WO1999002444A1

WO1999002444A1 - Vehicle tilting carriage

Info

Publication number: WO1999002444A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/014328
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joel J. Johnson
Original assignee: Johnson Joel J
Priority date: 1997-07-11
Filing date: 1998-07-10
Publication date: 1999-01-21
Also published as: AU8392498A

Abstract

A tilting carriage device (20) for tilting a heavy, bulky item such as an automotive vehicle (22) to a desired angle, wherein the device has a base structure (24) having a longitudinal dimension lying in a base plane and providing a connector structure (56) having an attachment center (39), the connector structure being adapted for affixing the device at the attachment center to one side (29) of an item and movably supporting the one side above a floor structure, the base structure having first (34) and second (36) end portions, first (48) and second (49) roller structures mounted on at least the first and second end portions respectively of the base structure on first (50) and second (53) substantially parallel roller axes respectively, and wherein the roller axes and the connector attachment center outline a generally right triangle and wherein the connector structure is positioned substantially within an apex section of the triangle.

Description

VEHICLE TILTING CARRIAGE

Background OfThe Invention

Field: This invention concerns a carriage means or device for supporting an item such as a heavy vehicle, trailer, machine, industrial processing equipment or the like above the ground or a floor such as the concrete floor of a mechanical repair or body shop, whereby the item, when connected firmly to the device, can be tilted or rotated up to 180° or beyond, within the lateral space originally occupied by the item, whereby sections or parts of the item to be repaired, replaced, inspected, or the like are rendered more accessible.

Prior Art; Heretofore, many devices have been proposed for tilting vehicles for such purposes, such devices being exemplified by U.S. patents; 2,583,714; 3,982.636; 5,238,361; 5,174,71 1; 4,579,505; 4,594,048; 3,674,252; 3,923,296; 1,478,256; 4,599,034; 4,813,843; 1,288,138; 1,334,336; 1,399,641 ; 1,615,860; 1,692,715; 1,893,822; 2,424,196; and 4,744,717

These prior devices may be useful, to a degree, for the purpose of tilting or rotating a heavy item, however, they are typically large, complex, costly in parts and manufacture, difficult to operate, often dangerous, invariably require the use of more space than is available in the relatively

I limited work areas or bays of typical repair shops, and typically interfere witheasy access to the underside portions of the vehicle to be worked on.

Objects Of The Invention Objects therefore, of the present invention are; to provide a uniquely simplified device for supporting and rotating a heavy item in a confined space; to provide a means which is capable of supporting an automobile or the like in a 90° or more rotated position from the horizontal by way of a structure which weighs only a tew pounds and is easily lifted by one hand of a mechanic; to provide such device which occupies substantially only a very small space underneath the front and rear of one side of a vehicle which is supported by the device at substantially 90° to the horizontal thus allowing easy access to all underneath parts of the vehicle without interference from the device itself; and to provide such device which has a rrjinimum of moving parts and which occupies substantially a volume of space of no more than a few square inches in cross-section and a length of no more than about the height of an automobile.

Summary Of The invention These and further objects hereinafter becoming apparent have been attained in accordance with the present invention through the discovery of structure for a tilting carriage device for heavy items, which device is defined in one of its broad embodiments in combination with an automotive vehicle as viewed in its generally horizontal posture on a floor means, wherein one said device is mounted on the rear wheel hub and another said device is mounted on the front wheel hub on the same one side of the vehicle, each said device comprising a base means having (1) a roller support section having a relatively short longitudinal dimension of, e.g., from about 1.5 to about 3 feet and lymg in a base plane, (2) a wheel hub adapter means having a contact surface contacting the lug face of the vehicle wheel hub and being secured thereto by the lug nuts of said hub, said contact surface and hub or lug face lying in a contact plane, wherein said contact surface has a contact axis which is substantially perpendicular to said plane of said contact surface, (3) first and second end portions on said roller support section provided with first and second roller means having first and second roller axes respectively, said roller means allowing said device to roll along said floor laterally of the vehicle, first on said first roller means and then on said second roller means to cany the vehicle with it as the other side of the vehicle is progressively lifted above the floor by lifting means whereby the vehicle is thus tilted to a desired angle, wherein (4) the vehicle has a center of gravity plane which intersects each said contact axis at said contact plane when the vehicle has been tilted approximately 90° from its horizontal position, and wherein (5) one or more stabilizer means is provided on said device for contacting said floor and maintaining the vehicle in a desired tilted position without the need for any lifting mechanism.

