Patent Publication Number: US-10773936-B2

Title: Mobile lift column cable suspension bracket and associated method

Description:
This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/501,964, filed May 5, 2017 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a coordinated lift system. In particular, this invention relates to a coordinated lift system having at least two lift mechanisms that communicate by signals carried by cables to coordinate the raising and lowering of a vehicle. 
     The need to lift a vehicle from the ground for service work is well established. For instance, it is often necessary to lift a vehicle for oil changes, brake inspections, exhaust work and other automotive maintenance. Traditionally, lifting a vehicle has been accomplished through the use of equipment that is built-in to the service facility. These built-in units are located at a fixed location at the service facility and adapted to contact the vehicle frame to lift the vehicle from the ground. However, built-in units are very expensive and sometimes impractical due to their lack of mobility. 
     To increase mobility and reduce the need to invest in permanent lifting equipment, a device commonly known as a mobile lift column was developed. Mobile lift columns are available from the owner of this invention, Ari-Hetra, www.ARI-HETRA.com. A set of mobile lift columns is typically used to independently engage each of the tires and lift the vehicle from the ground. To lift a vehicle in a generally level orientation with independent lift columns, a user must go back and forth between each lift column to incrementally raise each lift until the vehicle reaches the desired height or involve several people. While this type of lifting column is less expensive and provides more mobility than the built-in units, using a number of independent lift columns to lift the vehicle is a time consuming and tedious process. 
     Another type of system  1  for lifting a vehicle  3  using multiple lifting columns  5  is shown in  FIG. 3  and includes a number of cables or wires  7  to connect the lifting columns  5  to one another. The cables or wires  7  that are connected between the columns  5  allow the vehicle  3  to be raised or lowered in a uniform fashion. However, this system  1  also suffers from a number of drawbacks and deficiencies. For instance, the cables and wires  7  used to connect the individual columns extend across the floor  9  and are looped within the working area. The presence of the cables and lines  7  on the ground in the work area poses a tripping hazard to people working near the vehicle  3 . Vehicles also often drive over these connecting cables  7  causing damage. 
     Some newer lifting systems utilize wireless communication among the individual lifting columns to coordinate their operation. However, such wireless systems are not an option in many cases due to the added cost of purchasing an entire set of lifting columns equipped with wireless communication capabilities. Many users are not willing to replace sets of existing and operational lift columns, but wish to alleviate the tripping and other hazards associated with the network of cables connecting the lifting columns. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a mobile lift system that is able to coordinate the raising or lowering of a vehicle with cables connecting the individual lift columns while avoiding the tripping and other hazards of such systems. This invention satisfies these and other needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In various embodiments, this invention is directed to a bracket which can be mounted to a mobile lift column. The bracket may include one or more hangers on which the cables extending between the individual mobile lift columns may be suspended. In this way, the cables are elevated from the floor and no longer present a tripping hazard for personnel in the work area nor an obstacle over which equipment must roll during the servicing of the vehicle. Advantageously, the brackets may be individually mounted to each lift column as original equipment when the column is purchased or as a retrofit improvement to existing lift columns. 
     According to various embodiments of a bracket according to this invention, one or more hangers may be included on each bracket. Each hanger may take the form of a pedestal having a head thereon extending from a portion of the bracket. The bracket may be generally L-shaped with a vertical leg of the L-shaped bracket extending downwardly from an upper end of the lift column and the horizontal leg of the bracket secured to the top portion of the lift column. The cable may be trained around one or more hangers on the bracket and thereby elevated from the ground in the work area. Multiple hangers may be included on the bracket so as to generate sufficient friction between the hangers and the cable so that the cable does not slide relative to the bracket once it is suspended. 
     Another aspect of this invention is a method for suspending the cables between a set of multiple mobile lift columns. The method may include retrofitting a mobile lift column with a bracket having one or more hangers upon which the cable is suspended. 
     In various aspects of this invention, a set of multiple mobile lift columns may be utilized to lift a vehicle for service of the vehicle and alleviate a major source of injury and issues associated with the cable extending between the adjacent lift columns. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle raised off the ground by a number of lift columns and a cable extending serially among the lift columns is supported off of the ground by a bracket on each lift column according to one aspect of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the bracket mounted on a lift column and suspending a cable according to this invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a prior art arrangement for a lift system with the cable connecting the lift columns laying on the ground. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to  FIG. 1 , a lift system  10  constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention is shown. Generally, the lift system  10  includes four lift columns  12  that communicate by signals carried by cables  14  to coordinate the movement of a vehicle  16  relative to a ground surface  18 . It will be understood and appreciated that the number of lift columns  12  used in this invention may vary depending on the type of vehicle  16  being lifted. For instance, six lift mechanisms or columns may be used to lift a three-axle vehicle for service. Furthermore, it will be understood that this invention is not limited for use with lift systems for vehicles, but also may be used to raise or lower other objects relative to the surface. 
