Wheel base measuring lifting system for lifting a vehicle and method therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a wheel based measuring system and a method for lifting a vehicle. The lifting system includes one stationary lift; a number of moveable lifts; positioning means for defining a position of a wheel axle of the vehicle; distance measuring means for determining the distance of the vehicle to a reference point; and control means for determining the distance between two vehicle axles and steering the one or more moveable lifts to the correct position.

Claims

1. A wheel base measuring lifting system for lifting a vehicle, comprising: (a) one stationary lift; (b) a number of moveable lifts; (c) positioning means for defining a position of a wheel axle of the vehicle; (d) distance measuring means for measuring a first distance of the vehicle to a reference point while the vehicle is in a first position and a second distance of the vehicle to the reference point after the vehicle has moved from the first position to a second position; and (e) control means for determining the distance between two vehicle axles from the first distance and the second distance measured by the distance measuring means and providing a steering command to the one or more moveable lifts to position the one or more movable lifts in the correct position, wherein the control means is configured to calculate a wheel base distance of the vehicle, thereby automatically detecting the correct position of the one or more movable lifts, and wherein the distance measurement means comprises one or more stationary sensors to measure the first distance of the vehicle and the second distance of the vehicle.

2. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means comprise a recess.

3. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 2, wherein the recess is provided with a detector.

4. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 2, wherein the recess corresponds to a wheel recess associated with the stationary lift.

5. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring means comprise a transmitter and a receiver.

6. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprise a process controller.

7. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 6, further comprising a camera system mounted on at least one of the one or more movable lifts configured for detecting the engagement of the at least one of the one or more movable lifts on the vehicle.

8. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more movable lifts comprises a load sensor to measure the load on the at least one of the one or more movable lifts.

9. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 8, wherein the load sensor is configured to provide an indication that the load is put on the wheel axle of the vehicle.

10. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 6, further comprising a display for providing a user with a visual indication of the engagement and/or load on at least one of the one or more movable lifts and/or the wheel axle.

11. The wheel base measuring lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stationary sensors of the distance measurement means are positioned on or against a wall.

12. A method for lifting a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a lifting system comprising a stationary lift and a number of moveable lifts; (b) riding the vehicle towards the lifting system; (c) defining a first position of a first wheel axle of the vehicle with a positioning means; (d) measuring a first distance between the vehicle and a reference point using one or more stationary sensors; (e) moving the vehicle and defining a second position of a second wheel axle of the vehicle with the positioning means; (f) measuring a second distance between the vehicle and the reference point using the one or more stationary sensors; and (g) calculating from the first and second distances the wheel base distance between the first and second wheel axles with a control means, and automatically detecting a desired lifting position of one or more of the movable lifts.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: (h) positioning the vehicle relative to the stationary lift; (i) positioning the one or more moveable lifts relative to the vehicle with the control means; and (j) lifting the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first wheel axle is the front wheel axle of the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first wheel axle is lifted by the stationary lift during a lifting operation.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first wheel axle is lifted by one of the moveable lifts during a lifting operation.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the one or more stationary sensors are positioned on or against a wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and details and of the embodiment will be elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments therefore wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of the system according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the method and system of FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3-4 show a vehicle being lifted by the system of FIG. 1; and

(5) FIG. 5 shows further options available to the system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) A lifting system 2 (FIG. 1) comprises a stationary lifting column 4 and a moveable lifting column 6 that are located on or in floor 8. The front lifting column 4 is provided in cassette or box 10 with a telescopic lifting cylinder 12. On top of cylinder 12 there is provided carrier 14 with axle carriers 16. In the illustrated embodiment wheel edges or wheel recesses 18 are provided. Recesses 18 define the position of the front wheels of the vehicle. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment a hatch 20 is provided in front of the front lifting column 4 for maintenance, for example.

(7) The moveable lifting column 6 moves in cassette or box 22. Box 22 provides a pit with a slot or recess 24 for guiding the moveable lifting column 6. Moveable lifting column 6 is provided with carrier 26 whereon axle carriers 28 are mounted. Depending on the type of vehicle additional adapters can be provided that cooperate with carriers 14, 26 to enable engagement with different axle dimensions.

(8) Lifting column 6 is optionally provided with camera 30 that enables a safety check when system 2 is about to lift the vehicle and allows the operator to additionally check the engagement of the carrier 26 on the axle of the vehicle.

(9) Depending on the dimensions and configuration of the axle of the vehicle additional adapters (not shown) can be provided with the carriers 14, 26. Optionally, camera 30 is provided as a stand-alone system to assist the operator when using system 2. In addition or alternatively, camera 30 can be used as an axle or wheel recognition system capable of determining the type and/or dimensions of an axle or wheel to be lifted.

