Linear motion linkage assembly for automotive lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9796569-B2
Application number	US-201514814596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 6, 2014
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for lifting vehicles includes a runway, a base, an actuation assembly, a first armature assembly, a second armature assembly, and a third armature assembly. The runway is designed to vertically lift a vehicle from a lowered position to a raised position. The runway is connected to the third armature assembly. In turn, the third armature assembly is connected to the actuation assembly, which is pivotally fixed to the base. The first and second armature assemblies also connect the base with the third armature assembly. The actuation assembly is configured to lift the third armature assembly, which is guided by both the first armature assembly and second armature assembly. In response to the actuation assembly, the third armature assembly then forces the runway from the lowered position to the raised position, thereby lifting the vehicle.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for lifting vehicles, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a pair of runways together configured to vertically lift a vehicle by transitioning from a lowered position to a raised position,

and for each runway:
(b) a third armature assembly comprising a third front end and a third rear end, wherein the third rear end is pivotally coupled to the respective runway;
(c) a base;
(d) a first armature assembly pivotally coupled to the base and the third armature;
(e) a second armature assembly pivotally coupled to the base and the third front end of the third armature assembly; and
(f) an actuation assembly pivotally coupled to the base and the third armature, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to actuate the third armature relative to the base thereby transitioning the respective runway from the lowered position to the raised position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each base comprises:
(i) a first mounting bracket comprising a first front end pivotally coupled to the second armature assembly and a first rear end pivotally coupled to the first armature assembly, and
(ii) a second mounting bracket comprising a second front end and a second rear end.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the first front end of the first mounting bracket, the first rear end of the first mounting bracket, the second front end of the second mounting bracket, and the second rear end of the second mounting bracket comprises a bore.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bore of the first front end and the bore of the second front end define a first axis of rotation that the second armature assembly is configured to pivot about, wherein the first rear end and the second rear end define a second axis of rotation that the first armature assembly is configured to pivot about.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first armature comprises:
(i) a first link comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is pivotally fixed to the first rear end of the first mounting bracket, wherein the second end portion is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly, and
(ii) a second link comprising a third end portion and a fourth end portion, wherein the third end portion is pivotally fixed to the second rear end of the second mounting bracket, wherein the fourth end portion is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first end portion of the first link and the third end portion of the second link are connected by a first pin, wherein the second end portion of the first link and the fourth end portion of the second link are connected by a second pin.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first pin is welded to the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second end portion of the first link is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly at a point between the third front end and the third rear end, wherein the fourth end portion of the second link is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly at a point between the third front end and the third rear end.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second armature assembly further comprises:
(i) a third link comprising a fifth end portion and a sixth end portion, wherein the fifth end portion is pivotally fixed to the first front end of the first mounting bracket, wherein the sixth end portion is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly, and
(ii) a fourth link comprising a seventh end portion and an eighth end portion, wherein the seventh end portion is pivotally fixed to the second front end of the second mounting bracket, wherein the eighth end portion is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fifth end portion and the seventh end portion are connected by a third pin, wherein the sixth end portion and the eighth end portion are connected by a fourth pin.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the fourth pin is welded to the third armature assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third rear end of the third armature is configured to move along a substantially vertical path.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the sixth end portion of the third link is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly at the third front end, wherein the eighth end portion is pivotally fixed to the third armature assembly at the third front end.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a locking assembly configured to support the vehicle and to selectively maintain a position of the runway relative to the base without assistance from the actuation assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the locking assembly further comprises an upper toothed member and a lower toothed member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the upper toothed member is configured to pivot relative to the third armature assembly, wherein the lower toothed member is configured to pivot relative to the base.

17. An apparatus for lifting vehicles, the apparatus comprising a pair of vehicle engagement assemblies configured to vertically lift a vehicle together, wherein each vehicle engagement assembly comprises:
(a) an elongated runway; and
(b) a lift assembly configured to support the vehicle via the respective vehicle engagement assembly while vertically lifting the vehicle, wherein the lift assembly comprises a first actuation assembly and a second actuation assembly associated with the elongated runway, wherein the first actuation assembly comprises:
(i) a third armature assembly comprising a third front end and a third rear end, wherein the third rear end is pivotally fixed to the first runway,
(ii) a base comprising a first front end and a first rear end,
(iii) a first armature assembly pivotally fixed to the first rear end of the base and the third armature,
(iv) a second armature assembly pivotally fixed to first front end of the base and the third front end of the third armature assembly, and
(v) an actuator pivotally fixed to the base and the third armature assembly.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first front end of the base comprises a first pair of mounting brackets defining a first axis of rotation about which the second armature assembly is pivotally fixed to the first front end of the base, wherein the first rear end of the base comprises a second pair of mounting brackets defining a second axis of rotation about which the first armature assembly is pivotally fixed to the first rear end of the base.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first axis of rotation is located at a vertical height below the second axis of rotation.

20. An apparatus for lifting vehicles, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a pair of runways together configured to vertically lift a vehicle by transitioning from a lowered position to a raised position,

and for each runway:
(b) a third armature assembly comprising a third front end and a third rear end;
(c) a base fixed to the respective runway;
(d) a first armature assembly comprising a first link and a second link, wherein the first link and the second link are pivotally fixed to the base and the third armature;
(e) a second armature assembly comprising a third link and a fourth link, wherein the third link and the fourth link are pivotally fixed to the base and the third front end of the third armature assembly; and
(f) an actuation assembly pivotally fixed to the base and the third armature assembly, wherein the actuation as

Assignees

• Vehicle Service Group Llc

Inventors

• Katerberg Kevin S
• Taylor Bryan

Classifications

• B66F7/08

  hydraulically or pneumatically operated · CPC title

• B66F7/0691

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

• B66F7/28 Primary

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

• B66F7/20

  by several jacks with means for maintaining the platforms horizontal during movement · CPC title