Patent Publication Number: US-10787349-B2

Title: Lifting device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority of German Patent Application No. 20 2014 103 785.3 filed Aug. 14, 2014, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a lifting device, in particular to lift and lower loads, vehicles or similar as well as lifting platforms consisting of lifting devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A column lifting platform, in particular a four-column lifting platform, for motor vehicles is known from DE 80 24 326 U1, in which each two lifting columns are arranged to lie opposite each other and a continuous drive rail to receive a vehicle is arranged on each two lifting columns which is able to be lifted and lowered by a lifting device. 
     This column lifting platform has the disadvantage that a vehicle which is situated on the lifting platform for maintenance or assembly purposes is not freely accessible from all sides. On the one hand, the continuous drive rails cover a part of the underbody of the vehicle and therefore an unhindered access for underbody work is made difficult, and on the other hand in the case of this lifting platform, the lifting columns are frequently situated in the region of the wheels of the vehicle, for which reason work on the wheels, the mudguards or also an opening of the doors is frequently not possible. Furthermore, the drive rails have a notable drive-on height, for which reason in the case of this embodiment, long drive-on ramps are necessary. Additionally, the drive rails are borne by two crossmembers such that an unhindered access to the work space under the vehicle is not possible. 
     A lifting device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,977, for which each two pivotable support arms are arranged on two lifting columns which lie opposite each other, wherein the support arms are pivoted to lift and lower a vehicle under the underbody of the vehicle and are positioned on holding devices on the vehicle which are provided therefor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforesaid lifting device has the advantage of a good accessibility to the underbody of the lifted vehicle, but has the disadvantage that the pivotable support arms must be pivoted manually out of the vehicle region for driving the vehicle on and off the lifting device and must be positioned exactly on the holding devices of vehicle provided therefor for each vehicle. In particular, this is time-consuming during series inspection of vehicles. 
     The present invention provides a lifting device as well as a lifting platform to lift and lower loads, vehicles or similar, which has, on the one hand, an accessibility which is as great as possible to the vehicle for assembly, maintenance or repair work and, on the other hand, enables a quick lifting lowering of the vehicle. 
     An embodiment of the lifting device according to the invention comprises a vertical lifting column, on which a support is arranged, which is able to be driven vertically in a guide arranged on the lifting column. The lifting device is additionally equipped with a drive device, by means of which the support is able to be lifted and lowered. Additionally, a load receiver is arranged on the support which has a drive-on region, a support region and a drive-off region, which are arranged among a mutual axis in a drive-over direction. The load receiver comprises a holding arm, which is positioned outside of the support region and outside of the drive-over direction of the drive-on region or drive-off region. This load receiver can be provided to receive only one wheel or a twin wheel of a vehicle. This load receiver can also be positioned on a sill of a vehicle to lift the vehicle. Due to this embodiment of the load receiver, a vehicle can be driven onto the load receiver in a simple way and positioned thereon in order to subsequently enable a lifting. At the same time, due to the arrangement of the holding arm with respect to the load-bearing means outside of the support region, it is enabled that a good accessibility to the wheel or a twin wheel and the wheel housing of a vehicle is possible in order to implement work or inspections thereon. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the drive-on region, the support region, the drive-off region and the holding arm of the load receiver are designed to be planar, wherein the load receiver is produced, for example, from a metal sheet, such that a drive-on height onto the load receiver which is as low as possible is achieved. So that the load receiver produced from a sheet metal material achieves a sufficient strength to support a vehicle despite a low drive-on height, the metal sheet can have a thickness of preferably 5 to 50 mm. In order to achieve an increased strength of the planar load receiver, in an alternative embodiment, struts for stiffening can be attached to the lower side or the upper side of the planar load receiver. Preferably, a sandwich construction can also be provided in which several sheet metal layers of the same or different strengths are connected to one another and/or stiffening elements are provided between two metal sheets. 
