Prior Art: Heretofore, many devices have been proposed for tilting vehicles for such purposes, such devices being exempliiied by U. S. patents : 2,583,714; 5,238,361; 5,174,711; 4,579,505; 4,813, 843 ; 1,288,138; and 4,744,717 These prior devices may be useful, to a degree, for the purpose of tilting or rotating a heavy item, however, they are typically large, complex, costly in parts and manufacture, difficult to operate, ) ften dangerous, invariably require the use of more space than is available in the relatively limited work areas or bays of typical repair shops, and typically interfere witheasy access to the underside portions of the vehicle to be worked on.

Objects Of The Invention Objects therefore, of the present invention are : to provide a uniquely simplified device for supporting and rotating a heavy item in a confine space; to provide a means which is capable of supporting an automobile or the like in a 90° or more rotated position from the horizontal by way of a structure which weighs only a few pounds and is easily lifted by one hand of a mechanic; to provide such device which occupies substantially only a very small space underneath the front and rear of one side of a vehicle which is supported by the device at substantially 90° to the horizontal thus allowing easy access to all underneath parts of the vehicle without interference from the device itself ; and to provide such device which has a minimum of moving parts and which occupies substantially a volume of space of no more than a few square inches in cross-section and a length of no more than about the height of an automobile.

SllrnmnrvOf'Lhe Invention These and further objects hereinafter becoming apparent have been attained in accordance with the present invention through the discovery of structure for a tilting carnage device for heavy items, which device is defined in one of its broad embodiments in combination with an automotive vehicle as viewed in its generally horizontal posture on a floor means, wherein one said device is mounted on the rear wheel hub and another said device is mounted on the front wheel hub on the same one side of the vehicle, each said device comprising a base means having (1) a roller support section having a relatively short longitudinal dimension of, e. g., from about 1.5 to about 3 feet and lying in a base plane, (2) a wheel hub adapter means having a contact surface contacting the lug face of the vehicle wheel hub and being secured thereto by the lug nuts of said hub, said contact surface and hub or lug face lying in a contact plane, wherein said contact surface has a contact axis which is substantially perpendicular to said plane of said contact surface, (3) first and second end portions on said roller support section provided with first and second roller means having first and second roller axes respectively, said roller means allowing said device to roll along said floor laterally of the vehicle, first on said first roller means and then on said second roller means to carry the vehicle with it as the other side of the vehicle is progressively lifted above the floor by lifting means whereby the vehicle is thus tilted to a desired angle, wherein (4) the vehicle has a center of gravity plane which intersects each said contact axis at said contact plane when the vehicle has been tilted approximately 90° from its horizontal position, and wherein (5) one or more stabilizer means is provided on said device for contacting said floor and maintaining the vehicle in a desired tilted position without the need for any lifting mechanism.

In certain preferred embodiments : (a) said first roller means being positioned substantially in or adjacent said contact plane, and said second roller means being positioned substantially on or adjacent said contact axis, and wherein each said roller means is positioned at least about one foot from said hub; (b) said base means has a longitudinal base axis which intcrscsts fi t and second roller axes and is provided with first stabilizer bar means which extends outwardly from said second end portion and is angled upwardly from said base axis whereby when said vehicle has been tilted to a position substantially 90° from the horizontal and wherein, if said center of gravity plane becomes overcentered with respect to the vertical, said first stabilizer bar means will contact said floor means and substantially maintain said vehicle in said overcentered position on said floors means ; (c) said base means is provided with removable second stabilizer bar means intermediate said first and second roller means which is adapted to contact said floor means when said vehicle is tilted at a desired acute angle to the horizontal within a first 90'quadrant, whereby said acute angle can be safely maintained without the need for extraneous lifting means; (d) said first stabilizer bar means is substantially straight and has a longitudinal bar axis and is provided with a distal end section having a handle means positioned above said bar axis for easy gripping, whereby when said vehicle is tilted to an angle whereby its weight plane is oriented to an overcentered posture with respect to the vertical, a manual lifting of said handle means and said first stabilizer bar means will apply a counterrotative force to said device tending to tilt said device and item back to their non-overcentered posture; and (e) the roller support section of said base means as viewed from its sides is substantially triangular in shape and has a bottom edge portion on which said roller means are mounted, and has an apex portion to which said adapter means is affixed.

