Receiving device for receiving a support plate at a variable height

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a receiving device 100 for the height-variable receiving of one of the support plates 3a located in a first position 50 for motor vehicle lifting devices, with a support plate receiving 10 being movably mounted in a guide element 30 by means of a shaft section 20, which is suitable for lifting a vehicle in a detent point of a second position 60.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a receiving device with which a support plate of a motor vehicle lifting device can be received at a variable height. At the same time, precise contact of the support plate with a receiving point on the body of a vehicle to be lifted by means of a lifting platform and / or a car jack is enabled, so that safe and rapid raising / lowering can be achieved. The present disclosure further comprises a lifting device for safe and precise contact of the receiving points on the body of a vehicle to be lifted and a method for safe and rapid receiving and / or lifting of a vehicle.

[0002] Due to increasingly complex vehicle designs and the resulting demands on vehicle lifting equipment, such as lifting platforms, wheel lifts, and car jacks, lifting and handling systems based on individually adjustable lifting elements have become a highly relevant process. Consequently, lifting equipment that can both accommodate a given vehicle using a minimal number of contact elements and raise or lower it as quickly and safely as possible is particularly important among many currently available lifting and handling systems.

[0003] Accordingly, high demands are placed on ensuring that the support plates of a vehicle lifting device are positioned precisely at the support points of, for example, vehicles with heavily structured or uneven underbodies.

[0004] Hoisting devices known from the prior art and designed for lifting and lowering vehicles generally comprise one or more support structures, for example a support arm system that is movable at least in the vertical direction and controllable by an integrated control system, as well as a receiving geometry attached to these support structures, which is specifically designed to apply the support structure configured for lifting to the vehicle to be lifted, in particular to sections of the vehicle body provided for this purpose, as precisely and stress-free as possible.

[0005] For this purpose, DE 222 20 35 A1 describes an adjustable support plate comprising a base plate with four horizontally extending outer projections arranged at the same height. The outer projections engage in recesses in two opposing brackets, which are firmly connected to the support plate and can be moved vertically across the longitudinal axis of the pivot arm. The recesses are shaped in such a way that four stop surfaces are available for the bolt ends at different heights. However, the height of the support plates, including the head plate and the brackets, must be adjusted manually and in advance by vertical displacement.

[0006] EP 136 28 23 A1 further discloses height-adjustable support plates, each with at least two intersecting, vertically pivoting scissor levers that are pivotally connected at the intersection point. Each support plate is pivotally connected to the scissor lever whose lower end performs a horizontal displacement during height adjustment. Here, the height-adjustable support plate can be moved vertically by an actuating lever and is locked in place by a locking pawl.

[0007] Furthermore, EP 030 0142 A1 shows support plates connected to the support arm of a lifting platform via a height adjustment device, wherein the height adjustment device has an adjustment handle protruding from the area of the vehicle. The adjustment handle, together with a shaft leading to the height adjustment device, can be designed as an axial adjustment device for a multi-part support arm, wherein the shaft is then preferably mounted in a guide bracket for axial guidance. An operator can thus adjust the support plates to a suitable height with the support arms already pivoted in, without having to reach under the vehicle while it is on the ground.

[0008] Document JPS6029363A describes a support device according to the preamble of claim 1 for directly supporting a vehicle in a lifting platform. This device comprises sliding arms with a rubber striker attached to the top, which can be moved up and down by means of a spring and a screw.

[0009] Despite continuous development of existing lifting devices configured to accommodate vehicles, most such systems continue to suffer from the problem that increased complexity caused by a large number of moving parts and geometric variations continues to impair the quick and safe operation of lifting platforms or car jacks. The support plates with height adjustment devices used to date, which can support the load of a vehicle to be lifted even when extended, are usually unstable due to the large number of moving parts and, due to their functionality, cause the extension range of the lifting arms to be extended.Furthermore, with known systems, the positioning of the support plates has to be carried out manually, which is a time-consuming process, and the loosening of the complex mechanism for height adjustment has to be carried out in several steps before the lifting arms are swung out from the underbody area of the vehicle to be lifted.

