WO2002096794A1

WO2002096794A1 - Vehicle hoist

Info

Publication number: WO2002096794A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2002/000088
Authority: WO
Inventors: Willem Andries Erasmus
Original assignee: Meyer, Johannes, Theunis
Priority date: 2001-05-29
Filing date: 2002-05-29
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle hoist (10) which includes a support structure having a pair of elongate, parallel, spaced guide tracks. Each guide track defines a first segment (18) and a second segment (20) extending operatively upwardly with respect to the first segment (18). The vehicle hoist (10) also includes a wheel support set (24) displaceably located on each guide track for supporting respectively the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle. The wheel support sets (24) are displaceable between a first position, in which they extend along the respective first segments (18) of the guide track to permit a vehicle to be operatively horizontally supported thereon, and a second position, in which they are displaced partially along the second segments (20) of the guide tracks and a vehicle supported threreon is lifted and angularly tilted about its longitudinal axis.

Description

VEHICLE HOIST

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vehicle hoist.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventional vehicle hoists maintain a vehicle in a horizontal position when hoisting the vehicle so that undercarriage operations such as cleaning, rust removing, rust treatment, fixing and replacing of exhaust systems, and/or fixing and replacing of other engine parts, can be carried out from directly beneath the vehicle. This is extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable due to the bodily orientation that a person working on the vehicle has to adopt. Furthermore, vehicle parts, vehicle fluids, vehicle tools and the like are liable to fall from the undercarriage onto the person working on the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a vehicle hoist, which includes a support structure positionable on a ground surface, the support structure including a pair of elongate, parallel, spaced guide tracks, each guide track defining a first segment disposed parallel to the ground surface in the operative configuration of the support structure when positioned on the ground surface and a second segment extending operatively upwardly with respect to the first segment, the support structure further including a linking segment linking the operative lower end of the second segment with one end of the first segment; a wheel support set displaceably located on each guide track for supporting respectively the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle, the wheel support sets being displaceable between a first position, in which they extend along the respective first segments of the guide track to permit a vehicle to be operatively horizontally supported thereon, and a second position, in which they are displaced partially along the second segments of the guide tracks and a vehicle supported thereon is lifted and angularly tilted about its longitudinal axis; and displacement means for displacing the wheel support set between their first position and their second position.

The support structure of the vehicle hoist may include a support frame for each guide track, on which the guide tracks are securely mounted in a configuration in which the required displacement of the wheel support sets is permitted. The support frames may comprise L-shaped frames, providing for the main part of the second segment of each guide track to be substantially vertically disposed with respect to the first segment thereof, in the operative configuration of the hoist. The support structure also may include at least two elongate connecting members connecting the support frames to one another in a configuration in which the guide tracks are disposed in their required parallel, spaced configuration with respect to one another. As such, the support structure may include adjustment means for adjusting the spacing between the support frames, particularly by adjusting the position of at least one of the support frames with respect to the connecting members. The adjustment means preferably comprises a screw-type adjustment mechanism that can be operated to adjust the position of one of the support frames with respect to the connecting members.

Each guide track may include a pair of elongate guide rods on which a wheel support set is slidably located.

Each wheel support set of the vehicle hoist may include a pair of bogies configured to support either the respective front wheels or the respective rear wheels of a vehicle, the bogies of each pair being mechanically connected to one another to render them displaceable in unison along their guide track. The configuration of at least one bogie of each pair of bogies may be such that different wheel spacings between the wheels of different vehicles are accommodated.

The displacement means of the vehicle hoist may be a winch and cable arrangement including a winch mechanism operatively linked by cables with the respective wheel support sets and being operable to simultaneously displace the wheel support sets along their guide tracks by the operation of the winch mechanism.

The winch mechanism may include a manually operable winch mechanism. The winch mechanism may include a motorised winch mechanism. The motorised winch mechanism may include either one of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, or the like. The cables of the winch arrangement may be suitably linked with the respective wheel support sets via a suitable pulley arrangement operatively supported on the support structure of the vehicle hoist.

The vehicle hoist of the invention may further include locking means for locking either one or both wheel support sets in their second position with respect to the guide tracks.

