Lifting Platform for Motor Vehicles

Abstract

An exemplary lifting platform for motor vehicles has four supporting arms that are pivotally mounted on a lifting device, especially on two lateral lifting columns, and the free ends of which are movable under support points of a motor vehicle being raised. The supporting arms form a first pair and a second pair of supporting arms. At least the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are adjustable in length and are implemented in the form of rigid supporting arms, which are pivotable solely about their articulation points on the lifting device. The supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are in the form of double-jointed arms having an additional articulated joint and, in the retracted state, are typically at least twice as long as the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms.

Claims

1. A lifting platform for motor vehicles, the lifting platform comprising: a lifting device; and four supporting arms pivotally mounted on the lifting device, comprising each of the supporting arms being pivotable about a respective articulation point on the lifting device, wherein: the supporting arms respectively comprise free ends, and the supporting arms are configured so that the free ends are movable under support points of a motor vehicle being raised by the lifting platform, the supporting arms form a first pair of supporting arms and a second pair of supporting arms, at least the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are adjustable in length, comprising the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms being configurable in a retracted state, the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are rigid between their articulation points on the lifting device and their free ends, so that the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are pivotable solely about their articulation points on the lifting device, the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are double-jointed arms, comprising the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms each comprising an articulated joint, the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are at least twice as long as the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms in the retracted state, and the articulated joints are configured so that, for positioning under the support points of a motor vehicle being raised, each of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms, starting from a maximally extended position of the supporting arm, can be bent horizontally in both directions.

2. The lifting platform according to claim 1, wherein for each of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms, the supporting arm comprises a supporting-arm detent device which is activatable to lock the articulated joint of the supporting arm before the motor vehicle is raised.

3. The lifting platform according to claim 1, wherein at least the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are at least three-part telescopic supporting arms.

4. The lifting platform according to claim 1, wherein each of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms comprises a rear-supporting-arm part and a front-supporting-arm part connected to one another by way of the articulated joint, and the front-supporting-arm part is telescopically adjustable in length.

5. The lifting platform according to claim 4, wherein the front-supporting-arm part is at least a two-part telescopic arm.

6. The lifting platform according to claim 1, wherein for positioning the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms under the vehicle being raised, the articulated joints of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms can be bent inwards so that the free ends of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms become closer to one another.

7. The lifting platform according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises two lateral lifting columns.

8. The lifting platform according to claim 7, wherein: the articulation points of the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are mounted on an inner side of the lifting columns that faces towards the opposite lifting column, and the articulation points of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are located on a front or rear side of the lifting columns.

9. The lifting platform according to claim 7, wherein the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are longer than the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms by at least an amount such that, for raising a motor vehicle, the supporting arms can be positioned so that the lifting columns of the lifting platform are at the level of, or in front of, an A-column of the vehicle.

10. The lifting platform according to claim 1, wherein: the first pair of supporting arms is a front pair of supporting arms; and the second pair of supporting arms is a rear pair of supporting arms.

11. The lifting platform according to claim 10, wherein: at least the supporting arms of the front pair of supporting arms are at least three-part telescopic supporting arms; each of the supporting arms of the rear pair of supporting arms comprises a rear-supporting-arm part and a front-supporting-arm part connected to one another by way of the articulated joint, and the front-supporting-arm part is telescopically adjustable in length; and for positioning the supporting arms of the rear pair of supporting arms under the vehicle being raised, the articulated joints of the supporting arms of the rear pair of supporting arms can be bent inwards so that the free ends of the supporting arms of the rear pair of supporting arms become closer to one another.

12. The lifting platform according to claim 11, wherein: the lifting device comprises two lateral lifting columns; the articulation points of the supporting arms of the front pair of supporting arms are mounted on an inner side of the lifting columns that faces towards the opposite lifting column; and the articulation points of the supporting arms of the rear pair of supporting arms are located on a front or rear side of the lifting columns.

13. The lifting platform according to claim 12, wherein the supporting arms of the rear pair of supporting arms are longer than the supporting arms of the front pair of supporting arms by at least an amount such that, for raising a motor vehicle, the supporting arms can be positioned so that the lifting columns of the lifting platform are at the level of, or in front of, an A-column of the vehicle.

