GB1459801A - Apparatus for elevating wheeled vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

1459801 Vehicle tilting apparatus GKN TRANSMISSIONS Ltd 11 April 1974 [12 April 1973] 17745/73 Heading B8H An apparatus for supporting a wheeled vehicle in an elevated position, comprises a vehicle receiving platform 10 supported for controlled angular movement in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the vehicle when on the platform. The platform 10 comprises a pair of parallel tracks 15 supported at their ends on bearers 12, to which the tracks may be selectively pinned for said vertical angular movement about one end or the other of the platform, ramp plates 17 on one or both ends of the tracks facilitating wheeled vehicle movement on to and from the platform when supported horizontally on the bearers 12. The platform is supported at its mid-length by a transverse beam 11, vertically movable to incline the platform. The beam includes nuts 21 driven in rotation by a chain and sprocket transmission from a motor 25, and engageable with externally screw threaded posts 22 for controlling the beam movement, and engages the tracks 15 through rollers on the beam. Microswitches are provided on the beam to sense the presence of the track thereabove, the motor 25 being de-energized if one of the switches is opened due to a track not following the beam downwardly. The pins locking a desired end of the platform 10 to the bearers, are manually selected by a lever operable within a gate, the lever being rendered inoperative unless the platform is in its lowered horizontal position. The tracks 15 are slotted transversely to receive vehicle wheel chocks which include projections for operating microswitches on the tracks, which switches only complete the circuit for the elevating motor when the chocks are in position. An electrical interlock circuit is provided for the motor 25 which apart from including the said beam sensing and chock position switches, further includes top and bottom limit switches for the tracks and track pivot pin switches which permit motor energization only when one end of the track is pinned and the other end is free. In a further embodiment, a visual or audible warning is provided in addition to, or in place of, the motor de-energization facility.