US2057335A - Multipost lift - Google Patents

Description

|. v. Kg HOTT 2,057,335

MULTIPOST LIFT Filed Aug. .15, i935 4 sheets-sheet 1 Nw, NN. nw f -m n a.

V oci. 13, 1936.

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` his ATaHA/Ex l. v.K. HoTr` .MULTIPOST LIFT Filed Aug. 15, 1935 Oct. 13, 1936.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVEN TDR; /a/v V. K. HU 7' 7.'

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Oct- 13, ,1936. l. v. K, HOTT MULTIPOSTLIFT Filed Aug. l5, 1935 sheets-sheet s in... w N V2 u MN/N m NN ,m/

h/FATTNEK l. V. K. HOTT MULTIPOST LIFT Oct. 13, 1936.

Filed Aug. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllllllkl /7/5 A TTU/7N: )i

Patented 13. .1.936 l UNITED "STATES: PATENT] ori-"ics 1 I 2.051.835 v l .limiueezien nume 1s. 198s, sensi No. sans inchino (CLzu-ssy i.

"rms invention relates to a multi-pest 1in and is designed primarily for elevating motor driven ')vehicles to permit access to be had to the underneath `parts thereof for servicing. vWhen the 5 vehicle is located ci! center on-a multi-post lift or when the vehicleis of greater weight at one end than at the other the load is unenually distributed between 'the lifting elements and that lifting velement having the lighter load will move )o a greater distance than the lifting element hav-' ing the heavier load which results in the tilting of the load supporting structure. If unrestrained the tilting of the load support will continue until it has reached an inclination which is dangerous.

"m Cne object of the present invention is to provide a fluid operated multi-post lift' in which the delivery of uid to the liftingv elements will be automatically controlled to cause these lifting elements to move substantially equal distances,

zo therebyv preventing any considerable tilting of.

` the load supportingstructure.

A further object of the invention-is to provide such a lift in which the flow of iluid to the lifting elements will be directly controlledby the f., initial tilting of the load supporting structure.v

' A further object of the invention isto provide such a lift in which the exhaust of the fluid from the cylinders `will also be controlled so that the load supporting structure: will be held against m' substantial tilting movement during the lowering o character above mentioned which vcan beeasily installed on existing lifts Without substantial4 modification` thereof. f

Other objectsv of the inventionmay appear as the mechanism is described in detail;v

. 4;5 g In the accompanying drawings'Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a multi-post lift embodying .my invention, with the lower portions o! the cylinders l broken away ;v Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the linel-l of Fig.` 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section takin'i on the line l--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is aside elevation, of the controlling mechanism, partly in section; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the lseveral conduits and their. controlling valves: Figi is a horizontal section p .'55 `taken on the-line 6--6 of Fig.- 4; Fig. 11s a tran-J1A are 'here shown as mounted in. guideways lfornied betweenathe vertical webs of the rails and pro.-

verse section .taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. U: Fig. 8 is a" transverse section taken on the line H of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a transversesection taken onthe line l-S of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on the line I0--I0 of Fig. 6; Fig. 11 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line lI--li of Fig. 6; Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section taken on the line l2|2 of Fig. 6.; and Fig. 13 is'a longitudinal section takenon the line I3-I3 of Fig. 6.

fIn these drawings I have illustrated che em- 10 bodiment of my invention and `have shown the, saine as' applied to a two post iluid operated lift, that is, a lift having a singlev lifting element at each end thereof. I have also shown the cylin- -ders of the lifting elements as sunk in the ground 15 but itiwill be understood that this particular em- [bcdiment has been chosen for the purpose of illustration onlyl and that the invention may take various forms and may be applied toiiuid oper- 1 ated lifts of various kinds having two or more "m lifting elements. v

lIn ythat embodiment of the invention here i1. lustrated the lift comprises two posts or lifting elements i! and i6 each of which comprises ay vertical cylinder I'I which, in the present in-- g5 stance, is 'sunk inthe lground, and a ram I8 `mounted for longitudinal moviientin the cylin v e of Vany suitable character is secured to the upper ends of the rams 1B, preferably in such a manner that it 30 5 may have tilting movement with relation thereto.

