GB2047196A

GB2047196A - Vehicle lifting devices

Info

Publication number: GB2047196A
Application number: GB8011984A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Samuel R G
Current assignee: Samuel R G
Priority date: 1979-04-12
Filing date: 1980-04-11
Publication date: 1980-11-26

Abstract

Apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle has two parallel rails (1, 3, 4) forming a frame which can be pivoted about a horizontal axis in the supporting surface defined by yokes (7) of a main support assembly (5, 6, 7, 8) between a tilted position where a vehicle can be driven onto and off the rails (1, 3, 4) and a horizontal position as shown where the whole vehicle is raised clear of the supporting surface and an auxiliary supporting system provided by legs (9) contacts the supporting surface. The pivoting movement of the apparatus is caused automatically by the movement of the vehicle onto and off the rails. The distance between the rails (1, 3, 4) may be adjusted to suit the track width of the vehicle by moving yokes (7) and (10) along connecting rods (8) and (12), respectively, and releasably locking them in place. Pivoted further supports (13) are also shown together with hinged run-on portions (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle This invention relates to apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided such apparatus comprising a frame including two elongate rigid rails for supporting the wheels of a road vehicle, a main support assembly supporting the rails between their ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and an auxiliary support assembly for supporting the rails at one end of each rail, the frame being pivotal between a first position where the other end of each rail engages the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly is raised clear of the supporting surface so that the rails form ramps up which a motor vehicle can be driven and a second position where the other end of each rail is raised clear of the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly engages the supporting surface so that the rails are substantially horizontal.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an end view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus in one position; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in another position; and Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the apparatus in the same position as in Fig. 3.

The apparatus comprises two elongate rigid rails eat composed of a box girder 1 with outriggers 2 welded to the sides of the girder coplanar with the top face.

Screwed to the outriggers are wooden board sections 3 for engagement by the vehicle tyres. An upstanding rib 4 is provided at the outboard edge of each rail. A leg 5 depends from each rail intermediate its ends and reinforcing rods 6 extend from the leg to the rail. A tube 7 extends transversely from the foot of the leg 5 to each side and is provided with pinch bolts (not shown) engaging a connecting rod 8 slidably received within the tube for adjustment to suit the track width of the vehicle. The items 5 to 8 constitute a main support assembly.

At one end of each rail there is a depending leg 9 which is height adjustable relative to the rail by means of a yoke 10 provided with a through bolt (not shown) engaging the leg slidably received by the yoke. A pad may be provided at the foot of each leg 9 and near the top of each leg is a yoke 11 provided with pinch bolts (not shown) engaging a connecting rod 12 slidably received within the yoke for adjustment to suit the track width of the vehicle. The items 9 to 12 constitute an auxiliary support assembly.

Between the other end of each rail and the leg 5 there is swingably attached to the rod 6 a lengthadjustable support leg 13. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the leg 13 is pulled into a vertical attitude by an elastic tension member 14 releasably hooked at one end to a convenient outrigger 2. In the position shown in Fig. 4 the leg 13 is pulled out-of-the-way against one of the reinforcing rods 6 by the member 14 releasably hooked to another convenient outrigger 2. The items 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14 can be made as one unit demountable from the girder 1 for stowage purposes. At the other end of each rail is a hinged run-on portion 15 which in the tilted position of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 4 provides an inclined surface between the supporting surface and the tyre-bearing surface of the rails.In the horizontal position of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3 the position 15 merely hangs from the rail end. This portion 15 also serves as a safety measure against injury to the users toes.

In use care should be taken that the distance between the said other end of each rail and legs 5 of the main support assembly where the rails are pivoted exceeds the distance between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle so that if the vehicle is driven forwards onto the tilted rails the rear wheels of the vehicle engage the rails before the front wheels reach the pivot. Further movement forwards of the vehicle on the rails can then proceed until the centre of gravity of the vehicle passes beyond the pivot whereupon the frame including the two rails assumes a horizontal position with the auxiliary support assembly engaging the supporting surface.

At this stage the unsupported raised ends of the rails can be supported by the legs 13 which are lengthadjusted to stabilise the apparatus as shown in Fig.

3.

When it is desired to remove the vehicle from the apparatus the legs 13 are length-adjusted in the reverse sense, released from the supporting surface and pulled back against the reinforcing rod 6. The vehicle in then driven back in the reverse direction whereupon, as the centre of gravity of the vehicle passes the legs 5, the apparatus tilts into the position shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter the vehicle is driven off the tilted rails.

In a modification the main support assembly comprises two four-legged mounts to which the respective rails are pivoted, the two mounts being adjustably spaced apart transversely of the frame by a connecting rod slidably received within tubes provided with pinch bolts engageable with the rod.

Where space is at a premium it is envisaged to manufacture the apparatus from a number of dismountable and easily stowable parts.

1. Apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a frame including two elongate rigid rails for supporting the wheels of a road vehicle, a main support assembly supporting the rails between their ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and an auxiliary support assembly for supporting the rails at one end of each rail, the frame being pivotal between a first position where the other end of each rail engages the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly is raised clear of the supporting surface so that the rails form ramps up which a motor vehicle

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle This invention relates to apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle. According to the invention there is provided such apparatus comprising a frame including two elongate rigid rails for supporting the wheels of a road vehicle, a main support assembly supporting the rails between their ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and an auxiliary support assembly for supporting the rails at one end of each rail, the frame being pivotal between a first position where the other end of each rail engages the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly is raised clear of the supporting surface so that the rails form ramps up which a motor vehicle can be driven and a second position where the other end of each rail is raised clear of the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly engages the supporting surface so that the rails are substantially horizontal. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an end view of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus in one position; Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus in another position; and Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the apparatus in the same position as in Fig. 3. The apparatus comprises two elongate rigid rails eat composed of a box girder 1 with outriggers 2 welded to the sides of the girder coplanar with the top face. Screwed to the outriggers are wooden board sections 3 for engagement by the vehicle tyres. An upstanding rib 4 is provided at the outboard edge of each rail. A leg 5 depends from each rail intermediate its ends and reinforcing rods 6 extend from the leg to the rail. A tube 7 extends transversely from the foot of the leg 5 to each side and is provided with pinch bolts (not shown) engaging a connecting rod 8 slidably received within the tube for adjustment to suit the track width of the vehicle. The items 5 to 8 constitute a main support assembly. At one end of each rail there is a depending leg 9 which is height adjustable relative to the rail by means of a yoke 10 provided with a through bolt (not shown) engaging the leg slidably received by the yoke. A pad may be provided at the foot of each leg 9 and near the top of each leg is a yoke 11 provided with pinch bolts (not shown) engaging a connecting rod 12 slidably received within the yoke for adjustment to suit the track width of the vehicle. The items 9 to 12 constitute an auxiliary support assembly. Between the other end of each rail and the leg 5 there is swingably attached to the rod 6 a lengthadjustable support leg 13. In the position shown in Fig. 3 the leg 13 is pulled into a vertical attitude by an elastic tension member 14 releasably hooked at one end to a convenient outrigger 2. In the position shown in Fig. 4 the leg 13 is pulled out-of-the-way against one of the reinforcing rods 6 by the member 14 releasably hooked to another convenient outrigger 2. The items 5, 6, 7, 13 and 14 can be made as one unit demountable from the girder 1 for stowage purposes. At the other end of each rail is a hinged run-on portion 15 which in the tilted position of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 4 provides an inclined surface between the supporting surface and the tyre-bearing surface of the rails.In the horizontal position of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3 the position 15 merely hangs from the rail end. This portion 15 also serves as a safety measure against injury to the users toes. In use care should be taken that the distance between the said other end of each rail and legs 5 of the main support assembly where the rails are pivoted exceeds the distance between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle so that if the vehicle is driven forwards onto the tilted rails the rear wheels of the vehicle engage the rails before the front wheels reach the pivot. Further movement forwards of the vehicle on the rails can then proceed until the centre of gravity of the vehicle passes beyond the pivot whereupon the frame including the two rails assumes a horizontal position with the auxiliary support assembly engaging the supporting surface. At this stage the unsupported raised ends of the rails can be supported by the legs 13 which are lengthadjusted to stabilise the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired to remove the vehicle from the apparatus the legs 13 are length-adjusted in the reverse sense, released from the supporting surface and pulled back against the reinforcing rod 6. The vehicle in then driven back in the reverse direction whereupon, as the centre of gravity of the vehicle passes the legs 5, the apparatus tilts into the position shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter the vehicle is driven off the tilted rails. In a modification the main support assembly comprises two four-legged mounts to which the respective rails are pivoted, the two mounts being adjustably spaced apart transversely of the frame by a connecting rod slidably received within tubes provided with pinch bolts engageable with the rod. Where space is at a premium it is envisaged to manufacture the apparatus from a number of dismountable and easily stowable parts. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a frame including two elongate rigid rails for supporting the wheels of a road vehicle, a main support assembly supporting the rails between their ends for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and an auxiliary support assembly for supporting the rails at one end of each rail, the frame being pivotal between a first position where the other end of each rail engages the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly is raised clear of the supporting surface so that the rails form ramps up which a motor vehicle can be driven and a second position where the other end of each rail is raised clear of the supporting surface and the auxiliary support assembly engages the supporting surface so that the rails are substantially horizontal.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the main support assembly is integral with the rails and the apparatus is pivotal about a horizontal axis in the supporting surface.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the main and auxiliary support assemblies have provision for adjustment of the spacing between the rails to suit the track width of a vehicle.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein further supports are provided for the rails on the side of the main support assembly remote from the auxiliary support assembly.

5. Apparatus for enabling a road vehicle to be raised above a supporting surface to gain access under the vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.