Telescoping Jack with Segmented Actuators for Stable Truck Lifting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single cylinder jacks used for lifting large capacity trucks, such as open pit mining haulage trucks, are inefficient, unsafe, and prone to operator injury due to their instability, slow operation, and requirement for manual handling, especially in cold climates.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping jack with multiple actuators and locking assemblies that allows for remote operation, providing stability and safety by lifting multiple points simultaneously, reducing the need for manual intervention and enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cylinder jack is used to lift large capacity trucks, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability and safety of the lifting operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single cylinder jack is divided into multiple independent cylinders (typically four), with each cylinder independently supporting one corner of the truck. This segmentation allows the lifting load to be distributed across multiple stable support points, significantly improving lifting stability and safety while maintaining reasonable device complexity through modular design
2Use of energy by moving object
If a single cylinder jack operates slowly (20-30 minutes per lift), then the energy consumption is reduced, but the productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the lifting function into multiple independent cylinders operating simultaneously, the total lifting task is parallelized. Each cylinder lifts one corner of the truck at the same time, reducing the overall lifting time from 20-30 minutes to approximately 5-10 minutes, thereby improving productivity while maintaining energy efficiency through coordinated operation
3Ease of operation
If the operator manually handles the single cylinder jack, then the ease of operation is improved, but the operator safety deteriorates due to exposure to falling debris
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting function is segmented into multiple independent cylinders positioned at different locations under the truck. This allows the operator to work from a safe distance, monitoring and controlling each cylinder independently through remote controls or automated sequences, eliminating the need to stand under the truck and exposing the operator to falling debris while maintaining ease of operation
4Device complexity
If only one point or corner is lifted at a time by existing jacks, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability of the lifted truck deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The truck is divided into four lifting zones corresponding to its four corners, with one cylinder assigned to each zone. All four cylinders operate simultaneously to lift all corners of the truck at the same time, creating a stable, level lifting position throughout the entire vehicle rather than creating instability from sequential single-point lifting, while keeping the mechanism relatively simple through independent cylinder design
Data Source
AI summary
A jack, comprising: a top plate having at least one adapter block mounted thereon and adapted to contact a load; an intermediate plate; a base plate; a first pair of actuators coupled between the base and intermediate plates; and, a second pair of actuators coupled between respective lowered portions of the intermediate plate and the top plate; wherein one of the first pair of actuators is positioned on the base plate on either side of the respective lowered portions; wherein the actuators are operable to move the top and intermediate plates between respective lowered and raised positions to thereby lower and raise the load; and, wherein a top adapter plate of the at least one adapter block is operable to slide between first and second positions across the top plate as the load is raised and lowered to maintain alignment of the top, intermediate, and base plates below the load.