Abstract:
There is disclosed a jack that provides lifting from multiple orientations or directions. The jack is able to provide the lifting from these multiple orientations as fluid is continuously transferred from a reservoir to a pumping chamber to a piston chamber, regardless of the orientation or direction of the jack.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosed subject matter relates to hydraulic lifting apparatus, commonly known as jacks or lifts. In particular, the present disclosed subject matter relates to hydraulic lifting apparatus, such as bottle jacks, that are operable so as to provide lifting from multiple orientations and directions. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Conventional hydraulic jacks, that are shaped like bottles, are commonly known as bottle jacks. These bottle jacks may be designed to lift (raise) loads, for example, from a few to over 100 tons. The load is anything that is raised or lifted by the jack. 
   Conventional bottle jacks are problematic, in that they are only operable to provide lifting when in a single upright orientation. Accordingly, when oriented upright but tilted, lifting may be limited. Moreover, when oriented sideways or upside down, lifting is nonexistent, and the jacks are inoperable. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present disclosed subject matter improves on the contemporary art by providing jacks, for example, in the form of bottle jacks, that are operable by providing lifting from any orientation or direction. As a result, the disclosed jacks are operable in tilted, sideways and upside down orientations, in addition to the conventional upright orientation or direction. Accordingly, the utility of the jack is markedly improved, as its operability is increased. 
   An embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is directed to a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder disposed in the outer cylinder, and a piston reciprocally mounted in the inner cylinder. The space between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder defines a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, and the space in the inner cylinder underneath the piston defines a piston cavity for hydraulic fluid. There is at least one pump for moving hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the piston cavity, and there is a conduit, for example, a tube, movable in the reservoir. The tube allows for the continuous flow of hydraulic fluid to the pump from the reservoir from any orientation of the hydraulic cylinder. 
   Another embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is directed to a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder disposed in the outer cylinder, and a piston reciprocally mounted in the inner cylinder. There is a space between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder defining a reservoir for hydraulic fluid and there is a space in the inner cylinder underneath the piston defining a piston cavity for hydraulic fluid. There is also at least one pump for moving hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the piston cavity. Within the reservoir, and movable therein, is a tube having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled with the at least one pump and the second end for is free for moving in the reservoir and resting at an elevation at least proximate to the lowest point in the reservoir for allowing hydraulic fluid to be continuously drawn from the reservoir, from any orientation of the hydraulic cylinder. 
   Another embodiment is directed to a method for jacking a hydraulic cylinder from any orientation. The method includes providing a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder disposed in the outer cylinder, and a piston reciprocally mounted in the inner cylinder. There is a space between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, the space defining a reservoir for hydraulic fluid. There is also a space in the inner cylinder underneath the piston defining a piston cavity for hydraulic fluid. There is at least one pump for moving hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the piston cavity. A conduit, for example, a tube, is moved within the reservoir to a point proximate the lowest elevational point in the reservoir in accordance with the orientation of the hydraulic cylinder. Hydraulic fluid is then pumped through the conduit into the piston cavity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Attention is now directed to the drawing figures, where like numerals or characters indicate corresponding or like components. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of an exemplary bottle jack in accordance with the disclosed subject matter in an upright orientation; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the bottle jack of  FIG. 1  in a the upright orientation; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the free end of the tube in the reservoir of the bottle jack of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the bottle jack of  FIG. 1  in a tilted or angled orientation; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the bottle jack of  FIG. 1  in a sideways orientation; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the bottle jack of  FIG. 1  in an upside down or inverted orientation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Throughout this document, references to directions, such as upward, downward, upper, lower, up, down, top, bottom, and the like, are made. These directional references are to typical orientations for the apparatus  20  and/or components thereof. They are exemplary only, and not limiting in any way, as they are for description and explanation purposes. In  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 - 6 , the apparatus  20  is shown oriented with respect to a surface S. 
   Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the jack apparatus  20  includes a pump unit or pump  22  and a jacking cylinder  24 , supported on a base  26 . The pump unit  22  and jacking cylinder  24  are connected by numerous channels for the transfer of hydraulic fluid from a reservoir  70  in the jacking cylinder  24  to the piston cavity  72  of the jacking cylinder  24  by the pump unit  22 . A ram piston or ram  30 , that terminates in a saddle  31 , for contacting the load, is movable in the jacking cylinder, between a rest or retracted position, where the saddle  31  seats in close proximity to the open end of the jacking cylinder  24 , and operative or extended positions. 
