Lift safety system
AssigneeSnap-on Technologies, Inc.
InventorDonald A. Healy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle lift assembly prevents accidental slippage of a vehicle therefrom. The vehicle lift assembly comprises a plurality of vertically disposed posts and a runway slidably coupled to the plurality of vertical posts. A hoist system supplies the force necessary for elevating the runway along the plurality of posts. A sensor arrangement detects whether the runway has tilted beyond a predetermined angular displacement. A lift control circuit controls the hoist system to elevate the runway selectively in a prescribed direction, and suspends operation of the hoist system, when necessary, to prevent the vehicle from accidentally sliding off the runway.
Claims13
A vehicle lift assembly comprising:
- a plurality of vertically disposed posts;
- a runway slidably coupled to said plurality of vertical posts and configured for receiving a vehicle thereon;
- a hoist system for elevating said runway relative to said plurality of posts;
- a sensor arrangement for detecting whether said runway tilts beyond a predetermined angular displacement, and producing an indication of the orientation of said runway;
- and
- a lift control circuit for receiving the indication produced by said sensor arrangement and controlling said hoist system to elevate said runway in a prescribed direction;
- whereby the vehicle is prevented from inadvertently sliding off said runway.
A safety system for use with a vehicle lift assembly having a plurality of vertically disposed posts, a runway slidably coupled to the plurality of vertical posts for receiving the vehicle thereon, and a hoist system for elevating the runway relative to the plurality of posts, said safety system comprising:
- a sensor arrangement for detecting whether the runway has tilted beyond a predetermined angular displacement, and producing an indication of the orientation of the runway;
- and
- a lift control circuit for receiving the indication produced by said sensor arrangement and controlling the hoist system to elevate the runway in a prescribed direction;
- wherein upon receiving the indication produced by said sensor arrangement, said lift control circuit interrupts operation of the hoist system to prevent the vehicle from inadvertently sliding off the runway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.