Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE, VEHICLE ~IFTING DEVICE
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to li~ting or ~acking devices
and particular to such a device for use in raising and
lowering automotive vehicles.
Backqround of the Invention
This lifting or jacking apparatus is primarily for
use in co~bination with the cradle devices shown in my
lo earlier United States Patent 4,744,717 of May 17th, 1988.
That patent disclosed improved cradles for allowing a
vehicle to be rolled over on its side and for supporting
the vehicle in that raised position. The cradle devices
included mounting means incorporating a support bracket,
for detachable securement to the wheels of a vehicle on
one side thereof.
The subject matter of this application is primarily
for raising or lowering a vehicle to which the cradle
means have already been mounted in accordance with my
above mentioned U.S. patent and, in one mode o~
operation, it can be interconnected with the cradle
means.
Summary of the Invention
According to a broad a9p2ct, the inv9ntion r~lataa
to a portable lifting or jacking device for use in
raising automotive vehicles over on their sides. The
device comprises an elongated base frame, a vehicle
lifting arm pivotally secured at one of its ends to the
base frame, means interconnecting the base frame with the
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lifting arm intermediate the ends thereoP, and actua*ing
means located on the base frame and being connected to
- the interconnecting means The actuating means, while
operated, serves to raise ox lower the lifking arm
through the interconnectiny means.
~ ccording to a broad aspect the invention relates to
a combination, with cradle means for rotating a vehiale
on its side wherein said cradle means includes curved
members providing a rolling support for said vehicle with
wheel attachment means for securing said cradle and
supports to wheels on one side of a vehicle, a portable
lifting device for use in rotating a vehicle over onto
said cradle supports to orient said vehicle on its side,
said lifting device comprising an elongated base frame
having a proximal end and a distal end adapted for
positioning under said vehicle; means pivotally
connected to said distal end of said base frame for
detacha~ly connecting said lifting device with said
cradle means secured to said vehicle wheels; an
elongated vehicle lifting arm pivotally mounted at one of
its ends to the distal end of said base frame; actuating
means on said base frame; link arms pivotally
interconnecting said lifting arms with said base frame;
and said actuating means being connected to said link
means whereby operation of said actuating means effects
upward or downward movement of said lifting arm about
its pivotal mounting to the distal end of said base
~rame to thereby turn a vehicle onto its side on said
cradle means or lower said vehicle down onto its wheels.
Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs
The invention is illustrated by way of example in
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE l is a side view of the present invention and
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showing the lifting arm in a raised position in phantom
line;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device in Figure 1;
FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the lifting arm;
FIGURES 4 and 5 are side and plan views respectively
of the base frame of the invention;
FIGURE 6 is an elevation view o~ the bracket pivot
means;
FIGURE 7 is an elevation view of the car cradle
pivot arm assembly; and
FIGURES 8 and 9 are plan and side views respectively
of the lower scissor arm assembly.
Detailed Description_of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus
according to the invention includes a base frame
indicated generally at 10; a lifting arm assembly 12
pivotally connected at one of its ends to the base frame
10; two pairs of scissor arms 14, 16, interconnecting the
lifting arm assembly 12 with the base frame 10; and
actuating means such as a hydraulic cylinder 18 which is
pivotally secured at its cylinder end 20 to the base
frame and at its piston rod end 22 to the scissor arms,
~or raising or lowering the lifting arm assembly 12. It
will be appreciated that, while the illustrated
embodiment incorporates a hydraulic cylinder, the
aatuating means could also comprise an electric motor,
mechanical means or the like.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 as well as Figures 1
and 2, tha base frame 10 consists of a pair of elongated,
parallel, square tubing rails 24, 26 one end of which is
provided with a pair of square tube sockets 28 for
supporting a smaller frame structure 30 (Figure 1) which
incorporates the hydraulic motor and pump control 32 for
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operating the hydraulic cylinder 18. The other end o~
the base frame 10 is provided with bracke~ means 34 ~or
pivotally securing a car cradle pivot bar holder 36
(Figures 1 and 2~ to the frame 10 by means of arms 38 and
40 of the pivot bar 36.
The rails 24 and 26 of base frame 10 also
incorporate a pair o~ lower scissor arm pivot brackets ~2
and a hydraulic cylinder clevis bracket 44 secured to a
cross bar 46 as illustrated.
