Abstract:
The invention relates to a lifting device for an assembly of a motor vehicle with a load carrying unit having at least one support arm, as well as a coupling unit arranged on the support arm for releasably connecting the support arm to the assembly of a motor vehicle. In order to provide a lifting device of the initially-cited type, in particular an engine hoist and/or a transmission hoist for removing and installing engines and/or transmissions that can be used to remove a wide range of assemblies, at least different engines and/or transmissions of different types of vehicles, wherein adaptation to the assemblies is easily performable, it is provided that the coupling unit is mounted on the support arm in a longitudinally movable manner, and the load carrying unit is designed to be connected to a crane unit, and in particular has a crane hook holder, and/or is adjustably connected to a support unit arrangeable on a hoist unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a lifting device for an assembly of a motor vehicle comprising: 
         [0003]    a load carrying unit having at least one support arm, and 
         [0004]    a coupling unit arranged on the support arm for releasably connecting the support arm to the assembly of a motor vehicle. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0006]    Lifting devices of the initially-cited type are used in particular in vehicle workshops in order to remove motor vehicle assemblies such as vehicle transmissions or drive aggregates such as motor vehicle engines. To connect to preferably movable hoist units in vehicle workshops, the lifting devices can have a support unit arrangeable on these hoist units so that the lifting device, for example after the vehicle is lifted with a lifting platform, can be positioned below the motor vehicle assembly. Before the motor vehicle assembly is removed, the lifting device must be aligned with this assembly, such as a transmission, so that the load carrying unit of the lifting device abuts bearing points of the motor vehicle assembly to be removed that are provided for this purpose, by means of the coupling unit aligned on a support arm. Then the motor vehicle assembly, such as the transmission, can be disconnected from the vehicle and easily removed from the vehicle using the load carrying lifting device. 
         [0007]    Known lifting devices of the initially-cited type have the disadvantage that they do not allow any, or only slight, adaptability to different motor vehicle assemblies and are therefore only useful for a limited number of different motor vehicle assemblies. A lifting device provided only for removing transmissions possesses only slight adaptability, and therefore even in authorized workshops which are set up for only one vehicle manufacturer, a number of lifting devices must be kept in order to carry out the removal of different assemblies from different types of vehicles. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The object of the invention is to provide a lifting device of the initially-cited type, in particular an engine hoist and/or a transmission hoist for removing and installing engines and/or transmissions that can be used to remove a wide range of assemblies, at least different engines and/or transmissions of different types of vehicles, wherein adaptation to the assemblies is easily performable. 
         [0009]    The invention solves the problem by a lifting device having the features of claim  1 . Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. 
         [0010]    It is characteristic of the lifting device according to the invention, which can be used in particular as a transmission hoist and/or engine hoist, that the coupling unit is mounted on the support arm in a longitudinally movable manner, and the load carrying unit is designed to be connected to a crane unit, and in particular has a crane hook holder, and/or is adjustably connected to a support unit arrangeable on a hoist unit. 
         [0011]    The lifting device according to the invention is divided into a plurality of assemblies, wherein the support unit can be alternatively or additionally available to form the load carrying unit for connecting to a crane unit. The crane unit makes it possible to lift a motor vehicle assembly arranged on the lifting device out of the motor vehicle, whereas the support unit serves to connect the lifting device to a conventional hoist unit such as a jack as is normally available in motor vehicle workshops, and thereby renders the use of an independent hoist unit for the lifting device superfluous. Lifting and lowering movements can be executed using the hoist unit. 
         [0012]    The load carrying unit having at least one support arm is connected to the support unit such that it can be adjusted relative to support unit and hence relative to a hoist unit connected to the lifting device. The adjustability makes it possible to adjust the load carrying unit having one or more support arms into different positions relative to the support unit, or respectively a hoist unit connected to the support unit, so that the load carrying unit can be used for supporting and removing a plurality of different motor vehicle assemblies. 
         [0013]    A coupling unit mounted on the support arm in a longitudinally movable manner and against which the motor vehicle assembly is braced or on which it hangs, serves to connect the load carrying unit to the motor vehicle assembly, e.g. a motor vehicle transmission or vehicle engine, both in the event that the lifting device is used with a hoist unit as well as with a crane unit. 
