or piston I. The axes about which the doors I6 move. are spaced one from the other a distance somewhat greater than the diameter of the lifting' element so that when in engagement with the lifting ele-` ment thesev doors are supported thereby'in inwardly inclined positions'and are moved `by .grav-f ity to their closed positions when the superstructure passes below door level. The doors i6 kare supported in their substantially horizontal closed positions byrstuds, or rods, I9 mounted on :and extending upwardly from the cylinder A5 and each adapted to engage the inner edges of both the doors. These doors, when in their open'posi-l tions, are so positioned with relation to the transverse opening as to prevent a person working under an automobile on the lift from stepping into the opening. Y

The opening and closing movements of the side doors I4 are also controlled by the movement of the lifting element and for this purpose there is mounted in the pit an actuating mech. anism, the operation of which is controlled by? the lifting element and which is so connectedi with the respective doors I4 that those doors; will be opened when the superstructure moves. toward the doors from either below or above. the.` same, and will be closed when the superstruc-A ture has moved through the floor openings. The: connection between the actuating mechanism and the doors includes av yieldable element of' sufficient strength to open the doors when theopening movement thereof is unresisted but. td

3 yield and permit the actuating mechanism to move with relation to the doors when the opening movement of the latter is strongly resisted. This actuating mechanism may take various forms. Preferably it comprises a rock shaft 20 extending transversely A,to the cylinder 5 below the lowermost positionfof the superstrutireiand rotatablynounted in bearingsZ'I. Mountedion the shaft adjacent each end thereof is a crank arm 22 the outer end of which is movably connected with the lower portion-'onarigidsmember, or rod, 23, which is pivotally 'connected fat 24 with the corresponding door I4. Theorank arm is connected with the rod-forfiiiovenient with relation thereto but is normallyheldagainst such movement by spring means. 4Preferably a bearing member 25 is pivotallyicnnectedlwith 4 roller and hold the crank arm 34 in the position to which it has been moved so as to prevent the doors from closing until the superstructure has passed through the openings in the floor, and the lower cam surface 32 will then engage the roller and permit the crank armll to move afclck'wise direction, therebyierxitting the doors to close. As best shown inig. 3`the doors -w-hen in fully open positions extend inwardly "at a slight angle to the vertical so that when theicral'ik-arm 53'! released by the cam the f'doors "willfr'nove to their closed positions by liigravity.. 'fthe fsuperstructure moves downiis the outer end of the crank arm 22 for movement about a horizontal axis and is provided 'with J'a vertical opening through'which the rod 23 ex- H tendsythe rod having'at 'its lower end a head, or nut,`2Ifto retain the bearing member thereon. Acmpression spring 42I is mounted about'the i'od between the bearing member A25 anda stop 'n-an intermediate portion of the rod. In the present instancethe rod 23 is formed in two parts `-which are adjustably connected one with the other by a turn'buckle`28 and this turnbuckle constitutes the stop'which engages one end of the-springl. Whent'h'ecrank ar-rn 22 is moved about itsa-Xis in a counterclockwisedirection, asishown-'in "ig.2, andthe opening movement of the door I4 connected therewith-is'unresisted, the'spring 21 will hold-the bearing member 25 against 'material movement ylengthwise of the ro'dandthe door will be opened. Should substantial resistance be oiered -to the opening movement of'the door, `as by an automobile so positioned above the uit that onewheei thereof overlaps Vthe-'dooig'the spring 2l will be compressedand-the crank arm will move Vvwith relation tothe rod, thus preventing injury-to the mechanism and affording suiiicient time for the operator-to note that the door -isnot opening andf'to'interupt the operation ofthe-*actuating mechanism. Y

'The"means forA actuating the Irock lshaft 20 may" 'be "of any` suitable character and --as here shown 'it comprises an'elongate cam 29 mounted nan elongate kvmember which is rigidly seuredto the cross head 8 and extends into-the grundbelow theA pit so that it moveswith `the liftingelement. The 'upper u'and-lowerportions f the cam' are'provided with relativelyflonginlinedoam surfaces,`f-3I 'and-`-32, connected-one with the other by avert-ical ledge portion 13a. Rigidlyi securedto-the rock shaft20 `is lasec'ond crank arm 34 or cam follower which extends inwardly to`a position to bey engaged bythe-cam 29, the crank arm having thereon-afrollerBS tot providey irllin'g "contact betweenthe* 'sameiand thecam. x*Tl-ie crankarm .Q4-is 'sofconne'ctd with 'theockirshaft that-when thati'shaft is in'its normaiiowereposiuontheerakearln wiulfextend Jat an exact predetermined fang-le to the uppercam 'surfaceS I ,'suchthat -u on tlieupwad movemthofthe uitingen-irren# nu camerino pper'camis'urfacewilliengage'fthe roller :35 and move the" crank`4 arm downwardlyaboutitsi aiis, thatis; a ount'eclockwise dettn-` asvwd in'FigfZ, thereby moving-the crank`iarm`22 also ina counterclockwise:direction to "openthedtiofs'- Upon theloonunued-movementof tho'iiftmg nog ment*a`fter*thefdoors *have been epenedfjtl'ie straight"surfacei33ofithe-"camwill engage-the -`ward1y1fromits Selevated position the lower inclined-"surfacesf of the cam will engage the -ro1ler Eiland move the crank arm 34 again in counterclockwise direction to open the doors I4 ald-wh'enfthe superstructure has passed into the pit the upper inclined surface 3l of the cam will engage the. roller and'permit the ldoors toiclose. Preferably a bracket '36 is mounted 1at onez-side ofthe crank arm and provided with-Jalstop, such asfa pin 31,to-.-positivelylimit thelupward movement of the crank arm.

