Automatic Car Jack Project Notes

• Project: Prototype Automatic Car Jack.
• Objective: To design, fabricate, and test a prototype automatic car jack.

Abstract

• Addresses inefficiency and safety risks of manual handling of objects in cars.
• Integrates mechanical design, embedded systems, and user-centered engineering.
• Prototype reduces retrieval time by 70% compared to manual methods.

Problem Statement

• Manual car jacks require physical exertion and pose safety risks.
• Automated alternatives are expensive or lack portability.
• Need for an affordable, efficient, and safe automatic car jack.

Objectives

• Design an automated mechanism using electric or hydraulic system.
• Ensure safety with overload protection and automatic stabilization.
• Optimize portability for easy storage and deployment.
• Test performance to lift up to 2 tons within 2 minutes.
• Evaluate cost-effectiveness for future commercialization.

Scope and Limitations

• Scope: Design, construction, and testing of a prototype for passenger vehicles up to 2 tons.
• Limitations: Not designed for heavy-duty vehicles; advanced features considered future enhancements; material selection prioritizes cost.

Justification

• Addresses the need for safer, more efficient automotive tools.
• Offers a practical solution aligning with automation trends.
• Reduces fatigue for mechanics and provides a reliable tool for roadside emergencies.

Literature Review

• Scissor Jack: Invented by Jack LaFrance, patented Dec. 21, 1920.
• Hydraulic Jack: Richard Dudgeon patented hydraulic press in 1851.

Types of Car Jacks:

• Floor Jacks: Widely used, easy to position, with a hydraulic lift.
• Scissor Jacks: Portable, use screw mechanisms.
• Hi-Lift Jacks: Used for tough terrains, high capacity (up to 7000 pounds), but bulky.

How to Identify Antique Car Jacks:

• Look for manufacturer's markings to determine the year.
• Check for date codes (introduced in 1967).
• Check the seals.

Components

• Rechargeable Battery: Gaston Planté invented the first rechargeable battery.
• Plante Battery: The first rechargeable battery, with lead anode and lead dioxide cathode, using sulfuric acid as an electrolyte.
• PVC Pipe: Polyvinyl chloride pipe is used for waste lines due to its light weight and durability.
• Power Windows: First introduced by Packard in 1940, using a hydro-electric mechanism.
• Wire Cable: A cable is a group of conductors, usually made of copper or aluminum.
• Motor Driver: Takes a low-current control signal and turns it into a higher-current signal to drive a motor.
• Bolts: Fasteners with a head and thread, used to hold materials together.

Methodology

• The project was produced in workshops, using MIG welding for the frame.

Tools Used:

• M3 Drill.
• Cutter PVC: Hacksaw.
• Sandpaper.

Cost Estimate:

• Rechargeable Battery: $2 * 400 = 800$
• PVC pipe: $730$
• Power Window: $2500$
• Wire Cable: $2 * 250 = 500$
• Motor driver: $2500$
• Bolts, nuts, screws: $200$
• Total Cost: $7230$

Conclusion

• Mechanical jacks use a screw thread; hydraulic jacks use hydraulic power.
• Jack stands provide safe support for raised vehicles.
• Scissor jacks are built for particular makes and models.