Swing Arm Linkage for Low-Profile Vehicle Lifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle lift devices face challenges with low-height, wide-width vehicles, requiring large operating forces, difficulty in miniaturization, and unreliable locking mechanisms, especially when dealing with vehicles having aero parts that obscure the lift point, making it hard to position and lift vehicles efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle lift device utilizing a link coupling body with a first and second parallelogram link mechanism, an arm locking means, and a vehicle holding tool that can shift in the longitudinal and vehicle width directions, allowing for easy insertion and locking of the tool at the lift point without requiring direct access to the lower part of the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sliding arm is extended and retracted by straightly sliding the respective arms, then the bracket can be positioned at the lift point, but the arms may touch the vehicle body when the vehicle has low height and wide width

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning of bracket at lift pointVSAvoidcontact between arms and vehicle body

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional sliding mechanism by using a swing arm that rotates about a pivot point instead of sliding linearly. This rotational movement allows the arm to clear the vehicle body while still reaching the lift point, solving the problem of arm-vehicle contact in low-height, wide-width vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear sliding motion to two-dimensional rotational swing motion. By adding the angular dimension of rotation about the pivot point, the arm can position the bracket at the lift point while maintaining clearance from the vehicle body through arc-shaped trajectory.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the intermediate arm is inserted into the rectangular cross section of the proximal arm and the distal arm is inserted into the intermediate arm, then the arms can be stored inside each other, but the contact area is large requiring large operating force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage of arms inside each otherVSAvoidoperating force for sliding arms

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains the nesting principle where the distal arm is stored within the intermediate arm, and the intermediate arm is stored within the proximal arm when not in use. This compact storage arrangement is achieved through rotational collapse about the pivot point rather than linear telescoping, reducing contact friction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Volume of moving object

If the intermediate arm and distal arm are inserted into the proximal arm having small areas, then miniaturization can be achieved, but the arms need cross section dimensions for ensuring certain strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of swing arm componentsVSAvoidstrength of arms with reduced cross section

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the distal and intermediate arms within the proximal arm's cross-sectional area before operation. This allows the arms to be stored in a compact configuration without requiring excessive cross-sectional dimensions, while maintaining sufficient strength through optimized material distribution and structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Strength

If the vehicle weight acts on contact surfaces of the respective arms, then the arms can support the vehicle, but free sliding is inhibited and locking becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport capability of armsVSAvoidfree sliding and locking of arms

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the support mechanism from linear sliding contact to rotational pivot contact. The swing arm rotates about a pivot point where the vehicle weight acts, converting the sliding friction problem into a rotational bearing problem. This allows free movement during positioning while enabling reliable locking through the pivot mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3159298B1Lift device for vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.04.10 YASUI KK

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AI summary

In a vehicle lift device (100) including a pair of right and left lifting frames (10) installed on right and left sides of a maintenance work area (A) of a vehicle to be serviced (1), and a pair of front and rear swing arms (20, 50) supported at two respective front and rear positions of a lifting platform (11) included in each of the lifting frames (10), and allowed to be lifted and lowered along with the lifting platform (11), each of the swing arms (20, 50) includes a link coupling body (20A, 50A) obtained by connecting a plurality of links, a base link (21, 51) included in the link coupling body (20A, 50A) is fixed to the lifting platform (11) of the lifting frame (10), and a distal link (22, 52) included in the link coupling body (20, 50A) includes a vehicle holding tool (30, 60).