US3030889A - High lift ratio hydraulic jack - Google Patents

Description

J. w, PARKER 3,030,889

HIGH LIFT RATIO HYDRAULIC JACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 24, 1962 Filed Sept; 28, 1960 1 2 o I IB/ I f 15 ATTORNEYS April 1962 J. w. PARKER 3,030,889

HIGH LIFT RATIO HYDRAULIC JACK Filed Sept. 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES W. PARKER ATTORNEY April 24, 1962 J. w. PARKER 3,030,889

HIGH LIFT RATIO HYDRAULIC JACK Filed Sept. 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 2e 21 &% a INVENTOR.

. JAMES w. PARKER W ATTORNEYS April 24, 1962 J. PARKER 3,030,889

HIGH LIFT RATIO HYDRAULIC JACK Filed Sept. 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JAMES W. PARKER w o. W

ATTORNEYS States,

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3,030,889 HIGH LIFT RATIO HYDRAULIC JACK James W. Parker, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Sept. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 59,123 2 Claims. (Cl. 103-11) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to jacks and elevating supports such as hydraulic or fluid operated jacks, and more particularly to multiple telescopic leg hydraulic jacks, and has for an object hydraulic means for independently and/ or selectively adjusting the lengths of the multiple telescopic legs of the jack for determining the elevation and location of the upper jack supporting member.

A further object is the provision of tripod type jack which is applicable and useful in raising crash-landed repairable aircraft, but may be used in other applications where high lift and stability are desired.

A further object is the provision of a high lift tripod type of jack which is capable of withstanding lateral loads without tilting or upsetting.

A further object is the provision of a tripod type high lift laterally adjustable hydraulic jack which is simple in construction, relatively light in weight, and portable, so that it can be towed behind a vehicle, and can also be successfully and firmly mounted on sloping surfaces.

A still further object is the provision of a tripod jack having independently hydraulically extensible multisectional telescopic legs and individual pumps and fluid supply means for selectively forcing a hydraulic liquid into each of said legs to extend the same.

A further object is a tripod type jack having the provision of common pump actuating means for simultaneously or individually operating the fluid pump means whereby all of the telescopic legs can be extended simultaneously or any one or more of the legs can be extended or retracted independently of the remaining legs to adjust the supporting portion of the apex of the tripod jack in any direction relative to the base of the jack structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved hydraulic jack, illustrating the same in its fully elevated position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic View showing an application of the invention relating to a disabled aircraft, full lines showing the jack retracted and in position under the wing for a lifting operation thereof and dotted lines showing the jack extended to provide the lifting function;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged somewhat diagrammatic view, showing the jack fully raised in full lines, partly lowered in dotted lines and fully lowered in dot and dash lines, only one leg of the tripod being shown in full lines and the other two legs positions being shown in phantom,

and the power operating system being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the improved pump or power unit and handle combination;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view of one of the ball joint connections at the lower end of one of the extensible tripod legs, and the associated foot pad and traction wheels, parts being broken away and shown in section; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the hydraulic system employed for the individual and simultaneous hydraulic control of the tripod legs.

In the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, the invention comprises a lower horizontal base or channel frame 1 of triangular configuration. Mounted on the top of the plate 1, at each corner, as seen in FIG. 5, is a ball socket 2 in which the lower ends of the telescopic tripod legs 3, 4 and 5 are swivelly stepped, retainer cups 6 being provided and secured by bolts or screws 7 to the triangular channel frame 1.

Located below the ball end 8' of each of the legs 3, 4 and 5 is a spherically depressed casting or support 9 in the depression of which is a swivelly disposed foot pad 10 having a flat (or corrugated) lower supporting surface 11. Located adjacent the lower ends of the legs 3, 4 and 5 and suitably journalled on the channel frame 1 are the traction wheels 12, 13 and 14, preferably carrying pneumatic tires 15. As shown, the wheels 15 are disposed parallel to each other and perpendicular to a vertical plane extending through the lower ball heads 8 on the lower ends of the legs 4 and 5. The front wheel 12, adjacent the tripod leg 3 may be mounted for swivelling action for steering the device when towed by a towing bar 16 which is pivoted on the cars 17' projecting from the front end of the triangular frame 1.

At the rear portion of the frame 1, between the legs 4 and 5, is located a horizontal supporting portion on which the hydraulic power supply and pump control means 18 is mounted.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the telescopic legs 3, 4 and 5 comprises a lower larger diameter cylinder 19 carrying the ball 8 swivelled at its lower end in the sockets 2 and 6, a smaller intermediate sleeve piston 20, telescopically disposed in the cylinder 19, and a still smaller diameter upper sleeve piston 21 telescopically disposed in the sleeve piston 20. The upper ends of the sleeves 21 are closed and are pivoted at 22 to an upper load sustaining platform or plate 23 having a central or apex load supporting boss 24.

