Coordinated lift system

• US 20040026180A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gray Automotive Products Co.
• Inventors: Baker, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,014,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/285
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/20 by several jacks with means for maintaining the platforms horizontal during movement

Abstract

A lift system that coordinates the raising and lowering of a vehicle relative to a surface by using wireless communications is provided. The lift system includes at least two lift mechanisms each having a post, a carriage, an actuating device and a control device. The carriage is slidably coupled to the post and is adapted to support a portion of the vehicle. The actuating device is coupled with the carriage and is capable of moving the carriage relative to the post. The control device is coupled with the actuating device and is capable of communicating by wireless signals with the other control device. The control devices communicate by wireless signals to coordinate the movement of the carriages relative to the posts to raise or lower the vehicle. Further, a rechargeable battery may provide power to the control device to allow for increased mobility of the lift system.

Claims

1. A method for coordinating movement of a vehicle relative to a surface, said method comprising:

providing first and second lift mechanisms;

placing first and second lift mechanisms in contact with a portion of the vehicle; and

utilizing wireless signals to coordinate the movement of the first and second lift mechanisms.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one other lift mechanism.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first lift mechanism includes a master control box, and said second and at least one other lift mechanisms include a slave control box, wherein said master control box controls movement of said slave control boxes through communication by wireless signals.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing height sensors on first, second, and at least one other lift mechanisms; and

determining the height of the vehicle relative to the surface at said first, second and at least one other mechanism.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

sending the height of the vehicle at said second and at least one other lift mechanisms to said first lift mechanism by a wireless communication;

comparing the height of the vehicle at the second and at least one other lift mechanisms with the height at the first lift mechanism; and

adjusting the movement of the vehicle so that said first lift mechanism moves the vehicle in coordination with said second and at least on other lift mechanisms.

6. A lift system for moving a vehicle relative to a surface, said lifting system comprising:

a first lift member;

a second lift member; and

a wireless signal control system which coordinates movement of first and second lift members, wherein said first lift member control movement of said second lift member through wireless communication.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said wireless signal control system includes a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless signals.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a sensor coupled with said wireless signal control system for determining the position of said first and second lift members.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said wireless signal control system includes a stop mechanism that prevents the movement of said first and second lift members.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said wireless signal control system is adapted to prevent the movement of one or more of the other lift mechanisms by wireless signals.

11. The device of claim 6, further comprising a remote control capable of communicating with said wireless signal control system by wireless signals to raise or lower the vehicles relative to the surface.

12. The device of claim 6 wherein said wireless signal control system has a unique identifier associated therewith which may be transmitted with the wireless signal.

13. A lift system for moving a vehicle relative to a surface, said lifting system comprising:

a first lift member;

at least two other lift members; and

a wireless signal control system which coordinates movement of first and at least two other lift members, wherein first lift member controls movement of at least two other lift members.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said wireless signal control system includes a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless signals from another control device.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled with said wireless signal control system for determining the position of said first and second lift members.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein said wireless signal control system includes a stop mechanism that prevents the movement of said first and second lift members.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said wireless signal control system is adapted to prevent the movement of one or more of the other lift mechanisms by wireless signals.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising a remote control capable of communicating with said wireless signal control system by wireless signals to raise or lower the vehicles relative to the surface.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein said wireless signal control system has a unique identifier associated therewith which may be transmitted with the wireless signal.