Hydraulic Floor Jack with Integrated Pawl Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic floor jacks require additional jack stands for safe vehicle support, which are cumbersome and limited in placement, especially for vehicles with unibody construction, and cannot roll while raising vehicles oriented other than parallel to the wheels.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic floor jack with a wheeled frame and integrated support mechanism featuring parallel linear racks, pawls, and a biasing mechanism that allows the jack to roll and secure in any orientation, using a pawl release mechanism to engage and disengage the support as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional floor jack is used to raise a vehicle, then the vehicle can be elevated to the desired height, but additional jack stands are required to safely support the vehicle while the user works underneath
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the floor jack and jack stand into a single integrated device. The jack stand is built into the floor jack structure, allowing the same device to both lift the vehicle and provide safe support during maintenance work, eliminating the need for separate jack stands
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions: it acts as both a hydraulic floor jack for lifting vehicles and as a jack stand for safe support during work underneath. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of equipment pieces needed
2Reliability
If jack stands are used in combination with a floor jack, then vehicle support safety is improved, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the floor jack and jack stand into one device, the user only needs to position and operate a single piece of equipment rather than coordinating multiple separate devices, significantly reducing the time and effort required for vehicle support operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional jack stand is used, then it can support the vehicle at a second location, but it cannot occupy the same space as the floor jack and requires additional placement locations
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design allows the jack stand mechanism to be positioned at the same location as the floor jack, eliminating the need for a second support location. The single device provides both lifting and support functions at one point on the vehicle frame
4Reliability
If existing floor jacks with integrated supports are used, then they can support the vehicle, but they cannot roll along the ground while the vehicle is being raised because the jack stand is pressed solidly to the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic support mechanism where the jack stand can transition between a raised position (allowing the jack to roll freely during vehicle lifting) and a lowered position (pressing to the ground for stable support). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between mobility and stability
5Stability of the object's composition
If the jack stand is pressed solidly to the ground during vehicle raising, then vehicle support stability is improved, but the floor jack cannot roll along the support surface
Solution Approach 1:
The jack stand's position is made dynamic rather than fixed. During vehicle raising, the stand is raised off the ground to allow jack mobility. When support is needed, the stand is lowered to press against the ground for stability. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between stability and mobility
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 vehicle support in any orientation without the need for additional jack stands, allowing the floor jack to roll freely during raising and lowering, overcoming the limitations of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing mechanism is coupled to the frame such that the biasing mechanism engages the support and linear rack assembly to maintain the support in a disengaged position in which the support remains suspended above the support surface
Implementation Method 2
A pair of pawls is interconnected via a pawl connector and each pawl is hingedly coupled to a slide structure. The pawls are configured to successively engage teeth of the racks
Implementation Method 3
A hydraulic floor jack with an integrated support... hydraulic systems, commonly used in floor jacks and other vehicle jacks
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic floor jack with an integrated support is disclosed. The floor jack can be used with the floor jack oriented in any orientation relative to the orientation of a vehicle to be raised. The support remains suspended above the ground allowing the floor jack to roll along the ground while the vehicle is being raised. The support is then biased firmly on the ground, under weight of the vehicle, while the vehicle is suspended. A method of use of a hydraulic floor jack is also disclosed.