In certain preferred embodiments:

(a) said first roller means being positioned substantially in or adjacent said contact plane, and said second roller means being positioned substantially on or adjacent said contact axis, and wherein each said roller means is positioned at least about one foot from said hub; (b) said base means has a longitudinal base axis which intersects first and second roller axes and is provided with first stabilizer bar means which extends outwardly from said second end portion and is angled upwardly from said base axis whereby when said v hicle has been tilted to a position substantially 90° from the horizontal and wherein, if said center of gravity plane becomes overcentered with respect to the vertical, said first stabilizer bar means will contact said floor means and substantially maintain said vehicle in said overcentered position on said floors means;

(c) said base means is provided with removable second stabilizer bar means intermediate said first and second roller means which is adapted to contact said floor means when said vehicle is tilted at a desired acute angle to the horizontal within a first 90° quadrant, whereby said acute angle can be safely maintained without the need for extraneous lifting means;

(d) said first stabilizer bar means is substantially straight and has a longitudinal bar axis and is provided with a distal end section having a handle means positioned above said bar axis for easy gripping, whereby when said vehicle is tilted to an angle whereby its weight plane is oriented to an overcentered posture with respect to the vertical, a manual uplifting of said handle means and said first stabilizer bar means will apply a counterrotative force to said device tending to tilt said device and item back to their non-overcentered posture; and

(e) the roller support section of said base means as viewed from its sides is substantially triangular in shape and has a bottom edge portion on which said roller means are mounted, and has an apex portion to which said adapter means is affixed. Brief Description Of The Drawings

The invention will be further understood from the drawings herein of certain preferred embodiments and the following description thereof wherein the drawings are not to scale and the thicknesses and other dimensions of certain structural members are shown as varying from figure to figure for reasons of clarity, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an automotive vehicle in it normal horizontal posture shown in dotted outline and with its main frame members shown in cross-section, and with one embodiment of a tilting bar means attached to the frame members and with the present carriage means affixed to a front wheel hub by means of one embodiment of the present adapter means;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the vehicle showing the approximate, most desired placement along the vehicle for the tilting bar means of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a wheel hub with a variation of the tilting bar means bolted directly onto the wheel hub;

Fig. 7 is a view as in Fig. 1 with the vehicle tilted approximately 90° to the horizontal but with its center of gravity plane overcentered a few degrees; Fig. 8 is a side view of a variation in structure of the present carriage device and including a detachable first stabilizer bar means;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an isometric bottom view of the adapter means per se of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1 1 is a top view of a portion of the carriage means of Fig. 8 with portions of the structure broken away for clarity and showing preferred roller structure;

Fig. 12 is a side view as in Fig. 1 of a variation of the carriage device employing a steel plate base and provided with a plurality of arcuately mounted rollers and particularly useful for tilting especially heavy vehicles;

Fig. 13 is a view of the device of Fig. 12 taken in the general direction of line 13;

Fig. 14 is a side view with portions broken away for clarity, of an angularly adjustable first stabilizer bar structure;

Fig. 15 is a top view of Fig. 14 with portions broken away for clarity;

Fig. 16 is a side view of the device supporting a vehicle in a near vertical posture and showing a variation of an adjustable second stabilizer bar means;

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 in Fig. 16 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 is a top view of a vehicle as in Fig. 3 showing the use of a lifting bar means 1 14 connecting the distal handles 1 12 of front and rear wheel mounted carriage devices on one side of the vehicle; Fig. 19 is a schematic view of the carriage device in combination with a preferred lifting means;

Fig. 20 is a view as in Fig. 19 with the vehicle tilted close to vertical;

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the jack of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along lme 22-22 of Fig. 21 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 23 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23 of Fig. 19 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 24 is a top down view, with portions broken away for clarity, of arm 156 provided in two sections which are longitudinally adjustable;

