GB2199301A

GB2199301A - Vehicle jack

Info

Publication number: GB2199301A
Application number: GB08728763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moline D Salvador Calafi
Original assignee: Tub SA
Current assignee: Tub SA
Priority date: 1986-12-09
Filing date: 1987-12-09
Publication date: 1988-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-09
Also published as: GB8728763D0; PT8807T; DE8709992U1; DE3724113A1; GB2199301B; PT85556A

Abstract

A vehicle jack 1 has a support column 2 and a lifting arm 7 which are drawn together by rotation of a threaded interconnection rod 8 engaging in a pivoted block 9 and rotating in a bore in pivoted member 12 so as to cause a load on the arm 7 to be lifted. The load (e.g. the jacking point structure on a car) is engaged in a transversely grooved abutment member 141. The abutment member is pivotable about an axis extending generally in the lifting arm direction, so that it is movable to accommodate misorientations of the jack. The abutment member may be mounted on the end of the arm 7, as shown, or on the end of the rod 8. <IMAGE>

Description

2199301 1 It 1 MECHANICAL JACK THIS INVENTION relates to a mechanical

jack.

Mechanical jacks of the type to which this invention relates comprise a support column with a ground-engaging foot. typically having two support planes. one corresponding to the initial lift position and the other to the final lift position.

At or towards its upper end the column carries a transversely pivoted block with a threaded through bore. At an intermediate point the column carries, by a transverse pivot, the inner end of a lifting arm, which carries at or towards its free end a further pivoted _block with a bore therein. A threaded interconnecting shaft or spindle. typically provided with a foldable handle at its end engages with the bore in the column block and is rotatable in the bore in the lifting arm block, so as to draw the free end of the lifting arm towards the column upon rotation and thereby cause the column and the arm to erect and lift a load bearing on the lifting arm. Typically, this load is carried in some form of locating groove; for example it can be a jacking 2 point, as a bar or rod, at the underside of an automobile, carried in a grooved abutment at the end of the lifting arm.

Known jacks of this type have the disadvantage that -5 the abutment cannot always match orientation of the related part of the car body e.g. the jacking point, for example when working on a slope or if uneven settlement on the car springs takes place. There is accordingly a possibility of weakness, instability, and danger.

k 1:

z We have realised that these problems can be alleviated by suitable modification of the abutment block.

The invention therefore consists in a mechanical jack of the type of the discussed above in which a grooved abutment member is pivoted at or near the end of the lifting arm about an axis extending generally in the direction of the said lifting arm.

Thus, in use the groove receives a portion of the load (e.g. the jacking point structure) and accommodates, by pivoting of the abutment, relative misorientation between the load and the lift arm. This is generally the case whether the misorientation is inherent (because of working on a slope) or transient (because of uneven settling back on the springs) or both.

W 3 Preferably. the jack further comprises at or near the end of the lifting arm a limit stop member to limit the extent of pivoting of the grooved abutment member.

k 4 ) C, The grooved abutment member may. for example, be pivoted on a shaft at the end of, and extending in the direction of, the lifting arm. It may alternatively be pivoted on the end of the threaded interconnection shaft itself.

The constitution of the mechanical jack as described does not make it more expensive in relation to known mechanical jacks. - The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 shows in side elevation a mechanical jack for lifting automotive vehicles, with its lifting arm located at an intermediate height II; the arm is also shown in dotted lines in-two positions, position I folded almost completely down and position III at almost the maximum height); and Figure 2 shows the jack in front elevation at position II of Figure 1.

4 The mechanical jack shown has a column 1 constituted by two C-shaped metallic profiles 2, joined by a metallic cross-piece 3 welded to both profiles. The profiles are parallel and joined at their lower ends to a supporting foot 4 of the jack. Foot 4 is formed from a steel plate, duly profiled and welded (or bonded in any other way) to the lower end of the column 1 and thereby strengthening the column structure. Column 1 could also be constituted by a single or more than two metallic profiles, with outlines different from those shown provided that the column is-still mechanically stong enough to resist the stresses the jack sustains in use. Foot 4 typically includes lower protrusions 5 to improve adherence to the ground.

Initial position II as shown is achieved at initial location of the jack and the body (not shown) of"the car to be lifted above ground level T1. Position 1, as shown in dotted lines, shows the jack folded ready to store in the usual recess in the vehicle. Position III shows, also in dotted lines, the configuration at the highest lift of the car, at which a wheel can be changed. At this position the jack is supported by the front part of foot 4. Column 1 of the jack approaches a vertical position when passing from the position II to the position III, during the lifting of the car, and 1 1 conversely when lowering the car.

The column 1 also carries a lifting arm 7 hinged at one end at an intermediate point along the column 1 by axle 6. As shown, it has a Ushaped section, based on steel plate, but other outline or different material could be used. Arm 7 is typically receivable in part or fully between the parallel profiles of column 1.

