US3848749A

US3848749A - Combination crane and jack unit

Info

Publication number: US3848749A
Application number: US00412588A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Anderson; M Sethney
Original assignee: Owatonna Tool Co
Current assignee: Owatonna Tool Co
Priority date: 1973-11-05
Filing date: 1973-11-05
Publication date: 1974-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-19
Also published as: CA1008813A

Abstract

A combination crane and jack unit having a parallelogram arm system movable to various positions in a vertical plane with means for suspending a load when operating as a crane and for supporting a load when operating as a jack, with hydraulically operated means for moving the parallelogram arms including a hand pump having a variety of positions to be adjacent an operator dependent upon the various uses of the unit and with shield means covering the parallelogram arm structure to prevent injury to an operator.

Description

[ Nov. 19, 1974 3,717,271 2/1973 Bargman........,............. 214/DIG. l0

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,411,254 4/1965 Netherlands................. 2l4/DIG. 10

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-R. B. Johnson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT A combination crane and jack unit having a parallelogram arm system movable to various positions in a vertical plane with means for suspending a load when operating as a crane and for supporting a load when operating as a jack, with hydraulically operated means for moving the parallelogram arms including a hand pump having a variety of positions to be adjacent an Unlted States Patent Anderson et al.

[54] COMBINATION CRANE AND JACK UNIT [75] Inventors: Richard T. Anderson; Michael J.

Sethney, both of Owatonna, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Owatonna Tool Company,

Owatonna, Minn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 412,588

[52] US. Cl. 212/8 R, 2l4/DIG. 10 [51] Int. B66c 23/00 [58] Field of Search................... 212/8 R, 8 A; 9/39; 240/63; 2l4/DIG. 10, 620, 140 R, 763, 769

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS t mm ua e m f f 0 m aw r s 830 e u r. s a m u U C .W C F nh o a m Vg .l em W O Luf a tey r m m n 5 C. um.l S ta m n n .I. eme h d V C mdw PM P 7 e dm e mm r t u aw r C Ma 03 mRXRm .8 8. GU WG l lI D222D M m M 2 2 m m u u rnnno mhn n aebu .mdmmm PDAAF 68 80 ll 33667 9999M HHHH/ 0 64532 COMBINATION CRANE AND JACK UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a combination crane and jack unit particularly usable in the automotive field as a jack to position an automotive part beneath a raised vehicle or a work stand and also usable as a crane to facilitate handling of parts from above the vehicle.

The assignee hereof has, for many years, marketed a floor crane, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,512. This floor crane does not have structure for operating as a jack.

A number of patents show lifting units with a parallelogram bar arrangement, such as Howell'U.S. Pat. No. 1,751,480, Schreck U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,797, and Furuno US. Pat. No. 3,543,956. These patents do not show a combination crane and jack unit having all of the features disclosed herein for providing utility of the unit as either a crane or jack, with the features enhancing safety and ease of use.

A major foreign auto company has been developing a combination crane and jack unit having a parallelogram arm structure and with a hydraulic operating sys tem including a hand pump. This unit does not have the enclosure of the parallelogram arm structure to increase the safety of use thereof, nor does it have the variable positioning of the hand pump to facilitate use of the unit.

SUMMARY A primary feature of the invention disclosed herein is to provide a combination crane and jack unit readily usable either as a crane or a jack and with a hydraulic operating system including a hand pump positionable at different locations for ideal positioning when the unit is used either as a crane or as a jack.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a combination crane and jack unit as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the unit has a substantial range of movement in a vertical plane whereby a load supported thereon may be positioned immediately above the floor for insertion into a work stand or, alternatively, raised to a relatively high level for positioning beneath a vehicle which is positioned above the floor on a lift and with provision for safety in use in said extreme positions.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a combination crane and jack unit as defined in the preceding paragraphs wherein the unit has a parallelogram arm structure for moving a load to a variety of positions in a vertical plane and wherein the parallelogram arm structure is shielded to prevent damage to the fingers of a user of the unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section, taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view with parts broken away of the support structure carried at the end of the parallelogram arm structure and shown at the left in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The combination crane and jack unit has a base, indicated generally at 10, with a pair of generally parallel extending

legs

11 and 12. A floor-engaging roller 14 is carried at the outer end of each of the legs and a swivel caster 15 is carried at the opposite ends of each of the legs whereby the unit may be moved about the floor.