Fig. 25 is a view as in Fig. 19 showing a single axle roller means; and

Fig. 26 is a view as in Fig. 25 with the vehicle tilted close to vertical.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to the claims hereof, the present carriage device generally designated 20 is shown in combination with an automotive vehicle 22 shown in phantom line and as viewed from its front in its generally horizontal posture on a floor or similar support surface 23. The present device comprises a base means generally designated 24 having a roller support section 25 and an adapter means 56, and having a longitudinal dimension 26 lying in a base plane 28. The adapter means 56 affixes the device to a wheel hub 54 on a side 29 of the vehicle whereby side 29 is supported above the floor. The device and the vehicle are free to move in the general direction of arrow 31 after the opposite side 32 of the vehicle is lifted up off the floor by winch cable 33 or other lifting or hoisting mechanism. The base means has first 34 and second 36 end portions and a lateral axis 46 of rotation. First 48 and second 49 roller means are mounted on at least said first and second end portions respectively of said support section 25, the axis 50 of said first roller means lying substantially in and parallel to the contact plane 40, or fairly close thereto. The axis 53 of said second roller means lies perpendicular to and intersects or comes fairly close to intersecting the wheel hub attachment axis 3 .

In the usual arrangement wherein the adapter means 56 affixes the carriage means to the wheel hub, a pair of carriage mears are employed at the front and rear of one side of the vehicle and the adap:er means is plate shaped and is apertured as at 58 to receive the lugs 60 o.. the front 62 and rear 64 wheel hubs . Apertures 58 are preferably elongated and may be oversized to more easily accommodate different, sizes arid patterns of lugs.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 7, the roller axes 50, 53 and the point 39 which is a center of the adapter plate, the triangle apex c r the connector means axis, outline, as shown by dotted lines, a generally right triangle comprising legs 101 and 102 and the hypotenuse 103. Such a right or near right triangular configuration, is preferred but is certainly not critical to the invention, since the most stable support for the vehicle in its horizontal posture would be for roller 48 to reside directly vertically under apex 39, and when in its 90° tilted posture for roller 49 to reside directly vertically under apex 39. In this regard the angle "Δ" can range, e.g., from 70° to 110° or even smaller or wider should some specific application of the present device be required. The individual lengths of the legs 101 anc 102, i.e., the diameter between each roller axis and apex 39 also may be varied within wide limits, however, substantially similar lengths arc quite functional. It is noted that the terms "generally right triangle" as used herein includes the full range of the angles designated as "Δ^w.

It is preferable to provide the base means with a first stabilizer bar means or structure 66 which extends outwardly from said second end portion 36 and is angled upwardly at an obtuse angle ^iςα" from ε. longitudinal axis 68 of said roller support section 25 of the base means whereby, when the vehicle has been tilted to a position as shown in Fig. 7 "wherein the center of gravity plane 27 is beyond the vertical, the stabilizer bar 66 will contact the floor and substantially maintain the vehicle in the tilted jxjsitioπ on the floor without the need for any other lifting means or stabilizing means. Angle "α"' can, of course, be selected to stop rotation of the vehicle at any position of tilt, but typically ^{:c i;} is between about 120° and 140°.

In this regard, the base means is preferably provided with a removable second stabilizer bar means or structure 70 positioned between said first and second roller means and which is adapted to contact the floor means when the vehicle is tilted at a desired acute angle ^c<β" to the h rizontal whereby said acute angle can be safely maintained without the need for extraneous lifting means.

It is noted that the plane 27 of various vehicles as viewed with the vehicle in its generally vertical posture as in Fig. 7 will be at different lateral positions across the side of the vehicle with respect to the wheel hub axis 39, such that as the vehicle is tilted toward the vertical, the overcentering of the plane 27 will occur at slightly different angles of tilt. Therefore, the upward angle "α" of the first stabilizer bar structure 66 is preferably made adjustable such that "α" may be set for a particular vehicle to avoid severe overcentering, e.g., beyond about 10° to 15° or so of the vertical which otherwise could present a dangerous overcentered condition. It is noted, with reference to Fig. 8, that the actual center of gravity plane of an automotive vehicle could well be along axis 39 as shown, i.e., a few degrees before vertical.

