WO2003029058A1

WO2003029058A1 - Convenient apparatus of car

Info

Publication number: WO2003029058A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001791
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bak Suk Sung
Original assignee: Bak Suk Sung
Priority date: 2001-09-29
Filing date: 2002-09-19
Publication date: 2003-04-10
Also published as: KR200261722Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a shifting apparatus of a vehicle for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating the vehicle, the shifting apparatus comprises an additional compressed air generating unit and elevates the vehicle in a parking position from the ground to a predetermined height using compressed air so as to enable the vehicle to be laterally transported perpendicular to a running direction of the vehicle, in respect to the running direction thereof, thereby maximizing running flexibility. Further, the shifting apparatus generates oxygen using compressed air generated from a compressed air generating unit and supplies a suitable amount of oxygen to an interior of the vehicle so as to maintain a pleasant indoor environment for a driver and a passenger, and the shifting apparatus charges a portable oxygen container, which is readily attached and carried, from the oxygen generating unit and then installs the portable oxygen container in a desired position.

Description

CONVENIENT APPARATUS OF CAR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shifting apparatus of a vehicle for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating the vehicle. In particular, the shifting apparatus comprises an additional compressed air generating unit, and elevates the vehicle in a parking position from the ground to a predetermined height via compressed air so that the vehicle can be laterally transported perpendicular to a running direction of the vehicle, by which the vehicle can be readily parked in a limited area. Also, the shifting apparatus of the invention can rotate the vehicle for 360 deg. in respect to the running direction thereof, thereby maximizing running flexibility. As a result, the vehicle can freely rotate and turn in a parking position. Further, the shifting apparatus generates oxygen using compressed air from a compressed air generating unit, and supplies a suitable amount of oxygen to an interior of the vehicle so as to maintain a pleasant indoor environment for a driver and/or a passenger. Moreover, the shifting apparatus charges a portable oxygen container, which is readily attached and carried, with oxygen from the oxygen generating unit and then installs the portable oxygen container in a desired position of the vehicle, thereby maintaining the pleasant indoor environment.

Background Art

As well known in the art, it is necessary for a driver to forwardly and backwardly move a typical vehicle while adjusting the angle of vehicle wheels to park the vehicle in a desired position parallel to a wall. However, it is impossible to park the vehicle in a limited area which restrains forward and backward movement of the vehicle. Also, when the vehicle is parked, the running flexibility of the vehicle is extremely limited since it is impossible to rotate or transport the vehicle in a running or lateral direction.

According to a conventional technology for overcoming the above problem, a unit capable of receiving power is applied to a power transmission shaft of the vehicle and a hydraulic actuator is mounted on a lower portion of a vehicle body so as to change the direction of rotation, in which the vehicle is laterally transported and rotated after being elevated via operation of the hydraulic actuator. However, this technology contains uneconomic factors since a basic structure of the vehicle is changed as well as an additional device for supplying hydraulic pressure is installed. Furthermore, it is practically difficult to use this technology in that a space between the ground and the vehicle body is extremely restricted even though the actuator for elevating the vehicle is attached to a lower portion of the vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a shifting apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

