Supplementary support arm for a lifting platform

Abstract

The invention relates to a support arm (1) for releasable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for lifting and lowering vehicles, which consists of at least one first support arm section (2) on a holder (4) on a lifting arm of a lifting device and a second support arm section (3) movably guided on the first support arm section and having a free end (5) which can be positioned below the vehicle, with an articulated connection (6) on the holder (4) of the support arm (1), wherein the pivot plane of the support arm (1) extends approximately parallel below the pivot plane of the lifting arm.

Description

[0001] Additional support arm for a lifting platform

[0002] The present invention relates to a supplementary support arm for a lifting platform, in particular for lifting platforms for motor vehicles. These lifting platforms are used for lifting cars and other vehicles and can be equipped with different systems with regard to the arrangement and function of movable lifting platforms or lifting devices, for example lifting columns, 2-post lifting platforms with swivel arms, 4-post lifting platforms with drive-on platforms in variable designs, etc.

[0003] Lifting systems typically consist of a supporting frame to which vertically movable lifting components, such as swiveling lifting arms, are attached. These components can be raised and lowered by a drive system. Hydraulic drives are generally used to raise the lifting components and, consequently, the vehicle they grip. Conversely, in lowering mode, the lifting components and the vehicle are hydraulically lowered.

[0004] In the everyday practical work of a motor vehicle workshop, repair tasks also arise that, in addition to lifting the vehicle, require the disassembly of vehicle components, such as drive units like motor vehicles engines or the transmission block, which must be accomplished using additional structural devices. In the prior art, so-called transmission jacks, engine jacks, or "lazy jacks" are known, which are suitable for being positioned under the vehicle in a raised position so that they support and carry, for example, the engine to be removed, and the engine can then be lowered using this device.

[0005] Therefore, for the underside removal of, for example, a transmission or vehicle engine, it is generally necessary to use the load-bearing support device from the underside of the raised vehicle in coordination with the lifting device. This means that after the vehicle has been lifted, for example, on a lifting platform, the support device, such as an engine hoist, is positioned. The support device is then connected to the assembly to be removed, which can then be lowered.

[0006] A key problem with these conventional methods, however, is that, for example, a disassembled engine block resting on this protective device can be moved, but separately from the vehicle itself, which entails risks and limitations. In particular, this method does not allow work to be carried out on the vehicle from both the underside and the top while, for example, the transmission or engine block has been removed.

[0007] The vehicle on the lifting platform remains in its position and cannot be changed due to the gearbox or engine jack positioned under the vehicle.

[0008] Such a lifting device for a motor vehicle assembly, in particular an engine jack and / or a transmission jack for removing and installing engines and / or transmissions, is known, for example, from publication EP 3 028 985 Al, which can be used for dismantling a wide variety of assemblies, in particular different engines and / or transmissions of different vehicle types.

[0009] Publication US 10 081 524 B2 describes a vehicle lift consisting of a vertically oriented column and a pair of pivot arms that are vertically displaceable relative to the column. The pivot arms are configured to rotate relative to the column. This prior art represents the basic design characteristic of this type of lift. Other similar publications are EP 3 549 900 B1, EP 3 919 428 A1, and DE 10 2020 135 143 B4.

[0010] Publication US 10,246,312 A1 discloses a vehicle lift comprising lifting arms articulated to a central or side lift. The lifting arms are telescopically designed, with a handle articulated to an extendable end of the lifting arms to allow movement of the lifting arm to a specific point on the vehicle frame.

[0011] It is important to note that this handle is located at the distal end of the lifting arm and serves only to align the lifting arm with the vehicle frame. This handle itself has no load-bearing or supporting function.

[0012] From disclosure WO 2016 116 818 A1, a support apparatus for a lifting platform is known, comprising a support device for receiving and supporting a wheel or other component that has been removed from a vehicle. The support device includes a crossbeam connected to first and second brackets or clamps. The brackets are configured to allow the positioning of the support device on a support element of a lifting device or frame and to secure the support device in the selected position on the lifting device or frame.

[0013] In this configuration, the crossbeam for supporting, for example, a wheel, remains to the side of the vehicle, and its mounting is attached to the vertical support beam of the lifting platform. This position is static and independent of the position of the actual horizontal lifting arms, which are guided along the vertical support beam and lift the vehicle. Due to the arrangement of the articulated joints on the vertical support beam, as well as the design of the crossbeams themselves, pivoting the support beams beneath the vehicle is neither possible nor intended.