A preferred structure for adjusting "'α^1"' is shown in Figs. 14 and 15, wherein the bar 66, as rotated 180° in the plane of the drawing from as shown in Fig. 8, comprises the lift handle section 45 having a distal handle 112 and a connector section 47 which is pinned as at 51 to a portion of the roller support section 25. Sections 45 and 47 are pivotally connected by pin 57 and section 45 is provided with a series of bolt holes 59 on a radius from pin 57. The angle "α" is approximated by selecting one of the holes 59 and inserting bolt 61 therethrough and thru the aligned locking hole 63 thru the head of connector section 47.

Referring to Fig. 8, the second stabilizer bar means 70 is pivotally mounted on pin 72 which may be welded to the base means structure and which may be threaded at its outer end to receive a nut, not shown, for pivotally, removably retaining the bar thereon. The positioning bolts 74 and 76 are threaded thru nuts 78 and 80 respectively welded to the base means and are employed to precisely adjust the angle "γ" of the bar to obtain maximum strength of support and stabilization from bar 66 and bar 70 after the device has been rotated to its position as shown in Fig. 8, or to a leaser tilt angle where the hoist mechanism may still be applying some lift forces to the vehicle side. Referring to Figs. 1 and 17, the second stabilizer bar 70 is mounted on the base means in the same manner as in Fig. 8, but is angularly adjustable by means of a series of bolt holes 82 provided in the bar on a radius from pin 72, which holes fit over a pin 84 also fixed to the base means. Either or both of pins 72 or 84 may be provided with nuts to more securely retain the bar 70 thereon.

Referring to Figs. 8-10, the adaptor means or plate 56 in a preferred embodiment, is provided with a pair of tabs 86, 88 substantially oppositely positioned across the plate diameter. These tabs are inserted in slot means 90, 92 respectively provided in the ends of uprights 94, 96 of the base means. Pins 98, 100 retain the adapter plate on the base means. In Fig. 8 the end 104 of bar 66 slides into a tubular end 106 of the roller support section 25 and is removably locked therein by a removable bolt means such as 108. This junction allows bar 66 to be removed or replaced as desired. It is noted that by employing such structure and with bar 66 removed, further counterclockwise rotation of the device will engage the end surface 110 with the floor and thus help to stabilize the vehicle at a desired acute angle.

Referring to Fig. 11, the roller means 48, 49 preferably comprises roller pairs rotatably supported on bolt shafts 71 , 73 respectively. Outboard suppiort bracket pairs 75, 77 welded to the support section 25 provide further support to the rollers. The rollers may be of steel, brass, structural plastic, or other industrial roller material.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the roller support section 25 is shown as comprising a metal plate section 83 having a roller support edge 79 formed substantially on a radius line 81 from the adapter plate center 39. This arcuate arrangement of multiple roller means, e.g., 48, 49, 85, 87, maintains the generally triangular relationship between the first and second roller means 48 and 49 but provides for a smoother transition for the vehicle from the horizontal to the substantially vertical position, and also reduces the physical stresses on the device.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, opposite side 32 of the vehicle can be lifted by any means such as a cable or chain or the like 33 powered by an overhead mounted or floor mounted winch, chain fall or the like, or even by manual lifting of small vehicles... For certain vehicles, which have frame members such as 35 and 37, a tilting bar means such as generally designated 41 may be employed and positioned at the approximate lateral axis 46 of the vehicle. At this position, only one such bar is needed as the weight of the vehicle is balanced.

Bar 41 may comprise a first member 89 formed to slide onto frame member 35 and be clamped thereto by bolt 91 threaded thru a bottom section of 89. A second member 93 is provided with a bore 95 thru which member 89 can slide. A bolt 97 threadedly mounted thru member 93 clamps members 89 and 93 to frame member 37. It is noted that with such tilting means it is not necessary to remove the wheels on side 32 of the vehicle.

Referring to Fig. 6, the tilting bar means 43 comprises a simple bar 99 welded to an adapter plate such as 56 and is affixed to each of the front and rear wheel hubs.