14. A lifting platform for motor vehicles, the lifting platform comprising: a lifting device; and four supporting arms pivotally mounted on the lifting device, comprising each of the supporting arms being pivotable about a respective articulation point on the lifting device, wherein: the supporting arms respectively comprise free ends, and the supporting arms are configured so that the free ends are movable under support points of a motor vehicle being raised by the lifting platform, the supporting arms form a first pair of supporting arms and a second pair of supporting arms, at least the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are adjustable in length, comprising the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms being configurable in a retracted state, the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are rigid between their articulation points on the lifting device and their free ends, the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are at least twice as long as the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms in the retracted state, each of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms comprises an inner-supporting-arm part and an outer-supporting-arm part connected to one another by way of an articulated joint, and the articulated joints are configured so that, for positioning under the support points of a motor vehicle being raised, each of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms, starting from a maximally extended position of the supporting arm, can be bent horizontally in both directions.

15. The lifting platform according to claim 14, wherein at least the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are at least three-part telescopic supporting arms.

16. The lifting platform according to claim 14, wherein the outer-supporting-arm parts are telescopic.

17. The lifting platform according to claim 14, wherein for positioning the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms under the vehicle being raised, the articulated joints of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms can be bent inwards so that the free ends of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms become closer to one another.

18. The lifting platform according to claim 14, wherein: the lifting device comprises two lateral lifting columns; the articulation points of the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are mounted on an inner side of the lifting columns that faces towards the opposite lifting column; and the articulation points of the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are located on a front or rear side of the lifting columns.

19. The lifting platform according to claim 18, wherein the supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are longer than the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms by at least an amount such that, for raising a motor vehicle, the supporting arms can be positioned so that the lifting columns of the lifting platform are at the level of, or in front of, an A-column of the vehicle.

20. The lifting platform according to claim 19, wherein: the first pair of supporting arms is a front pair of supporting arms; and the second pair of supporting arms is a rear pair of supporting arms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The drawings are provided as examples, may be schematic, and may not be drawn to scale. The present inventive aspects may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples depicted in the drawings.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a two-column lifting platform having two rigid supporting arms and two double-jointed supporting arms.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a plan view onto the lifting platform from FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a double-jointed supporting arm of the lifting platform from FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows support positions of the supporting plates for different kinds of vehicles in relation to the lifting platform from FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows the lifting platform from FIG. 1 with articulated joints bent inwards.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a plan view onto the lifting platform with the supporting arms positioned as shown in FIG. 5.

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a two-column lifting platform, wherein the articulated joints of the double-jointed arms are angled outwards.

[0030] FIG. 8 shows the lifting platform from FIG. 7 with double-jointed arms angled inwards.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a horizontal section through the lifting platform in the position shown in FIG. 7, wherein the section plane runs through the lifting columns above the supporting arms.

[0032] FIG. 10, in a view corresponding to FIG. 9, shows the lifting platform in the position shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In this detailed description, various aspects and features are herein described with reference to the accompanying figures. These aspects and features generally pertain to exemplary lifting platforms for motor vehicles.

[0034] Specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to those having ordinary skill in the art that the disclosed lifting platforms may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. As another example, features disclosed as part of one embodiment can be used in the context of another embodiment to yield a further embodiment. In some instances, well-known aspects have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. This detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and it is intended that other embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0035] As noted, the present invention relates to a lifting platform for motor vehicles. An exemplary lifting platform has four supporting arms that are pivotally mounted on a lifting device, especially on two lateral lifting columns, and the free ends of which are movable under support points of a motor vehicle being raised. The supporting arms form a first pair and a second pair of supporting arms. At least the supporting arms of the first pair of supporting arms are adjustable in length and are implemented in the form of rigid supporting arms, which are pivotable solely about their articulation points on the lifting device. The supporting arms of the second pair of supporting arms are in the form of double-jointed arms having an additional articulated joint.

[0036] The lifting platform shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises two lifting columns 1, 2 on each of which two supporting arms 3, 5 and 4, 6, respectively, are pivotally articulated. The supporting arms 3, 5, 4, 6 are adjustable in height (i.e., the supporting arms can be raised and lowered). The lifting drive inside the lifting columns 1, 2 is achieved in a manner known per se, such as by means of cylinder-piston units, by means of a threaded spindle, or by means of a chain drive.

