GB2374063A

GB2374063A - Lifting and moving a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2374063A
Application number: GB0204130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Redmore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-22
Filing date: 2002-02-22
Publication date: 2002-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-22
Also published as: GB2374063B; GB0104298D0; GB0204130D0

Abstract

An apparatus for lifting and then moving a vehicle comprises a wheeled frame having a pair of support members 19, 20, where one of the support members 19 is relatively moveable towards the other, a handle for controlling the moveable support member and a motor 16 for moving the wheeled frame. The vehicle is lifted by placing one of the support members to the front and one to the rear of the vehicle's wheel and then moving the moveable support member towards the other. The moveable support member may have an upwardly inclined face and the other support member may be in the form of a roller. The motor may be remotely controlled from the vehicle's cab. An additional frame (21, Fig 7) may be attached to the wheeled frame to convert it to a four-wheeled frame.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOVING A VEHICLE Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for moving a vehicle.

There are numerous occasions when it is desirable to be able to move a vehicle without using the vehicle's engine. For example, when a vehicle has broken down and is in a confined space such as an underground car park, it may be difficult to position a breakdown vehicle such that it can tow the broken-down vehicle.

There are also times when repair and maintenance work is being carried out on a vehicle and the mechanic wishes to move the vehicle, but is not able to start the vehicle's engine.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for moving a vehicle.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of moving a vehicle, said method comprising : a) providing a wheeled frame which includes a pair of relatively movable support members, b) positioning the frame so that said pair of relatively movable support members are located one in front of and one to the rear of one of the wheels of the vehicle, c) effecting relative movement between said support members so that they engage and lift said one wheel of the vehicle clear of the ground, and d) effecting movement of the wheeled frame and, with it, the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for moving a vehicle, said apparatus comprising : a) a wheeled frame which includes a pair of relatively movable support members which, in use, are located one in front of and one to the rear of one of the wheels of the vehicle, b) means for effecting relative movement between said support members so that they engage and lift said one wheel of the vehicle clear of the ground, and d) means for effecting movement of the wheeled frame and, with it, the vehicle.

One of the support members is preferably fixed relative to the wheeled frame while the other support member is movable relative to the frame. A handle-operated mechanism may be provided for effecting such movement of said other support member.

Said other support member preferably has an upwardly facing surface which is inclined to the horizontal such that, when said other support member is moved into contact with the wheel of the vehicle to be moved, the inclined, upwardly facing surface engages the wheel of the vehicle and effects upward movement of the wheel of the vehicle as said other support member is moved horizontally.

The wheeled frame may be of generally T-shape in plan view, with a single castor wheel located at a position corresponding to the free end of the stem of the T and fixed axis wheels at either end of the head of the T.

A motor is preferably mounted on the wheeled frame and is arranged to drive a drive wheel or wheels of the frame. A battery is preferably mounted on the wheeled frame to provide the power source for the motor.

Control means is preferably provided for controlling operation of the motor and is connected to the motor by flexible elongated leads so that, after a user of the apparatus has lifted a wheel of a vehicle clear of the ground, said user may then sit in the driver's seat of the vehicle and steer the vehicle when moving the vehicle by means of the motor mounted on the wheeled frame.

The apparatus comprising the three-wheeled frame may be used in conjunction with an additional frame which has a single castor wheel so that, when the additional frame is mounted on the three-wheeled frame, a four-wheeled frame is then provided. A pivotable steering handle is preferably mounted on the additional frame.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used for a variety of purposes, as explained above, and can be produced in more than one size and more than one power of motor, depending on the expected usage of the apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the lifting apparatus of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the lifting apparatus, Figure 3 is a front view of the lifting apparatus, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the lifting apparatus in use, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the use of the lifting apparatus plus an additional frame for moving a vehicle, Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing another use of the lifting apparatus and additional frame of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a plan view of the combination of the lifting apparatus and frame of Figure 5, and Figure 8 is a partial front view of the lifting apparatus and frame of Figure 5.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4 includes a main frame comprising an outer elongated box-section member 10 and an inner elongated box-section member 11 which is movable telescopically relative to the outer member 10. Two fixed-axis wheels 12 and 13 are mounted on the inner box-section member 11 and a single castor wheel 14 is mounted on the outer box-section member 10. An operating handle 15 is mounted on the outer boxsection member 10 adjacent the castor wheel 14 and the arrangement is such that relative axial movement between the two box-section members 10 and 11 can be effected by turning the handle 15.

A drive motor 16 is mounted on the inner box-section member 11 and is arranged to transmit drive, via a drive system 17, to the axle on which the two fixed-axis wheels 12 and 13 are mounted. A battery 18 is mounted on a horizontal support plate fixed to the outer box-section member 10 adjacent one end thereof and an inclined support plate 19 is fixed to the other side of the outer box-section member 10 at a position level with the battery support plate. The inclined support plate 19 is located in line with a horizontal roller 20 carried by the inner box-section member 11 and extending parallel to the axle on which the wheels 12 and 13 are mounted.