der. A load supporting struct The particular lift here shown is'of the free wheelv type and the load supporting structure comprises a pair of parallel rails I9 supported near their ends'on therespective rams I8. The 35 rails are here shown as H-beams and are thus provided withchannels -onn'the inner sides thereof, andplates are mounted in the Vcl'iannels of the respective rails adjacent to each ram. The plates 20, adjacent to the lifting element I6, are 40 rigidly secured to the rails, as by welding, andv are provided withl bearings 2l, here shown as inw'ardly extending bosses. Rigidly secured'to the upper end of the ram of the liftingqelement i6 is l a crossmember 22 having parts. Vsuch as the ends 45 of a shaft 23, rotatably mounted in the bearings 2i. Mounted in the channels of vthe rails il ade. jacent to\ the lifting-.element l5 are plates I 2l" which are. slidable lengthwisenof the-rails and iections 25 spaced from said ,weh These plates are also provided with bearings, vas shown at ,28,v

Aand a'. cross member 21 is .rigidly .secure-dto the 55 adjacent ram and provided with parts, such as the ends of a shaft 28, rotatably mounted in the bearings. Thus the load supporting structure is movable at one end about a fixed axis and at'its other end about an axis which is movable lengthwise thereof to compensate for the increased distance between the upper'ends of the rams when the latter are at different heights.

Connected with the'cylinders of the respective lifting elements are conduits 29 and 38 which are adapted to be connected with a suitable source 'of supply for fluid under pressure, Vsuch as a reservoir 3| adapted to contain oil under air pressure, air under pressure being delivered to the reservoir through a pipe 32 and exhausted therefrom through o. pipe 33, and the twol pipes being controlled by separate valves 34 in a well known manner.- A pipe 35 leads from`the reservoir 3| and is connected with the conduits 29 and 30 through suitable controlling mechanismvand is also provided with a cut-off valve 36.

The controlling mechanism comprises valves interposed between the reservoir pipe 35 and the conduits 29 and 30 and adapted to be controlled in accordance with the angular position of the load supporting structure I9 so that a slight initial tilting ofthe load supporting structure will reduce 'the flow of fluid `to the higher ram and thus retard its movement and prevent the further tilting of the load supporting structure. Referring rst to the diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 5,'lt will be noted that the conduit 29, which is connected with the lifting element I6, comprises two branches 31 and 38 and that the conduit 30 which is connected with the lifting e'lement i5 also comprises two branches 40 and 4|-, The branch 31 of conduit. is connected at that end remote from its lifting element with a main conduit 42 which is connected with the reservoir pipe 35. Mounted in this conduit is a. valve 43 which is normally open to permit the flow of fluid therethrough and which is provided with an actuating device, such as the valve stem 44. Interposed in the conduit 31, between the valve 43 and the main conduit 42, is a check valve 45 arranged to permit fluid to flow from the main conduit to the valve but to prevent fluid from flowing from the valve 43 back to the main conduit. The branch 38 of conduit 29 extends beyond the branch 31 and is connected with the main conduit 42. vA check valve 46 in the conduit 38 permits the flow of iiuid from the conduit 29 to the main conduit but prevents the flow of fluid from the main conduit to the conduit 29. The flow of fluid through the conduit 38 is controlled by a valve 41 having an actuating device or stem 48, this valve also being normally open. The branch 40 of conduit 30 is connected with the main conduit 42 and is provided with a normally open controlling valve 49, having an actuating device or stem 50, and with a check valve 5| to prevent fluid from flowing from the conduit 30 to the main conduit. The branch 4| of the conduit 38 extends to a point adjacent to the inner end of the conduit 31 and is connected with the main conduit 42 and is also provided with a check valve 52 to prevent fluid from flowing from the main conduit to the conduit 30 and with a normally open controlling valve 53 having an actuating device 54. During. the elevation of the load iiuid under pressure flows through the reservoir pipe 35, main conduit 42 and through the branch conduits 31 and 40 tothe conduits 29 and 30 which are connected respectively with the cylinders of lifting elements I6 and l5. The valves 43 and 49 are normally open so that fluid flows i'n substantially equal quantities to the two I lifting elements and when these. lifting elements carry substantially equal loads they will move upwardly in unison and the load supporting struc- 'ture will remain substantially horizontal, or if,

as in some cases, lt is normally supported at a slight inclination it will be retained at the predetermined angle. When the load is being lowered the fluid will ow from the cylinders, under pressure of the load, through conduits 29and 38 and branches 39 and 4| to the main conduit l42 and thence back to the reservoir. The valves 41 and 53 are likewise normally open and when the l lifting elements are equally loaded they will move downwardly in unison.

