GB2350348A

GB2350348A - Display apparatus for a heavy object

Info

Publication number: GB2350348A
Application number: GB9909854A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Philip Dugdale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-30
Filing date: 1999-04-30
Publication date: 2000-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-30
Also published as: GB2350348B; GB9909854D0

Abstract

Display apparatus for a heavy object such as a vehicle is provided, comprising a platform (12) onto which the vehicle may be loaded, supported in part by hydraulic rams (16, 24, 26). The hydraulic rams are operable under the supervision of a computer chip to tilt the platform (12) in at least two dimensions. The chip may be programmed to operate the hydraulic rams (16, 24, 26) to produce various complex tilting motions of the platform (12), and in particular to move the platform between a ramped low-level position in which the vehicle may be driven onto the platform, and a horizontal, raised-level position, in which the hydraulic rams (16, 24, 26) are operable to produce a sequence of tilting motions.

Description

2350348 Display Apparatus for a He&vy QbieQt This invention relates to

display apparatus for a heavy object such as a motor car or other vehicle.

According to the invention, display apparatus for a heavy object such as a vehicle comprises a platform on to which the vehicle can be loaded, hydraulic ram means on the underside of the platform and control means whereby the hydraulic ram means can be operated to tilt the platform in at least two dimensions.

I'lie hydraulic rwn means is preferably able to tilt the platform in three dimensions under the supervision of the control means. For this purpose the ram means may comprise at least one ram and preferably two rams for tilting the platform in one coordinate direction in opposite senses, say front to back and back to front, and at least one ram and preferably two rams for tilting the platform in an orthogonal coordinate direction, say side to side.

When two rams are employed, one for each side of the underside of the platform, for tilting the platform in one orthogonal direction, say front to back, and at least one ram is employed for tilting the platform in the other orthogonal direction, then the control means may operate also to tilt the platform diagonally, i.e. comer to opposite comer. This can be achieved by incorporating a computerised chip in the control means, programmed to operate the rams in a predetermined sequence, one or more rams at a time.

Thus, the employment of at least three underside rams can enable the control means to move the platform in a cyclic, rotational tilting sequence, for example one end down, adjacent comer down, one side down, next comer down, opposite end down, next comer down, opposite side down, last comer down. The arrangement will preferably be such that when one end, corner or side is tilted down, the opposite end, opposite corner or opposite side will be tilted up.

Obviously, by suitable programming of the computer chip, or a choice of programs, various complex tilting motions of the platform are achievable.

Most preferably, the platform, conveniently by means of one or more further hydraulic rams, is movable between a horizontal, raised-level, display-starting position in which the tilting ram means may be brought into use and a low-level, ramped position in which one end of the platform lies adjacent the ground to enable a vehicle, e.g. a motor car or a boat on a wheeled chassis, to be power driven on to the platform. From the low-level, ramped position, the platform, together with the vehicle loaded thereon, can then be raised to the display-starting position.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows the platform in side view, in a lowered, ramped position ready for loading; Figure 2 shows, again in side view, the platform in a horizontal, raised position ready to start the display motion; Figure 3 shows the platform in front view, in the raised level position; Figure 4 is a plan view of the bottom deck of the apparatus; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the platform or upper deck.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated display apparatus has a bottom deck 10 (Figure 4) and a platform or upper deck 12 (Figure 5). The upper deck 12 comprises two runways 14 for supporting a vehicle, say a motor car or van.

The view of Figure 5 also shows part of the hydraulic ram operating means mounted between the bottom and upper decks. Figures 1 to 3 show details of this ram operating means.

First, a hydraulic ram 16 acts on an arm 18, which is articulated between a fixed part 20 of the bottom deck 10 and a vertical support plate 19 immediately on the underside of the platform 12, in order to raise and lower said platform. Pairs of linkages 21, 22 ensure that the platform moves between its ramped and level angular conditions as it is raised, and vice versa.

Second, linkages 20, 22 also serve as coupling linkages between a pair of laterally spaced rams 24 mounted to the bottom deck part 20 and the platform underside support plate 19, whereby, when the platform 12 is in its raised position, it may be tilted end to end, by operation of a ram 24, about the upper pivotal connection of the arm 18.

Third, a pair of rams 26 act between the platform 12 and the support plate 19, which is coupled at 28 to the platform at the ends of a pivot shaft 30, to enable the platform to be tilted side to side, relative to the support plate 19.

Primary power for operation of the display apparatus is provided either by the mains electricity supply, possibly via a battery bank, or by a generator or the like.

Most importantly, however, the operation of the individual rams 24, 26 which are used for display purposes is supervised by a computerised control means which can be programmed, or offer a choice of programs, to operate these rams in any chosen sequence, one at a time, two at a time, or any combination thereof. lie platform carrying the vehicle, or any other heavy object which it is desired to display, may therefore be given a wide variety of tilting motions, front/back, side to side, tilting in rotation or even a random combination or sequence of any such motions.

For displaying a vehicle, the lower and upper decks may conveniently be approximately 4.2 metres long and 2.1 metres wide, whilst in its raised level position the platform may be positioned approximately 1.5 metres above the bottom deck.

C398.00/D CL S 1. Display apparatus for a heavy object the apparatus comprising a platform onto which the heavy object can be loaded, hydraulic rain means on the underside of the platform and control means whereby the hydraulic ram means can be operated to tilt the platform in at least two dimensions.

2. Display apparatus according to claim 1, in which the platform is adapted to receive a vehicle.

3. Display apparatus according to either one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydraulic ram means is operable to tilt the platform in three dimensions under the supervision of the control means.

4. Display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic ram means comprises at least one ram for tilting the platform in a first coordinate direction in opposite senses and at least one ram for tilting the platform in either sense in a second co-ordinate direction, orthogonal to said first co-ordinate direction.

5. Display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hydraulic ram means comprises two rams for tilting the platform in the first co- ordinate direction in opposite senses.

6. Display apparatus according to either one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the hydraulic rain means comprises two rams for tilting the platform in the second co-ordinate direction in opposite senses.

7. Display apparatus according to either one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the control means is operable to cause the ram means to tilt the platform diagonally.

6 8. Display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means comprises a computerised chip programmed to operate the rams in a predetermined sequence and one or more rams at a time.

9. Display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control means is operable to move the platform in a cyclic, rotational tilting sequence.

10. Display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means is operable to move the platform such that when an end, comer or side thereof is tilted down, an opposite end, comer or side is tilted up.

11. Display apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the platform is movable between a horizontal, raised-level, display-starting position in which the ram means may be brought into use to tilt the platform, and a low-level ramped position in which an end of the platform lies adjacent the ground to enable the vehicle to be power driven on to the platform.

12. Display apparatus according to claim 11 and a vehich. displayed thereon, wherein the vehicle is supported on the platform.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which the vehicle comprises a motor car.

14. Apparatus accoraing to claim 12, in which the vehicle comprises a boat on a wheeled chassis.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the platform, together with the vehicle loaded thereon, is raisable from the ramped, low-level position to the display-starting position.

16. Display apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.