Referring to Figs. 1 thru 24 wherein, equivalent structure previously described are numbered the same, a jack means generally designated 116 is shown, preferably a screw jack having a stanchion means 117, power head 1 18 such as an electrical motor or cable crank, a screw spindle or winch cable 120, a stanchion housing 122, a foot member 124 which may be fixed to floor 23 by bolts 126 or the like, wherein the foot member is pivotally mounted on the lower end 128 of housing 1.22 by pin 123, and wherein a lifting head means 1 0 is provided and comprises a nut body 132 thru which the spindle 120 is threadedly rotatably mounted, and a connector or adapter plate means 134 equivalent to adapter means 56 and which is pivotally mounted by pin 136 onto nut body 132. Body 132 is formed with a projection 138 which slides in a slot 140 in housing 122, which slot extends substantially the full length of the housing, e.g., from the lower end 128 to the upper end 142. The bottom end 144 of the screw 120 is rotatably mounted in bearing bore 146 of bearing member 148 welded or the like in the lower end of housing 1 2. A thrust bearing such as 150 or the equivalent is preferably employed to bear the weight carried by plate or adapter means 1.34.

The carriage means 20 is provided with a first arm means 152 rigidly fixed to the base means or structure 24 of the carriage means at one end and pivotally connected by pivot joint 154 at its other end to one end of second arm means 156 which is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of jack means 116 such as on pin 123 as shown in Fig. 23. Second arm means 156 is preferably channel shaped such as to fit over jack housing 122 when the vehicle is tilted as 'shown in Fig. 20 and thereby prevent interference between 156 and 122. In this regard, offset 158 on the end of arm 152 may be provided to allow the carriage base and roller to move closer to the jack and thus bring the tilt angle or posture further toward vertical as shown in ig. 20, without interference between the arms themselves and/or the roller means 48.

As shown in Figs. 25 and 26 a single axle roller means 127 may be employed wherein the carriage base is a simple bar 129 with a single axle on one end and one or more rollers mounted thereon, e.g., as shown by a roller pair of Fig. 11, and with adapter plate means 56 on its other end. In such a carriage structure, the peripheral portions of the roller or rollers such as 160 lie beneath the plane 165 of bottom 166 of the vehicle, and peripheral portions 164 lie laterally to the plane 163 of side 1 2 of the vehicle such that neither the bottom 166 or side 162 of the vehicle will contact the floor at any tilt angle.

It is preferred that arms 152 and 156 make a small upward angle to the horizontal as shown in Fig. 1 such that as the jack begins to lift one side of the vehicle, the arms will scissor together toward each other as shown in Fig. 20. Such a starting angle can easily be achieved thru the length adjustment feature of either or both of the arms as shown in Fig. 24 wherein with reference to arm 156. channel section 151 slidably nests in channel section 153 and both sections are provided with lateral pin holes 155 which become aligned as the sections are position adjusted, and thru which pins 157 are then inserted to fix the aj sted length of the arm. It is preferred that such adjustment be dimensioned to accommodate vehicles which may vary considerably in width, such as for example, a foot or more.

In regard to the various jacks which may be employed, where it is desired to employ a cable winch as the power head, the cable will take the place of the screw spindle. However, it should be" noted that a very significant advantage exists for using the screw spindle, in that as soon as the spindle rotation is stopped to give any desired angle of tilt, the distance between the jack foot and the lifting head becomes fixed without the need for clamps, bolts or the like to hold the lifting head in position. This, in concert with the fixed distance between the carriage roller means on the floor and the lifting head means, and also in concert with the connection between arms 152 and 156 imparts a great degree of stability to the apparatus which is substantially in the configuration of an A frame.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications will be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. The combination of a heavy, bulky item resting normally horizontally on a floor means and having opposite sides, and a tilting carriage device for said item, said carriage device comprising base structure having a longitudinal dimension lying in a base plane and having a connector structure having an attachment axis affixing said device to a load bearing member on one side of said item whereby said one side is supported above said floor means and is free to move with said device in a lateral direction on said floor means when the opposite side of said item is lifted from said floor means, said base structure having first and second end portions lying within said dimension, roller structures mounted on at least said first and second end portions respectively of said base structure on first and second substantially parallel roller axes respectively to provide first and second roller structures, said first and second roller axes and said attachment axis lying in a generally triangular configuration with said attachment axis being at an apex thereof and oriented generally laterally to said item and substantially intersecting or lying close to said second roller axis, said first roller axis being positioned generally vertically below said one side of said item when said item is in its normally horizontal posture on said floor means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said item is an automotive vehicle and a pair of said devices are employed at the front and rear of one side of the vehicle, and wherein said connector structure comprises an adapter plate having a face plane perpendicular to an attachment axis and which is apertured to receive the lugs of the front and rear wheel hubs of said vehicle.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said base structure has a longitudinal first axis passing substantially thru said first and second roller axes and is provided with first stabilizer bar structure which extends longitudinally outwardly from said second end portion and is angled upwardly from said longitudinal first axis whereby when said vehicle has been tilted to a position near vertical, or wherein said center of gravity plane becomes overcentered with respect to the vertical, said first stabilizer bar structure will contact said floor means and stabilize said vehicle on said floor means.

