Introduction
[0001] This invention relates to a jack and more particularly to a jack for vehicles having
powered lifting arms such as tractors, plant machinery and the like.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Large machinery such as tractors, earth moving equipment and the like (hereinafter
referred to collectively as plant machinery) require regular raising off the ground
to provide access to the components of the plant machinery for operations such as
cleaning and general mechanical maintenance e.g. on the brakes of vehicles. In order
to perform the raising operations, relatively sophisticated jacks such as manually
operated hydraulic trolley jacks must be employed which are expensive and cumbersome
to use. This is particularly a problem with tractors where farmers may not have access
to trolley jacks.
[0003] Moreover, the safe use of trolley jacks generally requires two personnel to correctly
position and raise a tractor employing a trolley jack. However, many farmers work
alone and a second person is generally not available with the result that known trolley
jacks are often used by farmers when alone with consequent safety risks.
[0004] US 2 548 695 A describes a jack for lifting a tractor in which the hydraulic lifting arms of the
tractor are employed to lift the tractor on the jack. Similarly,
US 2555 471 A describes a jack made up of a stand for engaging beneath a tractor.
US 2 463 305 A also describes a tractor jack for lifting a tractor with its lifting arms and
GB 2 335 909 A describes a tractor jack having levers for lifting a tractor with its lifting arms
according to the preamble of claim 1.
FR 2 963 598 A also describes a size adjustable jack operable via the lifting arms of a tractor.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] According to the invention there is provided a jack comprising:
a carriage having a front end and rear end for placing beneath a vehicle having a
lifting arm, attachment means for attaching the carriage to the lifting arm wherein
the attachment means is co-operable with the lifting arm to jack up the vehicle on
the carriage as defined in claim 1.
[0006] Preferably, the attachment means comprises at least one upright support on the carriage.
More preferably, the attachment means comprises a pair of spaced apart upright supports
on the carriage. Most preferably, the pair of spaced apart upright supports is mounted
on the front end of the carriage.
[0007] Advantageously, the carriage further comprises a support bearing between the front
end and the rear end for supporting a vehicle. Preferably, the support bearing comprises
a transverse shaft on the carriage. More preferably, the position of the shaft on
the carriage is adjustable.
[0008] The carriage comprises a platform for holding a raised vehicle in a raised position.
The platform comprises a pair of spaced apart legs. The legs are height adjustable.
[0009] Optionally, the legs are hydraulically powered.
[0010] Advantageously, the legs are pivotably mounted on the carriage.
[0011] Preferably, the jack further comprises an attachment arm releasably mountable between
the jack and a vehicle. More preferably, the attachment arm comprises a pair of attachment
arms mountable between the jack and the vehicle. Most preferably, the pair of attachment
arms is mountable between the platform and the vehicle.
[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the jack comprises a shoulder for attaching
the jack to a second vehicle. Preferably, the shoulder is mounted on the upright.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the jack comprises a tractor jack.
[0014] The invention therefore provides a jack having a carriage for placing beneath a vehicle
having a lifting arm and attachment means for attaching the carriage to the lifting
arm wherein the attachment means is co-operable with the lifting arm to jack up the
vehicle.
[0015] The advantages of the invention are many. The jack is simple to use and exploits
the hydraulic system and lifting arms of the tractor to raise and lower the tractor
in a self-lifting manner with the aid of the jack. No external hydraulics or trolley
jacks are required. Tractors can be supported on the jack with the tractor lifting
arms or with attachment arms so that the lifting arms can be released and the tractor
maintained in the raised position if desired. In addition, the jack can be easily
and accurately positioned beneath tractors as required.
[0016] The jack of the invention can also be safely used by an individual if desired.
[0017] Moreover, the tractor can be moved with the jack of the invention in place with the
rear wheels removed.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and one side of a jack of the invention
with the optional tractor attachment arms mounted on the legs of the jack for illustrative
purposes with the direction of approach of a reversing tractor to the jack indicated
by the arrow;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the jack of Figure 1 with the tractor supported by
the jack via the hydraulically powered tractor lifting arms and the rear wheels of
the tractor being raised off the ground so that the tractor is supported on the jack
wheelset with the legs of the jack in the raised non-operating position on the jack;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the jack and tractor of Figure 2 with the legs of
the jack in the lowered operating position and the tractor lifting arms raised further
to hold the tractor in the raised position;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the jack and tractor of Figure 2 with the components
of the jack obscured by the tractor indicated by broken lines;
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view from above and one side of the tractor mounted
on the jack with the legs of the jack being deployed into the operating position of
Figure 3 to support the tractor in the raised position, and
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention in which the
jack is adapted for use with two tractors.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0019] As shown in the drawings, a jack in accordance with the invention for use in lifting
tractors and other plant machinery having powered hydraulic arms is generally indicated
by the reference numeral 1. As indicated above, the jack 1 can be adapted for use
with a range of plant machinery and in particular plant machinery having hydraulically
or pneumatically powered lifting arms. However, for the purposes of the following
description, the jack will be described in relation to a tractor 2 having hydraulically
powered arms for which it has particular utility. However, as will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art, the jack 1 may be used with a range of plant machinery
as required.
