TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to jacksand the lifting of vehicle axles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jacks are used to elevate vehicles in order to transfer the weight of the vehicle from the wheels to the jack and thereby allow access to the wheels and other parts of the vehicle. Traditional jacks are cumbersome and time consuming to use, because of the need for manual installation and operation. Another detriment to the traditional jack is the limited application of certain types which are only capable of functioning on specific models of vehicle.

The inventor is aware of previous attempts to address the above mentioned limitations, particularly the jack described in ZAP2002/3661 which provided for a free standing jack which can lift the axle of the vehicle by means of moving the vehicle onto the jack. The jack described in the prior patent consists of a lifting head to lift an axle connected to a post in turn connected to a base. In order to facilitate the raising and lowering of the axle a pivot was provided between the base and the post. This arrangement, however, posed additional design and implementation issues.

A problem associated with prior attempts is availability - as the jack is often not at hand when required - and space limitations for storage must also be taken into consideration when the jack is not in use. Another factor is the level of human involvement in setting up this previous attempt. These factors all impact on the size and weight of the jack and thereby limit the application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a jack for lifting an axle of a vehicle, which jack includes:

a post for supporting a load;

a foot attached to one end of the post to, in use, provide a point of contact between the post and a surface;

attachment means for attaching the post to a vehicle; and

a pivotable joint between the attachment means and the end of the post opposite to the foot such that the post and foot assembly can be pivoted from an inoperative position with the foot not in contact with the surface, to an operative, ideally vertical, position with the foot in contact with the surface, by moving the vehicle relative to the base and as a result lift the axle.

The invention may be configured such that, in use, the foot is anchored against the surface to allow the vehicle to move relative to the foot. The foot may include a base plate attached generally perpendicular to the end of the post in order to distribute the load supported by the post. Additional bracing may be provided between the post and the base plate in order to strengthen the mechanical structure of the foot. A sole may be attached to the foot and may be inserted between the base plate and the surface in order to prevent the foot from slipping on the surface during use.

The post may be length adjustable with an inner and outer pipe configuration.

I one embodiment, the attachment means may include a first set of plates configured to be placed on either side of, and clamped to, the axle. The attachment means may include a second set of plates spaced parallel to each other such that the post can fit between the two plates. The second set of plates may be fixed to the clamping plates in an alternate plane, typically perpendicular.

The second set of plates may contain coinciding apertures corresponding to a hole or holes through the post whereby the post can be fixed in position by inserting a pin through the apertures in the second set of plates and the post. Typically a first set of holes is provided to fix the post in the inoperative position and a second set of holes is provided to fix the post into the operative position.

It will be appreciated that the attachment means may take on other configurations depending on the type of axle of the vehicle.

The pivotable joint may take the form of a pivot inserted through the attachment means and the post such that the foot attached to post is allowed to move radially in a plane about the pivot.

The invention may include secondary attachment means which may take the form of a lug or ring fixed to the foot for attaching a chain, strap, cable, belt or rope, collectively called a rope. The chain or rope may be used to arrest the movement of the foot during use. The chain or rope may be secured underneath a tyre of the vehicle in order to perform the arresting function.

The inventor believes that the invention provides a jack which is available when needed and requires minimal manual input. In addition, the jack easily folded out of the way when not in use.

To unhook the trailer from the tractor a trailer is normally placed on landing gear. Known landing gear requires a manually operated mechanism. The jack, in accordance with the invention, can also be used to function as landing gear which is a further advantage of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described by means of a non limiting example with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of the invention in the operative position;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the invention in the inoperative position;

Figure 3 shows a front view of the invention in the operative position; and Figure 4 shows a front view of the invention in the inoperative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to figures 1 to 4, the jack, in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The jack 10 for lifting the axle 12 of a vehicle (not shown) includes a post 14 with a rectangular cross section and is of a length longer than the distance between the axle 12 and a surface 16 from which the axle is to be lifted.

The post 14 is attached to the axle 12 by attachment means consisting of a first and second set of plates 20 and 22. The first set of plates 20 is spaced on either side of the axle 12 connected and compressed toward each other with a nut and bolt tensioner arrangement 24. The second set of plates 22 are welded essentially perpendicular to the first set of plates 20 and spaced such that the post 14 can fit between the two plates 22.

The jack 10 includes a pivot 34, inserted between and extending into the second set of plates 22 and through the post 14 such that the post 14 is allowed to move radially in a plane about the pivot 34.

The second set of plates 22 is provided with a first pair of apertures 28 coinciding with a bore (not shown) through the post 14. By aligning the apertures 28 and the bore (not shown), a pin 32 can be inserted to fix the post 14 into place in an inoperative raised position as shown in figures 2 and 4.

The second set of plates 22 is additionally provided with a second pair of apertures 30 coinciding with the bore (not shown) through the post 14. By aligning the apertures 30 and the bore (not shown) a pin 32 can be inserted to fix the post 14 into place in an operative lowered position as shown in figures 1 and 3.

The jack 10 includes a foot 40 wherein a base plate 18 is welded to the end of the post 14 such that the base plate 18 is flush with the surface 6 when the jack 10 is lifting the axle of a vehicle in the operative position. The base plate 18 distributes the load supported by the post 14 over the surface 16 and provides a balance point for the vehicle (not shown) when in the operative position.

The base plate additionally provides an anchor point (not shown) when transitioning from the inoperative to the operative position of the jack 10. It is to be appreciated that during the transition the base plate 8 comes into contact with the surface 16 arresting the movement of the base plate 18, allowing the axle 12 to move relative to the base plate 18 and thereby lift the axle 12.

Additional bracing in the form of triangular plates 26 can be fixed between the post 14 and the base plate 18 to increase the mechanical strength of the foot 40. The inclusion of triangular plates 26 allows the size of the base plate 18 to be increased and provides a more distributed transference of energy between the base plate 18 and the post 14. The inclusion of the triangular plates 26 especially provides additional strength when alternating between the operative and inoperative positions where the radial and axial components of the forces applied to the jack 10 are varying.

A ring or u-shaped connecter 34 is attached to one of the triangular support plates 26 in order to provide means to attach a rope (not shown) which can be used to provide additional means of arresting the movement of the base plate during transition from the inoperative to the operative position. The chain or rope (not shown) is secured underneath a tyre (not shown) not connected to the axle 12 in order to prevent the base 18 from moving in conjunction with the axle and forcing the axle 12 to move relative to the base 18.