Patent Publication Number: US-2016244307-A1

Title: Modular jacking systems and methods

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to jacking systems and, more particularly, to modular jacking systems having extension systems that can be interchangeably used for a wide variety of applications. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Each year tens of thousands of people are injured due to jacking related accidents. Various studies and reports have posited that many of such accidents may be attributed to unstable vehicles or jacking systems that may cause the vehicle or load to slip off a jacking device. Solutions to mitigate instability of jacking devices often require additional jack stands, which are bulky, heavy, and integral or one-piece devices. 
     However, such solutions suffer from a multitude of deficiencies. For instance, the large volume of space occupied by such bulky jack stands reduces its utility, in that they occupy a large footprint of available storage space in vehicles. Further, such jacking stands have a limited vertical range. Consequently, after lifting a vehicle, for example with a jacking device, the jack stands are often placed on blocks or other structures to match a vertical lifting height of the jacking device. Such blocks or other structures are often unavailable. Still further, in many instances, the vertical lifting height or stroke of the jacking device is difficult to precisely match when jack stands are positioned by using blocks, rocks, etc. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments described herein provide jacking systems and methods to lift vehicles in compact, robust, efficient form factors. For example, according to one embodiment, a jacking system adapted to facilitate jacking of a lifting structure can be summarized as including an extension system interchangeably coupleable to a jacking device and/or a jack stand. The extension system can include a coupler portion having an opening, the opening configured to removably couple the coupler portion to the jacking device and/or the jack stand; and a ram portion configured to be engagingly coupleable to the lifting structure. 
     According to another embodiment, a method to facilitate lifting of a lifting structure can be summarized as including coupling an extension system to a jacking device and/or a jack stand, such that the extension system is configured to interchangeably lift the lifting structure and/or support the lifting structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of a jacking system, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of a jacking support system, according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A-3D  are perspective views of jack pads according to various exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a jacking system, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of an extension system, according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the subject matter of this application have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the subject matter of this application is not limited except as by the appended claims. 
     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter. However, the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and methods of attaching structures to each other comprising embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the descriptions of other aspects of the present disclosure. 
     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” 
     Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a jacking system  10  according to one example embodiment. The jacking system  10  includes a jacking device  12  and an extension system  14  removably coupled to the jacking device  12 . While the jacking device  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a hydraulic jack, e.g., a bottle jack, other jacking devices are within the scope and spirit of the disclosed subject matter. 
     The extension system  14  includes a ram extension  16  and a jack pad  18 . The ram extension  16  includes a coupler portion  20  and a ram portion  22 . The coupler portion  20  has a generally annular body  21  having a first end  26  and a second end  28 . At its first end  26 , the body  21  of the coupler portion  20  has an opening  24  to define an inner diameter of the coupler portion  20 . The opening  24  is configured such that a piston of the jacking device  12  is removably received in the coupler portion  20 . By way of example, the inner diameter of the body  21  of the coupler portion  20  is sized and shaped to be larger than an outer diameter of the piston of the jacking device  12  such that, when the piston is received in the coupler portion  20 , the coupler portion  20  encloses a portion of the piston of the jacking device  12 . 
     The ram portion  22  extends from the second end  28  of the coupler portion  20 . The ram portion  22  has a substantially cylindrical body  23 . At its distal end, the ram portion  22  includes a plurality of concentric rings  25  to define an engaging surface  30 . The rings  25  are configured to facilitate gripping when the engaging surface  30  abuts or makes contact with a lifting structure, such as a vehicle, for example. By way of example, according to some aspects, the ram portion  22  may be adapted to directly engage the lifting structure, without other intervening structures, as discussed in more detail below. While the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes rings  25  to define the engaging surface  30 , in other embodiments, the engaging surface  30  may include a waffle pattern, or other textured pattern to facilitate gripping, as discussed above. 
