Tilting and lifting apparatus for vehicle bodies

Tilting and lifting apparatus for vehicle bodies for selectively raising and lowering a first external side surface of a vehicle body on one side of a vehicle longitudinal axis and tilting a second external side surface of the vehicle body on another side of the vehicle longitudinal axis towards the ground, comprising a flat swivelling frame disposed a distance form and approximately parallel to the bottom of the vehicle body and having means for rigidly fastening the vehicle body thereto;

• a first pair of guide tracks extending horizontally under the vehicle body and transversely to the vehicle longitudinal axis such that one side of the swivelling frame is guided at one side thereof, said first pair of guide tracks in plane view, lying proximate the second external side of the vehicle body when tilted towards the ground a second pair of guide tracks disposed approximately vertically and at a side of the swivelling frame which, in plane view, lays near the first external side surface of the vehicle body;
• a pair of scissor-type lifting devices provided at the second pair of guide tracks for raising and lowering the swivelling frame on only one of the vehicle sides, wherein the lifting devices are independently movable with respect to the first and second pairs of guide tracks;
• vertical guide pillars being provided in which the second pair of guide tracks are disposed, said vertical guide pillars project upwards with a free end and have a length which is no greater than the width of the vehicle body;
• a platform, means for moving the platform along a supporting surface, the pair of scissors-type lifting devices being mounted between the platform and the swivelling frame and being so configured that the tilting and lifting apparatus can be raised with the vehicle body on the swivelling frame from a low, flat position thereof;
• a region between the first pair of guide tracks being free of obstructions over a distance, measured transversely to the vehicle longitudinal axis, mounting to between about 25 and 40% of the width of the vehicle body to allow unhindered access to the vehicle body when tilted and the platform having on its top face, at least an edge region thereof which is flat to permit walking thereon and which, in plan view, is rectangular and projects beyond the vehicle body on all sides.