Automatic Slide-Forward Bridge for Consumer Jack Stands
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consumer lifting devices face manufacturing and assembly challenges due to intricate designs, high scrap rates, and reliability issues, particularly with lift arms and slide-forward bridges, and have limited elevation range, making them costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A robust consumer lifting device with a power unit featuring a rectangular frame base, parallel lift arms, and an automatic-slide-forward-bridge assembly using compression springs and tubular bushing guides for smooth operation and extended elevation, along with a three-stage jack stand design for increased range and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a commercial quality lifting device with many castings and machined parts is used, then the device strength and reliability are improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is divided into separate functional modules: a power unit with lift arms and a separate jack stand with bridge assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability through specialized design of each module.
Solution Approach 2:
A bridge assembly serves as an intermediary component between the power unit and the jack stand, enabling the power unit to function as a load-lifting jack. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to achieve commercial-quality functionality without requiring the entire system to be manufactured as a single complex integrated unit.
2Strength
If a complex design with many castings and machined parts is used, then the device strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost and scrap rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into modular components (power unit, jack stand, bridge assembly), each part can be manufactured using simpler, more cost-effective processes. The bridge assembly can be produced as a separate component with optimized manufacturing, reducing scrap rates associated with complex integrated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates consumer-quality components that are sufficiently strong for intended use but manufactured at lower cost. The bridge assembly and jack stand are designed as replaceable components that can be manufactured economically, sacrificing some durability for significantly reduced manufacturing cost and scrap rate.
3Ease of operation
If the lift arms are designed with extruded cylindrical recessed channels for compression springs, then the bridge can be automatically positioned, but the manufacturing difficulty and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring mechanism is extracted from the lift arm structure and relocated to the bridge assembly itself. This extraction eliminates the need for complex recessed channels in the lift arms, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly while preserving the automatic positioning function through the spring mechanism's inherent design.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge assembly serves as the intermediary structure that houses the compression spring mechanism. This intermediary design allows the spring to automatically position the bridge without requiring modifications to the lift arms, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining automatic positioning functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the bridge is designed to automatically slide forward using compression springs, then the power unit can function as a load-lifting jack, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dual functionality is achieved through segmentation: the power unit provides lifting capability while the separate bridge assembly provides the automatic sliding mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with standard precision tolerances rather than requiring tight tolerances across the entire integrated system, while still achieving versatile operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring mechanism in the bridge assembly provides self-service automatic positioning without requiring high-precision manufacturing. The spring's inherent elastic properties enable the bridge to automatically slide forward and position itself, reducing dependence on manufacturing precision while maintaining dual functionality as both a jack stand and load-lifting jack.
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
The solution enhances manufacturing efficiency, assembly reliability, and user durability, providing a cost-effective, robust, and reliable lifting system with improved elevation range and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
Each side of the lift bridge has an inner longitudinal channel for engaging the outward flange of the respective leveling pad, and each side further has a finger extending rearward from the rectangular plate with a flange extended downward for abutting the rearward edge of the leveling pad
Implementation Method 2
automatic-slide-forward-bridge assembly using compression springs and tubular bushing guides for smooth operation
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic-slide-forward-lift bridge for use with a jack stand power unit. The power unit has a rectangular frame base and a pair of parallel lift arms with forward ends for raising and lowering the jack stand. The lift arms have leveling pads attached to the forward ends. Each leveling pad includes a rectangular plate oriented vertically having a rearward edge and an upper surface with a flange extending outward for use with the lift bridge, and for use with a compression spring mechanism for biasing the bridge toward the forward ends of the lift arms. The lift bridge comprises a rectangular plate having an upper surface, a bottom surface, a forward end and a pair of sides. Each side of the lift bridge has an inner channel for engaging the outward flange of the respective leveling pad, and each side further has a finger extending rearward from the rectangular plate with a flange extended downward for abutting the rearward edge of the leveling pad.