Decoupleable lifting platform receptacle

A method for increasing utilization of a vehicle lifting platform by transferring a lifted vehicle from the lifting platform to a carrying device, the lifting platform having at least two laterally spaced apart pillars each of which has at least one height-changeable pivotable arm, each of the arms being telescopically displaceable in length and an end of each of the arms remote from the respective pillar having an opening, coupling and decoupling devices that include internally threaded sleeves temporarily arranged in the openings of the respective arms, externally threaded bolts threadedly engaged respectively with the internally threaded sleeves, bores extending into bottom ends of the bolts and supporting plates fixed to top ends of the bolts for supporting the vehicle, the method comprising:

• displacing the arms so that the supporting plates align respectively with receiving points on an underbody of the vehicle;
• raising the arms relative to the pillars so that the supporting plates approach the receiving points on the underbody of the vehicle;
• rotating the bolts relative to the sleeves so that all of the supporting plates engage the receiving points on the underbody of the vehicle;
• raising the arms farther along the pillars to lift the vehicle sufficiently to work on the underbody;
• transferring the vehicle to the carrying device during a work interruption by:
• positioning the carrying device under the vehicle;
• individually adjusting receiving points of the carrying device to align with the bores in the bolts;
• lowering the arms along the pillars so that the receiving points engage in the bores;
• continuing lowering the arms so that the sleeves, the bolts and the supporting plates separate from the arms and remain on the receiving points;
• moving the carrying device away from the lifting platform;
• and
• positioning new coupling and decoupling devices on the arms so that a further vehicle can be worked on during the work interruption.