Fork head, lifting and relocation system comprising such a fork head, lifting and relocation system for vehicles

Abstract

This linkage (2) of a vehicle with a jack stand (8) of a lifting and positioning system, includes a frame, on which are provided a take-up axle adapted to fit into a tie-down ring of a vehicle, and an interface for fixing to a jack stand (8).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting bracket for a vehicle with a jack stand, a lifting and positioning system comprising such a bracket, and a method for lifting and positioning a vehicle using such a lifting and positioning system.

[0002] Maintenance of heavy vehicles, particularly military vehicles, often requires lifting and raising the vehicle to an elevated position for under-chassis work. During lifting, a lifting device is used to raise the vehicle, and support elements, such as jack stands, are put in place. This may necessitate the presence of operators, even briefly, under the vehicle at a height that raises safety concerns, especially with very heavy vehicles.

[0003] DE 89 04 647 describes a lifting system and a yoke for lifting vehicles or other loads, comprising a jack stand having a lifting mechanism and a mounting plate with holes. The yoke includes a frame, a pivot pin, and a mounting interface with holes for attaching to the mounting plate.

[0004] The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a connecting cleat that limits the risks for people lifting the vehicle.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a connecting bracket for a vehicle to a jack stand of a lifting and positioning system. This bracket is characterized in that it comprises: a frame, on which are provided: a support axis adapted to fit into a vehicle tie-down ring; and a fixing interface on a jack stand.

[0006] Thanks to this invention, the vehicle can be lifted under safer conditions. The jack stands can be pivotally attached to the vehicle thanks to the free-swinging design of the brackets and therefore do not need to be positioned under the lifted vehicle.

[0007] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a screed may incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken in any technically permissible combination: The frame consists of two parallel wings defining a space for receiving a lashing ring. The load-bearing pin passes through both parallel wings and is held in the frame by a pin. The mounting interface on a jack stand consists of a hollow housing adapted to receive a jack stand head, and a retaining bracket for the jack stand head in the hollow housing. The retaining bracket has two locking pins for the jack stand head, adapted to be positioned on either side of a central axis of the jack stand. The retaining bracket slides relative to the frame, and the clevis has a locking mechanism for the retaining bracket in position within the frame. The retaining bracket has a handle. The frame has at least one handle.

[0008] The invention also relates to a system for lifting and positioning a vehicle, this vehicle being equipped with a pair of tie-down rings on one front side and a pair of tie-down rings on one rear side. This lifting and positioning system is characterized in that it comprises: four shackles as mentioned above, each being fixed to one of the vehicle's tie-down rings; four axle stands fitted with casters, each axle stand being fixed to one of the shackles, and in that: The jack stands are initially inclined and positioned outside the vehicle's footprint; when the vehicle is lifted, the jack stands gradually straighten by pivoting the brackets relative to the tie-down rings, the jack stand wheels rolling against the ground on which the vehicle is initially parked; at the end of the lifting operation, the jack stands are positioned vertically by their base relative to the ground.

[0009] This system has the advantage of avoiding the presence of people under the vehicle's footprint during lifting, which improves safety.

[0010] The invention also relates to a method for lifting and positioning a vehicle, using a lifting and positioning system as mentioned above, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting of: secure the cleats to the tie-down rings; fix the jack stands to the cleats; lift the vehicle until the jack stands are upright vertically relative to the ground so that these jack stands rest on the ground by their base.

[0011] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent in the light of the following description of a screed, a lifting and positioning system, and a method for lifting and positioning a vehicle in accordance with its principle, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are two perspective views from two different angles of a cleat according to the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of a vehicle tie-down ring; Figure 4 is a side view of the tie-down ring of Figure 3 to which the cleat of Figures 1 and 2 is attached; Figure 5 is a side view of a cleat attached to a jack stand belonging to a lifting system according to the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an upper part of the jack stand and the cleat of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a bottom view of the upper part shown in Figure 6; Figures 8 to 10 are side views of a vehicle and a lifting and lowering system during three stages of lifting and lowering the vehicle.

[0012] A connecting clevis 2 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The connecting clevis 2 is intended to secure a vehicle V, such as a military vehicle, or any type of heavy vehicle, with a lifting and positioning system 100. Such vehicles generally have lashing rings 6 used for towing or securing to another transport vehicle.

[0013] The clevis 2 includes a frame 4, on which are provided a take-up axis 12 on a tie-down ring 6 of the vehicle V, and a fixing interface 42 on a stand 8 of the lifting system 100.

[0014] The frame 4 is formed by two parallel wings 40 defining between them a receiving space 10 for a lashing ring 6.

