WIRELESS VEHICLE LIFT SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL

• US 20130240300A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,352,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/210
• 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

Wireless portable vehicle lift system incorporating one or more enhanced communication and/or control features. The lift system can incorporate enhanced touch screen-enabled functionalities, enhanced multi-processor architectures, and/or enhanced emergency stop features.

Claims

1. A wireless portable vehicle lift system comprising:

two or more battery powered 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 wireless communication system comprises a remote control module configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one of said lifts, wherein said remote control module comprises a touch screen display.

2. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein said remote control module is configured for removable attachment to at least one of said lifts.

3. The vehicle lift system of claim 2, wherein said remote control module comprise one or more rechargeable batteries, wherein said at least one of said lifts comprises a charger configured to charge said rechargeable batteries when said remote control module is attached to said at least one of said lifts.

4. The vehicle lift system of claim 2, wherein said at least one of said lifts comprises a docking station configured to physically and electrically connect said remote control module to said at least one of said lifts.

5. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein said remote control module is configured for two-way wireless communication with each of said lifts of said vehicle lift system.

6. The vehicle lift system of claim 5, wherein said lifts only communicate wirelessly with one another via said remote control unit.

7. The vehicle lift system of claim 6, wherein one of said lifts is a master lift, wherein said remote control module is configured to wirelessly communicate only with said master lift, wherein said master lift is configured to communication wirelessly with all other lifts of said vehicle lift system.

8. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication system comprises one or more adaptive communication devices configured to scan for potential interfering external wireless signals and automatically adjust one or more wireless communication parameters of said wireless communication system based on said external wireless signal to thereby maintain integrity and/or security of said lift control signals, wherein said one or more wireless communication parameters are selected from the group consisting of frequency, message, encryption type, and combinations thereof.

9. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein each of said lifts comprises an identical one of said remote control modules removably attached thereto.

10. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lifts is configured for wireless connection to the internet, wherein said remote control module is configured to communicate wirelessly with said at least one of said lifts via the internet.

11. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein said remote control module is a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone.

12. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen display is programmed to display at least 80 different operator interface screens.

13. The vehicle lift system of claim 12, wherein said operator interface screens include a training verification screen querying the operator as to whether the operator has been trained to operate said lift system, wherein said training verification screen includes an input section for the operator to confirm or deny whether the operator has been trained to operate said lift system, wherein said lift system is rendered inoperable if the operator denies having been trained on said lift system.

14. The vehicle lift system of claim 12, wherein said operator interface screens include a pass code screen prompting the operator to enter a pass code, wherein said pass code screen includes an input section for the operator to input a pass code, wherein said control system comprises a database containing one or more stored authorized pass codes, wherein said lift system is rendered inoperable if the operator enters a pass code that does not match one of the stored authorized pass codes.

15. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control system is programmed so that vertical shifting of said carriages requires dual operator input from at least two locations on said remote control module, wherein at least one of said two locations is on said touch screen display.

16. A wireless portable vehicle lift system comprising:

two or more battery powered 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 control system comprises a plurality of modular control units, each removably coupled to said post of one of said lifts, wherein each of said modular control unit comprises a housing, a touch screen display, a circuit board, and a wireless communication device, wherein said touch screen display is coupled to the outside of said housing, wherein at least one of said circuit board and said wireless communication device are received within said housing.

17. The vehicle lift system of claim 16, wherein said modular control unit comprises not more than five electronic communication plugs for electrically connecting said modular control module to other components of said lift.

18. The vehicle lift system of claim 17, wherein said wireless communication device is electrically connected to a first one of said plugs, wherein said circuit board is electrically connected to a second one of said plugs.

19. The vehicle lift system of claim 18, wherein said modular control unit further comprises an emergency stop button physically coupled to said housing and electrically connected to a third one of said plugs.

20. The vehicle lift system of claim 16, wherein said modular control unit is a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone.

21. A wireless portable vehicle lift system comprising:

at least two portable lifts, wherein each of said lifts comprises a base, a post, a carriage assembly, and a lifting actuator for vertically shifting said carriage assembly relative to said post, wherein each of said portable lifts comprises at least a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor, wherein said first and second microprocessors are configured to communicate with one another.

22. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, wherein each of said portable lifts comprises a common command buffer system for provide communication between said first and second microprocessors.

23. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, wherein said first and second microprocessors are configured to operate in parallel and perform distinct tasks.

24. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, wherein said lift system comprises an electronic control system for controlling said lifts, wherein said electronic control system comprises a wireless communication system for wirelessly communicating inter-lift control signals to, from, and/or among said lifts, wherein said first microprocessor is configured to process information related to said wireless communication system.

25. The vehicle lift system of claim 24, wherein each of said lifts further comprises an intra-lift control system including one or more lift sensors and/or one or more lift actuators, wherein said second microprocessor is configured to process information related to said intra-lift control system.

