Abstract:
A foot actuated pivoting lever is provided. The lever may include: a lever member having two ends, one end configured to attach to a mechanism configured to receive an input from the lever member; and a pedal pivotally attached proximate to the other end of the lever member, wherein the pedal is configured to pivot between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the pedal lies on top of a section of the lever member and, in the second position, the pedal extends beyond the lever member. A mechanism for actuating a piston may be provided.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/552,804, entitled “ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL, LINKAGE, AND METHOD FOR ACTUATING A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to transmission jacks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foot pedal and foot actuated mechanism for actuating a hydraulic piston pump in a transmission jack. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Automobiles and other vehicles need to be serviced from time to time. One complex portion of an automobile or other vehicle that needs servicing is the transmission. The transmission is a heavy component and often is serviced with the aid of a transmission jack, which can support the weight of the transmission. A transmission jack can be used to install or remove a transmission. Furthermore, the transmission jack maybe used to support the transmission while the transmission is being worked on. 
         [0004]    Transmission jacks are often hydraulic. A foot pedal may be used to actuate a hydraulic cylinder to provide the hydraulic pressure. One problem with current foot pedal mechanisms used for operating hydraulic cylinders is that some foot pedal mechanisms are not able to generate enough hydraulic pressure to lift the transmission to certain heights. Another problem is that the pump piston may experience seal failures contributed to shear forces put on the piston. These shear forces may be inherent with four bar mechanisms which are typically used to actuate the piston. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it is desired to provide a method and apparatus that can better lift heavier loads and also increase piston seal durability by reducing the shear load on the pump piston by reducing or eliminating shear forces imparted on the piston from the mechanism actuating the piston. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that, in some embodiments, a method or apparatus is provided that can provide additional mechanical advantage in order to lift heavier loads. Further, the method and apparatus in some embodiments may increase piston seal durability by reducing shear loads imparted onto the piston pump from the inputting mechanism. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a foot actuated pivoting lever is provided. The lever may include: a lever member having two ends, one end configured to attach to a mechanism configured to receive an input from the lever member; and a pedal pivotally attached proximate to the other end of the lever member, wherein the pedal is configured to pivot between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the pedal lies on top of a section of the lever member and, in the second position, the pedal extends beyond the lever member. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a mechanism for actuating a piston may be provided. The mechanism may include: an input lever; an input bracket attached to the lever; a fixed bracket pivotally connected to the input bracket; a connecting link pivotally connected to the fixed bracket; a rocker link pivotally connected to the connecting link and also pivotally connected to the input bracket; and a pusher attached to the rocker link and configured to push on the piston when the rocker rotates. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of actuating a cylinder may be provided. The method may include: configuring a foot pedal to move an input lever; connecting an input bracket attached to the lever; fixing a bracket; pivotally connecting the fixed bracket to the input bracket; connecting a connecting link pivotally to the fixed bracket; connecting a rocker link; pivotally connecting the rocker link to the connecting link; pivotally connecting the rocker link to the input bracket; providing a pusher attached to the rocker link; and configuring the pusher link to push on the piston when the rocker rotates in a particular direction. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a foot actuated pivoting lever may be provided. The lever may include: a lever member having two ends, one end configured to attach to a mechanism configured to receive an input from the lever member; and means for extending a lever arm of the lever member pivotally attached proximate to the second end of the lever member, wherein the extending means is configured to pivot between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the extending means lies on top of a section of the lever member and in the second position the extending means extends beyond the lever member. 
         [0011]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a mechanism for actuating a piston may be provided. The mechanism may include: means for inputting a force into the mechanism; an input bracket attached to the inputting means; a fixed bracket pivotally connected to the input bracket; a connecting link pivotally connected to the fixed bracket; a rocker link pivotally connected to the connecting link and also pivotally connected to the input bracket; and a pusher attached to the rocker link and configured to push on the piston when the rocker rotates. 
