Patent Application
20170174485
The present disclosure relates to an adaptor for use with a lifting jack. The adaptor has particular use in supporting an automotive transmission or similar heavy machinery on the lifting jack.
Professionals in the automotive repair field as well as do-it-yourself technicians and mechanics must frequently remove components of a vehicle power train to either repair or overhaul the component or obtain access to other components of the power train in need of repair or overhaul. One commonly removed component of the vehicle drive train is the transmission which delivers power from the engine's crankshaft to the driveline. There are many parts on the inside of a transmission that endure high cyclic rotation and heavy loads that eventually wear out. Depending on the nature and extent of the wear the transmission may be either overhauled or replaced. In either case it is typically necessary to disconnect the transmission from the engine and driveline and remove it from the vehicle.
Due to the heavy weight of a transmission, some of which weigh over 200 pounds, the assistance of a hydraulic or mechanical lifting jack is usually necessary. To prevent the transmission from falling off the jack the technician or mechanic must properly secure it onto the lifting jack. As shown in
The assembly 10 depicted in
around components has become more limited making it difficult to reach areas to apply tools or to weave a strap/chain around a transmission. In today's fast-paced work environment the technician/mechanic is under economic and customer pressure to complete the overhaul/replacement job as quickly as possible. Under this pressure it is not uncommon for a technician to short-cut fully securing the transmission to the lifting jack while physically supporting the transmission as it is lowered out of the vehicle. In a best case scenario two technicians help stabilize the loosely-secured transmission on the lifting jack as it is lowered. Without the strap in place this creates a safety hazard as the transmission may slide off the jack and fall to the ground damaging the transmission itself or injuring the technician.
Moreover, the designs of many transmission casings have changed from a flat, easy to stabilize bottom profile, to an often more complex shape that adapts to new technology and accommodates packaging or weight savings constraints. These design modifications has made the removal of a transmission using current adapters a less stable proposition even with the proper use.
Consequently, there is a need for an improved adaptor for a lifting jack that is easier to use, safer, and better suited for the needs of the technician or mechanic,
An adaptor is provided for a jack assembly having a lifting jack carrying a horizontal plate for raising and lowering a heavy component supported by the jack assembly. The adaptor includes a horizontal support plate defining a support surface for supporting the heavy component, with the support plate fastened to and vertically offset from the horizontal plate of the jack assembly by a height. The adaptor further includes a plurality of elongated arms slidably mounted between the horizontal plate of the jack assembly and the support plate to move in a generally horizontal plane between the horizontal plate and the adaptor plate at selectable angles and horizontal extensions beyond said perimeter of said support surface. Each of the plurality of elongated arms includes a holding assembly configured to engage portions of the component supported on the support plate to stabilize the component as it is raised and lowered by the jack assembly.
In one aspect, each of the plurality of elongated arms is mounted between the horizontal plate of the jack assembly and said support plate by a single bolt that extends through an elongated slot in the arms, as well as through the support plate and the horizontal plate of the jack assembly to fasten the plates together at the height. Each of the plurality of arms is positioned at different vertical heights relative to the horizontal support plate and each of the arms is slidably mounted to move in a different corresponding horizontal plane between the horizontal plate and the adaptor plate.
In a further aspect, the adaptor includes a selection of spacers of different heights that are used in different combinations to support each of the elongated arms at their respective different heights. The spacers include a first spacer of height h1, a second spacer of height h2 and a third spacer of height h3, wherein h1=h2+h3. Two of the arms use just the first spacer but positioned on opposite sides of the respective arm to support the two arms at different heights. Two other arms use the second and third spacers, with the second spacer on top and the third spacer beneath one of the arms, and the third spacer on top and the second spacer beneath the other of the two arms, to thereby support the two arms at different heights relative to each other and to the other two elongated arms.
Each arm assembly includes a holding assembly that includes a holding rod projecting upward therefrom at adjustable heights. Each holding rod is provided with a holding element at its upper end that is configured to engage and/or clamp a surface of the heavy component, such as a transmission. The four holding elements or clamps can be used to pull down on the transmission against the lifting jack creating far greater stability by constraining side-to-side or front-to-back movement of the transmission.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present disclosure encompasses any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains.
