Lift superstructure arm pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12129158-B2
Application number	US-202318535588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2023
Priority date	Jul 7, 2021
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

A lift assembly including a lifting structure, a lifting arm, a yoke structure fixed to the lifting structure, a pin pivotally coupling the lifting arm with the yoke structure, and an integrated anti-rotational assembly associated with both the yoke structure and the pin. The lifting structure can actuate relative to the ground between a lowered position and a raised position. The lifting arm is configured to actuate with the lifting structure between the lowered position and the raised position. The integrated anti-rotational assembly can inhibit rotation of the pin relative to the yoke structure about the longitudinal axis of the pin.

First claim

We claim:

1. A lift assembly on a ground surface, comprising:
(a) a lifting structure configured to actuate relative to the ground surface between a lowered position and a raised position;
(b) a lifting arm coupled with the lifting structure, where the lifting arm is configured to actuate with the lifting structure between the lowered position and the raised position;
(c) a yoke structure fixed to the lifting structure, wherein the yoke structure comprises:
(i) a rear side,
(ii) a vehicle-facing side, wherein the lifting arm extends away from the vehicle-facing side of the yoke structure, and
(iii) a tongue comprising a first surface and a second surface that cooperatively define at least a portion of an opening, wherein the first surface has a first surface area, and wherein the second surface has a second surface area that is less than the first surface area;

(d) a pin configured to couple the lifting arm with the yoke structure such that the lifting arm is configured to rotate relative to the yoke structure about a longitudinal axis of the pin, the pin comprising a complementary portion dimensioned to fit in the opening of the tongue; and
(e) an integrated anti-rotational assembly formed by the first surface of the tongue, the second surface of the tongue, and the complementary portion of the pin in the opening of the tongue, wherein the integrated anti-rotational assembly is configured to inhibit rotation of the pin relative to the yoke structure about the longitudinal axis of the pin,
wherein the first surface of the tongue defining a first part of the opening is located adjacent to the rear side of the yoke structure,
Wherein the second surface of the tongue defining a second part of the opening is located adjacent to the vehicle-facing side of the yoke structure.

2. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first part of the opening comprises a circumferentially extending surface.

3. The lift assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second part of the opening comprises a flattened surface.

4. The lift assembly of claim 3 , wherein the circumferentially extending surface and the flattened surface together form a D-shaped opening.

5. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the complementary portion of the pin comprises a D-shaped projection.

6. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the integrated anti-rotational assembly is configured to inhibit rotation of the pin relative to the yoke structure about the longitudinal axis of the pin while the lift arm rotates relative to the yoke structure.

7. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tongue comprises a top surface, and wherein the pin comprises a pin support surface configured to engage the top surface of the tongue.

8. The lift assembly of claim 7 , wherein the yoke structure comprises a second tongue located above the tongue defining the opening.

9. The lift assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second tongue defines a circular through hole dimensioned to receive the pin.

10. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface terminate into each other to cooperatively define the entirety of the opening.

11. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the opening extends from a top surface to a bottom surface of the tongue.

12. A lift assembly on a ground surface, comprising:
(a) a lifting structure configured to actuate relative to the ground surface between a lowered position and a raised position;
(b) a lifting arm coupled with the lifting structure such that the lifting arm is configured to actuate with the lifting structure between the lowered position and the raised position;
(c) a yoke structure fixed to the lifting structure, wherein the yoke structure comprises:
(i) a rear side,
(ii) a vehicle-facing side,
(iii) an anti-rotational surface defining a first portion of an opening, wherein the anti-rotational surface has a first surface area, and
(iv) a second surface defining a second portion of the opening, wherein the anti-rotational surface has a second surface area that is greater than the first surface area; and

(d) a pin configured to couple the lifting arm with the yoke structure such that the lifting arm is configured to rotate relative to the yoke structure about a longitudinal axis of the pin, wherein the pin comprises a complementary anti-rotational surface configured to mate with the anti-rotational surface of the yoke structure to thereby inhibit rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis relative to the yoke structure,
wherein the anti-rotational surface is interposed between the second surface and the vehicle-facing side of the yoke structure.

13. The lift assembly of claim 12 , wherein the anti-rotational surface comprises a flattened surface.

14. The lift assembly of claim 13 , wherein the complementary anti-rotational surface of the pin comprises a flattened surface.

15. The lift assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second surface comprises a circumferentially extending surface.

16. The lift assembly of claim 15 , wherein the circumferential extending surface and the anti-rotational surface define the opening as a D-shape.

17. The lift assembly of claim 12 , wherein the opening comprises a through hole.

18. A lift assembly on a ground surface, comprising:
(a) a lifting post configured to actuate relative to the ground surface between a lowered position and a raised position;
(b) a lifting arm coupled with the lifting post such that the lifting arm is configured to actuate with the lifting post between the lowered position and the raised position;
(c) a yoke structure fixed to the lifting post, wherein the yoke structure comprises:
(i) a vehicle-facing side,
(ii) a rear side, and
(iii) a tongue defining a pin opening, wherein the pin opening comprises an anti-rotational surface having a first surface area and a second surface having a second surface area, wherein the anti-rotational surface has a smaller surface area compared to the second surface; and

(d) a pin pivotally coupling the lifting arm with the yoke structure such that the lifting arm configured to couple the lifting arm with the yoke structure such that the lifting arm is configured to rotate relative to the yoke structure about a longitudinal axis of the pin, wherein the anti-rotational surface of the yoke structure is configured to inhibit rotation of the pin relative to the yoke structure about the longitudinal axis of the pin,
wherein the anti-rotational surface is interposed between the vehicle-facing side and the second surface.

19. The lift assembly of claim 18 , wherein the pin opening comprises a D-shaped opening.

20. The lift assembly of claim 18 , wherein the anti-rotational surface is substantially linear.

Assignees

• Vehicle Service Group Llc

Inventors

• Denzik Zack
• Schneider Ron
• Smith Kyle
• Tucker Scott

Classifications

• B66F3/46

  Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements · CPC title

• F16C2326/00

  Articles relating to transporting · CPC title

• F16C2226/70

  with complementary interlocking parts · CPC title

• F16C11/02

  Trunnions; Crank-pins (fastening crank-pins to webs, crank-pins integral with cranks F16C3/06, F16C3/22) · CPC title

• F16C11/045

  with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02) · CPC title