GB2359792A - Mobile vehicle support and servicing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

2359792 1 TRANSPORTABLE VEHICLE SUPPORT APPARATUS This invention relates

to transportable vehicle support apparatus and particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for supporting heavy goods vehicles in a controlled manner.

Current practice in servicing vehicles whereby the underside of the vehicle needs to be accessed, is to lift the vehicle by means of a lifting device or to position the vehicle over a recess in the floor. For heavy goods vehicles and other heavy vehicles such as farm vehicles, the latter practice is the more common. When such vehicles break down, often they need to be transported to a place where such facilities are available. Alternatively, when the vehicles cannot be transported to such a place it is necessary for service personnel to repair the vehicle on site. Particularly when working on the underside of the vehicle, this practice poses serious risks to the health and safety of the service personnel.

The aim of the present invention is to provide improvements in relation to one or more of these problems or improvements generally.

According to the invention there is provided a transportable vehicle support apparatus as defined in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a transportable apparatus adapted to provide support means for a vehicle such as a heavy goods vehicle at a height such that maintenance operations can be performed by service personnel in a generally standing or upright posture with safety and good access to the underside of the vehicle. The apparatus can thus be readily transported and delivered to any desired operations site before immediate commencement of service/maintenance operations.

2 -0 The apparatus may comprise a work surface for supporting the user. The work surface may be provided inside the apparatus. Alternatively the work surface may be formed by the ground. Upon delivery to the desired location, stabilising means for the apparatus are activated, which are operative to prevent instability of the apparatus when the vehicle is mounted thereon for work operations. Then, the vehicle can be caused to be mounted on the apparatus, for example by being forced or driven or drawn up elevating ramps to the working position, or otherwise located there, whereupon work can commence.

In one particular embodiment of the invention the apparatus comprises support means which comprises a pair of spaced support members. The support members may comprise a generally horizontal or gently sloping (up to 250) surface for supporting the vehicle and upstanding supports or legs for supporting said surface from a plane such as the ground or the loading area of a trailer or other vehicle.

Each support member may be provided with a lateral extension preferably in the form of a platform, which, when in use, is parallel to the support surface. The extensions allow service personnel to access the sides of the vehicle for performing service tasks. These lateral extensions are preferably pivotally connected to the support means and may be moved to a non-intrusive stowed position when not in use.

The lateral extensions and/or the support means may further comprise a safety member in the form of a hand rail, fence or gate to prevent operating personnel from accidentally falling off the platforms and/or support means. The safety member may also be collapsable or stowable when not in use.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, instead of spaced support means, an opening may be provided in a single transverse support means for providing access to the underside of the vehicle. A protection member may be 3 is provided below the opening and between the support members, preferably in the form of a tank or pit with enclosing side walls. The work surface may be provided inside the protection member. The protection member offers the person servicing the underside of the vehicle protection against the elements from outside the apparatus such as cold, rain, heat etc. This allows the user to work in the best available conditions whilst being on site. The side walls of the protection member may be provided with one or more openings. The protection member may further have an opening or entrance for access to the protection member from outside.

The apparatus may further be provided with lighting for lighting the underside of the vehicle. The lighting can be provided on the support means, the support member or inside the protection member. Further aids may be present inside the protection member for providing aid whilst servicing the vehicle. The lighting may be provided in a recess in the sidewalls of the protection member.

The stabilising means may comprise one or more legs which are movable to an in use position to support the mobile support apparatus from the ground. Stabilising means for the apparatus may be based upon known systems, for example stabilising arms as adopted in cranes or other mechanisms where substantial offset loads occur during use. Alternatively adequate stability could be provided by adoption of the systems well known for use in backhoes, which are mechanisms in which substantial offset loads occur. A jacking system in which weight is initially removed from the transport wheels of the apparatus may conveniently be provided in certain cases. Alternatively, the stabilising means may comprise handoperated jacks on either side of the apparatus. These jacks may each be mounted at the end of an extendible horizontal beam. The jacks may be extended into ground- engagement so as to support the vehicle weight by turning a spindle.