When it is desired to move a broken down vehicle, the apparatus is moved into a position adjacent the side of the vehicle and with the inclined support plate 19 and the roller 20 disposed one in front of one of the vehicle wheels and the other behind the selected vehicle wheel. The lifting handle 15 is then turned so as to effect relative telescoping movement of the inner and outer members 10 and 11 and to move the inclined support plate 19 and the roller 20 towards one another, with both of them in contact with the tyre on the selected vehicle wheel. Movement of the inclined support plate 19 and the roller 20 towards one another will serve to effect upward movement of the vehicle wheel and will be continued until the wheel is clear of the ground.

Once the wheel has been lifted clear of the ground, the motor 16 is actuated to transmit drive to the fixed-axis wheels 12 and 13 and hence move the vehicle. A control box (not shown) is provided for controlling operation of the motor 16 and is connected to the motor by flexible elongated leads so that, after a user of the apparatus has lifted a wheel of a vehicle clear of the ground, the user can then sit in the driver's seat of the vehicle and steer the vehicle while at the same time moving the vehicle by appropriate operation of the motor 16.

The basic apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3 can thus be used in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 to lift one of the wheels of a broken down or otherwise disable vehicle and hence move the vehicle. There may, however, be times when it is desired to lift one end of a vehicle and, in such instances, the additional frame 21 shown in solid lines in Figures 7 and 8 can be mounted on the basic apparatus, which is shown in Figures 7 and 8 in broken lines.

The additional frame 21 comprises a rectangular horizontal framework which is mounted on and fixed to the box-section members 10 and 11. The rectangular framework includes end members 22 and 23 and side members 24 and 25. One 22 of the end members has a steering handle 26 attached to it and this end member 22 carries a castor wheel 27 which is so positioned that it complements castor wheel 14 of the basic apparatus. The side members 24 and 25 of the additional frame extend parallel to the inner and outer box-section members 11 and 10 and a transverse bar 28 is attached to the side members 24 and 25. The transverse bar 28 carries a pivotally mounted support plate 29 which can be engaged beneath an appropriate part of the vehicle and sill clamps 30 can be fixed on the transverse bar 28, adjacent the ends thereof, for abutting engagement with the vehicle sills. Locking pins 31 are provided for fixing the additional frame 21 to the basic apparatus and, once so fixed, the complete apparatus can be used in the manner illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method of moving a vehicle, said method comprising :a) providing a wheeled frame which includes a pair of relatively movable support members, b) positioning the frame so that said pair of relatively movable support members are located one in front of and one to the rear of one of the wheels of the vehicle, c) effecting relative movement between said support members so that they engage and lift said one wheel of the vehicle clear of the ground, and d) effecting movement of the wheeled frame and, with it, the vehicle.

2. An apparatus for moving a vehicle, said apparatus comprising : a) a wheeled frame which includes a pair of relatively movable support members which, in use, are located one in front of and one to the rear of one of the wheels of the vehicle, b) means for effecting relative movement between said support members so that they engage and lift said one wheel of the vehicle clear of the ground, and d) means for effecting movement of the wheeled frame and, with it, the vehicle.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which one of the support members is fixed relative to the wheeled frame while the other support member is movable relative to the frame.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which a handleoperated mechanism is provided for effecting said movement of said other support member.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, in which said other support member has an upwardly facing surface which is inclined to the horizontal such that, when said other support member is moved into contact with the wheel of the vehicle to be moved, the inclined, upwardly facing surface engages the wheel of the vehicle and effects upward movement of the wheel of the vehicle as said other support member is moved horizontally.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, in which the wheeled frame is of generally T-shape in plan view, with a single castor wheel located at a position corresponding to the free end of the stem of the T and fixed axis wheels at either end of the head of the T.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, in which a motor is mounted on the wheeled frame and is arranged to drive a drive wheel or wheels of the frame.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, in which a battery is mounted on the wheeled frame to provide the power source for the motor.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which control means is provided for controlling operation of the motor and is connected to the motor by flexible elongated leads so that, after a user of the apparatus has lifted a wheel of a vehicle having a driver's seat clear of the ground, said user may then sit in the driver's seat of the vehicle and steer the vehicle whilst moving the vehicle by means of the motor mounted on the wheeled frame.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in combination with an additional frame which has a single castor wheel and which can be mounted on the three-wheeled frame to convert it to a four-wheeled frame.

11. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, in which an elongated pivotally mounted handle is detachably mounted on the additional frame to enable the user to steer the apparatus and hence control the direction of movement of the vehicle.

12. An apparatus for moving a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An apparatus for moving a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of moving a vehicle which includes the use of an apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13.