(10) Using system 2 enables positioning the moveable lifting column 6 with accuracy of at least 2.5 cm and preferably within the range of about 1.25 cm.

(11) Further details of conventional parts of system 2 are disclosed in WO 2006/112857 which is included by reference herein. WO 2006/112857 specifically discloses a scissor type lifting device that is positioned in a pit. This pit with a pit cover and lifting means involving auxiliary adapters engaging the axle of the vehicle have been described in detail herein.

(12) Wheel base measuring system 32 comprises sensor 34, 36.

(13) In the illustrated embodiment sensor 34, 36 is positioned on or against wall 38 to provide a stable reference point for the measurement. Sensor 34, 36 provides a signal 40 when performing a distance measurement. Signal 40 may use infrared, ultrasound and/or another signal. The use of such signal 40 prevents physical contact between the sensor 34, 36 and the wheels or axles of the vehicle. Measurement signal 42 is provided to controller 44. Controller 44 steers the required sensor activities and performs the desired calculations. Controller 44 starts a measurement when a wheel of the vehicle is in recess 46, 48. Recesses 46, 48 can be provided with a sensor 50, for example a load sensor. Sensor 50 provides a measurement signal 52 to controller 44 indicative of the presence of a wheel in recess 46, 48. Optionally recess 46 can be combined with wheel recesses 18 to provide one recess adjacent to stationary lift 4. It will be understood that one recess 46, 48 will suffice for the wheel base measuring system 32 included in lifting system 2. In one of the preferred embodiments recess 46 is combined with wheel recess 18 such that no additional recesses are required.

(14) A measurement is performed between a reference point and a defined position of the vehicle, for example the front or back of the vehicle, or other vehicle reference point.

(15) In the illustrated embodiment controller 44 provides a steering command 54 to the movable lift 6.

(16) Lifting operation 56 (FIG. 2) first performs an initialization step 58. Then a first axle of a vehicle is positioned by providing a wheel in a recess in positioning step 60. Thereafter measurement step 62 is performed to measure the distance between the vehicle and a reference point. The vehicle is moved forward in step 64 and a second wheel is positioned in the recess in step 66 such that a further measuring step 68 can be performed. In case more than two axles need to be lifted the vehicle is moved further and steps 64, 66, 68 are performed again. Finally, the vehicle moves towards the lifting system in step 70. The wheels are positioned in positioning step 72 relative to the stationary lift 4. Thereafter, or alternatively at the same time, the one or more movable lifts 6 are positioned relative to the further axles in positioning step 74 such that the vehicle is positioned relative to the lifting system and is ready for lifting operation 76. At the end of the lifting operation the vehicle is removed from lifting system 2.

(17) A vehicle 78 (FIGS. 3-4) is positioned over or relative to system 2. Moveable lifting device 6 is positioned under rear axle 80 of vehicle 78 using wheel base measuring system 32 that is integrally provided with lifting system 2 in the illustrated embodiment.

(18) Rear axle 80 is lifted by movable lifting column 6, while front axle 82 is lifted by stationary lifting column 4. In the illustrated embodiment movable lift 6 moves from starting positioned 84 to the desired lifting position 86.

(19) In the illustrated embodiment lifts 4, 6 engage axles 80, 82 directly, such that lifting position 86 corresponds to the rear axle 80 location. As described earlier, carriers 14, 26 may engage other parts of the vehicle. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiments one moveable lifting column 6 is shown. Alternatively, more than one, for example two, moveable lifting columns 6 can be provided for system 2. When engaging the axles of the vehicle for lifting, the number of lifting devices 4, 6 may depend on the size of the vehicle and/or number of axles of the vehicle. It will be understood that either the front wheel axle or a rear wheel axle can be lifted by the stationary lift during a lifting operation.

(20) Further options are available for lifting system 2 (FIG. 5). This relates to providing light source 87 to improve the quality of the camera view. Also, this may relate to load sensor 88 on carrier 26 that enables measurement of the load on carrier 26. The measurement is provided to controller 44 with signal 90. Optionally, battery 91 is provided attached to lift 6 to prevent the use of cables, thereby increasing safety of system 2. Furthermore, projector 92 can be provided to send an indication signal 94 providing a visual indication 96, such as an arrow or other indication, for a driver of the vehicle 78. This may assist a driver of vehicle 78 when manoeuvring vehicle 78 relative to system 2. Projector 92 receives command signal 98 from controller 44. In the illustrated embodiment controller 44 communicates with touch screen 100 via bi-directional communication connection 102. This may involve receiving user input and displaying relevant information to a user, operator and/or driver of vehicle 78.

(21) The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged. For example, it is explicitly mentioned that the combinations of the illustrated embodiments are possible. In the illustrated embodiments axle carriers have been shown. Alternatively, other carriers engaging other parts of the vehicle to be lifted can be applied.