Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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II~L~ OF T~E l~'VF~T10~1
HOrSTrNG SrKUCTURE FOR AUT~/~OTrVE VEUICLF
BA~KGROUN~ OF TH~ I~VENTION
Field o~ the invention:
This invesltion i8 related Lo an elevating sLructure and
more specifically to a pivoting elevating s~ructure adapted to grip
and Lo li~L automotive vehicles and which allo~ls such operations as
straightening o- the vehicle frame.
Prior art:
Numerous patents related to the vehicle repair art dis-
close devices comprising one or more hydraulically operated posts
which are provided on their upper ends with arms which move through
horizontal planes to engage with the frame o~ the vehicLe to be rais-
ed.
~owever, this type of hoisting device is considered qui-
te expensive in regards to its installation cost and relatively unef-
ficient because of the limited access to the underside oE the vehicle
and the restrictive number of tasks they can performed. Indeed, opera-
tions like the straightening of a vehicle frame cannot always be ade-
20~ quately performed on such known type o~ hoisting device.
Since there exists a large number of so called "body
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shops" specializing in the repair of collision damaged vehiclesJ the-
re is a need for quickly raising an holst Ing device which can be used
for a variety Oe tasks including the straightening of frames.
Patent such as U.S. patents nos 1,942,945 and 4,447,042
discloses vehicle lifts using X-shaped structures with pistons for
hoistin~ cars. The U.S. patent no 4,277,049 is directed to a lift
structure for servicing vehicles. All four elevating members are syn-
chronized by a pair of supporting members.
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~ lone ot the hoisting devices comprises shaft ~,eans tv
individually lifL the vehicle and also to be attached to the rocker
panel pinchwelds of the vehicle while alLowin~ pulling on the Yehic-
le frame by suitflble means such as conventionally known ~linches.
Known hoisting devices, only partially fullfill some of
the above mentioned needs. These dev;ces are generally not easy to ma-
nipulate, are mechanically complicated and therefore relatively ex-
pensive.
SU~MA~Y ()F T15~ INVF.NTION
The invention relates to a substantially simplified
structure particularly adapted for use in connection with the
strai~htening of collision damaged vehicles.
The vehicle hoisting mechanism requires no hydraulic or
pneumatic piston components to litt the vehicle, therefore rendering
the system safer to the operator.
The vehicle hoisting device according to the invention
which is fast and easy to operate since it is provided with efficient
fastening means.
It is Eurther an object of the invention to provide a
vellicle hoisting device which does not require much storing space and
whlch can be adapted ~o conventional car platforms.
The vehicle hoiating device according to the invention
is readily adapted to vehicles of different widths and lenghts.
The hoisting structure comprises a set of pivoting
shafts allowing the vehicle body to be lifted upon horizontal trac-
tion on the body by a simple pulling device such as a small winch.
The shafL is pivotally mounted at bo~h ends to move between A substan-
tially hori~ontal and a substantially vertical position.
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Tne upper end of the shat is adapted to grip the rocker panel pinch-
welds of a vehicle through pivoted anchor means which csn be secured
in a fixed position. The lower end o~ the shaft pivots a~out a hori-
~ontal axis. An abutment stops the shaft in its upright position.
BRI~F l)ESCRIPTION OF 'I'HE DRAWING
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Figure I is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle
pulled by a chain into the li.fted po.si~:ion by the hoisting structure
ascording to the invention,
Figure 2 i5 a schematic perspective view of one of the
pivoting shafls o~ the hoisting structure in its raised position
mounted in a recessed pathway into which t-he structure is positioned,
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of one of the
pivoting shafts of the structure being attached to the rocker panel
pinchwelds of a vehicle,
Figure 4 is a schematic top perspective view of one of
the pivoting structures in an intermediate position,
Figure 5 is a schematic top plan view of one of the pi-
~: voting structures in an upright position,
Figure 6 is a schema~ic side perspective view of one of
: ~20 ~ the pivoting structures in its upright posit:ion, and
Figure 7 is a schematic detailed view of the tightening
: mesna ased to secure the anchor means in a fixed position relative to
the pivoting shaft.
ETAILEI) DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED EMBO~IMENT
Keferring to the drawings, the hoisting device is gener-
::~ : ally i.ndi.cated by the reference numeral lO. Said structure lO compris-
es a set of four separate pi.voting structures 1~.
