# US 2026/0097946 A1 · Load monitoring system for vehicle lift with adapter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0097946 A1 - Document ID: US20260097946A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/910,091 - Filed: 2024-10-09 - Published: 2026-04-09 - Earliest claimed: 2024-10-09 - Applicants: Gray Manufacturing Company, Inc. - Inventors: Todd Michalski; Stephen J. Rucker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260097946A1 ## CPC - B66F 17/00: Safety devices, e.g. for limiting or indicating lifting force - B66F 3/24: fluid-pressure operated (water-pressure machines F03B; hydraulic gearings F16H; cylinders, pistons F16J; fluid-pressure servomotors F15B) - B66F 3/46: Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements - 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 configured to raise and lower a vehicle. The vehicle lift comprises a post, an actuator, and a carriage assembly. The vehicle lift further includes a control system configured to control the actuator to shift the carriage assembly relative to the post. The control system is further configured to perform certain steps. One step includes receiving an indication of a type of adapter to be used with the vehicle lift. The adapter is configured to be engaged with the carriage assembly to support the vehicle. Another step includes receiving an indication of a weight of the vehicle. Another step includes determining whether the weight of the vehicle exceeds a maximum load capacity of the adapter. A further step includes upon the control system determining that the weight of the vehicle exceeds the maximum load capacity of the adapter, restricting operation of the vehicle lift. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle lift configured to raise and lower a vehicle, said vehicle lift comprising: a post; an actuator; a carriage assembly configured to engage a tire of the vehicle; a control system configured to control the actuator to shift the carriage assembly relative to the post; wherein the control system is further configured to— receive an indication of a type of adapter to be used with the vehicle lift, wherein the adapter is configured to be engaged with the carriage assembly to support the vehicle, receive an indication of a weight of the vehicle, determine whether the weight of the vehicle exceeds a maximum load capacity of the adapter, upon the control system determining that the weight of the vehicle exceeds the maximum load capacity of the adapter, restrict operation of the vehicle lift. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to restrict operation of the vehicle lift by restricting the vehicle lift from vertically raising the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle lift system of claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to permit the vehicle lift to vertically lower the vehicle while restricting the vehicle lift from vertically raising the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the control system includes one or more memory elements configured to store data, and wherein the memory elements store maximum load capacities for a plurality of different adapters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication of the type of adapter to be used with the vehicle lift via a user of the vehicle lift manually entering the indication into the control system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the adapter includes an identification module, and wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication of the type of adapter to be used with the vehicle lift via the identification module of the adapter providing the indication to the control system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle lift system of claim 6, wherein the identification module comprises an radio frequency identification (RFID) module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle lift is hydraulically powered, and wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication of the weight of the vehicle from a pressure sensor associated with a hydraulic cylinder of the vehicle lift. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle lift system of claim 8, wherein the control system is configured to determine the weight of the vehicle using a Static Load Test while the vehicle is being supported by the vehicle lift but while the vehicle is not being raised or lowered by the vehicle lift. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle lift system of claim 8, wherein the control system is configured to determine the weight of the vehicle using a Dynamic Load Test while the vehicle is being raised or lowered by the vehicle lift. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle lift is electrically powered, and wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication of the weight of the vehicle from a current sensor associated with an electric motor of the vehicle lift. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to receive the indication of the weight of the vehicle from a load sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle lift system of claim 12, wherein the load sensor comprises a strain gauge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle lift system of claim 12, wherein the load sensor is positioned on or in the vehicle lift. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle lift system of claim 12, wherein the load sensor is positioned on or in the adapter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the adapter is selected from one of the following: a crossbeam adapter, a fork-lift adapter, an end-lift adapter, and a cab adapter. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a computer program stored thereon for controlling a vehicle lift, wherein upon the computer program being executed by a processor, the processor is configured to: receive an indication of a type of adapter to be used with the vehicle lift, wherein the adapter is configured to be engaged with the vehicle lift to support the vehicle; receive an indication of a weight of the vehicle; determine whether the weight of the vehicle exceeds a maximum load capacity of the adapter; and upon determining that the weight of the vehicle exceeds the maximum load capacity of the adapter, restrict operation of the vehicle lift. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to restrict operation of the vehicle lift by permitting the vehicle lift to vertically lower the vehicle while preventing the vehicle lift from vertically raising the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the maximum load capacity of the adapter from a plurality of maximum load capacities for a plurality of different adapters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processor receives the indication of the weight of the vehicle from a pressure sensor associated with a hydraulic cylinder of the vehicle lift.