         [0014]    Together with the mobility of the coupling unit that, for example, is designed to receive bolts connectable to the transmission, or to receive eyebolts connectable to an engine unit, the adjustability of the support arm relative to the support unit makes it possible to optimally adapt the lifting device to the motor vehicle assembly to be removed. Giving the design of the lifting device according to the invention, the load carrying unit can be moved into any position relative to the hoist unit, or respectively the support unit and/or crane unit, so that different motor vehicle assemblies, or respectively transmissions from different series and types of motor vehicles can be supported using the lifting device according to the invention and then removed. The use of the lifting device according to the invention makes it possible to dispense with other assembly-specific lifting devices, and therefore motor vehicle workshops equipped with the lifting device according to the invention can dispense with additional lifting devices for removing other assemblies which take up a significant amount of storage space. Furthermore, the use of the lifting device according to the invention makes it possible for only one person to remove and install a motor vehicle assembly, in particular a transmission. 
         [0015]    The adjustability of the load carrying unit relative to the support unit, and hence the adjustability of the load carrying unit relative to a hoist unit connected to the support unit, can in principle be designed in any manner. However, one particularly advantageous design of the invention envisions designing the load carrying unit to be connected to the support unit so as to be tiltable relative to a longitudinal axis of the support unit, and/or designing the support arm to be pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the load carrying unit. 
         [0016]    According to this embodiment of the invention, it is possible to tilt the load carrying unit relative to the support unit. The tilting is carried out in that a plane of the load carrying unit extending through one or more support arms can be tilted relative to a longitudinal axis of the support unit that normally also corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the hoist unit when the lifting device is installed on the hoist unit. This makes it possible to adapt, in a particularly advantageous manner, the support arm(s) with their coupling units both to the installation position of the motor vehicle assembly, or respectively the transmission, to be removed, as well as to the alignment of the employed hoist unit so that particularly reliable adaptation and support of the motor vehicle assembly can occur. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, this further embodiment of the invention alternatively or additionally envisions designing the support arm to be pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the load carrying unit. In addition to a high variability of the lifting device, the pivotability of the support arm, or other support arms, about the longitudinal axis of the load carrying unit that normally coincides with the longitudinal axis of the support unit, or is flush with the load carrying point of a crane unit, also ensures that the forces acting on the load carrying unit are reliably borne by the crane unit, or can be transmitted to the support unit and hence to the hoist unit connectable to the support unit. Given the pivotability of the support arm(s) about the longitudinal axis of the load carrying unit, the coupling unit arranged on the support arm(s) can be arranged at any point on a surface defined by the swivelability and length of the support arms. The additional tiltability of this surface makes it possible to optimally adapt to a plurality of motor vehicle assemblies and their installation situation in the motor vehicle. 
         [0018]    The design of the preferable tiltability of the load carrying unit relative to the longitudinal axis of the support unit can in principle be designed in any manner. However, one particularly advantageous design of the invention envisions connecting the support unit by means of a radial joint bearing unit to the load carrying unit, wherein in a particularly preferable manner, the radial joint bearing unit has a radial joint bearing with an inner ring connected to the support unit and an outer ring connected to the load carrying unit. 
         [0019]    The use of a radial joint bearing unit constitutes a particularly easy and reliable option for designing the load carrying unit to be tiltable relative to the support unit. In one particularly simple design of the invention, it is envisioned, according to a development, to connect a radial joint bearing to an inner ring connected to the support unit, and to connect an outer ring connected to the load carrying unit to the radial joint bearing unit. The design of the radial joint bearing unit according to this development of the invention makes it possible to produce a particularly compact, tiltable connection between the support unit and load carrying unit. Furthermore, the radial joint bearing unit makes it possible to reliably transmit all of the forces acting on the load carrying unit to the support unit, as well as to a hoist unit connectable to the support unit. 
         [0020]    The design of the tilt adjustment, as well as a lock of the set tilt, is in principle freely selectable. However, one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention envisions connecting one, preferably two, length-changeable tilt adjusters, arranged offset 90° from each other about the longitudinal axis of the support unit, to the load carrying unit at one end, and to the support unit at the other end. 
