Patent Publication Number: US-2020282546-A1

Title: Engine stand

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of commonly assigned U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/813,879, filed Mar. 5, 2019, and entitled “UNIVERSAL ENGINE STAND” (“the &#39;879 application”). The &#39;879 application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present non-provisional patent application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure generally relates to engine stands. More particularly, the present disclosure concerns an adapter and an engine stand configured to support a broad range of equipment and a method of securing the equipment to the adapter and/or engine stand. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Vehicle engines are generally very large and very heavy, which makes them difficult to maintain and repair. Engine stands are often used to support engines above the ground to provide better access to the engines during time-intensive repairs (e.g., engine overhauls). Different types of engines often have fastening locations at different locations on the engines. Additionally, some engines are more voluminous than others, so their fastening locations may be separated by greater distances. Unfortunately, engine stands are generally configured to only support one specific type of engine. Thus, repair shops are often required to maintain multiple different types of engines stands (or engine stand adapters) to accommodate each of the different types of engines that might be repaired in the shop. 
     As such, there is a need for an engine stand that can be used for multiple types of engines. Furthermore, there is a need for an engine stand adapter that accommodates the multiple types of engines. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problem by providing an engine stand operable to support different types of engines. One embodiment of the invention is directed to an adapter assembly for an equipment stand. The adapter assembly comprises an adapter plate and a plurality of support arm assemblies. The adapter plate includes a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves and a plurality of vertically-extending grooves. Each groove is formed through a thickness of the adapter plate. 
     The plurality of support arm assemblies extend from the adapter plate and are configured to engage with and to support a piece of equipment. One of the support arm assemblies is associated with a first horizontally-extending groove, and a second support arm assembly is associated with a first vertically-extending groove. The grooves on the adapter plate enable the support arm assemblies to extend from different positions along their associated grooves. This allows the support arm assemblies to be reconfigured to support different types of equipment. For example, the support arm assemblies may extend from different positions along their associated grooves to match fastening locations of different types of engines. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is an engine stand for supporting an engine above the ground. The engine stand comprises a support frame and an adapter assembly. The adapter assembly comprises an adapter plate and a plurality of support arm assemblies. The adapter plate includes a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves and a plurality of vertically-extending grooves. Each groove is formed through a thickness of said adapter plate. The plurality of support arm assemblies extend from the adapter plate and are configured to engage with and to support the engine above the ground. One of the support arm assemblies is associated with a first horizontally-extending groove, and a second support arm assembly is associated with a first vertically-extending groove. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a method of supporting an engine above the ground with an engine stand. The method comprises (a) positioning an adapter assembly of the engine stand adjacent to the engine, wherein the adapter assembly includes an adapter plate having a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves and a plurality of vertically-extending grooves, wherein the adapter assembly additionally includes a plurality of support arm assemblies extending from the adapter plate; (b) actuating a first support arm assembly horizontally through a first horizontally-extending groove of the adapter plate; (c) actuating a second support arm assembly vertically through a first vertically-extending groove of the adapter plate; and (d) securing the first support arm assembly and the second support arm assembly to the engine. 