The mast extends vertically upward from the base 10 and has a pair of vertically-spaced

pivot rods

21 and 22 extending transversely therethrough, with the rod 22 having sections extending outwardly beyond the mast to form a pair of handles for engagement by an operator in moving the unit on the floor. The pivot rods 21 and 22 pivotally mount a pair of arms of a parallelogram arm structure. These arms include a lower arm 25 of generally tubular form and an upper arm formed of a pair of

straps

26 and 27. The parallelogram system is completed by a tubular support 28 pivotally connected to the arms by a pivot pin 29 for the lower arm 25 and a pivot pin 30 for the upper

arm having straps

26 and 27. Thus as the arms are moved between a lower position,'shown in FIG. 3, and an upper position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support 28 is caused to move in a vertical plane and the support is maintained in horizontal position throughout the range of vertical movement. In this range of movement, the space between the lower arm 25 and the

upper arm straps

26 and 27 varies and means are provided to block the insertion of an operators' fingers between the parallelogram arms. This structure includes a shield with

downturned sides

36 and 37 which span the gap between the parallelogram arms. This shield is suitably secured to the

upper arm straps

26 and 27 for movement therewith and throughout the entire range of vertical movement of the para]- lelogram arms the depending

sides

36 and 37 of the shield always span the gap between the upper and lower arms.

The unit is controlled in its vertical position by a hydraulic system including a power cylinder 40 having its lower end pivotally connected at 41 to a frame 42 secured to the mast and having its piston rod 43 pivotally connected by a pivot pin 44 to a bracket 45 secured to the underside of the lower arm 25 of the parallelogram arm structure. The supply and release of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 40 is through a line connected to a hand pump unit, indicated generally at 51. This hand pump unit is a commercially available structure and may be of a type disclosed in an application of S. B. McClocklin, Ser. No. 294,818, filed Oct. 26, 1972, and owned by the assignee of this application. The hand pump 51 includes a cylinder 52 containing a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, with a reciprocable pumping plunger operable by a pivotally mounted handle 53 which directs hydraulic fluid from the reservoir through a fitting 54 to the line 50. The hand pump unit further incorporates a release valve which is manually operable to permit return flow to the reservoir in the hand pump which, in this instance, would permit lowering of the piston rod 43 as caused by the weight of the parallelogram arm structure.

The support 28 has a hollow interior with a plate 60 having one end positioned therein and extending outwardly therefrom. The plate 60 rotatably mounts a depending hook 61 for engaging a chin 62 or other elongate support which is used for suspending a load, such as the load 63 shown in FIG. 1, when the unit is to be used as a crane. The plate 60 also has a tubular member 65 secured thereto, as by welding, to receive a pin 66 of-a fixture 67 for engaging beneath a load, such as a vehicle transmission 68.

The plate 60 is mounted for adjustment and arcuate play relative to the support 28 by structure including a tube 70 secured to the underside of the plate 60 as shown in FIG. and rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 71 fixed to the side walls of the support 28. This permits rocking movement of the plate 60, as indicated by the double arrow 72 in FIG. 5. The position of the plate relative to the support 28 is determined by a pair of threaded adjusting

members

73 and 74 which are threadably engaged in a block 75 secured to the bottom wall of the support 28. As shown in FIG. 5, both of the threaded adjusting

members

73 and 74 abut against the underside of the plate 60 to hold the plate fixed relative to the support 28'. By advance of one threaded member and retraction of the other, the inclination of the plate 60 relative to the support 28 may be adjusted. If both of the threaded members are backed off, there will then be arcuate play of plate 60 relative to the support 28 which may be used in obtaining desired final alignment of a load, such as transmission 68, relative to attaching parts on the underside of a vehicle.

The use of the unit as a crane is shown particularly in FIG. 1, wherein the load 63 may be an engine which is carried at an elevated location for either insertion or after removal from a vehicle. In such use of the unit, the unit is manipulated to a position at the front of the vehicle or, in any event, adjacent the location of the engine in the vehicle. The hand pump unit 51 is positioned extending at right angles to the vertical plane of the parallelogram arm structure for maximum convenience of an operator in using the unit as a crane. This positioning is obtained by mounting the hand pump unit 51 on a bracket 80 which is pivotally mounted to the side of the mast 20 by a pivot pin 81 passing through a pair of cars 82 extending outwardly from the side of the mast.

