Self-Leveling Hydraulic Motor Driven Boat Lift

A self-leveling hydraulic motor driven boat lift for selectively lifting a boat out of and lowering the boat into a body of water, the boat lift comprising:

• spaced apart proximal and distal support structures disposed on respective proximal and distal longitudinal sides of a lift platform, which lift platform is adapted for supporting the boat thereon;
• proximal and distal hydraulic motors respectively mounted to the proximal and distal support structures, said proximal and distal hydraulic motors being operably connected to respective winder mechanisms;
• a plurality of lift cable assemblies, each said lift cable assembly being operably interconnected between a respective winder mechanism and said lift platform;
• a plurality of hydraulic pumps, each said hydraulic pump being communicably connected to a respective one of said proximal and distal hydraulic motors for transmitting hydraulic fluid between said pump and said respective one of said proximal and distal hydraulic motors such that said hydraulic pumps operate said proximal and distal hydraulic motors and drive said respective winder mechanisms and operably interconnected cable assemblies to selectively lift and lower said lift platform;
• a sensor for measuring lateral inclination between said proximal and distal longitudinal sides of said lift platform;
• a plurality of hydraulic valves, each said hydraulic valve communicably interconnecting a respective hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor connected to said pump;
• and
• a controller responsive to signals form said sensor for selectively opening and closing at least one said valve a selected amount for adjusting the transmission of hydraulic fluid between at least one said hydraulic pump and a respective said hydraulic motor communicably connected to said hydraulic pump, whereby an operating speed of one or more of said proximal and distal hydraulic motors is adjusted to lateral level said lift platform.

A self-leveling system for a hydraulic motor driven boat lift, which boat lift includes spaced apart proximal and distal support structures disposed on respective proximal and distal longitudinal sides of a lift platform, which lift platform is adapted for supporting the boat thereon, the boat lift further including proximal and distal hydraulic motors respectively mounted to the proximal and distal support structures, the proximal and distal hydraulic motors being operably connected to respective winder mechanisms, the boat lift further having a plurality of lift cable assemblies, each lift cable assembly being operably interconnected between a respective winder mechanism and the lift platform, and the boat lift further having a plurality of hydraulic pumps, each hydraulic pump being communicably connected to a respective one of the proximal and distal hydraulic motors for transmitting hydraulic fluid between the pump and a respective one of said proximal and distal hydraulic motors such that the hydraulic pumps operate the proximal and distal hydraulic motors and drive the respective winder mechanisms and operably interconnected cable assemblies to selectively lift and lower the lift platform, the self-leveling system comprising:

• a sensor for measuring lateral inclination between said proximal and distal longitudinal sides of said lift platform;
• a plurality of hydraulic valves, each said hydraulic valve communicably interconnecting a respective hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor connected to said pump;
• and
• a controller responsive to signals form said sensor for selectively opening and closing at least one said valve a selected amount for adjusting the transmission of hydraulic fluid between at least one one said hydraulic pump and a respective said hydraulic motor communicably connected to said hydraulic pump, whereby an operating speed of one or more of said proximal and distal hydraulic motors is adjusted to lateral level said lift platform.