Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Inclined plane lifter
Patent
1982-05-26
1984-12-04
Watson, Robert C.
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Inclined plane lifter
E02C 300
Patent
active
044860064
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a self-levelling vehicle support arrangement for use, for example, during the inspection and maintenance of a motor vehicle.
Owing to the small clearance which exists between the underside of a vehicle and the ground, it is generally necessary to lift the vehicle up off the ground to enable proper inspection and maintenance of the vehicle underside. Known means for lifting vehicles off the ground include hydraulically operated platforms and such platforms have found widespread use in commercial garages. However, owing to their cost and dependence on an external power source, hydraulic platforms are unsuitable for many applications, for example where there is only an occasional requirement to raise a vehicle or in garages in developing countries. Of course, simpler vehicle elevating means are also known, such as a pair of ramps onto which the front wheels of a vehicle can be run to elevate the front part of a vehicle; however, such means generally only raise part of the vehicle and provide very little working space beneath the vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle elevating arrangement which is simple in form, does not require an external power source, and is inexpensive to manufacture, while at the same time, enables a vehicle to be raised with ease to a convenient, level, working position.
According to the present invention, there is provided a self-levelling vehicle support arrangement comprising a vehicle-carrying track structure, first support means pivotally mounting the track structure intermediate its ends at such a position that the track structure is arranged to pivot from an inclined position into an elevated horizontal position under the weight of a vehicle moved fully onto the track structure, second support means spaced from said first support means and positioned on the side thereof nearest the end of the track structure which is highest when the latter is in its inclined position, the first and second support means together serving to support the track structure when the latter assumes a horizontal position under the weight of a vehicle, and pivotal-movement control means arranged to ensure that the pivoting of the track structure between its inclined and horizontal positions is effected in a controlled manner.
The track structure is kept in its horizontal position by the weight of the vehicle throughout inspection and maintenance of the vehicle. When work on the vehicle has been completed, it can simply be moved back along the track structure to enable the latter to be returned in a controlled manner to its normal inclined position.
Advantageously, the track structure comprises two spaced side-by-side tracks, the first and second support means being constituted by respective supports associated with each track.
Preferably, for each track, both the corresponding second support and the means controlling the pivotal movement of the track are constituted by the same telescopic damper, the damper being in an extended state when the track is horizontal.
Each track can be provided with a further telescopic damper extending between the ground and the track at a position spaced from the first support on the side thereof remote from the second support, this damper being arranged to be in a contracted state when the track is inclined and in an extended state when the track is horizontal.
For safety reasons, it is desirable to provide each track with a stabilising leg pivoted on the track adjacent its end which is lowermost when the track is inclined. This leg is arranged to swing down and lock the track in position when horizontal.
The vehicle support arrangement can be mounted on wheels to provide a trailer towable, for example, behind a breakdown vehicle.
A self-elevating vehicle support arrangement embodying the invention will now be particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the vehicle support arrangement shown at is starts to pivot fr
REFERENCES:
patent: 1187358 (1916-06-01), Marshall
patent: 1193451 (1916-08-01), Blee
patent: 1527901 (1925-02-01), Munday
patent: 3326525 (1967-06-01), Kauppi
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