ELECTROMECHANICAL COLUMN LIFT FOR LIFTING VEHICLES OR FOR HANDLING MANUFACTURED ITEMS

Description

Patent Description for Industrial Invention entitled: “ELECTROMECHANICAL COLUMN LIFT FOR THE LIFTING OF VEHICLES OR FOR HANDLING OF ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTS”. On behalf of: EMANUEL Srl, a company incorporated and existing under the Italian law, with headquarters in 40011 ANZOLA EMILIA (BO). Designated Inventor: DIAMANTINI Francesco. DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to an electromechanical lift column for lifting vehicles or for moving goods manufactured goods, in particular of the type of vehicle lift or a rotary lift. In the context of this discussion, the expression lifter electromechanical means to refer, indiscriminately, to both lifts for vehicles and for rotary lifts for manufactured goods. Vehicle lifts are used to enable interventions mechanical and / or maintenance in correspondence with the underlying part of particular vehicles such as, for example, railway vehicles or buses or trucks. Rotating lifts are used to lift and position parts semi-finished products, such as metal bars or components, and possibly to rotate them during the execution of particulars processes, such as welding or assembly. For example, lifts and rotary lifts can be differentiated based on to the nature of the lifting / lowering means, in particular of the nature of their operation which, specifically, can be of the type electromechanical or hydraulic type. In this discussion, reference is made to lifts equipped with self-propelled lifting / lowering means electromechanical. The known type of electromechanical column lifts include, generally, a base frame, placed in support of the ground, a body of support of a vehicle or artifact, which is slidably associated with the base frame along a substantially vertical working direction, electromechanically operated handling means, which can be operated by move the support body along the aforementioned working direction. The basic frame of the lifts comprises a load-bearing column arranged in vertical and defining a guide along which the support body slides during the relative movement along the working direction. Preferably, the supporting body of the known type of lifters comprises a pair of lower wheels, aligned along a first axis of rotation orthogonal to the working direction, and a pair of upper wheels, aligned along a second axis of rotation, orthogonal to the working direction and parallel to the first axis of rotation. The lower wheels and the upper wheels, during the sliding of the body of support inside the guide, they are arranged to rest on respective internally defined rolling tracks on the same guide. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show a load-bearing column A of which electromechanical column lifts of the known type are provided. The load-bearing column A shown in figures 1 and 2 comprises a body tubular B, made of metal material and having a shape substantially rectangular, and four C profiles, also made of metallic material and associated internally to the tubular body B, in correspondence of the edges of the latter. In detail, the C profiles are substantially shaped like an L and are associated inside the tubular body B so that the edges of the the same profiles C are facing towards the inside of the tubular body B. The C profiles thus positioned define four rolling tracks D, E of the wheels of the support body. In detail, the rolling tracks D, E include two front tracks rolling D, i.e. facing towards the vehicle or the supported artefact from the support body, and two rear rolling tracks E, arranged by opposite side to the vehicle or artifact supported by the body of support. The front rolling tracks D are arranged side by side, so like the rear rolling tracks E. Each front rolling track D is arranged facing a respective rear rolling track E. Each of the lower wheels rests on a respective track rear rolling E, each of the upper wheels is arranged in support on a respective front rolling track D. The coupling of the C profiles to the tubular body B takes place by welding performed in correspondence with the longitudinal edges of the same C profiles. In order to give the load-bearing column A an adequate load-bearing capacity to support the entire lift and the vehicle or object lifted by it It is often necessary to make reinforcement ribs on the body tubular B. However, the known type of electromechanical column lifts have some drawbacks which are mainly related to the difficulties found during the relevant construction process, which may result particularly long and laborious. In particular, the implementation is particularly complex of the rolling tracks of the wheels of the support body that are obtained welding each profile to the tubular body. Often, the welding points are difficult to access from the outside and This means that the welding operation can only be performed manually by a specialized operator. In addition to this, the creation of the reinforcing ribs of the load-bearing columns further lengthen and complicate the construction process of the same supporting columns. Furthermore, the manufacturers of load-bearing columns intended for lifts known type must necessarily have large spaces to store all the basic components, i.e. tubular bodies and profiles. A further drawback related to electromechanical lifts is column of known type is represented by the fact that sometimes the column load-bearing and, in particular, the rolling tracks may not be perfectly straight due to the non-homogeneous cooling that occurs may occur as a result of the heating generated by welding. In particular, spinal torsion phenomena may occur load-bearing and / or the opening of the base portion of the load-bearing column itself. Another drawback that electromechanical lifts can suffer from of known type is related to the fact that the welding process of the components of the load-bearing column means that the dimensional tolerances are around around ± 3mm, that is, they are particularly high. The main task of the present invention is to devise a electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for the movement of manufactured