Thus it willbe apparent that Aw-hen'the superstructure is within thepit'alllfourdoorswillifbe closed and will form asmooth and'lcontinuous portion of the floor surface. 'iWhen thelift-is in its elevated position the 'sidefdoorsIlfwill'be closed and the transverse *doors `I6 willbe in inclined positions and in -engagement -`with the lifting element, and when those' positions'-'-will prevent ethe foot of the-operatorffrom entering the opening II.

While we haveshownVv and described-oncombodiment of ourn invention, we i4wish it "to *be understood that 'werlo not desirelto be 'limited to the details `thereof yas 4various modifications may 'occur to a person/skilled in the art.

VHaving fully shown and described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentfis:

l. In an automobile lifting mechanism, averticallyf movable-lifting element, a superstructure mounted on -said lifting element A for movement therebyv through Aan f opening in a f iloor into and outof a pit below -thelevel of `said licor; movable closures forsaid opening, means for moving said c1osuresf-to-`openfpositions including-an actuating mechanism -below said opening `and A'controlled bysaid lifting element, andmeans for operatively connecting said-actuating V`Imechanism l-withlone of-said closures; said connecting means including afresilient Aelement offsulcentstrength to A open said closure Yunder normal operating vconditions andV adapted to 'yield' and .permit Vsaid actuating mechanismltomovewith relation to saidclosure when-excessive resistance is'oiferedto the openlng movement of said closure.

l 2. Inv an automobile. lifting mechanism, `a Ivertically lmovableliftingv element,fa superstructure mounted on said lifting velement for movement thereby lthrouf'gh-an openingin -a'floor into and out Yof a pit beloW'l-the level-of said floor, means for closing said openingincludingla hinged-door, door` operatingfmechanism below said opening controlled -by -s'aidY lifting mechanism and including acrank arm, an actuating' memberv connected with said door,-and means for operatively connecting l'said cranklarm with said actuating member,` said connecting means including ian element which is-yieldable under excessive resistance to the-opening movement of saiddoor.

an automobile liftingVv mechanism,4 Aa-vertically movable lifting element, a superstructure mounted on said lifting element for movement thereby through an opening ina floor into and out of a pit below the level of said floor, means for closing said opening including a hinged door, door operating mechanism below said opening including a crank arm, means including a rock shaft Xedly attached to said crank arm and a cam follower engaging a cam controlled by said lifting mechanism for actuating said crank arm, a door actuating member operatively connected with said door, and means for connecting said crank arm with said actuating member for movement with relation thereto, and spring means to normally prevent the movement of said crank arm with relation to said actuating member and to yield under excessive resistance to the movement of said door.

4. In an automobile lifting mechanism, a vertically movable lifting element, a superstructure mounted on said lifting element for movement thereby through an opening in a floor into and out of a pit below the level of said floor, means for closing said opening including a hinged door, door operating mechanism below said opening and including a rock shaft and a crank arm xedly mounted on the rock shaft having mounted thereon a cam follower, a cam controlled by said lifting mechanism and engaging said cam follower for actuating said crank arm, a rod pivotally connected with said door, a part connected with said crank arm and slidably mounted on said rod, a stop on said rod between said crank arm and said door, and a compression spring confined between said stop and said part on said crank arm.

5. In an automobile lifting mechanism, a vertically movable lifting element, a superstructure mounted on said lifting element for movement thereby through an opening in a floor into and out of a pit below the level of said floor, means for closing said opening including hinged doors, a door operating mechanism below said opening including a rock shaft having a plurality of crank arms mounted thereon, means controlled by said lifting mechanism for engaging one of said crank arms to rock the other crank arms, rods pivotally connected respectively with a plurality of said doors and to said other crank arms, parts connected with said other crank arms and slidably mounted on the corresponding rods, a stop on each of said rods between its crank arm and its door, and a compression spring confined between the stop on each rod and the part on the corresponding crank arm.

Y 6. In an automobile lifting mechanism, a lifting element, a superstructure comprising a cross member secured to said lifting element and parallel rails secured to the respective ends of said cross member, said superstructure being movable by said lifting element through an openingv in a floor including parallel passages for said rails and a transverse passage for said cross member, a pair of hinged doors for closing said transverse passage, said doors being arranged to be engaged and opened by said cross member as the latter moves upwardly, a single hinged door for each of said parallel passages, actuating members connected with the doors for the respective parallel passages, operating mechanism mounted below said opening and controlled by said lifting mechanism, means for connecting said operating mechanism with said actuating members and including resilient elements adapted to yield under excessive resistance to the opening movements of the respective doors.

7. In an automobile lifting mechanism, a lifting element, a superstructure comprising a cross member secured to said lifting element and parallel rails secured to the respective ends of said cross member, said superstructure being movable by said lifting element through an opening in a floor including parallel passages for said rails and a transverse passage for said cross member, a pair of hinged doors for closing said transverse passage and arranged to be engaged and opened by said cross member as the latter moves upwardly, a single hinged door for each of said parallel passages, a rock shaft mounted below said opening, means controlled by said lifting element for rocking said shaft, actuating rods connected with the doors for the respective parallel passages, crank arms secured to said shaft and connected with the respective rods for movement with relation thereto, and springs interposed between the respective crank arms and the corresponding rods to yieldably resist the movements of lsaid crank arms with relation to said rods.

ION V. K. HOTT. KENNETH E. BERK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,487,832 Barney Mar. 25, 1924 2,383,136 Laurain Aug. 21, 1945 2,524,237 Smith Oct. 3, 1950 2,577,377 Snider Dec. 4. 1951-