[0014] Other similarly designed devices for assisting wheel changes on lifting platforms are known from publications US 7,815,158 B2 and WO 2016 043,753 A. US 2003 / 0155475 and US 2009 / 0067966 each disclose a lifting tire suspension with an angled bracket configuration for vertical attachment to a horizontal tubular lifting device and show an upwardly angled tire suspension section. Reference is also made to the pivoting support bracket designs of US 2002 / 003196 and the support arm of publication US 8,245,991 A.

[0015] Finally, patent US 9,302,542 B2 also discloses a load-bearing, spring-loaded quick-release arm for use with a vehicle lift. Similar to the patents already mentioned, this arm comprises a support arm articulated to a bracket. Loads such as tires can be placed on this support arm to assist with installation, and it may have a nylon cover to protect, for example, the rim. Since this support arm can only pivot in the plane of the lift arm to which it is attached, pivoting it under the raised vehicle is neither possible nor intended.

[0016] Against this background, the purpose of the present support arm for a lifting platform is to expand the functionality of lifting platforms so that the tasks of, for example, transmission or engine jacks can also be performed by the lifting platform itself. In addition, occupational safety and flexibility with regard to working above or below the vehicle should be improved, and it should be possible to perform tasks that are normally carried out by several employees by just one person. According to the invention, this is achieved with a support arm for a lifting platform having the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0017] The further subclaims relate to advantageous embodiments of the device.

[0018] The fundamental inventive idea here is to arrange a support arm on at least one lifting arm of a lifting platform, which has a pivot plane that runs approximately parallel to the pivot plane of the lifting arm itself. Therefore, in the case of a conventional lifting arm with a pivot plane running approximately horizontally, the support arm is also a support arm that pivots horizontally.

[0019] This supporting arm is characterized by the fact that it can pivot freely below the lifting arm of a lifting platform, whereby the articulated connection to the lifting arm is vertically lowered and thus full degrees of freedom can be achieved when pivoting this supporting arm.

[0020] It is essential that, unlike conventional transmission or engine jacks, the additional support arm is directly connected to the lifting arms of the lift platform, thus making it possible to position the additional support arm as required, for example below an engine block, to remove the block and support it with this support arm, without restricting the vehicle's mobility on the lift platform in any way.

[0021] This means that, in the workflow, the vehicle is first guided as usual, for example by four swiveling and vertically adjustable lifting arms, and lifted on, for example, two vertical supports. Then, the additional support arm, which is articulated to at least one of these lifting arms, is swiveled into the required position under the engine block to be lifted and positioned in a supporting position on the engine block by both the swiveling movement and the length adjustability of the support arm, so that any point under the vehicle is accessible. It is then easily possible to remove the engine block and lower or raise it relative to the vehicle using corresponding height-adjustable elements provided on the support arm.

[0022] It is then advantageously possible to raise the vehicle further on the lift or, for example, to lower it to a possible lowest point in order to work from above in the engine compartment. This means that this design makes it possible to perform various tasks on a disassembled vehicle component and to switch between working on the underside of the vehicle and working on the top side, without the relative position of the disassembled component changing in the slightest.

[0023] Besides the practical aspects that this method allows a single person to secure the assembly to be disassembled on the additional support arm while the vehicle is raised, and then carry out the disassembly itself in order to perform further repairs, for example, on the top and bottom, another essential aspect is that damage to the vehicle is prevented, as the relative position of the disassembled component to the vehicle remains unchanged. Furthermore, workplace safety is increased, as the person working on the vehicle can no longer be injured by the now-disassembled assembly.

[0024] According to the invention, these advantages are achieved by a support arm that is freely adjustable in its length and orientation, the pivot plane of which, by means of a displacement of the joint connection under the lifting arm, runs completely under the lifting arm and thus also under the vehicle mounted on the lifting arms.

[0025] This is achieved by a pivot bushing arranged on a support frame, with which the support arm according to the invention is laterally attached to at least one lifting arm. The pivot bushing thus runs laterally to the lifting arm and is guided to the lower edge of the support frame, so that the support arm guided on this pivot bushing is freely pivotable below the actual lifting arm, to which it is pivotally arranged.

[0026] The pivot bushing is arranged vertically to receive a vertical pivot pin, which is guided freely rotatably within the pivot bushing. The pivot pin connects the support arm, via an end-mounted pivot pin receptacle, to the pivot bushing which runs flush above it. That is to say, the pivot pin according to the invention penetrates and pivotally connects the pivot pin receptacle of the support arm and the pivot bushing arranged above it to the support frame, forming the lifting arm.