     Each lift column  12  includes an upstanding post  20  supported by a base  22 . The base includes a pair of legs  24  that are coupled to one another by a cross piece  26 . A pair of front wheels  28  are rotatably coupled with an end portion of the legs  24 . Further, a rear wheel  30  is rotatably coupled adjacent to the cross piece  26 . The wheels  28 ,  30  are adapted to allow each lift column  12  to be rolled along the surface  18  and placed in a position to support the vehicle  16 . A handle  32  is coupled to the wheel  30 , and may be moved about a pivot point established adjacent to the wheel  30 . The handle  32  may be used to place wheels  28 ,  30 , in contact with the surface  18  so that the lift column  12  may be rolled into position. Once the lift column  12  is in position, the handle  32  may then be used to raise the wheels  28 ,  30 , so that they are no longer in contact with the surface  18 . The lift column  12  is thereby placed in a stable position for raising and lowering vehicle  16 . 
     The post  20  is mounted to the cross piece  26  and extends upwardly from the surface  18 . The lifting column  12  also includes a carriage  34  that is slidably coupled to the post  20 . Specifically, the carriage  34  engages a portion of the post  20  to enable the carriage  34  to move longitudinally with respect to the post  20 . Carriage  34  further includes a pair of forks  36  that extend outwardly and are adapted to support a portion of vehicle  16 . In particular, forks  36  are adapted to support the vehicle at each wheel  38 , but it will be understood that carriage  34  may also be adapted to support the frame or any other portion of the vehicle  16 . The carriage  34  may be moved relative to the post  20  using any of a variety of mechanisms known in the field. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , each lift column  12  also includes a control box  40  that is adapted to communicate with the other control boxes  40  in the lift system  10  by signals carried by the cables  14  to coordinate the raising and/or lowering of the vehicle  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one aspect according to this invention is a bracket  42  which is mounted to each lift column  12  in the lift system  10 . In one embodiment, the bracket  42  has a generally L-shaped configuration with a first leg  44  of the bracket  42  being generally parallel to the ground  18  and a second leg  46  of the bracket  42  extending downwardly in a perpendicular direction. The first leg  44  of the bracket  42  is a mount for selectively and/or releasably mounting the bracket  42  to an upper end of the lift column  12  via four bolts  48 . The bracket  42  may be supported atop the lift column  12  by one or more spacers  50  positioned between the bracket  42  and the top of the lift column  12  as shown particularly in  FIG. 2 . The generally vertical second leg  46  of the bracket  42  extends downwardly from the first leg  44  and includes one or more hangers  52  adapted to support the cable  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each bracket  42  includes three vertically spaced hangers  52 . In one embodiment, the hanger  52  may have a pedestal  54  extending perpendicularly from the leg  46  of the bracket  42 . The hanger  52  may also include a disk-shaped cap  56  having an outer dimension greater than the pedestal  54  to inhibit the cable  14  from sliding off the pedestal  54 . 
     One or more of the hangers  52  may also include a hook  58  extending outwardly from the cap  56  of the hanger  52 . The hook  58  may be used for a variety of functions, including a support by which a length of the cable  14  may be suspended. While one embodiment of a hanger  52  according to this invention is shown and described, the hanger may take any of a variety of other forms, including, but not limited to, a cable grip, a cable pull, a hook, a ball stop, any of a variety of cleats (fixed, pinch, jamming, etc.), a horn, or any device capable of constraining movement of the cable  14  and/or adjusting the tension on the cable  14 . 
     In a further embodiment, the system may include a reel, powered or otherwise, to harness the cable as needed and keep it off the ground. Other embodiments of this invention may utilize various versions of the following within the scope of this invention: cable constraints; friction-based devices to suspend cables; a ball cock around the cable for holding cables in elevated position; one or more hooks added to the post; any gripping methods that latch to cables for the purpose of suspending the cable overhead; quick release cable grips; additions to the post for the purpose of suspending or draping cables overhead; a reel to tension cables overhead; commutator devices used for the purpose of tensioning cables to be suspended overhead; pinch cleats and/or rope or other material tied to cable to create tension for the purpose of suspending cables overhead. 
     In one embodiment, the hangers  52  are spaced vertically from one another so that the cable  14  may be trained around the pedestals  54  of the respective hangers  52  as shown particularly in  FIG. 2 . One advantage of multiple hangers  52  is to increase the friction between the hangers and the cable to minimize or eliminate the likelihood that the cable  14  will slip relative to the hanger  52 . 
     One advantageous feature of the bracket  42  and other aspects of this invention is that the brackets  42  may be added to existing lift columns as a retrofit addition thereto. Alternatively, the brackets  42  may be provided as original equipment with newly purchased lift columns. 
     As a result of the brackets  42  and associated hangers  52 , the cable  14  may be serially mounted to the lift columns  12  and suspended off the ground  18  as shown particularly in  FIG. 1 . Comparison of the cable arrangements of  FIG. 1  relative to  FIG. 3  shows that the tripping hazard is significantly reduced and/or eliminated with the bracket  42  and cable suspension system according to this invention as shown in  FIG. 1  for personnel servicing the vehicle. Likewise, equipment can be readily driven or rolled between the lift columns  12  for servicing the vehicle  16  without interference by the cable  14  on the ground  18  according to various embodiments of this invention. While the lift columns  12  have been described and shown herein as being mobile, this invention extends to include systems with one or more fixed lift columns. 
     From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.