     A further preferred embodiment provides that the drive-on region, the support region and the drive-off region has a receiving surface. This can be rectangular, quadratic, circular, semi-circular, oval, kidney-shaped, bone-shaped or in a similar formation. This formation enables a large support surface or a cover of the underbody of a vehicle standing on the load receiver which is as low as possible. Additionally, an accessibility to the work space under the vehicle from all four sides is provided. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment, a longitudinal axis of the holding arm is arranged at an acute angle to the axis which crosses the drive-on region, the support region and the drive-off region of the load receiver. Therefore, the holding arm is guided as far as possible away from the support region of the load receiver, on which the wheel is supported, in order to increase the accessibility to the wheel. 
     An advantageous embodiment of the lifting device provides that an end of the holding arm is arranged on the support of the lifting column and the lifting column is arranged to be rotated in an angular position compared to the mutual axis along the drive-on region, the support region and the drive-off region of the load receiver. In this rotated position of the lifting column, the longitudinal axis of the holding arm is perpendicular to a front side of the lifting column, on which the guide of the lifting column, the support and the holding arm are arranged. In the case of a reception of a load by the lifting device, a force which is transferred to the lifting column by the support arm via the fastening device is therefore transferred perpendicularly to a front side of the lifting column and therefore perpendicularly to the guide of the lifting column, whereby a particularly high load reception of the lifting column is achieved. 
     Preferably the load receiver is provided for receiving only one wheel or one twin wheel. The lifting device comprises therefore a load receiver which is capable for receiving only one wheel or only one twin wheel. The load receiver is provided for example that for receiving a vehicle having two axles the wheels on a first axle and on a second axle each are provided on a separate load receiver each arranged on a lifting device. 
     The holding arm is formed, in a preferred embodiment, as a horizontally-orientated, planar holding arm and forms a unit with the planar load receiver. Therefore the holding arm and the receiving surface of the load receiver are designed as a flat, level element, whereby a low construction height is achieved. A particularly low drive-on height is thereby achieved with a load receiver in this embodiment. Furthermore, this construction method offers a substantially lower production outlay during the manufacture, as the support arm and the load receiver are produced as one element. Alternatively, the holding arm can be implemented as a separate component and can be connected to the load receiver. 
     For fastening the load receiver to the support, in a preferred embodiment, a fastening device is provided on the holding arm, said fastening device being formed in particular in the form of a flange element arranged vertically on the holding arm. The load receiver is connected to the support releasably by means of the flange connection. Alternatively, the fastening device can also be formed as a further alternative non-positive connection. The load receiver can also be connected firmly to the support. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the load receiver, a drive-on assistance is provided in the drive-on region of the load receiver, by means of which the vehicle is able to be driven onto the load receiver. This drive-on assistance can be implemented from a planar metal sheet which is mounted on the load receiver to be able to pivot and is able to be driven over during lifting of the load receiver from the floor autonomously into a securing position. In the securing position, for example, a striped section of the drive-on aid projects upwards compared to the load receiver in order to secure the wheel on the load receiver and to prevent an unintentional rolling back of the wheel from the load receiver. 
     The support region of the load receiver preferably has a recess to receive a rotating device which is able to be sealed with a removable cover which preferably aligns with the drive-on and drive-off region in a position which closes the recess. A load receiver can thereby be adapted in a simple manner to two different applications. If the cover to seal the recess remains arranged in the support region, this load receiver can be used for a non-steerable axle and a fixed receiver is provided. If the load receiver is used for a steerable axle, the cover can be removed and, for example, a rotary plate can be inserted into the recess such that a wheel standing thereon can be rotated by hand and a steering movement is able to be imitated in order to enable, for example, an improved accessibility for the wheel arch or to implement, for example, a functional inspection with regard to the steering axle. 
     The positioning of a rotatable plate as a rotational device in the support region in the recess has the advantage that a flat, step-free drive-over or a drive-over having only a low step is enabled. 