26. The vehicle lift system of claim 25, wherein said electronic control system comprises a touch screen display, wherein said first microprocessor is configured to process information related to said touch screen display.

27. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, wherein said lift system comprises an electronic control system for controlling said lifts, wherein said electronic control system comprises a portable electronic device with wireless communication capability, wherein said portable electronic device includes said first microprocessor, wherein each of said lifts further comprises an intra-lift control system including one or more lift sensors and/or one or more lift actuators, wherein said second microprocessor is configured to process information related to said intra-lift control system.

28. The vehicle lift system of claim 25, wherein said portable electronic device comprises a touch screen display, wherein said first microprocessor is configured to process information related to said touch screen display.

29. The vehicle lift system of claim 28, wherein said portable electronic device is a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone.

30. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, wherein each of said lifts comprises a modular control unit removably coupled thereto, wherein said modular control unit comprises a housing, said first microprocessor and said second microprocessor, wherein said first and second microprocessors are receive on and/or in said housing, wherein said first microprocessor is configured to process information related to said touch screen display, wherein each of said lifts further comprises an intra-lift control system including one or more lift sensors and/or one or more lift actuators, wherein said second microprocessor is configured to process information related to said intra-lift control system.

31. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, further comprising a wireless network server communication system for transmitting information to and/or from a remote location, wherein said first microprocessor is a wireless network server communication microprocessor configured to process information related to said network server communication system.

32. The vehicle lift system of claim 21, wherein each of said lifts further comprises an intra-lift control system including one or more sensors and one or more actuators, wherein said first microprocessor is a control microprocessor configured to process information related to said intra-lift control system, wherein each of said lifts further comprises a user interface system including said touch screen display, wherein said second microprocessor is an interface microprocessor configured to process information related to said user interface system.

33. The vehicle lift system of claim 32, further comprising a wireless inter-lift communication system including one or more wireless transmitters and/or wireless receivers associated with each of said lifts, wherein each lift further comprises a third microprocessor, wherein said third microprocessor is an inter-lift communication microprocessor configured to process information related to said inter-lift communication system.

34. The vehicle lift system of claim 33, further comprising a wireless network server communication system for transmitting information to and/or from a remote location, wherein each lift further comprises a fourth microprocessor, wherein said fourth microprocessors is a wireless network server communication microprocessor configured to process information related to said network server communication system.

35. The vehicle lift system of claim 34, wherein each of said portable lifts comprises a common command buffer configured to interface with each of said first, second, third, and fourth microprocessors.

36. A portable vehicle lift system comprising:

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

an electronic control system for controlling said hydraulic power system,

wherein said hydraulic power system comprises a hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic actuator, and a dump valve, wherein said dump valve is shiftable between a powering configuration and a recirculating configuration, wherein said dump valve is configured to route hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic pump to said hydraulic actuator when said dump valve is in said powering configuration, wherein said dump valve is configured to route hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic pump back to said hydraulic reservoir, bypassing said hydraulic pump, when said dump valve is in said recirculating configuration,

wherein said dump valve is biased toward said recirculating configuration and is only shifted into said powering configuration when said electronic control system supplies electrical power to said dump valve,

wherein said electronic control system comprise a touch screen display configured to receive an input that initiates the supply of electrical power to said dump valve to thereby place said dump valve in said powering configuration,

wherein said electronic control system comprises one or more emergency stop switches that, when activated, cut electrical power to said dump valve to thereby place said dump valve in said recirculating configuration.

37. The vehicle lift system of claim 36, wherein one of said emergency stop switches is coupled to each of said lifts.

38. The vehicle lift system of claim 36, wherein said electronic control system further comprises a remote control module that is not rigidly coupled to said lifts, wherein one of said emergency stop switches is located on said remote control module, wherein said remote control module communicates wirelessly with components of said electronic control system that are physically coupled to said lifts.

39. The vehicle lift system of claim 36, wherein said electronic control system is configured such that activation of one of said emergency stop switches cuts electrical power to said dump valves of all of said lifts.

40. The vehicle lift system of claim 39, wherein said control system is configured to provide wireless communication between said lifts when one of said emergency switches is activated.

41. The vehicle lift system of claim 36, wherein said control system comprises a wireless communication system for wirelessly communicating lift control signals to, from, and/or among said lifts.

42. The vehicle lift system of claim 36, wherein said hydraulic reservoir defines a fluid outlet at a lower end thereof, wherein said hydraulic pump defines a fluid inlet for receiving hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic reservoir, wherein said fluid inlet of said hydraulic pump is at a lower elevation than said fluid outlet of said hydraulic reservoir to thereby facilitate gravity feed of hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic reservoir to said hydraulic pump.