The present invention relates to a cover for a vehicle inspection pit, an in particular to an automated retractable pit cover.

Vehicle inspection pits provide a work space to enable personnel carrying out vehicle servicing and repair tasks at the underside of a vehicle to do so fully standing without requiring the vehicle to be elevated above the floor to the height of a person. Such pits are therefore typically configured to the approximate depth of a standing person so that personnel using the pit can work on a vehicle without stooping unduly. In a workshop environment a deep open pit represents a significant safety hazard in terms of its potential to cause injury to personnel should they fall into it accidentally. It is therefore common to provide removable covers for such a pit, to close the pit when not in use.

Such covers may be in the form of beam like structures or panels arranged across the pit in a transverse attitude and supported along the length of the pit. However, such an arrangement, although relatively safe is extremely inconvenient to use due to the labour involved in the repetitive mounting and dismounting of the pit covers between pit usage. As a result, it is frequently the case that the pit covers are not actually put in place with the pit being left open when not in use, thereby presenting a serious hazard for servicing personnel.

An automated retractable pit cover is described in GB2373227 in which a series of articulated interconnected slats that are stowed in a rolled or folded arrangement. The slats are driven between the covered and retracted positions by a motorised drive mechanism. This arrangement provides a convenient and easily operated means of covering and uncovering a pit. However, the requirement to stow the slats in a rolled or folded condition at one end of the pit when retracted requires a storage void for the slats. Over a certain length of cover the size of the storage void required for the number of slats becomes prohibitively large. As such, the length of the pit that may be covered is limited by the available stowed space. The length of the cover is also limited by the weight of the slats, which becomes excessive for drive mechanism over a certain weight. This may be addressed by providing two roller mechanisms at either end of the pit that meet in the middle, but such a solution requires two drive mechanisms and two storage voids and is therefore prohibitively expensive in most situations.

US6539678 and FR2739637 describe arrangements which use linear actuators to close pit covers.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved pit cover which addresses the above described problems and/or which offers improvements generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover for a vehicle inspection pit as described in the accompanying claims. There is also provided in accordance with the present invention a vehicle inspection pit as defined in the accompanying claims.

In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a cover for a vehicle inspection and repair pit comprising at least one rigid planar member defining a cover plate. Mounting means is provided for hingedly mounting the at least one cover plate proximate the opening of a pit such that the at least one cover plate is rotatable between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal cover position. At least one actuator is operatively engaged with the at least one cover plate and arranged to move the at least one cover plate between the stowed and cover positions when the cover plate and actuator are mounted relative to a pit opening.

A cover plate or plurality of cover plates pivotally mounted to the side wall of a pit provide a cover arrangement in which the planar covers pivot to a stowed vertical position adjacent the side wall of the pit. This arrangement does not require a separate storage void for the cover, with the cover plates requiring minimum volume within the pit. In addition a relatively non-complex actuator arrangement is required to actuate the movement of the plate between the cover position and retracted position, thereby reducing the cost of the assembly.

The at least one actuator is a preferably a linear actuator such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Such actuators are easily and accurately controllable and require minimal storage volume within a pit.

The actuator may comprise a rotatable mount at one end for rotatably mounting the actuator to the side wall of a pit. At the other end the actuator is rotatably mounted to the at least one cover plate. This pivot arrangement enables rotation of the plate to be actuated by a linear actuator, thus obviating the requirement for a more expensive and space consuming solution such as a motor driven axle.

At least one retractable support member may be provided that is movable between a retracted configuration and an extended support position. The at least one cover plate is rotatable to the cover position when the at least one support member is in the retracted position and when the at least on support member is extended to the support position it holds and supports the at least one cover member in the cover position. The support member extends to the support position when the cover plate is in the cover position to hold and support the plate. This allows the actuator to be pressure in the lifting cylinder to be released once the support member is in position, obviating the requirement to maintain the actuator in a powered condition while the pit is not in use.

