AUTOMATIC TWO WHEELER STAND Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to two wheeler stands, and relates more particularly to an automatic two wheeler stand.

Background of the Invention

In general, two wheelers have a regular stand pivotally connected to a stand holder at the bottom. When a two wheeler is stopped, the stand is kicked to the extended position (operative position) to support the two wheeler on the ground and the vehicle is required to be lifted / pulled back to be mounted on the stand in order to park it. The users and more specially aged people and ladies are not able to pull back the two wheeler on the stand comfortably. Furthermore, it is difficult to move the stand of a two wheeler between the operative position and the non operative position when in a narrow area.

Summary of invention

To solve the above-described problems, it is an objective of the present invention to make the present invention more advantageous and technically sound than the conventional two wheeler stands. The present invention relates to two wheeler stands, and relates more particularly to an automatic two wheeler stand which uses a DC motor and a hydraulic pump, coupled together with the help of a distributing manifold and having a reserve oil tank forming a power pack (The other options used are a) a 12 V DC actuator type or b) a Pneumatically powered cylinder type or c) a hydraulic pneumatically charged cylinder type. This system helps to unfold the legs of the two wheeler stand from the horizontal position to the vertical position and to push open the assembly on which the legs are mounted with the help of hydraulic cylinders or any other means such as a Pneumatic cylinder or a motorized Actuator or a Hydraulic Pneumatically operated cylinder, up to the pre-set height which lifts the two wheeler and parks it on the stand automatically. On the return path the operation of the motor is reversed and the manifold reverses the flow of the oil in case of the Hydraulically charged cylinder, causing the reversal of the operation therefore sinking the stand again to previous position and unfolding it back to horizontal position which puts the two wheeler back in ready to drive position. This stand allows

an effortless lifting and de-lifting of a two wheeler in the process of putting it on the stand and back to the riding position. It is not only convenient but it also allows an individual to park the two wheeler in narrow lanes where there- is no space available to operate the manual stand. The turning movement of the stand from horizontal to vertical could be done by any means like a combination of rack gear and the pinion gear or a lever system or a multiple hydraulic cylinder system.

Automatic two wheeler stand comprising a mounting base plate which is connected with Mounting pipes on one side, a Mounting Pin, Connecting rods, a Slider rail guide plate, the upper pin, a Locking plate mechanism, Slider rail guide, a pinion Gear, mounting holes, two hollow pipes, the Clevis mounts, a connecting pin, a Rack gear, a connecting pin, lever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 shows the side plain assembly of the Slider type stand in the closed position or the drive mode position in the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the front view of the slider type automatic two wheeler stand in the open position or the park mode position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is explained in greater detail below. This description is not intended to be a detailed catalog of all the different ways in which the invention may be implemented, or all the features that may be added to the instant invention. For example, features illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments, and features illustrated with respect to a particular embodiment may be deleted from that embodiment. In addition, numerous variations and additions to the various embodiments suggested herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the instant disclosure, which do not depart from the instant invention. Hence, the following specification is intended to

illustrate some particular embodiments of the invention, and not to exhaustively specify all permutations, combinations and variations thereof.

The present invention provides a cost-effective automatic slider type two wheeler stand which is more like a framework fitted with hydraulic cylinder and the swinging movable legs which forms the parts of the automatic stand. The stand assembly consists of three different sections: -

Section 1) is the main frame shown in figure and is known as mounting base plate (23).This section is fitted with Mounting pipes (22) on one side which help in fitting the Stand assembly to the Motor cycle with the help of a Mounting Pin (1 l).The Hydraulic cylinder (01) is fitted on top of this Mounting base plate (23). Section 2) Consists of two legs of the stand and are called the Connecting rods (32 and

33). These two legs are held in position with the help of a Slider rail guide plate (34).The upper pin (35A) of the Locking plate mechanism (36) slides through thru Slider rail guide (37) and helps in locking the stand once the predetermined height of the stand is achieved. A pinion Gear (45) is attached to the Leg of the stand, also known as the connecting rod (32) through mounting holes (46) on the lower end s of the Mounting base plate (23).