         [0021]    The use of such tilt adjusters is distinguished in that the tilt angle of the load carrying unit relative to the support unit can be set particularly easily and comfortably, given the adjustability of the length of the tilt adjuster. Given the connection of the tilt adjuster to the load carrying unit and the support unit, setting the length of the tilt adjuster causes an angle of the load carrying unit relative to the support unit to be set, and hence a plane that extends through one or more support arms. 
         [0022]    The use of a second tilt adjuster arranged offset by 90° from the first tilt adjuster makes it possible to set a second angle offset by 90° of the load carrying unit, or respectively the angle of the extended plane so that, by means of the two angle adjusters arranged offset by 90° from each other, a plane extending through one or more support arms can be tilted depending on the longitudinal adjustability of the tilt adjusters in any direction about the longitudinal axis of the support unit in the manner of a tumbling motion. 
         [0023]    The longitudinal adjustability of the tilt adjusters can be variously designed. One possible design is to use a handle having inner threads running in the same direction, wherein the inner thread always accommodates a connecting means which is connected to the load carrying unit, or respectively support unit, such that rotating the handle causes the spacing of the connecting means to change. Given a self-inhibiting design of the thread, a separate locking means can be discarded. 
         [0024]    In principle, the load-carrying unit can be designed to be adjustable relative to the support unit in any manner, wherein a radial joint bearing unit is preferably provided for setting the tilt of the load carrying unit relative to a longitudinal axis of the support unit. One particularly advantageous design of the invention furthermore envisions the load carrying unit having a guide unit connected to the radial joint bearing unit which is designed to pivotably bear the support arm about the longitudinal axis of the guide unit. 
         [0025]    According to this embodiment of the invention, the load carrying unit has a guide unit on which one or more support arms are pivotably arranged about the longitudinal axis of the guide unit. The pivotability of the support arm or arms ensures that the lifting device is easily and optimally adaptable to the motor vehicle assembly to be received, in particular to a motor vehicle transmission to be removed. For connecting to the motor vehicle assemblies, one or more coupling units can be arranged on the support arms which in turn are designed to receive specific connecting means such as suitable bolts or eyebolts which are adapted to the support, or respectively lifting points, or respectively bolt seats of the motor vehicle assembly to be received. The design of the load carrying unit with a guide unit and support arms that are pivotable relative to the guide unit furthermore allows a particularly compact production of the lifting device. 
         [0026]    For the swivelable bearing of the support arms, according to a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the guide unit comprises a link for adjustably bearing a bearing body connected to the support arm. The use of a link as well as a bearing body adapted to the link ensures a particularly reliable connection of the support arm to the guide unit, and hence particularly reliable support of the support arms on the guide unit, and hence an effective transmission of the forces acting on the support arms to the support unit or crane unit connected to the guide unit. Furthermore, this embodiment of the invention can ensure that a set position of the support arm or support arms is retained so that there is a particularly easy way of removing the motor vehicle assembly. 
         [0027]    The design of the bearing body which connects the support arm to the guide unit, and which is preferably fixedly connected to the support arm, is in principle freely selectable. However, one particularly advantageous design of the invention envisions the bearing body extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the guide unit, and one end being pivotably mounted on the guide unit by means of a ball bearing along an annular guide path running coaxial to a guide bolt of the guide unit, and the other end being pivotably mounted on the guide unit by means of a bearing ring arranged on the bearing body, wherein the bearing ring is pivotably arranged on the guide bolt. 
         [0028]    According to this embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal axis of the bearing body extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide unit. Accordingly, the support arm runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide unit and to the bearing body. With a spherical body arranged on the bottom end of the bearing body with reference to the operating position, the bearing body abuts the annular guide path of the guide unit. The connection of the bearing body via a spherical body in the guide path ensures particularly easy and reliable adjustability of the support arm relative to the guide unit. To secure the position of the bearing body relative to the guide unit, the bearing body in the area of its top end opposite the spherical body with respect to the operating position has a bearing ring that extends perpendicularly toward the guide bolt and coaxially surrounds the guide bolt in the operating position so that the overall bearing body is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the guide unit, or respectively the guide bolt, but however cannot be tilted relative thereto, to therefore ensure a particularly effective transmission of force with a simultaneously very secure position of the support arm. 