A support assembly may include the at least one support member and actuating means for moving the at least one support member between the retracted and support positions. The actuating means are preferably and driven actuating means allowing the support member to be automatically extended to the support position by a common control system when the cover plate is in the cover position. In addition, the control system is able to synchronise the extension and retraction of the support member with the cover plate actuator to extend the support member when the cover plate is in the cover position, release the pressure from the cover plate actuator when the support member is in position, and to ensure that the cover plate actuator is activated to support and lower the cover plate when the support member is retracted.

The support member actuating means preferably comprises a linear actuator, and the support member may be the piston rod of the linear actuator which is preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

Preferably a plurality of cover plates is provided together with a plurality of actuators associated with the plurality of plates. This enables a pit of significant length to be covered by a plate arrangement, whereas a single plate would require a restrictedly large lifting means.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle inspection pit comprising a base and plurality of walls upstanding from the base defining a pit volume comprising side walls and end walls with the side walls having a greater length than the end walls such that the pit has an elongate configuration. A pit opening is defined at the upper edges of the plurality of walls. At least one rigid planar member defines a cover plate hingedly mounted along a side wall of the pit proximate the upper edge of the side wall such that the at least one cover plate is rotatable between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal cover position in which it extends to the opposing side wall to cover and close at least a part of the pit opening. At least one actuator operatively engages with the at least one cover plate and is arranged to move the at least one cover plate between the stowed and cover positions. In the cover position the at least one cover plate is level with the upper edge of the pit walls in the plane defined by the opening, defining a contiguous surface with the surrounding floor such that no trip hazard is presented.

The actuating means preferably comprises a linear actuator rotatably mounted at one end to the side wall of the pit and at the opposing end to the at least one cover plate. Preferably the actuator is mounted in a recess in the side wall of the pit configured to receive the actuator such that when the cover plate is in the stowed position it is arranged substantially vertically adjacent the side wall with the actuator located behind the plate within the recess. The recess extends transversely into the side wall and enables the actuator to be retained out of the working volume of the pit so as not to obstruct service personnel in normal use.

A support member is preferably provided that is movable between a retracted configuration and an extended support position in which the support member holds and supports the at least one cover member in the cover position and in the retracted position the at least one cover plate is rotatable to and from the cover position.

A support assembly may include the at least one support member and actuating means for moving the at least one support member between the retracted and support positions. Preferably the actuating means is mounted in a fixed position relative to the opposing side wall of the pit and in the support position extends substantially transversely into the pit below the at least one cover plate to engage and support the lower surface of the cover plate. The actuator may be mounted within a recess in the side wall of the pit. The actuator is mounted such that when in the retracted position it does not significantly extend into the working volume of the pit.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following illustrative figures in which:

• Figure 1 shows a section view of a vehicle pit according to an embodiment within the invention with the cover plate in the cover position;
• Figure 2 shows the vehicle inspection pit at Figure 1 with the cover plate in the semi-retracted/extended position;
• Figure 3 shows the vehicle inspection pit at Figure 1 with the cover plate in the fully retracted position; and
• Figure 4 is a view from above of a vehicle inspection pit according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to figure 1 a vehicle inspection pit 1 comprises a base 2, side walls 4 and end walls 6 defining a working volume 8. The side walls 4 are longer than the end walls 6 such that the pit has an elongate substantially oblong configuration. The walls 4, 6 and base 2 are a pre-fabricated construction, preferably formed from metal, and manufactured and installed by a method which is disclosed by way of example in GB2359792. The pit 1 is located within a workshop floor below ground level such that the base 2 is a suitable depth beneath the level of the floor 10 such that a service personnel may stand without stooping within the pit when a vehicle is parked over said pit or supported to a limited height above the pit on a jack. The upper edges of the wall 4 define an opening to the pit. Box channels 12 are provided at the upper edge of the walls extending along the length of the pit which may be used to support a jack for lifting vehicles located above the pit.

