Apparatus and method for lifting two axles onto a vehicle chassis

• US 6,308,404 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Hirschmann, David F., Hui, Anna
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFREY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/351,562
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 198/346, 198/346.3, 198/468.8, 198/463.2, 414/255, 414/256, 414/427, 414/662, 414/667, 297/91, 298/22, 298/23, 298/24, 294/30, 254/122, 254/124, 254/133, 254/134, 269/71
• US Class Current: 29/822
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/12 the sub-units or components being suspensions, brakes or wheel units
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/534 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53539 including work conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53548 and work carrying vehicle

Abstract

A pair of axles are mechanically lifted onto the underside of a vehicle chassis to facilitate an axle-mounting process. The lifting action is achieved with a scissors jack that is powered by a hydraulic cylinder supplied with hydraulic fluid from an accumulator. The accumulator is initially charged by a hydraulic pump that is driven by an air motor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for lifting two axles onto the undersurface of a vehicle chassis while the chassis is being moved and supported by an overhead conveyor;

said apparatus including a moveable worker-support platform synchronized with the conveyor so that the platform moves at the same speed as the vehicle chassis;

two liftable axle carriers on said platform;

two separate jacks on said platform, for moving each axle carrier up and down, whereby the axles can be lifted onto the undersurface of the chassis;

a separate hydraulic means for operating each said jack; and

pneumatic means for pressurizing each hydraulic means;

said pneumatic means including a pressurized air source remote from said worker-support platform, an air system on board the platform, and a disconnectable conduit means for connecting said pressurized air source to said on-board air system without changing the speed of said platform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said hydraulic operating means includes a hydraulic accumulator means, a hydraulic cylinder mechanically connected to an associated jack, and a valve controlling hydraulic flow from said accumulator means to said cylinder means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said air system comprises an air motor, and said hydraulic operating means comprises a hydraulic pump driven by said air motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each air system comprises an air motor;

said hydraulic operating means comprising a hydraulic pump driven by said air motor, a hydraulic accumulator pressurized by said hydraulic pump, a hydraulic cylinder mechanically connected to an associated jack, and a valve controlling hydraulic flow from said accumulator to said cylinder means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each pressurizable air system includes an air storage tank and a pressure regulator controlling air flow from said tank to said air motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said jack is a scissors jack.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, where in each said jack is a scissors jack;

each said hydraulic operating means comprising a hydraulic accumulator, a hydraulic cylinder mechanically connected to an associated scissors jack, and a valve controlling hydraulic flow from said accumulator to said cylinder means.

8. A method for lifting two axles onto the undersurface of a vehicle chassis while the chassis is being moved and supported by an overhead conveyor;

said method including the steps of moving a worker-support platform in synchronism with the vehicle chassis;

providing two liftable axle carriers on said platform;

moving each axle carrier up and down with a separate jack, whereby the axles can be lifted onto the undersurface of the chassis;

operating each jack with a separate hydraulic means; and

supplying pressure to said hydraulic means with a pneumatic means;

said pressure-supplying step including the sub-steps of connecting a remote air source to an air system on board the worker-support platform, and subsequently disconnecting said air source from the on-board air system without changing the speed of the worker-support platform.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of operating each jack includes storing a hydraulic pressure in an accumulator, and opening a valve located between the accumulator and a jack-operating cylinder.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of storing hydraulic pressure in the accumulator includes the step of delivering pressurized air to an air motor and mechanically connecting said air motor to a hydraulic pump that is in hydraulic communication with the accumulator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of delivering pressurized air to the air motor includes storing pressurized air in an air tank, and passing pressurized air from the tank through a pressure regulator to the air motor.