Still further, the vehicle hoist may include holding means for holding in position selected wheels of a vehicle supported on the wheel support sets while the vehicle is lifted and tilted by the operation of the vehicle hoist. The holding means typically comprises two chains that can respectively hold in position the wheels of a vehicle disposed nearest the respective second segments of the guide tracks. The vehicle hoist of the invention may still further include urging means that can act on the wheel support sets when displaced towards their second position and that can serve to retain required tension in the cables of the winch and cable arrangement, particularly when a vehicle has reached a tilted position in which the centre of gravity thereof is disposed in a location in which the vehicle will tend to displace further the wheel support sets. The urging means typically comprises a spring arrangement that will act on at least one of the wheel support sets when displaced beyond a predetermined limit position towards the second position of the said at least one wheel support set. The vehicle hoist of the invention further includes a pair of ramp formations that can guide the wheels of a vehicle onto the respective wheel support sets.

Furthermore, the vehicle hoist may include a tool tray supported on the support structure for conveniently supporting tools that can be used in conjunction with operations to be performed on a vehicle supported on the vehicle hoist. The vehicle hoist also may be associated with a mirror arrangement that can assist a vehicle driver to drive his vehicle onto the wheel support sets of the vehicle hoist via the ramp formations.

The support structure of the vehicle hoist of the invention may also include wheels that are displaceably mounted thereon, to be displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the support structure is securely supported on a ground surface, and an operative configuration, in which the support structure and, as such, the vehicle hoist is lifted from the ground surface and can be conveniently displaced between different locations.

It is also envisaged that the vehicle hoist of the invention and, particularly, the support structure thereof, can be configured to permit convenient disassembly and reassembly, thus facilitating transport of the vehicle hoist to required locations and also storage in a relatively compact configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the vehicle hoist of the invention, including the operation thereof, are described in more detail hereafter with reference to an example of a vehicle hoist, illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a vehicle hoist, in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the operation of the vehicle hoist of Figure 1 with a vehicle supported thereon and disposed in different positions during the lifting and tilting of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, a vehicle hoist, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The vehicle hoist 10 includes a support structure that comprises two L- shaped support frames 12 that are held in a substantially parallel, spaced relationship with respect to one another by two connecting members 14 located at the operative free ends of the support frames 12.

Each support frame 12 comprises a channel section within which a guide track comprising a pair of guide rods 16 is securely located. Each guide track comprises a first segment 18 that is disposed substantially horizontally in the operative configuration of the support structure when supported on a ground surface (as shown) and a second segment 20 of which the operative lower end is linked by a curved linking segment 22 with one end of the first segment 18, the segment 20 thus being substantially vertically disposed in the operative configuration of the support structure. Each guide track has a vehicle wheel support set 24 slidably located thereon, each wheel support set 24 comprising a pair of bogies 26 that are mechanically linked with one another and on which the wheels of a vehicle can be supported. It will be appreciated in this regard that the bogies 26 of the wheel support sets 24 can support respectively the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle thereon, particularly in a configuration in which the operative longitudinal axis of the vehicle is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the path defined by the guide tracks. The bogies 26 are slidably located on the guide rods 16 and are displaceable from their position as shown to a position in which the bogies 26.1 are displaced at least partially along the respective second segments 20 of the guide rods 16, while the bogies 26.2 are still located along the respective first segments 18, but in a location nearer the segments 20. This is described in more detail hereafter.

As is clear from Figure 1 of the drawings, the bogies 26.2 comprise relatively narrow channel formations within each of which a vehicle wheel is relatively snugly receivable, whereas the bogies 26.1 are wider channel formations that serve particularly to accommodate the different wheel spacings that are associated with different vehicles.

In order to facilitate the displacement of a vehicle onto the hoist 10, a pair of ramp formations 28, as illustrated, are provided, along which the wheels of a vehicle can be displaced into their required locations onto their respective bogies 26 of the wheel support sets 24.

In order to accommodate different spacings between the front wheels and rear wheels of different vehicles, the support frame 12.1 is displaceably located with respect to the connecting member 14, an adjustment mechanism in the form of a screw mechanism 30 associated with each connecting member 14 being operable for displacing the support frame 12.2. Different adjustment means for the purpose clearly also are envisaged. The vehicle hoist 10 includes further a displacement means in the form of a winch and cable arrangement for displacing the vehicle wheel support sets 24 between their position as shown in Figure 1 and a position in which they are displaced along the guide rails 16 towards the connecting member 14.2, the winch and cable arrangement including a winch mechanism that is operable by an electric motor 40 for displacing cables (not shown in Figure 1) connected to the respective wheel support sets 24 via an arrangement of pulleys 42 (not all shown). The operation of this winch and cable arrangement will be described in more detail hereafter with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings.

