Wireless jack system

Abstract

A lifting system (1) comprises a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks (3). Each jack (3) comprises a movable lifting member (7), an actuator (9) configured to move the lifting member (7), and a wireless communication device (67, 55). Each wireless communication device is configured to enable wireless communication between the jacks, such that the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members may be controlled and / or coordinated.

Description

[0001] Wireless Jack System

[0002] The present invention relates to a lifting system comprising a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks, and to a portable electrically powered jack for such a lifting system.

[0003] The invention seeks to provide an improved portable system and apparatus for lifting, lowering, and holding items, and preferably also for levelling and keeping level items being lifted, lowered, and held. The invention has particular utility for builders, construction workers, tradespeople and do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts, e.g. for lifting, levelling, lowering, and holding cabinets, shelves, beams, and other carpentry, construction, building, and related items, during construction, building, re-modelling, and DIY work. However, the invention may also have broader utility for portable modest lifting requirements. The invention has special utility for single- user operation.

[0004] A first aspect of the disclosure provides a lifting system according to Claim 1 of the appended claims, i.e. comprising a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks, each jack comprising: a movable lifting member; an actuator configured to move the lifting member; and a wireless communication device configured to enable wireless communication between the jacks such that the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members may be controlled and / or coordinated.

[0005] A second aspect of the disclosure provides a portable electrically powered jack according to Claim 45 of the appended claims, i.e. comprising: a movable lifting member; an actuator configured to move the lifting member; and a wireless communication device configured to enable wireless communication with one or more other identical jacks, such that the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members may be controlled and / or coordinated. A third aspect of the disclosure provides a portable electrically powered jack, preferably according to the second aspect of the disclosure, of a lifting system according to the first aspect of the disclosure.

[0006] It is explicitly to be understood that any feature or embodiment, including any preferred or other optional feature or embodiment, of any aspect or embodiment of the disclosure or the invention, may be a feature or embodiment, including a preferred or other optional feature or embodiment, of any other aspect or embodiment of the disclosure or the invention.

[0007] Preferred, and other optional, features of the invention are defined and described in the dependent claims.

[0008] The, or each, actuator may comprise an electric motor, preferably a brushless motor.

[0009] The, or each, actuator may further comprise a lead screw configured to be rotated by the motor, preferably via a transmission of the actuator.

[0010] The, or each, lifting member may be directly or indirectly connected to the lead screw of its jack such that rotation of the lead screw is configured to move the lifting member.

[0011] The, or each, jack may further comprise a main housing which houses the actuator, and from which the lifting member extends.

[0012] The movement of the lifting member by the actuator may comprise extension and / or retraction of the lifting member, preferably with respect to the main housing. The, or each, lifting member may comprise: a lifting shaft; and / or a first support member, preferably a first support pad, located at an end of the lifting member. The first support pad may have a substantially flat support surface, for example.

[0013] The, or each, jack may further comprise a second support member, preferably a second support pad, located at an opposite end of the jack to the first support member. The second support member preferably is directly or indirectly attached to the actuator, e.g. attached to the gear box (where present) of the actuator. The second support pad may have a substantially flat support surface, for example.

[0014] The, or each, jack may be configured to include a battery which is configured to power the jack and / or the actuator.

[0015] The, or each, battery may comprise a removable and rechargeable battery pack, and the main housing of each jack may include a battery pack receptacle for the removable attachment and electrical connection of a said battery pack.

[0016] The, or each, battery pack may include attachment rails for sliding attachment and detachment of the battery pack to and from the battery pack receptacle, and preferably wherein the battery pack comprises a battery pack of a power tool system. The power tool system may comprise a drill, a sander, and a saw, for example.

[0017] The, or each, jack may include control electronics configured to control the actuator of that jack, the control electronics preferably including the wireless communication device, and the control electronics preferably being housed at least partly in the main housing. The control electronics may include one or more user-actuatable switches (e.g. switch buttons), preferably located on the exterior of the main housing.

[0018] The lifting system may further comprise a portable remote control device including a wireless communication device configured for wireless communication with the wireless communication devices of the jacks to control and / or coordinate the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members.

[0019] The portable remote control device may include control electronics configured to control the actuators of the jacks, the control electronics preferably including the wireless communication device of the remote control device.

[0020] The control electronics of the portable remote control device may include one or more user-actuatable switches (e.g. switch buttons).

[0021] The control and / or coordination of the movements and / or positions of the respective lifting members of the jacks may be by means of the respective actuators of the jacks.

[0022] The control and / or coordination of the movements and / or positions of the respective lifting members of the jacks may comprise substantial synchronization of the movements of the lifting members of the jacks.

[0023] The respective lifting members of the jacks may be configured to move at substantially the same speed as each other, preferably by means of each actuator being configured to operate at substantially the same speed as the, or each, other actuator.

[0024] Each motor may be configured to operate at substantially the same speed as the, or each, other motor. Each actuator and / or motor may be configured to operate at a substantially constant speed.

[0025] Each jack may include a voltage and / or electrical current regulator and / or converter such that its actuator or motor is supplied with substantially the same voltage and / or electrical current as the actuator or motor of the, or each, other actuator or motor.

[0026] The wireless communication of the lifting system may comprise a wireless mesh network, preferably having a partial or full mesh topology.

