Small Engine Transporter Device

A small engine transport device for moving small engines comprises a plurality of adjustable arms sized and configured for receiving a vehicle engine and legs configured to counter-balance the adjustable arms when the adjustable arms are bearing the weight of a vehicle engine. Each adjustable arm may have a hand to bear against a vehicle engine. A hydraulic jack could be used to adjust the vertical position of the adjustable arms when bearing the weight of a vehicle engine. The adjustable arms and/or the legs could be foldable to lower the profile of the small engine transport device for storage.

BACKGROUND

Engines in small vehicles, such as motorcycles, are sometimes required to be removed from the vehicle for repair, maintenance, or otherwise. Typically, this is done by hand, or by a complicated series of chains and pulleys. Either method involves significant risk of injury to the mechanic and often requires multiple mechanics to safely maneuver a heavy engine without dropping it and causing injury to the mechanic or damage to the engine. What is presented is a transporter device that is sized and configured to allow a single mechanic the ability to remove, move, and remount an engine from a vehicle such as a motorcycle.

SUMMARY

What is presented is a small engine transport device for moving small engines. The small engine could be configured to accommodate any of a variety of vehicles including motorcycles, tractors, motor scooters, go-karts, quads, trikes, etc. The small engine transport device comprises a plurality of adjustable arms sized and configured for receiving a vehicle engine. Legs are configured to counter-balance the adjustable arms when the adjustable arms are bearing the weight of a vehicle engine. Some embodiments of the small engine transport device may have hands on each adjustable arm to bear against a vehicle engine. In other embodiments of the small engine transport a hydraulic jack could be incorporated to adjust the vertical position of the adjustable arms when bearing the weight of a vehicle engine.

The legs of the small engine transport device may comprise wheels to enable the device to move while bearing the weight of a vehicle engine. Some other locomotion device may also be used. The adjustable arms may also be interchangeable to accommodate different engine and vehicle configurations.

In various embodiments, of the small engine transport device the adjustable arms and/or the legs are foldable to lower the profile of the device for storage.

Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments that are different from those shown and that details of the apparatus and methods can be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as including such equivalent embodiments as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, some of the reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through several of the embodiments and figures shown and described. Corresponding parts are denoted in different embodiments with the addition of lowercase letters. Variations of corresponding parts in form or function that are depicted in the figures are described. It will be understood that variations in the embodiments can generally be interchanged without deviating from the invention.

Repairing or maintaining the engines of small vehicles such as motorcycles, tractors, motor scooters, go-karts, quads, or trikes, sometimes requires the mechanic to remove the engine from the vehicle in order to access hard to reach components. Other times, the mechanic may simply wish to remove a vehicle engine and replace it with another. In any case, small engines still weigh a considerable amount and dismounting the engine from the vehicle frame and moving it requires considerable effort for single mechanic.

FIG. 1shows an embodiment of small engine transport device10that makes it easier to dismount and move an engine12from a vehicle14. The small engine transport device10shown has adjustable arms16that are configured to fit within the frame of the vehicle14such that the adjustable arms16can bear the weight of the engine12when the engine12is dismounted from the frame of the vehicle14. Each adjustable arm16has a hand26that supports the engine12when it is mounted to the small engine transport device10. The hands26may be cushioned to minimize damage or scratching of the engine12or vehicle14components.

The small engine transport device10has legs18that are configured to counter balance the adjustable arms16when bearing the weight of the engine12. The legs18are mounted on wheels20that allow the entire small engine transport device10to move while bearing the weight of an engine12. A hydraulic jack22is shown in this embodiment that is used to adjust the vertical position of the adjustable arms16. This is particularly useful when the adjustable arms16are bearing the weight of an engine12. The entire small engine transport device10can be maneuvered with the assistance of the handle bars24.

As can be best understood by viewingFIGS. 2 through 5in succession, the small engine transport device10is used by first adjusting the adjustable arms16to fit within the frame of the vehicle14ready to bear the weight of the engine12. The small engine transport device10is moved into position and the hands26are positioned at appropriate locations on the engine12so that they can support the engine12. The hydraulic jack22is raised such that the hands26and adjustable arms16bear some portion of the weight of the engine12. The engine12can then be dismounted from the vehicle14frame. The hydraulic jack22is adjusted, if necessary, to slightly lower the adjustable arms16and the entire small engine transport device10can be moved out from the vehicle14frame. This gives mechanics full access to the engine12and the engine support structure of the vehicle14. Once work on the engine12or the vehicle14is complete, the small engine transport device10is moved back to the vehicle14frame. If necessary, the hydraulic jack22is actuated to position the adjustable arms16and the engine12within the vehicle14frame. The engine12is remounted to the vehicle14and once secure, the small engine transport device10can be retracted.

FIG. 6shows that the small engine transport device10can be folded when not in use for storage or transport. The handle of the adjustable arms16are folded downwards and the legs18are folded upwards to reduce the profile of the small engine transport device. In this embodiment, the handle of the hydraulic jack22is disengaged from the hydraulic jack22and repositioned on the frame of the small engine transport device10to further reduce the profile. It will be appreciated that other folding configurations are also feasible.

In some embodiments, not shown, the adjustable arms could be interchangeable to fit vehicles of different configuration or to support different types of engines. The number and location of the adjustable arms is also variable such that some embodiments could comprise more than two adjustable arms as may be required for particularly cumbersome engine or vehicle configurations. In addition, the number and configuration of wheels on the legs shown in the figures may be varied in different embodiments. In addition, the type of locomotion device may be something other than wheels so long as they are capable of bearing the weight of the small engine transport device while it is supporting an engine.

This invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents of these claims.