In order to cause the lifting elements to move at substantially the same speed and thus move substantially the same distances, thereby maintaining the load supporting structure in its horizontal position, I have provided means for automaticallyactuating the controlling valves ln the several branch conduits. This means is of such a character that when, during the elevation of the load, the load supporting structure is tilted the controlling valve in the branch conduit leading to the lifting element supporting the higher end of the load supporting structure will be closed or partially closed to restrict the supply of fluid to that lifting element, thereby retarding the movement of that end of the load supporting structure and preventing the further tilting thereof. The restriction of the flow of fluid to one lifting element will permit a greater flow of fluid to the other lifting element, thus providing the latter with additional power to lift the heavier load thereon. If, during the lowering of theload, the supporting structure tilts the valve in the branch conduit leading to the lifting element which supports the lower end of the load supporting structure will be closed or partly closed to restrict the escape of fluid from that lifting element and thus retard its downward movement.

-The means for actuating these valves may take various forms but it preferably comprises an actuating member 55, here shown in the form of a tubular rod, which is so connected with the load supporting structure that it will be moved by the tilting movement of that structure. Preferably it'is rigidly secured to the load supporting structure so that it will move with and will be tilted simultaneously with the tilting of the load supporting structure. In the present instance, the actuating device 55 is provided at its upper end with a transverse head 56 which is pivotally connected at 51 with a supporting member 58 which is rigidly but adjustably secured to and extends laterally from the cross member 22 which connects the rails to lifting element I6. Screws 59 which are threaded in the supporting member 58 engage the head 56 on opposite sides of its axis so as to establish a rigid connection between the actuating rod 55 and the load supporting structure, but the adjustment of the screws will enable the rod to be positioned at different angles with relation to the load supporting structure, as, for example, when the latter is normally supported at an angle. The actuating member 55 `extends downwardly into such relation to the valve actuating devices that its movement in one direction will operate the supply valve for the conduit leading to one lifting element and the exhaust valve in the conduit leading from the other lifting element. While both valves are operated only one 75 y mousse' valve is effective because the check valves prevent l the flow of fluid through the exhaust branch during the lifting of the load and through the supply branch during the lowering of theload. Inthe present apparatus the controlling valves are arranged in pairs,`\the' supply valve 43 and the exhaust 4valve 53 being arranged on one side of .the actuating member 55 andthe supply valve 49 and the exhaust valve 41 being arranged on the other side of the actuating member.

nected one'tothe other by cross members 69 which lie closer to and may, if desired,- contact,

.with the respective sides of theA actuating mem- `-ber close-the exhaust valve'leading from the lifting element which supports the lowerc end of the load supporting structure.

Referring nowto the detail drawings illustrating the conduits and their valves, Figs. 6 to 13, it

- leads from the mainconduit 42 to a valve cham and this valve chamber is connected by al port 99 with a passageway 'I0 leading to the conduit I9.

will b'e observed that these parts are formed in y a unitary structure having at its respectiveends parts 6i and 62 with which the conduits 29 and 30 `are connected, these: parts being herein referred to as valve casings. The severalparts of the unitary structure may be rigidly connected ,one with the other in any suitable manner, as by casting the same in one piece.. The supply branch for each conduit, 29and 39, and its valve, are in the valve casing; with which the conduit is connected, and the exhaust branch-for each of' said conduits extends tothe valve casing with which the other conduit is connected and has its valve in that valve casing. In the arrangement here illustrated the main conduit 42 vis connected at its ends 4with the respective valve casings and is connected betweenits ends with the reservoir pipe 35. The supplybranch conduit31, which connects the main conduit 42 with the conduitv 29 isformed in the valve casing 9i, (see Figs. 6, 9,

`and 10) and. comprises a transverse passageway 63 leading from the main lconduit 42 to a valve chamber 64 in which the supply valve 43 is mounted. 'I'his valve chamber 64 is connected by a port 65 with a passageway 66 leading to the conduit 29. Likewise'the branch 49'which con- "nects the main conduit 42 with the conduit 39 is formed in the valve casing 92, (Figs. 6, 7, and 8) vand comprises a transverse passageway 61 which Aber 99 in which the supply valve 49 is mounted The supply valves43 and 49 are held normally in their open positions by vsprings 9| and the checle valves 5I and 52 are interpovsedbetween the re- -lspect'ive transverse passageways the main conduit 42.