The vehicle hoist 10 still further includes a compression spring 44 located on a guide rod 46 which projects operatively downwardly in a location adjacent the support frame 12.1 , as shown, the guide rod 46 being located to be engaged by a lug formation 48, that extends from the bogie 26.1 , via an aperture (not shown) defined in the lug formation 48, the lug formation 48 thus being disposed to compress the spring 44 when the bogie 26.1 is displaced, during operation of the hoist 10, to a location along the segment 20 of the guide rod 16 disposed beyond the effective location of the spring 44. This is again referred to and explained in more detail hereafter.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, in order to perform a working operation on the undercarriage of a vehicle, the vehicle 50 can be driven onto the bogies 26 of the respective wheel support sets 24, particularly via the ramp formations 28. In order to avoid petrol spillage during lifting and tilting of the vehicle 50, the vehicle fuel cap should be disposed on the side of the vehicle nearest to upright part of the support frames 12. When positioned on the bogies 26 the wheels nearest the upright part of the support frames 12 can be securely held in position by chains 52, as illustrated, thus providing for the secure location of the vehicle 50 on the wheel support sets 24, even when lifted and tilted through a substantial angle as described hereafter. By the operation of the electric motor 40 of the winch and cable arrangement, cables 54 linked to the wheel support sets 24 are displaced, acting on the wheel support sets 24 for displacing the bogies 26 along the guide rails 16. Effective lifting of one side of the vehicle 50 by tilting thereof is thus initiated. Figure 3 illustrates the configuration of the vehicle 50 and the hoist 10 after lifting and tilting the vehicle 50 through approximately 15°, whereas Figure 4 illustrates the configuration of the vehicle 50 and the hoist 10 after lifting and tilting of the vehicle through approximately 45°.

As the vehicle 50 is lifted and tilted further, the lug formation 48 projecting from the bogie 26.1 will engage the rod 46 and as lifting and tilting continues still further, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the spring 44 located on the rod 46 will be compressed by such further displacement. The cables 54 acting on the wheel support sets 24 thus act against the force of the spring 44, it being ensured thereby that the cables 54 remain under tension. This is required insofar as the vehicle 50 will tend to topple over by itself, by acting on the wheel support sets 24, when tilted through an angle at which the centre of gravity of the vehicle 50 is displaced beyond a particular limit position.

When disposed in the position as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, undercarriage operations such as cleaning, rust removing, rust treatment, fixing and replacing of exhaust systems and/or fixing and replacing of other engine parts, clearly can be conveniently carried out, effectively with the undercarriage of the vehicle facing the person working on the vehicle 50, as opposed to being disposed above the person which, it is known, is extremely inconvenient and uncomfortable. Once a working operation has been completed, through the reverse displacement of the wheel support set 24, the vehicle 50 can again be displaced into its horizontal position in which it can be driven from the hoist 10. The support structure of the hoist 10 is provided also with two pairs of wheels 60 that are displaceable between an inoperative configuration as shown, in which the support structure is stably supported on a support surface, and an operative configuration in which the support structure is lifted from the support surface and the hoist 10 is thus easily displaceable to any required working location.

It is envisaged in the above regard also that the support structure of the vehicle hoist of the invention can be provided in a configuration in which it can be easily disassembled and reassembled, thus again facilitating the transport of the vehicle hoist to required working locations and storage thereof in a relatively compact configuration.

It will be appreciated that overall configuration of the vehicle hoist of the invention is greatly variable while still incorporating the essential principles of the invention as hereinabove defined and described and the invention extends also to such alternative configuration hoists that still incorporate these principles.

It will be appreciated also that the mode of use of the vehicle hoist of the invention is greatly variable and insofar as fuel, brake fluid, water, cooling water and oil may be spilled as a result of the tilting of a vehicle, it may be required to deal with these possibilities prior to performing required working operations on a vehicle. This clearly will be determined by the configurations of different vehicles.

The vehicle hoist of the invention also can be provided in configurations that can accommodate particular different vehicles, including also heavy vehicles, and the invention extends also to such vehicle hoists that are specifically adapted for particular applications and that still incorporate the essential principles of the invention as herein defined.