[0020] The jack 1 is made up of a substantially rectangular frame-like carriage 3 having
a front end 4 and a rear end 5 which, as shall be explained more fully below, is disposed
towards a reversing tractor 2 in use. The carriage 3 is formed by a first side beam
6, a second side beam 7 spaced apart from the first side beam 6, a front transverse
bar 8 at the front end 4 of the carriage 3 connecting the first and second side beams
6,7 and a rear transverse bar 9 at the rear end 5 of the carriage 3 connecting the
first and second side beams 6,7.
[0021] The carriage 3 is provided with a wheelset 10 at the rear end 5 to enable the tractor
to be moved when mounted on the jack 1. The wheelset 10 is made up of an axle 11 having
a wheel 12 mounted at each end thereof. The axle 11 is mounted in axle mountings 13,14
which project rearwardly from the rear bar 9.
[0022] At its front end 4, the carriage 3 is provided with attachment means in the form
of a first upright support 15 for receiving a first tractor lifting arm 35 and a second
upright support 16 for receiving a second tractor lifting arm 36 which extend vertically
upwards from the first side beam 6 and second side beam 7 respectively adjacent the
transverse front bar 8. As indicated by the reference numeral 17, the first and second
upright supports 15,16 are U-shaped in cross-section to define a channel 18 for receiving
the lifting arms 35,36 of the three-point linkage 37 of a tractor 2.
[0023] The upright supports 15,16 can receive lifting arm pins 19 in openings 20. The lifting
arm pins 19 are engageable with tractor lifting arms 35,36 to raise tractor 2 into
the raised position.
[0024] The carriage 3 is further provided with a platform 21 located at its front end for
holding a raised tractor 2 in the raised position. The platform 21 is attached to
the front bar 8 and is made up of a first height adjustable upright leg 22 and a second
height adjustable upright leg 23 located adjacent the upright supports 15,16 respectively.
The first and second legs 22,23 are slidably mounted in respective sleeves 24,25 which
are pivotably mounted on the front bar 8. The first and second legs 22,23 are provided
with respective first and second feet 26,27 at their lower ends for resting on the
ground in use and with leg height adjusting holes 28 along their length to adjust
the position of the legs 22,23 within the sleeves 24,25 by inserting pins (not shown)
through holes in the sleeves 24,25 into the height adjusting holes 28 of the legs
22,23.
[0025] The carriage 3 is further provided with a centrally located cross-beam 29 for reinforcing
the carriage 3. A support bearing in the form of a cylindrical tractor positioning
and support shaft 30 is mounted over the cross-beam 29 between first and second shaft
mounting blocks 31,32 located on the first and second side beams 6,7 respectively.
The mounting blocks 31,32 are each provided with a series of three notches 33 for
receiving and altering the position of the shaft 30 on the carriage 3 while the shaft
30 is fitted with end plates 34 at each end for holding the shaft in place in the
notches 33.
[0026] In use, a tractor 2 is positioned over the jack 1, e.g. reversed towards and over
the jack 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. Before reversing the
tractor 2, the shaft 30 is positioned in the appropriate notches 33 of the mounting
blocks 31,31 in accordance with the make/size of the tractor 2.
[0027] The first and second lifting arms 35,36 of the three-point linkage 37 of the tractor
2 are inserted into the channels 18 of the U-shaped uprights 17 of the upright supports
15,16 at the front end of the jack 1. Once positioned correctly in the upright supports
15,16, the lifting arm pins 19 are inserted through the openings 20 of the upright
supports 15,16 to securely connect the tractor arms 35,36 to the jack 1.
[0028] Using the hydraulic system of the tractor 2, the lifting arms 35,36 are then raised
upwards to lift the front end 4 of the jack 1 causing the shaft 30 to be urged against
the undercarriage of the tractor 2 as shown in Figure 4. Continued lifting by the
lifting arms 35,36 causes the jack 1 to lift the tractor 2 from the ground at the
shaft 30 so that the rear wheels 38 of the tractor 2 are raised from the ground as
shown in Figures 2 and 4. The tractor 2 is therefore tilted or pivoted towards the
rear end 5 of the jack 1 so that the wheelset 10 of the jack 1 bears the weight of
the tractor 2 in substitution for the tractor rear wheels 38. The rear wheels 38 can
therefore be removed and maintenance or cleaning operations can therefore be performed
on the tractor 2 as required. In this position (as shown in Figures 2 and 4), the
tractor 2 can also be moved or travel on the wheelset 10 and the front wheels (not
shown) of the tractor 2 if desired. In this position, the legs 22,23 are in the raised
inoperative position.