[0015] The return axle 12 passes through the two parallel wings 40 and is adapted to fit into a hole 60 in the lashing ring 6. The return axle 12 passes through the receiving space 10. The clevis 2 has a pin 120 that retains the return axle 12 in the frame 4, preventing its translation within its housing. The return axle 12 allows the clevis 2 to rotate freely relative to the lashing ring 6, around an axis of rotation X12 corresponding to the central axis of the return axle 12, while supporting part of the weight of the vehicle V.

[0016] The fixing interface 42 on a stand 8 is formed by a hollow housing adapted to receive the head 80 of a stand 8, and a retaining flange 14 of the head of the stand 80 in the hollow housing 42. The hollow housing 42 is made in the frame 4.

[0017] The retaining flange 14 has two locking rods 140 of the jack stand head 80, adapted to be arranged on either side of a central axis Z8 of the jack stand 8, which is perpendicular to the jack stand head 80.

[0018] The retaining flange 14 slides relative to the frame 4. The frame 4 has projecting parts 48 into which the rods 140 are inserted, allowing them to slide along the axis of the rods 140. The clevis 2 has at least one means for locking the retaining flange 14 in position within the frame 4. This locking means can be, as shown in Figures 2, 6, and 7, a ball pin 142 inserted into a hole 140a in one of the rods 140 and into a hole 44a in the frame 4. This ball pin 142, by securing the frame 4 to the rods 140, prevents the flange 14 from sliding out of the frame 4.

[0019] The retaining flange 14 has a handling handle 144. This handle 144 can be used by an operator to slide the flange 14, to remove it or to reinstall it in the frame 4.

[0020] The frame 4 also includes at least one handling handle. In this example, two handles 50 are provided on the frame 4 on either side of the wings 40.

[0021] The vehicle V shown in figures 8 to 10 is equipped with a pair of tie-down rings 6 on a front side 16 and a pair of tie-down rings 6 on a rear side 18.

[0022] The lifting and positioning system 100 comprises four cleats 2, each being fixed to one of the lashing rings 6 of the vehicle V, and four jack stands 8, each of the jack stands 8 being fixed to one of the cleats 2. In figures 8 to 10 only two lashing rings 6, two cleats 2 and two jack stands 8 are visible, the rest being hidden on the other side of the vehicle V.

[0023] The candles 8 have a central shaft 80 which extends around the central axis Z8, and at the end of which is the candle head 80. The candles 8 have legs 84 which extend divergently from the central shaft 82, opposite the candle head 80, and whose ends have ground support plates 86 forming a base of the candle 8. There are a minimum of three legs 84.

[0024] The legs 84 are equipped with floor rollers 88, which allow the supports 8 to be moved in an inclined position relative to the ground. The rollers 88 are fixed to the legs 84 with supports 84a extending perpendicularly to the axis Z8, and in the vicinity of the end plates 86.

[0025] The stands 8 may also include auxiliary casters 90, allowing the stands 8 to be moved when they are vertical and the casters 88 are no longer usable. The casters 90 have supports 92 that extend parallel to the axis Z8. The supports 92 are movable relative to the central shaft 82 and can be positioned relative to the central shaft 82 so that the casters 90 protrude beyond the end plates 86 to allow rolling on the ground. When the casters 90 need to be retracted so that the stands 8 rest on the ground by the end plates 86, the supports 92 are retracted so that the casters 90 are recessed beyond the end plates 86.

[0026] The 8 stands can be telescopic, the central shaft 82 being in two parts adjustable in position relative to each other along the Z8 axis.

[0027] The operation of the lifting and positioning system 100, and an associated lifting and positioning method, are described with reference to Figures 4 to 10.

[0028] Vehicle V is initially parked on a surface S. Vehicle V includes front wheels R16 and rear wheels R18 which rest on the surface S.

[0029] The lifting and positioning procedure for vehicle V includes a first step consisting of securing the clevises 2 to the lashing rings 6. For this, the support pins 12 are removed from the clevises 2. The wings 40 of the clevises 2 are passed around the lashing rings 6 so that the holes 60 are aligned with holes 40a in the wings 40. The support pins 12 are then inserted through the holes 40a and the hole 60, and then locked with the pins 120. The clevises 2 are at this point articulated with pivoting on the vehicle V (figure 4).

[0030] In a second step, the supports 8 are fixed to the brackets 2. The flanges 14 are unlocked from the frames 4 by removing the ball pins 142 and slid out. The heads 80 of the supports 8 are placed in the hollow recesses 42, the shape of which complements that of the supports 80. This shape is circular in the example shown, but may be different. The brackets 14 are then reassembled on the frame 4 by inserting the rods 140 around the central shaft 82, on one side 80a of the jack stands 80 opposite the hollow housings 42, and through the parts 48. Once fully inserted into the frame 4, the brackets 14 are locked by inserting the ball pins 142. In this configuration (Figures 5 to 7) the jack stands 8 are connected to the clevises 2. The lifting of the vehicle V can then begin.

