Motorcycle lift

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a motorcycle lift of the type used in the garages for the maintenance and repair of mechanical parts of motorcycles.

Description of the prior art

[0002] As well known, in garages for repair and maintenance of motorcycles suitable lifts are normally used that raise the vehicle from ground level to let an operator to repair or to parts of the vehicle. In particular, the lifts normally used provide a platform that is raised from ground by at least one hydraulic cylinder that operates a frame consisting of stiff elements. The motorcycle is arranged on its stand on the platform, which provides an apparatus for locking a wheel to ensure a suitable steadiness in order to let the operator to work safely. In this case the platform extends for all the length of the motorcycle and for this reason it cannot be used for replacing worn tyres, but only for repairing other mechanical parts such as the transmission system, the motor, etc., which can be reached easily by the operator.

[0003] For replacing the tyres other types of lifts are required, having a platform that can be arranged between the front wheel and the rear wheel, which are left free. Normally, in this case the motorcycle rests on the platform at the motor. This causes not only an unsteadiness of the position of the motorcycle owing to the not perfect planarity of the part of the motor that rests on the platform, but also a danger of damages to the motor same during the work of the operator. Furthermore, such lifts cannot be used with heavy motorcycles.

[0004] US-A-2005/0077505 discloses a support structure for supporting the motorcycle at its motor when it is in a raised position. In particular, it discloses such support structure cooperating with a jacking device when the motorcycle is in the raised position. Also US5518224 discloses a support structure as the sole support for the motorcycle when this is in the raised position. This solution has the drawback to engage the motorcycle at the motor. In fact, the motor is a delicate part that can be easily damaged during the maintenance of the motorcycle, so it is not advisable that the whole motorcycle load rests on the motor.

Summary of the invention

[0005] It is therefore a feature of the invention to provide an motorcycle lift apparatus, which are adapted to raise the vehicles in order to leave free the wheels for the change of the tyres.

[0006] It is also a feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for motorcycle lifting that allows also raising the vehicle in order to carry out repair and maintenance like in traditional motorcycle lifts and at the same time at the choice of an operator allows releasing the wheels for their disassembly/reassembly.

[0007] It is a further feature of the invention to provide such an apparatus that is structurally easy and cheap with respect to lift apparatus of prior art.

[0008] These and other features are accomplished with one exemplary apparatus for motorcycle lifting, according to the invention, comprising:

• lifting means movable between a lowered position and a raised position,
• a support plane for motorcycles fixed to said lifting means, said support plane having a central portion and two ends hinged to said central portion, said ends bearing the wheels of the motorcycle when said lifting means are in lowered position and being adapted to rotate towards below releasing the wheels when said lifting means are in raised position,
• a support structure integral to the support plane and provided with means for engaging with the motorcycle at least at one point of the frame.

[0009] In particular, a point at which the motorcycle is constrained by the means for engaging is located near the motorcycle handlebar.

[0010] Advantageously, the means for engaging provide a pin adapted to enter in a special hole normally present in the short tube of the motorcycle handlebar. In this case the support structure engages the motorcycle at the steering tube and is held by the support plane at another point of the frame, for example arranged on a removable support, or on the stand. When the end sides of the support plane are rotated after lifting the support plane, the wheels of the motorcycle are disengaged by the apparatus and then can be easily reached by an operator that can replace them, change the tyres, or carry out a routine check.

[0011] Preferably, the support structure provides:

• a first and a second upright connected to said support plane at opposite sides,
• a cross member arranged between the first and the second upright, the cross member being adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation,
• a rod operatively connected to said cross member and adapted to translate in a direction orthogonal to said cross member, said rod being equipped, at the free end, with said means for engaging,
• means for blocking the means for engaging at a predetermined position.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cross member can, furthermore, be arranged sliding vertically, through said uprights that are made of two portions coupled telescopically, in order to be set at different heights with respect to the support plane. This gives a further degree of freedom to the means for engaging with respect to the support plane that assist further the correct arrangement of the motorcycle.

[0013] Advantageously, the means for blocking the means for engaging at a predetermined position provide:

• means for blocking the cross member at a measured angular position with respect to the uprights,
• means for blocking the rod in a predetermined displaced position with respect to the cross member.

[0014] In other words the means for engaging have three degrees of freedom, according to height, rotation, and translation, with respect to the support plane. This allows to adapt easily the apparatus to a variety of types of motorcycles and gives therefore a high flexibility to the apparatus same. In particular, whichever position of the hole of the short tube of the motorcycle, it is always possible to put the pin in the hole by means of suitable combination of translational and rotational motion of the means for engaging.