[0029] If desired, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the legs 22,23 can then be released in their
respective sleeves 24,25 and slide to the ground. Pins can then be inserted through
the sleeves 24,25 and the height adjusting holes 28 so that upon slight lowering of
the lifting arms 35,36, the tractor 2 is supported in the raised position on the legs
22,23 of the jack 1. As the legs 22,23 are pivotably mounted in the sleeves 24,25,
the legs 22,23 automatically orient in the correct position on the ground while the
feet 26,27 assist in compensating for uneven surfaces.
[0030] Moreover, in this position, if access is required to the tractor brakes and the like
for maintenance purposes and it is desired or necessary to re-position the lifting
arms 35,36, two adjustable attachment arms 39,40 can be mounted between the first
and second legs 22,23 with mounting bolts and an attachment arm mounting 41 attachable
to the tractor 2. Once the attachment arms 39,40 are secured in position, the lifting
arms 35,36 can be detached from the upright supports 15,16 so that the tractor 2 is
supported in the raised position by the attachment arms 39,40 with the lifting arms
35,36 in the released position.
[0031] In order to remove the jack 1 and lower the tractor 2 to the ground, the above operations
are reversed.
[0032] Figure 6 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention in which the
jack is adapted for use with two tractors 2. As shown in the drawing, the jack 1 of
the present embodiment is broadly similar to the jack 1 of Figures 1 to 5.
[0033] Accordingly, like numerals indicate like parts. However, in the present embodiment,
the jack is provided with forwardly extending shoulder members 42 for attachment to
a second tractor 2. The shoulder members 42 project from the upright supports 15,16
so that upon connection of the shoulder members 42 to a second tractor 2, the jack
1 can be employed to raise the second tractor 2 employing the hydraulics of the first
tractor 2.
[0034] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the legs 22,23 can be hydraulically
operated e.g. via a connection to the hydraulic system of the tractor 2 or a standalone
hydraulic system.
1. A jack (1) comprising:
a carriage (3) having a front end (4) and rear end (5) for placing beneath a vehicle
(2) having a lifting arm (35,36) and attachment means (15,16) for attaching the carriage
(3) to the lifting arm (35,36) wherein the attachment means (15,16) is co-operable
with the lifting arm (25,36) to jack up the vehicle (2) on the carriage (3) and
a wheelset (10) on the rear end (5) of the carriage (3) configured to bear the weight
of the vehicle (2),
the carriage (3) being pivotably moveable on the wheelset (10) between a first position
in which the attachment means (15,16) is attachable to the lifting arm (35,36) and
a second raised position in which the carriage (3) can support the vehicle (2) on
the wheelset (10) characterised in that the carriage (3) comprises a platform (21) for holding a raised vehicle (2) in a
raised position and the platform (21) comprises a pair of spaced apart height adjustable
legs (22,23) wherein the height adjustable legs (22,23) support the vehicle (2) in
the raised position.
2. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment means (15,16) comprises at
least one upright support (15,16) on the carriage (3).
3. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the carriage (3) further comprises a
support bearing (30) between the front end (4) and the rear end (5) for supporting
a vehicle (2).
4. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support bearing (30) comprises a transverse
shaft (30) on the carriage (3).
5. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the legs (22,23) are pivotably mounted on
the carriage (3).
6. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 5 wherein the jack (1) further comprises an attachment
arm (39,40) releasably mountable between the jack (1) and a vehicle (2).
7. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 6 wherein the attachment arm (39,40) comprises a pair
of attachment arms (39,40) mountable between the jack (1) and the vehicle (2).
8. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pair of attachment arms (39,40) is mountable
between the platform (21) and the vehicle (2).
9. A jack (1) as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 wherein the jack (1) comprises a shoulder
(42) for attaching the jack (1) to a second vehicle (2).
10. A jack (1) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the shoulder (42) is mounted on the upright
(15,16).
1. Aufbockvorrichtung (1), die Folgendes umfasst:
einen Schlitten (3) mit einem vorderen Ende (4) und einem hinteren Ende (5) zum Platzieren
unter einem Fahrzeug (2) mit einem Hebearm (35, 36) und einem Befestigungsmittel (15,
16) zum Befestigen des Schlittens (3) an dem Hebearm (35, 36), wobei das Befestigungsmittel
(15, 16) mit dem Hebearm (25, 36) zusammenwirken kann, um das Fahrzeug (2) auf dem
Schlitten (3) aufzubocken, und
eine Rollensatz (10) an dem hinteren Ende (5) des Schlittens (3), der dazu konfiguriert
ist, das Gewicht des Fahrzeugs (2) zu tragen,
wobei der Schlitten (3) auf dem Rollensatz (10) zwischen einer ersten Stellung, in
der das Befestigungsmittel (15, 16) an dem Hebearm (35, 36) befestigt werden kann,
und einer zweiten angehobenen Stellung, in der der Schlitten (3) das Fahrzeug (2)
auf dem Rollensatz (10) stützen kann, schwenkbar beweglich ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schlitten (3) eine Plattform (21) zum Halten eines angehobenen Fahrzeugs (2)
in einer angehobenen Stellung umfasst und die Plattform (21) ein Paar voneinander
beabstandete höhenverstellbare Beine (22, 23) umfasst, wobei die höhenverstellbaren
Beine (22, 23) das Fahrzeug (2) in der angehobenen Stellung stützen.
2. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Befestigungsmittel (15, 16) mindestens
einen aufrechten Pfosten (15, 16) auf dem Schlitten (3) umfasst.
3. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der Schlitten (3) ferner ein
Stützlager (30) zwischen dem vorderen Ende (4) und dem hinteren Ende (5) zum Stützen
eines Fahrzeugs (2) umfasst.
4. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei das Stützlager (30) einen querlaufenden
Schaft (30) auf dem Schlitten (3) umfasst.
5. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Beine (22, 23) schwenkbar an dem
Schlitten (3) angebracht sind.
6. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Aufbockvorrichtung (1) ferner einen
Befestigungsarm (39, 40) umfasst, der lösbar zwischen der Aufbockvorrichtung (1) und
einem Fahrzeug (2) angebracht werden kann.
7. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Befestigungsarm (39, 40) ein Paar
Befestigungsarme (39, 40) umfasst, die zwischen der Aufbockvorrichtung (1) und dem
Fahrzeug (2) angebracht werden können.
8. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 7, wobei das Paar Befestigungsarme (39, 40) zwischen
der Plattform (21) und dem Fahrzeug (2) angebracht werden kann.
9. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 8, wobei der Aufbockvorrichtung
(1) einen Absatz (42) zum Befestigen der Aufbockvorrichtung (1) an einem zweiten Fahrzeug
(2) umfasst.
10. Aufbockvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Absatz (42) an dem Pfosten (15,
16) angebracht ist.
1. Cric (1) comportant:
un chariot (3) ayant une extrémité avant (4) et une extrémité arrière (5) servant
à être mis en place sous un véhicule (2) ayant un bras de levage (35, 36) et un moyen
de fixation (15, 16) servant à fixer le chariot (3) au bras de levage (35, 36), dans
lequel le moyen de fixation (15, 16) est en mesure de coopérer avec le bras de levage
(25, 36) pour soulever le véhicule (2) sur le chariot (3) et
un essieu monté (10) sur l'extrémité arrière (5) du chariot (3) configuré pour porter
le poids du véhicule (2),
le chariot (3) étant mobile de manière pivotante sur l'essieu monté (10) entre une
première position dans laquelle le moyen de fixation (15, 16) est en mesure d'être
fixé sur le bras de levage (35, 36) et une deuxième position soulevée dans laquelle
le chariot (3) peut supporter le véhicule (2) sur l'essieu monté (10), caractérisé en ce que le chariot (3) comporte une plateforme (21) servant à supporter un véhicule soulevé
(2) dans une position soulevée et la plateforme (21) comporte une paire de pieds espacés
réglables en hauteur (22, 23), dans lequel les pieds réglables en hauteur (22, 23)
supportent le véhicule (2) dans la position soulevée.
2. Cric (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen de fixation (15, 16) comporte
au moins un support formant montant (15, 16) sur le chariot (3).
3. Cric (1) selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel le chariot (3)
comporte par ailleurs un palier de support (30) entre l'extrémité avant (4) et l'extrémité
arrière (5) servant à supporter un véhicule (2).
4. Cric (1) selon la revendication 3, dans lequel le palier de support (30) comporte
un arbre transversal (30) sur le chariot (3).
5. Cric (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les pieds (22, 23) sont montés de manière
pivotante sur le chariot (3).
6. Cric (1) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le cric (1) comporte par ailleurs un
bras de fixation (39, 40) en mesure d'être monté de manière libérable entre le cric
(1) et un véhicule (2).
7. Cric (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le bras de fixation (39, 40) comporte
une paire de bras de fixation (39, 40) en mesure d'être montée entre le cric (1) et
le véhicule (2).
8. Cric (1) selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la paire de bras de fixation (39, 40)
est en mesure d'être montée entre la plateforme (21) et le véhicule (2).
9. Cric (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 8, dans lequel le cric (1)
comporte un épaulement (42) servant à fixer le cric (1) à un deuxième véhicule (2).
10. Cric (1) selon la revendication 9, dans lequel l'épaulement (42) est monté sur le
montant (15, 16).