When the unit is used as a jack, the unit will be moved to a position beneath a vehicle supported on a garage lift and to enable an operator to properly position the jack relative to the underside of the vehicle and provide for operation thereof, the hand pump unit 51 is positioned extending generally parallel to the vertical plane of movement of the parallelogram arms and as shown in FIG. 2. This enables an operator to observe the location of the fixture 67 carried on the support 28 while, at the same time, operating the hand lever 53 to raise the jack. More specifically, an operator can use one hand to guide and position the transmission 68 while the other hand of the operator can reach the pump handle 53.

We claim:

1. A combination crane and jack unit including a base having a plurality of floor-engaging wheels, a mast extending upwardly from said base, a parallelogram structure including a pair of parallel arms pivotally mounted at one of their ends and one above the other to the upper end of said mast, a generally horizontal support pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the arms, means for raising and lowering said arms to raise and lower said support, with said arms having a lower position extending at an angle of approximately 45 to the mast to place said support just above said base, a first means on said support for holding a supporting chain or the like for a depending article when the unit is to function as a crane, second means on said support for holding a fixture to engage under an article when the unit is to function as a jack, said parallel anns lying one above the other, and shield means depending from the upper one of said arms and overlapping the lower one of said arms to prevent positioning of an operators fingers between said arms.

2. A combinationcrane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means on said support includes a hook and said second means includes a plate holding a socket, and means for adjustably tipping said plate and for providing play thereof relative to the support whereby an article may be aligned while carried by the unit.

3. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for raising and lowering said arms includes a generally vertically extending rod and cylinder connected between the mast and one of said arms, a hand pump operatively connected to said cylinder and having a release valve associated therewith, and means pivotally mounting said hand pump at an end thereof to one side of the mast whereby the pump may extend outwardly generally parallel to the plane of the parallel arms when an operator is using the unit as a jack and extend normal to the plane of the parallel arms when the unit is used as a crane.

4. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot mounting for one of the parallel arms to the mast is defined by a rod fixed to the mast, and having exposed ends to serve as handles for guiding movement of the unit along the floor.

5. A combination crane and jack unit comprising a base with a plurality of floor-engaging wheels to render the unit portable, a vertical mast extending upwardly from one end of the base, a parallelogram structure including a pair of parallel arms each having an upper end pivotally connected one above the other to the upper end of the mast whereby said arms may move between a lowermost position at an acute angle to the mast and a raised position at an obtuse angle to the base, a generally horizontal support pivotally connected to the lower ends of said parallel arms and positionable immediately above saId base when said parallel arms are in their lowermost position, means on said support for holding a fixture to engage under an article when the unit is to function as a jack including a plate movably mounted on said support, means on said support for engaging a chain or the like when the unit is to function as a crane, a fluid piston and cylinder operatively connected to one of said arms for causing movement and positioning thereof, a hydraulic hand pump connected to said piston and cylinder, and means mounting said hand pump for movement to different positions whereby the hand pump may be positioned adjacent an operator in both crane and jack uses of the unit.

6. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said plate is pivotally mounted on said support, and a pair of adjustable bolts engageable with saId plate one at each side of the pivot and adjustable other, and shield means depending from the upper one of said arms and overlapping the lower one of said arms to prevent positioning of an operators fingers between said arms.

Claims

1. A combination crane and jack unit including a base having a plurality of floor-engaging wheels, a mast extending upwardly from said base, a parallelogram structure including a pair of parallel arms pivotally mounted at one of their ends and one above the other to the upper end of said mast, a generally horizontal support pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the arms, means for raising and lowering said arms to raise and lower said support, with said arms having a lower position extending at an angle of approximately 45* to the mast to place said support just above said base, a first means on said support for holding a supporting chain or the like for a depending article when the unit is to function as a crane, second means on said support for holding a fixture to engage under an article when the unit is to function as a jack, said parallel arms lying one above the other, and shield means depending from the upper one of said arms and overlapping the lower one of said arms to prevent positioning of an operator''s fingers between said arms.

2. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means on said support includes a hook and said second means includes a plate holding a socket, and means for adjustably tipping said plate and for providing play therEof relative to the support whereby an article may be aligned while carried by the unit.

4. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot mounting for one of the parallel arms to the mast is defined by a rod fixed to the mast and having exposed ends to serve as handles for guiding movement of the unit along the floor.

6. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said plate is pivotally mounted on said support, and a pair of adjustable bolts engageable with saId plate one at each side of the pivot and adjustable to either engage and hold the plate in a pivoted position or backed off a small amount to permit a slight pivotal play of said plate relative to said support.

7. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said parallel arms lying one above the other, and shield means depending from the upper one of said arms and overlapping the lower one of said arms to prevent positioning of an operator''s fingers between said arms.