LIFTING JACK

Abstract

 A lifting jack (1) comprising a body (3), base (2) and a support (4) to hold and allow the handling of a component, wherein:
-the body (3) is telescopic and comprises a piston (5) to attach the body (3) to the support (4),
-the support (4) includes a rigid part (8), which includes a claw provided with at least one pair of hooks (14) and is attached to a flexible part (9) formed by a deformable material; wherein both parts (8, 9) include holes (13, 10) of different diameters to receive and retain the piston (5) in two positions:
-a first position in which the support (4) receives the piston (5) through the hole (10) of the flexible part (9), and
- a second position in which the support (4) receives the piston (5) through the hole (13) of the rigid part (8).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a lifting jack to support and allow handling of mechanical components under a vehicle or raised device.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In the state of the art, lifting jacks designed to lift or hold various pieces, parts or components of vehicles or other devices, facilitating handling, are known. These lifting jacks are devices commonly used in mechanical workshops to perform maintenance, inspection, assembly, disassembly, installation, removal or repair of specific components of a vehicle, characterised in that, in order to access them, the vehicle must be raised. Examples of these components are the gearbox and transmission. Prior to the handling of the vehicle component, the lifting jack should be placed under the vehicle. To allow positioning of the lifting jack under the vehicle, the vehicle must be previously raised to a sufficient height to be able to introduce the lifting jack under it. For this purpose, the vehicle is usually situated over a pit or on specific lifting columns for raising vehicles. Also, the vehicle must be properly secured or fixed so it cannot move while the component is being handled.

[0003] Professional lifting jacks, for jobs in pits or under raised vehicles, generally consist of a base provided with wheels for easy movement of the lifting jack on the floor, a holding support or raising support used to receive, hold and/or house the vehicle component to be handled and a drive system, for example of the hydraulic type. Said drive system facilitates both the raising of the support upwards to a working area under the vehicle and the return or lowering of the support. In hydraulic lifting jacks, actuating the hydraulic system for raising and lowering the support is usually implemented by hand levers or pedals.

[0004] With this type of known lifting jacks, before the operation of installing a vehicle component can be performed, the appropriate placement and consolidation of the component on the lifting jack support and subsequent raising of the support to the work area under the vehicle must be made. Similarly, prior to an operation of the handling or removal of a vehicle component, the lifting jack support must be properly positioned in the working area under the vehicle before coming into contact with the component to be handled or removed. Typically, the supports of conventional lifting jacks are usually made of metallic materials and there is a risk that the vehicle component, or some delicate parts of the component may be damaged when the supported component is pushed or held by a rigid metal element as is the support. This problem typically occurs, for example, when these lifting jacks contact exhaust pipes.

[0005] The object of the present invention is a lifting jack that reduces the risk of damage to the component when the component to be handled is deposited on the lifting jack or is housed or temporarily held by the lifting jack to be able to handle the component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the invention is a lifting jack to hold and allow the handling of a vehicle component or a device, with a base provided with wheels to allow movement of the lifting jack on a floor, a tubular body having a lower end and an upper end, and a support for holding and allowing the handling of the vehicle component or device. The base is attached at the lower end of the body and the support is attached to the upper end of the body. The lifting jack, according to the invention, comprises a telescopic body comprising, in its interior, a piston for removably attaching the body to the support, and a support comprising a rigid part attached to a flexible part, wherein the rigid part comprises a claw provided with at least one pair of hooks with an arched base arranged facing each other, and wherein the flexible part is formed by a deformable material. Both the rigid part and the flexible part comprise, at least, one hole for receiving the piston, where the two holes are coincident and of different diameters to retain the piston in two different positions:

• a first position in which the support receives the piston through the hole of the flexible part, so that the rigid part of the support is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack; and
• a second position in which the support receives the piston through the hole of the rigid part, so that the flexible support part is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack.

[0007] The configuration of the lifting jack of the invention enables the jack to hold and handle both conventional and delicate components or components that may have delicate parts. Thus, the first position allows the jack to hold and handle conventional components, while the second position allows the jack to hold and handle delicate components without damaging them. The flexible part of the support, being a deformable material and having a lower rigidity than the rigid part, has the capacity to absorb shocks or vibrations. Thus, the use of the lifting jack according to the invention avoids causing damage to the component even in the case of this component having delicate parts. This delicate component could suffer damage or flaws on entering into contact with or being pushed or having pressure put on it by the rigid part of the support. Therefore, the connection of the support in the first position, with the rigid part arranged at the upper end of the lifting jack, is reserved for handling robust vehicle components or handling components that require and allow for the application of a greater strength. In short, the support configuration allows that the support can be fixed in two different positions depending on whether it has to perform a protective function or a function of resistance to the application of force. This dual functionality is advantageous in the everyday use of lifting jacks, making the jack more versatile for holding or coming into contact with components of different natures or to allow for different types of handling.