[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to remedy the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a receiving device or a lifting device for the height-variable reception of a support plate with a less complex structure, high mechanical stability and reliability, and the avoidance of geometric changes of the lifting device.

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the features of the independent claims are proposed. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments.

[0012] The receiving device described here can preferably have a shaft section which is designed to be displaceable in a guide element between a first position and a second position, as well as a support plate receptacle which is designed to receive a support plate and which is connected to the shaft section and a guide element which is designed to guide the shaft section in at least one direction of movement.

[0013] A support plate is a component that is attached, for example, to a lifting platform or car jack, so that it can be brought into contact with the support points on the underside of the vehicle specified by the manufacturer. These support plates preferably have a circular surface covered with a soft but durable material such as hard rubber and a correspondingly dimensioned base made of a material such as steel or aluminum. A profile attached to the underside ensures a positive fit and fits into a corresponding receiving device on the lifting platform or car jack.

[0014] Accordingly, the support plate holder claimed here is preferably understood to be a component that is shaped and suitable for receiving a support plate. Due to its shape, the support plate holder is preferably suitable for accommodating a variety of different support plate models, thus offering a broad range of applications with regard to vehicles from different manufacturers or different model series.

[0015] The shaft section described here is preferably a metal tube or metal profile, the dimensions and wall thickness of which are designed to absorb the forces encountered when lifting a vehicle without bending or breaking. In addition to metal, other suitable materials may be used.

[0016] The support plate receptacle of the present receiving device can be connected to the shaft section of the receiving device described here in various ways. Preferred connection types include, on the one hand, the provision of a one-piece component that includes both the support plate receptacle and the shaft section. Such a one-piece component can be produced, for example, by welding the support plate receptacle to the shaft section or by casting or forging a one-piece metal body. On the other hand, the provision of a variant in which the support plate receptacle and the shaft section are detachably connected to one another, for example via a screw connection or the like, is one of the preferred ways of establishing a connection between these elements.

[0017] According to the claimed subject matter, the guide element is preferably a hollow profile or tube that is closed on the side facing away from the shaft section and is suitable for receiving the shaft section within its interior. Particularly preferably, the inner surface of the guide element has the same shape as the outer surface of the shaft section to ensure positive guidance of the shaft section in the guide element. Accordingly, the dimensions and wall thicknesses of the guide element are preferably selected such that the elongated shaft section is displaceable in the axial direction within the guide element with a play that is typical for this type of construction in the prior art, and is guided by the guide element in its translational movement.

[0018] Preferably, the inner surfaces of the guide element can be provided with elements such as bolts or rails to enable even more reliable guidance of the movement of the shaft section. Likewise, lubricious layers, for example made of hard plastic or the like, can be attached to the inner surfaces of the guide element to enable friction-reduced movement of the shaft section within the guide element.

[0019] According to the claimed subject matter, a first position describes a position of the shaft portion within the guide element. In the first position, the shaft portion and the guide element partially overlap. In other words, the shaft portion partially protrudes from the guide portion and preferably still has sufficient overlap area with the guide element to enable reliable and secure guidance of the shaft portion.

[0020] In contrast, according to the claimed subject matter, the second position describes a position of the shaft portion within the guide element in which the shaft portion is largely recessed into the guide element. In other words, to reach the second position, the shaft portion is preferably pushed further into the guide element, starting from the first position, until it reaches a mechanical stop, thereby exhibiting a greater overlap with the guide element.

[0021] The device disclosed here has the advantage that, in preparation for lifting a vehicle using a lifting platform or a car jack, the support points on the vehicle body can be precisely reached, thus enabling precise and secure positioning of the support plates under the support points. This is particularly advantageous if the vehicle to be lifted has a significantly uneven underbody configuration or if the support points are located in recesses or recesses in the vehicle underbody.

