Vehicle movement system and vehicle movement method

Abstract

Title: Vehicle Movement System and Vehicle Movement Method The invention relates to a vehicle movement system (1) comprising at least three lifting devices (2) intended to be positioned under the vehicle (V) to be moved, each lifting device (2) comprising: - a support; - rolling means positioned under the support for moving the lifting device (2) on a surface; and - lifting means for lifting the vehicle (V), characterized in that the lifting means are positioned at the center of the support, and in that the movement system (1) also comprises remote control means (3) for the lifting devices (2). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle moving system and vehicle moving method

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of handling systems.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates in particular to a vehicle movement system, as well as a vehicle movement method.

[0003] Motor vehicles, that is to say vehicles comprising motor means enabling them to be set in motion, may be moved without using their own motor means (in particular their engine and their wheels).

[0004] A first example is that of emergency interventions, in the event of road accidents in particular, and in particular when the condition of the damaged vehicles no longer allows them to be moved by their own means.

[0005] For this, means of movement such as winches or cranes may be necessary.

[0006] However, the use of such means of transport generally requires a large amount of space to position the vehicle carrying them.

[0007] At the scene of an accident, particularly when traffic must be maintained at least partially, the use of such means of transport is then not possible.

[0008] Another example is the movement of vehicles in covered parking lots or restricted spaces where the use of thermal engines is not permitted.

[0009] In such places, the use of winches or cranes is not suitable, particularly due to the lack of space.

[0010] It is therefore necessary to use suitable means to ensure the movement of vehicles.

[0011] The patent document published under number US20200183421 describes a vehicle movement system comprising four lifting devices each positioned on a wheel of the vehicle, each lifting device comprising rolling means allowing its movement.

[0012] Each lifting device then lifts a wheel of the vehicle so as to allow the vehicle to be moved once lifted.

[0013] This system also includes a control unit allowing remote control of each of the lifting devices.

[0014] If this system allows the movement of vehicles in a parking lot or space restricted, it may be unusable on a damaged vehicle.

[0015] Indeed, when a vehicle is involved in an accident, its running gear may be damaged and the wheels may no longer be in their usual position, or even no longer be present on the vehicle.

[0016] Therefore, it is necessary to move the damaged vehicle in a way other than by its wheels.

[0017] For this purpose, the patent document published under number CN110723122 describes a vehicle lifting device comprising a support on which lifting means are mounted.

[0018] The lifting device is positioned under the vehicle so that the lifting means cooperate with the chassis of the vehicle.

[0019] When the lifting means are actuated, they lift the vehicle which can then be moved using rolling means secured to the support.

[0020] However, this device is not easy to use.

[0021] Indeed, despite the fact that the support is telescopic, it can be difficult to adjust and not be usable on certain types of vehicles, particularly those with large dimensions.

[0022] Furthermore, when the device is to be stored, it requires the presence of several people to be able to be lifted and stored.

[0023] Finally, during use, the time taken to adjust the length and width of the support can be long and tedious, or even impossible, particularly if the vehicle chassis is deformed following an impact.

[0024] The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0025] More specifically, the invention aims to propose a vehicle movement system which can be used on all types of vehicles, whether damaged or not.

[0026] The invention also aims to provide such a system which is simple to implement.

[0027] The invention further aims to provide such a system which is simple to handle.

[0028] These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which has as its subject a vehicle movement system comprising at least three lifting devices intended to be positioned under the vehicle to be moved, each lifting device comprising: - a support; - rolling means positioned under the support to move the lifting device on a ground, and; - lifting means intended to lift the vehicle, characterized in that the lifting means are positioned in the center of the support, and in that the movement system also includes means for remotely controlling the lifting devices.

[0029] Positioning the lifting means in the center of the support allows the lifting devices to be placed under the vehicle so as to lift it by its chassis.

[0030] Thus, even damaged vehicles, for which the wheels are no longer present or are misaligned, can be moved using the system according to the invention.

[0031] Furthermore, the use of remote control means makes it easier to use the system since a user can control all the lifting devices simultaneously or independently, remotely from the vehicle to be moved.

[0032] According to an advantageous aspect, the support comprises a parallelepiped frame and a reinforcing cross inside the frame.

[0033] Such a support makes it possible to withstand lifting forces while being lightweight, which makes it easier for a user to handle the lifting device.