[0027] Thus, the pivot bolt connects the components support frame and support arm, and also the support arm to the lifting arm, so that the vertical lifting movements of the lifting arm are fully transferred to the support arm, while at the same time the free vertical movement of the lifting arm is fully maintained and the support arm remains freely pivotable under the lifting arm.

[0028] The design of the support arm to be freely pivotable and telescopic, according to the invention, allows the freely pivotable end of the support arm to be guided to any desired point under the vehicle. The inventive design of the connection between the pivot bushing and the pivot pin receptacle also structurally increases the load-bearing capacity of the support arm to such an extent that this connection is able to absorb the weight forces resulting from the correspondingly long lever arm, for example, when supporting the engine block.

[0029] According to the invention, the telescoping of the support arm is achieved by means of nested support arm sections, whereby this design makes it possible to arrange different second support arm sections, guided in or on this first support arm section, slidably on a first support arm section which is connected to the lifting arm via the pivot pin receptacle. In this way, the functionality of the support arm according to the invention can be extended.

[0030] In a first design, a second support arm section is provided, which forms a support for, for example, the dismantled vehicle transmission. Therefore, at its free end, positioned under the vehicle, a support that is height-adjustable in its vertical position is provided. This support is positioned precisely under the vehicle transmission in a first step before its dismantling, and then, using its height adjustment mechanism, is moved closer to the transmission to securely support it during dismantling.

[0031] In an advantageous design, this is achieved by a threaded bushing arranged at the free end of the second support arm section, in which a threaded rod is guided vertically, forming or supporting the bearing surface on its upper side. The precise positioning of the bearing surface by the threaded rod is effected, for example, by an adjusting wheel arranged on it, allowing even larger weight loads resting on the bearing surface to be raised or lowered via the threaded bushing.

[0032] The support itself can be interchangeably arranged on or attached to the top of the threaded rod, for example, and thus adapted to the different assemblies supported by the support.

[0033] As an example, a non-supporting but pulling function can also be achieved by using an alternative design for the second support arm section, guided by the first support arm section. For instance, during repairs, it is sometimes necessary to pull the control arms downwards, which is why the second support arm section is designed as a pulling arm. In a suitable design, this has a Z-shape, with a step in the second support arm section, causing the front free end of this support arm section to run lower than the other support arm, thus maintaining a greater distance from the vehicle underbody.

[0034] With suitable mountings, tension straps or similar devices can be attached to the crossbeams via a threaded rod, which in turn is guided in a threaded bushing at the free end of the support arm section. These straps can then be pulled downwards by lowering the threaded rod. The special Z-shape allows for a defined height offset, and an adjustment wheel can also be mounted on the threaded rod.

[0035] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. They show

[0036] Fig. 1 shows the first support arm section 1 of the supplementary support arm 1 according to the invention for a lifting device;

[0037] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the second support arm section 3 for guidance on the first support arm section 2 of the supplementary support arm 1 according to the invention, as well as

[0038] Fig. 3 shows an alternative design of the second support arm section 3 in a stepped Z-shape with a pull attachment;

[0039] Fig. 4 shows the first and second support arm sections 2, 3 of the support arm 1 arranged in a connected form on the arm of a lifting device in a perspective view;

[0040] Fig. 5 shows the first and second support arm sections 2, 3 with the support arm's bearing plate 1 arranged in a connected form on the arm of a lifting device in a perspective view.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows the representation according to Fig. 5 in a side view. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the first support arm section 2 of the supplementary support arm 1 according to the invention for arrangement on the lifting arm of a lifting platform. The lifting arm of the lifting platform is detachably connected to the supplementary support arm 1 by a bracket 4. For this purpose, a support frame 8 is shown in the present design, which detachably encloses the lifting arm of the lifting platform and is detachably fastened to the lifting arm by two fastening bolts 22 in this design.

[0042] A articulated bushing 7 is arranged vertically on the side of this bracket 4, and thus also on the side of the lifting arm of the lifting platform, which is not shown here. This bushing serves to receive a pivot bolt 10, which acts as a connecting element between the support frame 8 and the first 2, so that the supplementary support arm 1 is pivotably guided on the lifting arm of a lifting platform via this articulated connection 6.

[0043] This also makes it clear that the lifting arm of the lifting platform, which runs in the support frame 8, is arranged above the pivot plane, which is defined by the pivot bolt 10 and a pivot bolt receptacle 11 at the fixed end of the first support arm section 2.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in this design, the first support arm section 2 is approximately beam-shaped and serves as a guide for the second support arm section 3, as shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. It is already clear from this that the present inventive solution is a construction suitable for supporting large loads, since the cross-section of the supplementary support arm 1 is approximately that of the actual lifting arm of the lifting platform, as is evident from the bracket 4, and therefore large loads can be supported.

