WO2005042302A2 - Mecanisme de recouvrement destine a une rampe d'acces pour fauteuils roulants - Google Patents

Mecanisme de recouvrement destine a une rampe d'acces pour fauteuils roulants Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005042302A2
WO2005042302A2 PCT/US2004/034670 US2004034670W WO2005042302A2 WO 2005042302 A2 WO2005042302 A2 WO 2005042302A2 US 2004034670 W US2004034670 W US 2004034670W WO 2005042302 A2 WO2005042302 A2 WO 2005042302A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ramp
cover plate
cam
link
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2004/034670
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2005042302A3 (fr
Inventor
Robert E. Bettcher, Iii
Aaron Kiser
Adam Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Braun Corp
Original Assignee
Braun Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Braun Corp filed Critical Braun Corp
Publication of WO2005042302A2 publication Critical patent/WO2005042302A2/fr
Publication of WO2005042302A3 publication Critical patent/WO2005042302A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
    • B60P1/43—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle
    • B60P1/433—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle the loading floor or a part thereof being movable to form the ramp
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
    • A61G3/02—Loading or unloading personal conveyances; Facilitating access of patients or disabled persons to, or exit from, vehicles
    • A61G3/06—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like
    • A61G3/061—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like using ramps
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
    • A61G3/02—Loading or unloading personal conveyances; Facilitating access of patients or disabled persons to, or exit from, vehicles
    • A61G3/06—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like
    • A61G3/067—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like with compartment for horizontally storing the ramp or lift
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
    • B60P1/43—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle
    • B60P1/431—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle the ramp being stored under the loading floor when not in use