[0027] Each wireless communication device of the lifting system may comprise a node of the wireless mesh network.

[0028] The wireless mesh network may be dynamically and / or automatically adaptable to the addition or removal of one or more wireless communication devices to or from the network (e.g. comprising the addition or removal of one or more jacks and / or remote control devices).

[0029] Each wireless communication device may be configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other wireless communication devices in the lifting system, preferably by pairing and / or associating and / or mutually registering unique identifiers (e.g. MAC addresses), with one or more other wireless communication devices in the system.

[0030] The wireless communication may comprise Bluetooth, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE, preferably BLE 5.0), or ZigBee, or ESP-NOW, or IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), for example. Other wireless communication systems may also be used. Each wireless communication device in the lifting system may be configured to emit wireless advertising packets for reception by one or more other wireless communication devices in the system, to initiate the wireless communication.

[0031] Each wireless communication device in the lifting system may be configured to scan for wireless advertising packets emitted by one or more other wireless communication devices in the system, to initiate the wireless communication.

[0032] Each wireless communication device may, for example, be configured to perform in a dynamic dual mode topology as: (a) advertiser and / or server; and (b) scanner and / or client.

[0033] Each wireless communication device in the lifting system may be configured to determine the received signal strength (e.g. RSSI, received signal strength indication) and / or a unique identifier (e.g. MAC address) of each wireless advertising packet received from another wireless communication device in the system.

[0034] The wireless communication of the lifting system may comprise an open loop control system.

[0035] The, or each, user-actuatable switch may be configured such that its actuation causes the lifting member and / or actuator of the, or each, jack in communication therewith and / or connected thereto, to operate only while (i.e. only for as long as) the switch is being actuated. The, or each, user-actuatable switch may be configured such that its deactivation (i.e. ceasing of actuation, or shutting- off) causes the lifting member and / or actuator of the, or each, jack in communication therewith and / or connected thereto, to cease operating.

[0036] The control electronics of the lifting system may be configured to control each actuator of each jack by issuing and / or receiving control commands, preferably discrete control commands, preferably a series of discrete control commands.

[0037] The control commands may be issued and / or received wirelessly and / or electronically.

[0038] Each control command and / or series of discrete control commands, may be initiated by the user actuation of a said user-actuatable switch.

[0039] The user actuation (or deactivation) of a user-actuatable switch of a control electronics in the lifting system may initiate the wireless emission of a control command, or a series of control commands, by that control electronics, for wireless reception of the control command, or the series of control commands, by all of the other control electronics in the system. When a series of control commands is emitted, preferably several control commands are emitted per second. For example, a control command (or control packet) may be emitted every 50 - 200 ms, e.g. every 100 ms.

[0040] If the user-actuatable switch is on the, or a, jack, its actuation may cause the control electronics of that jack to move the lifting member of that jack via its actuator. Conversely, the deactivation of the switch may cause the control electronics of that jack to cease moving the lifting member of that jack via its actuator.

[0041] The wireless emission of the control command, or series of control commands, may cause the control electronics of all of the jacks, or all of the other jacks, of the lifting system to move their lifting members via their respective actuators.

[0042] The control electronics of each jack may be configured to count the number of discrete control commands wirelessly received, from an emitting control electronics of the lifting system, within a predetermined period of time, and to emit a wireless signal indicative of the counted number of discrete control commands for reception by the emitting control electronics.

[0043] The emitting control electronics may be configured to count the number of discrete control commands that it wirelessly emitted, and to perform a comparison between the emitted number and the counted number of wirelessly received discrete control commands from each other control electronics in the system.

[0044] If any such comparison shows the wirelessly received counted number of discrete control commands received by any specific control electronics is a number x less than the number of discrete control commands wirelessly emitted, then the emitting control electronics may be configured to wirelessly emit x number of additional discrete control commands addressed only to that or those specific control electronics.

[0045] The control electronics in the lifting system may include a debounce system and / or a delay system configured to avoid processing and / or communication and / or actuation errors.

[0046] The one or more user-actuatable switches in the lifting system may include a wireless communication switch configured to switch the wireless communication on and off.

[0047] Embodiments and implementations of the disclosure and invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:

[0048] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure, comprising a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks; Figure 2 shows a front view of the first embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure, comprising a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks;

[0049] Figure 3(a) shows a side view of the first embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure, comprising a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks, and Figure 3(b) shows a plan view of a single jack of the first embodiment;

[0050] Figure 4(a) shows a partial view of a portable jack of the first embodiment according to the disclosure, with an extension pole, and Figure 4(b) shows a partial view of a portable jack of the first embodiment according to the disclosure, mounted on a tripod;

[0051] Figure 5(a) shows a partial and partially cut-away view of an actuator of an embodiment of a portable jack according to the disclosure, and Figure 5(b) shows a partially cut-away view of another actuator of another embodiment of a portable jack according to the disclosure, and a detail of a transmission thereof;

[0052] Figure 6(a) shows a partially cut-away view of a portable jack of the first embodiment of the disclosure, and Figure 6(b) shows a removable and rechargeable battery pack for powering the jack;

[0053] Figure 7 shows a partially cut-away detail of a portable jack of the first embodiment of the disclosure;

[0054] Figure 8 shows another view of the first embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure, including a portable remote control device;

[0055] Figure 9 views (a), (b), and (c), are three views of the first embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure, shown in use; Figure 10(a) shows a schematic view of a single portable jack of the first embodiment of the disclosure, with a portable remote control device for the jack;

[0056] Figure 10(b) shows a schematic view of the wireless communication of an embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure;

[0057] Figure 11 is a flow diagram of the wireless communication of an embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure; and

[0058] Figure 12 is a block diagram of error-reduction features of an embodiment of a lifting system according to the disclosure.

