WO2000026071A1

WO2000026071A1 - Device for the partly jacking of motor-vehicles, in particular of motor-cars and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2000026071A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/006897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giulio Boldrini
Original assignee: Giulio Boldrini
Priority date: 1998-10-30
Filing date: 1999-09-17
Publication date: 2000-05-11
Also published as: ITMI982327A1; AU6466199A; IT1303279B1; ITMI982327A0

Abstract

A device for partly jacking from one or more sides motor-vehicles for private or public transport, in particular motor-cars and the like, comprises at least two jacks (12) located on two opposite sides (20) of the vehicle and anchored to the bottom or platform of the body (20), each of said jacks (12) being hydralically, mechanically or pneumatically activated, also by means of an electric motor (14), directly from the inside of the motor-vehicle.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE PARTLY JACKING OF MOTOR- VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR OF MOTOR-CARS AND THE LIKE

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a device for the partly jacking, substantially to a reduced height, of motor-vehicles for private or public transport, in practice motor-cars and the like, so structured, positioned and constructed as to allow its activation from the inside of the vehicle.

As is known, the present devices used to realize the partly jacking with hoisting and inclination of motor- vehicles, for instance motor-cars, mini-coaches, light vans and the like, are generally of a mechanical type and structurally different from one another, according to the weight of the vehicle to be hoisted and the height required with respect to the bearing base. Besides, they are always separated from the vehicles and their structure, besides being complex, is often also cumbersome.

Many of these partly jacking devices are classified as "jacks" or "cries", may be activated either manually or through a motor, and are usually employed in assembly and /or repair shops. As is also known, at present all motor-vehicles, in particular motor-cars and the like, are provided with a hoisting and inclining jack of the mechanical type and manually activated, in order to allow vehicle users to partly hoist their vehicles whenever the necessity arises, for instance when it is necessary to replace a wheel or for other reasons .

The devices that come today with the motor-vehicles and the like are obviously of a weight and overall size as reduced as possible, but also they can be easily used only on flat roads, with little loose and compact roadbeds .

In fact, as these jacking devices are usually constituted by a tubular body comprising a nut screw that rotates without translating, and a worm screw meshed with said nut screw, as well as a manual drive lever on the outside of said tubular body, it is actually rather difficult to position and keep said tubular body in the vertical position between the ground and the vehicle bottom when the screw comes out while the vehicle is hoisted and inclined. Besides, the present jacking devices that come with the motor-vehicles have other drawbacks and disadvantages, such as the weight of the device to be manoeuvred, the necessity of providing in the car the space necessary for their transportation, the manoeuvre which is not always rapid for the correct positioning of the device and the manual activation until the desired inclination is reached.

Object of this invention is therefore to provide a mechanical jacking device for motor-vehicles in general and motor-cars in particular, so structured and positioned as to practically obviate all the drawbacks and disadvantages of the partly jacking devices which come at present with the motor-vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jacking-inclining device for motor-vehicles so designed as to be easily and rapidly activated whenever necessary, and especially capable to allow and adjust the inclination, successively, of all the sides of the vehicle through the activation without effort from the inside of the vehicle, with the further advantage of not requiring the presence of the user outside the vehicle.

A not last object of this invention is to provide a jacking device for motor-vehicles so structured as to have a reduced overall size, high reliability and also such as to be practically invisible when it is not used and therefore capable of not altering the aesthetic line of the vehicle.

These and still other objects, which will be more clearly stressed below, are achieved by a device for the partly jacking of motor-vehicles for public and private transport, in particular motor-cars, light vans, mini-coaches and the like, which comprises, according to the present invention, at least two like jacks located on the opposite sides of the vehicle and anchored to the bottom or platform of the body, each of said jacks being hydraulically, mechanically or pneumatically activated, also by means of an electric motor, directly from the inside of the motor-vehicle. Advantageously, said jacks are mechanical jacks substantially of the parallelogram type, articulated with a cross drive screw.

More particularly, said jacks are anchored to the longitudinal sides of the body, in correspondence of the reinforcements constituted by the usual arched- uprights which the vehicle doors are anchored to.

According to another embodiment of the invention, said two jacks are anchored each in a central position at the front and back transversal sides of the vehicle, with the interposition of possible reinforcements applied to the bed or the bearing slab of the body. Besides, each j acking-inclining device is provided, in its contact area with the ground, with a bearing plate having preferably the shape of an open tray, centrally mounted, and joint-hinged or the like at the end of said device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the invention comprises the following components: - frame from metal alloy with worm screw having the aim of hoisting and subsequently lowering the vehicle, with a plate always from alloy, having a size such as to allow the utilization of the apparatus even on rough and not perfectly even grounds; - electric starting motor fed with direct or alternate current (according to the applications) connected to the frame through a universal joint, with the specific aim of transmitting the motion to the frame, in order to permit the hoisting and the lowering; - electronic card made up by electronic components performing as an interface between the starting motor and the control device located on the dashboard for the transmission of the commands with a safety circuit to obviate an improper utilization; electric bolt remover for the removal of wheel fastening nuts.

