Two-masted lifting apparatus

#The present invention generally relates to a two-masted lifting apparatus for lifting a weighty object such as a vehicle or the like to a certain height, and more particularly relates to a two-masted lifting apparatus of the kind in which it is possible to incline at a desired angle a vehicle or the like which has been lifted up to a certain height; whereby the inspecting, repairing or cleaning works upon the underside of the vehicle or the like can be carried out easily and safely.

#Although there have heretofore been proposed various types of two-masted lifting apparatus, most of them are not provided with such a mechanism that is capable of inclining a vehicle or the like which has been horizontally supported at a certain height. This is primarily because great risks such as slipping accidents are very likely to occur when inclining the weighty objects lifted up above the ground.

#It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide a two-masted lifting apparatus which is capable of not only lifting a vehicle or the like horizontally but also inclining it at a desired angle in safety.

#One of preferred embodiments of a two-masted lifting apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of a two-masted lifting apparatus according to the invention,

#FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, when taken along the line A--A in FIG. 1, and

#With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a base 1 on which two masts 2a and 2b of channel section are vertically mounted such that the connected portions of the channel-shaped masts 2a and 2b oppose each other. A carriage 3a or 3b of channel section is slidably mounted on each of the masts 2a and 2b.

#Respectively secured to the front and the rear faces of the left-hand carriage 3a are two brackets 4a and 4a' to the outer ends of which bearing members 5 and 5' are secured. These two bearing members 5 and 5', as shown in FIG. 3, are of channel section and in parallel with each other. Each bearing member 5 or 5' has a vertical pin 7 adapted to pivotally support an end portion of a hollow sleeve 6a or 6a' of square section, into which an arm 8a or 8a' is slidably inserted to constitute a telescopic structure.

#Each of these two arms 5 and 5' has a pin-block 9a on the upper surface of its free end portion so as to secure a step 10a or 10' thereon, whereby each step 10a or 10a' is rotatable with respect to the arm 5 or 5'.