         [0029]    The number of support arms of the load carrying unit is in principle freely selectable and can be determined corresponding to the intended use. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that two, preferably three, particularly preferably four, support arms are pivotably mounted on the guide unit about a longitudinal axis of the guide bolt. The arrangement is such that the guide bolts are arranged distributed around the guide bolt on a common, coaxial circular path such that they can be pivoted about the guide bolt. The bearing rings of the individual support arms are arranged in different grooves in a locking section of the bearing body such that the bearing rings, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the guide bolt, are mounted to overlay in a guide section of the guide bolt. 
         [0030]    According to this embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the individual bearing rings of the individual support arms each run in different planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide bolt so that the guide unit can be designed in a particularly compact manner. Each support arm is accordingly guided on the guide unit at one end by a spherical body and at the other end by a bearing ring, wherein the individual bearing rings of the respective support arms viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis are arranged at a distance from each other on the guide section. In a particularly advantageous manner, an intermediate ring can be arranged between the individual bearing rings to ensure effective adjustability. 
         [0031]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the support arm has a brake body which is adjustable between a released position and a locked position. The use of such an adjustable brake body makes it possible on the one hand to easily adjust the support arm relative to the guide bolt when the brake body is in the released position. After setting the desired position, the support arm can on the other hand then be reliably fixed in the locked position using the brake body so that, after setting the position of the support arms of the load carrying unit depending on the motor vehicle assembly to be removed, the lifting device reliably remains in a correspondingly adapted position. 
         [0032]    The mode of engaging the brake body in the locked position is in principle freely selectable. Accordingly, the brake body can for example be designed so that it produces a form-fit connection with the guide bolt or other components of the guide unit when in locked position. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the brake body is adjustable by means of a locking clip in the direction toward the guide bolt and friction locks the support arm with the guide bolt when in the locked position. 
         [0033]    According to this further embodiment of the invention, the brake body is adjusted by a locking clip which is adjustable between a position corresponding to the released position and the locked position of the brake body. In the locked position, the lock clip causes the brake body to friction lock with a surface of the guide bolt so that the guide bolt then reliably remains in the set position. The use of a friction lock is distinguished in that it enables the support arm to be fixed in any angular position independent of locking marks. At the same time, the use of the locking clip enables a quick and easy change between the released position and the locked position so that the lifting device can be easily and quickly adapted to a motor vehicle assembly to be removed. 
         [0034]    The setting of the lifting device, i.e., the alignment of the support arm or the support arms on the guide unit as well as any provided tilt of the seat unit relative to the support device in the event of use with a hoist unit, occurs in principle with reference to the motor vehicle assembly to be removed, wherein conventional bearing points are provided thereupon, by means of which the motor vehicle assembly can be supported, or respectively lifted. The support arms can for example be set merely in a visual alignment by the user, and this must be done directly using the motor vehicle assembly to be removed, normally within a restricted working environment. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that an angular scale is arranged on the guide unit, and an indicator element alignable with the angular scale is arranged on the support arm. 
         [0035]    According to this embodiment of the invention, the support arm can be easily fixed in a predetermined position using an indicator element and the angular scale arranged on the guide unit. When data are available specific to the motor vehicle assembly, it is therefore possible to perform an alignment of the support arms independent of the vehicle so that the lifting device can then be immediately arranged without further adaptations in the set position on the motor vehicle assembly to be removed, and can be connected thereto. Ideally, there are specific data for each motor vehicle assembly that permit in advance a corresponding adjustability of the support arms using the indicator element and the angular scale. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, it is particularly preferable for the support arm to have a length scale, and the coupling unit to have an indicator element for aligning the coupling unit on the support arm. Analogous to aligning the support arm on the angular scale, the use of a length scale and an indicator unit arranged on the coupling unit allows the longitudinal alignment of the coupling unit on the support arm so that, when corresponding data are available, the support arms as well as the coupling units can be set independent of involved experiments with the motor vehicle component to be removed. Ideally, angle information is available for the support arms and length information is available for the coupling units for all motor vehicle assemblies so that a user is offered a particularly comfortable way of adapting the lifting device in advance to any assembly to be removed, and then using the lifting device without readjustment. 