Claims

1. A vehicle hoist, which includes a support structure positionable on a ground surface, the support structure including a pair of elongate, parallel, spaced guide tracks, each guide track defining a first segment disposed parallel to the ground surface in the operative configuration of the support structure when positioned on the ground surface and a second segment extending operatively upwardly with respect to the first segment, the support structure further including a linking segment linking the operative lower end of the second segment with one end of the first segment; a wheel support set displaceably located on each guide track for supporting respectively the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle, the wheel support sets being displaceable between a first position, in which they extend along the respective first segments of the guide track to permit a vehicle to be operatively horizontally supported thereon, and a second position, in which they are displaced partially along the second segments of the guide tracks and a vehicle supported thereon is lifted and angularly tilted about its longitudinal axis; and displacement means for displacing the wheel support set between their first position and their second position.

2. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a support frame for each guide track, on which the guide tracks are securely mounted in a configuration in which the required displacement of the wheel support sets is permitted.

3. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 2, wherein each support frame comprises an L-shaped frame, providing for the main part of the second segment of each guide track to be substantially vertically disposed with respect to the first segment thereof, in the operative configuration of the hoist.

4. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support structure includes at least two elongate connecting members connecting the support frames to one another in a configuration in which the guide tracks are disposed in their required parallel, spaced configuration with respect to one another.

5. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support structure includes adjustment means for adjusting the spacing between the support frames, particularly by adjusting the position of at least one of the support frames with respect to the connecting members.

6. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adjustment means comprises a screw-type adjustment mechanism that can be operated to adjust the position of one of the support frames with respect to the connecting members.

7. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each guide track includes a pair of elongate guide rods on which a wheel support set is slidably located.

8. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each wheel support set includes a pair of bogies configured to support either the respective front wheels or the respective rear wheels of a vehicle, the bogies of each pair being mechanically connected to one another to render them displaceable in unison along their guide track.

9. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 8, wherein the configuration of at least one bogie of each pair of bogies is such that different wheel spacings between the wheels of different vehicles are accommodated.

10. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the displacement means includes a winch and cable arrangement in the form of a winch mechanism operatively linked by cables with the respective wheel support sets and being operable to simultaneously displace the wheel support sets along their guide tracks by the operation of the winch mechanism.

11. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 10, wherein the winch mechanism includes a manually operable winch mechanism.

12. A vehicle hoist as claimed in either one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the winch mechanism includes a motorised winch mechanism.

13. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 12, wherein the motorised winch mechanism includes either one of an electric motor or a hydraulic motor.

14. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the cables of the winch and cable arrangement are suitably linked with the respective wheel support sets via a suitable pulley arrangement operatively supported on the support structure of the vehicle hoist.

15. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, which includes urging means that can act on the wheel support sets when displaced towards their second position and that can serve to retain required tension in the cables of the winch and cable arrangement, particularly when a vehicle has reached a tilted position in which the centre of gravity thereof is disposed in a location in which the vehicle will tend to displace further the wheel support sets.

16. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 15, wherein the urging means comprises a spring arrangement that will act on at least one of the wheel support sets when displaced beyond a predetermined limit position towards the second position of the said at least one wheel support set.

17. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, which includes locking means for locking either one or both wheel support sets in their second position with respect to the guide tracks.

18. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, which includes holding means for holding in position selected wheels of a vehicle supported on the wheel support sets while the vehicle is lifted and tilted by the operation of the vehicle hoist.

19. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 18, wherein the holding means comprises two chains that can respectively hold in position the wheels of a vehicle disposed nearest the respective second segments of the guide tracks.

20. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, which includes a pair of ramp formations that can guide the wheels of a vehicle onto the respective wheel support sets.

21. A vehicle hoist as claimed in claim 20, which is associated with a mirror arrangement that can assist a vehicle driver to drive his vehicle onto the wheel support sets of the vehicle hoist via the ramp formations.

22. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, which includes a tool tray supported on the support structure for conveniently supporting tools that can be used in conjunction with operations to be performed on a vehicle supported on the vehicle hoist.

23. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, which includes wheels that are displaceably mounted the support structure, to be displaceable between an inoperative position, in which the support structure is securely supported on a ground surface, and an operative configuration, in which the support structure is lifted from the ground surface and can be conveniently displaced between different locations.

24. A vehicle hoist as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, which is configured to permit convenient disassembly and reassembly, thus facilitating transport of the vehicle hoist to required locations and also storage in a relatively compact configuration.

25. A vehicle hoist according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

26. A vehicle hoist as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.