     In some embodiments, the ram extension  16  can be monolithically formed, comprising an integral or unitary body. For example, the ram extension  16  can be formed using a machining process, extrusion process, molding process (e.g., injection molding processes), vacuum forming (e.g., vacuum bag molding), combinations thereof, and the like. However, it is appreciated that embodiments of the ram extension  16  comprising separate components coupled together are also within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. By way of example, in some embodiments the coupling portion  20  may be coupled to the ram portion  22  using various techniques, such as welding, fastening, adhering, etc. 
     The body  23  of the ram portion  22  has an outer diameter that is sized and shaped to be less than the outer diameter of the body  21  of the coupler portion  20 . More particularly, the outer diameter of the body  23  of the ram portion  22  is sized and shaped to be removably received in the jack pad  18 . The jack pad  18  includes a receiving portion  32  and an engaging portion  34 . The receiving portion  32  has a generally annular body  33  with a first end  35  and a second end  36 . At its first end  35 , the receiving portion  32  includes an opening  38  to define an inner diameter of body  23  of the receiving portion  32 . The opening  38  is configured such that the ram portion  22  of the ram extension  16  is removably received in the jack pad  18 . By way of example, the inner diameter of the body  23  of the receiving portion  32  is sized and shaped to be larger than the outer diameter of the ram portion  22  of the ram extension  16  such that when the ram extension  16  is received in the jack pad  18 , the receiving portion  32  encloses a portion of the ram portion  22  of the ram extension  16 . 
     The engaging portion  34  extends laterally from the second end  36  of the receiving portion  32  in a substantially symmetrical manner about a central axis of the receiving portion  32  to define two opposing ends  42 . The engaging portion  34  is formed from a plate type structure. In particular, the engaging portion  34  extends angularly with respect to an imaginary horizontal plane lying at a lower surface of the body  33  of the receiving portion  32  to define a V-shaped engaging portion  34 . The horizontal plane is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the receiving portion  32 . In some embodiments, the engaging portion  34  may extend angularly with respect to the horizontal plane at an angular range of 0 to 45 degrees. 
     An upper surface of the engaging portion  34  defines an engaging surface  46 . The engaging surface  46  is configured to abut or make contact with a corresponding surface of the lifting structure. More particularly, the engaging portion  34  is configured to advantageously engage a wide variety of components of the lifting structure, such as a frame, axle, etc., by increasing the contact surface area. Additionally, the downward gravitational forces applied to the lifting structure due to the positive angular positioning of the engaging portion  34  with respect to the horizontal plane inhibits or reduces the lateral movement of the lifting structure, thus reducing, mitigating, or avoiding slipping of the lifting structure. 
     At each of the opposing ends  42 , the engaging portion  34  includes a pair of stops  50 . The stops  50  have an annular body  51  and are advantageously located to reduce, mitigate, or avoid lateral movement of the lifting structure when the engaging portion  34  engages the lifting structure. In this manner, slipping of the lifting structure can be further reduced, mitigated, or inhibited. By way of example, outer surfaces of the bodies  51  of the stops  50  can abut or make substantial contact with the lifting structure during any lateral movement to reduce, mitigate, or inhibit slipping. Further, the stops  50  can also facilitate supporting loads, such as from the lifting structure, which may be cylindrical or round-shaped. Still further, the stops  50  can also facilitate supporting loads which may be larger than loads that can be interposed between the stops  50 . For example, the lifting structure may be positioned to abut or make contact with the outer surfaces of the bodies  51  of the stops  50 . 
     The jack pad  18  in some embodiments can be monolithically formed, comprising an integral or unitary body. For example, the jack pad  18  can be formed using a machining process, extrusion process, molding process (e.g., injection molding processes), vacuum forming (e.g., vacuum bag molding), combinations thereof, and the like. However, it is appreciated that embodiments of the jack pad  18  comprising separate components coupled together are also within the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. By way of example, in some embodiments the receiving portion  32 , stops  50 , and engaging portion  34  may be coupled together using various techniques, such as welding, fastening, adhering, etc. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a jacking support system  110  according to one embodiment. The jacking support system  110  includes the extension system  14  removably received in a base member  120 . The extension system  14  thus can also be used advantageously to construct a jack stand  112 . 