     Furthermore, it is preferably provided that positioning elements are provided on the load receiver to limit the support region which are formed as two longitudinal positioning sills which are able to be plugged in particular into the receiving surface of the load receiver. Vehicles having different axle spacings to one another can thereby be inspected on the same lifting platform. It only requires a change of the positioning of the positioning elements on the load receiver. 
     The load receiver preferably has an enlargeable support region along the axle, and also along the drive-over direction, which in particular is able to be enlarged telescopically. It is thereby enabled that the load receiver is able to be adapted to different axle spacings in a simple manner using the lifting devices which are firmly anchored into the ground. Alternatively it can also be provided that the load receiver having a fixed support region is formed to be larger or longer with regard to the longitudinal extension to the axle, than the load receiver which receives a rotatable support surface, such as, for example the rotary plate. A defined positioning of the vehicle having the front wheels is thereby provided by the load receiver having the rotatable support surface, whereas the further load receivers having the fixed support surface can receive vehicles having different axle spacings. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the load receiver, the holding arm is provided for the formation of a left embodiment of the load receiver on a left side section of the drive-on or drive-off region. For the formation of a right embodiment of the load receiver, the holding arm is arranged on a right side section of the drive-on or drive-off region. Using the left and right embodiment of the load receiver, two mirror-inverted load receivers result which are arranged corresponding to the respective orientation of the holding arm on the support of the lifting device. 
     The invention also provides a lifting platform which comprises at least two or a pair of lifting devices which lie opposite each other, which are driven by a mutual control. This control can be connected by wire. Preferably a wireless control is provided. In particular a radio or Bluetooth communication is provided. For forming two-column lifting platform the vehicle can be lifted by positioning the load receiver in the sill-region of the vehicle. 
     A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that, for the formation of a four-column or multi-column lifting platform a pair of lifting devices which lie opposite each other comprise a load receiver with a rotatable receiver which is provided in the support region and a further pair of lifting devices which lie opposite each other having a load receiver with a fixed receiver. Therefore, a securing of the position of the vehicle on the load receiver can occur using the load receiver having the fixed support via the positioning elements and the steerable wheels can be received in a simple manner by the load receiver having the rotatable receiver such that different steering positions can be adjusted without additional handling. 
     A preferred embodiment of the lifting platform provides that each pair of lifting devices which are allocated to each other, have a right and a left load receiver, such that the lifting devices stand opposite one another, crossways with regard to the orientation thereof. The lifting columns can thereby each be positioned in outer corner regions with respect to the work region, whereby a maximum accessibility of the work region is created. 
     A further alternative embodiment of the lifting platform provides that each pair of lifting devices which are allocated to each other is having only a right or left load receiver. Due to this the lifting columns which stand opposite one another are orientated in a point symmetry with respect to the working region. 
     A further alternative embodiment for the design of a four-column or multi-column lifting platform is provided in that the same load receiver is arranged on each of these lifting devices. Therein, the lifting columns allocated to one another in pairs, so the lifting columns allocated to an axle of the vehicle, are aligned mirror symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of a formed work space. A simplification in the production of the load receivers likewise enables the formation of such a four-column lifting platform. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention as well as further advantageous embodiments and developments of the same are described and explained in more detail below by means of the examples depicted in the drawings. The features to be gleaned from the description and the drawings can be applied individually or together in any combination according to the invention. Herein are shown: 
         FIG. 1  a perspective view of a lifting platform having four lifting devices in the lifted state, 
         FIG. 2  a top view onto the lifting platform in a lifted state according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  a front view of the lifting platform in the lifted state according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  a side view of the lifting platform in the lifted state according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5  a schematic sectional view along the line I- 1  in  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 6  a perspective detailed view of two lifting devices in the lowered state according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 7  a perspective view of the lifting platform from above with a lifted vehicle, 
         FIG. 8  a perspective view of the lifting platform from below according to  FIG. 7 , 
         FIG. 9  a top view onto an alternative embodiment of a lifting platform according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 10  a top view onto a further alternative embodiment of a lifting platform according to  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 11  a top view onto a further alternative embodiment of a lifting platform according to  FIG. 1  and 
         FIG. 12  a perspective view onto an alternative embodiment of a lifting platform according to  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a lifting platform  9  in which, for example, four lifting devices  10  are allocated to each other for the formation of a four-column lifting platform. A support  12  is arranged on the lifting column  11  of each lifting device  10 . The support  12  is guided by a guide  16  and said support  12  is receiving a load receiver  13 . A drive device  14  is provided on each support  12 , by means of which the support  12  is able to be lifted and lowered vertically along the lifting column  11 . The lifting devices  10  are arranged with respect to each other such that the load receivers  13  each receive a wheel or twin wheel, i.e. a dual wheel, of a vehicle and are able to be driven over by the vehicle. 