[0045] The design of the lateral joint connection 6, consisting of joint bushing 7, joint bolt receptacle 11 and joint bolt 10, is also designed to absorb large forces through the lever arm created by the support arm 1.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the second support arm section 3, which is also designed as a roughly beam-shaped component and is hollow, so that the first support arm section 2 can be guided in this second support arm section 3 by means of a guide receptacle 21, or the latter is guided slidably on the former. Alternatively, it would also be possible for the second support arm section 3 to be guided in the first support arm section 2, but this is not shown in the drawings.

[0047] By guiding the second support arm section 3 on the first support arm section 2, the length of the entire support arm 1 can be varied and telescopically adjusted. This allows the support arm 1 to be aligned under a vehicle to the point where its support is needed, for example, to support a gearbox being installed.

[0048] On the other hand, the specific area below the vehicle can be precisely determined by the telescoping capability, so that by pivoting and adjusting the length of the support arm 1, any point under a vehicle can be reached by the support arm 1 according to the invention.

[0049] The design of the second support arm section 3 shown in Figure 2 is a straight, beam-like support arm section 3, at the free end 5 of which a support 12 is provided, onto which a body to be supported can be placed. In this figure, the support point of the 12 is simply the upper end of the threaded rod 14, which is height-adjustable and guided in a threaded bushing 13 at the free end 5 of the second support arm section 3.

[0050] According to the invention, different support designs 23 can be detachably and interchangeably placed on the upper end 12 of the threaded rod 14, so that these supports 232 can be specifically selected for the application and thus their function of supporting and carrying a component of a vehicle, for example the transmission or engine block, can be supported by a specific support design. That is, different supports 23 can be placed on the upper free support point 12 of the threaded rod 14 as needed.

[0051] In the present design, it is also evident that the height of the threaded rod 14 in the threaded bushing 13 at the free end 5 of the support arm section 3 can be adjusted by means of an adjusting wheel 15. This adjusting wheel can lower or raise the threaded rod 14 in the threaded bushing 13. In practice, this means that after appropriate alignment of the support arm 1, for example under the vehicle's transmission, the threaded rod 14 with the attached support 12 can be moved directly against the body to be supported via the adjusting wheel 15 before the corresponding connecting elements, such as bolts between the transmission to be detached and the vehicle body, are loosened.

[0052] In this way, the component can already be slightly lifted, which also facilitates the loosening of the fastening screws. After loosening the fastening screws, the corresponding component would then rest directly on the support 12 and could be lowered from the vehicle body by, for example, further lowering of the threaded rod 14 in the threaded bushing 13.

[0053] It should be emphasized that this is an exemplary design and alternative designs for raising and lowering a support guided on the support arm 1 are provided.

[0054] Figure 3 shows an alternative design of the second support arm section 3 of the present supplementary support arm 1 for a lifting platform. Again, it is provided that this support arm section 3 can be slid onto the first support arm section 2, for which purpose a guide receptacle 21 is formed open at a free end of this second support arm section 3.

[0055] In contrast to the second support arm section 3 of Figure 3, this support arm section 3 is not a straight, beam-like section but rather a support arm section 3 that is approximately Z-shaped. That is, this support arm section 3 has a first section area 16 and a second section area 17, which are offset vertically from each other.

[0056] In the illustrated design, a stepped section 20 is arranged approximately vertically between the horizontally extending first and second section sections 16 and 17. This ensures that the second section section 17, which terminates in a free end 5, runs lower and approximately parallel to the first section section 16. Consequently, it also runs parallel to and offset downwards from the first support arm section 2, on which the second support arm section 3 with its first section section 16 is guided.

[0057] The aim of this design is to achieve greater clearance between the second section 17 and the vehicle floor, thus enabling a vehicle component supported here, such as a transmission, to be lowered further than is possible with the first design. Furthermore, this design is also intended to accommodate a stepped section.

[0058] For this purpose, this inventive design provides a pull-out receptacle 19 into which, for example, retaining straps for a component such as an axle of the vehicle can be hooked. As also shown in Figure 2, a threaded rod 14 is arranged in a threaded bushing 13 in the second section 17 of the second support arm section 3, which allows the pull-out receptacle 19 to be raised and lowered via an adjusting handle 18. In this way, it is possible to utilize a greater vertical freedom of movement.

