Coordinated lift system
DCFirst Claim
1. A lifting device for moving a vehicle relative to a surface, said lifting device comprising:
- at least two posts;
a carriage slidably coupled to each of said posts, each of said carriages being adapted to support a portion of the vehicle;
an actuating device coupled with each of said carriages, each of said actuating devices being capable of moving said carriage relative to said post; and
a control device coupled with each of said actuating devices, each of said control devices capable of communicating by wireless signals with the other control device;
wherein each of said carriages supports a portion of the vehicle, and wherein each of said control devices communicate with each other by wireless signals to coordinate the movement of said carriages relative to said posts to raise or lower the vehicle relative to the surface.
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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.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A lifting device for moving a vehicle relative to a surface, said lifting device comprising:
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at least two posts;
a carriage slidably coupled to each of said posts, each of said carriages being adapted to support a portion of the vehicle;
an actuating device coupled with each of said carriages, each of said actuating devices being capable of moving said carriage relative to said post; and
a control device coupled with each of said actuating devices, each of said control devices capable of communicating by wireless signals with the other control device;
wherein each of said carriages supports a portion of the vehicle, and wherein each of said control devices communicate with each other by wireless signals to coordinate the movement of said carriages relative to said posts to raise or lower the vehicle relative to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A lift system for raising and/or lowering a vehicle relative to a surface, said lift system including at least two lift mechanisms, each of said lift mechanisms comprising:
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a post;
a carriage slidably coupled with said post, said carriage being adapted to support the vehicle;
an actuating device capable of moving said carriage relative to said post; and
a control device coupled with said actuating device, said control device capable of communicating by wireless signals with another control device;
wherein said carriage supports a portion of the vehicle, and wherein said control device communicate with the other control devices by wireless signals to coordinate the movement of said carriages relative to said posts to raise or lower the vehicle relative to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A lifting device for moving a vehicle relative to a surface, said lifting device comprising:
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at least two posts;
support means slidably coupled to each of said posts, said support means being adapted to support a portion of the vehicle;
lifting means associated with each of said support means for moving said support means relative to said post; and
control means associated with each of said lifting means, said control means capable of communicating by wireless signals with the other control means, wherein each of said support means supports a portion of the vehicle, and wherein each of said control means communicate with each other by wireless signals to coordinate the movement of said support means relative to said posts to raise or lower the vehicle relative to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for the coordinated movement of a vehicle relative to a surface, said method comprising:
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providing first and second lift mechanisms;
placing first and second lift mechanisms in contact with a portion of the vehicle;
sending a wireless signal from said first lift mechanism;
receiving the wireless signal at said second lift mechanism, wherein said wireless signal instructs said second lift mechanism to move the vehicle relative to the surface; and
moving the vehicle using said first lift mechanism in coordination with said second lift mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
providing height sensors on first and second lift mechanisms; and
determining the height of the vehicle relative to the surface at said first and second lift mechanisms.
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46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
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sending the height of the vehicle at said second lift mechanism to said first lift mechanism by a wireless communication;
comparing the height of the vehicle at the second lift mechanism with the height of the vehicle 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 lift mechanism.
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47. The method of claim 43, wherein first and second lift mechanisms move the vehicle using a rechargeable power source.
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48. The method of claim 43, wherein said first and second lift mechanisms move the vehicle using separate power sources.
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49. The method of claim 43, further comprising operating said first and second lift mechanisms independent of one another.
Specification