[0059] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lifting system 1 according to the disclosure, Figure 2 shows a front view of the lifting system 1 , and Figure 3(a) shows a side view of the lifting system 1. The lifting system 1 comprises a plurality (two are shown) of portable electrically powered jacks 3. Each jack 3 comprises an elongate main housing 5 (e.g. formed from a plastic material) which partially houses a movable lifting member 7, and from which the lifting member 7 extends. The main housing 5 of each jack 3 also houses an actuator 9 (see Figure 5) configured to move the lifting member. The lifting member 7 of each jack 3 comprises a lifting shaft 11 and a first support member 13, preferably a first support pad 13 (as illustrated), located at a longitudinal end (the top end, as illustrated) of the lifting shaft 11 distal from the main housing 5. The first support member or support pad 13 is therefore located at a first longitudinal end of each jack. A second support member 15 of each jack 3, preferably a second support pad 15 (as illustrated), is located at an opposite longitudinal end of each jack 3 (the bottom end, as illustrated). The second support member 15 preferably is directly or indirectly attached to the actuator 9, e.g. attached to the gear box (where present) of the actuator 9. A plan view of a generally square cross-section support pad 13 is also shown in Figure 3(b). Each lifting member is, for example, formed from steel or one or more other strong materials. Each support pad 13 (where present) preferably has a substantially flat support surface 14, as illustrated.

[0060] One or more jacks 3 of the lifting system 1 may include a removable extension pole or other extension member 17, e.g. attachable between the actuator 9 and the second support member 15, e.g. as illustrated in Figure 4(a). Additionally, or alternatively, a support member of one or more jacks may comprise a tripod 19 (or other support), e.g. as partially illustrated in Figure 4(b).

[0061] Figure 5(a) shows a partial and partially cut-away view of an actuator 9 of an embodiment of a portable jack 3 according to the disclosure, and Figure 5(b) shows a partially cut-away view of another actuator 9 of another embodiment of a portable jack 3 according to the disclosure. As illustrated in figures 5(a) and 5(b), the actuator 9 of each jack 3 preferably comprises an electric motor 21 , e.g. a brushless electric motor, and a lead screw 23 configured to be rotated by the motor 21. The motor 21 may be arranged substantially in line with the lead screw 23, e.g. as in the embodiment shown in Figure 5(a), or the motor may be arranged in another position or orientation, e.g. substantially parallel to the lead screw 23 as in the embodiment shown in Figure 5(a). Additionally, a transmission 25 (gear box) comprising gears 26 may be arranged between the motor 21 and the lead screw 23, e.g. as illustrated in Figure 5(b) and in its detail portion. Alternatively, there may be no transmission between the motor 21 and the lead screw 23, and the lead screw 23 may be rotated by means of a direct drive from the motor 21 .

[0062] The movable lifting member 7 of each jack 3 may be directly or indirectly connected to the lead screw 23 of its jack such that rotation of the lead screw 23 by the electric motor 21 moves the lifting member 7. The movement of the lifting member 7 comprises extension or retraction with respect to the main housing 5, depending on the direction of rotation of the lead screw 23 by the motor 21 , e.g. via a transmission 25. Also illustrated as part of the actuator 9 of Figure 5(b) is a lead screw nut 27 which connects the lead screw 23 to the movable lifting member 7, and an extension limit switch 29a, and a retraction limit switch 29b. During use, if / when a lateral extension 31 of the lead screw nut 27 contacts either the extension limit switch 29a or the retraction limit switch 29b, the motor 21 is switched off, thereby providing safe limits to the degrees of extension and retraction of the lifting member 7.

[0063] Each jack 3 preferably includes at least one battery which is configured to power the jack 3 and the actuator 9. As shown in Figure 6(b), the (or each) battery advantageously comprises a removable and rechargeable battery pack 33, and as shown in figures 1 , 3, 4, and 6(a), the main housing 5 of each jack 3 advantageously includes a battery pack receptacle 35 for the removable attachment and electrical connection of a battery pack 33. As illustrated, the battery pack receptacle is preferably located on an outer part of the main housing 5 of each jack 3 and / or is preferably situated at, near, or towards a bottom end of the main housing 5, e.g. for stability. The battery pack receptacle is preferably oriented with its battery pack receiving opening 36 uppermost, for downward longitudinal sliding receipt of the battery pack 33 therein.