         [0037]    According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support arms have identifications which differ from each other, in particular colourings that deviate from each other, for example when a plurality of support arms are used. A deviating colouration which can be used alternately or in addition to, for example, a numbering to be carried out, or any other different identifications of the support arms, for example with letters, makes it possible to adapt the load carrying unit in a particularly comfortable manner when the information on the motor vehicle assemblies is used in a prepared form. Accordingly for example when colourations that differ from each other are used for the support arms, coloured tables based on the information of the motor vehicle assemblies can be provided which display an angular position associated with the respective colours, as well as a length position of the coupling units of the respective support arms. This embodiment of the invention is advantageous in particular in a workshop, since it is very user friendly and prevents incorrect settings in a particularly easy manner. When for example four support arms are used, each of them has a different colour. An information card specific to the motor vehicle assembly has an angular position and a length position for each colour so that the load carrying unit can be quickly and effectively adapted to the respective motor vehicle assembly. 
         [0038]    According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coupling unit which serves to connect to the motor vehicle assembly has a seat opening arranged on the side of the support arm to receive a coupling adapter, wherein the coupling adapter can be clamped in the seat opening or screwed into the seat opening. The seat opening makes it possible to receive the adapter adapted to the respective motor vehicle assembly which enables optimum support or a suspended seat for the respective motor vehicle assembly. The coupling adapters, or respectively step bolts or eyebolts, can be clamped into the seat opening, or respectively screwed into it, to ensure an effective securing of the position of the coupling adapters. In addition, the lateral arrangement of the seat opening in the coupling unit enables a particularly flat construction and, additionally, a high variability of the lifting device in the event that the coupling unit provided according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention is designed such that the coupling unit is borne on the support arm in a longitudinally movable manner, both with a seat opening arranged on one side of the support arm, and a seat opening arranged on the other side of the support arm. 
         [0039]    The arrangement of the coupling unit on the one side and on the other side is understood to mean the possibility of being able to rotate the coupling unit, i.e. pull it off of the support arm and use it so that, depending on the shoved-on direction, the seat opening can be arranged both on the left as well as on the right side of the support arm with reference to the position of operation. This contributes to the variability of the lifting device since the swinging range of the support arms, in particular two neighboring support arms, also depends on whether the seat openings in the coupling units are facing away from each other or towards each other. The alignment of the coupling units can also be dictated by suitable information tables so that the user is provided with an easy adaptability of the lifting device. In conjunction with an arrangement of the indicator element on the coupling unit that is eccentric relative to the support arm, the possibility of turning the coupling unit furthermore makes it feasible to arrange a double scale on the support arm, i.e., two length scales arranged next to each other. 
         [0040]    To secure the coupling unit in the set position, the coupling unit has a locking means, in particular a locking clip, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention to reliably prevent shifting and a malfunction. The locking clip clamps the coupling unit against the support arm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0041]    An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show the following: 
           [0042]      FIG. 1  a perspective view of a lifting device with a load carrying unit having four support arms; 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  an exploded view of the lifting device from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  a view of a section of the lifting device from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 4 a    a sectional view of a tilt adjuster of the lifting device from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 4 b    an exploded view of a support device with a radial joint bearing unit arranged thereupon in an exploded view; 
           [0047]      FIG. 4 c    a perspective view of the support unit with the radial joint bearing unit arranged thereupon; 
           [0048]      FIG. 5 a    an exploded view of a support arm with the bearing body arranged thereupon; 
           [0049]      FIG. 5 b    a perspective view of the support arm from  FIG. 5 a    with the bearing body arranged that thereupon, and 
           [0050]      FIG. 6  a second embodiment of the lifting device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0051]      FIG. 1  shows a lifting device  1  that can be used in a motor vehicle workshop as a transmission hoist for removing a transmission unit (not shown) of a motor vehicle. For connecting to a transmission unit, the lifting device  1  has a load carrying unit  2  which has four support arms  3  in the depicted exemplary embodiment. The support arms  3  are arranged in a guide unit  57  of the load carrying unit  2  to pivot about a guide bolt  39  of the guide unit  57 . For its part, the guide unit  57  is tiltably connected to a support unit  73  via a radial joint bearing unit  34  by means of which the lifting device  1  is connectable to a hoist unit (not shown) (see  FIG. 2-5   a ). 