     Advantages of these and other embodiments will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the exemplary embodiments which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present embodiments described herein may be capable of other and different embodiments, and their details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The Figures described below depict various aspects of systems and methods disclosed therein. It should be understood that each Figure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed systems and methods, and that each of the Figures is intended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Further, wherever possible, the following description refers to the reference numerals included in the following Figures, in which features depicted in multiple Figures are designated with consistent reference numerals. The present embodiments are not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the Figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an engine stand constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention supporting an engine; 
         FIG. 2  is a lowered perspective view of the engine stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the engine stand shown in  FIG. 1  raising the engine; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the engine stand shown in  FIG. 1  being aligned with the engine; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the engine stand shown in  FIG. 1  aligned with fastening locations on the engine; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial view of a portion of an adapter assembly of the embodiment of the engine stand shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the adapter assembly shown in  FIG. 6  with support arm assemblies detached; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial exploded view of support arm assemblies of the adapter assembly shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating steps for supporting an engine above the ground with an engine stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The Figures depict exemplary embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the systems and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. For instance, the drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. Furthermore, directional references (for example, top, bottom, up, and down) are used herein solely for the sake of convenience and should be understood only in relation to each other. For instance, a component might in practice be oriented such that faces referred to as “top” and “bottom” are sideways, angled or inverted relative to the chosen frame of reference. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an engine stand  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The engine stand  10  is configured to support a piece of equipment  12 , such as an engine, and may comprise a support frame  14  configured to support an adapter assembly  16  above the ground. The piece of equipment  12  may be a ground-vehicle engine (such as a tractor-trailer engine), an aircraft engine, a marine engine, a transmission, an axle carrier, or the like. The engine stand  10  may be configured to support any size of equipment  12 , including equipment  12  that weighs up to 6,000 pounds (lbs.) (2,722 kilograms (kg)) or more. For example, the engine stand  10  may be configured to support an engine  12  weighing between 1 and 2,000 lbs. (1 and 907 kg), between 2,001 and 4,000 lbs. (908 and 1,814 kg), and/or between 4,001 and 6,000 lbs. (1,815 and 2,722 kg). 
     The support frame  14  supports the adapter assembly  16  and the equipment  12  and may comprise a base  18 , a support column  20  attached to the base  18 , a support shaft  22  extending from the support column  20 , a lifting mechanism  24  (e.g., a hydraulic lift) for lifting the support shaft  22 , wheels  26  attached to the base  18 , and a handle  28  to facilitate maneuverability of the engine stand  10 . 
     The base  18  may comprise a U-shaped frame and may include a cross beam  30  for supporting the lifting mechanism  24 . The base  18  may be maneuverable via wheels  26  and handle  28 . The support column  20  extends from the base  18  and may be pivotable (front to rear) about a horizontal pivot rod  32 . As the lifting mechanism  24  lifts the support shaft  22 , an upper portion of the support column  20  may pivot rearwardly about the horizontal pivot rod  32 . In some embodiments, the support column  20  may be vertically shiftable. For example, the support column  20  may vertically shift as the lifting mechanism  24  extends, instead of pivoting. Alternatively, the lifting mechanism  24  may be housed and/or supported on or in the support column  20  so that extension of the lifting mechanism  24  extends the upper portion of the support column  20 . 
     The support shaft  22  connects the adapter assembly  16  to the support column  20  and extends generally horizontally in a forward direction from the support column  20 . The support shaft  22  may be rotatably attached to the support column  20 , such that the shaft  22  can rotate about a forwardly-extending horizontal axis. The support shaft  22  may also be rotatably coupled to the lifting mechanism  24  via a bearing  34 , which permits the support shaft  22  to rotate while being supported by the lifting mechanism  24 . The support shaft  22  may include a gear box  36  with a crankshaft  38  supported on a rear side of the support column  20 . The gear box  36  may be configured to rotate the support shaft  22  when the crankshaft  38  is actuated. 