4 is The provided onto the with a Further, mobile vehicle support apparatus may further be with entry means for causing a vehicle to enter support means. The support means may be provided lifting device for lifting the vehicle thereon. the support means may comprise ramp means in the form of a pair of ramp members. These may either be fixedly or pivotally connected to each support member. Each ramp member may further comprise a first part and a second part, the first part being fixedly connected to a support member, the second part being pivotally connected to the first part.

Provision for powered operations is preferably by means of an internal combustion engine mounted on the apparatus for driving an electricity generator and/or related hydraulic/pneumatic power sources.

Further an additional device in the form of a crane may be provided for lifting the vehicle or parts thereof. This crane may be powered by its own power supply. Alternatively the power may be supplied by the power generator or tractor vehicle.

Generally, the apparatus may be constructed on the basis of forming part of a heavy goods vehicle, usually as part of a detachable semi-trailer which is linkable to the tractor vehicle by means of the usual fifth wheel coupling. In this way the support apparatus is transportable or mobile.

In an alternative embodiment the work surface may be formed by the ground and openings may be provided in both the trailer and the support means for providing access to the underside of the vehicle. In this advantageous alternative embodiment the required height of the support means is less than the height required in the previous embodiments of the invention. To stabilise the apparatus when in use, the presence of stabilising means may or may not be necessary in this alternative embodiment of the invention.

is According to another aspect of the embodiments of the invention, transportability or mobility is provided by the mounting of the apparatus on a road going chassis or vehicle body, whether self-propelled or trailed or semi-trailed.

The principal aspects of the invention are not concerned with the mere movement of the apparatus over small distances on one site, but relates to road going mobility whereby a vehicle maintenance and/or servicing and/or repair service can be offered for provision to (for example) truck/lorry fleet operators on site at time-spaced intervals is envisaged.

According to an embodiment of the invention the apparatus may be mountable on a road-going trailer or other vehicle for transporting said apparatus. The apparatus may be mounted on the trailer which allows the apparatus to be unloaded on-site where a vehicle to be serviced can be mounted on the apparatus for servicing purposes. For ease of loading and unloading the apparatus, the apparatus may be mountable on a skid frame trailer or other vehicle on which the apparatus can be loaded and unloaded in a roll-on rolloff fashion, or otherwise.

The facilities provided by the embodiments of the invention for mounting a vehicle (even including vehicles which are not principally roadgoing vehicles such as farm vehicles and/or military vehicles) above the ground may vary according to requirements. Means may be provided for (for example) varying the elevated height of the vehicle or other equipment being serviced to take account of such factors as its weight and/or the stability of the ground on which the apparatus is standing and/or other factors. It may be acceptable in some instances for personnel to be obliged to adopt at least a partially stooping attitude during work on certain portions of a vehicle. In a more extreme case it has to be recognised that major benefit in terms of ease of working below a vehicle may be provided by a very modest 6 elevation elevation sufficient operations sufficient Normally, is from the ground of the vehicle. Typically, the from the ground can be about 90Omm which is for performing basic maintenance and service on the vehicle and the service personnel has room to manouevre underneath the vehicle. however, it will be arranged that the working height permits a comfortable standing attitude for personnel of at least average height.

The means provided for raising the vehicle or other apparatus to be serviced to its working position may not only include ramp means and associated means for causing the vehicle to mount the ramp, but also the provision of means such that initial entrance of the vehicle onto the apparatus is at ground level or not much above ground level, followed by an elevation operation, for example by lift or jacking means. Such provision would not be made for the least expensive embodiments of the invention but might be justified for certain applications.

According to another embodiment of the invention the apparatus may comprise lifting means for lifting the support means to a height suitable for performing maintenance operations to the underside of the vehicle by a user. The vehicle can thus be mounted when the support means is at a convenient height for mounting the vehicle. Thereafter the support means can be lifted to a suitable height for servicing the vehicle. When the vehicle is to be released from the apparatus, the lifting means lower the support means to a height which is suitable for releasing the vehicle from the apparatus.

So far as concerns the stabilising means for the embodiments of the invention, particularly cost effective stabilising means could be provided by means of lateral tensioning means such as steel cables with a suitable tensioning device and attachable between attachment locations on the side of the apparatus and fixed attachment 7 points in the adjacent ground or other adjacent structures. A more versatile alternative not requiring any local provision other than a reasonably firm ground surface involves the use of ground- engagebl e and extendable (into an operative position) stabilising arms of the kind employed in cranes and the like.