Brief Description Of The Drawings The invention will be further understood from the drawings herein of certain preferred embodiments and the following description thereof wherein the drawings are not to scale and the thicknesses and other dimensions of certain structural members are shown as varying from figure to figure for reasons of clarity, and wherein: Fig. I is a front view of an automotive vehicle in it normal horizontal posture shown in dotted outline and with its main frame members shown in cross-section, and with one embodiment of a tilting bar means attached to the frame members and with the present carriage means affixed to a front wheel hub by means of one embodiment of the present adapter means ; Fig. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. I in the direction of the arrows ; Fig. 3 is a side view of the vehicle showing the approximate, most desired placement along the vehicle for the tilting bar means of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a side view of a wheel hub with a variation of the tilting bar means bolted directly onto the wheel hub ; Fig. 7 is a view as in Fig. I with the vehicle tilted approximately 90° to the horizontal but with its center of gravity plane overcentered a few degrees ; Fig. 8 is a side view of a variation in structure of the present carriage device and including a detachable first stabilizer bar means; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows ; Fig. 10 is an isometric bottom view of the adapter means per se of Fig.

8; Fig. I I is a top view of a portion of the carriage means of Fig. 8 with portions of the structure broken away for clarity and showing preferred roller structure; Fig. 12 is a side view as in Fig. 1 of a variation of the carriage device employing a steel plate base and provided with a plurality ofarcuately mounted rollers and particularly useful for tilting especially heavy vehicles ; Fig. 13 is a view of the device of Fig. 12 taken in the general direction of line 13; Fig. 14 is a side view with portions broken away for clarity, of an angularly adjustable first stabilizer bar structure; Fig. 15 is a top view of Fig. 14 with portions broken away for clarity ; Fig. 16 is a side view of the device supporting a vehicle in a near vertical posture and showing a variation of an adjustable second stabilizer bar means ; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 in Fig. 16 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 18 is a top view of a vehicle as in Fig. 3 showing the use of a lifting bar means 114 connecting the distal handles 112 of front and rear wheel mounted carriage devices on one side of the vehicle; Fig. 19 is a schematic view of the carriage device in combination with a preferred lifting means; Fig. 20 is a view as in Fig. 19 with the vehicle tilted close to vertical ; Fig. 21 is a longitudinal cross-sectiomal view of the jack of Fig. 19 ; Fig. 22 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along line 22-22 of Fig.

21 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 23 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23 of Fig.

19 in the direction of the arrows ; Fig. 24 is a top down view, with portions broken away for clarity, of arm 156 provided in two sections which are longitudinally adj ustable ; Fig. 25 is a view as in Fig. 19 showing a single axle roller means ; and Fig. 26 is a view as in Fig. 25 with the vehicle tilted close to vertical.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings Refening to the drawings and with particular reference to the claims hereof, the present carriage device generally designated 20 is shown in combination with an automotive vehicle 22 shown in phantom line and as viewed from its front in its generally horizontal posture on a floor or similar support surface 23. The present device comprises a base means generally designated 24 having a roller support section 25 and an adapter means 56, and having a longitudinal dimension 26 lying in a base plane 28. The adapter means 56 affixes the device to a wheel hub 54 on a side 29 of the vehicle whereby side 29 is supported above the floor. The device and the vehicle are free to move in the general direction of arrow 31 after the opposite side 32 of the vehicle is lifted up off the floor by winch cable 33 or other lifting or hoisting mechanism."lbe base means has first 34 and second 36 end portions and a lateral axis 46 of rotation. First 48 ard second 49 roller means are mounted on at least said first and second end portions respectively of said support section 25, the axis 50 of said first roller means lying substantially in and parallel to the contact plane 40, or feirly close thereto.

The axis 53 of said second roller means lies perpendicular to and intersects or comes fairly close to intersecting the wheel hub attachment axis 39.

In the usual arrangement wherein the adapter means 56 affixes the carriage means to the wheel hub, a pair of carriage mears are employed at the front and rear of one side of the vehicle and the adapter means is plate shaped and is apertured as at 58 to receive the lugs 60 ow the Sont 62 and rear 64 wheel hubs. Apertures 58 are preferably elongated and may be oversized to more easily accommodate different sizes and patterns of lugs.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 7, the roller axes 50,53 and the point 39 which is a center of the adapter plate, the triangle apex c r the connector means axis, outline, as shown by dotted lincs, a generally right triangle comprising legs 101 and 102 and the hypotenuse 103. Such a right or near right triangular configuration, is preferred but is ccri. ainly not critical to the invention, since the most stable support for the vehicle i : z its horizontal posture would be for roller 48 to reside directly vertically under apex 39, and when in its 90° tilted posture for roller 49 to reside directly vertically under apex 39. In this regard the angle"A"can range, e. g., n'om 70° to 110° or even smaller or wider should some specific application f the present device be required.'I'he individual lengths of the legs 101 anc 102 i. e., the diameter between each roller axis and apex 39 also may be varied within wide limits, however, substantially similar lengths arc quitte functional. It is noted that the terms'generally right triangle"as used herein includes the full range of the angles designated as It is preferable to provide the base means with a first stabilizer bar means or structure 66 which extends outwardly from said second end portion 36 and is angled upwardly at an obtuse angle"a"from E longitudinal axis 68 of said roller support section 25 of the base means whereby, when the vehicle has been tilted to a position as shown in Fig. 7 wherein the center of gravity plane 27 is beyond the vertical, the stabilizer bar 66 will contact the floor and substantially maintain the vehicle in the tilted position on the floor without the need for any other lifting means or stabilizing means. Angle"a'' can, of course, be selected to stop rotation of the vehicle at any position of tilt, but typically'ai is betsveen about 120° and 140°.