[0031] Initially, the jack stands 8 are inclined relative to the ground S and positioned outside the footprint E of the vehicle V (Figure 8). The jack stands 8 rest on the ground S via the casters 88.

[0032] In a further step of the lifting process, the vehicle V is lifted using a given lifting device. The front side 16 is lifted first in this example. As the vehicle V is lifted, the jack stands 8 gradually straighten by pivoting the brackets 2 relative to the tie-down rings 6, with the rollers 88 of the jack stands 8 rolling against the ground S. The legs 84 move closer to the vehicle V, and the rollers 90 are automatically retracted once loaded. The jack stands 8 naturally find their equilibrium position when the rollers 90 are no longer in contact with the ground. At the end of the lifting operation, the jack stands 8 are positioned vertically relative to the ground S by their base, formed by the end plates 86 (Figure 9). The rollers 90 are retracted. The front wheels R16 are no longer resting on the ground S.

[0033] The same operation is repeated with the rear side 18 of vehicle V. Vehicle V then rests front and rear on the jack stands 8. The means used for lifting can then be deactivated.

[0034] At no point during the lifting process is it necessary to carry out any operations under the ground footprint E of vehicle V. All the assembly operations of the brackets 2 and the jack stands 8 are carried out while the vehicle V is resting on the ground S, and the progressive straightening of the jack stands 8 can be controlled by operators away from the ground footprint E. The safety of the operators during the lifting and positioning of vehicle V is therefore ensured.

[0035] When lowering the vehicle V onto the ground S, the steps of the procedure are generally reversed: one side of the vehicle V is raised, and the casters 90 of the jack stands 8 on that side are deployed, so as to allow the controlled tilting of the jack stands 8 to begin. Straps 19 must be used to move the jack stands 8 away from their vertical position by applying a pulling force as indicated by the arrows F in Figure 10 to move them away from the vehicle V. Once tilted, the jack stands 8 rest again on the casters 88, and the lowering of the vehicle V can be controlled, the jack stands 8 gradually tilting and moving apart.

[0036] Once the vehicle V has been placed on the ground S, the jack stands 8 and the brackets 2 are removed according to the principles described above.

[0037] According to an unshown variant, lifting of vehicle V can begin from the rear instead of the front. Lifting of vehicle V can also be carried out in one operation if suitable lifting equipment is available.

Claims

1. A connecting bracket (2) of a vehicle (V) with a jack stand (8) of a lifting and positioning system (100), characterized in that it comprises: - a structure (4), on which the following are planned: - a return axle (12) adapted to fit into a lashing ring (6) of a vehicle (V); and - a fixing interface (42, 14) on a stand (8).

2. Shackle according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (4) is formed by two parallel wings (40) defining a receiving space (10) for a lashing ring (6).

3. Clevis according to claim 2, characterized in that the return axis (12) passes through the two parallel wings (40) and is retained in the frame (4) by a pin (120).

4. A cleat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing interface on a candle (8) is formed by a hollow housing (42) adapted to receive a head (80) of a candle (8), and a retaining flange (14) of the candle head (80) in the hollow housing (8).

5. Clevis according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining flange (14) comprises two rods (140) for locking the head of the candle (80) adapted to be arranged on either side of a central axis (Z8) of the candle (8).

6. A clevis according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the retaining flange (14) is sliding relative to the frame (4) and in that the clevis (2) has a locking means (142) for the retaining flange (14) in position in the frame (4).

7. A cleat according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the retaining flange (14) comprises a handling handle (144).

8. A screed according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (4) comprises at least one handling handle (50).

9. Lifting and positioning system (100) for a vehicle (V), this vehicle (V) being equipped with a pair of lashing rings (6) on a front side (16) and a pair of lashing rings (6) on a rear side (18), the lifting and positioning system (100) being characterized in that it comprises: - four shackles (2) according to one of the preceding claims, each being fixed to one of the tie-down rings (6) of the vehicle (V); - four jack stands (8) equipped with casters (88, 90), each of the jack stands (8) being fixed to one of the brackets (2), and in that: - the jack stands (8) are initially inclined and positioned outside a ground footprint (E) of the vehicle (V); - when the vehicle (V) is raised, the jack stands (8) gradually straighten by pivoting the cleats (2) relative to the tie-down rings (6), the wheels (88) of the jack stands (8) rolling against a ground (S) on which the vehicle (V) is initially parked; - at the end of the lifting operation, the jack stands (8) are positioned by their base (86) vertically relative to the ground (S).

10. A method for lifting and positioning a vehicle (V) using a lifting and positioning system (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting of: - secure the cleats (2) to the lashing rings (6); - fix the candles (8) on the scuffs (2); - raise the vehicle (V) until the jack stands (8) are upright vertically relative to the ground (S) so that these jack stands (8) rest on the ground (S) by their base (86).