Supports – Machinery support – Stand
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-20
2001-11-20
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Machinery support
Stand
C248S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318699
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of engine stands, and more particularly to a novel stand having powered means for controllably locating an engine mounted on a rotatable engine support and which further includes a wheeled frame for moving the stand from one position to another.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been the conventional practice to mount engines on a non-powered engine stand so that the engine is cantilevered outwardly from a support. In this location, a mechanic can reach many areas of the engine which would normally be unavailable without the support in mounting of the engine on a stand. However, problems and difficulties have been encountered with conventional non-powered engine stands which stem largely from the fact that a workman must twist his body into various contortions in order to maneuver heavy engines in an effort to perform maintenance and repair procedures. In some instances, the entire engine must be removed from the stand and then reoriented for remounting onto the stand. Such procedures require substantial work effort and require a longer period of time in order to perform the repair or maintenance procedures. Even when powered stands or platforms have been employed, there has been a lack of speed control wherein the mounted engine is moved too rapidly to attain accuracy of work position. Also, most powered conventional stands are limited to short block assemblies since there is not enough drive reduction to attain the purposes desired by the mechanic. Additionally, conventional engine stands are very large in size and are difficult to move from place to place.
Prior attempts to provide suitable engine stands are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,271; 5,238,126; 5,381,575 and 4,809,963. All of these prior references suffer from the above noted problems.
Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a novel powered engine stand which has the ability to rotate a mounted engine and to position complete engine assemblies easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a novel powered engine stand having a portable framework with front and rear support members joined by a central member and further including an upright post or stanchion which is rigidly supported by braces on the front member and the central member. The front support member is of shorter length than the rearmost support member and the upright post or stanchion includes a bearing assembly for rotatably mounting a shaft that is cantilevered outwardly towards the rear support member. The terminating end of the shaft is provided with a mounting plate for detachably connecting with fittings on an engine intended to be serviced. Also mounted on the upright post or stanchion is a motor means and drive train interconnecting the output of the motor means with the shaft carried on the bearing assembly and a control means is attached to the motor means so that rotation of the engine mounted on the support plate or mount can be power adjusted. A feature of the invention resides in employment of a large D.C. motor and gearbox combination with a variable speed control. Ballbearing assemblies are used in the bearing assembly for ease of shaft rotation while under load during support of a heavy engine on the mounting plate or mount. A hand-held pendant, or stationary box, mounts the controls so that the mechanic can readily move about the stand and rotate the engine through the control box, or the remote pendant in his hand. This is provided by employing an adjustable height, swivel pendant arm upwardly projecting from the top of the support post or stanchion.
Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel powered engine stand capable of positioning and removing heavy engines in an effortless manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an engine stand having a D.C. motor and gearbox which is controllable by means of a remote control pendant which is movable about an axis of rotation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a powered engine stand capable for heavy duty or constant use and which includes speed control for adjusting the rotational movement of an engine mounted on a rotatable mounting plate.
Still another object resides in providing a powered engine stand which has suitable speed control, drive reduction and proper bearing support for rotatably mounting heavy engines in a cantilevered manner from a support post or stanchion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2890891 (1959-06-01), Eurey
patent: 2955632 (1960-10-01), Stone
patent: 3381953 (1968-05-01), Miller
patent: 4533127 (1985-08-01), Hawkins
patent: 5051056 (1991-09-01), Gibbons
patent: 5165632 (1992-11-01), Kuan
patent: 5299659 (1994-04-01), Imbeault
patent: 5775667 (1998-07-01), Tassic
Baxter Gwendolyn
Marrs Roger A.
Ramirez Ramon O.
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