Jack mounting structure

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to the "Jack mounting structure" and in particular, location and mounting arrangement of jack for lifting three-wheeler vehicles for maintenance and servicing.

Background of the invention:

A jack is a device, which is used for lifting heavy equipments. Jacks usually use mechanical advantage to allow a human to lift a vehicle by manual force. In three-wheelers, it is used to lift the vehicle maintenance work (like replacing the wheel in case of flat tire) or in case of small repair works under the body or the chassis.

Presently the jack can be placed at any location in the vehicle, which can result in theft, cause vibration if kept loose and can lead to damages to other nearby parts during running.

Hence the objective of the invention is to provide a jack mounting arrangement structure, which is safe, theft proof and convenient for removal and assembly.

Summary of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide a location and mounting arrangement for the jack so as to mount the jack in the engine compartment below the passenger seat enabling utilization of the space provided in the engine compartment.

Another objective of the present invention is to mount the jack rigidly in the said compartment so as to ensure that the device is not kept loose and thereby reduces the noise caused when the vehicle is in motion.

Another objective of the present invention to mount the jack securely in the closed engine compartment below the passenger seat by means of clamping member so as to prevent it from theft.

To achieve the above objective, a jack location and mounting scheme is provided for three wheeler passenger vehicles. The location is proposed in the engine compartment, which is covered by the passenger cabin.

This invention provides the utilization of space available in engine compartment to keep the jack and the mounting arrangement.

According to the invention, the jack is mounted on the cross member cabin support rear, which is provided with two holes and a reinforcement plate that can be either bolted or welded to the cross member. The jack is mounted on the cross member with the help of fasteners. Thumb fastener is used for this purpose as it can be tightened and loosened manually (it is very convenient as jack can be removed from the position without the help of spanners). This location can be easily accessed and is theft proof as service door has the provision of a lock.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Brief Description of the Drawings:

The invention in its preferred embodiments will be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by the same numerals in the various figures and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a three wheeler.

Figure 2 shows the frame of three wheeler.
Figure 3 shows rear view of the frame.

Figure 4 shows jack mounting according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows perspective view of jack mounting.

Figure 6 shows top view of the frame.

Detailed description of the Drawings:

Referring to figure 1, a three wheeler passenger carrier is provided with a relatively small wheel diameter with that of motorcycles. A single wheel (101) in the front is placed ahead of a metallic cowl (102) which is located in the centre of the front view of the vehicle. The said three wheeler is controlled by a handle bar (103) placed behind the said front cowl (102). The front cowl (102) is further extended upwards and is provided with a large opening to fit a transparent glass (104) for driver's visibility. A floor board (105) is formed with a height just above the centre of the wheel but below the top surface of the wheel (101). The said floor board (105) extends from the bottom most portion of the front cowl (102) to rear end of the passenger seat cabin support structure. A partition wall or B pillar (106) is provided perpendicular to floor board (105), located in the mid way portion between passenger seat structure (107) and front cowl (102). The height of the partition wall (106) is nearly equal to the height of driver's seat (108) top surface. A driver seat (108) is provided between the said partition wall (106) and the front cowl (102) for the driver wherein the rear end of the seat nearer to partition wall (106). The passenger seat mounting structure attaches with extended body structure or cabin (109) of the three-wheeler to cover the remaining two wheels (110) on top and partially on sides and extends beyond rear end of the wheel substantially. The said extended body structure (109) is almost a cube extended longitudinally with bottom portion completely open. The extended structure or cabin (109) is a inverted 'IT shaped metallic sheet structure with open end of the inverted 'IT is joined with a step like structure joining two side walls to form a longitudinally extended cube. The sidewalls of the cabin (109) are provided with inverted 'U' shaped recess (111) to allow rear wheels (110) to swing according to the movement of the wheel at the bottom most position of the cabin (109). The rear side of the cabin (109) is provided with an opening to fit a door or lid. The passenger seat (107) is on the passenger seat support structure. A gap is formed between the passenger seat (107) and the partition wall or B pillar (106) to form a region to accommodate and support the passengers and luggage. A sheet (112) extends from the rear end of the vehicle to the top most end of the front cowl (102) to cover the vehicle at the top supported by tubular support structure.

The said sheet (112) is generally a soft top made preferably of a resin material.