Definitions

  • the invention relates to wheelchair ramp systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cover mechanism for covering a recess in a vehicle's floor when a wheelchair ramp is deployed.
  • Wheelchair ramp systems for vehicles are well known, and have been employed to enable persons who are physically challenged or otherwise have limited mobility to board and leave a vehicle.
  • Various wheelchair ramp systems have been proposed that include electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic drive systems.
  • various drive mechanisms have been proposed that effect rotary, linear, or some other type of drive actuation. Regardless of whether the drive mechanism is electrical, hydraulic, rotary, or linear, the drive mechanism couples or cooperates with a driving link such as a rigid arm or linkage assembly that moves the ramp for deployment and stowage.
  • vehicle wheelchair ramp systems now provide movable ramps that fold substantially flat on the vehicle floor.
  • Such ramp systems which are known in the art as flip-over ramps, operate to pivot the movable ramp, which may include one or more movable ramp sections, through an angle of approximately 180 degrees relative to the horizontal plane of the vehicle floor.
  • the driving link and any following links coupled to the driving link stow under the vehicle floor when the ramp is in a stowed orientation (i.e., folded on top of the threshold).
  • the driving link projects through the floor creating a gap (e.g., recess, channel, slit, slot or the like) in the floor surface when the ramp is fully deployed.
  • This gap may have a relatively narrow and long shape and may potentially catch and retain a wheelchair wheel and is therefore undesirable.
  • the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned about transitions entering or exiting ramps and platform such as vertical gaps, horizontal gaps, and the like.
  • a ramp cover mechanism for a wheelchair ramp system may include a flip-over ramp, which may have one or more ramp sections, that is hingedly connected to a mounting enclosure located within the vehicle threshold.
  • a link is attached to the ramp and operates to deploy and stow the ramp in response to a drive system such as a hydraulic linear or rotary actuator.
  • the link rests below the vehicle floor when the ramp is stowed generally flat on top of the vehicle threshold, and when the ramp is deployed, a cover plate adjacent the link is moved to cover a gap left by the link when extended to deploy the ramp.
  • the cover plate is normally biased toward a horizontal orientation and the ramp cover mechanism includes a rotating cam that cooperates with an articulated lever assembly to raise and lower the cover plate.
  • the ramp cover is normally biased toward a vertical orientation and the ramp cover mechanism includes a flexible link that is tensioned to overcome the normal bias of the ramp cover as the ramp is deployed, thereby moving the cover plate to a horizontal orientation.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary vehicle wheelchair ramp system shown in a fully deployed orientation, the system including a first embodiment of a ramp cover mechanism showing the internal components;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown in a fully stowed orientation
  • FIG. 3 is a left-hand perspective view of the ramp enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a left-hand perspective view of the ramp enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing some of the relevant internal components
  • FIGs. 5-8 are perspective views of the ramp enclosure of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the operation of relevant internal components.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the exemplary vehicle wheelchair ramp system of FIG. 1, the system including a second embodiment of the ramp cover mechanism.
  • the ramp system 100 includes a mounting enclosure 10 that is typically installed within the floor of a vehicle threshold so that persons who are physically challenged or otherwise have limited mobility may board and leave the vehicle.
  • the modifier "inboard” shall refer to a direction toward the vehicle or enclosure 10
  • the modifier "outboard” shall refer to a direction away from the vehicle or enclosure 10.
  • the exemplary wheelchair ramp system 100 includes a bi-fold ramp 32 with an inboard ramp section 34 and an outboard ramp section 36, but the ramp system 100 may include other types of ramps known in the art such as a single ramp section that flips over.
  • the inboard ramp section 34 is coupled to the enclosure 10 at the ramp section's inboard edge and the outboard ramp section 36 is coupled at its inboard edge to the outboard edge of the inboard ramp section 34.
  • the sections 34, 36 of ramp 32 fold and unfold in accordion-like fashion.
  • the sections 34, 36 are coplanar and cooperate to form the continuous ramp 32 to bridge from the vehicle floor elevation to the ground elevation.
  • FIG. 1 when the sections 34, 36 are completely unfolded, the sections 34, 36 are coplanar and cooperate to form the continuous ramp 32 to bridge from the vehicle floor elevation to the ground elevation.
  • the mounting enclosure 10 includes a cover plate 12 that is preferably at least partially removable so that the ramp drive system 200 shown in FIG. 4 within enclosure 10 may be serviced.