[0022] In other words, the claimed subject matter eliminates the need for jack plate extensions, which are typically used to reach hard-to-reach jacking points. Accordingly, jacking points on vehicles with heavily textured underbodies or recessed jacks can be contacted more easily and precisely. This enables safe vehicle pickup and prevents vehicle crashes due to poorly positioned jack plates.

[0023] Furthermore, the claimed subject matter enables mechanically stable guidance of the support plate holder due to the reliable and resilient arrangement of the shaft section in the guide element, as these overlap in a form-fitting manner. Thus, no additional moving components are required that are subjected to the load of a vehicle to be lifted. Therefore, the claimed support device represents a low-maintenance, cost-effective, and less complex solution compared to conventional support plate extensions.

[0024] Furthermore, the claimed subject matter offers the advantage that the purely vertical positional change of the support plate holder does not result in a change in the extension length or the pivot arm geometry due to an adjustment of the support plate height. In other words, a change in the position of the support plate relative to the pivot arm and the associated change in the geometry of the lifting mechanism of the lift, as is the case, for example, with previous solutions using parallelograms, is avoided. This results in a more predictable and easier-to-manage positioning of the support plates under the support points of the body of the vehicle to be lifted.

[0025] Furthermore, an elastic element may be provided which is arranged between the guide element and the shaft portion and which is configured to hold the shaft portion within the guide portion in the first position in the unloaded state.

[0026] Here, the elastic element is preferably arranged between a bottom surface of the hollow profile from which the guide element is made and a bottom surface of the hollow profile from which the shaft section is made. In other words, when the shaft section is moved into the guide element, the elastic element is compressed between the two mechanical stops formed by the bottom surfaces of the shaft section and the guide element.

[0027] The elastic element is preferably a metallic spring or an elastomer, but other spring elements with elastic properties, such as gas or air chambers, can also be used. Particularly preferably, the spring rate of the elastic element is low in relation to the dead weight of the assembly comprising the shaft section, support plate receptacle, and support plate, in order to ensure that the unloaded shaft section remains in the first position while simultaneously allowing the second position to be reached smoothly by compression of the elastic element.

[0028] This makes it possible to "scan" the vehicle underbody to reliably locate the support point on the vehicle body. In other words, the claimed subject matter makes it possible to "scan" the underbody of a vehicle by, for example, moving or pivoting the support plates of a lifting platform with the support plate holder, which can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction, in order to reliably contact the support points on the body of the vehicle to be lifted.

[0029] Particularly preferably, the elastic element does not support the vehicle load and is compressed when the vehicle is lifted to the stop in the second position. Thus, the claimed object offers the advantage of a stable vehicle support, since a stable support structure is formed at the stop in the second position by the overlap of the shaft section and guide element on the one hand and support on the bottom surfaces of these parts on the other.

[0030] Furthermore, the shaft portion has a first groove for receiving a bolt along its longitudinal axis.

[0031] Particularly preferably, the first groove is a groove that extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft section and runs substantially parallel to the vertical movement axis of the shaft section. It is suitable for receiving a bolt that, while engaging the first groove, additionally guides the translational movement of the shaft section. To provide particularly reliable guidance between the stops, a second groove is provided in the shaft section.

[0032] Furthermore, the first groove is particularly preferably a stepped groove and defines through its length in conjunction with the aforementioned bolt the mechanical stops of the first position and the second position between which the shaft section is displaceable.

[0033] In addition, the first groove can be provided with a sliding insert to enable a friction-reduced and wear-reduced guidance of the shaft section.

[0034] Furthermore, the guide element may have a bolt that can be brought into engagement with the first groove of the shaft portion.

[0035] Particularly preferably, the bolt is a bolt made of metal or another high-strength material, which is located on the inner surface of the guide element and projects into the first groove. The bolt can be firmly attached to the surface of the inner surface of the guide element, for example by welding, or detachably attached in a bore that penetrates the side walls of the guide element to facilitate maintenance work. In order to provide particularly reliable guidance between the stops, more than one bolt can also be provided in the guide device. Furthermore, the bolt can be coated with a lubricious layer to ensure friction-reduced and low-wear guidance of the shaft section on the bolt.