goods which allows for simplification and speed up the manufacturing process of the lift itself. Within the scope of this task, the present invention aims to: to devise an electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for the movement of manufactured goods which allows the creation of the bearing column rolling tracks through a procedure practical, fast and economical. Another object of the present invention is to devise a lift electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for movement of manufactured goods which allows to obtain, through a quick and economical solution, a backbone capable of supporting heavy loads. It is yet another object of the present invention to devise an electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for the movement of artefacts which allows for the creation of a column load-bearing with improved dimensional tolerances compared to what happens in known technique. Another purpose of this invention is to devise a lift electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for movement of manufactured goods that allows the aforementioned to be overcome drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple solution, rational, easy and effective to use and low cost. The above mentioned purposes are achieved by this lift electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for movement of manufactured goods having the characteristics of claim 1. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be found more evident from the description of some forms of execution preferred, but not exclusive, of an electromechanical column lift for lifting vehicles or for moving manufactured goods, illustrated for indicative but not limiting purposes in the attached tables of drawings in which: Figure 1 and Figure 2 are, respectively, an axonometric view and a sectional view of a lift's supporting column electromechanical of known type; Figure 3 is an axonometric view of an electromechanical lift according to the invention and made according to a first embodiment, in where the electromechanical lift is of the type of a vehicle lift; Figure 4 and Figure 5 are, respectively, an axonometric view and a sectional view of the lift column element electromechanical of figure 3; Figure 6 and Figure 7 are, respectively, an axonometric view and a rear view of the lift's lifting assembly electromechanical of figure 3; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the electromechanical lift of figure 3 according to the invention along plane VIII of figure 3; Figure 9 is a sectional view of the electromechanical lift of figure 3 according to the invention along the plane IX of figure 3; Figure 10 is an axonometric view of an electromechanical lift according to the invention and made according to a second embodiment, where the electromechanical lift is of the rotolift type. With particular reference to these figures, it has been globally indicated with the reference number 1 an electromechanical column lift for the lifting vehicles or for moving manufactured goods. Lift 1 is used to lift and then lower a vehicle, such as a rail vehicle or a bus or a truck, so as to make it accessible to an operator or a work tool lower portion of the vehicle floor, to carry out maintenance work. Again, the lift 1 can be used to lift from the ground and rotate a semi-finished product, such as a metal bar or a metal component, on which it is necessary to perform particular mechanical processes, such as welding or assembly. In the context of this discussion, the term “anterior” and those associated with it derivable must be seen in relation to the components of the lift 1 facing the vehicle or artifact being lifted / lowered by the same lift 1. Again, in the context of this discussion the term “posterior” and those that can be derived from them must be seen in relation to the components of the lift 1 facing away from the vehicle or artifact lifted / lowered by the same lift 1. The lift 1 comprises at least one base frame 2 arranged in support on the ground and comprising at least one column element 3 substantially vertical. As visible in figure 3, the base frame 2 comprises a base 4 placed on the ground and designed to support the element from below column 3. According to a particular embodiment, the lift 1 comprises ground handling equipment 5 associated below the chassis base 2 and suitable to allow the positioning of the lift 1 in corresponding to the vehicle or artifact that needs to be lifted. The means for ground handling 5 include a plurality of wheels attached to the bottom of the base 4. However, alternative forms of implementation of the lift 1 are not excluded. where the latter is not equipped with the means for handling ground 5 and is of a fixed type, that is, it cannot be moved with respect to the land. The lift 1 comprises at least one lifting group 6 of a vehicle or artifact. The lifting group 6 is shown in detail in figures 6 and 7 and comprehends: - at least one support element 7 capable of supporting at least one vehicle or an artifact to be lifted / lowered; - 8 electromechanical handling equipment suitable for moving the support element 7 with respect to the column element 3 along a working direction 9 essentially vertical. With reference to the first form of implementation, shown in figures 3 to 9, the lift 1 is of the type of an electromechanical lift that can be used to lift a vehicle. As previously described the vehicle was lifted using lift 1 It can be, for example, of the type of a railway vehicle, a bus or of a truck. In reference to this particular form of implementation, the support element 7 includes a means of contact 10 which can be positioned underneath the platform of the vehicle to be lifted / lowered and defining at least one surface of support of the same vehicle. The counter means 10 are positioned below the floor of the vehicle to be lifted by moving the lift 1 on the ground via the use of ground handling equipment 5. In case the lift 1 is not equipped with the means for the ground handling 5 the vehicle to be lifted is placed in correspondence of the means of verification 10. The support element 7 also comprises a support base 11 associated with the means of