Hydraulic Support Arm Positioning for Vehicle Lifts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting devices for vehicles and loads face challenges in precisely and quickly adjusting and locking the pivot position of support arms, especially with long arms where exact positioning at vehicle receiving points is difficult due to predetermined intervals and manual operation limitations.
Innovation Solution
A lifting device equipped with a positioning device that can autonomously adjust and lock the pivot position of support arms, utilizing hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, or electromagnetically driven mechanisms, allowing for precise control and locking without external energy for manual operation, and featuring a double-acting hydraulic cylinder with an overflow pipe for immediate locking and wear-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a locking device with truncated cone-shaped gearwheel and sprocket is used, then the support arms can be locked at predetermined intervals, but the positioning precision is insufficient for long support arms where load receiving elements lie far from each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical locking device with a hydraulic positioning device. The hydraulic cylinder with piston and rod directly positions the support arm at any desired angle within the pivot region, eliminating the need for truncated cone-shaped gearwheels and sprockets. This substitution provides continuous positioning capability rather than discrete intervals, achieving precise alignment with vehicle receiving points while simplifying the overall locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a hydraulic positioning device comprising a hydraulic cylinder, piston, and piston rod. The hydraulic system enables smooth, controlled movement of the support arm to any pivot position and maintains the position through hydraulic pressure. The double-acting hydraulic cylinder with overflow pipe provides immediate locking without wear, as the hydraulic fluid itself maintains the position without mechanical contact for positioning.
2Productivity
If manual operation of locking device is required, then device complexity is reduced, but operational speed and efficiency are insufficient for quick adjustment and locking
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic positioning device is designed to be autonomously transferable into a locking position. When the support arm reaches the desired pivot position, the hydraulic system automatically locks the position without requiring external manual intervention or additional energy input for locking. The system serves itself by using the hydraulic pressure already present in the system to maintain and lock the position.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic positioning device performs the positioning action in advance during the lifting operation. As the support moves upward, the hydraulic piston automatically adjusts and locks the support arm at the correct pivot position before the lifting operation is completed. This preliminary positioning ensures that the support arm is correctly aligned with the vehicle receiving points before the vehicle is fully supported.
3Ease of operation
If a positioning device is provided to enable autonomous positioning and locking, then positioning precision and operational speed are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the positioning function and locking function into a single integrated hydraulic device. The hydraulic cylinder with piston and rod performs both positioning (moving the support arm to the desired angle) and locking (maintaining the position) functions. This merging eliminates the need for separate positioning mechanisms and locking devices, reducing overall system complexity despite adding hydraulic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic positioning device serves multiple functions: it positions the support arm at any pivot position within the pivot region, locks the position autonomously, and integrates with the existing lifting mechanism. The double-acting hydraulic cylinder with overflow pipe provides both positioning control and wear-free locking capability, making the device universally applicable to various support arm configurations.
4Reliability
If traditional locking mechanisms with mechanical contact are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but wear occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a double-acting hydraulic cylinder with an overflow pipe to achieve wear-free locking. The hydraulic fluid transmits force without mechanical contact for positioning, eliminating wear between moving parts. The overflow pipe allows immediate locking by equalizing pressure between piston chambers, providing reliable position maintenance without the wear that would occur in mechanical contact-based locking systems.
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 simple and quick adjustment and locking of support arms in any pivot position, ensuring precise alignment with vehicle receiving points, reducing wear, and eliminating the need for external energy for locking, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the positioning device is formed as a hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or electromagnetically driven positioning device or as a linear drive
Implementation Method 2
A preferred embodiment of the lifting device provides that the positioning device is formed as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which is formed as a double-acting cylinder having equal-sized piston surfaces in the chambers of the positioning device, which are connected to an overflow pipe
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a lifting apparatus for lifting and lowering vehicles, loads or the like, with a support (17) which is movable up and down and on which support (17) a load receiving means (18) is provided, wherein the load receiving means (18) has at least one supporting arm (21) which is mounted on the support (17) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (22), and with a locking device (37), which locking device (37) fixes the supporting arm (21) in an adjusted position with respect to the support (17), wherein the locking device (37) is released in the lowered state of the support (17) and, when the support (17) is raised, is locked and secures the adjusted pivoted position of the supporting arm (21) with respect to the support (17), wherein the locking device (37) comprises at least one actuable adjusting device (38) which is effective for the positioning of the supporting arm (21) in a pivoted position with respect to the support (17) and is automatically transferable into a locking position and fixes the adjusted pivoted position of the support (17).