DE102004002095A1 - Wheelchair ramp for negotiating steps has upper and lower platforms linked by two wheel support ramps and with a tilting action to raise and lower the platforms - Google Patents

Abstract

A compact cost effective ramp for enabling wheelchairs to negotiate steps has upper and lower platforms (4, 5) linked by two parallel ramp strips (2) for the wheels. The user rolls onto one platform and secures the chair. The parallel ramps are pivoted about a central axis into a horizontal state. The user rolls to the next platform and the ramps are tilted back into the inclined position leaving the user at the new height. The platforms always maintain a horizontal position.

Description

The The invention relates to a variable stair ramp for achieving of accessibility for the height overcome on simple and inexpensive Wise.

With the introduction Disability Equality Act in May 2002 are public construction authorities obliged to make all buildings barrier-free. Accessibility in that sense means for overcoming of height differences only Ramps that have a maximum pitch of 6% and after 6 m a platform of 1.50 m in length.

For overcoming usual height differences of 5 m, this means ramps in a length of about 80 to 100 m. The costs for The construction of such a ramp amounts to 250,000.00 to 500,000.00 EUR.

alternative This comes at the moment as a mechanical solution only the construction of a lift in question. The investiven costs are here somewhat less than with the Ramp. They are for Elevator shaft and mouth house usually of the order of magnitude from about 100,000.00 EUR. The mechanical part of the elevator costs about 125,000.00 EUR. In addition, however, incur relatively high maintenance costs. They are around 5,000.00 EUR per year. In addition, there is a constantly available Call. The use of the on-call service, also Several times a year, is again at about 1,000.00 EUR per case. Continue to lead recurring faults at elevators to temporary interruptions of accessibility.

Of the The invention is therefore the object of a cost-effective solution for universal accessibility, especially for to find less frequented areas.

The Features of the invention are disclosed in the claims. The functioning and an embodiment are shown in drawings.

Of the biggest part the mobility-restricted people is quite capable of greater pitch over stairs or to overcome staircases. That applies to sight and hearing impaired people, for older people, if sufficient resting platforms are available for prams, Cycles, Stretcher, sometimes for pushed Wheelchairs.

Not This is true for Electric wheelchairs as well especially powered by muscle power wheelchairs.

The object according to the invention makes use of the fact that by far the greatest proportion of people with limited mobility can overcome the height differences over stairs and stair ramps. For this reason, in addition to a commonly existing staircase ( 1 ) a staircase ramp ( 1 . 2 ). This is preferably made of steel or other suitable materials. The problem for the wheelchair users is solved in such a way that the stair ramp is mechanically changeable in such a way that the pedestals ( 4 . 5 ) can be moved up and down in connection with the stairs or ramp ( 2 ).

By mechanical or electronic drives will raise a pedestal and the opposite Podium lowered. Both podiums are about the same Height, can the wheelchair over the connecting ramp to the adjacent pedestal are moved. Now this pedestal is raised and lowered the corresponding pedestal.

Of the Wheelchair can now leave the pedestal. If necessary, the Process performed a second time be used to B. a height difference of 5 m to overcome.

These Furnishings are certainly much less comfortable than one Elevator. Therefore but it is not nearly so expensive. The cost will be around 50,000.00 EUR estimated.

Important is that due to the functionality and the low price now also relatively weak contaminated areas where previously usually only stairs can be found were barrier-free. This was not possible until now because the appropriate measures were too expensive, or the existing money was only enough for a few measures. Cost saving or Realization chances are increased in the ratio 1:10.

Claims (1)

Variable stair ramp for accessibility, consisting of centrally arranged steps ( 1 ) and ramps running parallel on both sides ( 2 ), below and above with joints ( 3 ) on approximately horizontal platforms ( 4 . 5 ), which are synchronously raised or lowered by a corresponding mechanical or electronic drive, characterized in that it is normally used as a static stair ramp and in Be may be due to the possible raising and lowering of the podiums and the associated reduction of the ramp-length tendency also severely limited mobility people, such as wheelchair users to overcome the height can serve.