         [0052]    The pivotable arrangement of the support arms  3  on the guide unit  57  makes it possible to move the support arms  3  relative to each other into a required position corresponding to the transmission unit to be removed. To movably mount the support arms  3  on the guide unit  57 , the ends of the support arms  3  facing the guide bolt  39  are connected to a bearing body  23  which is adjustably arranged in the guide unit  57 . The bearing body  23  is connected to the support arms  3  by a fastening screw  27  that can be screwed into a threaded sleeve  62  inserted in the support arm  3  at the end of the support arm  3  facing the guide bolt  39 . The position of the bearing body  23  on the support arm  3  is additionally secured by two retaining shells  24  arranged on the side of the support arm  3 , the fastening screw  25  of which extends through a through-hole in the bearing body  23 . The retaining shells  24  furthermore have a recess  72  to accommodate an indicator element  26  which is immovably connected to the support arm  3  between the retaining shells  24 . 
         [0053]    The bottom side of the bearing body  23 , with reference to the position of installation and operation, has a spherical body  21  which is borne in a guide path  65  running coaxial to the guide bolt  39  in a main housing body  38  of the guide unit  57 . On its end opposite the spherical body  21 , the bearing body  23  has a locking section  28  having a plurality of grooves  29 . The grooves  29  serve to receive a bearing ring  30  wherein, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bearing body  23 , the bearing rings  30  of the four employed bearing arms  3  are arranged in overlaid grooves  29  which deviate from each other. Viewed in direction of the longitudinal axis of the guide bolt  39 , the overlaid arrangement of the bearing rings  30  consequently allows their overlaid coaxial arrangement in a guide section  41  of the guide bolt  39 . The intermediate rings  31  arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the bearing rings  30  ensure friction-free adjustment of the bearing arms  3  on the guide unit  57 , wherein the support arms  3  are supported in each settable position by a bearing ring  43  which abuts a bottom side of the support arms  3  and is fastened to a peripheral bar of the main housing body  33  of the guide unit  57 . The support arms  3  are furthermore guided on an inside of a housing cover  32  of the guide unit  57  by bearing caps  22  which are placed on the end of the locking section  28  opposite the spherical body  21 . 
         [0054]    The housing cover  32  which forms a slot-shaped link for the support arms  3  by its arrangement at a distance from the main housing body  33  is immovably screwed to the bearing bolt  39  by fastening screws  44 . Furthermore, the top side of the housing cover  32  has an angular scale  38  as well as an indicator plate  45  which are jointly fastened by retaining pins  46  to the housing cover  32 . The indicator element  26  abuts the angular scale  38  so that the support arms  3  which differ in colour can be set via the indicator element  26  in a predetermined position. 
         [0055]    To lock the support arms  3  in the set position, they also have a brake body  20  which is slidably fastened to the bearing body  23  of the support arm  3 . The brake body  20  is adjustable between a released position and a locked position by a locking clip  19   b  arranged on the end of the bearing arm  3  opposite the bearing body  23 . In the locked position, the brake body  20  lies against a groove  40  of the guide bolt  39  in a friction lock. The locking bolt  19   b  can be adjusted between a position associated with the locked position and released position. In the locked position, a contact ring  68  arranged on the locking clip  19   b  exerts pressure via a pressure body  67  upon a pushrod  61  toward the guide bolt  39  so that the brake body  20  connected via a seat section  71  to the pushrod  61  is pressed against the groove  40  in a corresponding manner. 
         [0056]    To bear the locking clip  19   b  on the support arm  3 , a pin seat  63  for receiving a pin  69  of the locking clip is inserted in the support arm  3  in the end opposite the bearing body  23  where it is secured by a fastening body  66 . Depending on the position of the locking clip  19   b , the locking clip moves the pressure body  67  connected to the pushrod  61  toward the guide bolt  39 . and thereby causes the support arms  3  to lock in a set position. 
