GB2213795A

GB2213795A - Air bellows vehicle jacking beam

Info

Publication number: GB2213795A
Application number: GB8815818A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Newton; Derek William Rowswell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-17
Filing date: 1988-07-04
Publication date: 1989-08-23
Also published as: GB8815818D0; GB8729396D0

Abstract

A jacking beam for use on four poster vehicle ramps or over pits in M.O.T. stations and garages incorporates rubber air bellows 'D' worked by push button valves 'B' to provide the lift using a normal garage air supply connected at 'C'. To ensure a oompletely smooth lift and that the beam 'L' remains horizontal, stability is controlled at each end by hinged support linkages 'F' working in conjunction with side arms, 'G', fitted with hardened steel rollers 'M', travelling in end slots 'K', the arms being welded to a rotatable shaft 'J'. Retractable spring loaded sheathed bearing wheels 'A' are fitted to jack support arms 'N' to facilitate ease of movement along the ramp by holding handle 'E'. <IMAGE>

Description

'NEWTONt JACKING BEAM This invention relates to a Jacking Beam incorporating a rubber air bellows unit to provide 'lift'.

Jacking beams are widely used in M.O.T. stations and garages on four poster ramps and vehicle inspection pits. Hand pumped hydraulic units provide 'lift' in most jacking beams currently in use. In a hand pumped hydraulic jacking beam the vehicle is raised and lowered on a vehicle support beam by hydraulic power acting on a 'scissor' type assembly.

Hydraulic beam jacks have, however, many inherent problems in practice, and may be listed as follows:1. Hand pumping causes operator fatigue under busy conditions.

2. The jack is heavy and is, therefore, difficult to move along the ramp.

3. Hydraulic systems leak fluid and require frequent 'topping up' to maintain efficiency.

4. Hydraulic systems break down under continual use which necessitate being sent away for expensive repairs.

According to the present invention there is provided a pressed steel body mounted on an 'H' frame base made up from box section steel. It incorporates a rubber air bellows worked by push button valves to provide the 'lift' using a normal garage air supply. To ensure a completely smooth lift and that the beam remains horizontal, stability is controlled by hinged support linkages working in conjunction with side arms attached to a rotatable shaft, fitted with hardened steel rollers travelling in end slots.

Lifting capacity may be up to 2.5 tonnes.

Retractable spring-loaded sheathed bearing wheels are fitted to the main extensible jack support arms to facilitate ease of movement along the ramp.

In practice the 'Newton' air bellows jacking beam has many advantages, which may be listed as follows:1. The 'Newton' jack is powered by air and controlled by push button valves, so is quick and easy to use, eliminating operator fatigue.

2. The 'Newton' jack is supported by retractable spring-loaded wheels which allow easy movement along the ramp. The wheels retract under load and stability is unaffected.

3. Should an air leak occur, repairs may be carried out on site owing to ease of access of component parts.

4. The 'Newton' jack is cheaper to buy and repair than a comparable hand pumped hydraulic jacking beam.

5. The 'Newton' jack has approximately the same dimensions as a conventional 1.5 tonne hand-pumped hydraulic beam jack, so takes up no more space.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing: The 'Newton' air bellows jacking beam incorpprates a rubber air bellows, 'D' (sizes 10" x 2 or 10" x 3), worked by push-button valves, 'B, to provide 'lift' using a normal garage air supply connected at 'C'.

To ensure a completely smooth lift and that the beam, 'L' remains horizontal, stability is controlled at each end by hinged support linkages, 'F', working in connection with side arms, 'G', fitted with hardened steel rollers, 'M', travelling in end slots, 'K', welded to a rotatable shaft, 'J'.

Four retractable spring loaded sheathed bearing wheels, 'A', are fitted to the main extensible jack support arms 'N', to facilitate ease of movement along the ramp by holding handle, 1E'.

Key To Drawing A. Spring loaded sheathed bearing wheels attached to the main extensible jack support arms, N.

B. Push button air controls.

C. Air supply inlet connector.

D. Air bellows (sizes 10" x 2 or 10" x 3).

E. Handle.

F. Hinged support linkages.

G. Side arms (with hardened steel rollers M) attached to a rotable shaft.

H. Vehicle support posts.

I. Extensible vehicle support arms fitted at each end of beam, L.

J. Rotatable shaft.

K. End slots.

L. Vehicle support beam.

M. Hardened steel rollers.

N. Extensible jack support arms.

Claims

'NEWTON' AIR BEUOWS JACKING BEAM 1. An air bellows beam jack comprising a rubber air bellows, push button valves, an '1d' frame base which is the main load bearing member on which the bellows are mounted, a body formed from folded steel plate, hinged support linkages positioned at each end working in conjunction with side arms welded to a rotatable shaft and four retractable spring loaded sheathed bearing wheels fitted to the extensible jack support arms.
2. An air bellows beam jack as claimed in claim (1), wherein an air bellows actuator provides the lift using a normal garage air supply.
3. An air bellows beam jack as claimed in claim (1) and claim (2), wherein push button valves mounted on the body of the jack control the supply of air to the air bellows actuator and hence vertical movement of the vehicle support beam.
4. An air bellows beam jack as claimed in claims (1), (2) and (3), wherein the air bellows actuator has a bleed device fitted at the centre of its base to facilitate the drainage of any water accummulation within the unit.
5. An air bellows beam jack as claimed in claims (1), (2), (3) and (4) wherein hinged linkages are positioned at each end and act directly beneath to control lateral stability of the vehicle support beam.
6. An air bellows beam jack as claimed in claims (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5j, wherein, working in conjunction with the hinged linkages, hardened steel rollers travelling in end slots, fitted to arms which in turn are welded to each end of a rotatable shaft, control the longitudinal stability of the vehicle support beam.
7. An air bellows beam jack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein retractable spring loaded sheathed bearing wheels are fitted to the extensible jack support arms.
8. An air bellows beam jack substantially as described herein with reference to features A-N of the accompanying drawing.