# US 11,305,972 B1 · Vehicle lift with locally stored energy source

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- Number: US 11,305,972 B1
- Document ID: US11305972B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/080,240
- Filed: 2013-11-14
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-11
- Assignees: Vehcile Service Group, LLC
- Applicants: Vehicle Service Group, LLC
- Inventors: Robert W. Elliot; Michael A. Swartz; Jason E. Matthews; Douglas J. Brown; Brian E. Kelley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305972B1

## CPC

- B66F 7/28: Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)

## Abstract

A vehicle lift utilizes a locally stored energy source configured to deliver energy at a high rate to a DC motor to provide a fast rise time and to replenish that energy at a lower rate over a relatively longer period of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle service system having an associated external electrical power source, said vehicle service system comprising:
a plurality of spaced apart service bays disposed at predetermined locations, each service bay comprising:
a. a respective vehicle lift, each respective vehicle lift configured to lift a respective vehicle, the respective lift comprising
i. at least one moveable member configured to engage a vehicle; and
ii. an electric motor operable to cause said at least one moveable member to raise;
b. a locally stored electrical energy source configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through at least one lift cycle; and
c. means for maintaining the locally stored electrical energy source at a desired energy level, said means comprising a charging circuit connected to said locally stored electrical energy source
wherein all of the respective charging circuits are simultaneously connected to and drawing current from said external electrical power source during raising of the respective at least one moveable members.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle service system of claim 1, wherein said charging circuits draw electrical power from said external electrical power source at a low current draw.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said charging circuits are connected to said external electrical power source when the respective at least one moveable members are not being raised.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said charging circuits are configured to be periodically interrupted.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle service system of claim 1, wherein each respective said locally stored electrical energy source is configured to deliver energy to said respective electric motor sufficient to cause said respective electric motor to raise said respective at least one moveable member through one lift cycle in a rise time of no more than thirty seconds.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vehicle service system of claim 5, wherein the rise time is no more than twenty seconds.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle service system of claim 1, wherein each respective said locally stored electrical energy source is disposed proximal to said respective electric motor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle service system of claim 1, wherein said respective charging circuit is configured to restore the equivalent of one lift of energy to said respective locally stored electrical energy source within a period of time that is no greater than twenty minutes while drawing electrical power from said external electrical power source during said period of time at no greater than three amps.

### Claim 9

A vehicle lift comprising:
a. at least one moveable member configured to engage a vehicle;
b. an electric motor operable to cause said at least one moveable member to raise;
c. a locally stored electrical energy source configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through at least one lift cycle;
d. means to maintain the locally stored electrical energy source at a desired energy level, said means comprising a charging circuit connected to said locally stored electrical energy source, said charging circuit connected to and drawing electrical power from an external electrical power source, said charging circuit configured to restore the equivalent of one lift of energy to said locally stored electrical energy source within a period of time that is no greater than twenty minutes while drawing electrical power from said external electrical power source during said period of time at no greater than three amps.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle lift of claim 9, wherein said charging circuit is configured to be periodically interrupted.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The vehicle lift of claim 9, wherein said locally stored electrical energy source is configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through one lift cycle in a rise time of no more than thirty seconds.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle lift of claim 11, wherein the rise time is no more than twenty seconds.

