Vehicle Lifting Platform With Horizontal Actuator and Stable Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lifting platforms face issues such as obstructing access beneath the raised platform, requiring multiple actuators and guide columns, being complex and expensive, and failing to maintain horizontality under unbalanced loads, while also being cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A vertical movement platform using a single actuator, chains or ropes, and a carriage system with safety locking, ensuring horizontal stability and accessibility without synchronized pinions, and allowing installation without guide columns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single hydraulic actuator is arranged vertically in the center of the platform, then the platform can be lifted vertically, but the actuator obstructs access to the space beneath the raised platform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical actuator arrangement (obstructing access) to a horizontal actuator arrangement (allowing access). The single hydraulic actuator is positioned horizontally at one end of the platform, changing the spatial dimension of the lifting mechanism and eliminating the obstruction to access beneath the platform.
2Ease of operation
If two hydraulic actuators are placed vertically in correspondence with guide columns, then accessibility is improved, but the construction becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple actuators and guide columns into a single actuator system. The horizontal actuator at one end of the platform works in conjunction with a carriage system and chain mechanism to achieve both lifting and maintaining horizontality, eliminating the need for two separate actuators and their corresponding guide columns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carriage system and chain mechanism as intermediary elements between the horizontal actuator and the platform. These intermediaries transmit the lifting force and maintain platform horizontality, replacing the need for multiple actuators and guide columns while preserving accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If two horizontal hydraulic actuators are used with synchronized pinions, then accessibility is achieved, but the system becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of two horizontal actuators and synchronized pinion systems into a single horizontal actuator with a carriage mechanism. The carriage system inherently synchronizes the movement of the chain and platform, eliminating the need for complex synchronization devices while maintaining accessibility.
4Power
If chains are used for vertical movement with synchronized pinions, then lifting is achieved, but the system becomes complex and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the synchronized pinion mechanism from the chain system. The carriage system directly engages with the chain and platform, removing the need for synchronization devices while preserving the lifting capability through the horizontal actuator and carriage mechanism.
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 platform provides accessible space beneath, is simple, economical, reliable, and stable, maintaining horizontal positioning even with unbalanced loads, and reduces construction and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical movement platform for motor vehicles (2) which comprises a platform (2) and a movement system comprising a single hydraulic actuator (26)
Implementation Method 2
a carriage (18) provided with rollers (20) for supporting and idle sliding along the sections (12), and two chains (32, 32') fixed with their ends to the carriage (18) and to fixed points (35, 35') located at the upper end of guide columns (36, 36')
Implementation Method 3
two pinions (34, 34') fixed to the carriage (18) and two other pinions (38, 38') fixed to the carriage (18), with the pinions (34, 34', 38, 38') engaged by the chains (32, 32')
Implementation Method 4
a carriage (18) provided with rollers (20) for supporting and idle sliding along the sections (12)
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting platform for motor vehicles includes: a platform for receiving a motor vehicle; at least one actuator mounted on the platform; at least two pairs of flexible traction elements, constrained with one end to fixed points and configured to be subjected to traction by the at least one actuator and thus cause the lifting of the platform; return means of the flexible traction elements and a carriage, stably attached to the at least one actuator and sliding along longitudinal rails, which are fixed to the platform and are constituted by metal guide profiles of rollers, mounted idle on the carriage, or by runners. The profiles are provided with a horizontal sliding wing of the rollers or shoes, presenting openings for engagement of locking devices applied to the carriage itself, to which the other end of the flexible traction elements is stably fixed.