The rear end portion of the floor board is attached with 'IP shaped brackets spaced apart within the overall width of the vehicle. A pair of link arms is pivotably attached to the brackets through independent bolts. The rear end of the link arm is provided with a mounting bracket to fit a shock absorber bottom end. The rear end of the link is attached with a cylindrical member parallel to the axis of the pivot bolt to fit bearings and oil seal on both link arms. The axis of the cylinder member nearly co-incides with the axis of the 'IT shaped recess provided on the side wall. A wheel axle passes through the bearings fitted on the cylindrical member attached to link member (arm). Outer end of the axle is attached with a circular flange provided with bolts press fitted in a circular pitch equidistantly. A wheel is fitted on the flange fastened by nuts (the fitment of wheel is same on both left and right side). The inner end of the axle is attached with a coupling member.

The front cowl, the partition wall and the floorboard attached to a ladder shaped frame place below the floorboard.

Referring to figure 2, the frame of the said three wheeler consists of a steering support head tube (201). A support head tube (202) extends downward rearwardly from the said head tube (201). The said support head tube (202) gets attached to a central long member (203). A channel support head tube (204) is provided above the joining section of the support head tube (202) and central long member (203). Two S bend long members (205 and 206) are parallely laid to attach them on either end of the floor board (105). A inverted hat section pressed part cross member (207) is placed below the floor board (105) to attach it to floorboard (105) wherein it leaves uniform gap on either side of it. Towards the rear end of the central long member (203) a hat section pressed part otherwise known as cross member cabin support front (208) is welded to the central long member (203). The said central long member is an inverted hat section pressed part. The cross member cabin support front (208) is welded to the S bend long member (205 and 206) on its extreme ends and it also gets welded on both sides of the central long member (203).

A cross tube trailing arm (209) is provided at the extreme rear end of the central long member (203). A recess is provided on the central long member (203) through which the cross tube trailing arm (209) is inserted. The said S bend long member (205 and 206) is like a step or ladder frame. The long member (205 and 206) is placed on either end symmetrically takes a perpendicular bend upward to a height nearly equal to the height of seat cabin support structure (210) and then bends perpendicularly almost parallel to floor board to form double L structure or step like structure.

A square tube cross member (211) joins the almost rear end of the long member (205 and 206). The said square tube cross member is use to mount the engine. Referring to figure 3, another inverted hat shaped bracket with 'IT section is welded below the cross member (211) known as engine cradle front (301). A circular boss with a hole is welded in the centre of the engine cradle front (301) to allow a bolt to pass through to fit the forward mounting portion of the engine. Two independent 'J' shaped brackets (302, 303) are attached at either end of the long member (205 and 206). The shape of 'J' bracket side face is parallel to partition wall. The 'J' shaped brackets are fabricated using two 'IT sections inverted in a such a way to form a square section. The smaller leg portion of the 'J' bracket is provided with a set of holes to allow bolts to pass through to fit engine mounting resilient members.

A cross member of press sheet metal joins the outer most member of long member (205 and 206) at the end is known as cross member cabin support rear (212). The cross member (212) is an inverted hat section joining both outer most long member (205 and 206).
The passenger seat support structure is bolted at four points on the cross member cabin support front (208) and further bolted at two brackets (213 , 214) and yet further the rear end is bolted at two points on the cross member cabin support rear (212).

Referring to figure 4, which shows the plan view of the frame of the said three wheeler according to the present invention.

According to the present invention and referring to the figure 4, a jack (401) mounting is provided on the cross member cabin support rear (212). To mount the jack securely in the engine cabin compartment, the invention embodies a hollow space wherein the side walls of the cabin compartment are positioned substantially vertically in opposed relationship to partially define a space where the jack can be located. Referring to figure 5, two holes are provided on the cross member cabin support rear (212) to incorporate a reinforcement plate (501). The said reinforcement plate (501) can either be welded or bolted to the cross member (212). The said jack (401) is positioned substantially parallel to the walls and is mounted on the said reinforcement plate by means of fastening members (502). The said fastening member (502) can be a thumb fastener or a threaded knob to enable it to be tightened or loosened manually in the absence of a spanner.

This particular location of the jack can be easily accessed through a service door provided at the rear most portion of the vehicle. The jack mounting is thereby made theft proof as the service door has provision for lock. The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

We claim:
1. A jack mounting for three wheeler comprising:
a jack;
at least two long members spaced apart extending from front of the
vehicle to rear end of the vehicle defining the width of the vehicle;
a cross member cabin support rear attached to the rear end of the said
long members;
a reinforcement plate; and
at least one clamping member to engage the jack with the reinforcement
plate to the cross member cabin support rear.

2. The jack mounting for three wheeler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said clamping member can be a thumb fastener or a threaded knob.

3. The jack mounting for three wheeler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said reinforcement plate is provided with holes equal in number to the clamping members provided on the jack.

4. The jack mounting for three wheeler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said jack is located inside the cabin of the three wheeler.