A shifting apparatus of the invention mounts an additional compressed air generating unit separate from an existing power transmission unit and. utilizes the additional compressed air generating unit as a power source for elevating and rotating a vehicle. An elevation unit is mounted on a lower portion of a vehicle body for elevating the vehicle. The elevation unit is mounted with wheels, and has a rubber portion made of high elastic special rubber, which is inflated via supply of compressed air to raise and separate the vehicle from the ground to a proper height. The wheels are forwardly and/or backwardly rotated via electric or pneumatic motors to laterally transport or rotate the vehicle at a parking position. The shifting apparatus of the invention also generates oxygen with a typical oxygen generating unit by supplying compressed air to the same, and supplies a proper amount of oxygen to an interior of the vehicle, thereby ensuring the best condition for respiratory organs of a driver and a passenger as well as providing a pleasant environment. If the vehicle unexpectedly sinks into water, stored compressed air and oxygen are supplied to the interior of the vehicle so as to provide a time for the driver and/or the passenger to take an emergency action and the evacuate from the vehicle. The vehicle having the shifting apparatus of the invention can be utilized as a temporary ambulance for transporting casualties from a place of traffic accident. As additional effects, the shifting apparatus of the invention can substitute a jack to simply replace tires. Furthermore, the tires can be readily managed to have a proper level of pneumatic pressure and an engine room can be easily cleaned by utilizing a compressed air spray since compressed air can be generated at any time.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view of a shifting apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of overall operations of the invention; FIG. 3 is a conceptional view of a typical example of the oxygen generating unit;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of operations of a third unit for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the third unit for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body; and

FIGs. 6A and 6B are plan views illustrating effects of the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout several views. The following detailed description will present a preferred embodiment of the invention in reference to the accompanying drawing. FIG. 1 is a perspective overall view of a shifting apparatus of the invention. The shifting apparatus of the invention generally comprises a first unit 10 for generating compressed air, a second unit 20 for generating oxygen and a third or elevation unit 60 for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body, which is designated with the reference number 1. Impurities such as dust are primarily cleaned from air through an air filter 11, and then clean air is compressed to a predetermined pressure in an air compressor 13 operated by a driving motor 12. Compressed air is supplied to the second or oxygen- generating unit 20 or to the third unit 60 and an air spray 50 for spraying compressed air under the operation of a directional control valve 14 according to necessity. The oxygen-generating unit 20 produces oxygen of a predetermined purity through air absorption. According to a principle and apparatus for generating oxygen well known in the art, when the air-generating unit 10 supplies compressed air to one of two beds 23 at a predetermined temperature in order to enhance an absorbing force during an absorbing process, nitrogen molecules in compressed air is absorbed by a sieve prior to oxygen molecules based upon the difference of sucking forces. When the sieve is saturated with the nitrogen molecules, a directional control valve 21 is operated in response to an electric signal so that compressed air is fed to the other bed 23 to generate oxygen. On the other hand, the bed saturated with the nitrogen molecules is purged to rejuvenate the sieve. Oxygen can be successively generated through repetition of the above processes. Upon passing through the bed 23, oxygen of the predetermined purity is stored in an oxygen container 40 under a predetermined pressure, a predetermined amount of oxygen is supplied to the vehicle via operation of a cutoff valve 41, and the remaining amount of oxygen is stored in a portable oxygen container 39 which is readily attached, carried and transported. The oxygen container 40 and the portable oxygen container 39 are connected via a quick coupling 38 so that they can be readily attached and detached. The cutoff valve is automatically opened/closed in response to the electric signal according to upper and lower set values of an oxygen meter 42 installed within the vehicle. In the meantime, compressed air is fed to a compressed air container 30 under the operation of the directional control valve 14, and then to the air spray 50 and the third unit 60 for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body via an air filter 31, a pressure control valve 32 and a lubricator 33. In order to elevate the vehicle body via a directional control valve 61, the third unit 60 blows compressed air into elevating tables 63, which are made of a high elastic special rubber and mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body, to inflate rubber portions thereby elevating the vehicle body to a predetermined height from the ground, and then rotates wheels 62 to forward and backward directions. In order to elevate the vehicle body, the directional control valve 61 is primarily operated to supply compressed air under the predetermined pressure stored in the compressed air container to the elevating tables 62 and the air compressor 13 is simultaneously operated to elevate the vehicle body. A backflow cutoff valve 37 is installed between the compressed air container 30 and the compressed air spray 50 and between the compressed air container 30 and the third unit 60 to control flow of compressed air to one direction. Also, if necessary, compressed air stored in the compressed air container 30 is supplied to the oxygen container 40 via operation of a cutoff valve 36. The compressed air spray 50 is in the form of an air gun and connected with a hose for allowing movement of the spray 50 if necessary so that the air spray 50 can be availably used in air supplement into tires and engine room cleaning.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of overall operations of the invention, which discloses an effect of absorbing external air to obtain compressed air and supply oxygen, the third unit for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body, accompanying effects, and so on.