   The base  26  includes the channels for the transfer of hydraulic fluid (and all connections there between) associated with the aforementioned movement of hydraulic fluid through the apparatus  20 , collectively referred to as the hydraulic channel system. Suitable hydraulic channel systems that may be used in the base  26  of the jack apparatus  20  include, for example, those disclosed in the Omega® Hydraulic Bottle Jacks, Model Nos. 10085C (8 Ton Capacity), 10125C (12 Ton Capacity), 10129C (12 Ton Capacity), 10205C (20 Ton Capacity) and 10209C (20 ton Capacity), commercially available from Shinn Fu Company of America, Inc., 10909 North Pomona Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. 64153, the assignee of this patent application, and disclosed in Omega® Lift Equipment, Operating Instructions and Parts Manual-Hydraulic Bottle Jacks, OIPM# 10085C-BJ2 ©2002, or as disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/303,586, entitled: Hydraulic Lifting Apparatus, published as U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2007/0137193 A1, all of the aforementioned disclosures incorporated by reference herein. 
   The base  26  also includes a release valve  28 . The release valve  28  and its location is conventional, such that when activated, by a manual manipulation of the like, hydraulic fluid is released from the piston cavity  72  for return to the reservoir  70  of the jacking cylinder  24 . The release of hydraulic fluid allows the ram piston  30  to move downward, from an extended position to the retracted position. 
   The pump unit  22  includes a handle sleeve assembly  32  (of a handle  32   a , received in a sleeve  32   b ), that attaches pivotally to a link  34 , that is attached to the base  26 . The handle sleeve assembly  32  is also pivotally attached to a cylinder  36  that extends into the pump cavity  38 , to draw hydraulic fluid into the pump cavity  38  from the reservoir  70  of the jacking cylinder  24 , through an inflow line  40 , on an upstroke, and move hydraulic fluid into the piston cavity  72  of the jacking cylinder  24  on a downstroke, through an outflow line  42 . There is also a ball check valve  44 , formed of a ball loaded by a spring (not shown), biased inward, that releases should the fluid pressure in the piston cavity  72  become greater than the force on the ball. 
   The jacking cylinder  24  includes an outer housing cylinder  60 , that surrounds a piston cylinder  62 . The piston cylinder  62  serves as a guide for the ram piston  30 . The ram piston  30 , housing cylinder  60 , and, piston cylinder  62 , are typically circular in cross section and of constant diameter. These cylinders  60 ,  62 , are typically aligned coaxially. A cap  66  covers the housing cylinder  60 . The cap  66  includes an opening  66   a  (with an O-ring  66   b  therein that serves as a seal), through which the saddle  31  of the ram piston  30  protrudes, and moves through upon being raised and lowered. The opening  66   a  of the cap  66  is coaxial with the ram piston  30 , housing cylinder  60 , and piston cylinder  62 , and is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the ram piston  30 , to facilitate movement of the ram piston  30 , when it is being raised (and the saddle  31  extended from the jacking cylinder  24 ) or lowered (the saddle  31  retracted into the jacking cylinder  24 ). 
   The jacking cylinder  24  and the base  26  are filled with hydraulic fluid, for example, hydraulic jack fluid or hydraulic jack oil, or the like. In the jacking cylinder  24 , hydraulic fluid is stored in a reservoir  70 , formed by the space between the housing cylinder  60  and the piston cylinder  62 . Hydraulic fluid is also pumped into and released from a piston cavity  72 , the space in the piston cylinder  62  between the base  26  and the ram piston  30 . The piston cavity  72  fills with hydraulic fluid when jacking (raising of the ram piston  30 ) of a load is desired, raising the ram piston  30 , specifically the saddle  31  from the jacking cylinder  24  to an extended position, depending on the desired lifting for the load. The reservoir  70  typically includes a filter (not shown) or the like, so that particulates in the hydraulic fluid are not pumped into the pump cavity  38  and the piston cavity  72 . 
   The housing cylinder  60  seats in a recess  74  in the base  26 . The housing cylinder  60  typically seats on a gasket  75  in the base  26 . A filler plug  76  (reservoir plug or threaded filler screw), for example, a pliable rubber plug, is seated in an opening  77  in the housing cylinder  60 . The filler plug  76  seals the reservoir  70  from the atmosphere (ambient environment). A handle  78  is attached to the exterior of the jacking cylinder  24 , allowing for hand carrying of the apparatus  20 . 
   The piston cylinder  62 , includes a first or upper portion  62   a  and a second or lower portion  62   b . Along the inner wall  62   c  at the first or upper portion  62   a , are one or more hydraulic fluid return grooves  81 . The grooves  81  are coupled with a passage  82 , from the inside of the piston cylinder  62  to the reservoir  70 , for example, over the piston cylinder  62  and through a bore  83  in the cap  66  here, to allow for fluid bypass. This fluid bypass limits the upward travel of the ram piston  30 . The position (i.e., the height) of the grooves  81  determines the height that the ram piston  30  can be raised, and accordingly, prevent against explosions of the apparatus  20 . This is shown, for example, and additional details of the construction of the inner wall  62   c  of the piston cylinder  62  are disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,912 (Hung), this patent incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. (The aforementioned structure is present in the apparatus  20  shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , but not shown in these drawing figures as it is not necessary to explain the operation of the apparatus  20  shown in these drawing figures). 