[0036] Furthermore, the shaft portion has a second groove for receiving a spring bolt along its longitudinal axis, wherein the second groove has a recess for receiving a spring bolt.

[0037] Particularly preferably, the second groove is a groove which extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft section and runs substantially parallel to the vertical axis of movement of the shaft section and is suitable for receiving a spring bolt which, in engagement with the first groove, additionally guides the translational movement of the shaft section.

[0038] Furthermore, the second groove is particularly preferably a stepped groove and, through its length in conjunction with the aforementioned spring bolt, defines the mechanical stops of the first position and the second position between which the shaft section is displaceable.

[0039] In addition, the first groove can be provided with a sliding insert to enable a friction-reduced and wear-reduced guidance of the shaft section.

[0040] Furthermore, the recess for receiving a spring bolt can particularly preferably be a bore or counterbore at the end of the second groove facing the support plate receptacle, into which a spring bolt located on the inner surface of the guide element can engage in order to provide a means of locking the shaft section in the second position.

[0041] In addition, the second groove can be provided with a sliding insert to enable a friction-reduced and wear-reduced guidance of the shaft section.

[0042] In order to enable a particularly stable and torsion-proof guidance of the shaft section within the guide element, the first groove and the second groove can particularly preferably be arranged on opposite sides of the shaft section.

[0043] Furthermore, the guide element has a spring bolt which can be brought into engagement with the second groove of the shaft section, wherein the spring bolt is designed to snap into the recess for receiving the spring bolt when the shaft section is brought into the second position by compression of the elastic element.

[0044] Here, a spring bolt is preferably a bolt held in a holder under preload by a spring or the like, which can be displaced against the holder by applying a force directed against the spring. Particularly preferably, the spring bolt rests against the base of the second groove under preload by the spring and, driven by the spring, penetrates into the recess for receiving the spring bolt upon reaching it.

[0045] The penetration of the spring bolt into the recess intended for receiving the spring bolt therefore means that the spring bolt reaches a releasable locking position. In this locking position, the spring bolt prevents the shaft section from moving backward from the second position toward the first position, driven by the elastic element.

[0046] The spring bolt can be a component integrated into the wall of the guide element or can be removably fastened in a recess in the wall of the guide element in order to facilitate maintenance work on the holding device.

[0047] Furthermore, the spring bolt can be coated with a sliding layer to ensure reduced friction and low-wear guidance of the shaft section on the spring bolt.

[0048] Furthermore, the spring bolt can be designed to be manually releasable from its locking position in the recess for receiving the spring bolt.

[0049] Manually releasable here means that the spring bolt can be manually released from the engaged position, preferably by an operator. The spring bolt can have a handle or a bend that allows it to be pulled out of the engaged position against the preload force of the elastic element, thus releasing the movement of the shaft element between the first and second positions.

[0050] The previously described arrangement of the spring bolt in conjunction with the second groove offers the advantage of easy operation of the claimed holding device. It enables the shaft section to be quickly released from the second position by an operator. Since the shaft section can be quickly returned to the first position by the spring force of the elastic element, it is possible to easily, quickly, and precisely contact the support points of a vehicle newly placed on the lifting platform or jack. This allows a large number of vehicles to be picked up within a short period of time, which increases the productivity, reliability, and safety of work processes, for example, in a car repair shop.

[0051] Another technical advantage is that when the vehicle is lifted, the spring bolt of the holding device always snaps into place, as can be achieved, for example, with the above configuration. In particular, the spring bolt can be releasably and permanently retained in the locked position (until manually released, for example) once it has been engaged in the recess of the holder, thereby holding the shaft section in the second position.

[0052] This results in the plate remaining in the lower position, i.e., in the second position (until it is released, for example, manually). This eliminates contact with the vehicle, allowing the swivel arm to be rotated outward from under the vehicle without any additional effort, allowing the vehicle to be driven off the lift after the lifting process is complete.