According to the present disclosure, the universal adaptor 20 depicted in
The adaptor 20 includes a plurality of support arm assemblies 25 that are mounted between the top plate 15 of the lifting jack and the support plate 22, as best seen in
Each arm assembly 25 includes an elongated arm 26 that defines a slot 27 extending along the majority of the length of the arm, as best seen in
The mounting bolts 30 can be in the form of carriage bolts with a square head portion 31 adapted to be received in complementary square mounting holes 24 to prevent rotation of the mounting bolts 30 as the wing nuts 36 are tightened. The mounting bolts can interface with the slot 27 in the elongated arms 26 by way of a bushing 34 that is configured for a close running fit within the slot. The slots 27 in the arms 26 allow the arms to translate relative to the bushings 34, and more particularly relative to the mounting bolts 30 that are at a fixed location in the top plate 15 and support plate 22. As shown in
In order to accommodate a wide range of angular orientations of the arm assemblies 25, the universal adaptor 20 of the present disclosure includes an arrangement of spacers 32a, 32b, 32c between the two plates 15, 22 and the elongated arms 26. The three spacers are provided with different heights h1, h2 and h3, corresponding to the spacers 32a, 32b and 32c, respectively. The height h1 is equal to the heights h2, h3 combined so that the single spacer 32a and the combination of the smaller spacers 32b, 32c maintain the two plates at a uniform spacing D. This spacing D is equal to the height h1 plus the thickness of the elongated arms 26, as shown in
The spacers 32a, 32b, 32c support the weight of the support plate 22 and any component mounted thereon. In order for the arms 26 to remain free to rotate and translate even when the support plate is loaded with the transmission or other heavy component, the bushings 34 may be slightly thicker than the thickness of the arms 26. The bushings thus participate in bearing the weight along with the spacers 32 that contact the bushings. The thicker bushing thus insulates the arms 26 from the vertical load, thereby allowing the arms to move freely at any time.
In accordance with one feature of the present disclosure, the support arm assemblies are supported between the two plates in a manner that prevents the elongated arms 26 from striking each other. It can be appreciated that when the arms are fully retracted, as shown in
The slot 27 can have a width designed to allow for an additional swivel pad adaptor to be inserted anywhere along the length of the slot. This adaptor may be used if a particular clamping location is not available on the transmission. The adaptor may be threaded to allow a mounting bolt to pass through a bolt opening in the transmission body for bolting to the swivel pad adaptor.
The support arm assemblies 25 each support a corresponding holding assembly 40, as best illustrated in
The mount 41 is generally L-shaped with the base 41a forming the base of the L in contact with the arm 26, and an upstanding collar 41b projecting upward from the base. The upstanding collar 41b defines a through bore 46 configured to receive a holding rod 50 in sliding contact. The rod 50 and bore 46 are complementary configured and may be circular to allow the rod to rotate fully within the bore. Alternatively, the rod and bore may be non-circular to prevent the rod from rotating or to permit specific fixed angular positions of the rod within the bore. The rod 50 is free to slide vertically through the bore 46 and can be held in a particular vertical location by a locking assembly 53. The locking assembly 53 may be in the form of a T-bolt set screw that passes through a set screw bore 52 that intersects the through bore 46 and is configured to bear against the holding rod 50 therein. The locking assembly 53 may be of different configurations that are capable of applying sufficient pressure to the rod 50 to hold it in position relative to the mount 41. Thus, the locking assembly may include a knob 54 for rotating the set screw in a threaded engagement with the set screw bore 52. In a further alternative, the locking assembly may be in the form of a push-pull pin that can engage one of a series of holes spaced along the length of the rod 50.
As shown in
The holding assembly 40 further includes a holding element 55 at the upper end 51 of the holding rod 50. The holding element projects transversely from the holding rod and is configured to engage the casing of the transmission or other heavy component. As shown in
The holding elements 55 may be fixed to the end 51 of the holding rod 50 at a predetermined angle of inclination. Alternatively, the holding elements may be fixable at or toggle between angles of inclination, or may be spring-biased to allow different inclinations upon contacting the transmission casing.
The universal adaptor 20 is shown in use in
The universal adaptor 20 is configured to support the weight of heavy components, such as an automotive transmission without bending, buckling or fracturing. Thus, the support plate 22 is formed of a strong metal in a thickness that can meet the strength needs identified above. The plate may thus be a ¼-½ inch thick steel plate. The plate may be configured to coincide with the horizontal plate 15 of the jack 12, such as in a square or rectangular configuration. However, the support plate 22 may have other configurations as desired to support a particular component, with the only limitation being that the bolt openings 24 defined in the plate 22 must coincide with the bolt openings in the jack plate 15.
The elongated arms 26 may also be formed of a strong metal, although the arms are not load-bearing in the same manner as the support plate 22. The arms may thus be formed of steel or aluminum or other suitable material. The spacers 32a, 32b, 32c and the bushings 34 carry the weight of the component being supported by the jack so they need to be formed of a material that can withstand high compressive loads. In addition, since the elongated arms may slide against these components the bushings 34 are preferably formed of a material that presents a low friction sliding surface for the arms. The spacers and bushings may be formed of a metal, such as steel, or may be formed of a high strength plastic or resin material. The holding rods 50 and holding elements 55 optimally do not bear any significant load, but they must be strong enough to withstand some lateral load as the heavy transmission shifts on the support plate 22. The rods and holding elements can thus be formed of a strong metal, such as steel.
While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that only the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes, modifications and further applications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.
