Automated rolling-jack for drive-on lifts
AssigneeMohawk Lifts, LLC
InventorZachary Perlstein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for methods and systems for automating the operation of a rolling-jack system for the servicing of automotive vehicles. The rolling-jack(s) travel/transport between the runways of a drive-on lift. They have automated/motorized transportation, engagement and jacking power mechanisms. These mechanisms are controlled by a guidance system which guides/controls them for a fully automated operation. A number of technologies may be used for this purpose, including sensors onboard the vehicles and/or the drive-on lifts and/or the rolling-jacks and/or the service center. A computer vision pipeline may also be utilized to assist in the process. Machine learning may also be employed. Techniques are also extended to autonomous vehicles as well as interfacing with fleet management software.
Claims20
A system of automating the operation of a rolling-jack, said system comprising:
- (a) a motorized transport mechanism configured for motorized transport of said entire rolling-jack between, and parallel to, runways of a drive-on lift to an engagement location underneath a vehicle parked on said runways, said drive-on lift operable to lift said runways with said vehicle parked on said runways from a drive-on position to a first lift position, said transport mechanism including a transport mechanism drive configured to receive transport control command signals, said transport control command signals operable to control said transport mechanism drive to automatically transport said entire rolling-jack to said engagement location while said runways are in said first lift position;
- (b) an engagement mechanism containing two lift pads at two lateral ends of said rolling-jack, for automatically engaging at two respective lift points underneath said vehicle, said engaging to occur within a prescribed tolerance, said engaging including said lift pads automatically contacting said lift points within said prescribed tolerance without additional lifting of said vehicle;
- (c) a jacking power mechanism for automatically lifting and lowering said lift pads, said lifting including automatically lifting said vehicle to a second lift position after said engaging has occurred, wherein in said second lift position wheels of said vehicle are lifted off of said runways while said runways are in said first lift position;
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- (d) a guidance system utilizing one or more sensors for guiding said transport mechanism, said engagement mechanism and said jacking power mechanism, said guidance system operable to generate said transport control command signals;
- wherein said guidance system comprises a microprocessor executing program instructions stored in a non-transitory storage medium.
A method of automating the operation of a rolling-jack, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a motorized transport mechanism configured for motorized transport of said entire rolling-jack between, and parallel to, runways of a drive-on lift to an engagement location underneath a vehicle parked on said runways, said drive-on lift operable to lift said runways with said vehicle parked on said runways from a drive-on position to a first lift position, said transport mechanism including a transport mechanism drive configured to receive transport control command signals, said transport control command signals operable to control said transport mechanism drive to automatically transport said entire rolling-jack to said engagement location while said runways are in said first lift position;
- (b) providing an engagement mechanism containing two lift pads at two lateral ends of said rolling-jack, for automatically engaging at lift points underneath said vehicle, said engaging to occur within a prescribed tolerance, said engaging including said lift pads automatically contacting said lift points within said prescribed tolerance without additional lifting of said vehicle;
- (c) providing a jacking power mechanism for automatically lifting and lowering said lift pads, said lifting including automatically lifting said vehicle to a second lift position after said engaging has occurred, wherein in said second lift position wheels of said vehicle are lifted off of said runways while said runways are in said first lift position;
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- (d) providing a guidance system utilizing one or more sensors for guiding said transport mechanism, said engagement mechanism and said jacking power mechanism, said guidance system operable to generate said transport control command signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.