[0053] Furthermore, a device system based on the integration of the previously described receiving device into a known lifting device is also claimed, which is referred to as a lifting device and is to be distinguished from previously used lifting devices by the equally existing advantages.

[0054] The lifting device, which in this case is to be designed equally for picking up a selected vehicle and for raising and lowering the picked up vehicle about at least one axis, can in this case comprise at least one vertically movable lifting device for positioning the picked up vehicle along the above-mentioned at least one axis, a receiving device attached to the lifting device of the lifting device according to at least one of the previously described embodiments for contacting the support plate with the selected vehicle, so that the lifting device claimed here can be used as a general example of a lifting device equipped with the present receiving device.

[0055] As already mentioned above, the lifting device can generally be understood as any type of device designed to pick up and lift / lower vehicles on the vehicle body, such as a lifting platform or a car jack, which is at least capable of contacting the respective vehicle at at least one pick-up point and, preferably by means of an integrated, vertically movable lifting mechanism, of lifting it to a height preferably sufficient for processing the vehicle.

[0056] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lifting device of the lifting device can also be a predefined type of lifting platform, such as a column lifting platform, flat beam lifting platform or a scissor lifting platform / runway lifting platform and its axle lift, which, compared to generally used car jacks, can have a large number of additional degrees of freedom and thus properties that are conducive to the more precise lifting of vehicles.

[0057] For example, the lifting device of the claimed lifting device can preferably comprise, in addition to a device used for the vertical positioning of a vehicle, such as a vertically movable lifting column, at least one pivot arm for the additional horizontal positioning of the vehicle receiving element used by the lifting device, more precisely, the receiving device already described above, so that a simultaneous (and preferably independent) positioning of the receiving device in at least the vertical and horizontal direction is possible.For this purpose, the receiving device itself can preferably be designed to be attachable to the at least one pivoting arm and can be fixed to the pivoting arm by means of at least one connecting mechanism, so that the receiving device can be moved to any position within a horizontally aligned surface by pivoting the pivoting arm about a preferably vertically aligned pivot axis, as well as any additional displacement of the pivoting arm, for example by additionally arranged mechanisms.In this respect, the at least one pivoting arm of the present lifting device can also be particularly preferably configured to pivot the receiving device mounted on the pivoting arm at least from a first pivoting position, for example for removing the receiving device from a respective vehicle body, to at least a second pivoting position, for positioning the receiving device below the vehicle receiving device to be contacted, and back, whereby an extremely precise picking process of the vehicle to be lifted can be enabled.

[0058] This picking process can further comprise, in particular, at least the following process steps in accordance with the above-described features of the lifting device and the picking device attached to the lifting device: Thus, in a first step, with the aid of the present lifting device, the picking device arranged on the lifting device, including the support plate, can initially be positioned under the vehicle body to be picked up and lifted, preferably directly under the vehicle pick-up of the vehicle to be lifted, which pick-up is to be contacted by the lifting device, so that in subsequent process steps, a pick-up of the vehicle can be created, preferably by simply moving the picking device vertically.

[0059] For this purpose, the lifting device can be positioned, preferably initially, using an integrated lifting mechanism configured for vertical displacement of the lifting device, such as a vertically movable lifting column, to a height below the body of the vehicle to be lifted, for example, a predefined height of 20 centimeters above the ground. The swivel arm can then be moved, for example, by swiveling or sliding horizontally, from an initial position next to the vehicle to be lifted to a swivel position below the vehicle.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one pivot arm can be attached to the lifting mechanism, for example, and can be carried along as a whole by the lifting mechanism during the vertical movement, so that the horizontal position change of the receiving device can preferably also be carried out during the vertical movement by the lifting mechanism and thus potential downtimes can be avoided.

[0061] The control of any movement generated within the lifting device can furthermore preferably be carried out by integrated actuators, such as pneumatic, electrical (by the lifting platform's own drive) or mechanically driven motors and can be realized either manually (rotating or lifting the receiving device), for example by entering certain movement commands into a control unit connected to the actuators, or fully automatically, for example by implementing or activating movement protocols coupled to the actuators.