     The load receivers  13  comprise for example a planar, rectangular or quadratic receiving surfaces  15 . A holding arm  18  is arranged in a corner region or lateral to each of the receiving surface  15  for connecting the load receiver  13  with the lifting column  11 . The receiving surface  15  comprises a drive-on region  26 , a support region  27  and a drive-off region  28 , which extend along one axis  29 . The lifting column  11  is orientated to be offset from the axis  29  of the load receiver  13 . For the formation of a left embodiment of the load receiver  13 , the holding arm  18  is arranged on a left side section of a drive-on region  26 , and for the formation of a right embodiment of the load receiver  13 , the holding arm  18  is arranged on a right side section of the drive-on region  26 . The holding arm  18  is designed as a planar holding arm  18  according to the load receiver  13  and forms a mutual unit together with the load receiver  13 . 
     A support region  27  is provided on a first pair of lifting devices  10  in a form of a fixed, in other words not rotatable region which lie opposite each other, said fixed support region  27  being limited by positioning elements  22  which hold a wheel or twin-wheel of the vehicle received by the lifting device  10  in a fixed position on the fixed support region  27  of the load receiver  13  and in particular is provided for a non-steerable wheel or a rear wheel of the vehicle. The positioning elements  22  are arranged transversely to the drive-over direction of the load receiver  13  and, for example, in parallel at a distance to one another. Preferably, position sills are used. The positioning element  22  is able to be arranged on the load receiver  13  in different positions or is able to be plugged into the load receiver  13 . The fixed support region  27  can be formed by a continuous receiving surface  15 . If a recess  43  is provided in the support region  27 , the function of which is described below, this can be closed by a cover  42  and a continuous receiving surface  15  can be formed. 
     Drive-on chamfers  39  are provided on the load receivers  13 , on which the fixed support region  27  is provided, in a drive-on region  26  and a drive-off region  28 , which, for example, are formed by a trimming of an end region of the load receiver  13  in the drive-on region  26  or the drive-off region  28 . (see  FIG. 5 ) 
     Load receivers  13  are provided on a further pair of lifting devices  10  which stand opposite each other in pairs, which each receive a rotary device  21  in the support region  27 , which is formed as a circular rotary plate, which is mounted to be rotatable around its own axis. According to a first embodiment, a recess  43  having a borehole  44  is arranged in a support region  27  of the load receiver  13 , which is sealed to receive a rotary device  21  or by a cover  42 . A steerable wheel positioned on the rotary device  21 , for example a front wheel of the vehicle, is able to be steered from outside manually by hand with the aid of the rotary device  21  without the steering wheel of the vehicle having to be actuated. The rotary device  21  is arranged in the recess  43  in the support region  27  and is fixed therein to be rotatable. The rotary device  21  is preferably able to be removed from the recess  43  and closed by a cover  42 . 
