Electromagnetic release

A lifting platform for raising and lowering an automotive vehicle comprising at least one support column and a lift carriage with at least one vehicle support arm with at least one support surface for a vehicle, said lift carriage vertically movable in vertical guides of said support column, with an electric power drive unit and motor assembly connected to said lift carriage, which electric power drive unit and motor assembly has control and switching means for normal and non-normal operating modes, a spring activated latch engagement mechanism for locking said lift carriage in position and solenoid activated latch release mechanism in said support column with positive safety latching activation and means for operator positive disengagement of said spring activated latch mechanism wherein said spring activated latch engagement mechanism comprises:

• a rotatable latch member on a pivot axis mounted upon said support column, said latch member positioned to engage hole cutouts of said lift carriage in locking position to lock said lift carriage against downward movement
• a coil spring mounted on said pivot axis positioned to force said latch member to engage hole cutouts of said lift carriage
• an electric solenoid connected by suitable means to said rotatable latch member, said solenoid positioned below said latch member to cause said latch member, upon solenoid activation, to rotate out of locking position to disengage hole cutouts of said lift carriage, said solenoid acting against the positive engagement action of said coil spring forcing said latch member to engage hole cutouts of said lift carriage
• means for said operator positive disengagement of said spring activated latch engagement mechanism which comprises:
• said electrical control and switching means of said electric solenoid and said electric power drive unit whereby said electric solenoid is activated by operator electrical control and said electric power drive unit is activated to raise the lift carriage to free said rotatable latch members from locked position in engaged hole cutouts of said lift carriage.