   The second or lower portion  62   b  of the piston cylinder  62  includes a threaded portion  62   d , along the outer wall  62   e  of the piston cylinder  62 . This threaded portion  62   d  is received in a correspondingly threaded portion in the base  26 . 
   The piston cylinder  62 , seats on a gasket  84  in the base  26 . The piston cylinder  62  surrounds the ram piston  30  (reciprocally mounted in the cylinder  62 ). The base  26  also includes threaded sidewalls  86 , for receiving the piston cylinder  62  at its threaded portion  62   d  (the threads corresponding to the threading of the sidewalls  86 ) on its outer wall  62   e , in a frictional engagement. 
   The ram piston  30  includes a first or upper portion  96  and a second or lower portion  97 . The lower portion  97  of the ram piston  30  receives a collar  98 , a ram bearing  100 , and a u-cup  102 . A retainer ring  105  secures the positions of the ram bearing  100  and u-cup  102  on the lower portion  97  of the ram piston  30 . 
   The ram bearing  100  and u-cup  102 , as placed onto the second or lower portion  97  of the ram piston  30 , are of a diameter greater than that of the first or upper portion  96  of the ram piston  30 , and of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the piston cylinder  62 , to allow the ram piston  30  be frictionally snug within the piston cylinder  62 , while allowing for it to move up and down within the piston cylinder  62 . The ram bearing  100  and u-cup  102  are also typically of a diameter slightly greater than the opening  66   a  of the cap  66 , whereby the cap  66  may serve as an upward limit of travel for the ram piston  30 . 
   Other ram piston  30 , housing cylinder  60 , piston cylinder  62  and cap  66  arrangements, suitable for use as the jacking cylinder  24 , include those disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/303,586 (Published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2007/0137193 A1), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,912 (Hung). 
   Within the reservoir  70  is a tube  124 , that connects to the inflow line  40  of the base  26 . The tube  124  is of a flexible material, such as a polymer, elastomer or the like. It is received and attached at one end  124   a  in a connector  126 , that attaches to the inflow line  40 . The other end  124   b  of the tube  124  is received in an anchor piece  128 , coaxial with the tube  124 . The tube  124  as shown in  FIGS. 4-6  is represented by a broken line. 
   As shown in detail in  FIG. 3 , the anchor piece  128  serves as the tip of the tube  124 . The anchor piece  128  is a tube (the bore therethrough shown in broken lines) that includes an opening  129  at its free end  128   a  (at the edge  128   e ), to form the inlet opening for the tube  124 . The opposite end  128   b  of the anchor piece  128  is also open, and is connected to the end  124   b  of the tube  124 . This connection allows the anchor piece  128  move freely in the reservoir  70 . 
   The anchor piece  128  is, for example, of metal, such as steel or the like, and is of a weight sufficient to sink to the lowest point in the reservoir  70 , based on the orientation (direction) of the jacking cylinder  24 , such that hydraulic fluid is always available to be drawn through the tube  124  by the pump unit  22 , allowing the apparatus  20  to lift, in all orientations (directions). 
   The end  128   a  of the anchor piece  128  includes an aperture  130  cut into the anchor piece  128  for hydraulic fluid to enter the anchor piece  128  through side walls, and ultimately, the tube  124 . The aperture  130  maintains fluid flow into the anchor piece  128  and tube  124  and prevents sealing from back pressure, should the edge  128   e  of the anchor piece  128  be in contact with a surface of the jacking cylinder  24  or the base  26 . While a single aperture  130  is shown, multiple apertures are permissible. 
   For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the apparatus  20  and in particular, the jacking cylinder  24 , is in an upright orientation, the anchor piece  128  is at the lowest point of the reservoir  70 . At this point, the anchor piece  128  is in contact, and typically immersed in hydraulic fluid, such that upon pumping, hydraulic fluid will be drawn into the tube  124  for transfer through the inflow tube  42  to the piston cavity  38 , through the outflow line  40 . 
   In  FIG. 4 , the apparatus  20  is shown in a tilted orientation or direction. The anchor piece  128  is at the lowest point in the reservoir  70 , to allow for hydraulic fluid to be drawn into the anchor piece  128  and the tube  124 . Similarly, in  FIG. 5 , the apparatus  20  is shown in a sideways orientation, whereby the anchor piece  128  is at the lowest point of the reservoir  70 . 
     FIG. 6  shows the apparatus  20  in an inverted or upside down orientation. The anchor piece  128  is suspended in the reservoir  70  as it is at its lowest point of the reservoir  70 , as held in position by the tube  124 . 
   While preferred embodiments of the disclosed subject matter have been described, so as to enable one of skill in the art to practice the disclosed subject matter, the preceding description is intended to be exemplary only. It should not be used to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter, which should be determined by reference to the following claims.