4. The combination of clajm 3 wherein said base structure is provided with a removable second stabilizer structure intermediate said first and second roller structures, which second stabilizer structure is adapted to contact said floor means when said vehicle is tilted at a desired acute angle to the horizontal, whereby said acute angle can be safely maiutanied without the need for extraneous lifting or other support means.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said base structure comprises a steel plate having a substantially planar structure, wherein said first and second roller axes and the attachment axis of said adapter plate outline a generally right triangle, wherein said base plane is substantially perpendicular to said face plane of said adapter plate, and wherein the plane of said adapter plate lies substantially parallel to a lug face of said wheel hub.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said second stabilizer structure is provided with adjustment structure for varying the acute angle at which said vehicle can be stabilized.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first stabilizer bar structure has a longitudinal second axis which makes an upwardly opening obtuse angle "╬▒" of from about 140┬░ to about 120┬░ with said longitudinal first axis of said base means, whereby a substantial overcentering of said center of gravity plane of said vehicle with respect to the vertical can be maintained without experiencing significant instability.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base means has a bottom edge portion which is arcuate in shape and on which said first and second roller structures are mounted, and wherein one or more additional roller structures are mounted on said edge portion at locations therealong and intermediate said first and second roller structures, whereby leverage forces on said device are reduced during tilting of said item.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said first stabilizer bar structure has a substantially straight portion having said longitudinal second axis and is provided at a distal end portion with a handle means positioned offset relative to said longitudinal second axis for easy gripping, whereby when said vehicle is tilted to an angle whereby its center of gravity plane is oriented to an overcentered posture with respect to the vertical, an uplifting of said handle means will apply a rotative force to said device tending to tilt the vehicle back to its non-overcentered posture.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein lifting bar means is provided and connected to both of the first stabilizer bar structures of said front and rear devices whereby both said stabilizer bar structures can be lifted readily in tandem to coordinate the counterrotation of said vehicle to reposition the same horizontally on the floor means.

1 1. The combination of claim 10 wherein a tilting means is provided overhead on the other side of said vehicle to lift said other side and cause said device to roll on said floor means to thereby transport said one side of said vehicle generally laterally toward said tilting means, whereby the lateral space occupied by said vehicle in its tilted posture is reduced to a minimum.

12. A tilting carriage device for tilting a heavy, bulky item to a desired angle, said device comprising a base structure having a longitudinal dimension lying in a base plane and providing a connector structure having an attachment center, said connector structure being adapted for affixing said device at said attachment center to one side of an item and movably supporting said one side above a floor structure, said base structure having first and second end portions, first and second roller structures mounted on said first and second end portions respectively of said base structure on first and second substantially parallel roller axes respectively, and wherein said roller axes and said attachment center outline approximately a right triangle.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said connector structure comprises a plate shaped member which is apertured to receive the wheel lugs of an automotive vehicle.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said base structure has a longitudinal first axis passing thru said first and second roller axes and is provided with first stabilizer bar structure which extends longitudinally outwardly from said second end portion and is angled upwardly from said longitudinal first axis whereby when said vehicle has been tilted to a position wherein said center of gravity plane becomes overcentered with respect to the vertical, said first stabilizer bar structure will contact said floor structure and stabilize said vehicle in said overcentered position on said floor structure.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said base structure is provided with a removable second stabilizer bar structure intermediate said first and second roller structures, which second stabilizer bar structure is adapted to contact said floor structure when said vehicle is tilted at a desired acute angle to the horizontal, whereby said acute angle can be safely maintained without the need for extraneous lifting or other support structure.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein said base structure has the general outline of right triangle having an apex portion, wherein said connector structure comprises a member of plate steel having a wheel hub contact plane and which is apertured thru said plane to receive the lugs of a vehicle wheel hub, wherein said base structure is comprised of tubular steel members and has tandem rollers mounted on each end portion thereof, and wherein said connector structure is affixed to said base structure substantially at said apex portion and wherein said first roller axis lies substantially parallel to said contact plane of said wheel hub.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein said base structure and connector structure are each comprised of substantially planar plate steel members, the planes of which members are oriented substantially normal to each other, and wherein the base structure as viewed from its side is substantially generally right triangular in shape and has a base edge portion on which said roller structures are mounted.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein said base structure is provided with a first stabilizer bar member for extending beyond said second end portion of said base structure and wherein structural cooperating junction elements are provided on said second end portion and on a proximal end of said bar member for removably attaching said bar member to said second end portion of said base structure.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein said junction elements provide extensibility to said first stabilizer bar member by way of being able to replace one bar member with a longer bar member.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein said connector structure is removably mounted on an apex section of said base structure whereby a differently configured connector structure may be substituted therefor for fitting to a differently configured item.