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Each pivoting structure 12 comprises a frame J4 in ~Ihich i; fixed an
horizontal cylindricaL beam l6. ~ shatt or leg m2mber la is pivotall;J
rnounted at one oc its end on said cylindrical beam 16. Said shaft 18
can pivot from a substantially hori~ontal to a substantially vertical
position and back. Abutting means in the form of an ~-shaped compon-
ent 20 secured to the shaft 18 is used to stop the shaft l~ in its
upright position.
A hand clamp 22 (fig.6) or o~her sui~able means ;s pro-
vided to hold the component 2~ and to maintain shaft 18 in the verti-
cal position. Anchoring means snch as conventionally known anchor
clamps 24 are pivotally mounted at the other end of shaft 18 and are
used to grip the rocker panel pinchwelds 26 of the vehicle 28 and
hold the shafL 18 in its upright position. Tightening means such as
nut and bolt arrangement 30 is used to secure a plate 29 connecting
- the anchor clamps 24 in a fixecl position relative to shaft 18. ~ach
of the pivoting structure 12 is adapted to be clamped to the vehicle
body when it is upwardly tilted manually as shown in iigure 3. ~hen
the body of the vehicle 28 is pulled along an horizontal direction,
such as by the chain 31, the shaft l8 freely pivots around beam 16 to
a vertical portion and anchor clamps 24 pull the vehicle in its rais-
ed position. When seen from the side of the vel~icle or as illustrated
in figure 1, the combination formed by the undercarriage or rocker
- ~ panel 26 of the vehicle 28, the ground 32 and two pivoting structures
12 represents a parralelogram which is modi~ied as the vehicle is
being pulled ~ith the undercarriage of the vehicle 28 remaining par-
ralel to the ground 3Z at all times.
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In ~he preEerred embodiinent, the plate 29 connecting
the anchor clamps 24 is pivotally mount:ed on sha~ IX by means of a
sleeva system comprising an inner cylindrical sleeve 34 rotatably in-
serted in an outer cylindrical sleeve 36. A larger groove 38 is pro-
vided in the outer .sleeve 36 to allow sliding of a washer type ele-
ment 40 while a narrow gro(Jv~ 42 in the inner sleeve 34 is provided
to allo~" pivoCing of fastening bolt 44. When the inner sleeve 34 is
properly positioned relatively to the outer sleeve 36, bolt 44 ex-
tends through both sleeves 34 and 36 and ;s tightened with a nut 4i~
0 90 that both sleeves are held together to prevent their relative rota-
tion. Frame 14 comprises two side panels sn which support the horizon-
tal cylindricaL beam 16. Panels 50 are rigidly linked by welding or
by other suitable manner to a fixation plate 52. The top fixation pla-
te 52 rests on the inner flanges 54 of two lateral "I-beams" 55 form-
ing the structure of pathway 56.
A bottom fixation pLate 58 is used in conjonction with
f~stening means such as bolts 60 to clamp flanges 54 and to longitud;-
naLly f;x frame 14 in the pathway 56. When noL in use, pivoting struc-
ture 12 can be concealed ins ide a recess 62 located between the two
"1-beams" 55 and below a cover plates 63. The fixation plates 52 and
58 al low longitudinal adjustment of the hoisting device depending on
the length of the undercarriage of the vehicle 28 by sliding the pi-
voting structures 12 on the flanges 54 which constitute a run~lay for
the ixaLion plates 52 and 58. ~ ~ ~
Adjustments in regards to the w;dth of the vehicle are
made possible by sliding of shaft 18 on the cylindrical beam 16. A
plate 64 is rigidly connected to side panels 50 in a parallel fashion
ith cylindrical beam 16. A plate 64 secured across the plates 5û is
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used in conjonction with "I-shaped" component 2(), as abuttin~ mean3,
and component 2U, in conjonction with the hand-clamp 22 as tastenin.%
means to hold and mainLain shaft 1~ in an upright position.
The shaft 18 is preferably bent: in the direction of the
l,-shaped component 2() so that the vehicle has a tendency to maintain
the abutment between the component 20 and the plate 64, which increas-
es the stability of the vehicle in its raised position.
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