The nominal utilization tension may typically be of 12V or 24V (according to the applications) . Besides having a reduced overall siz;e, the device according to the invention also provides for the complete disappearance of the apparatus, which may be on the bottom, with an easy accessibility for users. A further advantage of the invention is represented by the fact that the device may be easily mounted, following a simple adjustment, also on already existing motor-vehicles .

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be stressed with more details by the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawing plates, solely given by way of non limiting and non-exhaustive indication, and wherein: Figure 1 shows a side view of only the jacking and inclining device of a vehicle, realized according to the invention, and illustrated by continuous lines when it is in closing or backing position against the vehicle bottom, and by broken lines when it is in working position, Figure 2 shows the same jacking device when it is not used, illustrated in Figure 1, but mounted on the sides of a motor-vehicle;

Figure 3 shows, instead, two like jacking devices mounted on the transversal sides of the same vehicle of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows, instead, the jacking device mounted on the back side of the vehicle; Figure 5 shows a van or cabin-vehicle with a jacking device mounted on its longitudinal sides;

Figure β shows the same van of Figure 5, with a jacking device centrally anchored on its front and back cross- sides . With special reference to Figure 1, the jacking device of a motor-vehicle with a side and partial inclination, is substantially of the articulated parallelogram or pantograph type, with drive screw 9 in open-closed position, actuated by the gear-motor 14. More precisely, said parallelogram is constituted by four like metal bars or arms, indicated by 1-2-3-4; an end of arm 1 and 3 is hinged, respectively, at la-3a, on a metal plate 5, while the corresponding ends of bars 2 and 4 are hinged at 2a-4a on a similar plate 6. The opening or closing of the arms is obtained by suitable and usual movement and transmission means, as shown in Figure 1.

The lower vertical plate 5 is integral with an horizontal plate 5a, and the latter is centrally anchored, through a ball joint or the like 11, to the bottom of an open tray 12 having the function of containing, substantially up to its disappearance, the device when it is closed (as shown by continuous lines in Figure 1) , as well as of adjusting to the unevenness of the ground, when the parallelogram is open, by effect of the articulated hinging of the base plate 5a. A reinforcement plate 13, anchored to the upper plate 6, is intended for being stably anchored to the bottom wall (and in lateral position) of the body of a motor- vehicle 20, as will be better clarified below. In fact, with plate 13 anchored, for instance to the body base, near to a side wall, and with the four bars or arms in closing position under the bottom of the body, one causes, by activating the movement means, the pulling apart of the arms and therefore the shifting of the bottom plate 5a until it gets in touch with the ground; by continuing to carry on this action, one causes the hoisting and partly inclination of the vehicle. By activating said movement means in the opposite direction, the parallelogram closes until it shifts the base plate 5a until it gets in touch with the bottom of the body or plate 13, allowing at the same time vehicle 20 to return to its normal position, with the wheels on the ground.

The device shown in Figure 1 may be mounted on the bottom either in the side portions or in the front and back portions of a motor-vehicle, as shown by the diagrams of Figures 2-6.

More precisely, two like partly jacking devices (to the right and the left) of a motor-vehicle are normally anchored to the reinforcing structure, tubular frame or the like, that is present on the bottom of the vehicle, in correspondence of the arched uprights that form the support for the attachment of the side doors. Figures 2-6 show motor-vehicles and vans provided with a jacking device in closed position; in this case there remain visible only the containment tray 12 and the related activation electric motor, if any.

Always according to the invention, each of the above described jacks may be hoisted mechanically, for instance through an electric motor or an hydraulic or pneumatic circuit. If an electric motor is used, this is fed by the accumulator-battery of the vehicle, typically from 12V to about 24V. In case of hydraulic activation, the jacking device may be activated by exploiting the pressure of the change gear oil in the case of automatic transmission vehicles, or also the compressed air provided for the activation of the vehicle brakes, should the latter be provided with the same. In all cases, the jacking device, independently on whether it is placed along the sides or on the front or the back, is controlled from the inside of the motor-car, with obvious advantages for the users. As a principle, it is a jack of a mechanical type coupled to an electric motor which provides the jack with the mechanical energy it needs to perform its work of hoisting the motor-vehicle. The mechanical jack may have any shape, size or functionality, its aim is to transform an inlet force, which may be supplied by the rotation of a shaft or a snap movement o any other mechanical action, into a force usually addressed to the bearing plane of the motor-vehicle, to cause its jacking. The electric motor supplies the inlet force

(more precisely, the power) through the rotation of its shaft. The mechanical coupling between the outlet shaft of the electric motor and the inlet system with the jack may be realized by means of a reduction gear, so as to reduce the torque required of the electric motor, tying it however to a higher speed.