  • the cover plate 12 is not illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 4 to better illustrate the ramp drive system 200 and other internal components of the system 100.
  • the drive system 200 comprises a hydraulic type system that includes a hydraulic power unit and a linear actuator comprising a single-acting hydraulic cylinder 16 (FIG. 1), but the drive system 200 may be electric, pneumatic or other motive force and may use a rotary or other type of actuator.
  • the drive system 200 is fully housed within the enclosure 10 to provide a substantially self contained, "drop-in" ramp system 100.
  • the hydraulic cylinder 16 (FIG. 1) of the exemplary hydraulic drive system 200 includes a rod that moves outboardly and inboardly in response to a hydraulic power unit to respectively deploy and stow the ramp 32.
  • Attached to the outboard end of the cylinder arm is a gear rack or the like which is toothed along one side to mesh with a gear 22 (FIG. 4).
  • the gear 22 is mounted to shaft 24 which may be either fixed or free (i.e., the shaft 24 may rotate in response to rotation of the gear 22). Further, as shown in FIGs.
  • a support plate 23 that is rigidly affixed to the bottom of enclosure 10 includes a central hole which accepts and retains a first end of shaft 24.
  • a hole “H" (FIG. 3) in the left sidewall of pan 14 accepts and retains a second end of shaft 24, holding the shaft 24 substantially horizontal.
  • a driving link 26 may be the first link in a multi-link arrangement (26, 26a) but alternatively, driving link 26 may be the sole link for deploying and stowing the ramp 32.
  • the driving link 26 is bent at a slight angle proximate to its pivot end that is disposed on the shaft 24, but the link 26 may be shaped otherwise such as with multiple bends or angles, or in a curvilinear shape or the like so that the distal end (i.e., the end opposite the shaft 22) of the driving link 26 may be directly coupled to one or more of the ramp sections 34, 36 for movement thereof.
  • the gear rack will advance linearly in the outboard direction thereby rotating the gear 22 and pivoting the driving link 26.
  • the driving link 26 is stowed within the enclosure 10 in a generally horizontal orientation.
  • the driving link 26 arcuately pivots through approximately 180 degrees about the shaft 24 from its stowed and generally horizontal orientation within the enclosure 10, through a gap or slot 28 in the floor, and stopping at its fully deployed orientation (see FIGs. 5-8 in succession).
  • the driving link 26 and following link 26a are oriented to couple with the outside of the left sidewall of the inboard ramp section 34.
  • the ramp system 100 may include, where appropriate, another drive assembly on the right hand side of the enclosure 10 that is connected to the right hand side of the ramp 32. For convenience, only a single drive assembly on the left hand side of the enclosure will be discussed.
  • the links 26, 26a are folded inside the enclosure 10 adjacent or alongside each other.
  • a gap 28 is provided in the surface of the vehicle floor to allow the links 26, 26a to depend from and retract into the enclosure 10.
  • the gap 28 may have a relatively long and narrow shape on the left-hand side of the enclosure 10 and extending the entire distance therealong.
  • the gap 28 may be wider or narrower.
  • a ramp cover mechanism is provided to cover the gap 28 when the ramp 32 is deployed.
  • the ramp cover mechanism includes a cover plate 30 that moves between a generally vertical orientation when the ramp 32 is stowed and a horizontal orientation when the ramp 32 is deployed.
  • the cover plate 30 is pivotally attached to the enclosure 10 by one or more hinges, and is positioned adjacent to the gap 28.
  • the cover plate 30 is sized and shaped to substantially cover the gap 28 when the plate 30 is in a covering (i.e., horizontal) orientation.
  • the cover plate 30 may include a notch or cutout 40 that allows the driving link 26 to project through the plate 30 and vehicle floor when the ramp 32 is fully deployed.
  • the cover plate 30 may include a bias comprising a spring such as a torsion spring, hinge spring or the like to orient the cover plate 30 in a normal position as desired.
  • the force of gravity may be sufficient to bias the cover plate 30 toward a horizontal orientation.
  • the bias for the cover plate 30 normally orients the plate 30 toward a covering (i.e., horizontal) orientation to cover the gap 28.
  • the bias may provide for orienting the cover plate 30 toward a generally vertical orientation.
  • a cam 21 is disposed on the outer end of shaft 24 and is coupled with the driving link 26.
  • the cam 21 rotates with the driving link 26 and operates to coordinate or synchronize the position of the ramp cover mechanism with the rotational position of the driving link 26 for moving the cover plate 30 relative to the orientation of the ramp 32.
  • the cam 21 has a somewhat eccentric shape with a raised arcute portion and a depressed arcuate portion, but the cam 21 may be shaped otherwise as appropriate.
  • an articulated lever assembly includes a lever arm 25 and an actuating arm 29.
  • lever arm 25 is pivotally retained in a generally horizontal orientation by fulcrum pin 27, which is fixedly attached to the left side wall (not shown) of pan 14.
