Adjustable Wheel Cradle Jack for Lawn Mower Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting solutions for small wheeled utility vehicles like lawn mowers are inadequate, as they are either too heavy for manual lifting, require inconvenient and time-consuming use of multiple jacks and stands, and often necessitate transporting the vehicle to a service facility for maintenance, which is costly and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A mobile jack with provisions for locking the front wheels of the vehicle, allowing for stable and secure lifting by actuation of a lever, featuring adjustable cradles and a ratcheting mechanism for easy operation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional automotive jacks are used to lift small utility vehicles, then the vehicle can be elevated, but the jack becomes unstable and requires additional jack stands, making the process inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the jack lifting mechanism with wheel clamps that directly secure the vehicle wheels to the jack structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate jack stands and reduces the number of components required, making the system both stable and easy to operate as a single integrated unit
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel clamps are designed to engage and secure the vehicle wheels before the lifting operation begins. This preliminary securing action ensures stability is established prior to elevation, eliminating the need for subsequent stabilization steps and simplifying the overall operation
2Device complexity
If manual lifting is attempted for small utility vehicles, then no additional equipment is needed, but the vehicle weight exceeds the lifting strength of the average person
Solution Approach 1:
The jack is designed with a mechanical advantage system that allows the user to leverage their body weight and mechanical leverage to lift the vehicle. The ratcheting mechanism and lever arm provide self- amplifying force multiplication, enabling the average person to lift heavy vehicles without requiring additional powered equipment
3Reliability
If the vehicle is transported to a central service facility for maintenance, then professional servicing is available, but time and money are lost due to transportation and waiting
Solution Approach 1:
The jack enables the vehicle owner to perform maintenance operations independently at their own location. By providing the capability to safely elevate and secure the vehicle, the system allows owners to conduct their own servicing operations, eliminating the need to transport the vehicle to professional facilities and significantly reducing service time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient servicing of small wheeled utility vehicles by allowing the user to lift and stabilize the vehicle for maintenance without the need for external facilities, saving time and money while ensuring accessibility to undercarriage components.
Implementation Method 1
featuring adjustable cradles and a ratcheting mechanism for easy operation
Implementation Method 2
The jack is easy to operate by actuation of a lever to raise and lower the lawn mower
Data Source
AI summary
A jack for lifting a small wheeled utility vehicle such as a lawn mower. The jack includes spaced bars having a lever actuated jacking mechanism therebetween. A base cross bar is carried by the jacking mechanism up and down the same and has spaced cradles for receiving the wheels of the utility vehicle therein. The spacings between the cradles and within the cradles are adjustable for adapting to the wheels of the vehicle. The jack also includes a base bar extending away from the bars for stabilizing the same and movable to a stored position.