Wireless vehicle lift system with enhanced electronic controls

• US 10,059,576 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Jaipaul, Larry M., Fagan, John E., Sandmann, David Dwight, Keck, Jr., William R., Rucker, Stephen J., McKee, Ralph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US15/166,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 187203, 187204, 187207, 187209, 187210, 187213, 187219, 187220, 187247, 187277, 187391-394
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 13/00 Common constructional features or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 5/00 Mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/02 with platforms suspended from ropes, cables, or chains or screws and movable along pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/10 with platforms supported directly by jacks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/28 Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

Wireless portable vehicle lift system incorporating one or more enhanced communication and/or control features. The lift system can incorporate enhanced touch screen-enabled functionalities and/or enhanced wireless communication features.

Claims

1. A wireless mobile column lift system comprising:

at least two portable lifts, wherein each of said lifts includes—

a base for supporting said lift on a floor or the ground,

a post rigidly coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom,

a carriage assembly configured to engage a wheel of a vehicle, wherein said carriage assembly is coupled to said post and configured for vertical shifting relative to said post,

a lift actuator for raising and lowering said carriage assembly relative to said post, and

one or more batteries configured to provide power for said lift; and

an electronic control system for controlling said lift system, wherein said electronic control system includes—

a wireless communication system configured to provide wireless communication among said lifts in said lift system, and

a user interface associated with each of said lifts, wherein said user interface on each of said lifts comprises a touch screen display,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to provide continuous wireless communication between each of said lifts and every other one of said lifts in said lift system,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to permit all of said lifts to be controlled via a single user interface located on one of said lifts,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to track and/or store lift data relevant to safety, maintenance, and/or proper operation of said lift system,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to provide a notification of maintenance needs base on said lift data,

wherein said wireless communication system is configured to automatically scan communication frequencies and select a frequency with minimal noise,

wherein said user interface further comprises one or more function buttons separate from the touch screen display,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display a real time animation of the position of said lifts during lifting and lowering,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display a height of one or more of said lifts,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display a weight supported by one or more of said lifts,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display a battery status of one or more of said lifts.

2. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication system is configured to scan said communication frequencies on a continual basis.

3. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured such that during operation of said lift system each lift contains up to date information about the status and lift parameters of all lifts in said lift system.

4. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system includes a common data buffer in each of said lifts, wherein said electronic control system is configured to keep said common data buffer up to date by continually polling all of said lifts in said lift system, wherein said common data buffer contains information concerning the status and operation of each of said lifts in said lift system.

5. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured such that each lift is capable of track its own actions and the actions of all other lifts in said lift system.

6. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is configured to include a pass code screen that prompts the operator of said lift system to enter a pass code prior to operating said lift system.

7. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured to access a database containing one or more stored authorized pass codes, wherein said electronic control system is configured to render said lift system inoperable if said pass code entered by the operator does not match one of said authorized stored pass codes in said database.

8. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 7, wherein said database is accessed remotely.

9. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is configured with a training verification screen that includes an input section for the operator of said lift system to enter information indicating whether the operator has been trained to operate said lift system, wherein said electronic control system is configured to render said lift system inoperable if the operator of said lift system inputs information indicating that the operator has not been trained on said lift system.

10. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises an emergency stop button.

11. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is programmed so that movement of said lifts requires operator input from at least one of said function buttons.

12. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said lifts in said lift system has a substantially identical user interface.

13. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said lifts in said lift system is substantially identical.

14. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display on each of said lifts is configured to display at least 80 unique operator interface screens.

15. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display on each of said lifts is configured to display at least 400 different operator interface screens.

16. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is configured to display a lift height, a lifted weight, and a battery status.

17. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured such that said touch screen display on the lift being used by the operator to control said lift system displays information about all of said lifts in said lift system.

18. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured to display a relative position of all of said lifts on said touch screen of at least one of said lifts.

19. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said lifts comprises a weight sensing mechanism configured to detect the weight supported by said carriage assembly, wherein said electronic control system is configured to detect when a difference in weight lifted by different ones of said lifts exceeds an allowable amount, wherein said electronic control system is configured to automatically re-synchronize said lifts when the difference in weight lifted by different ones of said lifts exceeds an allowable amount.

20. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said lift comprises a battery charger for recharging said one or more batteries.

21. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured to automatically detect the existence of an unsynchronized condition.

22. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 21, wherein said touch screen display is configured to provide a visual indication of said unsynchronized condition.

23. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured to allow the operator of said lift system to operate all of said lifts in said lift system, a subgroup of said lifts in said lift system, or a single one of said lifts in said lift system.

24. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured to permit paired operation of a user selected pair of said lifts.

25. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system comprises a velocity controller for controlling the velocity of said lifts within a certain velocity range.

26. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 25, wherein said electronic control system comprises a velocity sensor, wherein said electronic control system is configured to wirelessly communicate the velocity of each of said lifts.

27. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said lift system is configured to electronically store lift information relevant to the safety, maintenance, and/or proper operation of said lift system.

28. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is configured to display instructional information, warning information, and operating information.

29. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said lift system does not have power cables or control cables.

30. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said lifts comprises a mechanical load holding device, wherein said touch screen display is configured to display information about said mechanical load holding devices.

31. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said lifts comprises stationary metal stops, wherein said electronic control system is configured to execute a park operation by lowering all of said lifts to the nearest set of mechanical stops, wherein said electronic control system is configured to provide the operator of said lift system with an indication that said park operation has been accomplished.

32. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is configured to provide an audible warning during lowering of said lifts.

33. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication system is configured for operation on a plurality of channels, where said channels can be selected by the user of said lift system.

34. The wireless mobile column lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is capable of controlling eight or more of said lifts in a coordinated fashion from one of said user interfaces.

35. A wireless mobile column lift system comprising:

at least two portable lifts, wherein each of said lifts includes—

a base for supporting said lift on a floor or the ground,

a post rigidly coupled to said base and extending upwardly therefrom,

a carriage assembly configured to engage a wheel of a vehicle, wherein said carriage assembly is coupled to said post and configured for vertical shifting relative to said post,

a lift actuator for raising and lowering said carriage assembly relative to said post, and

one or more batteries configured to provide power for said lift; and

an electronic control system for controlling said lift system, wherein said electronic control system includes—

a wireless communication system configured to provide wireless communication among said lifts in said lift system, and

a user interface associated with each of said lifts, wherein said user interface on each of said lifts comprises a touch screen display,

wherein said wireless communication system is configured to automatically scan communication frequencies on a continual basis and automatically adjust one or more wireless communication parameters based on the scan of communication frequencies,

wherein said user interface further comprises one or more function buttons separate from said touch screen display and an emergency stop button separate from said touch screen display,

wherein said electronic control system is programmed so that movement of said lifts requires operator input from at least one of said function buttons,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to permit all of said lifts to be controlled via a single user interface located on one of said lifts,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to provide a notification of maintenance needs,

wherein said electronic control system is configured to permit paired operation of a selected pair of said lifts,

wherein said electronic control system is configured such that each of said lifts is capable of tracking its own actions and the actions of all other of said lifts in said lift system,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to prompt the operator of said lift system to enter a pass code prior to operating said lift system, wherein said electronic control system is configured to access a database containing one or more stored authorized pass codes, wherein said electronic control system is configured to render said lift system inoperable if said pass code entered by the operator does not match one of the authorized stored pass codes stored in said database,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display a real time animation of the position of said lifts during lifting and lowering,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display the height of one or more of said lifts in said lift system,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display the weight supported by one or more of said lifts in said lift system,

wherein said touch screen display is configured to display the battery status of one or more of said lifts in said lift system,

wherein each of said lifts comprises a mechanical load holding device, wherein said touch screen display is configured to display information about said mechanical load holding devices,

wherein each of said lifts in said lift system is substantially identical.

36. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said wireless communication system is configured to select a frequency with minimal noise to thereby maintain integrity and/or security of wireless communications.

37. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said electronic control system includes a common data buffer in each of said lifts, wherein said electronic control system is configured to keep said common data buffer up to date by continually polling all of said lifts in said lift system, wherein said common data buffer contains information concerning the status and operation of each of said lifts in said lift system.

38. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said touch screen display on each of said lifts is configured to display at least 400 different operator interface screens.

39. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said electronic control system is configured to display all available lifts on said touch screen display of at least one of said lifts.

40. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein each of said lifts comprises a weight sensing mechanism configured to detect the weight supported by said carriage assembly, wherein said electronic control system is configured to detect when a difference in weight lifted by different ones of said lifts exceeds an allowable amount, wherein said electronic control system is configured to automatically re-synchronize said lifts when the difference in weight lifted by different ones of said lifts exceeds an allowable amount.

41. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein each of said lifts comprises two of said batteries, wherein each of said lifts comprises a battery charger for recharging said batteries.

42. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said touch screen display is configured to provide a visual warning if said lifts are out of coordination with one another.

43. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said electronic control system comprises a velocity controller for controlling the velocity of said lifts within a certain velocity range, wherein said electronic control system comprises a velocity sensor, wherein said electronic control system is configured to wirelessly communicate the velocity of each of said lifts.

44. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said lift system is configured to electronically store lift information relevant to the safety and proper operation of said lift system.

45. The wireless mobile column lift system from claim 35, wherein said lift system does not have power cables or control cables.