The electric motor shall be able to rotate in both directions, to allow the upwards and downwards movements of the jack; to do this, a permanent magnet motor may be used. However, also a series excitation motor might be used, wherein field and armature would have the possibility of reverting the direction of the current that passes through them (from the viewpoint of the direction of the windings) ; or a separated excitation motor, wherein the rotation direction is imposed by the reversal of the current circulation direction in the field winding.

Also an asynchronous engine might be taken into consideration, with the obvious advantages of construction, cost, and insensitivity towards agents such as dust and water. In this case, as the motor- vehicles would be fed by lead accumulators, hence sources of d.c, an inverter should be provided to allow the working of the asynchronous engine. As said, the electric motor may be fed by the battery onboard of the vehicle, as the system is preferably utilized with a switched-off engine.

According to another embodiment, the coupling of the electric motor and the jack activator is obtained through an hydraulic circuit. In this case, an hydraulic pump, for instance a gear pump, is keyed directly on the shaft of the electric motor wherefrom it draws the movement. Depending on whether one wishes to hoist or to lower the motor-vehicle, the pressurized oil is sent into one of the two branches of the double- effect cylinder which is utilized for the jacking. In this case, an hydraulic jack is automated; the cylinder may be a multi-step or a telescopic one. The use of a permanent magnets d.c. electric motor allows to reverse the rotation by simply acting on the polarities of the motor electric connection. The motor shaft is keyed through an elastic joint on the nut screw of a pantograph or parallelogram jack, interposing between them a reduction gear, for instance of the epicycloid type.

The joint shall make up for the angle and translation misalignments of the shaft of the electric motor and the nut screw of the pantograph. The external envelope of the electric motor (carcass) is caused to be integral with one of the threaded bushes wherein the nut screw rotates, so that a rotation of the nut screw, and consequently the opening of the pantograph (or the closing of the same, according to the rotation direction of the electric motor shaft) corresponds to each rotation of the shaft of the electric motor. As it is necessary to minimize the power necessary to hoist the vehicle, high performance components are selected, so as to dissipate as little energy as possible. This optimization concerns especially the electric motor and the pitch of the nut screw. The power necessary to hoist the motor-vehicle obviously depends on its weight and the speed at which the jacking should be carried out, i.e. the time one wishes to employ to hoist the motor-vehicle to a given height. Power is always the product of two factors : voltage and current for electric motors, torque and angle speed for motor shafts. In the case in point, it should be also taken into account the pitch of the nut screw, i.e., the inclination with respect to the directrix of its generating cylinder of the involute (helix) , is very important for the purposes of the energy calculation. A too marked pitch leads to high torques and high jacking speeds, the number of rotations of the electric motor being the same. A little marked pitch (low involute angle) leads to lower torques but higher angle speeds of the electric motor shaft, the jacking speed being the same as the preceding case. The reduction gears promotes a power transfer to the disadvantage of speed and to the advantage of the torque; in other words, at the inlet side of the reduction gear, high speeds and low torques are present, while at the outlet axis, the relation between these quantities reverses exactly as a

function of p to less than the intrinsic yield of the

same reduction gear.

In any case, all may be roughly summarized by the relation:

" jack ~ * βlectr. ' Imot . ' Ireduc .gear ' Ijoint Imit screw Ipantograp

The values of η are always smaller than 1. Therefore,

the above relation shows that the jacking power is always smaller than the electric power that enters the electric motor. It is therefore necessary that all the above stressed yields be kept as high as possible (meaning that they should be near the unit) , not to waste energy only for the intrinsic movement of the system.

The construction description of the system given above is not binding, meaning that the engine needs not being keyed on a side of the pantograph, as described above, but might be housed in the middle of the same; obviously the motor shaft must be hollow, to allow the nut screw to slide in its inside by effect of the rotation, and that the reduction gear be mechanically suitable for this function. The greater mechanical complexity would be made up for by a reduced overall size with respect to the system just described. It is now clear that by acting on the feeding polarity of the electric motor it is possible to hoist or lower the motor-vehicle.

The above described system may be fitted to the motor- vehicle through its housing under the platform of the vehicle through a plate bolted or welded to the same. The housing position will vary depending on the individual cases, as well as the power required from the electric motor. Nothing else is required, except the wiring.

