Velocity controlled wireless vehicle lift system

• US 9,334,145 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Fagan, John E., Jaipaul, Larry M., McKee, Ralph Sam, Rucker, Stephen J., Sandmann, David Dwight, Keck, William R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US14/561,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20150114760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 187/203, 187/209, 187/210, 187/223, 187/277, 187/285, 187/286, 187/290, 187391-393
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 13/00 Common constructional features or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 5/00 Mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/02 with platforms suspended from ropes, cables, or chains or screws and movable along pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/10 with platforms supported directly by jacks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/28 Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A velocity controlled wireless portable vehicle lift system for lifting a vehicle. The lift system includes two or more portable lifts and an electronic control system for controlling the lifts. The electronic control system includes a wireless communication system for communicating control signals among the lifts. The electronic control system includes a velocity control system that determines the velocity of each lift and, based on the determined velocities, maintains the lifted vehicle in a level condition during raising and lowering operations.

Claims

1. A velocity controlled wireless portable lift system for lifting a vehicle, said portable lift system comprising:

two or more portable lifts, wherein each of said lifts comprises a base, a post, a carriage assembly, and an actuator for vertically shifting said carriage assembly relative to said post; and

an electronic control system for controlling said lifts,

wherein said electronic control system comprises a wireless communication system for wirelessly communicating lift control signals to, from, and/or among said lifts,

wherein said electronic control system comprises a velocity control system configured to determine the velocity of each lift and, based on the determined velocities, maintain the lifted vehicle in a substantially level condition during raising and lowering operations.

2. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein said velocity control system comprises a lift controller associated with each lift.

3. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein said velocity control system is configured to compare the velocities of said lifts during the entire raising and lower and lowering operations.

4. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein said velocity control system is configured to determine a lead lift based on the determined velocities.

5. The portable lift system of claim 4, wherein said lead lift is the slowest lift during raising and/or the fastest lift during lowering.

6. The portable lift system of claim 4, wherein said velocity control system is configured to adjust the velocity of the other lifts based on the velocity of the lead lift.

7. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system includes a touch screen display on each lift.

8. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein one of said lifts is a master lift, wherein said wireless communication system is configured to permit two-way wireless communication between said master lift and all other lifts of said lift system.

9. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system includes a remote control module configured for two-way wireless communication with all of said lifts.

10. The portable lift system of claim 9, wherein said remote control module comprises a touch screen display.

11. The portable lift system of claim 9, wherein said remote control module is a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a PDA, or a smart phone.

12. The portable lift system of claim 9, wherein said remote control module is a smart phone.

13. The portable lift system of claim 9, wherein said remote control module is configured for removable attachment to at least one of said lifts.

14. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said portable lifts is battery powered.

21. The portable lift system of claim 1, wherein said portable lifts do not include height sensors.

15. A method of lifting a vehicle, said method comprising:

(a) positioning portable lifts adjacent at least four wheels of a vehicle;

(b) engaging a carriage of each portable lift with a respective wheel of said vehicle;

(c) lifting said vehicle by raising said carriages while said carriages are engaging said wheels;

(d) during said lifting, determining a velocity of each of said carriages;

(e) during said lifting, wirelessly communicating lift control signals to, from, and/or among said portable lifts, wherein said lift control signals include the determined velocity; and

(f) during said lifting, using the determined velocities to maintain said vehicle in a substantially level condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said wirelessly communicating of step (e) includes two-way wireless communication between a plurality of said lifts.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said wirelessly communicating of step (e) includes two-way wireless communication between each of said lifts and a remote control module.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said remote control module comprises a touch screen display.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said remote control module comprises a smart phone.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said lifts are battery powered.