Wheel lifting dolly

• US 9,162,855 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wheelfloat, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wheelfloat, Inc.
• Inventors: Fulbright, Thomas G., Snook, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Application Number:
  US13/277,030
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 254/93.R, 254/89.H, 254/2.B
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2340/34 for positioning the wheel to hub or boltholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2340/36 the devices being provided on a dolly
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 29/002 provided with a dolly
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/351 versatility, e.g. usable for different purposes or different arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 1/00 Devices, e.g. jacks, for lifting loads in predetermined steps
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 5/04 with fluid-pressure-operated lifting gear

Abstract

A wheel lift system for efficiently lifting and positioning a wheel and tire onto a wheel hub includes a support structure configured having three legs, and a wheel mounted at the end of each leg. A base block is mounted on the support structure, and a gas actuator is mounted on the base block. A wheel carriage is mounted on the air actuator, the air actuator being configured for facilitating vertical lift of the wheel carriage.

Claims

1. A wheel lift system comprising:

a support structure configured having three legs, and a wheel mounted at the end of each leg;

a base block mounted on the support structure;

a gas actuator mounted on the base block, the gas actuator comprising;

a gas cylinder;

a plug sealing a lower end of the gas cylinder;

a cylindrical actuating rod slidably mounted within the gas cylinder;

a carriage support tube slidably mounted on an exterior surface of the actuating rod, wherein the wheel carriage is mounted on the carriage support tube;

a cap fixedly coupling an upper end of the carriage support tube to an upper end of the cylindrical actuating rod;

an internal piston fixedly coupled to a lower end of the actuating rod;

a damper piston fixedly positioned within the actuating rod and defining a damping orifice;

a liquid fluid contained within an interior portion of the actuating rod above the internal piston, the fluid being sufficient to pass through the damping orifice and level off above the damper piston when the actuating rod and the internal piston are in a lowermost position;

a gaseous fluid contained within a gas cylinder cavity of the gas cylinder between the internal piston and the plug, the gas cylinder cavity being configured for fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas which, when injected into or released from the gas cylinder cavity, causes the cylindrical actuating rod and carriage support tube to move up or down, respectively;

a damper tube extending through the gaseous fluid, the plug, the liquid fluid, and the internal piston, the damper tube including a lower end being fixedly secured to a lower end of the plug and an upper end fixedly secured to the damper piston to fix the position of the damper piston relative to the gas cylinder;

a wheel carriage mounted on the carriage support tube so that the wheel carriage moves up and down with the carriage support tube.

2. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein two of the legs of the support structure extend at an upward angle at the ends thereof for allowing access to accommodate automotive low-rise lifts.

3. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein two of the legs of the support structure extend at an upward angle at the ends thereof and form a “

C”

shape and a third leg extends away from a mid-portion of the “

C”

shape and substantially directly under the wheel carriage.

4. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein:

two of the legs of the support structure extend at an upward angle at the ends thereof and form a “

C”

shape and a third leg extends away from a mid-portion of the “

C”

shape; and

the base block is rotatably mounted on the support structure to allow the wheel carriage to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the support structure.

5. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator coupled in fluid communication between the gas cylinder cavity and a source of pressurized gas for maintaining a constant pressure of gas to the gas cylinder cavity.

6. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator coupled in fluid communication between the gas cylinder cavity and a source of pressurized gas for maintaining a constant pressure of gas to the gas cylinder cavity, so that if the wheel carriage is moved upwardly, gas pressure is increased, and if the wheel carriage is moved downwardly, gas pressure is released.

7. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising an emergency relief valve coupled in fluid communication between the gas cylinder cavity and at least one of a source of pressurized gas from a pressure regulator and a tube directing exhaust gas to atmosphere.

8. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein the liquid fluid is oil.

9. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein the gaseous fluid is air.

10. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising ball bearing rollers positioned between the gas cylinder and the carriage support.

11. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein the support structure defines cavities for storing pressurized gas for regulated use in the gas cylinder cavity.

12. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control housing mounted on the wheel lift system; and

a control housing column mounted on the base block for supporting the control housing, wherein the control housing column defines a control housing cavity for storing pressurized gas for regulated use in the gas cylinder cavity.

13. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising a pivot shaft secured to the support structure, the pivot shaft defining a tip having a lower portion defining a circular cross-section and an upper portion defining a rectangular cross-section, wherein the base block is rotatably mounted to the support structure via the pivot shaft, the wheel lift system further comprising a foot lock mechanism comprising:

a locking disc defining a rectangular hole for receiving the rectangular tip of the pivot shaft;

at least two shoulder bolts secured to and extending from the base block, the at least two shoulder bolts securing the locking disc to the base block; and

at least two springs, one of the at least two springs fitting over each of the at least two shoulder bolts urging the locking disc upwardly preventing rotation of the base block relative to the support structure, the at least two springs when compressed allowing the locking disc to receive the circular cross-section of the pivot shaft allowing rotation of the base block relative to the support structure.