### Claim 13

A service bay comprising a vehicle lift, said vehicle lift comprising:
a. a frame permanently mounted in place in the service bay;
b. at least one moveable member carried by said frame, said at least one moveable member configured to engage a vehicle;
c. an electric motor operable to cause said at least one moveable member to raise;
d. a locally stored electrical energy source carried by said frame and configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through at least one lift cycle;
e. means to maintain the locally stored electrical energy source at a desired energy level, said means comprising a charging circuit connected to said locally stored electrical energy source, said charging circuit connected to and drawing electrical power from an external electrical power source.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The service bay of claim 13, wherein said charging circuit draws electrical power from said external electrical power source at a low current draw.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The service bay of claim 13, wherein the charging circuit is connected to and drawing current from said external electrical power source during raising of the at least one moveable member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The service bay of claim 15, wherein said charging circuit is connected to said external electrical power source when the at least one moveable member is not being raised.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The service bay of claim 13, wherein said locally stored electrical energy source is configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through one lift cycle in a rise time of no more than thirty seconds.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The service bay of claim 17, wherein the rise time is no more than twenty seconds.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The service bay of claim 13, wherein said charging circuit is configured to restore the equivalent of one lift of energy to said locally stored electrical energy source within a period of time that is no greater than twenty minutes while drawing electrical power from said external electrical power source during said period of time at no greater than three amps.

### Claim 20

A vehicle service system having an associated external electrical power source, said vehicle service system comprising:
a. a plurality of respective spaced apart vehicle lifts disposed at predetermined locations, each respective vehicle lift configured to lift a respective vehicle, each respective lift comprising:
i. at least one moveable member configured to engage a vehicle; and
ii. an electric motor operable to cause said at least one moveable member to raise;
b. a locally stored electrical energy source configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through at least one lift cycle; and
c. means for maintaining the locally stored electrical energy source at a desired energy level, said means comprising a charging circuit connected to said locally stored electrical energy source
wherein all of the respective charging circuits are simultaneously connected to and drawing current from said external electrical power source during raising of the respective at least one moveable members.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The vehicle service system of claim 20, wherein said charging circuits draw electrical power from said external electrical power source at a low current draw.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The vehicle system of claim 20, wherein said charging circuits are connected to said external electrical power source when the respective at least one moveable members are not being raised.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The vehicle system of claim 20, wherein said charging circuits are configured to be periodically interrupted.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The vehicle service system of claim 20, wherein each respective said locally stored electrical energy source is configured to deliver energy to said respective electric motor sufficient to cause said respective electric motor to raise said respective at least one moveable member through one lift cycle in a rise time of no more than thirty seconds.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The vehicle service system of claim 24, wherein the rise time is no more than twenty seconds.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The vehicle service system of claim 20, wherein each respective said locally stored electrical energy source is disposed proximal to said respective electric motor.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The vehicle service system of claim 20, wherein said charging circuits are configured to restore the equivalent of one lift of energy to said respective locally stored electrical energy source within a period of time that is no greater than twenty minutes while drawing electrical power from said external electrical power source during said period of time at no greater than three amps.

### Claim 28

A vehicle lift comprising:
a. a frame permanently mounted in place;
b. at least one moveable member carried by said frame, said at least one moveable member configured to engage a vehicle;
c. an electric motor operable to cause said at least one moveable member to raise;
d. a locally stored electrical energy source carried by said frame and configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through at least one lift cycle;
e. means to maintain the locally stored electrical energy source at a desired energy level, said means comprising a charging circuit connected to said locally stored electrical energy source, said charging circuit connected to and drawing electrical power from an external electrical power source.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The vehicle lift of claim 28, wherein said charging circuit draws electrical power from said external electrical power source at a low current draw.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The vehicle lift of claim 28, wherein the charging circuit is connected to and drawing current from said external electrical power source during raising of the at least one moveable member.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The vehicle lift of claim 30, wherein said charging circuit is connected to said external electrical power source when the respective at least one moveable member is not being raised.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The vehicle lift of claim 28, wherein said locally stored electrical energy source is configured to deliver energy to said electric motor sufficient to cause said electric motor to raise said at least one moveable member through one lift cycle in a rise time of no more than thirty seconds.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The vehicle lift of claim 32, wherein the rise time is no more than twenty seconds.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The vehicle lift of claim 28, wherein said charging circuit is configured to restore the equivalent of one lift of energy to said locally stored electrical energy source within a period of time that is no greater than twenty minutes while drawing electrical power from said external electrical power source during said period of time at no greater than three amps.