     A fastening device  31  is provided on the holding arm  18  of the load receiver  13 , on which a flange element  32  which is preferably formed to be vertical is arranged. The load receiver  13  is connected releasably to the support  12  for example via a screw connection by means of the flange element  32 . An angled stiffening element  33  is provided between the flange element  32  and the holding arm  18  which is arranged to be horizontal, said stiffening element  33 , for example, being welded firmly to the holding arm  18  and to the flange element  32 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of the lifting platform  9  according to  FIG. 1 . The lifting devices  10  are orientated perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the holding arm  18  with their one front side of the lifting column  18 , which are orientated at an acute angle  30  to the axis  29 . The lifting column  11  and the support  12  is thereby positioned laterally offset to the support region  27  of the load receiver  13 . Due to this lateral rotation, the four lifting devices  10  can stand opposite one another crossways. 
     The load receiver  13  which extends along the axis  29  is formed to be short, such that a free space which is as large as possible remains existing with respect to the second load receiver  13  which is likewise arranged in the same axis  29 . The load receivers which lie opposite one another in pairs are positioned in such a way that these are adjusted on a track width of a vehicle to be inspected. A work space  34  is spanned by these four load receivers  13  which are allocated to each other, which is only limited in accessibility by surface regions which are formed by the drive-on region  26 , the support region  27  and the drive-off region  28 . 
     Positioning elements  22  can be able to be arranged on the load receiver  13  having a fixed support region  27 , wherein for example two positioning elements  22  are provided adjacently directly on the cover  42 , for example, on the upper load receiver  13 . In the case of the lower load receiver  13 , these are, for example, displaced to the right. Thus the adaptation to different axle spacings in relation to the rotational direction  21  is depicted. 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of the lifting platform  9  according to  FIG. 1 . In this position, the drive-on aids  24  of the load receivers  13  are arranged in a securing position  36  in which a wheel of the vehicle is secured on the load receiver  13 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of the lifting platform  9  according to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic sectional view along the line I- 1  in  FIG. 2 . From this sectional view, for example, a construction of the load receiver  13  is depicted. The planar design of the receiving surface  15  and the holding arm  18  is, for example, formed by a sandwich construction which comprises a lower covering  46  as well as an upper covering  47  and a stiffening element  48  lying therebetween which is formed in the exemplary embodiment as a thick metal sheet. Alternatively, a type of frame or grid structure can be provided as a stiffening element  33 . The coverings  46  and  47  are advantageously connected to the stiffening element  48  by welding. A recess  43  is provided in the load receiver  13  which extends though the upper covering  47  and the stiffening element  48 . A cover  42  which is not depicted in more detail is provided for the formation of the fixed support region  27 , said cover  42  being supported in the edge region on the stiffening element  48  and being aligned flush to the upper covering  47  such that a closed receiving surface  15  is created. The cover  42  is removed for the arrangement of the rotary device  21 , as this is depicted in  FIG. 5 , and the rotary device  21  is inserted into the recess  43 . For example, the rotary device  21  is formed by a rotary plate  49  which is supported on the stiffening element  48  with a shoulder. Therefore, a support of the load acting on the rotary plate  49  can occur. Guide elements  51  protrude into the recess  43 , using which the rotary plate  49  is guided rotatably into the recess  43 . 
     The drive-on aid  24  is arranged to be able to pivot in the drive-on region  26  and in the drive-off region  28 . A securing position  36  is thereby assumed in a defined position in that a chamfer  52  is provided on the upper covering  47  respectively, onto which a section of the drive-on aid  24  abuts. The drive-on aid  24  is transferred into this securing position  36  in a lifted position of the load receiver due to the support element  53  which is at the same time a weight element. 
     The chamfer  52  in the upper covering  47  is likewise provided on the load receiver which is provided exclusively for a fixed support region  27 . 
     Positioning elements  22  are provided to secure the vehicle instead of the drive-on aid  24 . Using this chamfer  52 , a simplified drive-on can be enabled. 