[0064] The battery pack 33 may advantageously include a pair of attachment rails 37 and a pair of grooves 39 for sliding attachment and detachment of the battery pack 33 to and from the battery pack receptacle 35. The battery pack 33 preferably comprises a battery pack of a power tool system, the power tool system e.g. comprising a drill and / or a sander and / or a saw. The battery pack receptacle 35 of each jack includes electrical connectors 41 configured to electrically connect with corresponding electrical connectors 43 on the battery pack 33, the receptacle 35 also including a pair of rails 45 configured to fit in the grooves 39 of the battery pack 33. Additionally, the battery pack 33 includes a spring-loaded detent 47 and a detent release button 49, the battery pack receptacle 35 including a corresponding detent part 51 to removably lock the battery pack 33 in place in the receptacle 35. As illustrated in figures 6 and 7, each jack 3 includes control electronics 53, preferably housed at least partly in the main housing 5, configured to control the actuator 9 of that jack, the control electronics 53 including a wireless communication device 55, which preferably also comprises a microcontroller (MCU). The control electronics 53 preferably also includes one or more user- actuatable switches, e.g. an “up” button 57, a “down” button 59, and a wireless communication on / off switch 61 (e.g. a Bluetooth, especially a BLE, on / off switch), as shown in figures 1 , 2, 6, 7, and 8, for example. Additionally, the control electronics 53 may for example include motor driver electronics 63 and a voltage and / or electrical current regulator and / or converter 65.

[0065] As shown in figures 1 , 2, and 8, the user-actuatable switches 57, 59, 61 are located on the exterior of the main housing 5 of each jack 3. In use, when a user presses the “up” button 57, the movable lifting member 7 and its first support member 13 move in an upwards direction (against gravity) relative to the main housing 5 and the second support member 15, due to rotation of the lead screw 23, caused by rotation of the motor 21 which is powered by the battery pack 33. Thus, the lifting member 7 is moved to extend further from the main housing 5, in an upwards direction if the second support member 15 is supporting the jack on the ground or floor or other lower surface. If the first support member 13 is holding an item (e.g. a cabinet, a shelf, a beam, or other item), then the item will be lifted by the upwards movement of the lifting member 7 and its first support member 13. Conversely, if a user presses the “down” button 59, the movable lifting member 7 and its first support member 13 move in an opposite, downwards, direction relative to the main housing 5 and the second support member 15, to lower an item being held by the first support member 13. Advantageously, deactivation (i.e. ceasing of actuation, or shutting-off) of a user-actuatable switch 57, 59 causes the emission of a control signal to stop the movements of the actuators 9 (i.e. motors 21 ). As indicated above, the user-actuatable switches typically include a wireless communication on / off switch 61 , e.g. a Bluetooth, especially a BLE, on / off switch. When the wireless communication is switched on, and the jacks 3 of the lifting system 1 are wirelessly connected to each other in a wireless communication network (e.g. a Bluetooth network, especially a BLE network), then a user actuation of the “up” button of a single first jack 3 will cause the movable lifting member 7 and first support member 13 of each jack 3 wirelessly connected to the first jack 3 to move in an upwards direction substantially simultaneously with the upwards movement of the lifting member 7 and first support member 13 of the first jack 3. Conversely, a user actuation of the “down” button of a single first jack 3 will cause the movable lifting member 7 and first support member 13 of each jack 3 wirelessly connected to the first jack 3 to move in a downwards direction substantially simultaneously with the downwards movement of the lifting member 7 and first support member 13 of the first jack 3. Advantageously, deactivation (i.e. ceasing of actuation, or shutting-off) of a user-actuatable switch 57, 59 causes the emission of a control signal to stop the movements of the actuators 9 (i.e. motors 21 ). In this way, the movements and / or positions of the respective lifting members 7 of a plurality of jacks 3 in the lifting system 1 may be controlled and / or coordinated, e.g. to lift and / or lower one or more items being held by the plurality of jacks in combination.

[0066] As mentioned above, the control electronics 53 of each jack 3 in the lifting system 1 may include a voltage and / or electrical current regulator and / or converter 65. Such a regulator and / or converter is advantageously provided so that the actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) of each jack 3 in the lifting system 1 is supplied with substantially the same voltage and / or electrical current as the actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) of the, or each, other jack 3 in the lifting system 1 . By virtue of this voltage and / or current regulation, the respective lifting members 7 of the jacks 3 of the lifting system 1 may be configured to move at substantially the same speed as each other, by means of each actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) being configured to operate at substantially the same speed as the, or each, other actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ). For example, the actuators 9 and lifting members 7 may be configured such that each lifting member 7 moves at a speed of 5 - 20 mm / s (mm per second), e.g. approximately 10 mm / s. Preferably, each actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) may be configured to operate at a substantially constant speed, but in at least some embodiments each actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) may be configured to operate at varying speeds, advantageously with all lifting members 7 operating at substantially the same variable speed at any one time.

[0067] As illustrated in figures 8, 9(c), and 10(a), the lifting system 1 preferably further comprises a portable remote control device 67 which also includes a wireless communication device 55 configured for wireless communication (e.g. Bluetooth, especially BLE, communication) with the wireless communication devices 55 of the jacks 3, to control and / or coordinate the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members 7, by controlling their respective actuators 9. The portable remote control device 67 also includes control electronics 53, which includes its wireless communication device 55, and preferably also includes user-actuatable switches 57, 59.

