GB2370557A

GB2370557A - Underfloor lift for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2370557A
Application number: GB0125990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Beck
Original assignee: Passenger Lift Services Ltd
Current assignee: Passenger Lift Services Ltd
Priority date: 2000-11-18
Filing date: 2001-10-30
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-30
Also published as: GB0125990D0; GB0028199D0; GB2370557B

Abstract

A vehicle underfloor lift, suitable for wheelchair use, comprises a lifting platform 12 having a bridge plate 14 and a ramp stop 15, which act as safety devices when the lift is in use, and a box in which the lifting platform is stowed when not in use. The box has a cover (30, fig 11), which along with the bridge plate and ramp stop are moved when the lift is being deployed or stowed, by means of cams and/or springs.

Description

UNDERFLOOR LIFT FOR VEHICLES

This invention relates to an underfloor lift for vehicles and particularly (though not exclusively) to a lift for use by persons in wheelchairs, to board or alight from a vehicle.

Throughout the following description, the term"underfloor vehicle lift"is used to denote an assembly comprising a stowage box (mounted beneath the floor of the vehicle) and a carriage adapted to be moved into and out of the box, the carriage being stowed protectively when within the box and being deployed for use when out of the box. A load-carrying platform is mounted, by means of a lifting mechanism, on the carriage. The lifting mechanism is adapted, in use, to raise and lower the platform relative to the carriage, the box and the vehicle floor.

Examples of such a lift include those described in our published patent specification GB-A-2 296 003 and in our co-pending patent application GB 0027319.3.

For the additional safety of wheelchair passengers and their carers when using the lift, it is known to provide movable stop-members at each end of the platform. When the platform is loaded and ready to be moved relative to the vehicle, the stop-members are raised so as to be substantially perpendicular to the platform, thereby providing a barrier to the movement of the wheelchair (and/or a carer) off the platform. When the platform is lowered to the ground, the stop-member remote from the vehicle (hereinafter called the"ramp-stop") needs to be lowered so as to permit the wheelchair to be moved from the platform and on to the ground. When the platform is raised so as to be substantially level with the floor of the vehicle, the stop-member adjacent the vehicle (hereinafter called the"bridge-plate") needs to be lowered so as to permit the

wheelchair to be moved from the platform and into the vehicle. Hitherto, the ramp-stop and bridge-plate have had to be manually operated on the lifts generally available.

It is also known to provide the stowage box with a cover for use when the assembly is stowed away. Again, such covers have hitherto had to be manually operated on the lifts generally available.

We have now devised an underfloor lift in which the bridge-plate, the ramp-stop and the box-cover are automatically operated when the lift is deployed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an underfloor vehicle lift (as hereinbefore defined) in which the platform is provided with a ramp-stop and a bridge-plate (both as hereinbefore defined) and in which the box is provided with a cover, the lift including powered means to move the ramp-stop, the bridge-plate and the box-cover, relative to the platform and the box respectively, when the lift is being deployed and/or stowed.

The means to move the ramp-stop, the bridge-plate and the box-cover may preferably comprise one or more cams adapted to be moved by cam-actuators. Suitably, the ramp-stop and/or the bridge-plate and/or the box cover may be provided with one or more springs adapted, in use, to return the ramp-stop, the bridge-plate or the box-cover to a preferred position when the aforesaid powered means is not being operated. For example, when the powered means is not being operated, the bridge-plate and/or the ramp-stop may be returned (by means of springs) to a position in which they are substantially perpendicular to the platform, thereby restricting the movement of a wheelchair and/or a carer whilst on the platform.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings (wherein like numerals denote like parts): Figures 1 to 4 show, schematically and in sequence, the operation of a lift according to the present invention; Figures 5 and 6 show enlarged views of portions of the lift of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 7 and 8 show enlarged views of portions of the lift of Figure 3; Figures 9 and 10 show enlarged views of portions of the lift of Figure 4; Figures 11,12 and 13 show, schematically and in sequence, the operation of a box-cover according to the present invention, for use in association with the lift of Figures 1 to 10.