Referring to Figure 3 as well as Figures 1 and 2,
the lifting arm 12 consists of a pair of spaced,
parallel, squared tubing rails 48, 50 having a vehicle
engaging lip or ~lange 52 at one end thereofy the other
end being adapted for pivotal connection to the base
frame lO at the brackets 34 thereon (Figure 4).
Rails 48 and 50 include upper scissor arm pivot
brackets 54.
Preferably, the scissor arm brackets, as shown in
Figure 6, comprise a frusto-conical structure the rim 56
thereof being weldable to the side rail o~ the li~ting
arm 12 or the base frame lO depending on whether it is an
upper or lower bracket. The inside o~ the frusto-conical
structure has a captive nut 58 welded therein which ia
adapted to threadably receive a pivot bolt 60 as shown in
Figure 2. A similar arrangement applies to the lower
brackets 42 as shown in Figure 5.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the piston rod end 22
of the hydraulic cylinder 18 is adapted to open or close
the cooperating pairs of scissor arms 14 and 16, the
upper pair being pivotally secured to the brackets 54 of
the lifting arm 12 and the lower ones 16 being pivotally
secured to the ~rame 10. The lower scissor arm assembly
is shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9 although the
drawing shows the assembly in reverse to that shown in
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the plan view of Figure 2. Be that as it may, the
ass2mbly consists of the lower arms 16 spaced in parallel
relationship by a central cross member 62 to which a
central bracket 64 is secured, bracket 64 including a
pivot eye 66 for receiving the piston rod end 22 of the
hydraulia actuator 18.
This apparatus i6 primarily de~igned to work with a
car cradle arranyement Or th0 type ~l~own ln ~y l~u~
U.S. Patent 4,744,717 entltled "VEHICLE LIFTING DEVICE"
of May 17, 19R8. Reference to that patent describes how
the cradle arrangements disclosed therein mount onto
vehicle wheels on one side thereof so that the vehicle
can be turned over on its side.
In accordance with the Fig. lO embodiment of U.S.
Patent 4,774,717, a pair of cradle members have wheel
attachmeent plates that are secured, for example, to the
left front and left rear wheels of a vehicle. The cradle
members have curved portions, which, when the cradle
members are rotated, serve to roll the vehicle off the
ground and onto its side.
Rather than manùally rotating the cradle members
(which takes substantial effort) to turn the vehicle on
its side, the lifting device of the present invention can
be used.
According to the invention, the lifting dèvice is
rolled under the vehicle from the side opposite the
attached cradle members and midway therebetween.
cradle pivot bar 37 (Fig. 2) is slidably positioned in
the cradle pivot bar holder 36 and the ends of bar 37
connect with the front and rear cradle members, the
lifting device now being in the inoperative position
shown in full line in Figs. 1 and 2. The device lO is
then ready to engage ths undersid~ of the vehicle.
The operator end (to the right in Figure 1) is
provided with a stabilizer bar 31 which is removably
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attachPd to the frame 30.
The hydraulic pump means 32 is connected to a power
! source and, when actuated, the hydraulic cylinder 18 ~as
shown in phantom line in Figure 1) will effect the
opening of the scissor arms 14 and 16 to raise the
lifting arm 12 which eventually engages the underside of
the automobile by means of the lip 52 and the automobile
is rotated over onto the crad~es where it is held in the
uprigh~ position. ~he car cradle brake bars or
stabilizer bars as describad in Patent 4,744,717 can then
bo installed in the cradles to maintain the automobile in
its raised position and the lifting arm 12 can then be
disengaged from the vehicle lowered and, when.the arm is
in its down position, bar 37 can be removed from the car
cradles and the lifting device moved away from the
vehicle.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, ~ixed casters 70, 72
are attached to the side rails of the lifting arm 12 so
that when the arm 12 is in the down position, the lifting
device is in a mobile position. The other end of the
lifting device has a swivel caster 68 which can be raised
or lowered by hand to put the caster in a mobile
position.
While the invention has been described in connection
with a specific embodiment thereof and in a specific use,
various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled
in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as set forth in the appended claims~
The terms and expressions which havP been employed
in this specification are used as terms of description
and not o~ limitations, and there is no intention in the
use o~ such term~ and expression~ to axclude ~ny
equivalents of the features shown and described or
portions thereof, but it is recognized that various
modification~ are possible within the scope of the
invention claims.
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