[0068] Advantageously, the portable remote control device 67 may include an “up” button 57, and a “down” button 59, similar or identical to the corresponding buttons on each jack 3 and configured to function identically to the corresponding buttons on each jack 3. Thus, a user actuation of the “up” button 57 of the remote control device 67 will cause the movable lifting member 7 and first support member 13 of each jack 3 wirelessly connected to the remote control device 67 to move in an upwards direction substantially simultaneously with each other. Conversely, a user actuation of the “down” button 59 of the remote control device 67 will cause the movable lifting member 7 and first support member 13 of each jack 3 wirelessly connected to the remote control device 67 to move in a downwards direction substantially simultaneously with each other. Advantageously, deactivation (i.e. ceasing of actuation, or shutting-off) of a user-actuatable switch 57, 59 causes the emission of a control signal to stop the movements of the actuators 9 (i.e. motors 21 ). In this way, the movements and / or positions of the respective lifting members 7 of a plurality of jacks 3 in the lifting system 1 may be controlled and / or coordinated, e.g. to lift and / or lower one or more items being held by the plurality of jacks in combination.

[0069] By virtue of the above wireless communication between jacks 3 in the lifting system 1 (whether with, or without, the use of a portable remote control device 67), in combination with the lifting member 7 of each jack 3 being configured to move at substantially the same speed (preferably a substantially constant speed) as the lifting member of the, or each, other jack 3, the movements of the lifting members 7 of the jacks 3 in the system may be coordinated to be substantially simultaneous and substantially identical with each other. Thus, advantageously, the user actuation of an “up” or “down” switch (on a jack 3 or a remote control device 67) causes the lifting member 7 of each jack 3 connected to the wireless communication network of the lifting system 1 to be moved “up” or “down” (respectively) at substantially the same time and at substantially the same speed. Additionally, the control electronics 53 of each jack 3 preferably are configured such that each connected lifting member 7 moves only while the user-actuatable switch is being actuated, and stops, or does not move, when the switch is not being actuated. Consequently, for example, two or more jacks 3 arranged to lift a single bulky item, or a plurality of items, may be used and controlled to lift the item or items in a simultaneous, synchronized, coordinated, and levelled manner. Additionally, the user may first set up the jacks 3 of the lifting system 1 prior to wirelessly connecting them, i.e. by positioning the jacks and individually adjusting the heights of their lifting members 7, ready for the synchronized control of the jacks once they are wirelessly connected to each other.

[0070] Views (a), (b) and (c) of Figure 9 show examples of the lifting system 1 in use. In Figure 9(a), a single jack 3 is being used by a tradesperson to support a cabinet 69 at the correct height while the cabinet is being attached to a wall 71. An extension pole 17 is attached to the jack 3, to provide the jack 3 with sufficient height or reach from the floor. In Figure 9(b), two jacks 3 are being used to support a cabinet 69 at the correct height above a worktop 73 on which the jacks 3 are placed. The lifting members 7 and first support members 13 of the two jacks 3 are extended by substantially the same amount, to support the cabinet 69 in a horizontally levelled orientation. In Figure 9(c), five jacks 3 are being used to support several cabinets 69 at the correct heights above the floor 74 and above worktops 73, and are being controlled and coordinated by a single user by means of a portable remote control device 67.

[0071] Each jack 3 is portable, and this necessarily limits the weight and size of each jack 3 so that it may be manually carried by a (single) user. Advantageously, each jack preferably weighs no more than approximately 10kg (22lbs), more preferably no more than approximately 8kg (18lbs), even more preferably no more than approximately 6kg (13lbs), especially preferably no more than approximately 4kg (9lbs). For example, a preferred embodiment of a jack weighs between approximately 1 - 2kg (2 - 4.5lbs), e.g. approximately 1.5kg (3lbs). Preferably, each jack has a length / height of no more than approximately 1 metre (40 inches), more preferably no more than 75 cm (30 inches), especially preferably no more than approximately 50 cm (20 inches), e.g. approximately 42 cm (16.5 inches), when retracted. Advantageously, each jack 3 can preferably lift up to approximately 45-135kg (up to approximately 100lbs to 300lbs), more preferably up to approximately 45-90kg (up to approximately 100lbs to 200lbs), for example up to approximately 70kg (150lbs) in weight. Preferably, each jack has a lifting distance range (i.e. an extension / retraction distance range of the lifting member 7) of up to approximately 50 cm (20 inches), more preferably up to approximately 40 cm (16 inches), even more preferably up to approximately 30 cm (12 inches), especially preferably up to approximately 20 cm (8 inches), e.g. approximately 15 cm (6 inches).

[0072] Each wireless communication device 55 of the lifting system 1 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other wireless communication devices 55 in the lifting system 1 by pairing and / or associating and / or mutually registering unique identifiers (e.g. MAC addresses), with the one or more other wireless communication devices 55 in the system 1. The wireless communication may comprise Bluetooth, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE, preferably BLE 5.0), or ZigBee, or ESP-NOW, or IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), for example. Other suitable wireless communication systems will be apparent to the skilled person.

[0073] As illustrated schematically in figures 10(a) and 10(b), each wireless communication device 55 (i.e. of a jack 3, and of a remote control device 67 if present) in the lifting system 1 may be configured to emit wireless advertising packets 75 for reception by one or more other wireless communication devices 55 in the system 1 (i.e. of jacks 3, and of a remote control device 67 if present), to initiate the wireless communication. For example, each wireless communication device 55 in the lifting system 1 may be configured to scan for wireless advertising packets 75 emitted by one or more other wireless communication devices 55 in the system 1 , to initiate the wireless communication.