[0034] According to another advantageous aspect, the support also comprises a reinforcing piece positioned on the cross and in which the lifting means are received.

[0035] The reinforcement piece allows good distribution of the lifting forces of the vehicle on the frame via the cross.

[0036] According to another advantageous aspect, the rolling means comprise at least three wheels positioned under the support.

[0037] The three wheels form three support points on the ground, which prevents the system from becoming hyperstatic.

[0038] Furthermore, the presence of three wheels allows the lifting device to adapt to uneven ground.

[0039] According to another advantageous aspect, the rolling means comprise four wheels each positioned at an angle of the support, the four wheels being distributed into: - a pair of adjacent freewheels, and - a pair of adjacent motorized wheels.

[0040] The drive wheels allow the lifting device to be moved.

[0041] Furthermore, the distribution in pairs of the driving wheels and the free wheels allows that in the case of uneven terrain on which only three wheels can be supported, at least one of the wheels is a driving wheel, which then ensures the movement of the lifting device.

[0042] According to another advantageous aspect, the lifting means comprise a jack.

[0043] The use of a jack allows the lifting of heavy loads while providing a weight contained.

[0044] Furthermore, a jack has a small footprint when folded, which makes it easier to store the system between uses.

[0045] According to another advantageous aspect, the jack is of the motorized type.

[0046] This makes it easier for the user to lift the vehicle, who then does not have to manually operate each jack to lift the vehicle to be moved.

[0047] According to another aspect, each lifting device comprises an electric battery.

[0048] The presence of an electric battery on each lifting device makes it easier to use the system since it is not necessary to connect each lifting device to a power source.

[0049] In addition, each lifting device is independent of the others, which makes it easier to use.

[0050] The invention also relates to a method of moving a vehicle by means of a system as previously described, characterized in that it comprises the following successive steps: - position the lifting devices under the chassis of the vehicle to be moved, - deploy the lifting means to lift the vehicle by cooperation with the chassis, and - move the lifting devices via remote control means.

[0051] Such a method makes it possible to move a vehicle quickly and simply by a single user.

[0052] Furthermore, the implementation of this device does not require any particular training and is intuitive for a user.

[0053] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

[0054] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation in perspective from above of a vehicle movement system, according to the invention;

[0055] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation in top view of a lifting device of the displacement system of [Fig.l];

[0056] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation in bottom view of a lifting device of the displacement system of [Fig.l].

[0057] With reference to [Fig.l], a system 1 for moving vehicles V is shown.

[0058] This system 1 comprises at least three lifting devices 2 intended to be positioned under the vehicle V to be moved.

[0059] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, a lifting device 2 is described.

[0060] Although only one lifting device 2 is described, each lifting device 2 is identical to the others.

[0061] The lifting device 2 comprises: - a support 21; - rolling means 22, and - lifting means 23 intended to lift the vehicle V.

[0062] The support 21 comprises a frame 211 and a reinforcing cross 214 inside the frame 211.

[0063] The frame 211 is parallelepiped in shape.

[0064] For this purpose, the frame is formed at least by two parallel side members 212 and two cross members 213 extending between the side members 212.

[0065] The reinforcing cross 214 extends inside the frame 211 and forms the diagonals of the frame 211.

[0066] The support 21 also comprises a reinforcing piece 215. This reinforcing piece 215 is positioned on the cross 214 and allows the lifting means 23 to be received.

[0067] The reinforcing piece 215 is located on the cross, at the intersection of the two diagonals of the frame 211 so that the lifting means 23 are positioned in the center of the support 21.

[0068] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the lifting means 23 comprise a jack. The jack is of the motorized type.

[0069] For this purpose, the jack comprises a parallelogram 232 deformable by means of a rod 233, and an actuator 231 making it possible to drive the rod 233 to move the deformable parallelogram 232.

[0070] The actuator 231 is advantageously an electric motor providing a reversible rotational movement at its output. By “reversible”, it is understood that the rotational movement at the output of the motor can be in a first direction or in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0071] As can be seen in [Fig.2], the deformable parallelogram 232 carries a plate 234 intended to come to bear on the chassis of the vehicle V to be moved. This plate can advantageously be provided with a groove or a notch intended to form a housing for receiving the chassis of the vehicle V to be moved.