         [0057]    In addition to the indicator plate  45  which for example displays a bird&#39;s-eye view of a vehicle and thereby easily enables an alignment of the set lifting device  1  relative to the vehicle so that an optimal adaptation to the load carrying points of the transmission to be removed exists, the support arms  3  have two length scales  47  arranged next to each other which enable the alignment of a coupling unit  74  mounted in a longitudinally movable manner on the support arms  3 . The coupling units  74  in this case have a sleeve  4  that is adapted to the cross-section of the support arms  3  and has an opening  16  that is arranged eccentric to the support arm  3  in the coupling unit  74  and which enables a precise alignment of the sleeve  4  with one of the two length scales  47  depending on their push-on direction on the support arm  3 , wherein the opening  16  in this case can also be provided with an indicator. The sleeves  4  guided in a groove  6  of the support arms  3  are fixed in a set position by a locking clip  19   a  which clamps the sleeve  4  against the support arm  3 . 
         [0058]    For connecting the coupling unit  74  to a transmission to be removed, the coupling unit  74  has a seat opening  5  arranged on the side that is designed to receive the coupling adapter (not shown), wherein one end of the coupling adapter is adapted to the seat opening  5 , and the other end is adapted to the contact points on the transmission. A clamping element  17  serves to fix the coupling adapter in the seat opening  5  and can be moved by a clamping lever  18  toward the coupling adapter so that it is immovably secured in the seat opening  5 . 
         [0059]    The guide bolt  39  is immovably connected by fastening screws  42  to the main housing body  33  of the guide unit  57 , and the main housing body  33  is in turn connected via fastening screws  37  to a radial joint bearing unit  34  which for its part is connected to the support unit  73 . To connect the guide unit  57  to the radial joint bearing unit  34 , the main housing body  33  of the guide unit  57  is screwed to an upper shell  36  of the radial joint bearing unit  34  by the fastening screws  37 . The upper shell  36  and lower shell  35  are fixed to each other by fastening screws  60 . A radial joint bearing  59  is arranged in the housing of the radial joint bearing unit  34  formed between the upper shell  36  and lower shell  35 . An outer ring of the radial joint bearing  59  is fixed between the upper shell  36  and lower shell  35 . An inner ring of the radial joint bearing  59  is fastened by a fastening screw  58  to a bearing section  75  of a bearing seat  48  of the support unit  73 . A lock ring  64  arranged on the bearing locking screw  78  secures the position of the inner ring on the bearing seat section  75  in an axial direction. The radial joint bearing unit  34  as well as the load carrying unit  2  connected to the radial joint bearing unit  34  can accordingly be tilted relative to a longitudinal axis of the support unit  73 . 
         [0060]    The support unit  73  has a central support rod  14  to which the bearing seat  48  is fixed by fastening screws  49  as well as by the bearing locking screw  58  screwed into a thread sleeve  62 . On the end opposite the bearing seat  48 , the support unit  73  has a coupling body  15 . This is attached to the support rod  14  via a fastening screw  56  which is screwed into a threaded sleeve  62  inserted in the support rod  14 , as well as via fastening screws  49  screwed into the support rod  14 . By means of the coupling body  15 , it is possible to arrange the lifting device  1  on a lifting device normally available in motor vehicle workshops. 
         [0061]    To set a tilt of the load carrying unit  2  via the radial joint bearing unit  34 , the support unit  72  has two tilt adjusters  7  arranged offset by 90°. On one end, the tilt adjusters  7  are articulated to holders  12  which are arranged on cantilevers  8  of the support rod  14 . For this a bolt  50  extends through a bearing bush  51  of a bolt seat  11  of the tilt adjuster  7 . The position of the tilt adjuster  7  is secured in the holder  12  by locking rings  54  gripping the bolt  50 . 
         [0062]    Analogously, the tilt adjusters  7  are affixed on the holders  12  arranged on the main housing body  33 . The holders  12  are affixed on the cantilever  8  and the housing body  33  by fastening screws  13 . 