In this regard, the base means is preferably provided with a removable second stabilizer bar means or structure 70 positioned bye tween said first and second roller means and which is adapted to contact the floor means when the vehicle is tilted at a desired acute angle"j"to the horizontal whereby said acute angle can be safely maintained without the need for extraneous lifting means.

It is noted that the plane 27 of various vehicles as viewed with the vehicle in its generally vertical posture as in Fig. 7 will l) e at different lateral positions across the side of the vehicle with respect to the wheel hub axis 39, such that as the vehicle is tilted toward the vertical, the overcentering of the plane 27 will occur at slightly different angles of tilt. Therefore, the upward angle"a"of the first stabilizer bar structure 66 is preferably made adjustable such that a"rnay be set for a particular vehicle to avoid severe overcentering, e. g., beyond about 10° to 15° or su of the vertical which otherwise could present a dangerous overcentered condition. It is noted, with reference to Fig. 8, that the actual center of gravity plane of an automotive vehicle could well be along axis 39 as shown, i. e., a few degrees before : vertical.

A preferred structure for adjusting"a"is shown in Figs. 14 and 15, wherein the bar 66, as rotated 18ûQ in the plane ofthe drawing Fom as shown in Fig. 8, comprises the lift handle section 45 having a distal handle 112 and a connector section 47 which is pinned as at 51 to a portion of the roller support section 25. Sections 45 and 47 are pivotally connected by pin 57 and section 45 is provided with a series of bolt holes 59 on a radius from pin 57. The angle"ca"is approximated by selecting one of the holes 59 and inserting bolt 61 therethrough and thru the aligned locking hole 63 thru the head of connector section 47.

Refening to Fig. 8, the second stabilizer bar means 70 is pivotally mounted on pin 72 which may be welded to the base means structure and which may be threaded at its outcr end to receive a nut, not shown, for pivotally, removably retaining the bar thereon. The positioning bolts 74 and 76 are threaded thru nuts 78 and 80 respectively welded to the base means and are employed to precisely adjust the angle"y"of the bar to obtain maximum strength of support and stabilization from bar 66 and bar 70 after the device has been rotated to its position as shown in Fig. 8, or to a leaser tilt angle where the hoist mechanism may still be applying some lift forces to the vehicle side.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 17, the second stabilizer bar 70 is mounted on the base means in the same manner as in Fig. 8, but is angularly adjustable by means of a series of bolt holes 82 provided in the bar on a radius from pin 72, which holes fit over a pin 84 also fixed to the base means. Either or both of pins 72 or 84 may be provided with nuts to more securely retain the bar 70 thereon Referring to Figs. 8-10, the adaptor means or plate 56 in a preferred embodiment, is provided with a pair of tabs 86,88 substantially oppositely positioned across the plate diameter. These tabs are inserted in slot means 90,92 respectively provided in the ends of uprights 94,96 of the base means.

Pm 92 100 retain the adapter plate on the base means. In Fig. 8 the end 104 of bar 66 slides into a tubular end 106 of the roller support section 25 and is removably locked therein by a removable bolt means such as 108. This junction allows bar 66 to be removed or replaced as desired. It is noted that by employing such structure and with bar 66 removed, further counterclockwise rotation of the device will engage the end surface 110 with the floor and thus help to stabilize the vehicle at a desired acute angle.

Referring to Fig. 11, the roller means 48,49 preferably comprises roller pairs rotatably supporte on bolt shafts 71., 73 respectively. Outboard support bracket pairs 75,77 welded to the support section 25 provide further support to the rollers. The rollers may be of steel, brass, structural plastic, or other industrial roller material.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the roller support section 25 is shown as comprising a metal plate section 83 having a roller support edge 79 tormed substantially on a radius line 81 from the adapter plate center 39. This arcuate arrangement of multiple roller means, e. g., 48,49,85,87, maintains the generally triangular relationship between the first and second roller means 48 and 49 but provides for a smoother transition for the vehicle from the horizontal to the substantially vertical position, and also reduces the physical stresses on the device.