[0062] The exact position of the lifting device or other elements, such as the vehicle holder of the vehicle to be lifted, can also be detected using additional device elements, such as a position sensor integrated in the lifting device, and displayed for improved alignment to a user of the lifting device or implemented as a parameter in the previously described movement protocols for automated movement of the lifting device.

[0063] Following the initial positioning of the receiving device below the vehicle body, the support plate mounted on the receiving device can then preferably be aligned to at least one receiving point on the body of the vehicle to be lifted in a second process step.

[0064] Subsequently, in a third process step, the receiving device can be moved by the lifting device along a vertical axis at least from a first lifting position for positioning the receiving device below the body of the vehicle to be lifted to a second lifting position for contacting the support plate and the body or the receiving points of the body of the vehicle to be lifted.

[0065] In a fourth process step, the present lifting device can also be used to move the receiving device further along the vertical axis in the direction of the vehicle by means of the lifting device and thereby to compress the receiving device up to a locking point in a second position of the support plate.

[0066] In a fifth process step, the vehicle to be lifted can now be lifted with the support plate holder in the second position.

[0067] Furthermore, the method can preferably comprise the following steps: moving the lifting device along the vertical axis to lower the vehicle; removing the support plate from the receiving points on the vehicle body and / or releasing the lifting device from the engagement point of the second position. The latter optional step offers, among other things, the technical advantage that, when the vehicle is lifted, the spring bolt of the holding device always engages, as can be achieved, for example, with the above configuration. This has the consequence that the plate remains down, i.e. in the second position (until it is released, for example, by hand). This means that there is no longer any contact with the vehicle and the swivel arm can be rotated outwards from under the vehicle without additional effort, and the vehicle can be driven off the lift after the lifting process has been completed.

[0068] In summary, the described object makes it possible to provide a support plate holder for, for example, a lifting platform, which, due to its design, offers a cost-effective, stable, and easy-to-operate way of safely raising or lowering a vehicle within a short period of time. This is particularly due to the easily controllable process of placing a support plate on the designated support points on a vehicle to be lifted, thanks to the height-adjustable support device, and the reliable and robust guidance of the vertical movement of the support plate holder. Furthermore, the described support device offers the advantage that it only allows a change in the position of the support plate in the vertical direction, thus completely avoiding geometric changes due to a change in the distance between the support plate and the swivel arm or the lifting column. Short description of the characters

[0069] Figure 1shows schematically the structure of a lifting platform Figure 2 shows schematically the receiving device in a first side view Figure 3 shows schematically the receiving device in a second side view Figure 4 shows schematically the cross-section of the receiving device in a third side view Figure 5a shows schematically the cross section of the receiving device in a third side view with the shaft section in the first position Figure 5b shows schematically the cross section of the receiving device in a third side view with the shaft section in the second position

[0070] Fig. 1shows, by way of example, a lifting platform 1 with two lifting columns 2. However, the object described below is not intended to be limited to a two-post lifting platform, but rather more or fewer lifting columns 2 can also be provided, for example, a four-post lifting platform. The object described below is also applicable to a single lifting column 2, e.g., a mobile lifting column 2. Fig. 1 shows an example of a two-post lifting platform for motor vehicles, which has two lifting devices or lifting arms 3 for each lifting column 2, on which a motor vehicle to be lifted is arranged. Fig. 1The support plate 3a shown is provided. The lifting columns 2 of the lifting platform 1 are constructed as is known and will not be explained in detail below. However, the receiving devices 100 attached to the lifting arms / pivot arms 3 are particularly worthy of mention. These will be described in more detail below. A device for attaching a support plate 3a to the lifting arms 3 at a variable height is shown as a receiving device 100. This has at least one support plate receptacle, a shaft element, and a guide element, which can be constructed, for example, as shown in the following figures.

