Hydraulic lift

A lifting device, for a vehicle, the lifting device comprising:

• first and second scissor units, each of which includes a base member, a support platform and a pair of levers which are pivotally interconnected adjacent their mid points, one of which levers is pivotally connected at one end to the base member, and the other of which levers is pivotally attached at one end to the respective support platform with the other ends of the levers being arranged for rotational and translational movement relative to the respective base member and support platform;
• for each scissor unit, a respective hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly pivotally attached to a lever of the respective scissor unit, for actuation thereof;
• a combiner and divider valve means for ensuring that the flows of hydraulic fluid to, or from, the hydraulic cylinders are substantially equal, irrespective of any pressure difference between the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies, said means including only an inlet for a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and two outlets connected respectively to the two piston and cylinder assemblies and no fluid connection to any other component of the lifting device, only a single cross brace connected between the two support platforms, to assist in maintaining the support platforms level with one another;
• a cover member extending between the base members of the two scissor units, with the combiner and divider valve means located under the cover member, adjacent to main axis of the device, and generally equidistant from the two scissor units;
• a supply line leading to the combiner and divider valve means, and two branch lines extending from the outlets of the combiner and divider valve means to the two piston and cylinder assemblies, with a portion of the supply line and portions of the two branch lines located under the cover member, the two branch lines being of substantially equal length.

A lifting device, for a vehicle, the lifting device comprising:

• first and second scissor units, each of which includes a base member, a support platform and a pair of levers which are pivotally interconnected adjacent their mid-points, one of which levers is pivotally connected at one end to the base member, and the other of which levers is pivotally attached at one end to the respective support platform, with the other ends of the levers being arranged for rotational and translational movement relative to the respective base member and support platform;
• for each scissor unit, a respective hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly pivotally attached to a lever of the respective scissor unit, for actuation thereof;
• a combiner and divider valve means for ensuring that the flows of hydraulic fluid to, or from, the hydraulic cylinders are substantially equal, irrespective of any pressure difference between the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies, said means including only an inlet for a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and two outlets connected respectively to the two piston and cylinder assemblies and no fluid connection to any other component of the lifting device;
• only a single cross brace extending between the two support platforms, to assist in maintaining the support platforms level with one another;
• respective first and second ratchet mechanisms for the first and second scissor units, each ratchet mechanism comprising an elongate bar, which is pivotally attached at one end to the other end of said other lever, and which includes a plurality of stops along the length thereof, and at lease one abutment section secured to the respective base member, which abutment section can abut one of the stops, to limit travel of the scissor unit;
• a cover member extending between the two base members, with the combiner and divider valve means located under the cover member generally equidistant from the two base members;
• a supply line extending partly under the cover member;
• first and second branch lines extending from the combiner and divider valve means under the cover member to the piston and cylinder assemblies;
• and a common release mechanism for the first and second ratchet mechanisms, which release mechanism comprises a rod extending through the base members and under the cover member, projections extending from the rod adjacent the bars of the ratchet mechanisms, and means for rotating the rod to cause the projections to lift the elongate bars clear of the abutment sections.