21. The combination of a heavy, bulky item adapted to rest normally horizontally on a floor means, and a tilting carriage device for said item, said item having an overall generally rectangular cross-sectional outline configuration providing bottom, opposing side and top portions each of which lies generally in its own plane, said carriage device comprising base structure having connector means for affixing said device to a load bearing member of said item on one side portion thereof along an attachment axis whereby said one side portion is supported above said floor means and is free to move with said device in a lateral direction on said floor means when the opposite side portion of said item is lifted from said floor means, roller means mounted on said base structure on a roller axis which is oriented substantially normally to said attachment axis and is located with respect to a bottom edge of said one side portion of said item such that portions of the periphery of said roller means lie beneath the plane of said bottom portion and outwardly of the plane of said one side portion of said item.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said item is an automotive vehicle and a said carriage device is employed at each of the front and rear of said one side portion of the vehicle, and wherein each said connector means comprises an adapter plate having said attachment axis adapted to lie perpendicular to the face of a wheel hub of said vehicle and which is apertured to align with and receive the lugs of said rear wheel hub or to receive bolts which thread into said hub.

23. The combination of claim 22 wherein said base structure is provided with first stabilizer bar structure which is adapted to extend generally alongside but spaced from said one side portion of said vehicle whereby when said vehicle has been tilted to a desired position toward vertical, said first stabilizer bar structure will contact said floor means and stabilize said device and vehicle on said floor means.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein said base structure is provided with a removable second stabilizer structure which is adapted to contact said floor means when said vehicle is tilted at a desired angle to the horizontal, whereby said angle can be safely maintained without the need for extraneous lifting or other support means.

25. The combination of claim 21 wherein lifting means is provided for said other side portion of said item and comprises jack means having an elongated stanchion means and a foot for resting on or being fixed to said floor means laterally outwardly of said other side portion, said foot means being pivotally connected to a lower portion of said stanchion means whereby said stanchion means can assume a range of generally vertical postures, a lifting head means having a body section slidably mounted on said stanchion means and having a connector section pivotally mounted on said body section and adapted for mounting to said item whereby said connector section can assume a proper angular position relative to its mounting to said item as said other side portion of said item is lifted by said jack means, a first arm means having one end rigidly affixed to said base structure of said carriage device and having its other end pivotally attached to one end of a second arm means, the other end of said second arm means being pivotally mounted on a lower portion of said jack means whereby as said lifting head means moves upwardly on said stanchion means to tilt the item from a generally horizontal posture toward a generally vertical posture said first and second arm means will pivot toward each other and in so doing will pull said carriage device toward said foot means.