  • the fulcrum pin 27 is located at a point intermediate the cam follower 25a, which is disposed at the outboard end of lever arm 25, and the inboard end of the lever arm 25. More particularly the fulcrum pin 27 is positioned somewhat closer to the cam follower 25a to facilitate a greater lever force at the inboard end of the lever arm 25 for moving the actuating arm 29 as discussed hereafter in further detail.
  • the outboard end of lever arm 25 includes a cam follower 25a that contacts the perimeter of cam 21 and levers the inboard end of lever arm 25 up and down relative to the respective arcuate raised and depressed portions of the cam 21 as the cam 21 rotates when the driving link 26 pivots to deploy and stow the ramp 32.
  • a notch 60 is formed in the lever arm 25 proximate the cam follower 25a. As best illustrated in FIGs. 7 and 8, the notch 60 is shaped to accept a raised portion of the cam 21 so that the cam follower 25a may operate to follow the depressed portion of the cam surface of the cam 21 when the ramp is substantially deployed.
  • the inboard end of lever arm 25 couples with the actuating arm 29 for communicating the position of the ramp 32 from the cam 21 to the cover plate 30.
  • the inboard end of lever arm 25 may be forked or include a slot or the like to accept a portion of the actuating arm 29 so that the lever arm 25 and actuating arm 29 may cooperate and articulate with each other.
  • the actuating arm 29 includes a lower end with an engagement pin 50 that couples the actuating arm 29 with the lever arm 25. Further, the actuating arm 29 includes an upper edge 52 (FIG. 2) for contacting the cover plate 30, and a central lengthwise slot 54 therebetween.
  • the actuating arm 29 is retained substantially vertically by a vertical pin arrangement which includes pins 56 to prevent the actuating arm 29 from pivoting.
  • mechanical fasteners such as rivets, screws, bolts, rods or the like may be used as suitable substitutes for the pins 56.
  • the pins 56 are fixedly attached to the left sidewall of the enclosure 10 and operate to retain the actuating arm 29 in a substantially vertical orientation.
  • the actuating arm 29 may slide up and down on the pins 56, which are captive in the slot 54.
  • the engagement pin 50 couples with the inboard end of the lever arm 25 so that when the inboard end of lever arm 25 is levered upward in response to the cam follower 25a downward movement relative to rotation of cam 21, the actuating arm 29 slides upward to raise the cover plate 30.
  • the cover plate 30 is a light but strong metal such as aluminum or the like so that the actuating arm 29 may easily lift the cover plate 30 against the normal horizontal bias (e.g., weight of the plate 30 and/or any included spring bias).
  • the ramp cover mechanism comprising the cam 21, articulated lever assembly including arms 25, 29 and cover plate 30 operates to cover and uncover the gap 28 relative to the position of the driving link 26 and ramp 32.
  • the ramp sections 34 and 36 are folded upon each other on top of the ramp enclosure 10 and the drive link 26 is disposed below the vehicle floor and nested in an accordion-like fashion with the other links of the link arrangement.
  • the cam 21 is rotated so that the cam follower 25a contacts the raised arcuate portion.
  • the cam 21 operates to press down on the cam follower 25a to lever the inboard end of the lever arm upward such that actuating arm 29 is fully extended upward to raise the cover plate 30 away from the gap 28.
  • the cover plate 30 may be substantially vertical as shown in FIG. 2, but alternatively the cover plate 30 may be angled somewhat to form an inverted V shape with the adjacent sidewall of the outboard ramp section 36 so that the gap 28 is substantially obstructed or concealed and generally inaccessible.
  • the linear actuator or hydraulic cylinder 16 When ramp deployment is actuated, the linear actuator or hydraulic cylinder 16 extends its actuating rod outward in response to the hydraulic power unit or other motive power source of the drive system 200.
  • the rod of cylinder 16 moves outboardly and the gear rack attached to the rod mates with and rotates the gear 22 disposed on the shaft 24.
  • the gear 22 and/or the shaft 24 couple with the driving link 26 which pivots arcuately upward and outward from below the vehicle floor relative to movement of the cylinder's rod.
  • the cam 21 rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed from the left side of the enclosure 10 in concert with the link 26 to communicate the rotational position of the link 26.
  • the cam 21 may be affixed to the driving link 26, the gear 22 or the shaft 24 depending on whether the shaft 24 is fixed or free to rotate.
  • the cam 21 is shaped so that the raised cam surface levers the cam follower 25a of the lever arm 25 generally downward.
  • the inboard end of the lever arm 25 is levered or forced generally upward to extend the actuating arm 29 and overcome the cover plate bias thereby preventing the cover plate 30 from moving to a covering orientation.
  • the radius of the cam 21 decreases (i.e., the cam surface is rotated so that the depressed portion acts on the cam follower 25a).
  • the decreased cam radius permits the cam follower 25a to move upward due to a bias of the lever arm 25.
  • the lever arm 25 bias may comprise a spring bias or the like, or alternatively the weight of or exerted upon the inboard end of the lever arm 25 may bias the cam follower 25a upward to maintain contact with the cam 21.
  • one or more springs such as torsion springs, hinge springs, or the like may be attached to the cover plate 30, cover plate hinges or elsewhere to bias the plate 30 in a horizontal (gap-covering) position.
  • the lever arm 25 may be spring biased at the fulcrum pin 27 so that the cam follower 25a maintains constant contact and accurately follows the cam 21.
  • the ramp 32 may be used to enter or exit the vehicle with the cover plate 30 positioned to conceal the gap 28.
  • the arm and attached gear rack rotate the gear 22 on the shaft 24 to pivot the driving link 26 arcuately upward and inward.
  • the cam 21 rotates with the driving link 26 to communicate the rotational position of the link 26 to the articulated lever assembly comprising the lever arm 25 and actuating arm 29.
  • the cam 21 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the left end of the ramp enclosure 10 so that the cam surface in contact with the cam follower 25a transitions from a decreased perimeter section (FIG. 8) to an increased perimeter section (FIGs. 7-5).
  • the cam surface transition between the raised portion and the depressed portion occurs prior to the inboard edge 261 of the driving link 26 contacting the inboard edge of the cover plate cutout 40.
  • the increased perimeter section (i.e., raised cam surface) of the cam 21 forces the cam follower 25a generally downward to move the inboard end of the lever arm 25 generally upward thereby extending or sliding the actuating arm 29 upward to move and support the cover plate 30 in a generally vertical orientation on the side of the gap 28.
  • the inboard edge 261 of the driving link 26 clears the upwardly pivoting cover plate 30 (see in particular FIG. 7) as the link 26 moves to stow the ramp.
  • the cover plate 30 remains open supported by the actuating arm 29, after the ramp is completely stowed.
  • the cover plate 30 is moved by a flexible linkage coupled with the linear actuator.
  • the cover plate 30 is normally biased in a generally upright or vertical position and is pulled downward by the flexible linkage 70.
  • the flexible linkage 70 includes a cable 72 that is coupled at its first inboard end with the cover plate 30 and at its second outboard end with the movable rod 18 of the linear actuator or hydraulic cylinder 16.
  • the flexible linkage 70 is illustrated and discussed hereafter as including a cable 72, the linkage 70 may alternatively include a chain, rope, wire or the like.
  • a tension member illustrated as a spring 74 such as an extension spring may be interposed between the cable's second end and the rod 18 as shown to tension the cable 72 thereby preventing damage such as binding, fraying or catching in the moving plate 30 when the cable 72 is slack.
  • the cover plate 30 may be biased by employing one or more springs such as torsion springs, hinge springs or the like with the cover plate hinges. Alternatively, commercially available spring-loaded hinges that are known in the art may be used. Further, the normal biasing of the cover plate 30 helps to permit continued operation of the ramp during malfunctions or the like. For example, as can be appreciated, the cover plate 30 will remain in a vertical position to allow the ramp to deploy or stow even if the flexible linkage were to malfunction, break or otherwise de-couple from the rod 18.
  • the inboard end of the cable 72 is attached to the inboard portion of the cover plate 30 whereas the outboard end of the cable 72 includes a loop.
  • the spring 74 couples at one end with the loop and at the other end with the rod 18 or the aforesaid gear rack (not shown) attached to the rod 18.
  • the spring 74 stretches as required when the slot cover 30 is down thereby allowing the fully deployed ramp 32 (FIG. 1) some degree of flexibility in contacting various different ground elevations.
  • the spring 74 provides for smooth and consistent movement of the cover plate 30 throughout the range of motion of the rod 18.
  • the cable 72 is a predetermined fixed length so that when the ramp 32 is completely deployed the cover plate 30 is held horizontal, the cable 72 is taut and the spring 74 is slightly stretched.
  • the cover plate 30 is biased in a substantially vertical position to allow deployment of the ramp 32 (FIG. 1).
  • the hydraulic cylinder 16 begins to extend its rod 18 outward in response to the hydraulic power unit or other motive power source of the drive system 200.
  • the arm 18 and attached gear rack move linearly outward to rotate the gear 22 disposed on the shaft 24.
  • the gear 22 is affixed to driving link 26, which pivots arcuately upward and outward from below the vehicle floor to unfold the ramp sections 34, 36.
  • the spring 74 that is attached to the rod 18 and/or gear rack stretches and applies tension to the resting cable 72.
  • the cable 72 is drawn taut and begins to pull downward on the cover plate 30 to act against the normal (i.e., vertical) bias of the plate 30.
  • the rod 18 continues to extend in an outboard direction to further rotate the driving link 26 and apply additional tension force on the spring 74 and cable 72 to overcome the plate bias and pull the cover plate 30 downward over the gap 28.
  • the ramp 32 is fully deployed and the cover plate 30 is horizontal and conceals the gap 28.
  • the linear actuator or hydraulic cylinder 16 moves the rod 18 in an inboard direction in response to the drive system 200.
  • the rod 18 and attached gear rack (not shown) rotate the gear 22 disposed on the shaft 24 to pivot the driving link 26 arcuately upward and inward to stow the ramp 32.