The upper plate 23 has a centrally disposed downwardly extending guide rod or sleeve 25 fixed thereto having an enlarged foot 26 at its lower end which may be arranged to seat and rest on the central portion 27 of the base frame 1 when the jack device is fully lowered.

Slidably mounted on the guide rod 25 is a sleeve member 28 which is pivotally connected at its lower end at 29, by link members 30, to the upper ends of the intermediate sleeves 20, at 31.

When fully and partly extended the link members 30 constitute intermediate brace means between the extensible legs of the tripod, as well as stabilizing means for maintaining the upper load sustaining plate in fully stabilized relation to the legs, both in the upright and tilted positions of the tripod structure.

Pressure fluid is admitted at 32 (FIG. 3), at the lower ends of the lower or larger leg cylinders 19 for extending the leg members as seen in this figure of the drawings to raise the jack to the full line position, and allowed to escape therefrom to lower the jack to its lower, dot and dash position.

Reference being made to FIGS. 1 and 4 and the schemat1c view in FIG. 6, the hydraulic power control means 18 is illustrated and comprises a hydraulic liquid reservoir or drum 33 which is connected by piping 34 to the individual pumps 35, 36 and 37 for the legs cylinders.

Referring most particularly to FIG. 6 fluid from reservoir 33 is supplied to both ends of the pump cylinders through the check valves 38 and delivered from both ends of the pump cylinders through check valves 39 and piping 40 and 41, and connected delivery line 42, to the lower ends of the cylinders 19 through fluid restrictors 43.

A fluid return line 44 to the reservoir 33 is connected to each of the delivery pipes 42 by a conduit 45 and has a control or shut-off valve 46 therein. Also, a pressure gage 47 is connected to each of the conduits 42 to indicate pressure in the cylinders 19, which can be calibrated to indlcate lifting stresses. Also, pressure responsive relief valves 48 are connected in piping 49 between the conduits 41 and 44, opening toward the conduit 44, and similar pressure relief valves 50 are disposed in conduits 51 which are connected between the conduits 40 and the return conduit 44, opening toward the conduit 44.

Referring to FIG. 4, the pump unit comprises the support or base 52 on which the pump cylinders 36, 35 and 37 are mounted in fixed parallel fashon and the piston actuator or pump 'rods 53 are pivotally connected at 54 to the pump levers 55 intermediate their ends, link members 56 pivotally connecting the ends of the pump levers 55 to the support or base 52.

I The pump levers 55 extend forwardly in parallel relat1on to each other and are of equal diameter. An actuatlng handle member 57 is provided which comprises three parallel sleeve members 58, 59 and 60 of equal size adapted to be selectively telescoped over any one or more of the pump levers 55 for actuation thereof. These pump actuator sleeve members are rigidly fixed on a cross bar or plate 61 having an actuating handle member 62 pro jecting from the opposite side of the plate 61, as shown in FIG. 4.

As will be observed, the handle device can be inserted to dispose one of the sleeve members 59, for instance the center sleeve member on any one of the pump levers 55 for individual selectvie pumping actuation thereof, also any two of the sleeve members, for instance the center and one of the outside sleeves may be inserted on any two adjacent pump levers for simultaneous pumping of any two adjacent pumps for extending any two of the legs of the jack simultaneously, and also all three of the sleeve members 58, 59 and 60 can be telescoped over all three of the pump levers 55 and all three pumps actuated s multaneously to extend all three of the legs of the jack simultaneously. Since the cross sectional area of the upper telescopic portions 21 are smaller than the intermediate portions 20 or the lower cylinders 19, the upper portions will be extended last in the raising of the jack and will be retracted first in the lowering operation.

If desired the links 30 and the rod and sleeve member 28 may be omitted and the legs connected to the plate 23 In closer relation to the apex of the tripod without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

In the operation of the jack, assuming it is desired to extend all of the legs simultaneously and uniformally, the actuating handle member 62 is disposed to telescope all three sleeve handles on all three of the pump handles 55. Up and down movement of the actuating handle member pumps, hydraulic fluid from the reservoir 33 through the conduits 42 and check valves 38 and 39 and into the jack cylinders 19 as seen in FIG. 6, extending the legs to elevate the jack, the relief valves 46 preventing an overload pressure in the jack cylinders 19.

