US3223124A - Lift installation - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 14, 1965 l. v. K. HOTT LIFT INSTALLATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1962 INVENTOR. /0/\/ I//(- H0 TT IIIIIIIIIIIIIHH rill? HIS flTTOEA/EYS JIE. Z

Dec. 14, 1965 v. K. HOTT 3,223,124

LIFT INSTALLATION Filed June 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. IOA/ MK H077 BY AQW AM United States Patent Ohio Filed June 8, 1962, Ser. No. 201,151 1 Uaim. (Cl. 137636.1)

This invention relates to a lift installation and more particularly to means for controlling the operation of a lift jacking unit.

An object of this invention is to provide a valve housing and control structure for a lift installation, the top of which is substantially flush with the floor in which the lift installation is mounted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vehicle lift valve control structure in which accidental operation of the valve is prevented.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of a lift installation made in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the lift installation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the top of a valve housing and control structure used in the installation in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the housing and the control structure mounted therein taken along line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 and illustrating a valve and its control structure in side elevational view.

A lift installation made in accordance with this invention is illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 as comprising a vehicle lift including the usual jacking unit 12 embedded within a floor or support surface 14 and a superstructure 16. The vehicle lift 10 is of the type known as a frame contact lift. In the recent past, such lifts have been made with rotatable arms and a variety of slides and pads so that the users of the lifts may easily position the pads where desired to safely engage and lift a motor vehicle. The jacking unit 12 may be of any conventional hydraulic or semi-hydraulic type. In FIG- URE 2, a semi-hydraulic type of jacking unit is shown utilizing an air line or tube 18 which passes through the floor 14, through the base of the jacking unit 12, and

3,223,124 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 "ice of the lift may kneel or bend down to properly position the various arms or pads as are required to safely engage the vehicle and at the same time control the vertical movement of the lift superstructure 16. In this way, the user of the lift may constantly check to see that the vehicle frame engaging portions of the lift superstructure 16 remain properly positioned until fully engaged with the vehicle frame.

In accordance with this invention, a control box 22 is embedded within the floor 14 adjacent the lift 10 as shown best in FIGURES l and 2. The air line or tube 18 is connected to the control box 22 through a fitting 23 mounted on the side of the box 22. A second air line or tube 24 is also connected to the side of the control box 22 by a similar fitting 23 and is directed to a source of air under pressure (not shown).

Referring to FIGURES 2 through 5, the control box 22 is illustrated as comprising a generally rectangular housing 25 embedded within the floor 14. A supporting framework 26 is welded to the top of the housing 25, the framework 26 comprising angle members placed in a rectangular array such that the top surface of the framework 26 is flush with the top surface of the floor 14. A square bead 28 is welded to the internal face of the framework 26, providing a support for a top or cover plate 30 which has a central, rectangular aperture 32 therein for receiving portions of a valve control structure described below. The top or cover plate 30 may be fixed in relation to the remainder of the box 22 by means of corner supports 34 welded to the bead 28, the corner supports being apertured to receive screws 36 which also pass through aligned apertures in the corners of the cover plate 30. A drain pipe 38 may be connected to the base of the box 22 to avoid accumulation of water therein.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the box 22 houses an air valve structure 50, the operation of which is coninto a piston 20. Upon introduction of air under pressure into the piston 20, oil within the jacking unit 12 is forced downwardly through a metering structure (not shown) in the base of the piston 20, causing the piston 20 and the superstructure 16 to rise.

In the past, air under pressure has been introduced into the lift jacking unit from a source of air under pressure, such as an air compressor, the passage of air being controlled by a valve member mounted considerably above the vehicle lift, normally on or adjacent a vertical wall near the lift. Such location of the valve or control structure for controlling the passage of air to a lift jacking unit used to be the most convenient since, in the past, a motor vehicle was merely driven over or onto a vehicle lift, the control structure being operated to elevate the vehicle. However, since present day frame contact lifts normally must be positioned relative to the underbody of the vehicle after the vehicle is driven over the lift, a control structure mounted well above a floor, such as 14, is an inconvenience. In accordance with this invention, the control structure is placed so that the operator or user trolled by a novel valve operating mechanism 51 made in'accordance with this invention. Since the valve 50 may be conventional, the details of construction thereof are not described herein. Briefly, the valve 50 may be a poppet type valve including an air inlet section 52 and an air exhaust section 54. The inlet section 52 communicates with an air inlet port 24a connected by its associated fitting 23 to the air line or tube 24. A center port 18a is similarly adapted to be connected to the jacking unit line or tube 18. An exhaust port 56 is provided on the left side of the casting forming the valve 50 as viewed in FIGURE 4. If desired, a mufiler 57 may be provided to reduce the noise associated with exhausting air from the jacking unit 12.

The passage of air to and from the jacking unit 12 through the line 18 is controlled by a pair of spring biased valve stems or plungers, namely an air inlet plunger 58 and an air exhaust plunger 60. Both plungers 58 and 60 are biased upwardly. Should the inlet plunger 58 be depressed, air under pressure will be forced through the port 18a and the line 18 into the jacking unit 12. Similarly, should the exhaust plunger 60 be depressed, air will be exhausted from the jacking unit 12 through the line 18 and the muffler 57 to atmosphere.

A cylindrical, upright, support rod 62, integral with the remainder of the valve 50, is located centrally thereof. The upper portion of the rod 62 is slotted to provide a pair of opposed, upwardly projecting ears 64 straddling a valve stem rocker arm 66 which is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis by a rocker arm pivot pin 68 passing centrally through the support rod 62. The valve stem rocker arm 66 is of a conventional type having opposed lower surfaces, designated 70, adapted to engage the valve stems or plungers 58, 60 to control the operation of the valve 50. The upper, arcuate surface of the rocker arm 66 is generally concave and is adapted to be engaged by opposed, depending arms 74 forming part of a treadle 76 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis upon the ears 64 by means of a treadle pivot pin 78. It will be noted in FIGURE 5 that the axes of rotation of the rocker arm 66 and the treadle 76 are parallel. Accordingly, pivotal movement of the needle 76 in a clockwise direction, as v'iwed in FIGURE 4, causes the rocker arm 66 to similarly pivot in a clockwise direction forcing the inlet valve stem or plunger 58 downwardl Counter= clockwise rotation of the treadle 76 as viewed in FIGURE 4 likewise forces the exhaust stem or plunger 60 downwardly.

Movement of the treadle 76 is controlled in accordance with this invention by a treadle control handle, generally designated 80, having an elongated rod portion 82 and a hollow, cylindrical knob portion 84 connected to the top of the rod portion 82. The rod portion 82 is shown as generally rectangular in cross-section and is received for vertical sliding movement within a rectangular bore 86 formed at an inclined angle in the body of the treadle 76. As shown best in FIGURE 5, the bore 86 projects between the upper surface of the treadle 76 and a flared side portion thereof;

Normally, the lno b portion 84 rests on top of the treadle 76 as shown in full lilies iii 3 and in FIGURES 4 and 5. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, however, the knob portion 84 may be pulled upwardly whereupon the rod portion 82 moves vertically through the bore 86. Dotted lines 80a in FIGURE 3 represent the position of the handle 80 when first pulled upwardly and is a neutral position for the control structure, neither plunger 58 nor 60 being actuated thereby. Should the handle 80 be moved to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3 into the dotted line position 80b, the inlet stem or plunger 58 is depressed, whereupon air under pressure will be introduced to the jacking unit to raise the superstructure 16. Movement of the control handle 80 into the dotted line position 800 shown in FIGURE 3 exhausts air from the jacking unit through the muffler 57 to lower the superstructure 16. As a safety measure, the control handle 80 does not lock in either the right or left positions 8011 or 800. Rather, should the handle 80 be released, it will always return to its central or neutral position 80a due to the bias on the plungers 58 and 60.

It will be observed that the handle 80 passes through the aperture 32 within the cover plate 30 and a protective shell or frame asembly 90 is welded within the aperture 32 in surrounding relation to the handle 80. The assembly 90 may include a pair of side plates 92 welded to the cover plate along the sides of the aperture 32 and connected together by a pair of end plates 94. To avoid interference between the treadle 76 and the shell or frame assembly 90, the top surface, designated 98, of the treadle 76 is generally semi-circular so that it may pivot through its complete range of movement without engaging any portion of the assembly 90. Since the handle 80 is inclined to the vertical, the knob portion 84 thereof, when in its normal lowered position, is located adjacent one of the side plates 92. A pair of locking ears or lugs 96 are connected, as by welding, to such side plate 92 in straddling relation to the knob portion 84.

