[0001] Hydraulic equipment for raising vehicles in wet locations.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The object of the invention is to provide a conventional device for lifting vehicles,
whose unique feature is that it is adapted to wet locations.
[0003] The system applies in the sector of vehicle repair workshops, especially in the event
that these installations are used exclusively or in a shared way with car washes or
are outdoors and exposed to the weather.
BACKGROUND TO THE STATE OF THE ART
[0004] Everyone knows the two-column electric-hydraulic system for lifting vehicles, designed
to work under a roof and away from humid areas. It features an electric motor operating
at 380V or 220V and a hydraulic system connected to it. Both elements are fixed to
the columns of the elevator, according to these manufacturing specifications:
✔ Equipment painted with oven-cured epoxy.
✔ Controls including buttons and electrical components for carrying out manoeuvres.
✔ Three-phase 380V or 220V single-phase power.
✔ Hydraulic vents unprotected against water.
✔ Motor and controls mounted on one of the columns connected to the power source described
above.
✔ 1 m hydraulic hose.
[0005] However, this type of elevator cannot be assembled at car washes or outdoors, because,
as described, the motor works at 380V or 220V without protection against water. This
means that there is a risk of electrocution in these types of environments, and regulations
therefore forbid it. In addition, there is also the problem that, in addition to the
water that is sucked into the hydraulic cylinder, using the corresponding filter,
often some humidity also gets in, corroding the interior walls of the hydraulic cylinder
and harming its operation over time.
[0006] The definition of "wet locations" found in applicable regulations includes locations
where the floors, ceilings and walls are or might be humid, and where mud or large
drops of water are prone to appearing, even if only for short period at at time, due
to condensation or long periods of mist. Wet locations include car washes and all
kinds of outdoor facilities.
[0007] However, the "Hydraulic equipment for raising vehicles in wet locations" proposed
in this invention, adapts the equipment for raising vehicles for the uses described,
thus contributing the following advantages to the state of the art:
- A. It allows these types of lifts to be used in wet locations within the framework
of applicable legislation.
- B. It avoids the gradual deterioration of the inside of the hydraulic cylinder, resulting
from water getting inside the cylinders and causing the device to fail.
- C. It avoids the oxidation of the metal structure with a dual hot-galvanised treatment
and sprayed zinc coating.
EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The "Hydraulic equipment for raising vehicles in wet locations" consists of a vehicle
elevator based on conventionally designed electric-hydraulic technology characterised
by having the following improvements:
- A. Protection of metal parts using double treatment; an initial hot galvanised treatment
followed by sprayed zinc on 90% of the following elements: lifting carts, extendable
legs, extendable legs lock, axes, fixing block supports, pulleys, manual fasteners
and columns.
- B. Lever for lowering and raising the vehicle.
- C. Hydraulic vents fitted with waterproof polymer valves, allowing air to move towards
the hydraulic cylinder vent, but it restricts the passage of water, including in the
form of mist.
- D. Creation of a support for the motor, hydraulics and manoeuvring electronics box,
positioned outside the wet area, continuing to operate at 380V three-phase or 220V
single phase.
- E. Lengthening of the hydraulic tube and signal cables up to seven metres.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] To complement the description and in order to aid the understanding of the characteristics
of the invention, according to a preferential embodiment of the invention, a set of
drawings is attached, for illustration purposes only, showing the following:
Figure 1: Main view of the "Hydraulic equipment for raising vehicles in wet locations",
showing the location of each of the improvements.
Figure 9: Elevation detail view of the hydrophobic valve.
[0010] In figure 1, the constituent elements can be highlighted:
- 1. Elevation cart.
- 2. Extendable legs.
- 3. Extendable leg locks.
- 4. Axes.
- 5. Block supports.
- 6. Pulleys.
- 7. Lever for lowering and raising the vehicle.
- 8. Columns.
- 9. Motor, hydraulics and manoeuvring electronics box support.
- 10. Lengthening of hydraulic hose and signal cables.
- 11. Hydrophobic polymer valve.
- 12. Hydrophobic polymer coating.
EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] As an example of a preferred embodiment of the "Hydraulic equipment for raising vehicles
in wet locations" and in view of figures 1-2, it is shown how the invention can be
executed, starting with a conventional two-column elevator, designed to work indoors
and outside of wet areas, based on electric-hydraulic technology, to which the following
improvements can be made:
- A. Protection of metal parts using double treatment; an initial hot galvanised treatment
followed by sprayed zinc on 90% of the following elements: lifting carts 1, extendable
legs 2, extendable legs lock 3, axes 4, fixing block supports 5, pulleys 6, manual
fasteners 7 and columns 8.
- B. Equipment controller, using micro contacts for raising and lowering housed in the
control lever, such that when the lever is pushed up, the contact is activated and
instructs the motor to start working to raise the vehicle; on the other hand, pushing
the lever down will release the equipment's mechanical locks and the contact for lowering
the car will be activated, instructing the electric valve to release hydraulic oil
from the hydraulic cylinders, causing the vehicle to be lowered. The micro contacts
are inside the cover of the control lever, protected from humidity.
- C. Hydraulic vents 11 fitted with waterproof polymer valves 12, as shown in figure
2, allowing air to move towards the hydraulic cylinder vent, but it restricts the
passage of water, including in the form of mist.
- D. Creation of a support 9 for the motor, hydraulics and manoeuvring electronics box,
positioned outside the wet area, continuing to operate at 380V three-phase or 220V
single phase.
- E. Lengthening 10 of the hydraulic tube and signal cables up to seven metres.
[0012] Evidently, the scope of the invention can be extended to apply the improvements described
on a surface scissor lift based on a dual-piston hydraulic system on each platform.
[0013] It is not considered necessary to add more details to this description for any expert
on the matter to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages of it. Furthermore,
the type of assembly, depending on the location of the equipment and client installations,
the way for achieving watertightness of the equipment's controls, using controls available
on the market with a suitable degree of protection or using micro contacts for raising
and lowering the vehicle in the control lever inside a protected metal shell, the
technology used for protecting the metal parts, the protection of the system itself
or the hydraulic protection achieved using a hydrophobic polymer, shall be subject
to changes provided the change does not alter the essence of the invention.
[0014] The terms which have been used in this report should be understood broadly and non-exhaustively.
1. Hydraulic equipment for raising vehicles in wet locations, consisting of a vehicle
elevator based on conventionally designed electric-hydraulic technology
characterised by having the following improvements:
A. Protection of metal parts using double zinc treatment; an initial hot galvanised
treatment followed by sprayed zinc on 90% of the following elements: lifting carts,
extendable legs, extendable legs lock, axes, fixing block supports, pulleys, manual
fasteners and columns.
B. Lever for lowering and raising the vehicle.
C. Hydraulic vents fitted with hydrophobic polymer valves.
D. Creation of a support for the motor, hydraulics and manoeuvring electronics box,
positioned outside the wet area, continuing to operate at 380V three-phase or 220V
single phase.
E. Lengthening of the hydraulic tube and signal cables up to seven metres.