14. The wheel lift system of claim 1 further comprising at least one quick disconnect fitting mounted to the system, the quick disconnect fitting being in fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas to power gas tools.

15. The wheel lift system of claim 1 further comprising at least one gas inlet on the at least one leg of the three legs of the support structure.

16. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control housing mounted on the wheel lift system;

a control housing column mounted on the base block for supporting the control housing, wherein the control housing column defines a control housing cavity for storing pressurized gas for regulated use in the gas cylinder cavity; and

at least one gas inlet mounted on the control housing and in fluid communication with the control housing cavity.

17. The wheel lift system of claim 1 wherein the wheel carriage is configured to support a car door.

18. The wheel lift system of claim 1 wherein the wheel carriage is configured as a tray for lifting items.

19. The wheel lift system of claim 1 wherein the wheel carriage is configured as a work surface.

20. The wheel lift system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control housing mounted on the wheel lift system; and

a holder mounted to the control housing for holding gas tools.

21. The wheel lift system of claim 1, wherein the gas actuator further comprises:

a control mechanism; and

a needle rod coupled to and slidably extending from a lower end coupled to the control mechanism through the damper tube to an upper end proximate to the damping orifice of the damper piston, the control mechanism being configured for moving the needle rod upwardly to close the damping orifice and lock the actuating rod in place or downwardly to open the damping orifice and allow movement of the actuating rod.

31. The wheel lift system of claim 21 wherein the needle rod is configured for controlling the size of the opening in the damping orifice, the size of the opening in the damping orifice corresponding to the degree of damping effected on vertical movement of the actuating rod.

32. The wheel lift system of claim 21, wherein the control mechanism is a plate pivotally attached to the base block.

33. The wheel lift system of claim 21, wherein the control mechanism comprises:

a plate pivotally attached to the base block;

a spring mounted between the base block and the plate for biasing the plate downwardly; and

an actuating cable configured for pulling the plate upwardly.

22. A wheel lift system comprising:

a support structure;

a base block mounted on the support structure;

a gas actuator mounted on the base block;

a wheel carriage mounted on the gas actuator, the gas actuator being configured for facilitating vertical lift of the wheel carriage; and

a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the gas actuator for connection to a source of pressurized gas, the pressure regulator being arranged to maintain a constant pressure of gas in the gas actuator, such that if the wheel carriage is moved upwardly by an operator, gas is added to the gas actuator, and if the wheel carriage is moved downwardly by an operator, gas is released from the gas actuator.

23. The wheel lift system of claim 22 wherein the support structure includes three legs, and a wheel mounted at the end of each leg.

24. The wheel lift system of claim 22, wherein:

the support structure includes three legs, and a wheel mounted at the end of each leg, and

two of the legs of the support structure extend at an upward angle at the ends thereof and form a “

C”

shape and a third leg extends away from a mid-portion of the “

C”

shape and substantially directly under the wheel carriage.

25. The wheel lift system of claim 22, wherein:

the support structure includes three legs, and a wheel mounted at the end of each leg,

two of the legs of the support structure extend at an upward angle at the ends thereof and form a “

C”

shape and a third leg extends away from a mid-portion of the “

C”

shape; and

the base block is rotatably mounted on the support structure to allow the wheel carriage to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the support structure.

26. The wheel lift system of claim 22, further comprising:

a control housing mounted on the wheel lift system;

a control housing column mounted on the base block for supporting the control housing, wherein the control housing column defines a control housing cavity for storing pressurized gas for regulated use in the gas cylinder cavity; and

at least one gas inlet mounted on the control housing and in fluid communication with the control housing cavity.

27. The wheel lift system of claim 22 wherein the wheel carriage is configured to support a car door;

wherein the wheel carriage is configured as a tray for lifting items;

or wherein the wheel carriage is configured as a work surface.

28. A wheel lift system comprising:

a support structure having three legs, and a wheel mounted at the end of each leg, wherein two of the legs of the support structure extend at an upward angle at the ends thereof and form a “

C”

shape and a third leg extends away from a mid-portion of the “

C”

shape; and

a wheel carriage mounted on the support structure, the support structure being configured providing vertical lift and support of the wheel carriage positioned substantially directly over the third leg.

29. The wheel lift system of claim 28 further comprising a base block rotatably mounted on the support structure, and wherein the wheel carriage is mounted on the base block for enabling the wheel carriage to rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the support structure.

30. A wheel lift system comprising:

a hollow support structure configured for storing pressurized air;

a base block mounted on the support structure;

a gas actuator mounted on the base block; and

a wheel carriage mounted on the gas actuator, the gas actuator being configured for using the pressurized air to facilitate vertical lift of the wheel carriage.