[0071] Figure 2shows a schematic side view of the claimed receiving device 100. A support plate receptacle 10 is connected to a shaft section 20. Below this is a guide element 30 into which the shaft section is inserted. The shaft section 20 has a stepped first groove 21, which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft section 20 and, through its length, determines the range of motion of the shaft section 20 in the guide element 30.

[0072] In Figure 2 and the following Figures 3 to 5b The shaft section 20 and the guide element 30 are shown as square profiles which can be made of a high-strength material such as steel. It should be noted that in the Figures 2 to 4In the side views shown, the walls of the guide element 30 lying in the plane of the paper are not shown to better illustrate the functioning of the receiving device 100. The embodiment shown, in which the shaft section 20 and the guide element 30 are designed as hollow profiles, offers the particular advantage of stable and torsion-proof guidance of the shaft section 20 within the guide element 30, even when the receiving device is loaded with the weight of a vehicle to be lifted. However, the shaft section 20 and the guide element 30 can also have other shapes or other cross-sections in the axial direction, as long as the shaft section 20 can be inserted into the guide element 30 in a form-fitting manner and the functioning described here can be realized.

[0073] The support plate holder 10 is in Figure 2and the following Figures 3 to 5d, it is schematically depicted as a square hollow profile with a base plate. The walls lying in the plane of the paper are omitted to better illustrate its structure. The support plate holder 10 shown is suitable for accommodating a support plate 3a for contacting a support point on the body of a vehicle to be lifted. The shape of the support plate holder 10 can therefore vary depending on the support plate used and is not fixed to the shape shown.

[0074] Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the claimed receiving device 100 seen from the side, which corresponds to the Figure 2shown side of the receiving device. On this side, the shaft portion 20 has a stepped second groove 22. The second groove 22 is further provided with a recess 23 for receiving a spring bolt. As already described, the recess 23 for receiving a spring bolt can be designed as a bore or counterbore into which a spring bolt can engage.

[0075] Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a vertical cross-section of the claimed receiving device along a line connecting the first groove 21 and the second groove 22. The guide element 30 has a spring bolt 31 and a bolt 32 projecting toward each other from the surface of the inner surface of the guide element.

[0076] Figure 5a shows a schematic view of a vertical cross-section of the claimed receiving device along a line connecting the first groove 21 and the second groove 22. In Figure 5a the receiving device is assembled and the shaft section 20 is located in a first position 50, supported by an elastic element 40. The spring bolt 31 is in engagement with the first groove 21 and the bolt 32 is in engagement with the second groove 22. In the first position 50, the elastic element, which is supported on the one hand on a bottom surface of the guide element 30 and on the other hand on the underside of a bottom surface of the shaft section 20, holds the shaft section in the first position 50. The first position 50 is defined by the end points of the first groove 21 and the second groove 22, since these form a mechanical stop for the spring bolt 31 and the bolt 32. Thus, the shaft section can only be moved from the first position 50 in the direction of a second position 60. For this, however, the compression of the elastic element 40 is necessary.

[0077] Compression of the elastic element occurs when the support plate 3a has been positioned sufficiently precisely under the support on the body of a vehicle to be lifted and the lifting arms 3 of the lifting platform 1 are moved vertically upwards. During this process, the shaft section 20, supported by the elastic element 40 and guided by the guide element 30, performs a translational movement from the first position 50 to the second position 60.

[0078] Figure 5b shows a schematic view of a vertical cross-section of the claimed receiving device along a line connecting the first groove 21 and the second groove 22. In contrast to Figure 5a the shaft section is in Figure 5bin the second position 60. The elastic element 40 is compressed between the bottom surface of the guide element 30 and the underside of a bottom surface of the shaft section 20. The second position 60 is defined by the end points of the first groove 21 and the second groove 22, as these form a mechanical stop for the spring bolt 31 and the bolt 32. Furthermore, the spring bolt 31 is in a detent position in the recess 23 for receiving the spring bolt. In the arrangement shown, the shaft section 20 is acted upon by a force exerted by the compressed elastic element 40, which force is suitable for pressing the shaft section 20 back into the first position 50. If the spring bolt 31 (e.g.) is released by hand from its locking position in the recess 23 for receiving the spring bolt, the shaft section 20 returns to the first position 50 driven by the elastic element 40 and is stopped there by the mechanical stops at the end points of the first groove 21 and the second groove 22.