[0037] The supporting arms 3, 4 form a front pair of supporting arms (e.g., they raise the front half of the vehicle), and the supporting arms 5, 6 form a pair of supporting arms for the rear half of the vehicle. The supporting arms 3, 5 for the left-hand side of the vehicle are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the supporting arms 4, 6 for the right-hand side of the vehicle. The supporting arms are each pivotally mounted on their associated lifting column 1, 2 via a pivot bearing 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, so they can be pivoted under a vehicle positioned between the lifting columns 1, 2 and moved to the support points on the bottom of the vehicle.

[0038] Supporting plates 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b having rubber pads are arranged at the free ends of the supporting arms 3, 4, 5, 6 in the usual way, the supporting plates coming into contact with the vehicle when the supporting arms are raised. The supporting plates 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b can also be adjusted in height to a certain extent relative to the associated supporting arms 3, 4, 5, 6 by means of a thread.

[0039] The supporting arms 3, 4 of the front pair of supporting arms are implemented in the form of conventional rigid supporting arms (e.g., they are pivotable solely about their respective articulation points 3a, 4a on the columns 1, 2). Furthermore, the front supporting arms 3, 4 can be adjusted in length telescopically. In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustment range of the front supporting arms 3, 4 is between 570 millimeters in the fully retracted state and 1160 millimeters in the fully extended state. To achieve such a wide adjustment range, the front supporting arms 3, 4 are constructed in the form of three-part telescopes (e.g., having three rectangular profiles pushed one inside the other telescopically). End stops in the interior of the telescope profiles prevent the supporting arms 3, 4 from being extendable farther than is permissible.

[0040] Unlike the front supporting arms 3, 4, the supporting arms 5, 6 of the rear pair of supporting arms are in the form of double-jointed arms. They are provided with an additional articulated joint 51, 61 so that the corresponding supporting arm 5, 6 can be bent in its pivot plane, which is defined by the pivot joint 5a, 6a.

[0041] The left-hand double-jointed arm 5 is shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 3. The supporting arm 5 includes a rear-part-arm or rear-supporting-arm part 52 (e.g., inner-supporting-arm part), which is connected to the lifting column 1 via the pivot bearing 5a and articulatedly connected to a front-part arm 53 (e.g., outer-supporting-arm part) via the articulated bearing 51. The front-part arm 53 is adjustable in length telescopically and carries the receiving plate 5b on its free, front end. The telescopic mechanism of the front-part arm 53 is a two-part construction, including an outer and an inner telescope profile, which can be pushed one inside the other. An end stop, of which only the external fixing screws 54 are shown in FIG. 3, is screwed in place on the inner side of the outer telescope profile and delimits the range of extension of the telescopic-part arm 53. In an exemplary embodiment, the maximum length of the rear supporting arms 5, 6 when the articulated joint 51, 61 is extended is a maximum of 1825 millimeters.

[0042] It will be understood that exemplary lifting platforms according to the present invention are not limited to two-part telescopic extension of the rear supporting arms 5, 6. Rather, if advantageous, the rear supporting arms 5, 6 may be provided with three-part telescopic extension.

[0043] The articulated joint 51 of the double-jointed arm 5 is provided with a supporting-arm detent device, which locks the articulated joint 51 when a motor vehicle is being raised. For adjustment of the supporting arm, the supporting-arm detent device can be unlocked by means of an operating lever 55. The supporting-arm detent device is here formed by a toothed disc having circumferential toothing, which is arranged in the interior of the articulated joint 51, and by a locking member operable by means of the unlocking lever 55. This locking member engages between the teeth of the toothed disc and blocks a rotary movement or, in the raised state, allows such movement.

[0044] The pivot joints 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a with which the supporting arms 3, 4, 5, 6 are articulated on the lifting columns 1, 2 are also lockable in a similar way. For example, for that purpose, the disc 56 arranged on the pivot bearing 5a in FIG. 3 can be provided in the form of a toothed disc having circumferential toothing in which a locking member arranged on the lifting column 1 engages to block a pivoting movement of the supporting arm 5.

[0045] By way of example, FIG. 4 shows the manufacturer's designated positions of the support points for different kinds of vehicles. It will be seen that the rear supporting arms 5, 6 have been sharply bent so as to arrive at such a support position. Accordingly, the rear supporting arms 5, 6 do not run transversely across the underbody, and so maintenance flaps on the vehicle underbody, such as are required for batteries of an electric drive, remain freely accessible. Also shown is the three-part telescopic extension of the front supporting arms 3, 4.

[0046] Because of the asymmetric lengths of the supporting arms (e.g., relatively short front supporting arms 3, 4 and relatively long, bendable rear supporting arms 5, 6), it is possible for a vehicle positioned between the lifting columns 1, 2 to be raised in such a way that the center of the vehicle and, above all, the vehicle doors are located in front of the lifting columns 1, 2 in the drive-in direction. When a vehicle is in the raised position, the lifting columns 1, 2 are typically located at approximately the level of, or even in front of, the A-column (A-pillar) of the vehicle, so the vehicle doors can be opened without the lifting columns 1, 2 being in the way. In this way, the lifting platform can be of narrow construction with the lifting columns 1, 2 arranged close to one another. In an exemplary embodiment, the width of the lifting platform is only about 3 meters.

[0047] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the lifting platform in views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2, but in a position in which the articulated joints 51, 61 of the rear supporting arms 5, 6 have been bent inwards. For that purpose, the articulated joints 51, 61 are configured so that they do not have a stop in one of the two possible directions of bendinginwards or outwardsbut are freely movable in both directions. The articulated joints therefore allow movement of the front-supporting-arm parts 53, 63 through almost 360. When the rear supporting arms are in the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the articulated joints 51, 61 and the greater part of the rear supporting arms 5, 6 are located under the bottom of the vehicle so as to provide a relatively large, free working space in the region of the raised vehicle's lateral sills. Instead of being in the form of angled joints as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the articulated joints 51, 61 can for that purpose alternatively be implemented in the form of straight joints. Such an embodiment is shown in the second exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7 to 10.

[0048] In the second exemplary embodiment of a two-column lifting platform shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, identical or corresponding features have been given the same reference signs as in the first exemplary embodiment. Unlike the first exemplary embodiment, however, the articulated joints 51, 61 of the two double-jointed arms 5, 6 are implemented in the form of straight joints (i.e., they are not angled joints). This enables the two front-supporting-arm parts 53, 63 to have an even greater pivoting range in both pivoting directions. In addition, for greater ease of handling, a U-shaped bracket 57, 67, which serves as a handle, is welded to each of the rear-supporting-arm parts 52, 62.

[0049] In the sectional views shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the short, rigid supporting arms 3, 4 are articulated on the inner side of the two lifting columns 1, 2, while the articulation points 5a, 6a of the two double-jointed arms 5, 6 are located on the rear side of the lifting columns 1, 2, as seen in the drive-in direction. The pivot joints 3a, 5a and 4a, 6a of the supporting arms 3, 5 and 4, 6, respectively, are mounted in a manner known per se on a corresponding carriage 58, 68, respectively, which is movable vertically along the respective lifting columns 1 and 2 and guided along the lifting path in the lifting column. By means of the lifting mechanism (e.g., hydraulic drive, spindle drive, or chain drive), the height of that carriage 58, 68 is adjusted for raising or lowering the supporting arms 5, 6.

Other Aspects and Embodiments

[0050] The foregoing detailed description and accompanying figures set forth typical embodiments of lifting platforms for motor vehicles. The present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. It will be apparent that numerous other lifting-platform embodiments may be provided in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure may utilize any variety of aspects, features, or steps, or combinations thereof. The figures may be schematic representations that are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0051] It is within the scope of this disclosure for one or more of the terms substantially, about, approximately, and/or the like, to qualify each adjective and adverbs of the foregoing disclosure, to provide a broad disclosure. As an example, it is believed those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that, in different implementations of the features of this disclosure, reasonably different engineering tolerances, precision, and/or accuracy may be applicable and suitable for obtaining the desired result. Accordingly, it is believed those of ordinary skill will readily understand usage herein of the terms such as substantially, about, approximately, and the like.

[0052] The use of the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

[0053] While various aspects, features, and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects, features, and embodiments will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art. The various disclosed aspects, features, and embodiments are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the present invention includes at least the following claims and their equivalents: