JPH11113961A - Lift for wheelchair of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a slope for a wheelchair land on a road surface in a proper manner. SOLUTION: When a parking brake is operated to let a back door 35 open, a power source is supplied to a motor drive circuit block. With the operation of a down switch, the height of a vehicle is lowered. With the further operation of the down switch, a drive motor is electrically energized during the operation of the down switch and a folding slope 13 housed being folded in a room of the vehicle is passed through an opening part of the back door to be developed outside O the vehicle room. At this point, as a free end part of the folding slope 13 contacts the road surface 11 to block the rotation of the drive motor, brushing noises generated during the rotation of the motor vanish and the waveform of a current varies while the current of the motor increases. The increase in the current is detected to stop the supply of power to the drive motor thereby halting the driving of the folding slope 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lifting device for a wheelchair of a vehicle for guiding a wheelchair into a passenger compartment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a view showing a conventional vehicle 101. The vehicle 101 has a wheelchair elevating device 103 for guiding a wheelchair into a vehicle interior 102.

The wheelchair lifting / lowering device 103 comprises a folding slope 106 forming an inclined surface between a vehicle body floor 105 and a road surface. The folding slope 106 has a base end rotatable at the rear end of the floor. A first slope 107 is supported, and a second slope 108 whose base end is rotatably supported at the distal end of the first slope 107. As a result, when not in use,
As shown in FIG. 9, the folding slope 106 is configured to be stored in the vehicle interior 102 in a state where the folding slope 106 is folded at a connecting portion between the first slope 107 and the second slope 108. However, the lifting device 103 for a wheelchair does not include a driving device for driving the folding slope 106, and the folding slope 1
It takes a great deal of trouble to get the 06 in and out.

Therefore, a driving device for deploying the folding slope 106 and landing on the road surface is provided, and a limit switch for detecting an appropriate height position of the tip of the folding slope 106 and stopping the driving device reliably is provided. It is conceivable that the deployment of the folding slope 106 is automated and the folding slope 106 can be stopped at an appropriate height.

[0005]

However, in such a wheelchair elevating device 103, the height position at which the folding slope 106 is stopped is determined by the mounting position of the limit switch. Therefore, when the vehicle is stopped on an uneven road surface, the folding slope 1
When deploying 06 and landing on a road surface, there is a possibility that the limit switch is operated and the folding slope 106 is stopped in a state where the tip of the folding slope 106 does not reach the road surface. In this case, although the slope is formed between the vehicle body floor 105 and the road surface by the folding slope 106, the folding slope 106
A step is formed between the wheelchair and the road surface, which causes a problem that the original convenience of the wheelchair elevating device 103 cannot be sufficiently exhibited.

When the folding slope 106 lands on a protruding road surface, the folding slope 106
Although the tip of the vehicle has reached the road surface, the limit switch does not operate and the operation of the driving device may be continued. In this case, a heavy load is applied to the motors and gears constituting the driving device, which may cause a failure of the driving device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lifting device for a wheelchair of a vehicle capable of properly landing a slope for guiding a wheelchair into a vehicle interior on a road surface. It is intended to provide.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheelchair elevating device for a vehicle, wherein one end of a slope forming an inclined surface between a vehicle body floor and a road surface is provided. A non-use state in which the slope is turned around the support point and the slope is stored in the vehicle interior through an opening provided in the body, Is projected out of the cabin through the opening, the free end of the slope lands on the road surface, and the use state in which the inclined surface for wheelchair elevating is formed can be formed. In the wheelchair elevating device, a driving unit that drives the slope by rotating the slope around the support point, a load detection unit that detects a load state of the driving unit, and the load detection unit increases the load. Detect When, a, a stopping means for stopping the driving by said driving means.

That is, when the wheelchair elevating device is used, the slope stored in the cabin is rotated by the driving means so that the slope protrudes out of the cabin through an opening provided in the vehicle body. . Eventually, the free end of the slope comes into contact with the road surface, and the movement of the slope by the driving means is hindered. Then, since the load by the driving unit is increased, the increase in the load is detected by the load detecting unit, and the driving of the slope by the driving unit is stopped by the stopping unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the increase in the load when the free end of the slope lands on the road surface is detected, and the stopping means stops driving by the driving means. Further, there is further provided a reversing means for rotating the slope in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the slope immediately before the stop.

That is, a large reaction force is applied to the driving means in a state where the free end of the slope is brought into contact with the road surface and stopped when the load applied to the driving means increases. However, after the stop, the slope is turned by the reversing means in a direction opposite to the turning direction immediately before the stop, so that the reaction force applied to the driving means is reduced.

Further, in the vehicle wheelchair elevating device according to claim 3, the driving means includes a motor, and the load detecting means detects the load based on a change in a current waveform to the motor or an increase in current. Is detected.

That is, the driving source of the driving means is a motor, and when the free end of the slope is in contact with a road surface and rotation of the motor is stopped, brush noise generated when the motor rotates is eliminated. Or extremely reduced, the current waveform to the motor changes. Also, an overcurrent flows through the motor, and the motor current increases. Based on these, an increase in the load is detected.

In addition, in the vehicle wheelchair elevating device according to the fourth aspect, when the operation state of the parking brake provided in the vehicle and the open state of the door that opens and closes the opening are detected. The power supply device further includes a power supply unit that allows supply of power to the driving unit.

That is, when the parking brake provided on the vehicle is released, or when the opening through which the slope passes during operation is closed by a door, power is supplied to the driving means. Is cut off by the power supply means, and the power supply to the motor constituting the drive means is also cut off.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a vehicle 2 equipped with a wheelchair lifting / lowering device 1 of the present invention. A vehicle body floor 3 at the rear of the vehicle 2 is formed with an inclined portion 4 inclined downward toward the rear of the vehicle. The wheelchair elevating device 1 is provided at the rear end of the inclined portion 4.

The wheelchair elevating device 1 comprises a folding slope 13 for forming a wheelchair 12 ascending and descending slope between the vehicle body floor 3 and the road surface 11, and a folding slope 13.
And a driving mechanism 14 for driving the. The folding slope 13 is supported on the vehicle body floor 3 via the driving mechanism 14, and a first slope 15 and a base end is rotatably supported at a free end of the first slope 15. The second slope 16 and both slopes 15, 16
, Which form a link mechanism. As a result, by driving the folding slope 13 in the deployed state extended to the outside O of the vehicle by the driving mechanism 14, as shown in FIG.
The first and second slopes 15 and 16 are bent in a U-shape at the joints thereof, and pass through a back door opening 18 provided in the vehicle body as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle is configured to be stored in the vehicle interior I in a folded state.

The drive mechanism 14, as shown in FIG.
A drive motor 21 and a motor output shaft 2 of the drive motor 21
2, a planetary gear reducer 25 connected to a spur gear output shaft 24 of the spur gear 23, and a first slope 15 extending from the planetary gear reducer 25. It has a rotating slope rotation shaft 26 and a support bracket 27 that supports the slope rotation shaft 26.
Thereby, the folding slope 13 is configured to be able to rotate around the base end of the first slope 15.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control circuit 31 for controlling the wheelchair lifting / lowering device 1, and a power supply circuit block 33 is connected to a power supply circuit block 32 in the control circuit 31. . The power supply circuit block 33 is connected to a parking switch 34 that is turned on when a parking brake provided on the vehicle 2 is operated, and operates when the parking brake is operated and the brake is applied. It is configured so that it can be detected. The power supply circuit block 33 includes a back door 3 that opens and closes the back door opening 18.
When the door 5 is opened, the back door switch 36 which is turned ON is connected, so that the open state of the back door 35 can be detected. The power supply circuit block 32 is connected to a motor drive circuit block 37 that controls supply of power to the drive motor 21.

An external operation switch circuit block 41 is connected to the motor drive circuit block 37. The external operation switch circuit block 41 connects the folding slope 13 folded in the vehicle interior I to the outside O. A down switch 42 that is operated when the folding slope 13 is expanded, and an up switch 43 that is operated when the folding slope 13 is stored in the vehicle compartment I in a folded state. The motor drive block 37 is connected to a drive motor 21 that drives the folding slope 13 via a waveform detection circuit block 44. The waveform detection circuit block 44 When a change in the current waveform flowing to the drive motor 21 and an increase in the current are detected, a stop command signal is output to the motor drive circuit block 37.

The waveform detection circuit block 44 includes:
When the waveform detection circuit block 44 is connected to the motor drive circuit block 37 via the inversion timer circuit block 51 and the inversion command circuit block 52 and detects a change in the current waveform and an increase in the current. In addition, an inversion command signal for reversely rotating the drive motor 21 is output to the motor drive circuit block 37 for a predetermined time measured by the inversion timer circuit block 51.

This embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. In addition,
In the initial state, it is assumed that the folding slope 13 of the wheelchair elevating device 1 is stored in the vehicle interior I in a folded state.

That is, the control circuit 31 for controlling the wheelchair elevating device 1 operates the parking brake, turns on the parking switch 34 (P1), and activates the back door 35 for opening and closing the back door opening 18. When the back door switch 36 is opened and the back door switch 36 is turned on, supply of power from the power supply circuit block 32 to the motor drive circuit block 37 is permitted by the power supply circuit block 33 (P2). In this state, when the down switch 42 in the external operation switch circuit block 41 is operated and a down signal is output from the external operation switch circuit block 41, the vehicle height of the vehicle 2 is lowered by the vehicle height lowering device. (P3), stop (P4).

Further, when the down switch 42 is operated, power is supplied from the motor drive circuit block 37 to the drive motor 21 while the down switch 42 is operated (P5 to P8). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the folding slope 13 stored in the vehicle compartment I in the folded state is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 2, the first and second slopes in the folded state. 1
5 and 16 are sequentially deployed, and are passed through the back door opening 18 and deployed outside the vehicle compartment O. At this time, while the down switch 42 is being operated, the free end of the folding slope 13 abuts on the road surface 11 as shown in FIG. 1, and the rotation of the folding slope 13 by the driving mechanism 14 is hindered. Then, the load on the drive mechanism 14 increases, and the rotation of the drive motor 21 of the drive mechanism 14 is prevented. Then, the brush noise generated during rotation of the motor is eliminated or extremely reduced, so that the current waveform to the drive motor 21 detected by the waveform detection circuit block 44 changes. At this time,
Since an overcurrent flows through the drive motor 21, the waveform detection circuit block 44 detects an increase in the motor current. From these, the waveform detection circuit block 44 that has detected an increase in the load on the drive motor 21 outputs a stop command signal to the motor drive circuit block 37 to stop the supply of power to the drive motor 21 and The drive of the slope 13 is temporarily stopped (P6).

As described above, the fact that the free end of the folding slope 13 is in contact with the road surface 11 is detected by an increase in the load of the motor 21 in the drive mechanism 14, and based on this, the folding slope 13 is Can be stopped, so that the stop position of the folding slope 13 is determined by the mounting position of the limit switch. When the switch is activated, a step is formed between the stopped folding slope 13 and the road surface 11, or the limit switch is activated even though the tip of the folding slope 13 is in contact with the road surface 11. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent a malfunction that the operation of the drive mechanism 14 is continued. Kill. Therefore, the tip of the folding slope 13 can be reliably and properly landed on the road surface 11 without being affected by the road surface condition where the vehicle 2 is stopped, and the vehicle body floor 3 and the road surface 11
An inclined surface for guiding the wheelchair 12 to the vehicle interior I can be formed between the vehicle and the vehicle.

Further, the folding slope 13 is stopped when the load on the drive mechanism 14 increases, regardless of the operation state of the switches 42 and 43 of the external operation switch block 41. Therefore, the switches 42 and 43 are turned off.
If the external force is applied to the folding slope 13 during operation as compared with the case where the folding slope 13 cannot be stopped unless the operation or the limit switch is operated, the folding slope 13 is immediately moved. Can be stopped.

After detecting the increase in the load on the drive motor 21, the waveform detection circuit block 44 once stops the folding slope 13, and starts measuring a predetermined time by the inversion timer circuit block 51. Until the measurement of the predetermined time is completed, the inversion command signal for reversely rotating the drive motor 21 is transmitted to the motor drive circuit block 3.
7 (P6 to P7). Then, the drive motor 21 is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation direction immediately before the stop, and the folding slope 13 is measured by the reversing timer circuit block 51 in a direction in which its free end is separated from the road surface 11. It is driven for a short time. As a result, the drive mechanism 14 to which a reaction force greater than that of the folding slope 13 whose free end is pressed against the road surface 11 is reversely rotated, so that the spur gear 23 and the planetary gear reducer 25 constituting the drive mechanism 14 are reversed. The burden on the user can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the rear end of the vehicle 2 from rising due to the extension of the suspension of the vehicle 2 due to the folding slope 13.

On the other hand, the up switch 43 in the external operation switch circuit block 41 is operated (P9 to P9).
12) When the up signal is output from the external operation switch circuit block 41, the vehicle
Is raised (P9-P10), and the folding slope 13 is driven until it is stored in the passenger compartment I in a folded state as shown in FIG. 4 (P9-P1).
1). Also at this time, as described above, the folding slope 13 is stopped when the load on the motor 21 in the drive mechanism 14 increases, so that when the folding slope 13 in the middle of operation is abnormally applied with a large external force, the folding slope 13 Can be stopped immediately.

When the parking brake is released and the parking switch 34 is turned off, the back door 35 for opening and closing the back door opening 18 is closed, and the back door switch 36 is turned off. The power supply from the block 32 to the motor drive circuit block 37 is cut off by the power supply circuit block 33 (P13). This allows
Since the power supply to the drive motor 21 of the drive mechanism 14 that drives the folding slope 13 can be cut off, the parking brake is released, and the vehicle 2 can be moved, or the operation of the folding slope 13 In a state in which the folding slope 13 may be obstructed by the back door 35, malfunction of the folding slope 13 can be prevented.

[0030]

As described above, in the vehicle wheelchair lifting / lowering apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the slope driven by the driving means has its free end abutted on the road surface,
When the load on the driving unit increases, the driving unit can be stopped. For this reason, as in an elevating device in which the stop position of the slope is determined by the mounting position of the limit switch, at the time of stopping on an uneven road surface, the limit switch is operated and stopped in a state where the tip of the slope does not reach the road surface. Reliable prevention of the problem that a step is formed between the slope and the road surface, and the problem that the limit switch does not operate and the drive device continues to operate even though the tip of the slope is in contact with the road surface can do. Therefore, the tip of the slope can be reliably and properly landed on the road surface at an appropriate height without being affected by the road surface condition where the vehicle is stopped. Can be formed. And, in order to stop the slope at the time when the load on the driving means has increased, compared to the case where the slope cannot be stopped unless the limit switch is operated, in the event of an abnormality in which a large external force is applied to the slope during operation. Even if there is, the slope can be stopped immediately.

In the vehicle wheelchair elevating device according to claim 2, when the free end of the slope lands on a road surface and stops, the rotation direction of the slope immediately before the stop is reversed. A reversing means for rotating the slope is provided, and a large reaction force applied to the driving means after the slope is stopped can be reduced by the rotation of the slope by the reversing means. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load on the gears and the like constituting the driving means.

Further, in the vehicle wheelchair elevating device according to the third aspect, the driving source of the driving means is a motor, and the free end of the slope is brought into contact with a road surface to prevent the rotation of the motor. In this case, the brush noise generated when the motor rotates is eliminated or extremely reduced, and the current waveform to the motor changes. Also, an overcurrent flows through the motor, and the motor current increases. Therefore, based on these, the increase in the load can be detected, so that an appropriate stop determination of the motor can be performed without providing a torque measuring device or the like for measuring the torque applied to the motor.

In addition, in the vehicle wheelchair elevating device according to the fourth aspect, the opening through which the slope passes when the parking brake provided on the vehicle is released or when the vehicle is operated is closed by a door. In this case, the supply of power to the driving means is cut off, whereby the power supply to the motor constituting the driving means can be cut off. Thus, in a state where the parking brake is released and the vehicle can move, or in a state where the operation of the slope may be obstructed by the door, the operation of the slope can be prevented beforehand.

[0034]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a transparent side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transparent side view showing an operation state of the folding slope according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a transparent side view showing an operation state of a folding slope following FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transparent side view showing a state in which the folding slope according to the embodiment is folded and stored in a vehicle interior.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of the drive mechanism according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation of the wheelchair elevating device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a vehicle equipped with a conventional wheelchair elevating device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where a folding slope in the conventional example is operated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lifting device for wheelchair 2 Vehicle 3 Body floor 11 Road surface 12 Wheelchair 13 Folding slope 14 Drive mechanism 18 Back door opening 21 Drive motor 33 Power supply circuit block 34 Parking switch 35 Back door 36 Back door switch 37 Motor drive circuit block 44 Waveform Detection circuit block 51 Timer circuit block for inversion 52 Inversion command circuit block

Claims (4)

[Claims] An end of a slope forming an inclined surface between a vehicle body floor and a road surface is supported by the vehicle body, and the slope is rotated about the support point, whereby the slope is attached to the vehicle body. A non-use state stored in the vehicle interior through the provided opening, the slope protruding out of the vehicle interior through the opening, and the free end of the slope lands on the road surface; A wheelchair elevating device configured to be capable of forming a use state in which the inclined surface is formed, wherein a driving unit that drives the slope by rotating the slope around the support point; and a driving unit. A vehicle detecting means for detecting a state of a load in the vehicle, and stopping means for stopping driving by the driving means when the load detecting means detects an increase in the load. Chair Use lifting device. 2. When the increase in the load is detected when the free end of the slope lands on a road surface, and when the stopping means stops driving by the driving means, the rotation of the slope immediately before the stop is stopped. 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a reversing means for rotating the slope in a direction opposite to the moving direction. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving unit includes a motor, and the load detecting unit detects the increase in the load based on a change in a current waveform to the motor or an increase in the current. 3. The lifting device for a wheelchair of a vehicle according to claim 1. 4. A power supply means for permitting supply of power to the drive means when an operation state of a parking brake provided in the vehicle and an open state of a door for opening and closing the opening are detected. The lifting device for a wheelchair of a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein