Multi-link automotive alignment lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254990-B2
Application number	US-201113290270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2011
Priority date	May 7, 2009
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

An automotive lift comprises a pair of runway sections. Each runway section comprises a deck portion, two pairs of legs, and a pair of elongate sliding members. The pairs of legs are pivotally coupled with the deck portion. The elongate sliding members are pivotally coupled with the pairs of legs and are slidable relative to the deck portion. A hydraulic cylinder assembly is coupled with the deck portion by a clevis and with the elongate sliding members by a piston and piston block. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is operable to translate the elongate sliding members relative to the deck portion, thereby pivoting the pairs of legs relative to the deck portion to lift the deck portion relative to the ground. A hydraulic system is operable to synchronize lifting of the runway sections. A braking mechanism is configured to restrict descent of the runway sections.

First claim

We claim:

1. An automotive lift, comprising:
(a) a first runway section, wherein the first runway section comprises:
(i) a deck portion,
(ii) a first pair of legs, wherein the first pair of legs comprises a first leg and a second leg,
(iii) a second pair of legs, wherein the second pair of legs comprises a third leg and a fourth leg,
(iv) a first elongate member comprising a first end and a third end, wherein the first end is pivotally coupled with the first leg, and the third end is pivotally coupled to the third leg such that the first elongate member extends from the first leg to the third leg, and
(v) a second elongate member pivotally coupled with the second and fourth legs,
wherein the first and second elongate members are slidable relative to the deck portion;

(b) a second runway section, wherein the first and second runway sections are operable to engage a vehicle, wherein the first and second runway sections are configured to raise and lower a vehicle relative to the ground; and
(c) a hydraulic system operable to selectively raise and lower the first and second runway sections relative to the ground.

2. The automotive lift of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic system comprises a cylinder and a piston shaft, wherein the cylinder is coupled with the deck portion of the first runway section.

3. The automotive lift of claim 2 , further comprising a clevis coupling the cylinder relative to the deck portion.

4. The automotive lift of claim 3 , wherein the clevis is configured to permit the cylinder to rotate relative to the deck portion.

5. The automotive lift of claim 2 , further comprising a piston block coupled with the first and second elongate members, wherein the piston shaft is coupled with the piston block, such that the piston shaft is operable to translate the first and second elongate members relative to the deck portion upon translation of the piston shaft relative to the cylinder.

6. The automotive lift of claim 2 , wherein the cylinder has a first end and a second end, wherein the piston shaft slidably extends from the first end, wherein the second end is closed.

7. The automotive lift of claim 1 , wherein the deck portion comprises a floor and a pair of deck rails extending downwardly from the floor.

8. The automotive lift of claim 7 , wherein the deck rails define a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first elongate member is slidably disposed in the first channel, wherein the second elongate member is slidably disposed in the second channel.

9. The automotive lift of claim 1 , further comprising a braking mechanism, wherein the braking mechanism is operable to selectively restrict movement of the first and second elongate members relative to the deck portion.

10. The automotive lift of claim 9 , wherein the braking mechanism comprises:
(i) a brake ground fixedly secured relative to the deck portion, and
(ii) a pawl configured to selectively engage the brake ground to selectively restrict movement of the first and second elongate members relative to the deck portion.

11. The automotive lift of claim 10 , wherein the brake ground comprises a plurality of slots configured to receive a portion of the pawl.

12. The automotive lift of claim 11 , wherein the brake ground has a length, wherein the slots are positioned along a portion of the length of the brake ground, wherein the slots are spaced progressively further apart from each other along the portion of the length of the brake ground.

13. The automotive lift of claim 10 , wherein the pawl is resiliently biased to engage the brake ground, the braking mechanism further comprising a pneumatic cylinder assembly operable to selectively disengage the pawl from the brake ground.

14. The automotive lift of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic system comprises:
(i) a first cylinder assembly associated with the first runway section,
(ii) a second cylinder assembly associated with the second runway section, and
(iii) a pump in fluid communication with the first and second cylinder assemblies.

15. The automotive lift of claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:
(i) a first proportional valve positioned between the pump and the first cylinder assembly, wherein the first proportional valve is selectively adjustable to provide a plurality of flow rates between a fully opened flow rate and a zero flow rate, and
(ii) a second proportional valve assembly positioned between the pump and the second cylinder assembly, wherein the second proportional valve is selectively adjustable to provide a plurality of flow rates between a fully opened flow rate and a zero flow rate.

16. The automotive lift of claim 15 , further comprising:
(a) a first position sensor coupled with the first runway section, wherein the first position sensor is configured to sense the height of the first runway section relative to the ground;
(b) a second position sensor coupled with the second runway section, wherein the second position sensor is configured to sense the height of the second runway section relative to the ground; and
(c) a controller in communication with the first and second position sensors, wherein the controller is configured to compare height data from the first and second position sensors to detect disparities between the height of the first runway section relative to the ground and the height of the second runway section relative to the ground, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively adjust one or both of the first or second proportional valve assemblies in response to disparities detected during ascent or descent of the runway sections.

17. The automotive lift of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of link arms, wherein the link arms are pivotally secured relative to the first pair of legs, wherein the link arms are further pivotally secured relative to the deck portion.

18. The automotive lift of claim 1 , wherein the second runway section comprises:
(i) a deck portion,
(ii) a third pair of legs, wherein the third pair of legs comprises a fifth leg and a sixth leg,
(iii) a fourth pair of legs, wherein the fourth pair of legs comprises a seventh leg and an eighth leg,
(iv) a third elongate member pivotally coupled with the fifth and seventh legs, and
(v) a fourth elongate member pivotally coupled with the sixth and eighth legs,
wherein the third and fourth elongate members are slidable relative to the deck portion of the second runway section.

19. An automotive lift, comprising:
(a) a runway section, wherein the runway section comprises:
(i) a deck portion,
(ii) a first pair of legs, wherein the first pair of legs comprises a first leg and a second leg,
(iii) a second pair of legs, wherein the second pair of legs comprises a third leg and a fourth leg,
(iv) a first elongate member pivotally coupled with the first and third legs, and
(v) a second elongate member pivotally coupled with the second and fourth legs,
wherein the first and second elongate members are slidable relative to the deck portion,
wherein the runway section is configured to raise and lower relative to the ground; and

(b) a cylinder assembly, wherein the cylinder assembly comprises:
(i) a cylinder having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the cylinder is closed, wherein the first end of the cylinder is coupled with the deck portion of the runway section and is oriented parallel to the deck s portion of the runway section,
(ii) a piston slidably extending from the second end of the cylinder, wherein the piston is oriente

Assignees

• Matthews Jason E
• Brown Douglas J
• Bowers Gerald D
• Kelley Brian E
• Ward Roger A
• Siddall Keith W
• Vehicle Service Group Llc

Inventors

• Matthews Jason E
• Brown Douglas J
• Bowers Gerald D
• Kelley Brian E
• Ward Roger A
• Siddall Keith W

Classifications

• B66F7/0691

  Asymmetric linkages, i.e. Y-configuration · CPC title

• B66F7/08 Primary

  hydraulically or pneumatically operated · CPC title