Articulating roller assembly for four-post vehicle lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751737-B2
Application number	US-201414180510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2014
Priority date	Feb 14, 2014
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

An automotive lift system includes a plurality of posts and yoke assemblies. The yoke assemblies are slidably coupled to the posts such that the yoke assemblies are vertically moveable between a lowered position and a raised position. A pair of runways are secured between a respective pair of yoke assemblies and are configured to engage an automobile to thereby communicate vertical movement of the yoke assemblies to the automobile. The yoke assemblies include a structural frame and a pair of contact assemblies configured to engage opposing surfaces of the posts. The contact assemblies include an axle assembly having a pair of contact members (e.g., rollers, sliders, etc.) that are configured to engage an interior or exterior surface of the post. The axle assemblies are rotatable and/or articulable about a vertical axis parallel with the posts to thereby maintain proper engagement between the posts and the pairs of contact members.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for raising/lowering an automobile, the apparatus comprising:
(a) at least one post, wherein the at least one post is arranged substantially vertically;
(b) at least one yoke assembly, wherein the at least one yoke assembly is engaged with one or more of the at least one post, wherein the at least one yoke assembly is vertically moveable along the at least one post between a first vertical position and a second vertical position, wherein the at least one yoke assembly comprises:
(i) a structural frame, wherein the structural frame comprises a hollow interior,
(ii) at least one contact assembly secured to the structural frame, wherein the at least one contact assembly comprises an axle and a pair of contact members configured to engage the at least one post, wherein the axle is rotatable about a vertical axis to thereby maintain engagement between the at least one post and the pair of contact members, wherein each contact member in the pair of contact members is rotatable about a second axis defined by the axle, and wherein the vertical axis is perpendicular to the second axis; and

(c) an automobile engagement feature, wherein the automobile engagement feature is secured to the structural frame of the at least one yoke assembly, wherein the automobile engagement feature is configured to engage the automobile to thereby communicate vertical movement of the at least one yoke assembly to the automobile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one post comprises four posts.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one yoke assembly comprises two yoke assemblies.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact assembly engages opposing surfaces of the at least one post.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact assembly of the at least one yoke assembly comprises a first contact assembly and a second contact assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a pair of contact members of the first contact assembly engages an interior surface of the at least one post, wherein a pair of contact members of the second contact assembly engages an exterior surface of the at least one post.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first contact assembly and the second contact assembly are secured to opposite portions of the structural frame of the at least one yoke assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact assembly further comprises a pair of stiffening members, wherein the axle is rotatably disposed between the pair of stiffening members.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the axle further comprises a core member and an axle, wherein the pair of contact members comprise rollers, wherein the rollers are rotatably coupled to the axle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the axle is disposed within the core member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein one or both of the axle or the core member comprise a flexible material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the automobile engagement feature comprises at least one runway.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one yoke assembly further comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock the at least one yoke assembly in a particular vertical position along the at least one post.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one yoke assembly further comprises a driving mechanism configured to drive movement of the at least one yoke assembly between the first vertical position and the second vertical position.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one post comprises a pair of square tubular members.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact assembly is partially disposed within the hollow interior of the structural frame.

17. A yoke assembly for raising/lowering an automobile, wherein the yoke assembly is moveable between a first vertical position and a second vertical position along a length of a support member, and wherein the yoke assembly comprises:
(a) a structural frame comprising a pair of web members; and
(b) at least one roller assembly, wherein the at least one roller assembly comprises:
(i) a pair of stiffening members, wherein the pair of stiffening members are disposed between the pair of web members, wherein at least one stiffening member of the pair of stiffening members is secured to an interior surface of the pair of web members,
(ii) an axle assembly rotatably coupled with the pair of stiffening members, wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle, a core member, and a pair of rollers, wherein each roller of the pair of rollers is rotatable about a first axis defined by the axle, and wherein the axle assembly is rotatable or articulable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis to thereby maintain engagement between the pair of rollers and the support member.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second axis is aligned vertically.

19. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein each stiffening member in the pair of stiffening members comprises one or more plates.

20. An apparatus for raising/lowering an automobile, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a pair of posts, wherein each post of the pair of posts is arranged substantially vertically;
(b) a first yoke assembly, wherein the first yoke assembly is engaged with a first post of the pair of posts, wherein the first yoke assembly is vertically moveable along the first post between a first vertical height and a second vertical height, wherein the first yoke assembly comprises at least one roller assembly, wherein the at least one roller assembly comprises a pin and an axle assembly, wherein the pin defines a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the first post, wherein the axle assembly is configured to engage the first post, wherein the axle assembly is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the pin to thereby maintain engagement between the at least one post and the axle assembly;
(c) a second yoke assembly, wherein the second yoke assembly is engaged with a second post of the pair of posts, wherein the second yoke assembly is vertically moveable along the second post between the first vertical height and the second vertical height; and
(c) an automobile engagement feature, wherein a first end of the automobile engagement feature is secured to the first yoke assembly, wherein a second end of the automobile engagement feature is secured to the second yoke assembly, wherein the automobile engagement feature is configured to engage the automobile to thereby communicate vertical movement of the first yoke assembly and the second yoke assembly to the automobile.

Assignees

• Vehicle Service Group Llc

Inventors

• Taylor Steven H
• Kelley Brian E

Classifications

• Y10T16/364

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• E05Y2900/132

  Doors · CPC title

• B66F7/28 Primary

  Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions · CPC title

• B66F7/025

  screw operated · CPC title

• B66F3/46

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