verification 10 and suitable for supporting the latter, the base of support 11 is directly associated with the handling means 8 and is moveable by the latter along the working direction 9. Preferably, the handling means 8 comprise: - an electronic type 12 motor device; - a threaded shaft element 13 developing longitudinally along the working direction 9 and associated with one end of the motor device 12, the support element 7 defining a specific threaded coupling seat in which it is inserted tree element 13. The tree element 13 is associated with the support base 11. The shaft element 13 is preferably of the worm type. The coupling seat is preferably of the nut type. The shaft element 13, following the operation of the motor device 12, rotates around the working direction 9 and is screwed / unscrewed into / from the coupling seat defined on the support element 7 determining the sliding, in an ascending / descending direction, of the same element of support 7 along the working direction 9. The direction in which the support element 7 is moved along the working direction 9 is determined by the direction of rotation of the device motor 12 impresses on the shaft element 13 around the direction of job 9. The vehicle supported by the support element 7 is lifted or lowered following the movement of the support element 7 along the working direction 9. The column element 3 defines at least one guide element 14 developing along the working direction 9, the support element 7 sliding along the guide element 14 during movement along the direction of work 9. In detail, the support base 11 is slidably associated with the element of guide 14 along the working direction 9. The guide element 14 is substantially vertical. According to the invention, the column element 3 is made in a single body and is consisting of a plate element 15, made of metal material and folded to define the guide element 14. In practice, the plate element 15 is of the type of a sheet metal. According to the invention, the column element 3 is made up of a single plate metal which is folded so as to define the column element 3 and the related driving element 14. This technical solution allows to simplify and speed up significantly the construction of the column element 3 compared to what it happens today, where instead it is expected to weld a plurality of profiles made of metal material inside a tubular body made of material metallic. The bending of the plate element 15 can be performed in a manner fully automated, meaning no processing phases are foreseen to be performed manually by specialized personnel. These aspects contribute to lowering the overall cost of construction of the lift 1 and, in particular, of the related element column 3. Added to this is the fact that, since a welding phase is no longer foreseen of the metal, the onset of any deformations due to loading is eliminated of the column element 3 which may result from non-cooling homogeneous of the metallic material. The plate element 15 thus folded is able to give the element a column 3 an adequate load-bearing capacity without having to resort to creation of reinforcing ribs as required today. Again, the column element 3 obtained by bending a sheet metal metal has dimensional tolerances of around ± 1mm, value significantly reduced compared to what can be achieved today through welding. Furthermore, storing metal sheets requires a lot of space. reduced compared to the space required to store the profiles and tubular bodies necessary to build the load-bearing columns of known type. Again, folding the metal instead of melting it allows you to be able to use a 15mm high-strength steel plate element, for example apparently to the S690 category. This aspect gives the guide element 14 a resistance and a higher and improved hardness compared to what occurs in the known art. Advantageously, the support element 7 comprises at least one body a wheel 16, 17 arranged to rest on at least one rolling wall 18, 19 substantially flat defined on the guide element 14. The wheel body 16, 17 is associated with the support base 11 and can rotate with respect to the latter, during the sliding of the support element 7 along the working direction 9, resting on the rolling wall 18, 19. The rolling wall 18, 19 is substantially parallel to the direction of job 9. Preferably, the support element 7 comprises: - at least a first wheel body 16 defining a relative first axle of rotation 20 substantially orthogonal to the working direction 9; and - at least one second wheel body 17 defining a relative second axle of rotation 21 substantially orthogonal to the working direction 9 and parallel to the first axis of rotation 20. The first wheel body 16 is positioned below the second wheel body wheel 17 and the first axis of rotation 20 is distinct from the second axis of rotation 21. The rotation axes 20, 21 are essentially horizontal. Advantageously, the guide element 14 defines: - at least one substantially flat front rolling wall 18 and parallel to the working direction 9; - at least one substantially flat rear rolling wall 19 and parallel to the working direction 9 and arranged facing the wall anterior rolling 18, the anterior rolling wall 18 being interposed between the support element 7 and the rear wall of rolling 19. The rolling walls 18, 19 are substantially vertical and parallel to the rotation axes 20, 21. The first wheel body 16 is arranged to rest on the rear wall of rolling 19 and the second wheel body 17 is arranged to rest on the front rolling wall 18. The front rolling wall 18 faces the counter means 10 of the support element 7. The rear rolling wall 19 faces away from the counter means 10 of the support element 7. In practice, during the use of lift 1, the front rolling wall 18 is facing directly towards the vehicle supported by the element of support 7 and the rear rolling wall 19 is facing away from opposite. Preferably, the support element 7 comprises a pair of first 16 wheel bodies, substantially aligned along the first axis of rotation 20, and a pair of second wheel bodies 17, substantially aligned along the second axis of rotation 21. Advantageously, the guide element 14 defines a pair of walls 18 front rolling walls, arranged