FIG. 3 is a conceptional view of a typical example of the oxygen generating unit, which is schematically illustrated since the oxygen-generating principle and apparatus is well known in the art as set forth above.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of operations of the third unit for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body. At a parking position of the vehicle body, total four elevating tables which are respectively installed around front and rear wheels of the vehicle can elevate the vehicle body to a predetermined height from the ground or lowering the same via compressed air as set forth above. After elevation, the four wheels of the elevating tables are rotated in one direction to laterally transport the vehicle perpendicular to the forward running direction of the vehicle. Also, when the two wheels of the elevating tables adjacent to the front wheels are rotated in the opposite direction from the two wheels of the elevating tables adjacent to the rear wheels, the vehicle is rotated in its parked position. FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the third unit for elevating, laterally transporting and rotating a vehicle body, in which has the wheels 62 are mounted on the lower portion of the elevating tables and forwardly and backwardly rotate via electricity or air pressure, and bearings 64 are installed at both ends of the wheels. The wheels each are mounted with a pneumatic motor which forwardly and backwardly rotates via compressed air or a motor roller internally mounted with an electric motor.

FIGs. 6 A and 6B are plan views illustrating effects of the invention, in which FIG. 6A illustrates that a vehicle mounted with the shifting apparatus of the invention can be readily parked in a limited area via lateral transportation of the vehicle, and FIG. 6B illustrates that the vehicle can perform countertum or U-turn in a blind alley or one-lane road in respect to the running direction of the vehicle.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention having the above construction mounts the simple elevation unit on a lower portion of the vehicle and the compressed air generating unit without changing the basic structure of the vehicle, thereby remarkably contributing in maximizing the running flexibility of the vehicle. The additional oxygen generating unit generates oxygen from compressed air and supplies oxygen to the interior of the vehicle so as to fundamentally solve problems of indoor oxygen shortage and deficiency during downtown or long distance driving, thereby ensuring the pleasant indoor environment to the driver and/or the passenger. When the vehicle sinks into water owing to accident during driving, the driver and/or the passenger can have a time for emergency evacuation while breathing fresh air and oxygen stored under a proper pressure in the compressed air and oxygen containers. In addition, the elevation unit can be simply substituted for a jack in replacing the tires or attaching/detaching chains. Moreover, the compressed air spray connected via the hose to the compressed air container can be selectively used for supplementing air into the tires and cleaning the engine room. While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A shifting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a first air filter for primarily cleaning external air; an air compressor for compressing clean air; an elevation unit for elevating, transporting and rotating a vehicle, the elevation having elevating tables and wheels internally mounted with motors and capable of forwardly and backwardly rotating, wherein the elevating tables are driven by compressed air which is supplied via a compressed air container, a second air filter, a pressure control valve and a lubricator; an oxygen-generating unit and an oxygen container for supplying oxygen of a predetermined purity to an interior of the vehicle; a portable oxygen container connected to the oxygen-generating unit and readily attached, carried and transported, wherein the portable oxygen container is charged and then installed in a desired position to maintain a pleasant indoor environment; and a compressed air spray connected the compressed air container 30 via a movable hose for spraying compressed air.

2. The shifting apparatus for a vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a first cutoff valve operated in response to an electric signal via upper and lower set values of an oxygen meter in the interior of the vehicle for supplying oxygen of a predetermined purity into the interior of the vehicle; and a second cutoff valve between the compressed air container and the oxygen container, whereby compressed air is supplied to the oxygen container 40 from the compressed air container 30 if necessary.