26. The combination of a heavy, bulky item having a bottom with side edge sections, said bottom lying generally in a plane and adapted to be supported above and generally horizontally with respect to floor means, a tilting carriage device for said item, and a lifting means for lifting one side edge section of said item to tilt the item, said carriage device comprising base structure having a longitudinal dimension lying in a base plane and having a connector structure having an attachment axis affixing said carriage device to a load bearing member on an opposite side edge section of said item whereby said opposite side edge section is supported above said floor means and is free to move with said carriage device in a lateral direction on said floor means when said one side edge section of said item is lifted by said lifting means from said floor means, said base structure having first and second end portions lying within said dimension, roller structures mounted on at least said first and second end portions respectively of said base structure on first and second substantially parallel roller axes respectively, said first and second roller axes and said attachment axis lying in a generally triangular configuration with said attachment axis being at the apex thereof, said first roller axis being positioned generally vertically below said opposite side of said item when said item is in its normally horizontal posture on said floor means, and wherein said lifting means comprises a jack means having an elongated stanchion means and a foot means mounted on the lower end of said stanchion means and resting on or being fixed to said floor means, said foot means being pivotally connected to said stanchion means whereby said stanchion means can assume a range of generally vertical postures, a lifting head means slidably and pivotally mounted on said stanchion means and having connector means adapted for mounting to said item whereby said connector means can assume a proper angular position relative to its mounting to said item as said one side edge section of said item is lifted to tilt said item, a first arm means having one end rigidly affixed to said base structure of said carriage device and having its other end pivotally attached to one end of a second arm means, the other end of said second ann means being pivotally mounted on a lower portion of said jack means whereby as said lifting head means moves upwardly on said stanchion means to tilt the item from a generally horizontal posture, toward a generally vertical posture said first and second arm means will pivot toward each other and in so doing will pull said carriage device toward said foot means.

27. A tilting apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a plurality of wheel hubs on each of opposite sides thereof, said apparatus comprising a plurality of carriage devices, each said carriage device comprising connector means for affixing said carriage device to a wheel hub on one side of said vehicle, roller means mounted on said connector means on axle means having a roller axis which is adapted to be oriented substantially parallel to the face of said wheel hub and to be positioned with respect to a bottom edge of said one side of said vehicle such that portions of the periphery of said roller means will he on floor means generally beneath said bottom edge and laterally outwardly of said bottom edge, whereby said one side can be supported above said floor means and free to move with said carriage device in a lateral direction thereon when the opposite side of said vehicle is lifted from said floor means such as to tilt said vehicle.

28. ^'Ihe apparatus of claim 27 wherein lifting means for said opposite side of said vehicle is provided and comprises a jack means having an elongated stanchion means having a foot, means on a lower end thereof for resting on or being fixed to said floor means, said foot means being pivotally connected to said stanchion means whereby said stanchion means can assume a range of generally vertical postures, a lifting head means slidably and pivotally mounted on said stanchion means and having connector means adapted for mounting to said opposite side of said vehicle whereby said connector means can assume a proper angular position relative to its mounting to said vehicle as said opposite side of said vehicle is lifted and said vehicle is tilted, a first arm means having one end rigidly affixed to said base structure of said device and having its other end pivotally attached by a pivot joint to one end of a second arm means, the other end of said second arm means being pivotally mounted on a lower portion of said jack means whereby as said lifting head moves upwardly on said stanchion means to tilt said vehicle from a generally horizontal posture toward a more vertical posture said first and second arm means will pivot toward each other about said joint and in so doing will pull said carriage device toward said foot means.

29. The combination of claim 21 wherein stabilizer bar means is provided on said base structure and is adapted to extend generally horizontally to said floor means and in stabilizing contact therewith when said item is tilted upwardly approximately 90┬░ from its initial generally horizontal posture.

30. The combination of claim 25 wherein said jack means is selected from the group consisting of a screw jack, a rack and pinion, a cable winch jack, a pneumatic jack or a hydraulic jack.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein at least one of said first and second arm means is provided with length adjustment means for accommodating vehicles of different widths, and wherein the range of adjustment is selected to accommodate desired positioning of said pivot joint to either side of the vertical center line of said vehicle a distance off 0% to 35% of the width of said vehicle.

32. The combination of claim 30 wherein said jack means comprises a screw jack.

33. The device of claim 31 wherein said second arm means is from about 3% to about 25% longer than said first arm means such that a higher degree of tilt can be achieved.

34. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said roller means comprises a single axle and from one to four rollers mounted thereon.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said roller means compnses a single axle and from one to four rollers mounted thereon.