[0074] As illustrated schematically in the flow diagram of Figure 11 , each wireless communication device 55 may, for example, be configured to perform in a dynamic dual mode topology as: (a) advertiser and / or server; and (b) scanner and / or client. Also, each wireless communication device 55 in the lifting system 1 may be configured to determine the received signal strength (e.g. RSSI, Received Signal Strength Indication) and / or a unique identifier (e.g. MAC address) of each wireless advertising packet 75 received from another wireless communication device 55 in the system 1 .

[0075] Considering Figure 10(b) and Figure 11 , when the wireless communication of any jack 3 is switched on (e.g. by actuating a wireless communication on / off switch 61 , or by simply attaching a charged battery pack 33), and / or when a remote control device 67 is switched on, its wireless communication device 55 begins both: (i) advertising its presence by periodically broadcasting “advertising” packets comprising the identity of the device / jack, and optionally additional information (e.g. characteristics and / or capabilities of the device / jack); and (ii) periodically scanning for advertising packets from other devices 55. Consequently, each wireless communication device 55 may act as both advertiser (server) and scanner (client), and as indicated in Figure 11 these roles are dynamically assigned.

[0076] When an advertising packet is scanned by a device 55, the identity (e.g. MAC address) of the advertising device, and the signal strength (e.g. RSSI), are registered by the scanning device, and messages are exchanged between the scanning and advertising devices to establish a wireless communication connection (e.g. “pairing”) between the devices. This is repeated between additional devices 55 in the lifting system, if there are any additional devices 55 in the system with their wireless communication active, until there is a complete wireless communication network comprising all the active communication devices 55 in the system, i.e. all of the active jacks 3 and any remote control device 67. The lifting system 1 is then ready for operation, with dynamic client-server wireless communications established between the devices 55.

[0077] As mentioned above, the wireless communication of the lifting system 1 may comprise a wireless mesh network, preferably having a partial or full mesh topology, and each wireless communication device 55 of the lifting system 1 preferably comprises a node of the wireless mesh network. An advantage of the wireless communication of the lifting system 1 being a wireless mesh network is that the wireless mesh network may be dynamically and / or automatically adaptable to the addition or removal of one or more wireless communication devices (i.e. the addition or removal of one or more jacks 3 and / or a remote control device 67) to or from the network. Preferably, the wireless communication of the lifting system 1 comprises an open loop control system. Advantageously, the control electronics 53 of the lifting system 1 are configured to control each actuator 9 of each jack 3 by issuing and / or receiving control commands, preferably discrete control commands, more preferably a series of discrete control commands. As will be apparent from the above description, the control commands may be issued and / or received wirelessly and / or electronically, and each control command and / or series of discrete control commands may be initiated by the user actuation of a user-actuatable switch 57, 59. The user actuation of a user-actuatable switch 57, 59 of a control electronics 53 in the lifting system 1 may initiate the wireless emission (by the wireless communication device 55) of a control command, or a series of control commands, for wireless reception of the control command, or of the series of control commands, by all of the other control electronics 53 (in particular, the wireless communication devices 55) currently wirelessly connected in the system. This will cause the control electronics 53 of all of the jacks 3, or all of the other jacks 3, of the lifting system 1 to move their lifting members 7 substantially simultaneously and substantially identically, via their respective actuators 9. When a series of control commands is emitted, preferably several control commands are emitted per second. For example, a control command (or control packet) may be emitted every 50 - 200 ms, e.g. every 100 ms. Additionally, if the user-actuatable switch 57, 59 is on a jack 3, its actuation may cause the control electronics 53 of that jack 3 to move the lifting member 7 of that jack 3 via its actuator 9.

[0078] As mentioned above, the control electronics 53 in the lifting system 1 may include a delay system and / or a debounce system configured to avoid processing and / or communication and / or actuation errors. As illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 12, the lifting system 1 advantageously includes such features.

[0079] For example, as shown in the dashed-line box of Figure 12 labelled “Delay compensation due to communication protocol”, a flow diagram labelled “Bidirectional communication” shows the following wireless communication procedure for BLE communication devices 55 (termed “BLE”): “Send cmd [i.e. command(s)] up / down” followed by “Receive cmd from BLE” followed by “Count the number of packets” followed by “Send the counter back” followed by “Fix level if significant mismatch”. This illustrates the following procedure. The control electronics 53 of each jack 3 may be configured to count the number of discrete control commands wirelessly received, within a predetermined period of time, from an emitting control electronics 53 of the remote control device 67 or of another jack 3, of the lifting system 1 , and to emit a wireless signal indicative of the counted number of discrete control commands for reception by the emitting control electronics 53. The emitting control electronics 53 is configured to count the number of discrete control commands that it wirelessly emitted, and to perform a comparison between the emitted number and the counted number of wirelessly received discrete control commands from each other control electronics 53 in the system. If any such comparison shows the wirelessly received counted number of discrete control commands received by any specific control electronics is a number x (e.g. between 5 and 20, preferably between 5 and 10) less than the number of discrete control commands wirelessly emitted, then the emitting control electronics 53 may be configured to wirelessly emit x number of additional discrete control commands addressed only to that or those specific control electronics 53, to correct the error (i.e. to fix the mismatch).