When it is desired t Wer the jack the individual shutoff valves 46 are opened to allow the fiuid in the cylinders 19 to return back to the reservoir, the return being somewhat retarded by the restriction 43 preventing rapid collapse of the jack members 3, 4 and 5.

As seen in FIG. 2, a disabled aircraft is shown schematically at 63 with its wing 64 inclining downwardly and the wing tip in contact with the ground. The jack device may be towed into position on its traction wheels 12, 13 and 14, which may be inflated just sufficiently to support the foot pads 10 above the ground. By proper manipulation of the handle member 62 relative to the pump handles 55, as previously explained, the jack legs may be adjusted to incline the jack to the right, as shown, normal to the span of the wing. As pressure is selectively applied to the legs and the load of the aircraft is applied to the apex of the jack the tires may flatten allowing the foot pads to contact the ground and fully support the jack in position. As the pump members are actuated and the legs selectively extended to the dotted line position in FIG. 2, the apex supporting portion of the jack can be shifted laterally as it is raised to keep the apex contact portion in engagement with the same portion of the wing as this portion moves over to the left, rather than permitting the lifting contact point to slide across the wing, spacewise, and possibly doing damage to the wing surface.

Of course, if the jack is placed on a slanting or inclined surface, such as a hill side, proper initial selective manipulation of the multiple handle member on the pump handles can straighten up the jack so that the center of lift 11 is directly over the center of the inclined base plate structure 4, after which all of the pumps can be manipulated simultaneously to raise the apex portion vertically.

Suitable packing rings of conventional design are, of course, provided between the upper ends of the main cylinder 19, the sleeve 20, and the upper sleeve or plunger 20; also stop means of conventional design are provided for limiting the extension of the sections 19, 20 and 21 of the tripod legs.

It should be evident that the precise details set forth above are for exemplary rather than for restrictive purposes, and therefore certain changes and modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple and selective hydraulic pumping device comprising a support, a plurality of pump cylinders mounted on said support in closely equally spaced parallel relation in a common plane, a pump actuating rod for each cylinder extending outwardly from said cylinders in equally spaced parallel relation to each other in said common plane, a plurality of identical pump actuating levers of equal lengths pivotally connected at one end to said support, one for each rod, pivotally connected intermediate their ends to said rods, said levers extending across said ends of said cylinders in equally spaced parallel planes normal to the aforesaid common plane, said levers having identical handle engaging extremities at their free ends disposed in the aforesaid equally spaced parallel planes, a separate actuating handle member for selectively and collectively actuating said pump actuating levers, comprising a main handle portion and a plurality of identical pump actuating lever engaging portions fixed on said main handle portion in equally spaced parallel relation to each other, in a common plane, at a distance equal to the distance between the said identical handle receiving extremities, for actuating engagement therewith, whereby any of said identical handle engaging extremities can be disposed in actuating engagement with any of said handle engaging extremities to operate said pump actuating levers individually or collectively.

2. A multiple and selective hydraulic pumping device comprising a horizontal support, a plurality of pump cylinders mounted on said support in close equally spaced parallel vertical relation in a common vertical plane,

conduit means for supplying a hydraulic fluid to said pump cylinders, delivery conduit means from each of said cylinders for selectively discharging the hydraulic fluid from each of said pump cyilnders, a pump actuating rod for each pump cylinder extending upwardly from said cylinders in equally spaced parallel relation in the said common plane, a plurality of identical pump actuating levers of equal length pivotally connected at one end to said support, one for each rod, pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the upper ends of said rods, said levers extending across the upper ends of said cylinders and terminating at their free ends in identical cylindrical handle engaging extremities disposed in equally spaced parallel planes normal to the aforesaid common plane, a separate actuating handle member for selectively and collectively actuating any one or more of said pump actuating levers comprising, a main handle portion, and a plurality of identical cylindrical handle engaging extremit'y sleeves fixed to said main handle pontion in a common plane, in parallel relation to each other, having their axes spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the last mentioned equally spaced parallel planes, for telescopically receiving any one or more of said identical cylindrical handle engaging extremities therein, whereby said handle is disposed to telescopically engage and actuate any one or more of said pump actuating levers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,509 McLeod Nov. 25, 1884 337,402 Hines Mar. 9, 1886 2,091,876 Oldham Aug. 31, 1937 2,337,831 McGovern Dec. 28, 1943 2,341,542 Grime Feb. 15, 1944 2,407,796 Page Sept. 17, 1946 2,499,563 Bill Mar. 7, 1950 2,605,999 Schultz Aug. 5, 1952 2,809,494 Matson et al Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 401,386 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1933 539,944

Great Britain Sept. 30, 1941

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