side by side, and a pair of walls 19 rear rolling wheels, arranged side by side. Each of the first wheel bodies 16 is arranged to rest on a respective rear rolling wall 19 and each of the second wheel bodies 17 it is arranged to rest on a respective front rolling wall 18. Following the bending of the plate element 15 it is possible to define the front rolling walls 18 and rear rolling walls 19 on on which we place the wheel bodies 16, 17 through a procedure of simple and fast processing. This aspect allows to significantly simplify the construction process of the column element 3 compared to what occurs in the known art. In practice, by simply bending the plate element 15 it is it is possible to obtain the column element 3, which gives support and support to the lift 1, and the rolling walls 18, 19, which allow to raise / lower the support element 7 and the vehicle associated with it. Usefully, the guide element 14 comprises at least: - at least one main wall 22 substantially flat and substantially parallel to the rear rolling walls 19; - at least one pair of first connecting walls 23 substantially flat and substantially orthogonal to the main wall 22 and to the walls rolling rear 19. Each of the first connecting walls 23 is adapted to connect one of the first rolling rear walls 19 with the main wall 22. The main wall 22 faces rearward. Advantageously, the guide element 14 comprises at least one pair of second connecting walls 24 substantially flat and substantially orthogonal to the front rolling walls 18, in which each of the second connecting walls 24 is adapted to connect a respective rear rolling wall 19 with a respective wall front rolling 18. Usefully, the guide member 14 comprises at least one pair of walls external 25 substantially flat and orthogonal to the front walls of rolling 18, wherein each of the outer walls 25 is connected to a respective front rolling wall 18 on the opposite side to the respective second connecting wall 24. The external walls 25 face forward. Advantageously, the folded plate element 15 defines a plurality of folding lines 26 that delimit the main wall 22, the first connecting walls 23, the rear rolling walls 19, the second connecting walls 24, the front rolling walls 18 and the walls external 25. The fold lines 26 are substantially parallel to the direction of job 9. In other words, following the bending of the plate element 15 it is It is possible to define the folding lines in a simple and easy way 26 which delimit the various walls that are defined on the guide element 14 and which give the column element 3 a structural load-bearing capacity suitable to support the lift 1 and the vehicle moved by it. The operation of the lift according to the invention is as follows. Lift 1 is placed near the vehicle to be lifted through the use of ground handling equipment 5, allocating the 10 reference means below the vehicle floor. In case the lift 1 is not equipped with means for the ground movement 5, or rather fixed type, is provided for position the vehicle above the check means 10. At this point the motor device 12 is activated which puts into operation rotation of the shaft element 13 causing the lifting of the support element 7 and the vehicle associated with it. During this movement the support element 7 slides inside of the guide element 14 defined by the column element 3 and, in detail, the first wheel bodies 16 rotate around the first rotation axis 20, leaning on the rear rolling walls 19 and the second bodies to wheel 17 rotates around the second axis of rotation 21, resting on the front rolling walls 18. When the vehicle has reached the preset altitude the engine device 12 is deactivated. When it is necessary to lower the vehicle they are again activated the movement means 8 so as to make the element slide support 7 along the working direction 9 in a downward direction. Even during this last movement the wheel bodies 16, 17 rotate around their respective rotation axes 20, 21 and rest on their respective rolling walls 18, 19. Figure 10 shows a second embodiment of the lift 1, wherein components are identical to the first embodiment have the same reference numbers as the first form of implementation for which detailed description is fully referred to. The second embodiment of the lift 1 differs from the first embodiment of the lift 1 mainly due to the fact that lift 1 is of the type of a rotary lift, i.e. a lift electromechanical device used to lift and move an artifact in rotation during the execution of particular processes on the same artifact. As previously described, in case the lift 1 is of the type of a rotary lift, it can, for example, lift particular products semi-finished products, such as metal bars or components, and possibly rotate them during the execution of particulars processes, such as welding or assembly. According to this last embodiment the support element 7 comprises a plate element 28 which is coupled to the artifact by to move and which is associated with the support base 11. Always with reference to this particular form of embodiment, the lift 1 comprises a motor 27 associated with the plate element 28 and operable to rotate the latter around an axis of rotation essentially horizontal. The operation of the lift 1 according to the second form of The construction is essentially the same as described for lift 1. made according to the first embodiment except that it is proceed to associate the plate element 28 to the artifact, before activate the lifting group 6, and then proceed to activate the engine 27. In practice, it has been found that the described invention achieves the objectives proposed and in particular it is underlined that the lift according to the invention allows you to simplify and speed up the construction phase of the element column and rolling tracks. Furthermore, the lifter according to the invention allows to obtain an element with column with good load-bearing capacity and whose rolling tracks They are equipped with high strength and hardness. In addition to this, the lift according to the invention allows for the reduction of the margin of error that can be had in terms of size and / or alignment of the various components of the column element.