i Thereturnor exhaust conduit 99 which con?V nects the conduit 29 with the main conduit 42 comprises a transverse passageway 1|, Yin valve' casing 6i, (Figs. 9'and `1-0), which is connected'- with the passageway B9 leading to the conduit 29 and this transverse passagewayis connected by the' longitudinal portion of the branch .with-a second transverse passageway 12, in valve casing 92, (Figs. 6 and 12. w`hich leads to a valve cham- ,ber-13 in which the exhaust valve 41 is mounted, and this valve chamber is connected by a port 14 r The actuating devices for the valves of each pair are conactuating member.

Bland and 3 (Fig.4 8) ywith transverse .passageway I5 extend- .ins` above-the valve chamber 99 and connected through the ch'eck valve 49 with the main conduit 42. 'Ihe return or exhaust branch'll which yconnects the conduit 39 with themain conduit -42 comprises a transverse passageway 16, in valve casing 62, (Figs. 7 and 8) which is connected at one end with the passageway 19 leading to theA conduit 39 and is connected by the-'longitudinal portion of thev branch with a" transverse conduit 11, in valve casing 6|, (Figs. 6 and 9), which leads to a valve chamber' 18 in which the .exhaust valve 53 is mounted and this valve chamber 18' is connected by a port 19 (Fig. 10) with a transverse passageway 91|` leading through the check valve '45 t to the main conduit 42., ' I'he exhaust valves 41 and 53 are held normally in their openv positions by springs 9|. I

-The structure vwhichv includes the controlling valves and their conduits may be arranged in any suitable position below the load supporting struc-- ture andpreierably it is enclosed within 4ahousing.

82 which is sunkin the ground adjacent to one of the lifting elements and-the actuating member 55 is so mountedo'n the load supporting structure .that it will extend through the housing between. .the two pairs of valve actuating-members, an

opening 83 being provided inC the ground beneath the housing to receive the-lower portion of the While I have shown and described one embodiment of my'invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur tol a person skilled in the art.

Having now rmly'described my inventan, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-' I ent, is:

1. In a multi-post lift comprising a plurality of .uid operated elements and a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements and capable of `tilting movement with relation thereto, means for connecting the respective rlifting elements with a source of uid supply, each connecting means comprising a valve to control the i ow of fluid to its lifting element and a second .valve to control the return of jthe fluid from its lifting element to said source of supply, and means controlled by the tilting movement of said load supporting structure in one direction to actuate the supply valve for .one lifting element and the exhaust valve for another lifting element.

2. ,In a multi-post 'lift comprising a plurality of fluid operated lifting elements and a load supy porting structure carried by said lifting elements,

and 'capable of tilting movement with relation thereto, an actuating member rigidly connected with'said load supporting structure and operable l.'

.by the tilting movementl thereof, and means for connecting the respective lifting elements with aV source of huid supply,l each connecting means 'having a valve arranged on one side of said actuating membery and actuated by the movement thereof in one direction .tocontrol -the vflow of duid to its lifting element `and having 'a'second ing member and actuated by the movement thereof inthe other direction to control the flow of iiuid from its lifting element to said source of sup ply.

3.l In a multi-post lift comprising 'a plurality of fluid operated lifting elements and a load supporting strncture carried by said lifting elementsl and capable of tilting movement with relationl thereto, a.l main conduitl connected with a source- .65 valve arranged on the other' side of said actuattion thereby, one. valve of each pair being arof supply of fluid under pressure, means for delivering iiuid from said main conduit to each: lifting element to elevate said load supporting struc' ture and for returning fluid from each lifting element to said main conduit to lower-said load supporting structure, and means controlled by. the tilting movement of said load supporting structure in one direction 'to restrict t'heisupply of lfluid to one of said lifting elements whilefsaid structure is being elevated and to restrict the return of fluid from another of said liftingelements to said main conduit While said structure is being lowered. i A 4. In a multi-post lift comprising a plurality of fluid operated lifting elements and aloadsupporting structure carried by said lifting elements and capable of tilting movement with relation thereto, a main conduit connected with a source of supply of fluid under `pressure, a supply conduit and a return conduit connecting each lifting element with said main conduit, valves in r,said supply conduits and said return conduits, `and means actuated by the tilting of said load supporting structure in one direction to actuate the valves in the supply conduit of one lifting element and in the return conduit of another lifting element.

