Jack for Truck Tractor

This invention pertains to floor jacks and more particularly to a floor jack adapted to lift relatively heavy automotive equipment such as truck tractors or semi-trailers. Customarily this type of equipment is lifted by hydraulic jack equipment, but use of conventional equipment has become increasingly difficult because of the structure of the equipment to be lifted.

The point of application of the jacking pad atop the ram of the jack to the equipment to be raised is a particular problem. On occasion this point of application may be the axle near a wheel to be worked on. However with tandem axles, the particular axle to be used may be effectively hidden.

Applying this jack to a portion of the leaf spring is virtually impossible because that spring is usually lying at a slope to the floor and therefore the jack has a tendency to slip, or the horizontal component of force on the sloping spring may cause the trailer to roll away, thus creating havoc.

The best point on which to jack is usually a frame member of the tractor or trailer. However, this framework is usually directly above the leaf springs and is difficult for a vertical jack to reach.

By the present invention, the jack is modified so as to be able to be used either with an extension to reach the frame member adjacent the spring or, where available, to be placed directly under a vertical point of application.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the jack of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the jack shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of that jack,

FIG. 4 is a detailed partial view similar to a part of FIG. 1 in which the jack is mobile,

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of one type of tip for the top of the jack ram,

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view of the upper part of the jack column,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view from line 7--7 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a detailed elevational view of a supporting device on the jack column, and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the portion of the column shown in FIG. 8.

Briefly this invention comprises a floor jack for heavy automotive devices such as truck tractors and semi trailers. The new jack includes provisions for safety equipment and for attachment which make the jack more convenient and safer to use than previous equipment.

More particularly, and referring to the drawings, the jack is mounted on a base 10. The base includes a pair of wheels 11 journalled on axles 12 on the base so that the entire jack can be wheeled across the floor to the desired place. A third wheel 13 is provided journalled on a lever 14 and attached to parts of the base by a hinge 15. A projection 16 from the moving part of the jack column is adapted to engage the end 17 of the lever 14 when the jack is at its lowest position. Thus, when the jack is lowered, the lever 14 is forced downward and the wheel 13 is extended to roll on the floor. When the jack is raised--as when it is in use--then the wheel is pushed upward by the floor so that the frame sets on the floor to provide frictional force to hold the base in place.

A handle 20 is fixed to the base and is used to move the base and the jack. That handle may also included bars 21 to hold a pressurizing tank 22 used to provide hydraulic or pneumatic fluid to raise the jack. The fluid is transmitted by means of a hose 23 to the lower end of the jack column principal cylinder 24.

The principal operating part of the jack is enclosed in the jack column. Included are a ram 27 in the form of a piston operated by fluid pressure--which may be hydraulic or pneumatic--with a principal cylinder 24. Part of the ram 27 may include a shield 28 concentric with the ram but spread apart outside the ram 27 to cover the ram and embrace the cylinder 24 in the space between the ram 27 and its cover 28.

Added support for the jack column is provide by an exterior frame composed of two channel shaped parts 30 (FIG. 7). These parts are securely fastened to the base 10 and embrace the cover 28. A plate 31 fixed to the posts 30 holds these posts in place relative to each other.

The safety mechanism to prevent unwanted collapse of the raised jack is formed in connection with the posts 31 and the covers 28. Bosses 35 are formed on or carried by the cover 28 and rise and fall with that cover as the jack column is raised or lowered. A rigid brace 36, which has as its counterpart, the plate 31 also engaged between the posts 30. However, this brace 26 is formed with a bridge 37 which will allow the bosses 35 to slide past under the bridge 37.

A latching device composed of two angle-shaped legs 38 joined by a cross member 39 is pivotally connected at an end of each angle leg 38 by a screw 40 or other type of pivot so that the cross member 39 may be moved from a down position (FIGS. 1 and 6) to an up position (FIGS. 4 and 8). In its down position, the cross member 39 lies adjacent to the edges of the posts 30, and is therefore in a position to be engaged by any one of the bosses 35. Because the bosses 35 are sloped or rounded at the upper edge, the raising of those bosses by the jack will simply slide the cross member out of the way and the jack can be extended. However the bosses have a flat edge on the lower side, and therefore if the jack is collapsing or being lowered, the boss will catch on the cross member 39 and thus will be physically prevented from going any further down, thus preventing an accidental full collapse of the jack.

The angle legs 38 may carry a pad 41 composed of soft iron or similar magnetic material near or at the apex of the angle in the legs 38. Magnets 43 are attached to the posts 30 in position to be engaged by the pad 41 to hold the latch normally in its up position when the jack is being lowered. When the jack is being raised, the latch is manually dropped so that the cross member 39 is in position to stop and hold the boss 35 adjacent to it so that the jack will not collapse.

At the top of the jack pillar, the shield 28 is of simple cylindrical form. Various types of caps may be used to provide support for the vehicle being jacked. As an example, a simpler cap is shown in FIG. 5. A cap 50 of a shape to smoothly slide over the top of the shield 28 also carries a bracket 51 having side plates 52. The bracket may be formed to embrace a portion of the vehicle such as a frame member or an axle to provide a jacking area whereby the vehicle may be lifted.

Variation of the simple cap 50 may be used. If the surface to be engaged on the vehicle is higher than the ground or from the floor, an extension may be used. Such an extension is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. The exterior piece 55 also includes a cap 56 adapted to fit over the top of the shield 28. Preferably a post 57 extends radially from the shield 28 near its top, and is in position to fit into a dimple 58.

This type of matching fit prevents rotation of the extension 55. Such prevention may not be important when the jack is used as a straight lifting device, however with many heavy truck-tractors or trailers, there is difficulty finding a good jacking point for the straight lift therefore, a cantilevered lateral support may be desirable. Such a cantilevered support is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 which also shows the extended post 55.

The cantilevered support member 60 includes a collar 61 similar to the cup 56. This collar also includes an edge having a dimple 62 fitting over a peg 63 on the extension 55. An arm 65 extends laterally for the collar 61 and is additionally supported by brace members 66. A plate 67 extending above the arm 65 inhibits any sliding of the arm 65 from under the jacking point.

This type of lateral extension makes possible the reaching of the jack to a jacking point on the frame above a leaf spring or the like so that a more firm point can be reached. In some units, such an extension can be very useful because of crowded conditions at the wheel area where jacking may be necessary.

It will be apparent that this invention provides a safe and useful heavy duty jack with safety devices that are convenient to operate.