Scissors lift platform

Abstract

A scissor-lift platform comprises a scissor mechanism (1) and scissor elements (3) that are connected to form scissor element pairs by central bearings (2). At least one scissor element (3) of a scissor element pair has a bearing receiving element (4) that is removably connected to the scissor element (3) in order to receive the central bearing (2).

Claims

1. A scissor-lift mechanism (1) for a scissor-lift platform, said scissor-lift mechanism (1) comprising first and second scissor blades (3) connected through a central bearings (2) to form a first scissor blade pair, and first and second scissor blades (3) connected through a central bearing (2) to form a second scissor blade pair, characterized in that at least one scissor blade (3) of each of the first and second scissor blade pairs includes a bearing receiving element (4) configured for housing the central bearing (2), and wherein the bearing receiving element (4) is connected to the at least one scissor blade (3) of each of the first and second scissor blade pairs in a detachable manner, and wherein each of said first and second scissor blade pairs includes a load-relieving device (13) configured for relief of a load on said central scissor bearing (2) of said respective first and second scissor blade pairs when said scissor-lift platform is in an assembled condition, wherein said load-relieving device (13) comprises first and second bore holes in each of said first and second scissor blades of each of said first and second scissor blade pairs, wherein said first bore hole in the first scissor blade in both said first and second scissor blade pairs is configured for aligning with said first bore hole in said second scissor blade of each of said first and second scissor blade pairs, and wherein said second bore hole from said first scissor blade in both said first and second scissor blade pairs is configured for aligning with said second bore hole in said second scissor blade of each of said first and second scissor blade pairs, wherein said aligned first and second bore holes are configured for receiving a securing element, wherein the load-relieving device (13) is not coupled to said central bearing (2) or said bearing receiving element (4), and wherein said aligned first and second bore holes into which said securing element is inserted are configured for allowing the first and second scissor blades of each of the first and second scissor blade pairs to be secured to one another such that the central bearing (2) becomes load-free and can be removed from the scissor-lift platform without disassembly of the entire said scissor-lift mechanism.

2. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 1, characterized in that the bearing receiving element (4) is housed in a fitting opening (5) in said at least one scissor blade (3) of each of the first and second scissor blade pairs, and wherein said fitting opening (5) is a bore hole in the at least one scissor blade (3) of each of the first and second scissor blade pairs.

3. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 1, characterized in that the bearing receiving element (4) has a connection region (6) formed as a flange.

4. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 3, characterized in that the connection region (6) of the bearing receiving element (4), is connected with the at least one scissor blade (3) of each of the first and second scissor blade pairs by means of detachable fastening elements.

5. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 1, characterized in that the bearing receiving element (4) has a bearing seat (7) for a bearing bushing (8) of a slide bearing.

6. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 5, characterized in that the slide bearing is a DU bearing.

7. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 6, characterized in that each of said first and second scissor blades (3) of each of said first and second scissor blade pairs have bearing receiving elements (4), wherein inside a central region of each of the bearing receiving elements (4) is housed a bearing bushing (8) of said DU bearing, together with a joint shaft (9).

8. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 1, characterized in that the bearing receiving element (4) has a bearing seat (10) for an outer ring of a pivoting bearing.

9. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 8, characterized in that at least one scissor blade (3) of each of said first and second scissor blade pairs has a bearing receiving element (4) that is modified for receiving a rotation-preventing bolt (12).

10. The scissor-lift mechanism as in claim 1, characterized in that the load-relieving device (13) is configured as one or more openings, wherein said one or more openings are bore holes configured for receiving a blocking element, and wherein said blocking element is a socket pin.

11. The scissor-lift mechanism of claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and second scissor blades (3) have means of connection (5), wherein said means of connection includes openings, in their regions that are to be connected to each other through said bearing receiving elements (4), wherein a plurality of various types of bearing receiving elements (4) is available and can be connected selectively with the first and second scissor blades (3), wherein the various types of bearing receiving elements (4) have different inner contours (7, 10) that fit a respective central bearing that is to be received in the bearing receiving element (4), and configured for installation and/or the replacement of central bearings (2) in scissor-lift mechanisms used in scissor-lift platforms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

(1) These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic presentation of an exemplary scissor-lift platform according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic exemplary presentation of a scissor-mechanism of an exemplary lift platform according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic view of the connection of two scissor blades through the central bearing for an exemplary scissor-lift platform according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a similar exploded schematic view as in FIG. 3 using a different central bearing type.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) In the exemplary scissor-lift platform according to the invention, two scissor blades 3, FIGS. 1 and 2, each are connected into scissor blade pairs using a central bearing 2, which is housed in a bearing receiving element 4. The two scissor blade pairs are connected by cross bracing elements 14 to form a scissor blade mechanism 1.

(7) The scissor blades 3 have means of connection in the form of openings 5 that are compatible with the bearing receiving elements 4, with the bearing receiving elements 4 being inserted in said opening 5. A connection region 6 of the bearing receiving elements 4, designed in the shown example as a flange, serves for detachable, rotation-preventive fastening of the bearing receiving elements 4 in the bearing blades 3.

(8) In order to further simplify the replacement of the bearing receiving elements, the exemplary scissor-lift platforms may also have load-relieving device 13 that serves the purpose of securing the scissor mechanism such that the central bearing becomes load-free and thus can be removed from the scissor-lift platform in the ideal case without additional measures for disassembly of the entire scissor blade mechanism 1.

(9) In the simplest embodiment, these load-relieving devices 13 can be designed in the form of bore holes located in the scissor blades 3 and are designed such that they overlap in the position of the scissor-lift platform desired for disassembly that a securing element, for example a socket pin, can be inserted and assume the loads that are otherwise assumed by the central bearing.

(10) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, a pivoting bearing 11 is used as the bearing. Accordingly, one of the bearing receiving elements 4 is provided with a bearing seat 10 for the outer ring of the pivoting bearing 11.

(11) The bearing receiving element 4 in the other bearing blade 3 of the bearing blade pair has an opening for a bolt 12 with a protection against rotation 15. In the shown example, the bolt 12 is the shaft of the pivoting bearing 11 and accordingly is designed as a suitable bearing seat, in the shown example with a retainer ring.

(12) FIG. 4 shows an additional exemplary embodiment, where both scissor blades 3 of the shown scissor blade pair are connected with bearing receiving elements 4. In the shown example, both bearing receiving elements 4 receive bearing bushings 8 with a joint shaft 9. Each of the two bearing bushings 8 forms a slide bearing together with the shaft 9. In an advantageous manner, this bearing can be designed as a self-lubricating bearing, for example a DU bearing.

(13) In the shown examples, screws are used for the detachable connection of the bearing receiving elements 4 with the scissor blades 3 as detachable fastening elements, and are screwed through the connection regions of the bearing receiving elements 4 designed as flanges 6 into bore holes 16 of the scissor blades 3 provided for this purpose.

(14) Accordingly, the present invention provided a novel and non-obvious scissor lift mechanism wherein a scissor-lift platform comprises a scissor mechanism and scissor elements that are connected to form scissor element pairs by central bearings. At least one scissor element of a scissor element pair has a bearing receiving element that is removably connected to the scissor element in order to receive the central bearing.

(15) Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.