         [0012]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0013]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0014]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a transmission jack in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a portion of the transmission jack. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the transmission jack. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the transmission jack, showing the piston actuating mechanism. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged side view of the piston actuating mechanism of the transmission jack. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged rear view of the actuating mechanism for the hydraulic piston in the transmission jack. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged side view of the actuating mechanism for the transmission jack. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cut away side view of the actuating mechanism for the transmission jack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a transmission jack that has a foot pedal which operates a hydraulic piston to raise a jack. 
         [0024]    An embodiment in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The transmission jack  10  includes an attaching assembly  12 . The attaching assembly allows the transmission jack  10  to attach to a transmission. The attaching assembly  12  is connected to a hydraulic jack  14  which includes lifting rods  16 . The lifting rods  16  extend when hydraulic pressure is generated within a hydraulic jack  14 . The extension of the lifting rods  16  raises the attaching assembly  12 . The hydraulic jack  14  is attached to a frame  18 . The transmission jack  10  includes legs  20  which have casters  22 . The casters  22  allow the transmission jack  10  to be easily transported. 
         [0025]    A linkage mechanism  24  is configured to provide a mechanical advantage to generate hydraulic pressure in order to raise the lifting rod  16  within the hydraulic jack  14 . The linkage mechanism  24  includes an input bar  26 . The input bar  26  may be made of rectangular tube stock steel as shown or may be of a variety of different materials and/or cross sections. The rectangular steel tube stock shown in the drawings is meant to be an example and is in no way limiting. The input bar  26  has a foot pedal  28  attached. The foot pedal  28  provides a wide platform for an operator to place his or her foot in order to press down on the foot pedal, and thus the input bar  26 , to actuate the linkage mechanism  24 . The foot pedal  28  includes an abrasive surface  30 . The abrasive surface  30  allows the user&#39;s foot to be gripped by the abrasive surface  30  and, therefore, be less likely to slip off of the foot pedal  28 . 
         [0026]    The abrasive surface  30  can be a variety of surfaces. For example, it may be a sand paper like surface having a sticky back that is stuck on to the metal foot pedal  28 . In other embodiments of the invention, foot pedal  28  may have a roughed surface machine cast, stamped, or otherwise impressed or imparted onto the foot pedal  28 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows the foot pedal  28  in a first position, where the foot pedal  28  is located on top of the input bar  26 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the foot pedal  28  in a second position. The foot pedal  28  is pivoted via the hinge pin  32  on the input bar  26 . A hole  33  in the pedal permits the hinge pin  32  to connect the foot pedal  28  to the input bar  26 . The hinge pin  32  is retained within the hole  33  and the pedal by a retaining clip  34 . The retaining clips  34  may be standard e-shaped clips or other spring-type retaining clips commonly used for retaining hinge pin  32 . The hinge pin  32  may include grooves (not shown) in which the retaining clips  34  may reside connect to the hinge pin  32 . 
         [0029]    The foot pedal  28  includes an attaching bracket  36 . The attaching bracket  36  provides a wide portion and defines a hole  33  in which the hinge pin  32  can reside. The undersurface of the foot pedal  28  may include teeth  38 . The purpose of the teeth  38  is similar to that of the abrasive surface  30 , in that it allows a user&#39;s foot to contact the foot pedal  28  with a high degree of friction, thus, when a user&#39;s foot is pressing down onto the foot pedal  28 , the user&#39;s foot or shoe is less likely to slip off of the foot pedal  28 . When a user places his or her foot on the teeth  38  of the foot pedal  28  and pushes down, the foot pedal  38  exerts a downward force on the hinge pin  32  and an upward force upon the underside  40  of the input bar  26 , thus creating a moment. The overall result is that the foot pedal  28  acts as an extension of the input bar  26  to effectively lengthen the lever arm and thereby increase the moment generated by the downward force on the foot pedal  28 . Effectively, the length of the input bar  26  is combined with the length of the foot pedal  28 , thereby increasing the moment exerted where the input bar  26  is pivotally connected to the linkage mechanism  24  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the linkage mechanism  24 . A hole  42  in the input bar  26  is shown and the hinge pin  32  is shown extending through the hole  42  into the input bar  26 . The input bar  26  at the other end attaches to an input bracket  44 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the input bar  26  attaches to the input bracket  44  via bolts and/or fasteners  46 . The bolts and/or fasteners  46  may include washers  48 . The input bar  26  does not pivot with respect to the input bracket  44  but rather when the input bar  26  pivots it causes the input bracket  44  to pivot with it. 