[0059] Figures 4 to 6 illustrate how the support arm sections 2 and 3 are arranged interlocking. It becomes clear that both alternative designs are adjustable in length and pivotable about the joint 6 on a horizontally extending arm 24 of a lifting platform, thus enabling any point under a raised vehicle to be accessed via the free end of the support arm 1.

[0060] The bracket 4 is attached to the arm 24 of the lifting platform by means of the fastening bolts 22, enclosing it.

[0061] Figure 4 shows a design in which the second support arm 3 is designed as a pulling arm and is offset downwards relative to the first support arm 2 via a stepped section 20 and therefore has a greater distance to the vehicle underbody, whereby components can be pulled away from the underbody via the pulling receptacle 19.

[0062] Figures 5 and 6 show the alternative design with a support 23 that sits on the head 12 of a threaded rod 14 and supports a component to be detached from the vehicle. In this way, the support 23 can be specifically designed depending on the component to be supported or carried and is therefore interchangeable.

[0063] It is emphasized that these two alternatives of the second support arm sections 3 do not constitute a complete representation of the invention, as further support arm sections designed for special requirements are provided.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles, characterized in that - the support arm (1) is formed from at least two support arm sections (2, 3) , - wherein the first support arm section (2) is attached to a bracket (4) is arranged for a detachable articulated connection with a lifting arm of a lifting device, - and the second support arm section (3) is slidably guided in, on or at the first support arm section (2) and has a free end that can be positioned under the vehicle (5) exhibits - wherein a joint connection (6) is arranged laterally or underneath the support arm (1) on the bracket (4), - and the pivot plane of the support arm (1) runs approximately parallel to the pivot plane of the lifting arm, so that the support arm (1) is freely pivotable under the lifting arms of the lifting device and thus also under a vehicle lifted by the lifting device.

2. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder (4) of the support arm (1) has a pivot bushing (7) which is arranged on a support frame (8) with which this holder (4) of the support arm (1) can be attached laterally or underneath to at least one lifting arm.

3. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivot bushing (7) runs laterally on the bracket (4) of the lifting arm and is guided to the lower edge of the support frame (8) of the bracket (4), so that the support arm (1) guided on this pivot bushing (7) is freely pivotable below the lifting arm on which it is pivotally arranged.

4. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the joint bushing (7) is arranged vertically on the support frame (8) for receiving a vertically guided joint bolt (10) which is rotatably guided in the joint bushing (7) and connected to the support arm (1).

5. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 4, characterized in that - at one end of the first support arm section (2) an end-side pivot pin receptacle (11) is arranged in alignment with the pivot bushing (7) located above it, - wherein the pivot pin (10) engages the pivot pin receptacle (11) of the support arm (1) and the joint bushing (7) arranged above it on the support frame penetrates and connects .

6. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different second support arm sections (3) guided in or on this first support arm section (2) are to be arranged slidably and interchangeably on the first support arm section (2) to extend the functionality of the support arm (1).

7. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 6, characterized in that a second support arm section (3) is designed as a support for vehicle parts to be dismantled, wherein at the free end (5) of this second support arm section (3) a support (23) which is height-adjustable in its vertical position is arranged, which can be positioned under the vehicle part to be dismantled and can be brought towards it for supported dismantling via the height adjustability.

8. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 7, characterized in that - a threaded bushing (13) is arranged at the free end (5) of the second support arm section (3), - in which a threaded rod (14) is guided vertically, the upper end (12) of which supports or forms the support (23).

9. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 8, characterized in that - the height positioning of the support (23) by the threaded rod (14) can be effected by an adjusting wheel (15) or an adjusting handle (18) arranged on it, - which provide improved force transmission to the threaded rod (14) for rotation in the threaded bushing (13) and allow the weight loads resting on the support (23) to be raised or lowered via the threaded bushing (13).

10. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that - the support (23) is detachably arranged or placed on the top of the threaded rod (14), - wherein differently designed supports (23) adapted to the dismantled vehicle parts supported and carried by them are interchangeable .

11. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second support arm section (3) is formed from at least two section areas (16, 17) that are offset from each other in height, parallel, angled and / or z-shaped.

12. Support arm (1) for detachable arrangement on at least one lifting arm of a lifting device for raising and lowering vehicles according to claim 11, characterized in that - a first section area (16) the telescopic connection to the first support arm section (2) - and a second section area (17) forms the extension of the second support arm section (3) to its free end (5), - wherein the free end (5) of the second section area (17) ends below the first section area (16) and thus has a greater distance to the vehicle underbody .

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