Vehicle service center

Claim 2

An integrated apparatus for automotive maintenance comprising: a main frame defining, in part, a vertically oriented housing, said frame having at least two transversely spaced, generally parallel beams projecting outwardly from the bottom of said frame; a transverse beam secured to the free ends of said parallel beams to connect said parallel beams together and to define a rectangular base adapted to support said frame firmly on the ground; a horizontal crossbeam disposed transversely within said frame; roller means rotatably mounted to the transverse end of said horizontal crossbeam; rail means mounted to the sides of said housing in a vertical position, said rail means being receptive to said roller means for guiding said crossbeam for vertical movement within said parallel rail means; a pair of horizontally projecting cantilever arms secured to said crossbeam for vertical movement in unison therewith, said horizontal cantilever arm being spaced transversely so that they may be embraced within said parallel beams of said base when said cantilever arms and crossbeam are in their lowermost position; said cantilever arms being adapted to engage the underside of said vehicle at at least four locations; means for elevating said crossbeam and said cantilever beams to raise said vehicle; drive means associated with said horizontal crossbeam for effecting said vertical movement thereof; control means for limiting and controlling the extent of vertical movement of said horizontal crossbeam and cantilever arms; and a plurality of automotive maintenance devices supported within and about said housing for servicing said vehicle when said vehicle is supported by said cantilever arms.

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means for effecting vertical movement of said horizontal crossbeam comprises: an oil cylinder disposed in a generally vertical orientation and being secured at its lower end to said housing, said oil cylinder having an upwardly extending piston rod, said oil cylinder being mounted in said machine to be disposed outwardly of the region defined by said vehicle cantilever supporting arms; an oil reservoir mounted within said housing; means for pumping oil from said reservoir into said oil cylinder to actuate said piston rod; valve means operably connected with said pumping means to control the flow of oil between said oil cylinder and said oil reservoir; means mounted to the upper end of said piston rod for supporting a pair of transversely spaced pulleys; a cable associated with each of said pulleys, each of said cables being secured at one end to the lower portion of said frame and being wrapped over and about their associated pulleys, the other end of each of said cables being secured to said horizontal crossbeam; safety means for limiting the extent of upward vertical movement of said lift and for locking said lift in an elevated position, said safety means including rack means associated with each cantilever arm and a pawl mounted to the upper end of said housing for locking engagement with its associated rack means when said rack is in an elevated position; means mounting said pawl to a horizontal bar pivotable along its transverse axis, said bar including a lever exposed exteriorly of the housing to enable the operator to pivot said bar and disengage said pawls with their associated racks; said safety means including valve means associated with said means for pumping said oil to said oil cylinder, said valve means being normally closed and having an outlet which, when opened, is in communication with said oil reservoir; means responsive to vertical movement of said lift to a predetermined height for opening said valve means to return the pumped oil to said oil reservoir and to preclude further pumping of said oil to said oil cylinder, said means including a lever pivotable intermediate at its ends and having one end thereof engagable with said lift when said lift is raised to said maximum heightwise position, the other end of said lever being effective to open said valve; a pressure relief valve connected to said means for pumping said oil to said oil cylinder, said pressure relief valve having an outlet connected to said oil reservoir, said pressure relief valve being normally closed and being adapted to redirect oil from said pumping means directly back to said oil reservoir when the pressure within said oil is raised to a maximum, predetermined level.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said safety means further comprises: a limit switch mounted to said housing and being operable in response to vertical movement of said lift to said maximum heightwise position thereof; and means responsive to actuation of said limit switch to deenergize the electric motor for said oil pump.

Claim 5

An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means within said housing for servicing said vehicle at least comprises: means for providing compressed air services located in the upper region and within said housing, said means including a compressed air tank, a compressor mounted on top of said tank, gauge means for permitting the pressure within said tank to be monitored, a safety valve, means for connecting said tank to a fitting for filling the vehicle''s tires, pneumatic means for removing oil from the various oil reservoirs within said vehicle.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of vehicle servicing units at least comprises: a plurality of tanks to store a plurality of fluid, individually in each of said tanks; means mounting said tank within said housing so that they may be changed individually, said tanks being mounted further so that their upper surfaces thereof are disposed at substantially the same level to provide a working surface for storage and placement of tools and the like; each of said tanks including separate pump meAns adapted to be driven by compressed air, each of said pump means having a metering device; hose means associated with each of said tanks, each of said hose means including a dispensing gun for controlling the dispensing of its associated material from its associated tank.

Claim 7

An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein at least one of said dispensing guns is constructed to dispense its associated liquid in a spray; and means connecting said spray gun to said source of compressed air to effect said spraying of said liquid.

Claim 8

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said automotive servicing units comprises: a distilled water tank mounted to the upper portion of said housing and having a conduit means extending from the lower portion of said tank, said conduit being adapted to deliver said distilled water to said storage battery in said vehicle.

Claim 9

An apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising: a hose including a fitting to enable said hose to be connected to an external source of water under pressure, said hose being adapted to fill the radiator of said vehicle and to be employed in washing said vehicle; and a supplementary water pump operatively connected to said hose and to be employed to supplement the available water pressure.

Claim 10

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: panel means associated with said housing and being adapted to enclose said housing and the elements contained therein, said panels being detachably secured to said housing; said panels including a front panel adapted to face the support vehicle, said front panel including vertical bands covered on the outside by relatively thick, soft material in order to prevent said vehicle from becoming scratched while on said apparatus.

Claim 11

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising said rear panel being formed from a pair of doors pivoted on hinges to said housing and including means for locking said pivotable doors in closed relation on said housing; and means mounted to the external surface of said panels for supporting said hoses in a coiled configuration.

Claim 12

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a means mounting said apparatus on wheels to provide mobility therefor.

Claim 13

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: coin-operated means associated with each of said automotive servicing units, said coin-operated means being adapted to maintain its associated automotive service inoperable until an appropriate coin has been inserted thereto.