In operation, as previously noted, the handle member 80 normally is in its lower position shown in full lines in FIGURE 3. When in this position, the locking cars 96 prevent rotation of the handle 80 and, accordingly, of the treadle 76. This is an important feature of this invention. Normally, there is considerable traffic along the floorsof service stations or garages where lift installations are placed. Accordingly, it is necessary to prevent accidential operation of the lift through movement of the treadle 76 should a service station attendant accidentally step on the handle 80 or should a vehicle be driven over the control box 22. Since the knob portion 84 of the handle 80 projects only slightly above the, floor 14, there I is substantially no obstruction to the normal use of the floor. Note that the knob portion 84 is generally elongate so that it will be firmly held between the locking ears 96. However, the rod portion 82 of the handle is considerably smaller in cross-section and will not contact the locking ears 96 during operation of the control handle 80. To prevent removal of the handle 80 from the treadle 76, the lower portion thereof may be provided with a spring roll pin 100 passing through a transverse aperture therein, which pin is sufficiently long to provide a stop for engagement with the body of the treadle 76.

Since the knob portion 84 may be made hollow as described hereln, it can be engaged and actuated by a hook on the end of a conventional positioning rod used with vehicle lift superstructures. Hence, it is unnecessary for the operator to be in a kneeling position to actuate the handle 80. Most importantly, however, the operator can be in a kneeling position to keep close watch on the position of the vehicle frame engaging portions of the superstructure 16 while simulaneously actuating the control handle 80.

It is thus seen that the objects of the invention have been met by the provision of a control structure which may be mounted such that its top surface is substantially flush with the floor or other surface upon which a vehicle lift is to be operated. The structure is quite simple and efficient in operation. It uses a conventional valve 50 operated by the normal valve rocker arm 66 and a treadle member 76 which may be a relatively simple casting. The housing 25 may be made from inexpensive sheet metal and installed when the floor 14 is initially formed. Since almost the entire structure is covered by the cover plate 30, which is flush with the top surface of the top of the floor 14, the control box 22 and its associated valve control structure does not interfere with the normal traffic on the floor 14. It should be noted that the assembly provides an opening whereby the arcuate top surface 98 of the treadle 76 may be inspected. For convenience, the treadle may be marked with arrows and designations such as UP and DN indicating the direction of lift movement by operation of the control handle 80.

Although the control structure of this invention is disclosed in association with a semi-hydraulic lift, the invention is not necessarily so limited. With little modification, the various portions of the control structure could be used with any type of fluid actuator.

Although the presently preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a vehicle lift control structure, the combination comprising: a housing; an aperture cover plate mounted on said housing; a fluid valve mounted within said housing, said valve having an inlet section and an outlet section and including a pair of valve actuating plungers, one for each section; valve operating means including a valve stem rocker arm mounted upon said valve for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent said plungers, said rocker arm having surfaces adapted to engage and actuate said plungers upon pivotal movement thereof, a treadle mounted for pivotal movement upon said valve about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rocker arm, said treadle having a pair of opposed arms adapted to engage and pivot said rocker arm and further having a bore extending therethrough along an axis extending at an inclined angle to the horizontal, a treadle control handle having an elongate rod portion mounted for slidable movement within said bore and a knob portion connected to the top of said rod portion, whereby said control handle may be raised for manual operation to pivot said treadle or be lowered to a position wherein said knob portion lies closely adjacent the plane of the top of said cover plate and said elongate rod portion depends into said housing; and lock means connected to said cover plate extending in the path of said control handle and engaging said knob portion when said handle is lowered to releasably lock said handle in a predetermined position whereby accidental operation of said control handle is prevented.

4/1924 Beerworth. 9/1933 Pelouch.

6 Cochin.

Hott et al 187-636 Hott et a1 1874.41

Couse 74566 X Hott et al. 137-622 La Karnafeaux et al. 187--8.41

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner.

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