Obviously, two jacks will be necessary, each for each side of the concerned motor-vehicle, so that the left side of the motor-vehicle is jacked by the left jack, and in the same way, the right one will provide to jacking the right side of the motor-vehicle. With respect to the conventional system utilized for the temporary jacking of motor-vehicles, the one illustrated above shows a mush higher stability ad therefore a mush higher safety; the conventional jack has no fixed connections with the motor-vehicles, while the system described herein has its plate solidly connected to the motor-vehicle, so that during the jacking the ground bearing points of the motor- vehicles are always three at least, respecting therefore the minimum stability requirement without straying in an hyperstatic system. The device according to the invention shall obviously be equipped with safety systems such as to allow its use only if the environment conditions are such as to work only with the utmost confidence. Each jack has two sensors (for instance, micro- switches) that identify the "closed jack" position (when the motor-vehicle is normally running) and the "open jack" position (when the motor-vehicle is hoisted) . Obviously, the two signals exclude each other. The main safety operating conditions realized are :

- the engine of the motor-vehicle cannot be re-started if there is an open jack; - a jack may be caused to open only if the engine of the motor-vehicle is switched-off and the hand-brake is inserted;

- only one jack at a time may be activated;

- to activate a jack, the other one must be closed; - if, for any reason, a jack should jam, it should be possible to act through a mechanical system, to bring again in a closed position the failing jack. All the signals concerning the conditions of the system my be signaled to the user by means of LEDs, utilizable from the same activation board of the jacks or through a display or in any other way.

The accessories which come with the above described system may be divided into two sections: the first one is a general purpose reduction of the system, that provides for a hoisting kit that can be hand-fitted under the motor-vehicle: in this case, it would be an electric jack, electrically fed directly by the battery through cables and pliers. The second one is an electric gun that screws-unscrews the bolts, to alleviate also the effort of unlocking and re-locking the nuts that fasten the wheels of motor-vehicles. Obviously, the above described system is independent on the accessories just described. Always according to the present invention, also a device of the "global kit" type may be provided, which is made up by a small bag, for instance of the size of a jack, incorporating an electric motor, a bolt- removing device to facilitate the change of the tires, the change of the brakes, to mounting of snow-chains, and for many other works suitable for the maintenance of the motor-vehicle.

The bag is located under the motor-vehicle, about in its middle, the wire is inserted in the lighter socket; the control wire allows, by means of a switch, the jack to come out from the bag, the upper plate rests on the motor-vehicle and the same hoists. When the motor- vehicle has reached the right height, one stops the movement, for instance by releasing the switch, opens the door by side of the bag, takes the electric bolt- remover, removes the bolts, removes the tire, puts on the new tire and inserts again the bolts. Then, one places again the bolt-remover in the bag, etc. The operation as a whole requires only extremely reduced times.

Obviously, in the practical realization, modifications and variants structurally and functionally equivalent may be introduced in the invention as described and illustrated, without departing from the protection scope of the invention; just in the same way, the sizing of the jacking device and the power required for its activation may be varied according to the dimensions and the weight of the motor-vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for partly jacking from one or more sides motor-vehicles for private or public transport, in particular motor-cars, mini-coaches, light vans and the like, characterized in that it comprises at least two like jacks located on two opposite sides of the vehicle, and anchored to the bottom or platform of the body, each of said jacks being hydraulically or mechanically driven, through an electric motor, directly from the inside of the motor-vehicle.

2. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said jacks are of the articulated parallelogram type.

3. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first and a second jack^" are stably anchored to the longitudinal sides of the vehicle body, in correspondence of the reinforcements present in the vehicle, and in particular of the arched uprights which the side door of the vehicle are anchored to .

4. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is placed in a position that is central with regard to both the transversal front and the back side of the motor-vehicle, with interposition of possible reinforcements applied to the platform or to a supporting slab of the vehicle body.

5. The jacking device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that to its bottom or slab resting on the ground a covering is associated that has substantially the form of an open tray, centrally mounted on a ball joint or the like, so as to allow the jacking device in a closed position to remain contained and to disappear in said tray and to make up for the unevenness of the ground.

6. The jacking device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is controlled from the inside of the vehicle by an electric motor fed by the battery of the vehicle, typically from 12V to 24V.

7. The jacking device according to claims 1-5, characterized in that it is controlled from the inside of the vehicle by pump means connected to the hydraulic circuit of the vehicle clutch or to the hydraulic circuit of the change gear of vehicles provided with automatic change gear, or to a service hydraulic circuit .

8. The jacking device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is controlled from the inside of the vehicle through the utilization of the compressed air obtainable from the brake activation tank, if any.

9. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that a reduction gear is provided between said jack and said electric motor.

10. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said electric motor is a permanent magnet motor .

11. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said electric motor has a hollow shaft and is housed in the inside of the jack, also with the possible interposition of a hollow shaft reduction gear.

12. The jacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said motor may also be of a type different from the electric type.

13. The jacking device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is realized in the form of a kit that comprises a small bag whose inside contains a jack that has an incorporated electric motor, a bolt remover, cables and switches for the connection to, and movement of, said jack.