Patent GB-722350-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for lifting road vehicles
IPC: B66F7/02
Filed: 1952-05-01
Abstract: 722,350. Garage lifts; load engaging devices. CAPGRAS, R. A. May 1, 1952 [May 4, 1951; April 18, 1952], No. 11045/62. Classes 78 (3) and 78 (4). A garage lift comprises a number of independently movable guided platform hoists each of which is adapted to support a vehicle wheel and is raised and lowered by a single driving motor located on one hoist and connected to the others by flexible shafts. As shown in Fig. 3 a carriage 15 is moved along guides 7a, 7b, by a screw 19 which is rotated through reduction gearing 23 by a motor 5 connected to the other hoist by flexible shafts 4b-4d. Rapid adjustment of the carriage is effected by providing a screw-engaging nut (not shown) comprising two separable half annuli the movable one of which only is threaded. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the carriage 15 is moved by a chain 34 normally driven by motor 5 through worm gear 35, 36, but adapted to be rapidly operated by a manually rotatable sprocket 40 when the worm 36 has been disengaged from worm wheel 35 by a linkage 38a-38c. Fig. 6 illustrates another modification in which the carriage 15 is moved by a pinion 42 which normally engages a fixed rack 43, is driven from motor 5 through a flexible shaft 4a and reduction gearing, but is adapted to slide along shaft 46 out of alignment with the rack to enable the carriage to be moved rapidly by a cable 49 passing over a manuallyrotatable wheel 50. In a further modification shown in Fig. 11, the carriage 15 is moved by a cable 81 and winch drum 80 which is normally rotated by motor 70 through a flexible shaft 69, a worm gear 67, 68 and an endless chain 78, but is adapted to be rotated manually by a handle 77 and sprocket 76 when worm 67 has been pivoted about axis 72 out of engagement with worm wheel 68. To prevent unintentional disengagement of the worm a bolt 92 is automatically moved into engagement with an axial hole (not shown) in the end of the worm, when the carriage is loaded, by a lever 85 which contacts the cable 81 through a roller 88. Additional protection is obtained by providing a notched arm 90 which locks the lever 85 in its bolt-closing position. In the arrangements shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 the bases of the hoists have wheels 8a to facilitate movement, but in Fig. 11 these are replaced by endless tracks 100 provided with brakes 104. In a further modification (not shown) the endless track assemblies are each pivoted to the associated vertical guides to enable them to be hinged to stowed positions parallel thereto. In use, having raised the vehicle to the desired level, the adjustable supports shown in Fig. 9 are engaged beneath the chassis and the hoists are removed for use elsewhere. Each adjustable support comprises a tripod base having a sleeve 53 in which is adjustably supported by a pin 56 a perforated rod 52 which is threaded at 55. A double nut 57 which engages the threads 55 and also opposite hand threads 58 on a crutch member 59 is used for finely adjusting the height of the crutch. Wheel-engaging supports.-Pivoted to the carriage 15 at 14a, Fig. 3, is a yoke 13a, 13b to the ends of which are pivoted wheel supporting arms 11a, 11b, but in the modification shown in Fig. 11 the yoke is replaced by a pair of pivoted arms 13a<SP>1</SP>, 13b<SP>1</SP> which are angularly adjustable by a screw 62 which is rotatable by a handle 66 and has opposite hand threads at its ends engaging nuts on extensions of the arms above their pivot 14a<SP>1</SP>.