[0008] Another advantage of the support described is that, in having a protective flexible part included or integrated in the support it is ensured that the positioning of the flexible part within the lifting jack is very stable and therefore the delicate component is held securely and with a reduced risk of falling. The integration of the flexible part in the support is also advantageous because it does not involve the risk of the flexible part being lost.

[0009] For all the advantages mentioned above, the lifting jack, according to the invention, is an alternative that allows the handling of vehicle components of variable robustness or resistance or that have delicate parts in a comfortable, practical way and with an easy assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] The details of the invention can be seen in the accompanying figures, which do not intend to limit the scope of the invention:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the lifting jack, according to the invention, with the support placed in the first position.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the support attached to the piston according to the first position.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the lifting jack with the support placed in the second position in which the lifting jack is suitable for contact with vehicle components that have delicate parts.

Figure 4a shows a detailed view of the support attached to the piston and Figure 4b, a detailed view of the support separated from the piston, both according to the second position of the support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Figure 1 shows a perspective of an embodiment of the lifting jack (1), according to the invention, to hold and allow the handling of a vehicle component or other device (not shown in the figure) such as the gearbox, the exhaust pipe or others. For this purpose, as with other known lifting jacks, the lifting jack (1) must be placed under the vehicle and beforehand the vehicle must be placed over a pit or on lifting columns designed for raising vehicles. As shown in the figure, the lifting jack (1) comprises a base (2) provided with wheels to allow movement of the lifting jack (1) on a floor, a tubular body (3) with a lower end (14) and an upper end (15) and a support (4) for holding or raising for entering into contact with the vehicle component, wherein the support (4) is connected to the upper end (15) of the body (3) and the base (2) to the lower end (14). Like other lifting jacks of this type, the lifting jack (1) is a lifting apparatus not specifically designed for the transport of components or loads; thus the main purpose of the wheels of the base (2) is not to enable or facilitate the transport or moving of loads; however, said wheels are necessary for moving the lifting jack (1) on the floor and placing it in an initial position from which to start lifting. For this, these lifting jacks also comprise a drive system which allows its raising and lowering. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the lifting jack (1) specifically has a hydraulic assembly mounted on the base (2). Said hydraulic assembly comprises a telescopic body (3) including a piston (5) within the interior of the body (3) for raising and lowering the support (4) of the lifting jack (1). The raising of the support (4) is caused by actuating a lift pedal (6). Before starting an operation of handling on the vehicle component it is necessary to align the lifting jack (1) with said component so that, once finalised the raising movement of the piston (5), the support (4) reaches a work area beneath the appropriate vehicle component. If the handling operation involves removal of the vehicle component, its proper securing on the support (4) is made. The hydraulic driving action of the lifting jack (1) is completed with a release pedal (7) for the lowering of the lifting jack (1) once the handling of the vehicle component is finished.

[0012] The support (4), according to the invention, comprises at least one rigid part (8) and at least one soft support, protective element or flexible part (9). In particular, the support (4) of the embodiment shown in the figure comprises a single rigid part (8) and a single flexible part (9). According to the present invention, the rigid part (8) comprises a claw provided with at least one pair of hooks (14) with an arched base arranged facing each other, and the flexible part (9) is formed by a deformable material. In addition, the lifting jack (1) has a telescopic body (3) comprising a piston (5) allowing a removable attachment of the body (3) to the support (4), allowing said support (4) to adopt, at least, two different positions, in each of which the support (4) and the lifting jack (1) are provided with a different functionality.

[0013] Figures 1 and 2 correspond to the first position of the support (4) in which the rigid part (8) of the support (4) is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack (1), so that it is the rigid part (8) which comes into contact with the component. By placing the support (4) in this first position, the lifting jack (1) allows the handling of components robust enough to come into contact with the rigid part (8) of the support (4) or to tolerate an applied force by said rigid part (8).

[0014] Figure 2 shows in detail the attachment of the support (4) to the piston (5), according to the first position. As can be seen in the figure, both the rigid part (8) and the flexible part (9) comprise at least one hole (13, 10). The rigid part (8) comprises a first hole (13) and the flexible part (9) a second hole (10). Both holes (13, 10) are coincident and of different diameters in order to retain the piston (5) in different positions. As shown in the figure, the diameter of the second hole (10) is greater than the diameter of the first hole (13), wherein the first hole (13) is a through hole which comprises a diameter change along its depth to retain the piston (5) when received through the second hole (10).