It will be understood that in the embodiments of the invention it is an important feature that the apparatus provides the combination of stability for the apparatus despite the presence of a vehicle mounted at a position in which its centre of gravity is very significantly higher than during road use, and accessibility of the underside of the thus- mounted vehicle for servicing and maintenance purposes for a technical operative charged with duties in that regard. In this respect it will also be understood that although the known car/automotive vehicle transporter units which form part of an articulated truck/lorry and are connected to the tractor portion thereof by a fifthwheel coupling do provide mobile support means for automotive vehicles in which the upper ones of these are at an elevated location, such a unit does not provide accessibility of the undersides of the vehicles for such maintenance or repair purposes since the unit does not include a working surface for a user on which that user may stand (or if need be, may sit in exceptional circumstances) whilst performing technical operations and without the need to beware of falling through or from the working surface while moving about during technical operations. In other words, an important feature of the embodiments is the provision of a safe working floor area for the technical personnel and located at a suitable height spacing from the underside of the elevated vehicle. Such provision is not made in automotive vehicle transporters which mount the vehicles at the wrong heights, inclinations and altitudes for servicing purposes. Furthermore, the sole purpose of these vehicle 8 is transporters is to transport a maximum number of vehicles on a single unit. As a result there is no provision for servicing the vehicles whilst located on the unit. Nor do such transporters include stabilising means and the combination of these features represents an important distinction between the embodiments of the invention and what might otherwise be considered to represent pertinent prior art. As a final point, for many service operations such as changing the engine and transmission oil, changing coolant and brake fluids, it is important that the vehicle is situated in an approximate horizontal position. The above described vehicle transporters usually transport vehicles situated at diverse (nonhorizontal) inclinations so as to maximise the space available on the transporter; thereby compromising service operations.

An embodiment of the invention will now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 presents a diagrammatic side view of a vehicle support apparatus; Figure 2 presents a diagrammatic plan view of the vehicle support apparatus of Fig. 1; Figure 3 presents a diagrammatic rear view of the vehicle support apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 a vehicle support apparatus 10 is mounted on a trailer which in this particular embodiment is formed by a step frame semi-trailer 12. In a similar way a vehicle support apparatus 10 can be mounted on a roll -on-roll -off body of a truck or on a skid frame trailer. The detachable semi-trailer 12 is linked to a tractor vehicle 14 by means of the usual fifth wheel coupling.

The transportable vehicle support apparatus 10 comprises means 15 for supporting a vehicle at a height 9 suitable for performing maintenance operations to the underside of the vehicle by a user. The support means 15 provide access to the underside of the vehicle. The apparatus further comprises a work surface 31 for supporting the user. The height is such that the user can be of a standing posture to perform the service operations.

The support means 15 comprises a pair of spaced support members 20 for supporting the vehicle which are mounted on vertical support beams 16. Each support member 20 further comprises a lateral extension 36, which is movable to an in use position in which the user can access the sides of the vehicle, from the same or a similar level to the vehicle wheels.

The lateral extension 36 when in use, comprises a safety member 18 for preventing the user from accidentally leaving the lateral extension 36.

The transportable vehicle support apparatus further comprises a protection member 30 which extends between the support means 15 and the work surface 31 for protecting the user from outside elements such as foul weather conditions, heat or cold. The protection member 30 is provided with an entrance for entering the protection member 30. The protection member 30 may be provided with a closure member in the form of a door for closing the entrance of the protection member least between the protection member 30. The protection member 30 extends at spaced support members 20. Further, the may be provided with a heater or airconditioning to improve the comfort offered to operating personnel. The protection member 30 allows enough room for operating personnel to work on the underside of the vehicle whilst in a generally standing or upright position. Inside the protection member a recess 40 is provided. This recess 40 allows for lighting to be placed on the inside of the walls of the protection member 30 for providing light on both the work surface 31 and the underside of the vehicle.

is On the trailer 12 there are provided stabilising means 22 in the form of legs for supporting the vehicle support apparatus 10 and preventing instability of the apparatus 10 when a vehicle is mounted thereon for work operations.