     The base member  120  includes a base plate  122 , a receiver member  124  and a plurality of gussets  126 . The base plate  122  is substantially rectangular shaped and includes a plurality of apertures  128 . The plurality of apertures  128  advantageously facilitates reduction of weight and ease of handling. By way of example, a user can lift the base member  120  by inserting fingers through the apertures  128 . Further, the plurality of apertures  128  can also advantageously assist in gripping a ground structure or other structure which supports the base member  120 . 
     The gussets  126  are substantially triangular shaped. The gussets  126  extend upwardly from an upper surface of the base plate  122  and into respective edges defined by an intersection of adjacent side plates  130 , which are discussed in more detail below. The gussets  126  are advantageously located on the base plate  122  to increase the stiffness of the base member  120  and facilitate load distribution when the jack pad  18  of the extension systems, e.g., extension system  14 , engages the lifting structure. 
     The receiver member  124  is located substantially centrally with respect to the base plate  122 . The receiver member  124  includes a plurality of side plates  130  extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base plate  122  to define a receiver opening  132 . The receiver opening  132  is advantageously sized and shaped to receive the body  21  of coupler portion  20  of the extension system  14 . In this manner, the extension system  14  can be interchangeably and removably coupled to the jacking device  12  and/or the jack stand  112 . According to some aspects, a user may alternate use of the extension system  14  to construct a jack stand  112  and/or use as a jacking device  12 . The user may lift the lifting structure using the jacking device  12  with an increased vertical range or stroke via the extension system  14 . The user may concurrently or sequentially construct a jack stand  112  by coupling another extension system  14  to the base member  120 , thus facilitating a more precise jack stand  112  that matches the vertical height of the jacking device  12 . Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the jacking system  10  and the jacking support system  110  are advantageously adapted to facilitate simple disassembly, thus providing jacking system  10  and jacking support system  110  that are compact and can easily be stored in kit bags or other storage space. 
     The receiver member  124  optionally includes a load dispersing ring  150 . The load dispersing ring  150  has an annular body with an opening  152  to define an inner diameter of the load dispersing ring  150 . The inner diameter of the load dispersing ring  150  is sized and shaped such that the ram extension  16  extends therethrough. More particularly, a lower surface of the load dispersing ring  150  abuts or makes substantial contact with corresponding upper surfaces of the side plates  130  of the receiver member  124 . In this manner, the load dispersing ring  150  facilitates a substantially even load distribution of the lifting structure and also reduces, inhibits, or minimizes lateral movement. 
       FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate jack pads  218 ,  318 ,  418 ,  718  according to various alternate embodiments.  FIG. 3A  illustrates a jack pad  218  that provides a variation in which an engagement portion  234  comprises a substantially semicircular shape. The engagement portion  234  can be configured such that an engagement surface  246  can abut or make substantial contact with a corresponding surface of a lifting structure, such as an axle, for example.  FIG. 3B  illustrates a jack pad  318 , according to another embodiment. The jack pad  318  provides a variation in which an engagement portion  334  is substantially rectangular shaped. An engagement surface  346  is configured to be substantially parallel to the imaginary horizontal plane lying at a lower surface of a body  333  of a receiving portion  332 .  FIG. 3C  illustrates a jack pad  418  according to yet another embodiment. The jack pad  418  provides a variation in which an engagement portion  434  is substantially square shaped. Again, an engagement surface  446  is configured to be substantially parallel to an imaginary horizontal plane lying at a lower surface of a body  433  of a receiving portion  432 .  FIG. 3D  illustrates a jack pad  718 , according to another embodiment. The jack pad  718  provides a variation in which an engagement portion  734  extends laterally from an end  738  of a receiving portion  732  in a substantially symmetrical manner about a central axis of the receiving portion  732  to define a first end  740  and an opposing second end  742 . The engagement portion  734  extends angularly with respect to an imaginary horizontal plane lying at a lower surface of a body  743  of the receiving portion  732  to define a V-shaped engagement portion  734 . The jack pad  718  further includes a first flange  745  which extends angularly from the first end  740  and a second flange  747  which extends angularly from the second end  742 . The first and the second flanges  745 ,  747  are configured to reduce, mitigate, or avoid lateral movement of the lifting structure when the engagement portion  734  engages the lifting structure. In this manner, slipping of the lifting structure can be further reduced, mitigated, or inhibited. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a jacking system  510  according to another embodiment. The jacking system  510  provides a variation in which an extension system  514  includes an elongated ram extension  516 . The elongated ram extension  516  includes an elongated ram portion  522  coupled to a jack pad  518 , the elongated ram portion  522  being configured to have an elongated vertical length, such that a vertical range or stroke of the jacking device  512  or the jack stands (e.g.,  112 ) can be extended. Further, as noted above, while the extension system  514  is illustrated being coupled to a jacking device  512 , the extension system  514  can interchangeably be coupled to the various embodiments of the base member (e.g.,  120 ) and/or ram extensions (e.g.,  16 ). 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an extension system  614  according to yet another embodiment. The extension system  614  provides a variation in which the extension system  614  includes an intermediate extension member  660  coupled to a ram extension  616 , and an end extension member  670  coupled to the intermediate extension member  660 . The intermediate extension member  660  includes a coupler member  620  and an elongated member  662 . At a lower end  661 , the coupler member  620  includes an opening  663  to define an inner diameter of a body  665  of the coupler member  620 . The inner diameter of the body  665  of the coupler member  620  can be configured to removably receive therein a ram portion  622  of the ram extension  616 . By way of example, an outer diameter of a body  621  of the ram portion  622  can be sized and shaped to have a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the body  665  of the coupler member  620  such that when the coupler member  620  receives the ram extension  616 , the coupler member  620  encloses a portion of the ram extension  616 . The elongated member  662  extends from an upper end  691  of the coupler member  620 . The elongated member  662  is configured to be removably received in the end extension member  670 . 
     The end extension member  670  includes a center portion  672  and an end portion  674 . The center portion  672  has an annular body  673  having a first end  675  and a second end  676 . At its first end  675 , the center portion  672  has an opening  678  to define an inner diameter of the center portion  672 . The opening  678  is configured such that the elongated member  662  of the intermediate extension member  660  is removably received in the end extension member  670 . By way of example, the inner diameter of the center portion  672  is sized and shaped to be larger than the outer diameter of a body of the elongated member  662 , such that when the intermediate extension member  660  is received in the end extension member  670 , the center portion  672  encloses a portion of the intermediate extension member  660 . 
     The body  673  of the center portion  672  includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures  685 . The apertures  685  are configured to removably receive therethrough a pin  687 . More particularly, the apertures  685  are vertically spaced apart to facilitate vertical adjustment of the overall vertical lift or stroke of the jacking device (e.g.,  12 ) or the jack stand (e.g.,  112 ). By way of example, according to some aspects, the pin  687  can be inserted through the aperture  685  proximal to the intermediate extension member  660 . As a shank of the pin  687  abuts or makes substantial contact with an outer surface of the elongated member  662 , the vertical lift or stroke of the jacking device (e.g.,  12 ) or the jack stand (e.g.,  112 ) is increased. To adjust or lower the vertical lift or stroke, the pin  687  can be inserted through the aperture  685  located distal to the intermediate extension member  660 . As the first end  675  of the extension member  670  is located proximal to the intermediate extension member  660 , the overall vertical lift or stroke is thereby lowered. 
     A ram portion  692  extends from the second end  676  of the end extension member  670 . The ram portion  692  has a substantially cylindrical body  693 . At its distal end, the ram portion  692  includes a plurality of concentric rings  650  to define an engagement surface  630 . The rings  650  are configured to facilitate gripping when the engagement surface  630  abuts or makes contact with a lifting structure, such as a vehicle, for example. Again, according to some aspects, the ram portion  692  may be adapted to directly engage the lifting structure, without other intervening structures, or in other aspects may include jack pads (e.g.,  18 ,  218 ,  318 , etc.) as discussed in more detail above to engage the lifting structure. Further, while the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  includes rings  650  to define the engaging surface  630 , in other embodiments, the engaging surface  630  may include a waffle pattern, or other textured pattern to facilitate gripping, as discussed above. 
     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.