Referring to Figs 1,3,4 and 5, opposite side 32 of the vehicle can be lined by any means such as a cable or chain or the like 33 powered by an overhead mounted or floor mounted winch, chain fall or the like, or even by manual lifting of small vehicles. certain vehicles, which have frame members such as 35 and 37, a tilting bar means such as generally designated 41 may be employed and positioned at the approximate lateral axis 46 of the vehicle. At this position, only one such bar is needed as the weight of the vehicle is balanced.

Bar 41 may comprise a first member 89 formed tu slide onto frame member 35 and be clamped thereto by bolt 91 threaded thru a bottom section of 89. A second member 93 is provided with a bore 95 thru which member 89 can slide. A bolt 97 threadedly mounted thru member 93 clamps members 89 and 93 to frame member 37. It is noted that with sucll tilting means it is not necessaxy to remove the wheels on side 32 of the vehicle Referring to Fig. 6, the tilting bar means 43 comprises a simple bar 99 welded to an adapter plate such as 56 and is affixed to each each the front and rear wheel hubs.

Referring to Figs. 19 thru 24 wherein, equivalent structure previously described are numbered the same, a jack means generally designated 116 is shown, preferably a screw jack having a stanchion means 117, power head 118 such as an electrical motor or cable crank, a screw spindle or winch cable 120, a stanchion housing 122, a foot member 124 which may be fixed to floor 23 by bolts 126 or the like, wherein the foot member is pivotally mounted on the lower end 128 of housing 122 by pin t 23, and wherein a lifting head means 130 is provided and comprises a nut body 132 thru which the spindle 120 is threadedly rotatably mounted, and a connector or adapter plate means 134 equivalent to adapter means 56 and which is pivotally mounted by pin 136 onto nut body 132. Body 132 is formed with a projection 138 which slides in a slot 140 in housing 122, which slot extends substantially the full length of the housing, e. g., irom the lower end 128 te the upper end 142. The bottom end 144 of the screw 120 is rotatably mounted in bearing bore 146 of bearing member 148 welded or the like in the lower end of housing 122. A thrust bearing such as 150 or the equivalent is preferably employed to bear the weight carried by plate or adapter means 134.

The carriage means 20 is provided with a first arm means 152 rigidly fixed to the base means or structure 24 of the carriage means at one end and pivotally connected by pivot joint 154 at its other end to one end of second arm means 156 which is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of jack means 116 such as on pin 123 as shown in Fig. 23. Second arm means 156 is preferably channel shaped such as to fit overjack housing 122 when the vehicle is tilted as'shown in Fig. 20 and thereby prevent interference between 156 and 122. In this regard, offset 158 on the end of arm 152 may be provided to allow the carriage base and roller to move closer to the jack and thus bring the tilt angle or posture further toward vertical as shown in Fig.

20, without interference between the arms themselves and/or the roller means 48.

As shown in Figs. 25 and 26 a single axle roller means 127 may be employed wherein the carriage base is a simple bar 129 with a single axle on one end and one or more rollers mounted thereon, c. g., as shown by a roller pair of Fig. 11, and with adapter plate means 56 on its other end. In such a carriage structure, the peripheral portions of the roller or rollers such as 160 lie beneath the plane 165 of bottom 166 of the vehicle, and peripheral portions 164 lie laterally to the plane 163 of side 162 of the vehicle such that neither the bottom I 66 or side 162 of the vehicle will contact the floor at any tilt angle.

It is preferred that arms 152 and 156 make a small upward angle to the horizontal as shown in Fig. 19 such that as the jack begins to lift one side of the vehicle, the arms will scissor together toward each other as shown in Fig. 20. Such a starting angle can easily be achieved thru the length adjustnent feature of either or both of the arms as shown in Fig. 24 wherein with reference to arm 156, channel section 151 slidably nests in channel section 153 and both sections are provided with lateral pin holes 155 which become aligned as the sections are position adjusted, and thru which pins 157 are then inserted to fix the ajusted length of the arm. It is preferred that such adjustment be dimensioned to accommodate vehicles which may vary considerably in width, such as for example, a foot or more.

In regard to the various jacks which may be employed, where it is desired to employ a cable winch as the power head, the cable will take the place of the screw spindle. However, it should be'noted that a very significant avantage exists for using the screw spindle, in that as soon as the spindle rotation is stopped to give any desired angle of tilt, the distance between the jack foot and the lifting head becomes fixed without the need for clamps, bolts or the like to hold the lifting head in position. This, in concert with the fixed distance between the carriage roller means on the floor and the lifting head means, and also in concert with the conncction between arms 152 and 156 imparts a great degree of stability to the apparatus which is substantially in the configuration of an A frame.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications will be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.