[0015] Likewise, Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment in which the rigid part (8) comprises a ferrule (11) interdependently fixed to the hooks (14) of the claw, wherein said ferrule (11) comprises the first hole (13).

[0016] Also, as shown in Figure 2, the rigid part (8) is attached to the flexible part (9) by means of a metal plate (12). The rigid part (8) is attached interdependently to the metal plate (12) and the flexible part (9) by adhesion means.

[0017] Figures 3, 4a and 4b correspond to the second position of the support (4) in which the flexible part (9) of the support (4) is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack (1), so that it is the flexible part (9) which comes into contact with the component and so that the rigid part (8) does not come into contact with the component. By placing the support (4) in this second position, the lifting jack (1) ensures the integrity of components which are to be handled on the support (4) and that are of a delicate nature, which makes them susceptible to damage in the case of contact with a substantially rigid support.

[0018] Figures 4a and 4b show in detail the attachment of the support (4) to the piston (5), according to the second position. As shown in these figures, the support (4) receives the piston (5) through the first hole (13) so that the flexible part (9) of the support (4) is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack (1). The same as in the first position, the change in diameter of the first hole (13) allows the retention of the piston (5) when received through the first hole (13).

[0019] Preferably, the positioning of the support (4) on the body (3) of the lifting jack (1) is reversible by a rotation of 180°. This feature allows a very simple switch mode between the first position and the second position of the support (4) saving time between manoeuvres or the handling of various vehicle components.

[0020] Optionally, to facilitate maintenance of the lifting jack (1), the rigid part (8) and the flexible part (9) of the support (4) are separable. The connection of both parts can be made for example by screws. Alternative forms of connection are also contemplated.

[0021] Optionally, the flexible part (9) of the support (4) is made of Ethafoam polyethylene foam. This material is suitable for the manufacture of the flexible part (9) for its characteristics in terms of flexibility and good absorption of shocks or vibrations. The rigid part (8) of the support (4) of the embodiment of the figures, consists of four arms in a cross, it is made of a metallic material for its characteristics of mechanical strength to withstand forces of tension, compression or bending. Other embodiments, different to that shown in the figures, are also contemplated, in which the support (4) is manufactured of different materials to those mentioned, provided that the rigid part (8) and the flexible part (9) have the properties described throughout this document.

Claims

1. A lifting jack (1) comprising:

- a tubular body (3) with a lower end (14) and an upper end (15),

- a base (2) provided with wheels to allow movement of the lifting jack (1) on a floor, wherein the base (2) is attached to the lower end (14) of the body (3),

- a support (4) to hold and allow handling of a vehicle component or device, wherein said support (4) is attached to the upper end (15) of the body (3),

characterised in that the body (3) is telescopic and comprises, in its interior, a piston (5) for removably attaching the body (3) with the support (4), and in that the support (4) comprises a rigid part attached (8) to a flexible part (9), wherein the rigid part (8) comprises a claw provided with at least one pair of hooks (14) with an arched base arranged facing each other and wherein the flexible part (9) is formed of a deformable material, and where both parts (8, 9) comprise, at least, one hole (13, 10) for receiving the piston (5), both holes (13, 10) being coincident and of different diameters to retain the piston (5) in two different positions:

- a first position in which the support (4) receives the piston (5) through the hole (10) of the flexible part (9), so that the rigid part (8) of the support (4) is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack (1); and

- a second position in which the support (4) receives the piston (5) through the hole (13) of the rigid part (8), so that the flexible part (9) of the support (4) is placed at the upper end of the lifting jack (1).

2. The lifting jack (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rigid part (8) comprises a first hole (13) and the flexible part (9) a second hole (10), wherein the diameter of the second hole (10) is greater than the diameter of the first hole (13) and where the first hole (13) is a through hole comprising, at least, one change in diameter to retain the piston (5) when received through the first (13) or the second hole (10).

3. The lifting jack (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rigid part (8) comprises a ferrule (11) interdependently fixed to the hooks (14) of the claw, wherein said ferrule (11) comprises the first hole (13).

4. The lifting jack (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rigid part (8) is attached to the flexible part (9) by means of a metal plate (12).

5. The lifting jack (1) according to Claim 4, characterised in that the rigid part (8) is interdependently attached to the metal plate (12) and the flexible part (9) by adhesion means.

6. The lifting jack (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rigid part (8) and the flexible part (9) of the support (4) are separable.

7. The lifting jack (1) according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flexible part (9) of the support (4) is made of Ethafoam.

Drawing