[0015] The means for blocking the cross member in a measured angular position can, for example, provide:

• at least one disc integral to the cross member having a plurality of holes corresponding to different angular positions of the means for engaging,
• a pin adapted to enter in one of the holes of the disc and in a hole of the uprights for stopping the cross member in a measured angular position.

[0016] Advantageously, furthermore, auxiliary constraint means are provided connected to the support plane and adapted to block the motorcycle at a second point, for example at a fork near the motor.

[0017] In particular, the auxiliary constraint means can comprise:

• at least one bracket hinged to the support plane,
• an arm arranged telescopically in the bracket so that it is movable horizontally towards/away from the motorcycle, the arm being provided at the free end of a couple of U-shaped supports adapted to support the frame of the motorcycle at the second point, in particular, the fork of the rear wheel,
• lock means for fixing the bracket in a measured angular position with respect to the support plane.

[0018] The auxiliary constraint means can be, advantageously, used if the motorcycle is not equipped with a suitable stand or if it has the fork not easily accessible by the auxiliary means for engaging.

Brief description of the drawings

[0019] The invention will now shown with the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• Figure 1 shows an elevational side view of a first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for motorcycle lifting, according to the invention,
• Figures from 2 to 5 show an elevational side view of four possible configurations in which it is possible to arrange the apparatus of figure 1 in a working operation,
• Figure 6 shows in detail a top plan view of the support structure mounted on the apparatus of figure 1,
• Figures 7 and 8 show in two perspective views, respectively rear view and front view, the apparatus of figure 1,
• Figure 9 shows in an elevational side view an exemplary embodiment of the motorcycle lift apparatus alternative to that of figure 1,
• Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 9 illustrating its main parts,
• Figure 11 shows in an elevational side view the apparatus of figure 9 in operative conditions,
• Figures 12 and 13 show respectively a perspective view and an elevational side view of some details of the support structure of the apparatus of figure 1 and of figure 9.

Description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

[0020] With reference to figure 1, a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 1 for lifting a motorcycle 20, according to the invention, provides a support plane 5 on which the motorcycle 20 is arranged for revision. The support plane 5 has a central portion 4 and two ends 3a and 3b hinged to said central portion, said ends bearing the wheels 21 and 22 of the motorcycle 20 (figure 2). The support plane 5 is then associated to a device 2 that brings about its lifting/lowering from ground, for example by a hydraulic cylinder not shown in the figure. The apparatus 1 is, furthermore, provided with a support structure 10 integral to the support plane 5, having a pin 15 for engaging with a point 25 of the frame of the motorcycle 20 arranged near the handlebar. In this way the motorcycle 20 is held by the apparatus 1 at the handlebar 2 and at another point, for example the central part of the frame, which rests on a removable support 36 (figure 5), for example a special jack, or on the stand 26 of the motorcycle same.

[0021] The support structure 10 comprises a first upright 11a and a second upright 11b connected to the support plane 5 at opposite sides. Between the uprights 11a and 11b a cross member 16 adapted to rotate with respect to them about an axis of rotation 40 (figures 7 and 8). Furthermore, the cross member 16 can slide longitudinally by arranging the uprights 11 in two portions 11' and 11", which are coupled telescopically in order to be set at different heights with respect to the support plane 5 (figure 12) . The pin 15 is then connected to the cross member 16 by a rod 12 adapted to translate orthogonally to the cross member 16 same. The pin 15 that is provided at the end of the rod 12 is put into a special hole made on the short tube of the steering means of motorcycle. Therefore, the motorcycle 20 rests on the stand 26, or on another support 36, arranged on the central part 4 of the support plane 5 and has the pin 15 engaged with the short tube of the motorcycle handlebar 28. When the support plane 5 is raised, the end sides 3a and 3b, bearing for example wheels 7, move to a rotated position. In this configuration the wheels 21 and 22 are disengaged from the apparatus 1 and the weight of the motorcycle 20 is transferred completely on the pin 15 and on the support, so that the wheels 21 and 22 can be easily reached by an operator for changing the tyres (figure 4).