[0079] After the spring bolt 31 has been manually released from the recess 23 for receiving the spring bolt, the receiving device 100 returns to the first position 50 and can be used again to achieve the previously described advantages with regard to the precise and safe positioning of the support plate under the receptacles on the body of a vehicle to be lifted.

[0080] In summary, the present disclosure provides a receiving device for the height-variable reception of a support plate for motor vehicle lifting devices, with a support plate receptacle movably mounted in a guide element by means of a shaft section, which is suitable for reliable, safe and rapid contacting of the receiving points of a vehicle to be lifted.

Claims

1. Receiving device (100) for a variable-height reception of a support plate (3a) for a hoist (3), in particular of a lifting platform and / or a car lift, comprising: a shaft section (20) which is configured to be displaceable in a guide element (30) between a first position (50) and a second position (60); a support plate receptacle (10) which is configured to receive a support plate (3a) and which is connected to the shaft section (20); and a guide element (30) which is configured to guide the shaft section (20) in at least one movement direction, wherein the shaft section (20) has a first groove (21) for receiving a bolt (32) along its longitudinal axis, characterized in that the shaft section (20) has a second groove (22) for receiving a spring bolt (31) along its longitudinal axis, wherein the second groove (22) has a depression (23) for receiving the spring bolt (31), and the guide element (30) has the spring bolt (31) which can be brought into engagement with the second groove (22) of the shaft section (20), wherein the spring bolt (31) is configured to latch into the depression (23) for receiving the spring bolt (31) when the shaft section (20) is brought into the second position (60) by compression of the spring element (40).

2. Receiving device (100) according to Claim 1, further comprising: an elastic element (40) which is arranged between the guide element (30) and the shaft section (20) and which is configured to hold the shaft section (20) within the guide element (30) in the unloaded state in the first position (50).

3. Receiving device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element (30) has a bolt (32) which can be brought into engagement with the first groove (21) of the shaft section (20).

4. Receiving device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring bolt (31) remains releasably and permanently in the latching position when it is latched into the depression (23) of the receptacle and thereby holds the shaft section (20) in the second position (60).

5. Receiving device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring bolt (31) is configured to be manually releasable from its latching position in the depression (23) for receiving the spring bolt (31).

6. Lifting device (1) for receiving a vehicle, and for raising and lowering the received vehicle about at least one axis, comprising at least: an at least vertically movable hoist (3) for positioning the received vehicle along the at least one axis; and a receiving device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims attached to the hoist (3) of the lifting device (1).

7. Method for receiving and / or for lifting a vehicle by means of a lifting device (1) with at least one vertically movable hoist (3) for positioning the received vehicle along at least one axis, a receiving device (100) attached to the hoist (3) and a support plate (3a) attached to the receiving device (100) for contacting the lifting device (1) with the vehicle, the method comprising: positioning the support plate (3a) attached to the receiving device (100) and located in a first position (50) below the body of the vehicle to be lifted; aligning the support plate (3a) at at least one receiving point of the body of the vehicle to be lifted; moving the receiving device (100) by the hoist (3) along a vertical axis at least from a first lifting position for positioning the receiving device (100) below the body of the vehicle to be lifted to a second lifting position for contacting the support plate (3a) to the body of the vehicle; moving the receiving device (100) along the vertical axis by the hoist (3) and compressing the receiving device (100) up to a latching point in a second position (60) of the support plate (3a); and lifting the vehicle with the receiving device (100) in the second position (60).

8. Method according to Claim 7, further comprising: moving the receiving device along the vertical axis for lowering the vehicle; removing the support plate (3a) from the receiving points on the body of the vehicle; releasing the receiving device (100) from the latching point in the second position (60).

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