Patent ID: 6189432
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B66F,F15B

Abstract:
A hydraulic fluid control system for an automotive vehicle lift structure comprising:a source of hydraulic fluid;two or more hydraulically actuated lifting components in fluid communication with said source of hydraulic fluid, said lifting components extending or retracting in a linear direction responsive to a flow of said hydraulic fluid to raise or lower said automotive vehicle lift structure;a fluid flow divider valve having three ports interposed between said source of hydraulic fluid and said two or more hydraulically actuated lifting components, said first port in fluid communication with said source of hydraulic fluid, said second port in fluid communication with at least one of said lifting components, and said third port in fluid communication with at least one other of said lifting components, said flow divider valve configured to reversibly divide a fluid flow entering said first port into substantially equal portions exiting through said second and third ports;a bi-directional fluid flow diverting valve interposed between said source of hydraulic fluid and said two or more hydraulically actuated lifting components, said fluid flow diverting valve configured to establish a fluid flow connection between a selected one of said lifting components and said source of hydraulic fluid, bypassing said fluid flow divider valve;an electronic control unit responsive to said vertical elevation of said vehicle lift structure to select a lifting component and to control said bi-directional fluid flow diverting valve to establish a fluid connected between said source of hydraulic fluid and said selected lifting component.