5. Z) The column 1 and the arm 7 are interconnected by the screw shaft or spindle 8 which is threaded through a mut 9 tranversely hinged at the upper part of the column 1. Screw shaft or spindle 8 has a rearward portion 81 to which is pin-hinged a cranked handle 10 to rotate the spindle 8 about its longitudinal axis. The cranked handle can be foldable to diminish the space occupied by the jack when not in use. An immobilising stopper could be provided to ensure the correct positioning of such a cranked handle prior to use, arranged for example at or near the pivot for screw spindle 8.

At the other end of the screw spindle 8. i.e. its front part, is pinhinged a pivotable member 12 in which the screw spindle 8 can rotate freely, for example by means of a bearing 11.

A stub end 13 as a limit stop and retainer for the 1 6 screw spindle within traversing member 12 can also be provided to eliminate undesired relative disengagement and to limit the maximum height of lift. Such a stub end could be an independent part fastened to the front end of the screw spindle 8 or could be integral with the body of the traversing member 12. e.g. as a moulded element of synthetic polymer. Bearing 11 can be replaced by any other mechanical means which gives the same functions, having regard to the stresses the front end of the screw spindle 8 is to sustain.

The jack further possesses an abutment 14 at the free end of the arms 7. The abutment 14 is of a generally grooved outline, which can be an open Vshape or other (such as a U-shape).

Typically the groove is rather larger than the flange or protrusion (i.e. the jacking point) of the car body. so that it is possible for the jack to undergo a relative turning movement in relation to such flange or protrusion of the car body, introduced in the groove, with a relative clearance sufficient to allow proper movement of the mechanical jack with regard to the car to be lifted or lowered.

Abutment 14 is pivoted about an axis located in the plane of movement of the medium line of the arm 7. In 1 M_ 7 t this embodiment the pivot is a short stem 15 fixed at one end to the end piece 16 of the arm 7 by (for instance) welding. The end piece 16 can be fixed to the front end of the arm in the same way, or can be achieved by folding. cutting. and casual welding of metal plate to the front ends of the arm.

The abutment 14 id formed as a tranversely extending grooved profile 14 1 tightly fixed (for example by welding or the,like) to a plate 14 2 This is attached to the pivot stem 15 which retains plate 14 2 axially by an enlarged head (unreferenced) but allows it to turn or tilt about the stem adopting an end position to one or the other side (see for example the end position D as represented by dotted lines in Figure 2). The end positions are defined by a stopper member 17 constituted by a tranvers.e flat bar fixed on the end 16 (for example by welding or the like) at the lower part thereof, giving in this way a stopper member that limits pivoting of the abutment 14 to the right or to the left as can be seen in Figure 2. This shows in full lines the abutment 14 in the normal position for support of the car body and, with dotted lines, a maximum slope position to the right of such abutment as identified with the letter D.

Tilting of the abutment 14 allows the matching of 8 the abutment position to the movements of the body of the car if the car is on a slope or if the springing of the car settles down unevenly. Stopper 17 limits the extent of tilt to be accommodated.

-1) k \i \ '_z The grooved profile 14 1 and plate 14 2 can if desired be formed as a single part. Also, a single stopper member can be used limiting the abutment 14 towards one of two possible directions.

The pivot for abutment 14 can if desired be constituted by the front end of the screw spindle 8 itself, provided that means are present to retain the abutment 14 axially for example by means of one or more retainer members or by an enlargement of the free end of such screw spindle 8.

The abutment 14 can incorporate. as an alternative, flaps at approximately right angles whose free branches will remain according to a transverse plane and disposed inside the hollow, that adopts a form of circumferential part in a plate with such hollow and externally ribbed by a flange nearer to the turning axle of the abutment, such flange retainig this latter in the axial direction, but allow it to have a relative turn and this plate being bonded, for example, by welding or similarly to the base 16.

y 9 Other arrangements can be used to allow the abutment 14 to turn with regard to the lengthwise axle, but without allowing its displacement with regard to such axle.

Claims

Claims.

1-111 1. A mechanical jack of the type in which a column with a ground-engaging foot carries (a) at or towards its upper end a pivoted block with a threaded throughbore and (b) pivoted at an intermediate point along its length the inner end of a lifting arm also carrying at or towards its free end a pivoted block with a bore permitting rotation of an interconnecting threaded shaft held in the lifting arm block and threaded in the.column block so as to draw the free end of the lifting arm towards the column upon suitable rotation of the shaft and thereby cause the column and arm to erect and to lift a load bearing on the lifting arm, wherein:- a grooved abutment member is pivoted at or near the end of the lifting arm about an axis extending generally in the direction of the said lifting arm, to receive a portion of the load in the groove and to accommodate, by pivoting, relative misorientation between the said load portion and the lifting arm.

2. A mechanical jack as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, at or near the end of the lifting arm, a limit stop member to limit the extent of pivoting of the grooved abutment member.

t v

3. A mechanical jack as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the grooved abutment member is pivoted on a shaft at the end of. and extending in the direction of, the lifting arm.

It.

4. A mechanical jack as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the grooved abutment member is pivoted upon the end of the threaded interconnecting shaft.

5. A mechanical jack as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 Published 1988 at The Patent, Office. State Hoase. 6571 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Mce. Sales Branch. St Ma.-T Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD Printed by Multaplex techniques ltd. St Ma377 Cray, Kent Con 1/87.