TRANSPORTABLE FOLDABLE LIFTING PLATFORM FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of frames and mechanisms for lifting vehicles and other heavier objects or persons. The invention relates to a transportable foldable lifting platform preferably useful for lifting vehicles with the purpose of their exposition. The essence of the invention is in that it comprises: a base triangular construction (2) and suitable plate and/or sleds (21) for a vehicle, arranged on the base triangular construction to which the vehicle may be driven; three three-part lifting legs (3), wherein each of the lifting legs is equipped with at least one hydraulic cylinder (34) and with a parallelogram mechanism, so that the parallelogram can be folded or extended depending on the position of both parts of the lifting legs, which is defined with each of the hydraulic cylinders controlled with suitable hydraulic valves; a drive part; and electronics for controlling hydraulic valves of the hydraulic cylinders, movement of each of the lifting legs and ensures self-adjustability of the platform.

Claims

1. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles, which comprises at least the following: a base triangular construction and suitable plate and/or sleds for a vehicle, arranged on the base frame to which the vehicle, object or a person may be placed; three three-part lifting legs, wherein each of the lifting legs is equipped with: at least one hydraulic cylinder, preferably with two hydraulic cylinders, wherein one part of the cylinder is mounted into a bottom part of the lifting leg, while the second part of the cylinder is mounted in an upper part of the lifting leg or a part of the base frame, and wherein said hydraulic cylinders are controlled with suitable valves, preferably with proportional hydraulic valves, and a parallelogram mechanism, of which one part is mounted on the base frame along which it linearly slides or moves, and the second part is mounted on the bottom part of the lifting leg, so that the parallelogram can be folded or extended depending on the position of both parts of the lifting legs defined with each of the hydraulic cylinders; a drive part, which is preferably hydraulics and an electric motor or suitable batteries; and electronics for controlling hydraulic valves of the hydraulic cylinders, movement of each of the lifting legs and ensures self-adjustability of the platform.

2. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the three-part lifting legs are arranged evenly with regards to the base frame, so that the center of gravity of the platform is in the middle, wherein the said lifting legs comprise: a bottom part, which is arranged to be in contact with a surface, preferably the bottom part is equipped with a plate and a joint, which enables movement in all axes, a middle part, and an upper part, which is in the same height as the base frame, wherein one of the lifting legs is welded to the base frame, while the other two lifting legs are mounted in hinges, so that they can be folded for transportation.

3. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the three-part lifting legs are equipped with at least one hydraulic cylinder for ensuring lifting, preferably each leg has two hydraulic cylinders, wherein the piston is with a mounting bushing attached to the bottom part of the lifting leg, while the cylinder is attached to the upper part, wherein each cylinder has its own control valve, preferably proportional hydraulic valve, or pairs of cylinders of one leg are controlled with one valve, while hydraulic tubes are led to the middle part of the base frame in the interior of the tube of base frame.

4. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-part lifting legs are equipped with removable wheels, which can be installed for transportation into a suitable mounting that enables a rigid mounting in the lifting leg, so that the wheels may be locked and unlocked for removal.

5. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said platform has a small lifting mechanism comprising two handles, which are mounted via a common bolt one of the lifting legs serving as their pivot, wherein an adjacent bolt on the lifting handle is intended for mounting at least one hydraulic cylinder of the lifting leg, which upon its movement causes rotation of both handles around the pivot; and in that the second part of at least one hydraulic cylinder may be attached directly to the small lifting mechanism.

6. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base construction comprises an outer triangular frame, which is divided along the middle with a middle part, preferably welded from two rods that stretch to approximate middle of the height of the triangle; along the middle part two smaller right-angled triangles are provided on each side, said triangles also forming a part of the inner triangular frame, in which electronics, preferably comprising a gyroscope, are installed for following the level of the platform and consequently controlling of lifting and determining the state of the platform; onto the hypotenuse of each of the right-angled triangles one lifting leg is mounted, preferably with a hinge, so that it can be rotated into a folded position for transport, when the lifting legs are in their lowermost position; the outer triangular frame is due to its foldable nature movable in corners, wherein two sides are rotated so that they become parallel with the two folded lifting legs.

7. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the base frame a plate, sled for vehicles or steel upper platform is installed, wherein the latter may be rotatable around its vertical axis in any known suitable way.

8. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said platform is equipped with a possibility to incline, which is enabled with additional two-sidedly operating hydraulic cylinders on one of the lifting legs, wherein the additional hydraulic cylinders are parallel with regards to at least one hydraulic cylinder and are located at the sides of the said primary cylinder, and wherein the additional hydraulic cylinders are controlled with a suitable valve, preferably with a 1/0 valve, which is also controlled with electronics; and wherein the additional hydraulic cylinders directly push a connecting rod shaft positioned horizontally and mounted into the lifting leg rotating around the hinge, due to this mounting the connecting rod shaft is moved so that the platform is inclined on one side.

9. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said platform is additionally equipped with a hydraulic valve functioning as a lock, which prevents any lowering without command, said hydraulic valve being installed directly to the pressure part of the hydraulic cylinder onto each lifting leg, which is indirectly loaded with gravity force, and in that the said platform may be equipped with a safety system connected to electronics, which is arranged to trigger automatic lowering of the platform upon sensed discrepancies and the system is further arranged to trigger an alarm for notifying a user of a manager or the platform.

10. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the safety system may measure: Pressure in cylinders and in case of discrepancy means that the construction of the platform is laterally loaded, or Pressure of the lifting leg onto the surface or tension of the frame, which can trigger lowering of the platform in case of discrepancy; or Height of the platform, preferably on each of the lifting legs; wherein all measured parameters are followed with electronics and computer.

11. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suitable drive system, such as an electric motor with a pump and reservoir, is installed outside the frame and connected with hydraulic tubes, or the suitable drive system is installed inside the frame.

12. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronics or the optional gyroscope is arranged to measure inclination of the platform and to send data to a computer; the computer is arranged to process the data and to send the information to a circuit for controlling suitable valves, preferably proportional hydraulic valves; and that the whole platform is arranged to be adjusted to the terrain and afterwards to lift to a required height, wherein lifting is always performed in parallel.

13. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform is made of any suitable material, preferably steel.

14. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said platform is additionally equipped with a canvas or similar material, which is mounted into the bottom part of the lifting legs and to the base frame of the platform, so that upon lifting of the platform the canvas is raised and covers the interior of the whole platform.

15. Transportable foldable lifting platform for vehicles according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform may be used in closed or open spaces, wherein the platform may be installed in vehicle showrooms, shops, skiing areas, sporting events and similar.

Description

[0027] The transportable foldable lifting platform according to the invention will be described in further detail based on exemplary embodiments and figures, which show:

[0028] FIG. 1 The transportable foldable lifting platform according to a possible embodiment

[0029] FIG. 2a The transportable foldable lifting platform shown in FIG. 1 from below

[0030] FIG. 2b Plan view of the transportable foldable lifting platform shown in FIG. 1

[0031] FIG. 3a The three-part lifting leg in a partially extended state

[0032] FIG. 3b Side view of the three-part lifting leg in a partially extended state

[0033] FIG. 4 The three-part lifting leg in cross-section, in which the additional smaller lifting mechanism is visible

[0034] FIG. 5 The transportable foldable lifting platform in the lowest position from the side (a) and in elevation view (b)

[0035] FIG. 6 The transportable foldable lifting platform in the folded state

[0036] FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b show the transportable foldable lifting platform 1 in a side view, view from below as well as in plan view in a partially extended state, wherein to the base frame 2 sleds 21a, 21b for a vehicle are provided. The base frame 2 is divided to the approximate half of the height of the triangle with a middle part 22 welded from two rods. Along the middle part 22 on both sides are two smaller right-angled triangles 23a, 23b, which are also a part of an inner triangular frame. In the inner triangular frame electronics and gyroscope and suitable drive mechanism (not shown in the figures) are mounted. The platform 1 has three three-part lifting legs 3a, 3b, 3c, of which each has a bottom part, a middle part and an upper part, each of the legs is provided with two hydraulic cylinders and a parallelogram mechanism. Onto the hypotenuse of each of right-angled triangles 23a, 23a one lifting leg 3a, 3b is mounted, preferably via a hinge, so that rotation into a folded position for transport is enabled once the lifting legs are in the lowermost position. The third lifting leg 3c is welded to the base frame 2. FIG. 2a also shows a space 324 into which two additional hydraulic cylinders for the optional include of the lifting platform may be installed.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the transportable foldable lifting platform with the possibility of incline, which is enabled with additional two-side operating hydraulic cylinders on one of the lifting legs, which are parallel to at least one of the basic hydraulic cylinders and which are located at the sides of the basic cylinder in place 324 and a suitable valve, preferably a 1/0 valve, which is also controlled with electronics. The cylinders directly push the connecting rod shaft 39, which is in a horizontal position. The rod shaft is mounted into the lifting leg movable around the hinge and can be moved so that the lifting platform is inclined in one part.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows one of the lifting legs in a partially extended state in elevation and side view. The lifting leg 3 comprises a bottom part 31 having a plate 31a and a joint 31b, which enables rotation in all directions, which improves adjustability to the terrain/surface. The middle part 32 of the lifting leg is connected with a bottom part 31 and an upper part 33 with suitable hinges 35, which can create an arbitrary angle between pairs of parts (bottom and middle as well as middle and upper). In the approximate middle of the bottom part 31 pistons 34a of both hydraulic cylinders 34, while the cylinders 34b of both hydraulic cylinders are mounted in the upper part 33 of the lifting leg 3. The two-part parallelogram mechanism is mounted in the approximate middle of the bottom part 31 and in the upper part 33, namely not in the same part where the hydraulic cylinders 34 are mounted. The upper part of the parallelogram mechanism is additionally mounted with a bolt, around which it is rotated in the middle part 32. In the upper part 33 a small lifting mechanism 36 with a handle 36a is mounted.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the smaller lifting mechanism 4, which comprises two handles 36a, which are basically mounted via a common bolt 35 of the lifting leg 3 and serves as their own fulcrum. The adjacent bolt on the lifting hand is intended for mounting hydraulic cylinders (or only one hydraulic cylinder), which upon their movement causes rotation of both handles 36a around the fulcrum 35. The handles 36a are shaped as as involutes and end with a roller. Their shape enables the mechanism to achieve suitable lifting forces in the lowest position despite the horizontal position of the hydraulic cylinders. The ends of handles are independent, as in the basic position the legs are folded in the interior of the ends of the bottom part of lifting legs.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows the transportable foldable lifting platform in the lowest state, when the hydraulic cylinders and consequently the lifting legs are parallel to the surface. FIG. 6 shows the transportable foldable lifting platform in the folded state, wherein the outer triangular frame 2 is due to foldability movable in the corners 24. For folding the transportable lifting platform two of the sides 25a, 25b are rotated so that they become parallel to the two folded lifting legs 3a, 3b. At the end 38 of the upper part 33 of the lifting legs a removably mounted wheel is provided, wherein the wheel can be mounted and removed in any suitable known way.