Coordinated lift system

• US 7,014,012 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gray Automotive Products Co.
• Inventors: Baker, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US10/634,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 187/224, 187/226, 187/227, 187/233, 187/247, 187/248, 187/249, 187/250, 187/276, 187/277, 187/413, 187/203, 187/207, 187/210, 187/213, 254/11, 254/12, 254/45, 254/47, 254/419, 254/424, 254/427, 254/273, 254290-292, 254/275, 414/564, 414/610, 414/613, 414/628, 414/630
• US Class Current: 187/247
• 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 wireless lift system for coordinated lifting of a structure and comprising:

(a) a first lift mechanism and a second lift mechanism;

(b) each of said first and second lift mechanisms including an elongated vertical guide member, a carriage slidingly engaged with said guide member and adapted to supportively engage a structure to lift and/or lower the structure, an actuator engaged between said guide member and said carriage, a controller coupled to said actuator and enabling selective activation of said actuator to thereby move said carriage along said guide member, and a rechargeable battery coupled to said actuator by way of said controller to thereby selectively provide operating power thereto;

(c) each lift mechanism including a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the controller associated therewith to enable wireless communication between controllers of said lift mechanisms; and

(d) the controllers of said lift mechanisms enabling cooperation of said lift mechanisms by way of said wireless communication between said controllers to thereby enable coordinated lifting and/or lowering of said structure.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each lift mechanism includes:

(a) said actuator including a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic pump communicating hydraulic fluid to said cylinder under pressure; and

(b) said rechargeable battery being coupled to said hydraulic pump by way of said controller to thereby selectively provide operating power to said hydraulic pump.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said carriage is adapted to engage a part of a vehicle to thereby lift said vehicle.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 and including:

(a) an additional lift mechanism substantially similar to said first and second lift mechanisms and capable of operation in coordination therewith.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each lift mechanism includes:

(a) a height sensor engaged with said carriage, coupled to said controller, and communicating to said controller a height signal corresponding to a location of said carriage relative to said guide member to thereby enable said coordinated lifting and/or lowering of said structure.

6. A lift system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each lift mechanism includes:

(a) a surface engaging wheel rotatably connected to said guide member; and

(b) a handle connected to said guide member to enable selective manual movement of said lift mechanism upon said surface.

7. A wireless lift system for coordinated lifting of a vehicle and comprising:

(a) a plurality of lift mechanisms, each lift mechanism being manually movable and including an elongated vertical guide member and a carriage slidingly engaged with said guide member and adapted to supportively engage a vehicle to lift and/or lower the vehicle;

(b) each lift mechanism including a hydraulic cylinder engaged between said guide member and said carriage, a hydraulic pump communicating hydraulic fluid with said hydraulic cylinder, and a rechargeable battery coupled to said hydraulic pump and selectively providing operating power therefor;

(c) each lift mechanism including a controller coupling said battery to said hydraulic pump and enabling selective activation of said hydraulic pump to thereby cause movement of said carriage along said guide member;

(d) each lift mechanism including a height sensor engaged with said carriage, coupled with said controller, and communicating to said controller a height signal corresponding to a location of said carriage relative to said guide member;

(e) each lift mechanism including a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to the controller associated with said lift mechanism to enable wireless communication between controllers of said lift mechanisms; and

(f) the controllers, of said lift mechanisms enabling cooperation of said lift mechanisms by way of said wireless communication between said controllers to thereby enable coordinated lifting and/or lowering of said vehicle.

8. A lift system as set forth in claim 7 wherein each lift mechanism includes:

(a) a surface engaging wheel rotatably connected to said guide member; and

(b) a handle connected to said guide member to enable selective manual movement of said lift mechanism upon said surface.

9. A method for controlling and powering lift mechanisms to coordinate lifting of a structure and comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first lift mechanism and a second lift mechanism, each of said first and second lift mechanisms including an elongated vertical guide member, a carnage slidingly engaged with said guide member and adapted to supportively engage a structure to lift and/or lower the structure, an actuator engaged between said guide member and said carnage, a controller coupled to said actuator and enabling selective activation of said actuator to thereby move said carriage along said guide member, a rechargeable battery coupled to said actuator by way of said controller to thereby selectively provide operating power thereto, and a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to said controller to enable wireless communication with a controller of another of said lift mechanisms;

(b) engaging said carnage of each of said first and second lift mechanisms with a structure to be lifted;

(c) selectively applying electrical power from said battery of each lift mechanism to the actuator thereof to cause movement of the carriage thereof along the guide member thereof; and

(d) communicating radio-frequency signals between the controllers of said lift mechanisms by way of the transceivers thereof to control selective application of said electrical power from batteries of said lift mechanisms to actuators thereof to thereby coordinate lifting of said structure.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 and including the steps of:

(a) providing each lift mechanism with a height sensor engaged with the carriage thereof and coupled with the controller thereof; and

(b) communicating to said controller a height signal corresponding the a location of the carriage thereof relative to said guide member thereof to thereby enable coordinated lifting of said structure.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 and including the steps of:

(a) providing each lift mechanism with a wheel connected to said guide member and a handle connected to said guide member; and

(b) manually moving each lift mechanism, using the handle and wheel thereof, to thereby engage the carriage thereof with said structure.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 and including the step of:

(a) adapting the carriage of each of said lift mechanisms to engage a part of a vehicle to thereby enable wireless, coordinated lifting of said vehicle using said lift mechanisms.

13. A method for controlling and powering lift mechanisms to coordinate lifting of a vehicle and comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of lift mechanisms, each of said lift mechanisms including en elongated vertical guide member, a carriage slidingly engaged with said guide member and adapted to supportively engage a vehicle to lift and/or lower said vehicle, an actuator engaged between said guide member and said carriage;

a controller coupled to said actuator and enabling selective activation of said actuator to thereby move said carriage along said guide member a rechargeable battery coupled to said actuator by way of said controller to thereby selectively provide operating power thereto;

a radio-frequency transceiver coupled to said controller to enable wireless communication with a controller of another of said lift mechanisms; and

a height sensor engaged with said carriage, coupled with said controller, and communicating to said controller a height signal corresponding to a location of said carriage relative to said guide member;

(b) engaging said carriage of each of said lift mechanisms with a respective part of said vehicle to be lifted;

(c) selectively applying electrical power from said battery of each lift mechanism to the actuator thereof to cause movement of the carriage thereof along the guide member thereof; and

(d) communicating radio-frequency signals between the controllers of said lift mechanisms by way of the transceivers thereof to control selective application of said electrical power from batteries of said lift mechanisms to actuators thereof to thereby coordinate lifting of said structure.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 and including the steps of:

(a) providing each lift mechanism with a wheel connected to said guide member and a handle connected to said guide member; and

(b) manually moving each lift mechanism, using the handle and wheel thereof, to thereby engage the carriage thereof with said structure.