     The lifting mechanism  24  raises and lowers the support shaft  22  to provide access to different areas of the equipment  12 . The lifting mechanism  24  may be rotatably attached to the cross beam  30  of the base  18  via bearing  40  and extend generally upward to pivot the support shaft  22  about a laterally extending horizontal axis, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Additionally or alternatively, the cross beam  30  may be rotatable relative to the rest of the base  18 . The lifting mechanism  24  may be hydraulically, pneumatically, mechanically, and/or electrically actuated. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4-8 , the adapter assembly  16  may comprise an adapter plate  42  that includes a plurality of adjustable support arm assemblies  44 . The adapter plate  42  may be rigidly secured to the column  20  via a mounting plate bracket  46  comprising a pair of spaced apart mounting plates  48 ,  50  attached to the support shaft  22 . The mounting plates  48 ,  50  may be bolted to the support shaft  22 . As such, the vertical position of the adapter plate  42  can be adjusted via the lifting mechanism  24  of the support frame  14 . The adapter plate  42  may comprise a plate-like structure of high-strength material, such as steel. The adapter plate  42  may be formed from a 0.25 inch (6 millimeter (mm)) steel plate, a 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) steel plate, a 0.75 inch (19.05 mm) steel plate, or a 1.0 inch (25.4 mm) steel plate. In some embodiments, the adapter plate  42  may include a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves  52  and a plurality of vertically-extending grooves  54  formed through the thickness of the adapter plate  42 . In some embodiments, the adapter plate  42  includes at least eight horizontally-extending grooves  52  and at least eight vertically-extending grooves  54 . The adapter plate  42  may comprise a pair of outer sections  56  and a pair of inner sections  58  (as depicted in  FIG. 7 ). The inner sections  58  may be positioned between the outer sections  56 . Each of the outer sections  56  and the inner sections  58  may include at least a pair of horizontally-extending grooves  52  and a pair of vertically-extending grooves  54 . Embodiments provide for the support arm assemblies  44  to be received within the grooves  48 ,  50  formed in the adapter plate  42 . As described in more detail below, the support arm assemblies  44  are configured to be arranged in various different configurations, such that the engine stand  10  of the present invention can be configured to support various types and sizes of equipment, engines, etc. In some embodiments, the adapter plate  42  may be rectangular and have a length of between 20 and 80 inches (50 and 204 centimeters (cm)), between 30 and 60 inches (76 and 153 cm), or about 44 inches (112 cm). The adapter plate  42  may have a height of between 5 and 25 inches (12 and 64 cm), between 10 and 20 inches (25 and 51 cm), or about 12.5 inches (32 cm). 
     The support arm assemblies  44  are configured to secure the equipment  12  to the adapter plate  42 . Each support arm assembly  44  may be positioned in (or otherwise associated with) one of the horizontal or vertical grooves  52 ,  54 , in a manner that permits the support arm assembly  44  to actuate (e.g., slide) within the groove  52 ,  54 . In more detail, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , each support arm assembly  44  may include a retainer block  60  that is positioned on an exterior side  62  of the adapter plate  42 . The retainer block  60  may be formed as a rectangular block of high-strength material, such as steel. A fastener  64 , such as a bolt, may extend through the associated groove  52 ,  54 , so as to secure the retainer block  60  to the adapter plate  42 . By loosening the fastener  64 , the retainer block  60  (and, thus, the support arm assembly  44 ) is free to slide upward and downward (for a vertical groove  54 ) or leftward and rightward (for a horizontal groove  52 ). 
     Additionally, the support arm assemblies  44  may be configured to have at least 5 degrees of freedom. For example, with the fastener  64  loosened, the retainer block  60  is free to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the adapter plate  42 . As noted previously, with the fastener  64  loosened, the retainer block  60  can be translated up/down or left/right via the grooves  52 ,  54 . Upon the retainer block  60  being actuated to the appropriate position with respect to the groove  52 ,  54 , the fastener  64  can be tightened to secure the retainer block  60  in place on the adapter plate  42 . Each support arm assembly  44  may additionally include an elongated sliding rod  66  that is configured to extend and retract with respect to the retainer block  60 . The sliding rod  66  may be formed as a cylindrical rod of high-strength material, such as steel. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a bracket clamp  68  may extend from the retainer block  60 , via a bolt  70 , to receive the sliding rod  66 . The bolt  70  may be tightened to securely hold the sliding rod  66  and loosened to permit the sliding rod  66  to extend and retract with respect to the retainer block  60 . Loosening of the bolt  70  may also permit the sliding rod  66  and the bracket clamp  68  to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the retainer block  60  (i.e., rotate about the bolt  70  that secures the sliding rod  66  to the retainer block  60 ). 