[0022] To allow an easy introduction in the short tube of the motorcycle handlebar, the pin 15 has three degrees of freedom, one rotational and two translational, with respect to the support plane 5, allowing then adapting the apparatus 1 to a desired type of motorcycle 20. Once pin 15 has been put in the hole of the short tube of the motorcycle handlebar the degrees of freedom are locked in the respective positions. This is easy because the motorcycle still rests on the wheels. The adjustment of the position of the pin is obtained, for example, through a first and a second disc 14a and 14b, which are arranged at the two ends of the cross member 16 and have a plurality of holes 34 that take different angular positions. When the pin 15 is in a predetermined angular position a locking pin 35 is inserted in the corresponding hole 34 of the disc 14, for preventing the cross member 16 from further rotations (figure 12). Similarly, the translational degree of freedom of the pin 15 is blocked, for example acting on a knob 13, by a terminal fastening element 33 that acts on the rod 12 (figure 13). Even the second translational degree of freedom can be blocked by a pin 43, which crosses the fixed portion of the upright 11 and the telescopically movable portion with the relative hub 41 integral to the cross member 16, blocking them in the relative position corresponding to the desired height of the cross member 16 from the support plane 5.

[0023] In figures from 9 to 11 an exemplary embodiment is shown of the invention of the apparatus 1 for lifting motorcycles as above described. In particular, this exemplary embodiment provides auxiliary constraint means 50 comprising a couple of arms 55a and 55b arranged horizontally in a telescopic way in respective brackets 56. These are connected to the support plane 5 at opposite sides and can rotate with respect to it. More in detail, the arms 55 at the free end have two U-shaped supports 61 and 62, that can relatively move towards/away from each other in order to hold between them a portion of the frame of the motorcycle 20, for example an arm of the fork of the rear wheel. The angular position of each bracket 56 is adjusted by means of respective rods 57 hinged at 58 to the support plane 5. Each arm 55 is therefore adapted to rotate and to translate, by sliding in the respective bracket 56, with respect to the motorcycle 20 on the support plane 5. In this way there is a certain freedom of movement through which it is possible to position the arms 55a and 55b with respect to the motorcycle 20. Once achieved the correct position the arms 55a and 55b are locked acting on knobs 53 and 54 (figure 10), causing the U-shaped supports to rotate up to bringing them up to a vertical position where they engage with the rear fork. Raising the support plane 5 the wheels remain suspended and all the load rear of the motorcycle 20 rests on the U-shaped supports and then is transmitted by the means of constraint auxiliary to the support plane 5.

[0024] The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for motorcycle (20) lifting comprising:

- lifting means (2) movable between a lowered position and a raised position,

- a support plane (5) for a motorcycle (20) fixed to said lifting means (2), said support plane (5) having a central portion (4) and two ends (3a,3b),
a support structure (10) integral to said support plane (5) and provided with means for engaging with said motorcycle (20) at least at one point (25) of the frame; characterised in that

- said two ends are hinged to said central portion (4), said two ends bearing the wheels of said motorcycle (20) when said lifting means (2) are in said lowered position, and said two ends adapted to rotate towards below releasing the wheels free when said lifting means (2) are in a raised position
and in that said point of said frame at which said motorcycle (20) is engaged is a point of the frame near motorcycle handlebar (28).

2. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said means for engaging provide a pin (15) adapted to enter in a special hole normally present in the short tube of the motorcycle handlebar (28) of said motorcycle (20), said motorcycle (20) being then held by said support plane (5) at another point of the frame.

3. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said support structure (10) provides:

- a first and a second upright (11a,11b) connected to said support plane (5) at opposite sides,

- a cross member (16) arranged between said first and said second upright (11a,11b), said cross member (16) being adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation (40),

- a rod (12) operatively connected orthogonally to said cross member (16) and adapted to translate in a direction orthogonal to said cross member (16), said rod (12) being equipped, at the free end, with said means for engaging (15),

- means for blocking said means for engaging at a predetermined position.

4. Apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said cross member (16) can slide vertically through uprights (11a,11b) that are made in two portions (11',1") coupled telescopically in order to be set at different heights with respect to said support plane (5).

5. Apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said means for blocking said means for engaging provide:

- means for blocking said cross member (16) at a measured angular position with respect to said uprights (11a,11b),

- means for blocking said rod (12) at a predetermined displaced position with respect to said cross member (16).

6. Apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said means for blocking said cross member in a measured angular position provide:

- at least one disc integral to said cross member having a plurality of holes corresponding to different angular positions of said means for engaging

- a pin adapted to enter in one of said holes of said disc and in a hole of said uprights for stopping said cross member in a measured angular position.

7. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein, furthermore, auxiliary constraint means are provided connected to said support plane (5) and adapted to block said motorcycle (20) at its second point.

8. Apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said auxiliary constraint means comprise:

- at least one bracket hinged to said support plane (5),

- an arm arranged telescopically in said bracket so that it is movable horizontally towards/away from said motorcycle(20), said arm being provided at the free end of a couple of U-shaped supports adapted to support said frame of said motorcycle (20) at said second point, in particular belonging to the fork of the rear wheel,

- lock means for fixing said bracket in a measured angular position with respect to said support plane (5).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung (1) zum Heben eines Motorrads (20) mit:

- Hebemitteln (2), die zwischen einer abgesenkten Position und einer angehobenen Position bewegbar sind,

- einer Tragfläche (5) für ein Motorrad (20), die an den Hebemitteln (2) befestigt ist, wobei die Tragfläche (5) einen zentralen Abschnitt (4) und zwei Enden (3a,3b) besitzt,

- einer Tragstruktur (10), die mit der Tragfläche (5) integral ist und mit Mitteln zum Eingreifen mit dem Motorrad (20) an zumindest einem Punkt (25) des Rahmens versehen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

- die zwei Enden gelenkig an dem zentralen Abschnitt (4) angelenkt sind, wobei die zwei Enden die Räder des Motorrads (20) abstützen, wenn die Hebemittel (2) sich in der abgesenkten Position befinden, und wobei die zwei Enden eingerichtet sind, nach unten zu drehen und die Räder freizugeben, wenn die Hebemittel (2) sich in einer angehobenen Position befinden,
und dass der Punkt des Rahmens, an welchem das Motorrad (20) in Eingriff ist bzw. gelangt, ein Punkt des Rahmens nahe einer Motorradlenkstange (28) ist.

2. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Mittel zum Eingreifen einen Stift (15) vorsehen, der eingerichtet ist, um in ein spezielles Loch einzutreten, das in dem kurzen Rohr der Motorradlenkstange (28) des Motorrads (20) normalerweise vorhanden ist, wobei das Motorrad (20) dann durch die Tragfläche 5 an einem anderen Punkt des Rahmens gehalten ist bzw. wird.

3. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Trgstruktur (10) vorsieht:

- eine erste und eine zweite Strebe (11a,11b), die mit der Tragfläche (5) an gegenüberliegenden Seiten verbunden sind,

- ein Querelement (16), das zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Strebe (11a,11b) angeordnet ist, wobei das Querelement (16) eingerichtet ist, um eine Drehachse (40) zu drehen,

- eine Stange (12), die funktionsmäßig orthogonal mit dem Querelement (16) verbunden und eingerichtet ist, eine Translation in einer Richtung orthogonal zu dem Querelement (16) auszuführen, wobei die Stange (12) an dem freien Ende mit den Mitteln zum Eingreifen (15) versehen ist,

- Mittel zum Blockieren der Mittel zum Eingreifen an einer vorbestimmten Position.

4. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei das Querelement (16) vertikal durch Streben (11a,11b) gleiten kann, welche in zwei Abschnitten (11',1") ausgeführt sind, die teleskopartig gekoppelt sind, um an unterschiedlichen Höhen bezüglich der Tragfläche (5) eingestellt zu werden.

5. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die Mittel zum Blockieren der Mittel zum Eingreifen vorsehen:

- Mittel zum Blockieren des Querelements (16) an einer gemessenen Winkelposition bezüglich den Streben (11a,11b),

- Mittel zum Blockieren der Stange (12) an einer vorbestimmten versetzten Position bezüglich dem Querelement (16).

6. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei die Mittel zum Blockieren des Querelements in einer gemessenen winkelposition vorsehen:

- mindestens eine Scheibe, die integral mit dem Querelement ist und mehrere Löcher entsprechend unterschiedlichen Winkelpositionen der Mittel zum Eingreifen aufweist,

- einen Stift bzw. Bolzen, der eingerichtet ist, um in eines der Löcher der Scheibe und in ein Loch der Streben einzutreten, um das Querelement in einer gemessenen winkelposition zu stoppen.

7. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei ferner Hilfs-Begrenzungsmittel vorgesehen sind, die mit der Tragfläche (5) verbunden und eingerichtet sind, das Motorrad (20) an seinem zweiten Punkt zu blockieren.

8. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei die Hilfs-Begrenzungsmittel aufweisen:

- mindestens eine an der Tragfläche (5) gelenkig angebrachte Befestigungseinrichtung,

- einen teleskopierbar so in der Befestigungseinrichtung angeordneten Arm, dass er horizontal zu/weg von dem Motorrad (20) bewegbar ist, wobei der Arm an dem freien Ende eines Paars U-förmiger Halterungen vorgesehen ist, die eingerichtet sind, den Rahmen des Motorrads (20) an dem zweiten Punkt zu halten, welcher insbesondere zu der Gabel des Hinterrads gehört;

- Verriegelungsmittal zum Befestigen der Befestigungseinrichtung in einer gemessenen winkelposition bezüglich der Tragfläche (5).

Revendications

1. Dispositif (1) destiné à soulever un motocycle (20) comprenant :

- un moyen de levage (2) déplaçable entre une position abaissée et une position relevée ;

- une plaque de support (5) pour un motocycle (20) fixée audit moyen de levage (2), ladite plaque de support (5) présentant une partie centrale (4) et deux extrémités (3a, 3b) ;

- une structure de maintien (10) faisant corps avec ladite plaque de support (5) et comportant un moyen d'engagement avec ledit motocycle (20) en au moins un point (25) du châssis,
caractérisé en ce que :

lesdites deux extrémités sont articulées sur ladite partie centrale (4), lesdites deux extrémités supportant les roues dudit motocycle (20) lorsque ledit moyen de levage (2) est dans ladite position abaissée, et lesdites deux extrémités étant adaptées pour pivoter vers le bas en laissant les roues libres lorsque ledit moyen de levage (2) est en position relevée,

et en ce que :
ledit point dudit châssis par lequel ledit motocycle (20) est engagé est un point du châssis proche du guidon (28) du motocycle.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit moyen d'engagement consiste en un ergot (15) adapté pour s'introduire dans un trou particulier normalement présent sur le tube court du guidon (28) dudit motocycle (20), ledit motocycle (20) étant ensuite maintenu par ladite plaque de support (5) en un autre point du châssis.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite structure de maintien (10) est équipée :

- d'un premier et d'un second montants (11a, 11b) fixés à ladite plaque de support (5) sur les côtés opposés ;

- d'une traverse (16) disposée entre ledit premier et ledit second montants (11a, 11b), ladite traverse (16) étant adaptée pour pivoter autour d'un axe de rotation (40);

- d'une tige manoeuvrable (12) reliée perpendiculairement à ladite traverse (16), ladite tige (12) étant munie, à son extrémité libre, dudit moyen d'engagement (15), et

- d'un moyen de blocage dudit moyen d'engagement dans une position prédéterminée.

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel ladite traverse (16) peut coulisser verticalement par le jeu des montants (13a, 13b) qui sont faits de deux parties (11', 11") montées de façon télescopique de façon à pouvoir être placée à différentes hauteurs par rapport à ladite plaque de support (5).

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel ledit moyen de blocage dudit moyen d'engagement est muni :

- d'un moyen de blocage de ladite traverse (16) à une position angulaire déterminée par rapport auxdits montants (11a, 11b), et

- d'un moyen de blocage de ladite tige (12) à une position prédéterminée déportée par rapport à ladite traverse (16).

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit moyen de blocage de ladite traverse (16) à une position angulaire déterminée est muni :

- d'au moins un disque faisant corps avec ladite traverse et comportant une pluralité de trous correspondant à différentes positions angulaires dudit moyen d'engagement, et

- d'un ergot adapté pour pénétrer dans l'un desdits trous dudit disque et dans un trou desdits montants pour arrêter ladite traverse dans une position angulaire déterminée.

7. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, en outre, est disposé un moyen auxiliaire de contention fixé à ladite plaque de soutien (5) et adapté pour bloquer ledit motocycle (20) au niveau d'un second point de celui-ci.

8. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit moyen auxiliaire de contention comprend :

- au moins une pièce de support articulée sur ladite plaque de support (5) ;

- un bras disposé sur ladite pièce de support de façon à pouvoir être déplacé horizontalement en se rapprochant ou en s'écartant dudit motocycle (20), ledit bras étant muni à son extrémité libre d'une paire de supports en forme de U adaptés pour maintenir ledit châssis dudit motocycle (20) au niveau dudit second point, en particulier au niveau de la fourche de la roue arrière, et

- un moyen de verrouillage pour fixer ladite pièce de support dans une position angulaire déterminée par rapport à ladite plaque de support (5).

Drawing