Vehicle lift and locking mechanism for use therewith
AssigneeWheeltronic, A Division of Derlan Manufacturing Inc.
InventorRobert J. Curran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle lift has a support platform and a pair of scissor mechanisms underneath it for supporting it, and raising and lowering it. An actuator, for example, an hydraulic cylinder, that is connected between the scissor arms. The ends of one pair of scissor arms include rollers for engaging the ground, the rollers permitting the lift to be raised and lowered. A cart or other lifting device is provided for lifting one end of the lift, to support it on wheels of the cart. With the other end of the lift supported on the rollers of the scissor arms, the lift can be freely moved around on a flat surface. The lift can have a simple ratchet locking mechanism including a cam, which provides a simple mechanism for locking the lift in a raised position, and for enabling it to be lowered.
Claims14
A lift for lifting a vehicle, the lift comprising:
- a support platform for supporting a vehicle and comprising a pair of main longitudinal members, which are parallel and spaced apart, a plurality of first cross bars interconnecting the main longitudinal members, and side elements secured to outer side surfaces of the main longitudinal members, having a thickness less than that of the main longitudinal members and being generally flush with the bottom of the main longitudinal members, the side elements including elongate slots generally parallel with the main longitudinal members;
- a pair of scissor mechanisms secured symmetrically beneath the support platform, each scissor mechanism being located under a respective main longitudinal member and comprising first and second scissor arms, which are pivotally connected generally at their mid points, with the first scissor arm having a first end for supporting the lift on the ground below one end of the support platform and including a roller at the other end thereof engaging and supporting the other end of the platform, and with one end of the second scissor arm being pivotally attached to the support platform at said one end thereof, and including, at the other end thereof, a ground engaging roller, a plurality of second cross bars interconnecting the first and second scissor arms to ensure that the scissor mechanisms operate in conjunction with one another;
- support arms located above the side elements and pivotally attached in the slots thereof, the support arms being generally flush with the top of the main longitudinal members;
- and
- an actuator connected between the first scissor arms and the second scissor arms, for raising and lowering the lift.
A ratchet mechanism, for use in a vehicle lift, the ratchet mechanism comprising:
- a stop member defining a stop face and having a top surface;
- a locking bar defining an abutment face and mounted for sliding movement relative to the stop member;
- guide means for maintaining the stop member and the locking bar in alignment for relative sliding movement;
- a cam pivotally attached to the locking bar adjacent the abutment face thereof, the cam including a cam surface and being configured so that:
- the cam can pivot and freely slide on the top surface of the stop member while the locking bar is sliding across the stop member, in one direction;
- when the locking bar travels off the top surface of the stop member, the cam can freely pivot and remain on top of the top surface of the sliding member, to permit the abutment face and the stop face to contact one another after relative movement, in the other, opposite direction, to provide a locking action;
- and when the locking bar is further displaced away from the locking member in the one direction, the cam being capable of pivoting down between the abutment and stop faces, so that the cam surface is inclined relative to the stop face, to cause the locking bar to ride up over the stop member when the locking bar is moved in the other, opposite direction, to disengage the abutment and stop faces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.