[0080] The above procedure is designed to ensure that the control electronics 53 of all of the jacks 3 (that are communicatively connected in the lifting system 1 ) receive substantially exactly the same number of discrete control commands (i.e. command packets) so that their respective lifting members 7 are all moved by substantially exactly the same amount, to ensure that the combined lifting (or lowering) carried out by the jacks is done in a consistent or levelled way, without one or more jacks failing to coordinate with one or more other jacks in the lifting system 1 . If any mismatch is detected in the above procedure, then it is corrected by the emission of the missing number of discrete control commands addressed only to that or those specific control electronics 53 that failed to receive the correct number of discrete control commands initially. The primary objectives for preventing mismatches are twofold: to ensure that all jacks 3 reach the same height when the operation stops, keeping the lifted item level, and to prevent uneven lifting that could cause the lifted piece to tip over or exert excessive stress on the mechanical components. For instance, uneven lifting can concentrate force on a single jack 3.

[0081] The dashed-line box of Figure 12 labelled “Delay compensation due to communication protocol” also shows that each control electronics 53 in the lifting system may advantageously include wireless communication delay logic for both sending and receiving control commands (“Delay logic in the send side” and “Delay logic in the receive side”), to ensure that the outgoing and incoming data is processed in a stable and controlled manner, for example to avoid communication problems caused by rapid successive transmissions that might be considered as noise or redundant. Extra time is added (by the delays) to ensure that each command delivered is well executed and without other commands “running over” them, and so that the control electronics 53 have sufficient time to process the commands correctly.

[0082] Additionally, the dashed-line box of Figure 12 labelled “Delay compensation due to communication protocol” shows that a software debounce mechanism may advantageously be used to cancel or avoid noise due to switch actuations (etc.). The use of such a debounce mechanism ensures that switch actuations (e.g. button presses) are recognized only once, even if the switch / button physically bounces (i.e., makes multiple contacts) when pressed or released. This is important to avoid multiple triggers from a single press / actuation that might send multiple control commands even if the intention was to send only one command. The debounce mechanism is a built-in delay to ensure this is well executed and each command is well defined and distinguished from others.

[0083] As mentioned above, the control electronics 53 of each jack 3 in the lifting system 1 may include a voltage and / or electrical current regulator and / or converter 65. Such a regulator and / or converter is advantageously provided so that the actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) of each jack 3 in the lifting system 1 is supplied with substantially the same voltage and / or electrical current as the actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) of the, or each, other jack 3 in the lifting system 1 . By virtue of this voltage and / or current regulation, the respective lifting members 7 of the jacks 3 of the lifting system 1 may be configured to move at substantially the same speed as each other, by means of each actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ) being configured to operate at substantially the same speed as the, or each, other actuator 9 (preferably motor 21 ). This is indicated in Figure 12, by the dashed-line box labelled “Delay compensation due to voltage / current variation” and the boxes labelled: “Voltage regulation & Current regulation”, “Same load for all devices”, and “Adequate voltage converter for all devices”. As indicated in the dashed-line box, this ensures the same electrical parameters for all systems.

[0084] It is to be understood that the described and illustrated embodiments and implementations of the invention and the disclosure are examples, and that other embodiments and implementations fall within the scope of the disclosure and the claimed invention.

Claims

Claims1 . A lifting system comprising a plurality of portable electrically powered jacks, each jack comprising: a movable lifting member; an actuator configured to move the lifting member; and a wireless communication device configured to enable wireless communication between the jacks such that the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members may be controlled and / or coordinated.

2. A lifting system according to Claim 1 , wherein each actuator comprises an electric motor, preferably a brushless motor.

3. A lifting system according to Claim 2, wherein each actuator further comprises a lead screw configured to be rotated by the motor, preferably via a transmission of the actuator.

4. A lifting system according to Claim 3, wherein each lifting member is directly or indirectly connected to the lead screw of its jack such that rotation of the lead screw is configured to move the lifting member.

5. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each jack further comprises a main housing which houses the actuator, and from which the lifting member extends.

6. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement of the lifting member by the actuator comprises extension and / or retraction of the lifting member, preferably with respect to the main housing.

7. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each lifting member comprises: a lifting shaft; and / or a first support member, preferably a first support pad, located at an end of the lifting member.

8. A lifting system according to Claim 7, wherein each jack further comprises a second support member, preferably a second support pad, located at an opposite end of the jack to the first support member.

9. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each jack is configured to include a battery which is configured to power the jack and / or the actuator.

10. A lifting system according to Claim 9 when dependent on Claim 5, wherein each battery comprises a removable and rechargeable battery pack, and the main housing of each jack includes a battery pack receptacle for the removable attachment and electrical connection of a said battery pack.

11. A lifting system according to Claim 10, wherein the battery pack includes attachment rails for sliding attachment and detachment of the battery pack to and from the battery pack receptacle, and preferably wherein the battery pack comprises a battery pack of a power tool system.

12. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each jack includes control electronics configured to control the actuator of that jack, the control electronics preferably including the wireless communication device, and the control electronics preferably being housed at least partly in the main housing.

13. A lifting system according to Claim 12, wherein the control electronics includes one or more user-actuatable switches, preferably located on the exterior of the main housing.

14. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a portable remote control device including a wireless communication device configured for wireless communication with the wireless communication devices ofthe jacks to control and / or coordinate the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members.

15. A lifting system according to Claim 14, wherein the portable remote control device includes control electronics configured to control the actuators of the jacks, the control electronics preferably including the wireless communication device of the remote control device.