Referring to Figures 1 to 10, a lift according to the present invention comprises a stowage box 10 adapted, in use, to be fixed to the underside of a vehicle (not shown) and operatively associated with a carriage 11 on which is supported a platform 12. Movement of the carriage relative to the box is provided by a lifting mechanism shown generally at 13. The platform is provided, at its edge which, in use, will be adjacent the vehicle, with a bridge-plate 14. At the edge of the platform which, in use, will be remote from the vehicle, the platform is provided with a ramp-stop 15.

When not being powered in accordance with the present invention, each of the bridge-plate and the ramp-stop is maintained, in a"neutral"or "rest"position substantially perpendicular to the platform, by means of helical springs (not shown).

The bridge-plate 14 is attached to the platform by means of a pivot 16 and is provided at its lowermost end with a cam 17. Similarly, the ramp-stop 15 is attached to the platform by means of a pivot 18 and is provided with a cam 19 at its lowermost end.

The platform 12 has an extension-member 20 attached to its lowermost surface. The member 20 (which may be for example a solid elongate bar or rod) moves with the platform during operation of the lift.

The carriage 11 is provided with a cam actuator 21 at its end which, in use, is adjacent the ramp-stop 15.

The sequential operation of the lift takes place according to the following description: On deployment of the lift, the platform 12 is in the fully-extended position shown in Figure 1, with the bridge-plate 14 and the ramp-stop 15 each being substantially perpendicular to the platform.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the platform 12 is being powered inwards (i. e. towards the stowage box) and extension-member 20 approaches cam 17, while cam actuator 21 approaches cam 19.

In the position shown in Figure 3, the extension-member 20 has acted on cam 17 to lower the bridge-plate 14 to be in contact with the uppermost

surface of the platform 12. At the same time, the cam actuator 21 is in contact with the cam 19 of the ramp-stop 15.

In the position shown in Figure 4, the cam actuator 21 has acted on cam 17 to lower the ramp-stop 15 to likewise be in contact with the uppermost surface of the platform 12. The platform and carriage are now ready to be moved so as to enter the stowage box.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 13, the stowage box 10 is provided with a cover 30 which is pivotally moveable (relative to the box) about a pivot 31. A lifting-member 32 is attached to the cover 30 and to a linear actuator 33, which in turn is operatively connected to the box by means of adjuster 34, threaded elongate rod 35, retaining-washer 36 and lock-nuts 37. A locking-hook 38 is pivotally attached to the box at 39 and to the lifting-member and the actuator at 40. The locking-hook 38 engages, in use, a stow-hook 41 provided on the lift platform.

When the lift is deployed (as shown in Figure 12), the actuator powers outwardly of the box, at the same time moving the lifting-member 32 (and causing the front cover 30 to drop) and disengaging the locking-hook 38 from the stow-hook 41 (thereby releasing the platform).

In the position shown in Figure 13, the cover 30 is fully lowered relative to the box and the platform can be powered out of the box in the direction of arrow A.

Claims

1. An underfloor vehicle lift as hereinbefore defined in which the platform is provided with a ramp-stop and a bridge-plate both as hereinbefore defined and in which the box is provided with a cover, the lift including powered means to move the ramp-stop, the bridge-plate and the box-cover, relative to the platform and the box respectively, when the lift is being deployed and/or stowed.

2. An underfloor vehicle lift as claimed in Claim 1, in which the powered means to move the ramp-stop, the bridge plate and the box cover comprises one or more cams adapted to be moved by cam-actuators.

3. An underfloor vehicle lift as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the ramp-stop and/or the bridge-plate and/or the box cover is provided, in use, with means to return the ramp-stop, the bridge plate or the box cover to a preferred position when the powered means is not being operated.

4. An underfloor vehicle lift as claimed in Claim 3, in which the means to return the ramp-stop, the bridge-plate and the box cover comprises one or more springs.

5. An underfloor vehicle lift as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which, when the powered means is not being operated, the bridge-plate and/or the ramp-stop are returned to a position in which they are substantially perpendicular to the platform.

6. An underfloor vehicle lift, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.