         [0031]    The input bracket  44  is pivotally attached to a fixed bracket  50 . The fixed bracket  50  is fixed or attached to the cylinder block  54 . Cylinder block  54  is connected to or attached to the frame  18 . Thus, the fixed bracket  50 , in some embodiments of the invention, does not rotate. 
         [0032]    The fixed bracket  50  is pivotally attached to a connecting link  56 . The connecting link  56  may have a corresponding second connecting link also labeled  56  located opposite the first connecting link  56  as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . The pivoting connections within the linkage mechanism  24  may include hinge pins  32  held in place by retainer clips  34 . 
         [0033]    Bearings  52  may also be used in the pivot connections. A bearing  52  may be placed in joints containing the pivot connections. Bearings may be placed in joints, such as joints in the input bracket  44 , fixed bracket  50  or the input link  56 . The bearing  52  may reduce the friction of the hinge pin  32  rotating within the bearing  52 . In some embodiments of the invention, the bearing  52  may be an oil impregnated bronze bearing which is commonly known and used in the art. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  a connecting link  56  may be attached by a pivot rod  58  to a rocker link  60 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the rocker link  60  may have a second pivot rod  62  which connects the rocker link  60  to the input link  44 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , a piston assembly  64  is actuated by the rocker link  60 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , fasteners  66  may be used to attach the fixed bracket  50  to the frame  18  or to the cylinder block  54 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a back side view of the linkage mechanism  24 , showing many of the features already shown in the earlier figures. For example, the input bar  26  is shown connected to the input bracket  44 . In  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the bolts or fasteners  46  attach the input bar  26  to the input bracket  44  with washers  48  and hex nuts  68 . The hinge pins  32  and retaining clips  34  as well as the bearings  52  on the input bracket  44 , rocker link  60  and other locations on the linkage mechanism  24  can also be seen. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 1-6  show the linkage mechanism  24  in a position where the input bar  26  is oriented to slope down toward the linkage mechanism  24 . As a result of the orientation of the input bar  26 , the various brackets and links  44 ,  50 ,  56  and  60  are shown in specific positions. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows the input bar  26  in an opposite position than that shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . In other words, input bar  26  is now oriented so that the input bar slopes away from the input mechanism  24 . The position of the input bar  26  as shown in  FIG. 7  is consistent with the position an input bar  26  would be if a user stepped on the pedal  28 . The change in orientation of the input bar  26  therefore changes the orientation of the input bracket  44 , the connecting links  56  and the rocker link  60 . Note that the fixed bracket  50  does not change its orientation as it remains fixed through the motion of the input bar  26  as it moves up and down. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a partial cut away side view of the linkage mechanism  24 . The input bar  26  is shown connected to the input bracket  44 . The rocker link  60  can be shown also connected to the input bracket  44  and connected to a pusher  70 . The pusher  70  is configured to urge against the top flat surface of piston assembly  64 . Thus, as the rocker bar  26  moves down, the pusher link  60  pushes the pusher  70  in a downward direction, thereby actuating the hydraulic piston assembly  64  in a downward direction. The downward movement of the piston assembly  64  generates a hydraulic pressure in order to actuate the jack  14 . 
         [0039]    The pusher  70  has a generally rounded face and avoids inputting a shear force on to the piston assembly  64 . The nature and geometry of the linkage mechanism  24  is such that the rocker link  60 , for the most part, applies only a vertical force upon the piston assembly  64 . The geometry of the pusher  70  helps reduce any residual right to left forces or, in other words, shear forces that may have been imparted by the rocker link  60  to the piston assembly  64 , by merely moving to one side or the other of the piston assembly  64  as the rocker link  44  moves. Thus, primarily only vertical forces are imparted from the rocker link  60  onto the piston assembly  64 . 
         [0040]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.