[0072] With reference to [Fig.3], the rolling means 22 are positioned under the support 21 to move the lifting device 2 on a ground.

[0073] The rolling means 22 comprise at least three wheels positioned under the support 21. More precisely, the wheels are positioned under the frame 211.

[0074] More particularly, the rolling means 22 comprise four wheels each positioned at an angle to the frame 211 of the support 21.

[0075] The four wheels are divided into: - a pair of adjacent 223 freewheels, and - a pair of 221 motorized wheels also adjacent.

[0076] The motorized wheels 221 are driven by a motor 222 which allows the drive motorized wheels 221 for moving the lifting device 2.

[0077] Each of the freewheels 223 and the motorized wheels 221 is connected to the frame 211 via a bracket 224.

[0078] To enable the actuator 231 and the motor 222 of each drive wheel 221 to be powered, the lifting device 2 also comprises an electric battery 24.

[0079] This electric battery 24 is advantageously of the rechargeable type.

[0080] As illustrated by [Fig. 1], the movement system 1 also comprises means 3 for remotely controlling the lifting devices 2.

[0081] These remote control means 3 are presented for example in the form of a remote control which can be manipulated by the user of the system 1.

[0082] The remote control means 3 then allow the simultaneous control of all the lifting devices 2 or, on the contrary, the selective control of only one of the lifting devices 2.

[0083] For this, each lifting device 2 is equipped with a control unit which makes it possible to interact with the remote control means 3, in particular to control the motors 222 of the drive wheels 221 and the actuator 231 of the lifting means 23.

[0084] In a variant not illustrated, the remote control means 3 can take the form of an automated management center. This management center then comprises a control interface allowing the user to enter movement data that the center transforms into control signals intended for the lifting devices.

[0085] This variant is of particular interest for enclosed spaces such as parking lots for which a map of the movement space can be integrated into the remote control means 3, thus facilitating the management of vehicle movements V for the user.

[0086] The movement of a vehicle V is carried out using a method of moving a vehicle V by means of a movement system 1, as has just been described.

[0087] This method comprises the following successive steps: - position the lifting devices 2 under a chassis of the vehicle V to be moved, - deploy the lifting means 23 to lift the vehicle V by cooperation with the chassis, and - move the lifting devices 2 via the remote control means 3.

[0088] The user can thus easily, quickly and effortlessly move a vehicle whether it is damaged or whose position needs to be changed.

[0089] The displacement system 1 which has just been described therefore offers a solution adaptable both to integrated vehicles V where displacement is necessary, and to In damaged vehicles, gripping the wheels can be difficult or even impossible.

[0090] Furthermore, the remote control means 3 allow a single user to carry out work which requires the mobilization of two or more people when carried out manually.

[0091] Finally, the central positioning of the lifting means 23 on the support 21 makes it possible to distribute the weight of the vehicle V to be moved to avoid premature damage to the lifting device 2.

Claims

Claims

1. System (1) for moving vehicles (V) comprising at least three lifting devices (2) intended to be positioned under the vehicle (V) to be moved, each lifting device (2) comprising: - a support (21); - rolling means (22) positioned under the support (21) for moving the lifting device (2) on a ground, and; - lifting means (23) intended to lift the vehicle (V), characterized in that the lifting means (23) are positioned in the center of the support (21), and in that the movement system (1) also comprises remote control means (3) for the lifting devices (2), and in that the support (21) comprises a parallelepiped frame (211) and a reinforcing cross (214) inside the frame (211), and in that the support (21) also comprises a reinforcing piece (215) positioned on the cross (214) and in which the lifting means (23) are received.

2. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling means (22) comprise at least three wheels positioned under the support (21).

3. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling means (22) comprise four wheels each positioned at an angle to the support (21), the four wheels being distributed into: - a pair of adjacent free wheels (223), and - a pair of adjacent motorized wheels (221).

4. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting means (23) comprise a jack.

5. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the jack is of the motorized type.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lifting device (2) comprises an electric battery (24).

7. Method for moving a vehicle (V) by means of a system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following successive steps: - position the lifting devices (2) under a chassis of the vehicle (V) to be moved, - deploy the lifting means (23) to lift the vehicle (V) by cooperation with the chassis, and - move the lifting devices (2) via the remote control means (3).

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