Section 3) Consists of an assembly of two hollow pipes (41A, 41B) joined together to form the Sliding part of the Stand. These hollow pipes slide over the connecting rods (32, 33) and the Clevis mounts (42) which forms the upper part of Pipe Assembly (41A, 41B) is coupled with the Piston (03) of the Hydraulic cylinder (01) with the help of a connecting pin (43). A Rack gear (44) is mounted on the connecting pin (43) and helps turning the Pinion gear (45) and in turn rotating the legs (32,33) of the stand from the horizontal position (Drive Mode Fig 1 ) to the vertical Position (Parked position Fig 2)

Referring to Figure 1, which shows the stand in the Horizontal position or the drive mode or closed position wherein the cylinder (01) along with its Oil inlet port (02A) and Oil inlet port (02B) is mounted on the Mounting base plate (23).The Piston rod (03) of the Hydraulic cylinder (01) is in the contracted position. The Pinion gear (45) is shown attached to the Connecting rod (32) of the stand and the Piston rod (03) of the Hydraulic cylinder (01) is connected to a Rack gear (44) and Clevis (42) of the stand assembly. The Legs also known as Connecting rods (32, 33) and the Sliding hollow pipes (41A & 41B) are in the closed or contracted position which is in the horizontal position. The Slider rail guide plate (34) is holding the Connecting rods (32, 33) in position. There is a Mounting hole (46A & 46B) which connects the Mounting base plate (23) to the Connecting rods (32, 33). The Locking plate mechanism (36) is in the horizontal position or the unlocked position. The Mounting pin (11) which helps the

stand to be mounted on the two wheeler is connected through the Mounting pipes (22). The Slider rail guide (37) is shown with the Upper locking pin (35A) connected through it. The Lower locking pin (35B) is shown connected to the Lower hollow pipe assembly ( 41A, 41B).

The Automatic Slider type Two Wheeler Stand is powered with Hydraulic Power Pack unit consisting of a 12 V DC motor and a Hydraulic pump coupled with the help of a Manifold. The Hydraulic pump is of the reversible type and capable of supplying pressurized hydraulic oil in both directions. The Hydraulic Power Pack is powered with the help of a 12 V DC battery and is connected through a programmable switch card for operation in synchronization with another switch as a safety precaution. The safety switch will be activated when the brake of the two wheeler is applied, to protect the rider from accidental operation. Another alternate safety feature is that the device will be operated only when the two wheeler is in the stationery position and this will be determined with the help of a sensor incorporated in the programmable switching card. As soon as the switch is operated in coordination with the other safety switch, the reversible Power pack unit is activated in the forward position. This action forces the Hydraulic Oil into the rear port of the double acting hydraulic cylinder (01) forcing the piston rod (03) of the hydraulic cylinder (01) into the extended position. The piston rod (03) which has the Rack gear (44) fitted on it pushes the Pinion gear (45) which is fitted on the Legs or the Connecting rod (32) and as a result making it turn and swing open to the vertical or open position. This movement is achieved in the initial movement of the stroke in the clearance given in the clevis fitted on the Lower Sliding Pipe (4 IA, 41B) of the two wheeler stand. As soon as the Legs or the Connecting rod (32,33) of the stand are unfolded from the horizontal position to the vertical position , the piston rod connects to the Lower slider pipes (32,33) of the stand and starts pushing it further to raise the two wheeler in the parked position to a pre determined height from the ground. This action also activates Locking plate mechanism (36) to open out in the vertical position to lock the stand in the parked position. The stand remains parked in the locked position till the rider operates the stand to unlock it.

Referring to Figure 2, which shows the Frontal view of the two wheeler stand in the open or parked position wherein the Hydraulic cylinder (01) is fitted on the Mounting base plate (23). The Mounting pipe (22) helps in connecting the stand to the two wheeler. The Piston rod (03) is now in the extended position and the Pinion gear (45) is attached to the connecting rod (32) of the stand, the Rack gear (44) is attached to the Piston rod (03) with the help of the Connecting pin (43) through the Clevis (42). The Locking plate mechanism (36) is now in the vertical or locked position and the Hollow sliding pipes (41A, 41B) are in the open position or the parked position and the Upper locking pin (35A) is in the locked position in the Slider guide rail ((37).

In the return operation the rider can operate the switch to reverse the rotation of reversible hydraulic pump by automatically reversing the polarity of the DC voltage supplied to DC motor reversing its rotational direction. This forces the hydraulic oil to the other end of Double acting cylinder (01) forcing the hydraulic piston (03) to retract. This action forces the Locking device (36) to unlock and the Sliding pipes (41A, 41B) of the legs are retracted upwards lowering the two wheeler to the ground level. Further retracting of the Cylinder piston (03) engages the Rack gear (44) in the reverse direction with the Pinion gear (45) making it rotate in reverse direction and as a result folding the legs back from the vertical position to the horizontal or the ready to drive position.

