Load indicator for vehicle lift

• US 10,081,523 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vehicle Service Group LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Service Group LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Doug, Dirksen, Jr., James G., Katerberg, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koehler, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoon, Seahee
• Application Number:
  US14/705,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20150329336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 254 89 H, 254133 R
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/00 Safety devices, e.g. for limiting or indicating lifting force
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/04 hydraulically or pneumatically operated
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/16 by one or more hydraulic or pneumatic jacks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/20 by several jacks with means for maintaining the platforms horizontal during movement
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/28 Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a frame, a vehicle engagement assembly, a lift actuation assembly, a locking assembly, and an indicator system. The vehicle engagement assembly is designed to vertically lift a vehicle. The frame comprises at least one slot to provide a predetermined path for the vehicle engagement assembly. The lift assembly provides the force required to lift the vehicle while the locking assembly stabilizes the vehicles without further force required by the lift assembly. The indicator system determines whether the locking assembly or the lift assembly is predominantly keeping the vehicle lifted.

Claims

1. An apparatus for lifting vehicles, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a vehicle engagement assembly configured to actuate relative to the frame, wherein the vehicle engagement assembly is configured to vertically lift a vehicle;

(c) a lift actuation assembly configured to support the vehicle via the vehicle engagement assembly and to actuate the vehicle engagement assembly relative to the frame thereby driving the vehicle engagement assembly to vertically lift the vehicle, wherein the lift actuation assembly comprises a hydraulic circuit;

(d) a locking assembly configured to support the vehicle and to selectively maintain a position of the vehicle engagement assembly relative to the frame without assistance of the hydraulic circuit; and

(e) an indicator system in fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit, wherein the indicator system is configured to determine fluid pressure within the hydraulic circuit, wherein

the indicator system is configured to binarily transition between a first indicating state and a second indicating state as a binary function of the fluid pressure within the hydraulic circuit,

the indicator is configured to indicate the first indicating state when the locking assembly supports the vehicle, and

the indicator is configured to indicate the second indicating state when the hydraulic lifting assembly supports the vehicle, to thereby indicate when either the hydraulic circuit is supporting the vehicle or the locking assembly is supporting the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further comprises:

(i) a locking rail, and

(ii) a lock actuator further comprising;

(A) a pivot pin fixed to a housing, and

(B) a lock member pivotably secured to the pivot pin, the lock member further comprising a cam portion configured to rotate the lock member by engaging the locking rail, and a lock portion configured to support the vehicle and to selectively maintain the position of the vehicle engagement assembly relative to the frame without assistance of the lift actuation assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the locking rail is fixed to the vehicle engagement assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic circuit comprises:

(i) a hydraulic pump,

(ii) a reservoir tank configured to store an amount of hydraulic fluid,

(iii) a manifold connecting the hydraulic pump and the reservoir tank,

(iv) a hydraulic cylinder, and

(v) a hydraulic line connecting the manifold with the hydraulic cylinder.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lock member is resiliently biased to engage the lock rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the locking rail further comprises a plurality of apertures.

7. An apparatus for lifting vehicles, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a vehicle engagement assembly configured to vertically raise a vehicle;

(b) a hydraulic lifting assembly configured to support the vehicle and to actuate the vehicle engagement assembly, wherein the hydraulic lifting assembly further comprises a hydraulic circuit comprising;

(i) a hydraulic pump, and

(ii) a hydraulic cylinder in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is further coupled with the vehicle engagement assembly such that the hydraulic lifting assembly is operable to drive the vehicle engagement assembly via the hydraulic cylinder;

(c) a locking assembly configured to support the vehicle and to selectively maintain a vertical position of the vehicle engagement assembly without assistance of the hydraulic lifting assembly; and

(d) an indicator system comprising;

(i) a pressure sensor connected with the hydraulic circuit, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure value within the hydraulic circuit, and,

(ii) an indicator in communication with the pressure sensor, wherein the indicator comprises a binary electric switch in communication with the pressure sensor, wherein the binary electric switch is configured to transition the indicator between a first indication state and a second indication state based on the sensed pressure value, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate the first indicating state when the locking assembly supports the vehicle, and wherein the indicator is configured to indicate the second indicating state when the hydraulic lifting assembly supports the vehicle.

8. An apparatus for lifting vehicles, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame assembly, wherein the frame assembly is configured to be fixed relative to the ground;

(b) a vehicle support assembly coupled with the frame assembly, wherein the vehicle support assembly is configured to engage and support a vehicle, wherein the vehicle support assembly is movable relative to the frame assembly to lift the vehicle relative to the ground;

(c) a hydraulic actuation assembly coupled with the vehicle support assembly, wherein the hydraulic actuation assembly is operable to drive the vehicle support assembly upwardly relative to the ground;

(d) a locking assembly operable to selectively engage the frame assembly, wherein the locking assembly is configured to cooperate with the frame assembly and the vehicle support assembly to support the vehicle without the hydraulic actuation assembly bearing the weight of the vehicle; and

(e) an indicator in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuation assembly, wherein the indicator comprises;

(i) a pressure sensor comprising a threshold pressure value, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure of fluid within the hydraulic actuation assembly,

(ii) a lock light indication assembly, and

(iii) a binary electric switch in electrical communication with the lock light indication assembly and the pressure sensor, wherein the binary electric switch is configured to transition the lock light indication assembly between a first indicating state and a second indicating state based on a comparison of the sensed pressure fluid and the threshold pressure value, wherein the first indicating state indicates the locking assembly is bearing the weight of the vehicle, wherein the second indicating state indicates the hydraulic actuating assembly is supporting the vehicle.