  • the retracting rod 18 allows the spring 74 to gradually contract so that the tension on the cable 72 is reduced thereby allowing the cover plate 30 to move upward in response to the normal bias of the plate 30 overcoming the tension force of the flexible linkage 70.
  • the cable 72 becomes somewhat slack as the rod 18 retracts further into the cylinder 16.
  • an exemplary ramp system 100 may include sensors, micros witches or the like to switch off one or more elements of the drive system 200, such as the hydraulic power unit or linear actuator, relative to the orientation of the ramp so that the ramp may stow or deploy under gravity power (known as "float-down” or “gravity- down” operation). As shown in FIG. 1 and 9, these gravity-down microswitches are positioned proximate the shaft 24 on the inside of support plate 23 and are actuated by cams or the like. The sensors or microswitches may complete a circuit, send a signal to or otherwise communicate with the ramp drive system 200 to allow unpowered (i.e., gravity) operation of the ramp.
  • unpowered i.e., gravity
  • an arrangement of sensors or switches may be employed to disable the ramp from completely stowing when the cover plate 30 is detected to be in an improper orientation (e.g., an obstruction is sensed on the cover plate 30 such that it cannot be raised during ramp stowage).
  • a sensor or switch operates to detect the position of the driving link 26 prior to the inboard edge 261 of the driving link 26 contacting the inboard edge of the cover plate cutout 40.
  • a ramp interlock (as it is known in the art) may be accomplished with switch logic or the like.
  • a cover plate switch 80 (FIG. 9) may be attached on the side wall of the enclosure 10 for detecting the orientation of the plate 30, but the cover plate switch 80 may be oriented otherwise so that the cover plate 30 may contact it when the plate 30 is oriented in a covering (i.e., horizontal) orientation.
  • a drive link position switch 82 (FIG.
  • the drive link position switch 82 may be coincident with or stacked on an existing switch such as one of the foregoing described gravity-down switches. Alternatively, the drive link position switch 82 may also operate to communicate with the ramp drive system 200 for gravity-down operation of the ramp.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un mécanisme de recouvrement destiné à un système de rampe d'accès pour fauteuils roulants. Ce système de rampe d'accès pour fauteuils roulants comprend une rampe d'accès pivotante, pourvue d'une ou de plusieurs sections de rampe et reliée par charnière à un compartiment support situé à l'intérieur du seuil du véhicule. Une articulation est fixée à la rampe d'accès et s'actionne pour déplier et replier ladite rampe en réponse à un système d'entraînement, tel qu'un actionneur rotatif ou linéaire hydraulique. Cette articulation reste en-dessous du plancher du véhicule lorsque cette rampe est repliée généralement à plat au-dessus du seuil du véhicule et, lorsque la rampe d'accès est dépliée, une plaque de recouvrement, adjacente à l'articulation, est déplacée de façon à cacher un espace vide laissé par l'articulation lorsqu'elle s'étend pour déplier la rampe d'accès. Selon un mode de réalisation, la plaque de recouvrement est normalement sollicitée vers une position horizontale et le mécanisme de recouvrement comporte une came rotative coopérant avec un ensemble levier articulé pour relever et abaisser ladite plaque de recouvrement. Cette came effectue un mouvement de rotation par rapport à la position de la rampe et de l'ensemble levier articulé, laquelle came peut comporter une première articulation avec un galet suiveur ainsi qu'une seconde articulation servant à déplacer la plaque de recouvrement, laquelle seconde articulation est couplée à la première de façon généralement perpendiculaire à cette dernière. Selon un autre mode de réalisation, cette plaque de recouvrement est normalement sollicitée vers une position verticale et le mécanisme de recouvrement comporte une articulation flexible contrainte, lorsque la rampe est dépliée, pour pallier à la sollicitation normale de ladite plaque, déplaçant ainsi la plaque de recouvrement vers une position horizontale.
PCT/US2004/034670 2003-10-22 2004-10-21 Mecanisme de recouvrement destine a une rampe d'acces pour fauteuils roulants Ceased WO2005042302A2 (fr)

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US51325803P 2003-10-22 2003-10-22
US60/513,258 2003-10-22

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WO2005042302A3 WO2005042302A3 (fr) 2005-10-27

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Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2539624A (en) * 2015-04-02 2016-12-28 P S V Transp Systems Ltd An access ramp

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9101519B2 (en) 2013-02-07 2015-08-11 Dallas Smith Corporation Leveling ramp for a wheelchair

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6186733B1 (en) * 1998-04-15 2001-02-13 Lift-U, Division Of Hogan Mfg., Inc. Low floor vehicle ramp assembly
US6179545B1 (en) * 1999-11-04 2001-01-30 Ricon Corporation Flip-over ramp

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2539624A (en) * 2015-04-02 2016-12-28 P S V Transp Systems Ltd An access ramp
GB2539624B (en) * 2015-04-02 2018-06-06 P S V Transp Systems Limited An access ramp

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WO2005042302A3 (fr) 2005-10-27

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