16. A lifting system according to Claim 15, wherein the control electronics of the portable remote control device includes one or more user-actuatable switches.

17. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control and / or coordination of the movements and / or positions of the respective lifting members of the jacks is by means of the respective actuators of the jacks.

18. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control and / or coordination of the movements and / or positions of the respective lifting members of the jacks comprises substantial synchronization of the movements of the lifting members of the jacks.

19. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the respective lifting members of the jacks are configured to move at substantially the same speed as each other, preferably by means of each actuator being configured to operate at substantially the same speed as the, or each, other actuator.

20. A lifting system according to Claim 19 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein each motor is configured to operate at substantially the same speed as the, or each, other motor.

21. A lifting system according to Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein each actuator and / or motor is configured to operate at a substantially constant speed.

22. A lifting system according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 , wherein each jack includes a voltage and / or electrical current regulator and / or converter such that its actuator or motor is supplied with substantially the same voltage and / or electrical current as the actuator or motor of the, or each, other actuator or motor.

23. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication comprises a wireless mesh network, preferably having a partial or full mesh topology.

24. A lifting system according to Claim 23, wherein each wireless communication device comprises a node of the wireless mesh network.

25. A lifting system according to Claim 23 or Claim 24, wherein the wireless mesh network is dynamically and / or automatically adaptable to the addition or removal of one or more wireless communication devices to or from the network.

26. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each wireless communication device is configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more other wireless communication devices in the system, preferably by pairing and / or associating and / or mutually registering unique identifiers (e.g. MAC addresses), with one or more other wireless communication devices in the system.

27. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication comprises Bluetooth, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE, preferably BLE 5.0), or ZigBee, or ESP-NOW, or IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi).

28. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each wireless communication device is configured to emit wireless advertising packets for reception by one or more other wireless communication devices in the system, to initiate the wireless communication.

29. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein each wireless communication device is configured to scan for wireless advertising packets emitted by one or more other wireless communication devices in the system, to initiate the wireless communication.

30. A lifting system according to Claim 28 or Claim 29, wherein each wireless communication device is configured to perform in a dynamic dual mode topology as: (a) advertiser and / or server; and (b) scanner and / or client.

31. A lifting system according to Claim 29 or Claim 30, wherein each wireless communication device is configured to determine the received signal strength (e.g. RSSI) and / or a unique identifier (e.g. MAC address) of each wireless advertising packet received from another wireless communication device in the system.

32. A lifting system according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication comprises an open loop control system.

33. A lifting system according to Claim 13 or Claim 16, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein each user-actuatable switch is configured such that its actuation causes the lifting member and / or actuator of the, or each, jack in communication therewith and / or connected thereto, to operate only while the switch is being actuated.

34. A lifting system according to Claim 12 or claim 15, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the control electronics are configured to control each actuator of each jack by issuing and / or receiving control commands, preferably discrete control commands, preferably a series of discrete control commands.

35. A lifting system according to Claim 34, wherein the control commands may be issued and / or received wirelessly and / or electronically.

36. A lifting system according to Claim 34 or Claim 35, wherein, in use, each control command and / or series of discrete control commands, is initiated by the user actuation of a said user-actuatable switch.

37. A lifting system according to Claim 34 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the user actuation of a user-actuatable switch of a control electronics in the system initiates the wireless emission of a control command, or a series of control commands, by that control electronics, for wireless reception of the control command, or the series of control commands, by all of the other control electronics in the system.

38. A lifting system according to Claim 37, wherein if the user-actuatable switch is on a jack, its actuation causes the control electronics of that jack to move the lifting member of that jack via its actuator.

39. A lifting system according to Claim 37 or Claim 38, wherein the wireless emission of the control command, or series of control commands, causes the control electronics of all of the jacks, or all of the other jacks, of the system to move their lifting members via their respective actuators.

40. A lifting system according to Claim 30 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the control electronics of each jack is configured to count the number of discrete control commands wirelessly received from an emitting control electronics within a predetermined period of time, and to emit a wireless signal indicative of the counted number of discrete control commands for reception by the emitting control electronics.

41. A lifting system according to Claim 40, wherein the emitting control electronics is configured to count the number of discrete control commands that it wirelessly emitted, and to perform a comparison between the emitted number andthe counted number of wirelessly received discrete control commands from each other control electronics in the system.

42. A lifting system according to Claim 41 , wherein if any said comparison shows the wirelessly received counted number of discrete control commands received by any specific control electronics is a number x less than the number of discrete control commands wirelessly emitted, then the emitting control electronics is configured to wirelessly emit x number of additional discrete control commands addressed only to that or those specific control electronics.

43. A lifting system according to Claim 12 or claim 15, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the control electronics include a debounce system and / or a delay system configured to avoid processing and / or communication and / or actuation errors.

44. A lifting system according to Claim 13 or claim 16, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the one or more user-actuatable switches include a wireless communication switch configured to switch the wireless communication on and off.

45. A portable electrically powered jack, comprising: a movable lifting member; an actuator configured to move the lifting member; and a wireless communication device configured to enable wireless communication with one or more other identical jacks, such that the movements and / or positions of their respective lifting members may be controlled and / or coordinated.

46. A portable electrically powered jack according to Claim 45 and according to any one of claims 1 to 44.

47. A portable electrically powered jack of a lifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 44.

Images