Alternately, the Rack (44) and Pinion gear (45) which helps in unfolding the stand from the Horizontal closed position to the Vertical open or parked position will be replaced by a lever or cam operated system, keeping all the systems of operation the same. The Automatic Slider type Lever operated Two Wheeler Stand is powered with Hydraulic Power Pack unit consisting of a 12 V DC motor and a Hydraulic pump coupled with the help of a Manifold. The Hydraulic pump is of the reversible type and capable of supplying pressurized hydraulic oil in both directions. The Hydraulic Power Pack is powered with the help of a 12 V DC battery and is connected through a programmable switch card for operation in synchronization with another switch as a safety precaution. The safety switch will be activated when the brake of the two wheeler is applied in order two protect the rider from accidental operation. Another alternate safety feature is that the device will be operated only when the two wheeler is in the stationery position and this will be determined with the help of a sensor incorporated in the programmable switching card. As soon as the switch is operated in coordination with the other safety switch, the reversible Power pack unit is activated in the forward position. This action forces the Hydraulic Oil into the upper oil port (02A) of the Double acting hydraulic cylinder (01) forcing the Piston rod (03) of the Hydraulic cylinder (01) into the extended position. The Piston rod (03) which has the Rack gear (44) fitted on it pushes the Lever alternate which is fitted on the Legs or the Connecting rod (32) and as a result making it turn and swing open to the vertical or open position. This movement is achieved in the initial movement of the stroke in the clearance given in the Clevis (42) fitted on the Lower sliding Pipe (41A, 41B) of the two wheeler stand. As soon as the Legs or the Connecting rod (32,33) of the stand are unfolded from the horizontal position to the vertical position , the Piston rod ( 03) connects to the Lower slider pipes (32,33) of the stand and starts pushing it further to raise the two wheeler in the parked position to a pre determined height from the ground. This action also activates Locking plate mechanism (36) to

open out in the vertical position to lock the stand in the parked position. The stand remains parked in the locked position till the rider operates the stand to unlock it.

In the return operation the rider can operate the switch to reverse the rotation of reversible hydraulic pump by automatically reversing the polarity of the DC voltage supplied to DC motor reversing its rotational direction. This forces the hydraulic oil to the other end of Double acting cylinder (01) forcing the Hydraulic piston (03) to retract. This action forces the Locking device (36) to unlock and the Sliding pipes (41A ,41B) of the legs are retracted upwards lowering the two wheeler to the ground level. Further retracting of the Cylinder piston (03) engages the alternate Lever Mechanism in the reverse direction making it rotate in reverse direction and as a result folding the legs back from the vertical position to the horizontal or the ready to drive position.

Optionally, a Motorized ball screw type actuator can be used to actuate the stand assembly instead of the Hydraulic power pack used as the operating system. The advantage of this system is in the saving of cost due to Elimination of the Hydraulic power pack, the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic oil supply piping. But this system has a disadvantage of slowing down of operating speed and it needs more space.

In a pneumatically operated system, the double acting cylinder will be operated with the help of a pneumatic pump run either by the help of a DC motor or by running the pump by connecting it directly to the Chain of the two wheeler and storing the pressurized air in a reserve air tank to be used when required to operate the automatic stand. The reserve air pressure is to be determined by a pressure switch and the operation of the air pump to cut off automatic switch when the determined reserve pressure is achieved. The advantage of this system is saving in cost due to elimination of the hydraulic power pack and elimination of the use of Oil in the system. This system uses air as medium which is free of cost. But this system has a disadvantage due to its high maintenance cost and increase in size of unit generating air pressure. The Pneumatic Hydraulic Operated system uses the Combination of the pneumatic and

Hydraulic system. An Air pump operated by the help of a DC motor, generates air which is pumped into a hydraulic master cylinder which is pre charged with hydraulic oil. This forces the hydraulic oil into a hydraulic cylinder and in turn activates the stand mechanism. Bypass valves and return springs enable the system to reverse the action and help in folding the stand back to the folded position. The advantage of this system is increase in power and elimination of expensive hydraulic power pack. But this system has a disadvantage due to its high maintenance cost, increase in size and addition of expensive and complex control valves.

The best, cost effective and maintenance free mode of working with the automatic two wheeler stand is with the help of Hydraulic system with a lever mechanism.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. . In the claims that follow, the indefinite article "A", or "An" refers to a quantity of one or more of the item following the article, except where expressly stated otherwise. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.