LOAD INDICATOR FOR VEHICLE LIFT

• US 20150329336A1
• Filed: 05/06/2015
• Published: 11/19/2015
• 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, James G. Jr., Katerberg, Kevin S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,081,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 support to 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 and 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 the 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 4, wherein the indicator system further comprises an audible alarm.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indicator system comprises a pressure sensor connected to the hydraulic circuit, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to determine the pressure within the hydraulic circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor further comprises:

(i) an electrical circuit, and

(ii) a binary electronic switch connected to the electrical circuit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the binary electronic switch is configured to transition the electrical circuit either from an open state to a closed state or a closed state to an open state at a predetermined pressure threshold.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the binary electronic switch is configured to open the electrical circuit or close the electrical circuit based on whether the pressure sensor determines the pressure within the hydraulic line is above or below the predetermined pressure threshold.

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

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator system further comprises a light connected to the electrical circuit, wherein the light is configured to turn off when the electrical circuit is open, wherein the light is configured to turn on when the electrical circuit is closed.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light is wired in series with the pressure sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the indicator system is in communication with a computer network interface in order for the indicator system to remotely indicate if the predetermined pressure threshold is met.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the indicator system further comprises a first light and a second light, wherein the first light is configured to illuminate when the pressure sensor reads a pressure greater than the predetermined pressure threshold, wherein the second light is configured to illuminate when the pressure sensor reads a pressure less than the predetermined pressure threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a mechanical analog pressure gauge.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mechanical analog pressure gauge comprises:

(i) a bourdon tube,

(ii) at least one gear, and

(iii) an indicator needle;

wherein the bourdon tube attaches to the at least one gear in order to actuate the indicator needle in response to fluid pressure.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mechanical analog pressure gauge comprise a stick gauge configured to indicate a pressure reading.

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

19. 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 when fluid pressure within the hydraulic circuit exceeds a threshold level, and,

(ii) an indicator in communication with the pressure sensor, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate when the pressure sensor senses a pressure within the hydraulic circuit that is above the predetermined pressure threshold.

20. 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 is configured to sense the pressure of fluid within the hydraulic actuation assembly and thereby indicate whether the locking assembly or the hydraulic actuation assembly is bearing the weight of the vehicle.