5. In a multi-post lift comprising a plurality of fluid operated lifting elements and a load' supporting structure carried by said lifting elements and capable of tilting movement with relation thereto, a main conduit connected with a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a supply conduit and a return conduit connecting each lifting element with a main conduit, valves in said supply conduits and said return conduits, yieldable means to retain said valves normally in their open positions, and means actuated by the tilting of said load supporting structure in one direction to close the valves in the supply conduit of one lifting element and in the return conduit of another lifting element while the valves in the other conduits remain open.

. 6. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of fluid operated lifting elements, a load supporting structure carried by said' lifting elements and capable of tilting movement with relation thereto, an actuating member connected with said load supporting structure and operable by the tilting movement thereof, conduits connected with the respective lifting elements, each conduit comprising a branch to supply fluid to its lifting element and a second branch to exhaust the fluid from its lifting element, and two pairs of valves mounted on opposite sides of said actuating memberfor operaranged in the supply branch of the conduit connected with one of said lifting elements and the other valve of that pair being arranged in the exhaust branch of the conduit connected withA the other lifting element.

7. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of uidopera ated lifting elements, a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements landI capable of tilting movement with relation thereto, an actuating member connected with said lload supporting structure andoperable by the tilting movement thereof, 'a main conduit connected with a source of fluid supply, two pairs of branch conduits to connect said main conduit with the respective lifting elements, each pair comprising a supply branch and an exhaust branch, check valves in the respective branch conduits to prevent the simultaneous Viiow of fluid through the two branches of either pair, controlling valves in the aosasss `respectivebranch conduits, means to hold said controlling valves normally in-their open positions, and means actuated by said actuating member to move said controlling valves toward their closed positions,.said controlling valves and the means for movingzthe same being so, arranged with relationto said actuating member that the movement of said actuating member in one direction will operate the valve in the supply branch leading to one lifting element and thevalve in the exhaust branch leading to another'lifting element, and the movement -of said actuating member in the other direction vwill operate the valve in the supply branch leading tothe last mentioned lifting element and the valve in the exhaust branch leading to the first mentioned lifting element.

8. Ina multi-post lift, fluid operated lifting elements near the respective ends of said lift, a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements ,andcapable of tilting movement, conduits leading to the respective lifting elements, a main conduit connected with a source of fluid supply. two 4valve casings each having a supply valve chamber and an exhaust valve chamber and having passageways connecting both valve chambers of the respective valve casings with said main conduit and' connecting said supply valve chambers with the/conduits leading to the respective lifting elements, and other passageways connecting the exhaust valve chamber of each casing with the conduit leading from the supply valve chamber of the other casing to the corresponding lifting element, a valve in each valve chamber, and means controlled by the tilting movement of said load supporting structure to selectively actuate said valves.

9. In a multi-post lift, lifting elements arranged near the respective ends of said lift and each comprising a vertical cylinder sunk in the ground and a ram mounted' for longitudinal movement in said cylindena load supporting structure mounted on said rams for tilting movement with relation thereto, a downwardly extending rod rigidly secured to said load supporting structure, conduits connecting the respectivecylinders with a source of fluid supply, each conduit comprising a branch to supply fluid to its cylinder and a second branch to return fluid from its cylinder to said source of supply, means for preventing the simultaneous flaw of uid through both branches of either conduit, 4a valve in each branch of each conduit, and actuating devices for said valves so arranged with relation to said rod that the tilting of said rod in one direction will cause the ,same to operate the valve in the supply branch of one conduit and the valve in the exhaust branch of 'the other conduit, and the tilting of said rod in the other direction will cause the same to operate the valve in the supply branch of the last mentioned conduit and' the valve in the exhaust branch of the first mentioned conduit.

10. In a' multi-post lift, fluid operated lifting elements near the respective ends of said lift, parallel rails supported by said lifting elements `and having longitudinal channels, plates rigidly mounted in said channels adjacent to one of said fluid supply, valves in the respective conduits.

and actuating devices'for said valves -so arrangedv with relation' to said actuating member that the movement imparted to said actuating member by the tilting of said load Supporting structure in one' direction will operate a valve in one of said conduits and movement imparted to said actuating member by the tilting of said load supporting structure in the other direction will operate a valve in the other of said conduits.

ION VON KERT HOTT.

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