         [0063]    Threaded rods  10  are screwed into an inner thread  53  in the opposing bolt seats  11  of the tilt adjusters  7 . The ends of the threaded rods  10  opposite the bolt seats  11  are screwed into an inner thread  52  of a handle  9 . Rotating the handle  9  accordingly causes a change in length of the tilt adjuster  7  and thereby tilts the load carrying unit  2  relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the longitudinal axis of the support rod  14 . By means of the two tilt adjusters  7  offset by 90° relative to each other and arranged around the support rod  14 , a plane extending through the support arms  3  of the load carrying unit  2  can accordingly be tilted in any direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the support rod  14 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the lifting device  1  a as an engine hoist without a support device  73  and a radial joint bearing unit  34  which only differs above and beyond the lifting device  1  shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 b    in that said lifting device has a centrally arranged threaded hole  76  running in the longitudinal direction to form a crane hook holder in the central guide bolt  39  of the guide unit  57 . Otherwise, the structure of the guide unit  57  corresponds with the guide unit  57  of the lifting device  1 . The threaded hole  76  serves to receive an eyebolt  77  extending through openings in the housing cover  32 , the angular scale  38  and indicator  45 , by means of which the lifting device  1   a  can be coupled to a crane unit (not shown). 
         [0065]    To connect the lifting device  1   a  to a vehicle assembly to be lifted, in particular a motor vehicle engine (not shown), eyebolts  78  forming coupling adapters, and from which the motor vehicle engine can be suspended, are clamped in the seat openings  5  in the coupling units  74 . To protect the bottom side of the guide unit  57  connectable to the radial joint bearing unit  34 , the guide unit is provided with a protective cover  79 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0066]      1  Lifting device 
         [0067]      2  Load carrying unit 
         [0068]      3  Support arm 
         [0069]      4  Sleeve 
         [0070]      5  Seat opening 
         [0071]      6  Groove 
         [0072]      7  Tilt adjuster 
         [0073]      8  Cantilever 
         [0074]      9  Handle 
         [0075]      10  Threaded rod 
         [0076]      11  Bolt seat 
         [0077]      12  Holder 
         [0078]      13  Fastening screw 
         [0079]      14  Support rod 
         [0080]      15  Coupling body 
         [0081]      16  Indicator element/opening 
         [0082]      17  Clamping element 
         [0083]      18  Clamping lever 
         [0084]      19   a  Locking clip 
         [0085]      19   b  Locking clip 
         [0086]      20  Brake body 
         [0087]      21  Spherical body 
         [0088]      22  Bearing cap 
         [0089]      23  Bearing body 
         [0090]      24  Retaining shell 
         [0091]      25  Fastening screw 
         [0092]      26  Indicator element 
         [0093]      27  Fastening screw 
         [0094]      28  Locking section 
         [0095]      29  Groove 
         [0096]      30  Bearing ring 
         [0097]      31  Intermediate ring 
         [0098]      32  Housing cover 
         [0099]      33  Main housing body 
         [0100]      34  Radial joint bearing unit 
         [0101]      35  Bottom shell 
         [0102]      36  Upper shell 
         [0103]      37  Fastening screw 
         [0104]      38  Angular scale 
         [0105]      39  Guide bolt 
         [0106]      40  Groove 
         [0107]      41  Guide section 
         [0108]      42  Fastening screw 
         [0109]      43  Bearing ring 
         [0110]      44  Fastening screw 
         [0111]      45  Indicator 
         [0112]      46  Retaining pin 
         [0113]      47  Length scale 
         [0114]      48  Bearing seat 
         [0115]      49  Fastening screws 
         [0116]      50  Bolt 
         [0117]      51  Bearing bush 
         [0118]      52  Inner thread 
         [0119]      53  Inner thread 
         [0120]      54  Locking ring 
         [0121]      55  Fastening screw 
         [0122]      56  Fastening screw 
         [0123]      57  Guide unit 
         [0124]      58  Bearing locking screw 
         [0125]      59  Radial joint bearing 
         [0126]      60  Fastening screws 
         [0127]      61  Pushrod 
         [0128]      62  Threaded sleeve 
         [0129]      63  Pin seat 
         [0130]      64  Locking ring 
         [0131]      65  Guide path 
         [0132]      66  Locking body 
         [0133]      67  Pressure body 
         [0134]      68  Contact ring 
         [0135]      69  Pin 
         [0136]      70  Opening (pushrod) 
         [0137]      71  Seat section 
         [0138]      72  Recess (retaining shell) 
         [0139]      73  Support unit 
         [0140]      74  Coupling unit 
         [0141]      75  Bearing seat section 
         [0142]      76  Crane hook seat 
         [0143]      77  Eyebolt 
         [0144]      78  Eyebolt 
         [0145]      79  Protective cover