Elevator – industrial lift truck – or stationary lift for vehicle – Stationary lift for roadway vehicle or required component...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-26
2001-08-14
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Elevator, industrial lift truck, or stationary lift for vehicle
Stationary lift for roadway vehicle or required component...
C187S204000, C187S218000, C187S359000, C187S377000, C254S08900R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273215
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cantilevered lifting devices and finds particular application to such a device, having a central support from which a predetermined number of above ground cantilevered vehicle lifts are movably supported.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A multitude of various types of automotive and vehicle lifts exist. For example, typically within a mechanic's garage there may be found a inground lift operating from a central cylinder having a lifting platform attached thereto for engagement with a vehicle. Typically a vehicle drives over the lifting platform and is lifted to a position where the vehicle can be serviced.
There are a considerable number of environmental concerns which must be addressed with respect to the central inground lift. Primarily, in order to operate such a lift, an underground reservoir for hydraulic fluid must be accommodated in an underground pit. The service technician repairs the inground lift below ground level. Any leak in the supply tanks can be considerably detrimental to the environment.
As a result of these environmental concerns, the greater majority of lifting apparatus's installed today are surface mounted lifts, which are bolted to the concrete garage floor that are normally powered by an electric motor which operates a hydraulic ram or a screw type drive. The surface mounted lifts are normally bolted in position. However, portable units have found some uses in the industry today. Scissor lifts are also well known in the industry.
Another type of lift that is found in the industry, is a cantilevered type of lift, such as the portable type manufactured by Bend-Pak, Model ML-6 of Santa Paulo, Calif. Such cantilevered lifts may include frame engaging portions which utilize flip-up, stackable or threaded contacts or foot pads located at the end of each of the lift arms. These contacts or pads which are adjustable to several different positions are engaged with the various lifting points recommended by the vehicle manufacture. Outriggers or extenders may also be utilized to engage the recommended lifting points.
When utilizing the afore-mentioned devices, typically a single bay is provided for each lifting apparatus having predetermined dimensions, so as to easily fit and accommodate a vehicle to be worked on. When building new facilities where space is not as much of a premium as with older facilities, then not a great deal of hardship is realized. However, with older facilities where the head space is inadequate, such as those facilities in older portions of a city, when considering replacing lifting apparatus's, a simple replacement of the facilities is normally considered. However, it would be advantageous to install a facility that improved the space utilization of the bay and realize a cost saving to the proprietor. Also, when considering head space, it would be advantageous to provide a lifting apparatus that lived within an eight foot ceiling height limitation.
It would therefore be an advantage to realize space savings by providing a multiple vehicle position cantilevered lift, hereto for unknown realizing a 20% space savings from conventional installations and a further 20% cost savings per lifting site. No where in the prior art to the best of applicant's knowledge is such a device available.
It is therefore a principle object of this invention to provide a multiple vehicle position cantilevered lift.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple vehicle position cantilevered lift which is economical to manufacture and robust in structure.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structure which will realize the proprietor a space savings over present lifting apparatus's and their utilization of space.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide an environmentally sound lifting apparatus.
Further another object of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the following summary of the invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a primary aspect of the invention, there is provided a multiple vehicle position cantilevered lift comprising a stiff support for a cantilevered lift, said support being sized so as to be resistant to twist and torque loads, said support having a base plate with openings for selective alignment with openings provided in a concrete floor or footing, the openings in said floor having disposed therein an anchoring member comprising a compressible sleeve having a predetermined diameter and a threaded piston, having a predetermined diameter slightly larger than the cylinder and being contained in said sleeve and having a threaded internal or interior wall for receiving an anchor bolt and having a substantially tapered outer wall preferably inclined at substantially in the range of 5°-100° from the vertical, wherein as the bolt is fastened to a predetermined torque, the piston rises in the sleeve and expands the sleeve compressing the sleeve outwardly against the concrete surrounding the opening to anchor the sleeve and the bolt in the base plate, said support including framework to movably engage and support at least one cantilevered vehicle lift moveable between a first lowered position and a second raised position respectively for at least one vehicle, said lift having a drive provided for each cantilevered lift position, preferably an electric motor engaged with either a hydraulic pump or a rotatable screw, said pump for pumping fluid to a substantially vertically oriented hydraulic cylinder, or alternatively said screw being oriented in a vertical direction, preferably said lift having cantilevered arms extending from a vehicle lifting framework extending from said cylinder or screw, said arms being moveable to engage a vehicle at appropriate undercarriage positions, said lift preferably including a ratchet operated safety mechanism to prevent the lift from moving from any of a multitude of raised positions, said safety including a multiplicity of vertical disposed openings in the frame engaged by a spring biased pin in a preferred embodiment, wherein a vehicle may be lifted at each lift position without interfering with the adjacent lift position.
According to a primary aspect of the invention, a multiple position cantilevered vehicle lift is provided incorporated in or assembled in a central support structure bolted to a concrete floor or footing for supporting at least two cantilevered lifts, each lift being operable independently of one another to raise and lower vehicles and each lift including a lifting apparatus to do so, for example a hydraulic cylinder or a rotating screw engaged with an electric drive or if the hydraulic cylinder is used engaged with a source of hydraulic fluid such as a pump and a hydraulic fluid reservoir, said support structure being sized so as to be very resistant and robust to twisting and torque loads, wherein a vehicle may be lifted at each lift position without interfering with an adjacent lift position. Preferably a safety mechanism may be provided for each lift to prevent the lift from moving from any one of an established raised position.
In one embodiment said central support structure includes two hollow columns spaced from one another and braced to a support plate anchored to said concrete floor or footing. Preferably each lift is affixed to said central support separately and may further comprise a lifting platform preferably including arms extending therefrom to support a vehicle. Preferably each lift is disposed proximate each side of said central support. In a preferred embodiment each platform is raised and lowered by a dedicated mechanisms such as a hydraulic cylinder or screw pillar.
In another embodiment the hollow supports may contain valves, pumps, or reservoirs and hoses.
It is imperative when providing the supports that they be extremely stiff and resist the torque loads and twisting loads that will be experienced when raising and low
Carlton Philip M.
Horan Gerald P
Chart Industries Ltd.
Hughes Ivor M.
Hughes Neil H.
Olszewski Robert P.
Sarkis Marcelo K.
LandOfFree
Multi vehicle position cantilevered lift does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi vehicle position cantilevered lift, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi vehicle position cantilevered lift will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2551575