     Each support arm assembly  44  may further include an arm bracket  72  secured to a distal end  74  (the end opposite the bracket clamp  68 ) of the sliding rod  66  via a bolt  76 . When the bolt  76  is loosened, the arm bracket  72  may be rotated 360 degrees with respect to the distal end  74  of the sliding rod  66  (around the bolt  76 ). The arm bracket  72  may be formed as an L-shaped bracket of high-strength material, such as steel. A distal end  78  of the arm bracket  72  (the end extending away from the sliding rod  66 ) may include a through-hole  80  for receiving a bolt  82 , which may be used to secure the arm bracket  72  to a fastening location on an engine  12  (or other piece of equipment) that is to be supported by the engine stand  10 . One of more of the bolts  64 ,  70 ,  76 ,  82  may be grade 8 bolts. 
     The adapter plate  42  of embodiments of the present invention, as described above, can be set up in various configurations so as to support various types and sizes of engines  12  (or other pieces of equipment). For example, the adapter plate  42  may be formed with four sections  56 ,  58 , including the pair of outer sections  56  and the pair of inner sections  58 . Each of the sections  56 ,  58  may include at least a pair of horizontal grooves  52  and at least a pair of vertical grooves  54 . In some embodiments, the vertical grooves  54  will be positioned between the horizontal grooves  52 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the adapter plate  42  may include a support arm assembly  44  for each groove  52 ,  54  (i.e., each horizontally-extending groove  52  and/or each vertically-extending groove  54 ). 
     However, in some embodiments, the number of support arm assemblies  44  used may be dependent on the size of the engine  12  (or other piece of equipment) that is to be supported by the engine stand  10 . For instance, in some embodiments, an engine  12  with a weight under 2,000 lbs may only require a minimum of five support arm assemblies  44 . An engine  12  with a weight between 2,000 and 4,000 lbs may require at least eight support arm assemblies  44 . An engine  12  weighing over 4,000 lbs may require at least thirteen support arm assemblies  44 . 
     As noted above, embodiments provide for the adapter plate  42  to be configured in multiple configurations or arrangements so as to support various types and sizes of engines  12  (or other pieces of equipment). In some embodiments, each of the support arm assemblies  44  may be configured with at least 5 degrees of freedom. For instance, the position of each of the support arm assemblies  44  may be adjusted vertically or laterally by sliding the retainer blocks  60  vertically or laterally within their respective groove  52 ,  54 . In addition, the retainer blocks  60  may be rotated with respect to the adapter plate  42 . In addition, the sliding rods  66  of each support arm assembly  44  may be rotated and/or extended/retracted with respect to its retainer block  60 . Furthermore, each arm bracket  72  can be rotated with respect to its sliding rod  66 . 
     To secure an engine to the engine stand, the necessary number of support arm assemblies  44  required to support the engine size  12  (as discussed above) may be secured to the adapter plate  42 . Using a shop crane or other suitable mechanism, the engine  12  may be moved into position for attaching to the adapter plate  42 . Specifically, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the engine&#39;s  12  center of gravity may be aligned with respect to the engine stand&#39;s  10  horizontal axis of rotation (i.e., the axis along the support shaft  22 ) by raising or lowering the engine  12 . If the adapter plate  42  needs to move up or down, the lifting mechanism  24  of the engine stand  10  can be used. Next, the support arm assemblies  44  may be positioned in the most advantageous position so as to be secured to the fastening locations on the engine  12  (e.g., available brackets or threaded through holes or blind holes on the engine  12 ). Such fastening locations may typically be a combination of lower and higher locations on the engine  12 . As noted above, each of the support arm assemblies  44  may be free to actuate about at least 5 degrees of freedom. Bolts  82  may then be extended through the arm brackets  72  of the support arm assemblies  44  and into the engine  12  (or into a bracket associated with the engine  12 ). Such bolts  82  may be tightened to secure the engine  12  in place. To remove the engine  12  from the adapter plate  42 , the above steps may be completed in reverse order. 