The support members 20 can be accessed by means of entry means 24. As seen from figures 1 and 2 the entry means 24 consists of first ramp members 32 which are fixedly connected to the vehicle support apparatus and the trailer 12, and second ramp members 34 which are pivotally connected to the first ramp members 32. This allows the second ramp members 34 to be pivoted to a position on top of the first ramp members 32 for ease of transport.

The trailer 12 can further be provided with a generator 28 for providing electric and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic power to aid in the maintenance operations and a crane 26 which can be used for lifting heavy objects and/or pulling a vehicle onto the support members 20.

As shown in Figure 3 the collapsable lateral extensions 36 are operated by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 38 which are also powered by the generator 28. The safety member 18 can be mounted by hand and is also collapsable when not in use.

To service a vehicle on-site the vehicle support apparatus 10 mounted on semi-trailer 12 is readily transported to the site. Upon delivery at the desired location, the generator 28 is activated to provide power during subsequent operations and the stabilising means 22 are activated. The lateral extensions 36 are moved into their inuse position by means of the cylinders 38 and the safety member 18 is mounted. Then, the second ramp members 34 are lowered onto the ground. Using the entry means in the form of second 34 and first ramp members 32 a vehicle is mounted onto the support members 20. The vehicle can be driven onto the support members 20 or alternatively it can be towed onto the support members 20 by means of the crane 26. Service 11 is personnel can enter the protection member 30 at the entrance which is situated at the rear of the protection member 30 to perform their service tasks on the underside of the vehicle whilst standing in a comfortable upright position. To aid the service operations, the lights (not shown), which are fitted in the recess 40, can be switched on. To move the vehicle apparatus to another site, for instance to service vehicle, the above described actions are order to enable road-going support apparatus.

support another reverse vehicle repeated in transDortation of the 12

Claims (19)

CLAIMS:

1 A transportable vehicle support apparatus comprising means for supporting a vehicle at a height suitable for performing maintenance operations to the underside of the vehicle by a user, the support means providing access to the underside of the vehicle, the apparatus further comprising a work surface for supporting the user.

2 A transportable vehicle support apparatus comprising means for supporting a vehicle at a height suitable for performing maintenance operations to the underside of the vehicle by a user, the support means providing access to the underside of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a lateral extension, which is movable to an in use position in which the user can access the sides of the vehicle, from the same or a similar level to the vehicle wheels.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, the support means comprises a pair of spaced support members for supporting the vehicle.

4 Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that, each support member further comprises a lateral extension, which is movable to an in use position in which the user can access the sides of the vehicle, from the same or a similar level to the vehicle wheels.

Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 4, characterised in that, the lateral extension when in use, comprises a safety member for preventing the user from accidentally leaving the lateral extension.

6 A transportable vehicle support apparatus comprising means for supporting a vehicle at a height suitable for performing maintenance operations to the underside of the vehicle by a user in a generally standing or upright posture, the support means providing access to the underside of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising a work surface for supporting the user, and a protection member which extends 13 is between the support means and the further support means for protecting the user from outside elements.

7 Apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that, the apparatus comprises a protection member extending at least between the spaced support members for protecting the user from outside elements.

8 Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that, the protection member is provided with an entrance for entering the protection member.

9 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the apparatus comprises means for stabilising the vehicle support apparatus when in use.

Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that, the stabilising means comprise one or more legs being movable to an in use position to stabilise the apparatus from the ground.

11 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the apparatus is provided with lighting means for lighting the underside of the vehicle.

12 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the vehicle support apparatus further comprises entry means for causing the vehicle to enter the support means.

13 Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that, the transport means comprise a lifting device and/or a pair of spaced ramp members being connectable to the support means.

14 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the apparatus further comprises a generator for providing hydraulic and/or electric power.

Apparatus according to any to the preceding claims, characterised in that, the apparatus comprises a further lifting device, such as a crane and/or a towing system.

16 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the apparatus comprises lifting means 14 for lifting the support means to a height suitable for performing maintenance operations to the underside of the vehicle by a user.

17 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the apparatus is adapted for being mounted onto a road-going trailer or other vehicle for transporting said apparatus to a site of use and there to be dismounted.

18 A road-going transportable vehicle support apparatus suitable for supporting a vehicle and providing access to the underside of the vehicle to a user for servicing or repair purposes.

19 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

Transportable vehicle support apparatus as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.