Claims

1) Electromechanical column lift (1) for lifting vehicles or for the movement of manufactured goods, including: - at least one base frame (2) placed in support of the ground and comprising at least one column element (3) substantially vertical; - at least one lifting group (6) for a vehicle or for a artifact comprising: - at least one support element (7) capable of supporting at least one vehicle or artifact to be lifted / lowered; - electromechanical handling equipment (8) suitable for move said support element (7) with respect to said column element (3) along a working direction (9) essentially vertical; wherein said column element (3) defines at least one guide element (14) developing along said working direction (9), said element of support (7) sliding along said guide element (14) during the movement along said working direction (9); characterised by the fact that said column element (3) is made of single body and is made up of a plate element (15), made of metallic material and folded to define said guide element (14), and from fact that said support element (7) comprises at least one body wheel (16, 17) placed in support on at least one rolling wall (18, 19) substantially flat and defined on said guide element (14), in where said guiding element (14) defines a pair of front walls of rolling (18), arranged side by side, and a pair of rear walls of rolling (19), arranged side by side. 2) Lift (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact said support element (7) comprises: - at least a first wheel body (16) defining a relative first axle of rotation (20) substantially orthogonal to said working direction (9); and - at least one second wheel body (17) defining a relative second axis of rotation (21) substantially orthogonal to said direction of work (9) and parallel to said first axis of rotation (20); wherein said first wheel body (16) is positioned below said second wheel body (17) and said first rotation axis (20) is distinguished by called second axis of rotation (21). 3) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said guiding element (14) defines: - at least one substantially flat front rolling wall (18) and parallel to said working direction (9); - at least one substantially flat rear rolling wall (19) and parallel to said working direction (9) and arranged facing said front rolling wall (18), called front rolling wall rolling (18) being interposed between said support element (7) and said rear rolling wall (19); wherein said first wheel body (16) is arranged to rest on said wall rear rolling (19) and said second wheel body (17) is arranged resting on said front rolling wall (18). 4) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said support element (7) comprises a pair of said first wheel bodies (16), substantially aligned along said first axis of rotation (20), and a pair of said second bodies a wheel (17), substantially aligned along said second axis of rotation (21). 5) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said first wheel bodies (16) is placed in support of a respective said rear wall of rolling (19) and each of said second wheel bodies (17) being arranged to rest on a respective said front rolling wall (18). 6) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said guide element (14) comprises at least: - at least one main wall (22) substantially flat and substantially parallel to said rear rolling walls (19); - at least one pair of first connecting walls (23) substantially flat and substantially orthogonal to said wall main (22) and to said rear rolling walls (19); wherein each of said first connecting walls (23) is adapted to connect one of said first rear rolling walls (19) with said wall main (22). 7) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said guide element (14) comprises at least a pair of second connecting walls (24) substantially flat and substantially orthogonal to said front rolling walls (18), in which each of said second connecting walls (24) is suitable for connecting a respective said first rear rolling wall (19) with a respective said front rolling wall (18). 8) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said guide element (14) comprises at least a pair of external walls (25) substantially flat and orthogonal to the said rolling front walls (18), wherein each of said outer walls (25) is connected to a respective said front rolling wall (18) on the opposite side to the said respective second connecting wall (24). 9) Lift (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the folded plate element (15) defines a plurality of folding lines (26) that delimit said wall main (22), said first connecting walls (23), said walls rear rolling walls (19), called second connecting walls (24), said front rolling walls (18) and said external walls (25), said fold lines (26) being substantially parallel to said direction of work (9).

Images