     This sectional depiction shows that the load receiver  13  is formed to be planar in the drive-on region  26 , support region  27 , drive-off region  28  and also the region of the holding arm  18 , in particular is provided with the sandwich construction, on which the flange element  32  is arranged for the releasable fastening onto the support  12 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective detailed view of two lifting devices  10  according to  FIG. 1 , in which the supports  12  abut onto the floor in a lowered position. In this lowered position, the pivotable drive-on aids  24  are transferred into a drive-on position  41  in which the load receivers  13  are able to be driven over with the vehicle. Additionally, the load receivers  13  having the planar holding arm  18  do not represent an obstacle during assembly and maintenance work around the vehicle due to the low construction height and flat extension up to the flange position. 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the lifting platform  9  from above, in which a vehicle is positioned on the lifting devices  10  in the lifted state. The wheels of the vehicle are located on the support regions  27  of the load receivers  13 , wherein the front wheels of the vehicle are positioned on the rotary devices  21  in the support region  27  and the rear wheels of the vehicle are positioned on the fixed support region  27 . The rear wheels are thereby held in a fixed position by the positioning elements  22 . 
     Due to the arrangement and the length of the holding arms  18 , additionally a free work region is formed between the lifting columns  11  and the vehicle arranged on the load receivers  13  which offers an optimum accessibility in particular in the region of the wheel arches and the mudguards. 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the lifting platform  9  according to  FIG. 7  from below. From this image it is clear that only a minimum region of the underbody of the vehicle is covered by the load receivers  13 , whereby an accessibility which is as large as possible to the lower side of the vehicle is provided. 
       FIG. 9  shows a top view onto a lifting platform  9  in an alternative arrangement to  FIG. 2 , in which the pair of the lifting devices  10  having the fixed support region  27  and the pair of lifting devices having the rotary device  21  in the support region  27  according to  FIG. 2  are exchanged with each other such that the lifting columns  11  and the supports  12  or the lifting devices  10  form a type of O-shaped arrangement. 
       FIG. 10  shows a top view onto a lifting platform  9  in a further alternative arrangement of the lifting devices  10  to  FIG. 2 , in which two identically-orientated load receivers  13  are each arranged in an axis  29 . Therein two left load receiver  13  are arranged on each of the lifting devices  10  of the one side and two right load receivers  13  are arranged on each of the two lifting columns  11  on the side which lies opposite. Accordingly, the lifting columns  11  and supports  12  of the lifting devices  10  are also aligned identically along an axis  29  and the lifting columns  11  and supports  12  are formed on the axis  29  which lies opposite, mirror-inverted to a central axis of the work space  34  lying therebetween. 
       FIG. 11  shows a top view onto a lifting platform  9  in a further alternative arrangement to  FIG. 2 , in which an identically-orientated load receiver  13 , so for example a left or a right embodiment of the load receiver  13 , is arranged on each support  12  of the lifting device  10  respectively. In the case of this arrangement, a pair of lifting devices  10  which is allocated to an axle of the vehicle is directed symmetrically to the work space  34 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a perspective view onto an alternative embodiment of a lifting platform  9  which is formed by two or a pair of lifting devices  10  which are allocated to each other. For this purpose, preferably two identically-formed lifting devices  12  are provided which are set symmetrically to a mirror axis, which can correspond to a vehicle longitudinal axis. Such an arrangement emerges, for example, in the top view from  FIG. 11 , wherein in  FIG. 11  two pairs of lifting devices  10  which lie opposite each other are provided to form a four-column lifting platform. The orientation of the load receiver  13  as well as the lifting column  11  of the lifting devices  10  are provided accordingly. 
     The arrangement of a pair of lifting devices  9  which lies opposite each other can also be provided mirror-inverted for the formation of a two-column lifting platform. In this case, the load receivers  13  as well as the orientation of the lifting column  11  of the lifting device  10  are arranged to be mirror-inverted to a longitudinal central axis of the two-column lifting platform or vehicle central axis. 
     With regard to the alternative arrangement of the pairs of lifting devices  10  which lie opposite each other for a two-column lifting platform, incidentally the embodiments with respect to  FIGS. 9 to 11  can be referred to.