US2993512A - Automatic dashboard jack - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1961 ss 2,993,512

AUTOMATIC DASHBOARD JACK Filed Sept. 10. 1959 /O T FLU/D 3 SELEOCTOR RETURN 5W/TCH /6 24 Z2 Z4 Z0 1 l I TO JACK 3 ACTUA T/NG I CYL INDERS /Nl/E N TOR.

fZfzif United States Patent 2,993,512 AUTOMATIC DASHBOARD JACK Louis L. Bar-fuss, Paris, Idaho Filed Sept. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 839,107 2 Claims. (43 137-624) This invention relates to automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to an accessory therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic jack system for automotive vehicles which will provide for the lifting of any corner of the vehicle above the ground level, for the purpose of servicing tires carried thereby, completely from within the vehicle and without manual labor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automotive dashboard jack system of the above type which can be permanently attached to the vehicle, effectively prevents accidental falling of the vehicle from an elevated position, and which can be completely operated in a simple and efiicient manner by a selector panel located within the vehicle.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic dashboard jack system for vehicles bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a hydraulic tank forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the tank shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a control panel and indicator assembly forming another part of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a lift assembly forming another part of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an automatic dashboard jack system made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a selector valve 10 in the form of a substantially cylindrical tank 12 having an end wall 14 at one longitudinal extremity with a plurality of outlets 16, half of which are connected to the inlets 15 at one end of each of a plurality of lift assemblies 19, and the other half of which are connected to the inlets 17 at the opposite end of the lift assemblies. The opposite end wall 18 of the tank 12 is also provided with a plurality of ports 20, half of which are connected to the return lines 38 at the first end of the lifts 19, and the other half of which are connected to the return lines 50 at the opposite end of the lifts.

A longitudinal shaft 22 is rotatably supported upon the first end wall 14 of the tank 12 and further supports a pair of substantially circular discs 24 at opposite ends which are in facing engagement with the end walls 14, 18. Each disc 24 is provided with a substantially U-shaped cut out 26 which is selectively movable into confronting engagement with any selected one of the supply ports 16 and return ports 20, as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed. The outermost end of the shaft 22 has a knob 28 secured thereto, which includes a radially outwardly extending pointer 30 for selective rotation with respect to markers 32 of a selector panel 34. Thus, by rotating the knob 28, the access ports 26 of the valve plates 24 may be selectively rotated into communication with any one of the inlet or outlet ports of the selector valve.

As is more clearly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawing, each lift unit 19 includes a cylinder 36 closed at one end and defining an aperture 43 at the opposite end that slidably receives the plunger 42 of a piston 40 therethrough. The outer free end of the plunger 42 is secured to a pad 44 which is engageable with the ground in response to actuation of such lift. Radially inwardly extending stops 46 in the upper end of the cylinder 36 limit the upward movement of the piston 40, whereas similar stops 48 in the lower end of the cylinder limit the downward movement of the piston 40.

In actual use, a single lift 19 is secured to each wheel housing of a vehicle with the pad 44 normally in a raised position. However, in response to the setting of the knob 28 with respect to the panel 34, fluid placed under pressure in any suitable means, may be supplied to the upper inlet 15 of any selected one of the lift units to force the pad 44 downwardly into engagement with the ground to lift that particular corner of the vehicle. Then, simply by rotating the knob 28 to the down position for that particular wheel, fluid under pressure is forced into the lower inlet 17 of the cylinder to force the piston 40 upwardly thus allowing the fluid within the upward portion of the cylinder to pass outwardly through the return line 38. Of course, when the piston 40 is initially moved to the downward position, any fluid contained within the lower portion of the cylinder is forced back to the selector valve through the outlet line 50.

It will now be recognized that complete control over the raising and lowering of each corner of the vehicle is had from a single location within the vehicle.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A selector valve for an automatic dashboard jack system comprising, in combination, a substantially cylindrical tank having end walls on each opposite longitudinal extremity, each said end wall having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ports for connection to individual pressure fluid ducts, and valve means comprising a pair of plates, a shaft securing said plates in spaced apart parallel relationship within said selector valve, and each of said plates having an aperture selectively rotatable into communication with selected ones of said ports at each end of said selector valve.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising manually rotatable selector means secured to said shaft for effecting selected rotation of said shaft and apertured plates with respect to said ports of said master cylinder for controlling the actuation of any one of said pressure responsive lifts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,167 Chappell et al May 19, 1925 1,682,781 Gardner Sept. 4, 1928 2,077,606 Wills et al Apr. 20, 1937 2,444,272 Sragal June 29, 1948 2,675,830 Vuillemin Apr. 20, 1954 2,722,947 Sragal Nov. 8, 1955 2,852,040 Deardorfi Sept. 16, 1958

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