     The flow chart of  FIG. 9  depicts the steps of an exemplary method  100  of supporting a piece of equipment  12  with an engine stand  10 . In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the various blocks may occur out of the order depicted in  FIG. 9 . For example, two blocks shown in succession in  FIG. 9  may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order depending upon the functionality involved. In addition, some steps may be optional. 
     Referring to step  101 , an adapter assembly  16  of the engine stand  10  may be positioned adjacent to the equipment  12 . The adapter assembly  16  may include an adapter plate  42  having a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves  52  and a plurality of vertically-extending grooves  54 . The adapter assembly  16  may additionally include a plurality of support arm assemblies  44  extending from the adapter plate  42 . This step  101  may include positioning and/or aligning the engine stand  10  near the equipment  12  via wheels  26  and a handle  28  of the engine stand  10  and raising or lowering the adapter plate  42  via a lifting mechanism  24 . 
     Referring to step  102 , a first support arm assembly  44  may be actuated horizontally through a first horizontally-extending groove  52  of the adapter plate  42 . For example, a fastener  64  may extend through the groove  54  and engage a retainer block  60  of the first support arm assembly  44  to secure the retainer block  60  at a location along the groove  54 . This enables the first support arm assembly  44  to be positioned so that the fastening location of the equipment  12  is within reach of the first support arm assembly  44 . This step  102  may also include actuating the first support arm assembly  44  into position near the fastening location on the equipment  12 . For example, the retainer block  60  may be rotated about an axis coaxial with the fastener  64 . A proximal end of a sliding rod  66  may be secured to the retainer block  60  via a bracket clamp  68 . The sliding rod  66  of the first support arm assembly  44  may be extended or retracted relative to the retainer block  60 . The sliding rod  66  may also be rotated to orient an arm bracket  72  attached to a distal end of the sliding rod  66  to connect to the fastening location. The arm bracket  72  may also be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the sliding rod  66 . 
     Referring to step  103 , a second support arm assembly  44  may be actuated vertically through a first vertically-extending groove  54  of the adapter plate  42 . For example, a fastener  64  may extend through the groove  54  and engage a retainer block  60  of the second support arm assembly  44  to secure the retainer block  60  at a location along the groove  54 . This enables the second support arm assembly  44  to be positioned so that a second fastening location of the equipment  12  is within reach of the second support arm assembly  44 . This step  103  may also include actuating the second support arm assembly  44  into position near the fastening location on the equipment  12 . For example, the retainer block  60  may be rotated about an axis coaxial with the fastener  64 . A sliding rod  66  of the second support arm assembly  44  may be extended or retracted relative to the retainer block  60 . The sliding rod  66  may also be rotated to orient an arm bracket  72  attached to a distal end of the sliding rod  66  to connect to the fastening location. The arm bracket  72  may also be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the sliding rod  66 . 
     Referring to step  104 , the first support arm assembly  44  and the second support arm assembly  44  are secured to the equipment  12 . This step may include inserting bolts  82  through the arm brackets  72  and fastening the bolts  82  to the equipment  12 . This step  104  may also include tightening bolts  64 ,  70 ,  76  of the adapter assembly  16  so that the support arm assemblies  44  are in fixed positions, whereby the support arm assemblies  44  are prohibited from moving relative to the adapter plate  42 . 
     The method  100  may include additional, less, or alternate steps and/or device(s), including those discussed elsewhere herein. For example, the method may include rotating a support shaft  22  of the engine stand  10  via a gearbox  36  so that the adapter plate  42  is rotated about an axis coaxial with the support shaft  22 . The method  100  may also include attaching additional support arm assemblies  44  to the adapter plate  42 . 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown. 
     ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     Although the present application sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claim(s) set forth at the end of this patent and equivalents. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical. Numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
     Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.