A cover plate 14 is provided for covering and enclosing the opening to the pit 1. The cover plate 14 is a metallic plate, and is preferably formed from aluminium having a construction suitable to take the weight of a person without being restrictively heavy. The cover plate 14 is pivotally secured to a side wall 4 of the pit 1 by a hinged bracket 16 such that it is pivotally supported and movable relative to the side wall 4. A pneumatic cylinder 18 is pivotally mounted to the same side wall 4 as the cover plate 14 within a recess 20 extending transversely into the side wall 4. The hydraulic cylinder 18 includes a piston rod 22 that is pivotally connected to the cover plate 14 at a fixed rotatable connection point 24.

In the cover position the cover plate 14 extends across and covers and closes the opening to the pit 1. In an arrangement shown in Figure 1 the cover plate is located immediately beneath the box sections but it will appreciated that the cover could be located at any suitable vertical location within the pit including a position flush with the level of the floor 10.

A secondary pneumatic piston 26 is secured to the lower surface of the cover plate 14 proximate the distal end. The secondary hydraulic piston 26 includes a piston rod 28 which in the arrangement of Figure 1 is shown in the extended locked support position in which it extends transversely into a corresponding cavity or barrel formed in the side wall 4 of the pit 8. In the cover position shown in Figure 1 the piston rod 28 is extended into the cavity to lock the cover plate 14 in the cover position. The cavity is located at substantially the same height as the pivot 16 of the cover plate 14 and such that when the piston rod 28 is received within the cavity the cover plate 14 is supported in a substantially horizontal position. The weight of the cover plate 14 is supported by the piston 26 and in particular is borne through the piston 28 and its engagement with the wall of the cavity. To open the pit the piston rod 28 of the secondary support cylinder 26 is retracted from the cavity such that the cover plate 14 is no longer supported. Prior to or simultaneous with the retraction of the piston rod 28 pressure is returned to the cover plate actuator cylinder 18 such that once the piston rod 28 of the secondary support cylinder 26 is fully retracted the weight of the cover plate is held and supported by the actuating cylinder 18. The piston rod 22 of the actuating cylinder 18 is then retracted to begin to move the cover plate 14 to the stowed position. The arrangement shown in Figure 2 the cover plate 14 is show in the semi-retracted/extended condition with the piston rod 22 having been retracted in length and the body of the piston 18 pivoting about its pivotal support 30.

In an alternative arrangement the secondary pneumatic piston 26 may be mounted in the side wall 4 of the pit 1 on the opposing side to the primary cylinder 18. In this arrangement the piston rod 28 extends transversely into the pit in the cover position such that it locates beneath the cover plate 14 to support the distal moveable end of the cover plate 14 from beneath. In the cover position the weight of the cover plate 14 is supported by the piston rod 28 of the secondary hydraulic cylinder 26 with the cover plate actuator cylinder 18 being passive in the extended condition.

To open the pit the piston rod 28 of the secondary support cylinder 26 is retracted such that it no longer supports or obstructs movement of the cover plate 14. Prior to or simultaneous with the retraction of the piston rod 28 pressure is returned to the cover plate actuator cylinder 18 such that once the piston rod 28 of the secondary support cylinder is fully retracted the weight of the cover plate is held and supported by the actuating cylinder 18. The piston rod 22 of the actuating cylinder 18 is then retracted to begin to move the cover plate 14 to the stowed position.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 the cover plate 14 is shown in the semi-retracted/extended condition with the piston rod 22 having been retracted in length and the body of the piston 18 pivoting about its pivotal support 30.

In the fully stowed position, as shown in Figure 3, the cover plate 14 is orientated substantially vertically and parallel and adjacent to the side wall 4. The recess 20 is configured such that when the cover plate 14 is in the fully stowed position the actuator 18 is able to be fully received within the recess 20 enabling the cover plate 14 to sit flush against the side wall 4 thereby occupying minimum space within the working volume 8 of the pit 1.

As shown in Figure 4, for pits of a significant length multiple cover plates 14 are located along the length of the pit 1. A corresponding actuating cylinder 18 and support cylinder 26 are associated with each of the cover plates 14. A controller is provided to synchronise deployment and retraction of the cover plates 14. The controller may be configured to selectively activate one or more of the cover plates 14 to selectively cover part or all of the length of the pit 1.